Trump is facing a new inflation warning from the bond market, adding to his midterm challenges

WASHINGTON (AP) — The world is getting more uptight about lending money to President Donald Trump’s government. The energy price spike triggered by the Iran war has seeped into the price of bonds that help fund the U.S. government. That's caused interest rates to climb in ways that are worsening affordability pressures, creating a new risk for Republicans in November’s midterm elections. Trump says a task force on fraud could find enough savings to balance the budget. Economists say that's probably unrealistic because of the magnitude of the deficit. Voters are already concerned about high costs for food and gas, and higher interest rates make it harder to buy or renovate a home, afford a new car or manage credit card debt.

Jerome Powell uses JFK award speech to warn against political pressure on Fed, courts and schools

BOSTON (AP) — Former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell used one of his first major public appearances since leaving office to deliver a broad defense of independent institutions while accepting the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in Boston. Powell, who frequently clashed with President Donald Trump during his eight years leading the central bank, warned against political interference in monetary policy and described the Federal Reserve’s independence as a “priceless asset.” He also defended universities, courts and Congress as pillars of democracy. The award also honored residents of Minnesota’s Twin Cities for their actions during a federal immigration crackdown that led to thousands of arrests and two deaths.

Nvidia bets on AI personal computers with new 'superchip' powering Windows laptops

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Nvidia has unveiled powerful new chips to bring advanced artificial intelligence to Windows laptops and desktops. These superchips will be powering new personal computer models from brands like Microsoft and Dell, and are set to roll out in the fall of this year, according to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Huang spoke at the annual Nvidia GTC conference in Taipei on Monday. Nvidia and Microsoft are aiming to reinvent the personal computer, he said, and the new laptops and desktops will be able to run AI agents locally. Analysts say Nvidia's move could revolutionize the PC market, drive AI applications at home, and offer more choices for consumers.

Iran war forces farmers to seek fertilizer alternatives from cow dung to compost

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Governments around the world are being pressed to find and support alternatives to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers as the Iran war drives up prices. The Gulf region produces 30% of globally traded chemical fertilizer. That’s caused concerns about food supply. Experts say the shift away from chemical fertilizer could benefit the environment since its production and use cause significant global greenhouse gas emissions, the main driver of climate change. In Senegal, farmer Abou Sow has turned to organic compost. In Brazil and India, farmers are exploring biofertilizers and natural farming. But there are challenges including in scaling up availability.

Oil prices rise, but not by enough to drag Wall Street far off its records

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are rising following the latest fighting to threaten the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, but Wall Street isn’t very worried, and U.S. stocks are hanging around their records. The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 102 points, and the Nasdaq composite was flat. All three indexes are coming off records set Friday. The price for a barrel of Brent crude rose more than 6%, which pushed up Treasury yields and hurt companies with big fuel bills. But strong profit reports from U.S. companies and continued strength for big technology stocks kept Wall Street near its records.

Young and unemployed? Remote work, not AI, may be the problem, study finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — The rise of remote work since the pandemic has made businesses more reluctant to hire young, inexperienced workers and is the key driver of higher unemployment rates for recent college graduates, a study released Monday has found. The study concludes that businesses are reluctant to hire new college grads into remote work because it is harder to train and mentor them when they are working remotely. The authors of the study calculate that remote work is responsible for nearly two-thirds of the rise in the unemployment rate for young college graduates since the pandemic.

Egypt unveils a striking trove of ancient artifacts as the country tries to boost tourism industry

CAIRO (AP) — Archaeologists have unearthed ancient artifacts in Egypt including Pharaonic funerary furniture and a marble head of Greek goddess Aphrodite. The discoveries were announced Sunday. They are part of Egypt's efforts to boost tourism and support the economy. The remains of a Roman basilica and Aphrodite’s head were found in Beni Suef south of Cairo. A nearly complete set of funerary furniture was found in the Matariya neighborhood of Cairo. The findings highlight Egypt's rich history and aim to attract more tourists. Tourism has been recovering after political turmoil and the pandemic. A record number of tourists visited Egypt last year.

A robot is helping an ailing couple stay in their home. Are more to come for an aging population?

DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — The decades-long quest to build home robots that are both helpful and lifelike — spurred on by fictional machines like The Jetsons’ humanoid maid Rosie —- is still mostly a pipe dream, but some developers are getting closer. A robot piloted by a University of New Hampshire laboratory, with funding from the National Institute of Aging, offers a glimpse of the emerging possibilities for machines that can serve as elder companions. There is growing appeal as the oldest baby boomers are turning 80 this year and the United States faces a deepening shortage of home care aides.

Soaring prices during the Iran war jeopardize travel to tourism-dependent countries in Asia

BANGKOK (AP) — The war in Iran threatens to disrupt international travel to Asia, where the tourism industry has yet to fully recover from the the COVID‑19 pandemic. Airspace closures, the rerouting of flights around the Middle East and elevated jet fuel costs are driving up airfares, causing flight cancelations and lengthening travel times on key routes between Europe and Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and other destinations. A recent report by the United Nations Development Program says higher airfares and weaker travel confidence can quickly affect livelihoods and public revenues in economies where visitor arrivals are a major source of jobs, income and foreign currency.

China’s factory activity slows in May, raising questions over its economy

BEIJING (AP) — China has reported that its manufacturing activity has slowed in May. An official survey released by the National Bureau of Statistics said Sunday that the manufacturing purchasing managers index moderated to 50 from 50.3 in April. A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, and below 50 reflects contraction. Economists say China has been relatively protected from the fallout of the three-month old Iran war, given its ample oil reserves and diversified sources for energy. Exports have been resilient, buoyed by technology-related shipments driven by the artificial intelligence boom. However, some analysts are cautioning that high oil prices could still dent China's economy later in the year.