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Inflation worsens with spikes in gas and food prices. U.S. Inflation rose an annual 3.8% last month, according to a Commerce Department report released Thursday. Not counting price rises in food and gasoline, so-called 鈥渃ore鈥� inflation rose 3.3% in April from a year ago, a touch higher than in March. These numbers remain stubbornly higher than the Federal Reserve鈥檚 2% inflation target, suggesting the central bank will not cut interest rates until well into next year, despite pressure from the Trump administration. 鈥� Staff
Our coverage: Balancing act for new Fed chair: Taming inflation amid rate-cut pressures.

Canadian leader mends ties with U.S. Prime Minister Marc Carney called for a new partnership with Washington and American investors amid what he described as a 鈥渞upture鈥� in the global order due to accelerating technological change and the Trump administration鈥檚 economic policies. New U.S. tariffs have affected key Canadian sectors such as auto manufacturing, lumber, and iron and steel production. In response, Mr. Carney has sought to strengthen economic ties in Asia. Yet, calling for a 鈥渢rue partnership that reimagines cooperation鈥� in a speech in New York Thursday, he described the U.S. 鈥渁s a country whose founding values of liberty, democracy, justice, and openness should continue to serve as guides to its future and that of the world.鈥� 鈥� Staff

Japan and the Philippines agreed to closer defense and intelligence cooperation. On a state visit to Japan this week, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and聽 Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae discussed arms sales to bolster Philippine defenses and also formal talks toward a military intelligence-sharing pact. The moves underscore the accelerating strategic realignment underway in Asia as countries respond to China's military build up and expansion in the region. 鈥� Staff

A death row inmate wins a rare victory at the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 5-to-4 decision announced on Thursday, the high court revived a Mississippi death row inmate鈥檚 challenge to his sentence, holding that the prosecutor in the case may have discriminated against Black jury candidates before the man鈥檚 trial. The high court rarely rules for capital defendants, though in 2019 it sided with another Mississippi death row inmate who had made a similar claim against the same prosecutor and the same judge. 鈥� Staff

DOJ opens investigation into E. Jean Carroll, CBS reports.聽The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether the longtime advice columnist lied during a civil suit against President Donald Trump in 2023, a source told the network. Ms. Carroll accused Mr. Trump of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store 30 years ago. He has denied the charges. A federal jury found Mr. Trump liable for sexual assault and defamation, awarding Ms. Carroll $5 million. The verdict was upheld on appeal a year later. 鈥� A.P. and Staff

Amid surging anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa, Ghana repatriates citizens. An initial group of about 300 returnees arrived in Ghana鈥檚 capital, Accra, Wednesday on a government-chartered flight from Johannesburg. In recent weeks, longstanding tensions over immigration in South Africa have spilled into renewed protests and violence in several cities. In response, Ghana鈥檚 government pledged earlier this month to fly home any of its citizens wishing to leave the country. Nearly 900 have put up their hands, and a second flight was due to depart Friday. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said attacks against migrants are 鈥渋solated acts of criminality鈥� and do not reflect government policy. 鈥� Staff

Across the West, many worry that the sense of shared society is deteriorating. Norway is one of the countries ranked highest in sense of community, and it is events like 鈥渄ugnads鈥� that might be helping bolster that mindset.

Kenya has pledged that all new car sales by 2040 will be electric vehicles. But the earliest group to embrace EVs here are drivers of the country's iconic motorcycle taxis聽鈥� the boda bodas.

Underuse is a chronic challenge in federal buildings. Many are outright empty 鈥� making them ripe for resale and redevelopment into housing, office, or retail space. But efforts are beset by bureaucratic hurdles.

Despite trepidation from some recent college graduates about how AI could reshape their chosen careers, colleges and universities are expanding their offerings. Incoming students express a mix of anxiety and optimism about the technology.

Thousands of drivers for ride-hailing services across Massachusetts are feeling a little more secure in the driver鈥檚 seat this week. On Tuesday, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey and labor representatives announced America鈥檚 first statewide law enabling collective bargaining and representation for gig or app-linked drivers, while still maintaining their status as independent contractors for services such as Uber and Lyft.

鈥淔or years, drivers have had no voice. We were treated like we were invisible,鈥� a member of the new App Drivers Union told a New England television station. 鈥淭oday ... we have a seat at the table.鈥�

Like 鈥渢he shot heard round the world,鈥� this Massachusetts move might reverberate beyond the commonwealth鈥檚 estimated 70,000 drivers for ride-hailing services 鈥� to the nation鈥檚 wider gig economy of temporary jobs and side hustles. Recent studies estimate 42 million people in the United States engaged in gig work in 2025. More than 1 in 10 relied on it for their primary income, while 10.2% sought it out to supplement other earnings.

Many choose such work for the flexibility and independence it allows. But in doing so, they forgo standard employment benefits and make what Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi once called a 鈥渇alse choice.鈥�

鈥淥ur current employment system is outdated and unfair,鈥� Mr. Khosrowshahi argued in The New York Times in 2020. 鈥淚t forces every worker to choose between being an employee with more benefits but less flexibility, or an independent contractor with more flexibility but almost no safety net.鈥�

At the time, he advocated for a benefit fund for gig workers.

Many U.S. labor regulations date back decades, and were designed for the industrial era. Since the turn of this century, however, high-speed internet access has proved transformative for workers and consumers around the country (and the world). Online platforms such as Amazon, Etsy, and DoorDash provide everyday convenience and links to inputs, transport, and markets.

But, directed by ordering apps and algorithms, independent workers have little recourse when wage rates shrink or pressures increase to deliver or drive faster. Gig workers, backed by many of their customers, want transparency in pricing and a higher cut of revenue. In April, Lyft took a step in that direction, promising to cap its fee at 30% and simplify deductions for insurance, taxes, and government fees.

The challenge for elected officials, employers, and labor representatives is to review American labor laws to keep pace with the opportunities in an evolving economy 鈥� but also to shore up trust in the system鈥檚 evenhandedness and ability to address challenges.

As one driver told the National Employment Law Project, 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just about money. It鈥檚 about dignity and respect.鈥�