Cooling Inflation, 77 Whales, and Beautiful Vineyards.

Adam Rogers
July 12, 2024

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Big Stories

The latest Consumer Price Index report suggests that inflation could finally be trending down.

Earlier this year, there were worries that inflation would rise again, but now it looks like those worries were just a blip. The unemployment rate is slightly up but remains historically low, and wages are rising. Prices for many goods are slowing down or even dropping, making life easier for consumers.
In June, overall prices fell by 0.1%, the first decline since May 2020. Gasoline prices went down by 3.8%, and grocery prices are increasing slowly. The core CPI, which doesn't count food and gas, went up only 0.1% in June and just 3.3% over 12 months — the smallest annual rise in over three years.
The report also shows that the cost of rent is starting to level off, which could help keep inflation down in the future. However, the Federal Reserve wants to see more proof that inflation is on a steady downward path before cutting interest rates. The chances of a rate cut by September are high, with a second cut by December also likely. Fed chair Jerome Powell said he is focused on reducing inflation without hurting the economy too much.

Scientists discovered fossil chromosomes in a 52,000-year-old piece of woolly mammoth skin found in Siberia.

This is the first time fossil chromosomes have been found. The cold temperatures of the Siberian permafrost preserved the chromosomes, allowing researchers to see the genetic material in detail.
Unlike previous finds of ancient DNA, which were often fragmented, these fossil chromosomes contain millions of genetic letters, providing a more complete genetic picture. This allows scientists to better understand the woolly mammoth's genetic code.
Researchers compared the mammoth chromosomes to modern elephants and found similarities and differences in genes, such as those affecting hair follicles. They hoped to fully assemble the mammoth genome but used some elephant DNA to help. The scientists say they are still several steps away from resurrecting the beasts.
Nonetheless, the discovery opens new possibilities for studying ancient DNA from other extinct species. Researchers hope to find similar well-preserved samples in museum specimens, not just from permafrost.

Scotland has experienced its largest whale stranding event since 1995, involving 77 whales.

This is the biggest since the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) started. Similar events have happened before, like in 2022 when 55 pilot whales were stranded on Lewis, and in 2011 when 60-70 whales came ashore in Sutherland.
Rescue experts from various organizations tried to save the whales on Sanday. The beach's soft sand made it difficult to move the whales back into the water. Rescuers tried to keep the whales alive by pouring seawater over them, but most were too weak and had to be euthanized.
Authorities are figuring out how to dispose of the 77 whale bodies. In the past, they let nature take its course, but due to the scale and public health concerns, they might bury the bodies or move them to a large grave site. Andrew Brownlow from SMASS noted that mass strandings are becoming more common in Scotland, possibly due to more animals swimming in the area or increased hazards in the ocean.

Actress Shelley Duvall, known for movies like The Shining, Annie Hall, and Nashville, died at 75. Her partner confirmed the news, saying she died peacefully in her sleep from diabetes complications at her home in Texas. Duvall also starred in the 1977 drama 3 Women, for which she won the Cannes Film Festival's best actress award. (More)

Russia planned to assassinate the CEO of a big German arms company, Rheinmetall AG, which supplies Ukraine with ammunition and armored vehicles. However, U.S. and German authorities found out and stopped the plot. (More)

The U.S. plans to shut down the Gaza humanitarian pier soon. The Pentagon said troops couldn't re-anchor the pier due to technical and weather problems. 20 million pounds of humanitarian aid were delivered via the pier. (More)

Kenyan President William Ruto fired almost all of his Cabinet ministers and promised a new, efficient government after weeks of protests over high taxes and poor governance. He also dismissed the attorney general and said permanent secretaries would run the ministries for now. (More)

China accused NATO of seeking security at others' expense and warned it not to bring "chaos" to Asia. This reflects China's opposition to NATO strengthening ties with Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. The accusation came after NATO called China a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war against Ukraine. (More)

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