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Consumer prices in America rose by 3.5% in the year to March, up from 3.2% in February.

The core rate, which excludes energy and food, increased by 0.4% month on month.

That was the third consecutive month that the figure was higher than expected.

Increases in the cost of gasoline and shelter, which includes rental costs, were the main factors pushing up prices.

The data reduced the likelihood that the Federal Reserve, America's Central Bank,

will slash rates in the summer.

The European Parliament voted in favour of a migration and asylum pact

that had been introduced for the first time a decade ago.

The reforms will speed up the process of applying for asylum

and require member states to share responsibility for those who do so.

Asylum applications to the EU rose by 18% year on year in

2023 reaching the highest level since the migration crisis of 2015 to 16.

President Joe Biden announced a series of steps signaling closer security cooperation with Japan

during a state visit by Kishido Fumio, the Prime Minister.

Mr Biden said that America would create a joint air defence network with Japan and Australia

...