U.S. and world news for Sept. 13

Inflation up a bit: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.6% in August after increasing 0.2% in July. Over the last 12 months, the index increased 3.7%, up from the annual inflation rate of 3.2% that had been reported a month ago. Gasoline was the largest contributor to the increase, accounting for nearly half of it. The cost of housing rose in August for the 40th consecutive month. The data showed food costs have gone up 4.3% over the last 12 months.

Escaped convict captured: The murderer who escaped from a Pennsylvania prison just under two weeks ago has been captured. Danelo Cavalcante was serving a life sentence for having killed a former girlfriend. He escaped from the Chester County prison and approximately 500 law enforcement officers were hunting for him. There had been about a dozen sightings of Cavalcante but he managed to elude capture until this morning.

Kim and Putin meet: Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met today at a spaceport in Russia. Kim said he always will stand in support of Russia. Putin pledged to help North Korea develop its space and satellite programs. Reports say they also started discussions on North Korea supplying military arms and ammunition to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine.

Libya floods: As of this morning, more than 5,100 people were reported to have been killed with another 7,000 injured and an estimated 10,000 missing due to floods in Libya. There were excessively heavy rains that led to two dams collapsing. Numerous towns in eastern Libya were devastated and the city of Derna was said to have been obliterated. Waves of water following the dam collapses were reported to have reached 27 feet in height. The United Nations is sending aid, as are Libya’s neighboring countries and the U.S.

Lawsuit against Fox: Fox Corporation is being sued by New York City’s pension funds as well as the state of Oregon. Both the city’s pension funds and the state of Oregon have invested in Fox Corporation stock. The lawsuit claims that by allowing Fox News to continue to broadcast Donald Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election Fox Corporation hurt its investors. The lawsuit does not specify what damages are being sought.

Swift’s night: Taylor Swift won nine of the 11 MTV Music Awards for which she had been nominated. Last night’s awards ceremony was held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Among the awards Swift won were artist of the year and best song of the year for her song “Anti-Hero.”

Cover photo via CosmopolitanUK / Wikimedia Commons