Dozens Arrested in U.S. Anti-Drone Protest
Twenty-seven people were arrested on Friday at a protest against drones at the Hancock Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York. Pilots stationed at Hancock now fly Reaper drones remotely over Afghanistan. The drones are armed with Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs. Retired Col. Ann Wright spoke at a rally prior to the mass arrests.
Rising Food Prices Could Push 60 Million Asians into Extreme Poverty
A new report is warning that soaring global food prices could threaten to push 60 million Asians into extreme poverty. According to the Asian Development Bank, domestic food inflation in developing Asian nations hit 10 percent at the start of this year as the price of wheat, corn, sugar, dairy products and meat soared.
BP Reports $7 Billion Profit amid Rising Gas Prices
Oil giant BP is reporting it made just $7 billion in the first quarter of the year, a 17 percent increase in profits. BP’s profits come at a time when the price of a gallon of gasoline has topped $4 in many parts of the country. On Tuesday, President Obama called for an end to $4 billion in tax breaks for the oil and gas industry.
BP PLC posted a 17 percent increase in net profit for the first quarter as higher oil prices helped to offset continued costs stemming from the Deepwater Horizon oil-spill disaster last year. The U.K.-based energy giant said Wednesday net profit for the quarter was $7.12 billion, compared with $6.08 billion a year earlier. Total revenue for the quarter rose 18.7% to $88.31 billion from $74.42 billion.