Indonesia’s inflation rate has hit a five-year high, as businesses continue to pass rising costs onto consumers

As countries around the world deal with the rising cost of living, Indonesia’s inflation rate has exceeded predictions.

The country’s consumer price index rose just above 4 percent in June, which is the biggest year-on-year climb since 2017.

This blew the Bank of Indonesia’s estimates out of the water, with the Bank expecting a rise of between 2 and 4 percent.

Experts say June’s inflation was largely triggered by red chilies, cayenne pepper, cooking oil, and shallots.

Prices of food, beverages, and tobacco all rose above 8 percent, and transportation is also helping drive inflation, especially in airline passenger fees due to high fuel costs.

Several people are dead after a gunman opened fire at a shopping centre in Copenhagen

A mass shooting incident in one of Denmark’s largest shopping centres has left several people dead and others injured.

A 22-year-old Danish man has been arrested, with police refusing to rule out the attack being an act of terrorism.

Authorities arrived at Field’s mall in the Danish capital late on Sunday afternoon local time, as people were told to stay put and wait for assistance.

Local media has published images of terrified shoppers running for safety, with eyewitnesses describing panic as gunfire echoed through the shopping centre.

Singer Harry Styles was due to perform in the city, but the concert has been cancelled. Attendees have asked to leave Copenhagen’s Royal Arena.

The multi-storey shopping mall where the attack occurred is around 5 kilometres south of downtown Copenhagen.

The United States is watching China ‘very closely’, but a top official says an attack on Taiwan is ‘not imminent’

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be reunified with the mainland, and by force, if necessary.

United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley told the BBC that China is developing a capability to attack Taiwan at some point in time.

Milley says whether or not the nation does this is a political and policy choice, based on how the Chinese view the cost and risk-benefit at the time.

Beijing has accused Washington of supporting Taiwan’s independence vowing to ‘crush’ any such attempt.

Back in May, U.S. President Joe Biden said China was “flirting with danger” by flying warplanes close to Taiwan. The President has vowed to protect the island militarily if required.