• Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Latest Updates
  • Trump Fires Pam Bondi as Attorney General
  • India Begins Long-Delayed Population Census
  • Russian Aerial Attacks Kill 2 in Ukraine
  • Macron Calls for Ceasefire in Mideast
Iran fires on Israel and Gulf neighbors as Trump claims threat nearly eliminated

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Iran fired more missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states Thursday, demonstrating Tehran’s continued ability to strike even as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the threat from the country was nearly eliminated. Iran’s attacks on Gulf states along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the world’s energy supplies.

South Korea and Indonesia expand cooperation on defense and energy

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea and Indonesia agreed Wednesday to expand cooperation in defense industries, technology and supply chains as their leaders pledged to upgrade their strategic partnership in face of uncertainties stemming from the war in the Middle East, Seoul’s presidential office said.

Saharan dust storm turns Greek sky red as winds and flooding leave 1 person dead

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – A powerful storm front that lashed Greece over the past 24 hours brought gale force winds and flooding that left one man dead and turned the sky over Crete a deep red. The sky’s surreal red hues were reminiscent of apocalyptic scenes over Crete where the storm that hit the island with gale-force winds combined with a Saharan dust storm.

Tesla sales rise after brutal year of Musk boycotts but still fall short of expectations

NEW YORK (AP) – Sales of Tesla vehicles rose in the past three months in a possible sign recovery is afoot after a brutal year of boycotts over Elon Musk’s politics but still fell short of expectations. The company Thursday said sales rose 6% to 358,023, the first time in three years it posted a first-quarter increase from the year-earlier period.

McDonald's tries a simpler approach with its new McValue menu

After two years of tweaks to its value menu, McDonald’s has a new strategy: keep it simple. The fast-food giant’s budget-focused McValue menu will have 10 items that each cost under $3 starting April 21. The breakfast items include hash browns or a Sausage McMuffin. A small order of fries or a McDouble burger are among the options the rest of the day.

Average US long-term mortgage rate climbs to 6.46%, highest in 7 months

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed for the fifth straight week, reaching its highest level in nearly seven months, another setback for home shoppers in the midst of the spring homebuying season.

Pam Bondi, a Trump loyalist, is out as attorney general

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump said Thursday that Pam Bondi is out as his attorney general, ending the contentious tenure of a loyalist who upended the Justice Department’s culture of independence from the White House, oversaw large-scale firings of career employees and moved aggressively to investigate the Republican president’s perceived enemies.

Russian aerial attacks kill 2 in Ukraine as Easter prisoner exchange planned

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russian aerial attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine killed two people and injured at least three others, officials said Thursday, as the warring countries work on a prisoner exchange for Easter. Periodic prisoner exchanges have been one of the few positive outcomes of otherwise fruitless monthslong U.S.-brokered negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

Trump administration appeals ruling that blocked Pentagon action against Anthropic

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The Trump administration is appealing a judge’s order blocking the federal government from taking punitive measures against artificial intelligence company Anthropic after a dispute with the Pentagon over military use of AI.

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump is not immune from civil claims that he incited a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol on Jan, 6, 2021, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled Tuesday that Trump’s remarks “plausibly” were inciting words that are not protected by the First Amendment right to free speech.