• Chile's President Vows Tougher School Security
  • Trump Claims on Iran Are 'False and Baseless'
  • Chileans Mark World Water Day by Protesting
  • King Charles III to Address US Congress
  • Study challenges how humans got to the Americas
Russia claims full control of Ukraine's Luhansk region but Kyiv denies it

Russia’s armed forces have taken control of the entire Luhansk region of Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed Wednesday, but a Kyiv military official denied the claim as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared for talks with U.S. envoys trying to mediate an end to Moscow’s invasion.

Chile's new far-right president launches work on border barrier

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) – Chilean President José Antonio Kast wasted no time. Less than a week after his inauguration, Chile’s arch-conservative president on Monday began overseeing preparations to build a border barrier – part of his flagship campaign promise to block immigrants from crossing illegally.

India has begun its long-delayed population census. Here's why it matters

NEW DELHI (AP) – India has begun the world’s largest national population count, which could reshape welfare programs and political representation across the country. The previous census in 2011 recorded a population of 1.21 billion. It’s now estimated to be more than 1.4 billion, making India the most populous nation.

 

South Korea and Indonesia expand cooperation on defense and energy as Mideast war disrupts markets

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.

Gas prices eclipse $4 a gallon in the US, the highest since 2022

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday, as the Iran war pushes fuel prices to soar worldwide. According to motor club AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $4.02 – over a dollar more expensive than before the war began.

Business sentiments in Japan improving despite Iran worries

TOKYO (AP) – Business sentiment among major Japanese manufacturers rose to 17 in March from 16, according to the Bank of Japan’s quarterly survey released Wednesday. The improvement in the key so-called diffusion index in the closely watched “tankan” report, recorded for the fourth quarter straight, comes even as worries grow about the war in Iran.

Trump claims Iran wants a ceasefire, Iran says remarks are 'false and baseless'

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed Iran’s president wanted a ceasefire ahead of his speech to the American people. Trump made the claim on his Truth Social website. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Trump’s remarks were “false and baseless.” The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is slated to go to the Middle East along with three destroyers.

Trans-Atlantic rift widens as Trump lashes out at NATO allies over Mideast war

LONDON (AP) – U.S. President Donald Trump says he’s strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO, ratcheting up his criticism of European allies and exposing a wider rift in the trans-Atlantic alliance – this time over the Iran war.

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Latest Updates

ISLAMABAD (AP) – Pakistan and Afghanistan held the first round of peace talks on Wednesday, with China mediating to broker a durable ceasefire after weeks of fighting, two Pakistani officials said. But even as the talks were held, Afghanistan accused Pakistan of firing mortars into its territory.