• Lebanon and Israel Hold First Direct Talks
  • Ukraine Agrees Defense Deal with Germany
  • Canada's PM Suspends Fuel Tax
  • Middle East Wars: The Latest Updates
  • China's Xi Warns Against 'Law of the Jungle'
Wall Street rallies to the edge of its all-time high

NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stocks rallied to the edge of their all-time high and crude oil prices eased. The S&P 500 rose 1.2% Tuesday, bringing the index within 0.2% of its record set in January. The Dow gained 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 2%.

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Latest Updates

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – The woman was furious. Standing in the muddy lane sloping up the hill in one of the Afghan capital’s poorer neighborhoods, she pulled her headscarf aside to reveal thick grey-white hair. “You see this hair? Even I with my white hair, I have to carry water.”

Pakistan proposes second round of US-Iran talks as standoff deepens

ISLAMABAD (AP) – The standoff between the United States and Iran deepened Tuesday as the U.S. declared it had blockaded Iran’s ports, Tehran threatened to strike targets across the region, and Pakistan said it was racing to bring the sides together for more talks.

US wholesale prices surged 4% last month after the war in Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. wholesale prices surged last month as the Iran war drove up the cost of energy. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that its producer price index – which measures inflation before it hits consumers – rose 0.5% from February and 4% from March 2025.

Citing fallout from the Iran war, IMF cuts the outlook for global growth

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Iran war has stalled the world’s economic momentum this year, likely pushing growth lower compared to 2025, the International Monetary Fund warned Tuesday. The IMF downgraded its forecast for global growth to 3.1% in 2026 from the 3.3% it had forecast back in January.

Tesla Shanghai factory to play role in robot mass production

SHANGHAI (AP) – A Tesla Inc. leader said Tuesday he believes its Shanghai factory operations will help resolve the challenges in achieving mass production of the company’s humanoid robots as the U.S. electric vehicle giant pivots to robotics.

Lebanon and Israel hold first direct diplomatic talks in decades

WASHINGTON (AP) – Lebanon and Israel opened their first direct diplomatic talks in decades on Tuesday in Washington following more than a month of war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it a “historic opportunity.”

Ukraine agrees defense deal with Germany to help in fight against Russia

BERLIN (AP) – Ukraine and Germany are starting work on plans for the joint production of advanced drones and other battle-tested defense systems, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday, as Kyiv looks to scale up its more than four-year fight against Russia’s all-out invasion.

Middle East Wars: The Latest Updates

Lebanon and Israel were holding their first direct talks in decades as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants rocks southern Lebanon. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors for Tuesday’s meeting in Washington.

NEW YORK (AP) – For decades, presidents avoided even the appearance of profiting from their office. Harry Truman refused to lend his name to any business, even in retirement. Richard Nixon so feared a brother might profit off their ties, he had his phone tapped.