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.”

Wall Street hits an all-time high after adding to rally

NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stocks are flirting with a record Wednesday following their big rally the last two weeks on hopes that the global economy can avoid a worst-case scenario. The S&P 500 rose 0.8%  The Dow Jones was down 52 points, or 0.1%, as of 3:09 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.4% higher.

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.

Trump, Modi Discuss Iran Crisis, Need to Keep Strait of Hormuz Open

US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone conversation on Tuesday, focusing on the escalating situation in the Middle East and the importance of maintaining free and secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

 

Afghanistan's capital is in the grip of a water crisis

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.

Xi calls China-Russia ties 'precious' in current international context

BEIJING (AP) – Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that the stability and certainty of China-Russia relations are particularly “precious” in the face of an international landscape intertwined with change and chaos.

US to join combat drills in Philippines to show commitment to Asia

MANILA, Philippines (AP) – More than 17,000 American and Filipino military personnel will participate in one of their largest annual combat exercises in the Philippines that underscore the United States’ staunch commitment to Asia despite its preoccupation with the Middle East, a U.S. military official said Tuesday.

China Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan pleads guilty to fraud and bribery

HONG KONG (AP) – The founder of the debt-ridden real estate developer China Evergrande pleaded guilty to a series of charges, including illegal absorption of public deposits, fraud and corporate bribery, according to a mainland Chinese court statement Tuesday.

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.