US will permanently close consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan

WASHINGTON (AP) – The State Department will permanently close the U.S. consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, which has been America’s closest diplomatic mission to the Afghan border and was a primary operations and logistics point before, during and after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.

Oil jumps to $100 per barrel and stocks sink worldwide

NEW YORK (AP) - Worries about the war with Iran sent oil prices back to $100 per barrel and stocks sinking worldwide. The S&P 500 fell 1.5% Thursday and returned to big swings following a couple days of relative calm. The Dow dropped 1.6%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.8%. The price of a barrel of Brent crude got as high as $101.59.

Trump kicks off new process to try to replace tariffs

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration on Wednesday opened a new trade investigation into manufacturing in foreign countries – an effort that comes after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s previous use of tariffs by declaring an economic emergency.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine awaits White House sign-off on US drone production deal

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukraine is awaiting White House approval for a major drone production agreement proposed by Kyiv last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday, as countries scramble to modernize their air defenses after the Iran war exposed shortcomings.

Hawaii's Fragrant flower lei faces competition from cheaper imports

HONOLULU (AP) – Dear Tourist: The flowers in that bright-purple lei you received on your Hawaii vacation almost certainly weren’t grown in the Aloha State. The vast majority of those odorless orchids are imported from Thailand, where it is cheaper to grow and string them into the garlands synonymous with Hawaiian culture.

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Morning Edition

BEIJING (AP) – While much of the world’s attention is on the Iran war, that hasn’t stopped China from moving ahead with national priorities. Not that China doesn’t care about the war and its impact on energy supplies and geopolitics. But for the world’s second largest economy, its growing rivalry with the United States revolves around a different battle.

China's exports surge in Jan-Feb despite waning trade with the US

HONG KONG (AP) – China’s exports jumped nearly 22% in the first two months of the year from a year earlier, powered by a surge in shipments of computer chips, autos and electronics. The export figures released by China were much better than economists had forecast. They far exceeded the 6.6% annual pace of growth recorded in December.

Editorials from The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian and others

Editorials from The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian and others

North Korean leader Kim watches cruise missile tests with his daughter

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter observed tests of strategic cruise missiles fired from a warship, state media reported Wednesday, as North Korea threatened responses to U.S.-South Korean military drills.