Bangladeshis to chart a democratic future in first vote since 2024 uprising

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) – When Tarique Rahman, the son of a former prime minister of Bangladesh, returned to the country in December after 17 years of self-imposed exile, he declared to his supporters: “I have a plan.”

US stocks fall sharply as investors punish companies seen as losers from AI

NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stocks fell sharply as the market punished companies seen as potential losers from artificial-intelligence technology. The S&P 500 sank 1.6% for its second-worst day since Thanksgiving, though it's still near its all-time high set late last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.3% and the Nasdaq composite lost 2%.

South Korea will boost medical school admissions to tackle physician shortage

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea plans to increase medical school admissions by more than 3,340 students from 2027 to 2031 to address concerns about physician shortages in one of the fastest-aging countries in the world, the government said Tuesday.

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Morning Edition

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday that it believes the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is close to being designated as the country’s future leader as he moves to extend the family dynasty to a fourth generation. NIS officials are closely monitoring whether Kim’s daughter will appear with him before the Workers’ Party Congress.

Dutch court orders investigation into chipmaker Nexperia

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – A Dutch court on Wednesday ordered a formal investigation into chipmaker Nexperia and upheld an earlier order suspending its Chinese CEO, citing doubts about the company’s policies and conduct.

Kim Jong Un's daughter is close to being designated North Korea's future leader

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday that it believes the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is close to being designated as the country’s future leader as he moves to extend the family dynasty to a fourth generation.

Top Asia Pacific Breaking News

TOKYO (AP) – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s gamble that her personal popularity would lead to big election gains for her struggling party paid off hugely. On Monday, she began the process of translating that new power, made manifest in a two-thirds supermajority gained in parliamentary elections the day before.

Editorials from New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Vance is in Armenia: no sitting US president or vice president has visited before

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – Vice President JD Vance landed in Armenia on Monday – a country that no sitting U.S. vice president or president has visited before – as the Trump administration offered economic opportunities while it works to advance a U.S.-brokered deal aimed at ending a decades-long conflict with Azerbaijan.