Swiss identify all 116 people injured in deadly bar fire

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) – Swiss police said Monday they’ve identified all the people who were injured in the fire that tore through a New Year’s celebration in a crowded bar. They put the total at 116, more than two-thirds still in hospitals.

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%.

Russia has few legal options to challenge EU frozen asset plan

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – A core question for European Union leaders discussing whether to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine is whether the idea is legally sound. But even if they approve the plan, Russia has limited options for challenging it in court.

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.”

Belgium seeks protection from Russian retaliation

BRUSSELS (AP) – Belgium insisted on Thursday that its European Union partners must provide ironclad guarantees that it will be protected from Russian retaliation before it would back a massive loan for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded for a decision now to keep Ukraine afloat in the new year.

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.

Farmers block roads in Brussels to protest South American free-trade deal

BRUSSELS (AP) – Farmers in tractors blocked roads and set off fireworks in Brussels on Thursday outside a European Union leaders’ summit, prompting police to respond with tear gas and water cannons as protesters rallied against a major free-trade deal with South American nations.

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.

EU lays out plan to fund Ukraine using frozen Russian assets

BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union on Wednesday revealed details of its plan to use billions of euros in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s needs over the next two years, but Belgium rejected the scheme and insisted that it poses major financial and legal risks.