New road linking Baltic states to Poland opens

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) – A major road connecting the three Baltic states to Poland opened Monday at a time of rising tensions between Europe and Russia. The Via Baltica will pass through a narrow strip of land between Belarus and Russia ‘s Kaliningrad exclave, called the Suwalki Gap, which has often been described as a potential targe t if Russia were to attack NATO.

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%.

Latvian women protest against domestic violence

WARSAW, Poland (AP) – Women’s rights activists taped their mouths shut at a demonstration Wednesday outside the Latvian parliament to protest the country’s possible withdrawal from an international treaty aimed at supporting women who are victims of violence.

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.”

UK, Lithuania and Latvia detain people for spying for Russia

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) – British, Lithuanian and Latvian authorities have detained several people on suspicion of carrying out intelligence-related activities on behalf of Russia in the latest of a string of incidents to be linked to Moscow by Western officials.

Hopes rise for renewed US Iran talks as blockade is in force

ISLAMABAD (AP) – Hopes rose for renewed talks between the United States and Iran on Wednesday, as the U.S. military said its blockade of Iranian ports was in full effect and Tehran threatened to retaliate by strike targets across the war-weary region.

Baltic Countries puzzled by US plans to cut defense funding

WASHINGTON (AP) – Confusion emerged Friday over Trump administration plans to halt some security assistance funding to European countries along the border with Russia, with some Baltic defense leaders saying they have not received official notification.

Editorials from The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Jude Law debuts portrays Vladimir Putin in 'The Wizard of the Kremlin'

VENICE, Italy (AP) – Jude Law transforms into Vladimir Putin for Olivier Assayas’ “The Wizard of the Kremlin,” which has its world premiere Sunday at the Venice Film Festival.