• Afghanistan and Pakistan Peace Talks Constructive
  • Iran Israel War - Latest Updates
  • Pakistan Fuel Prices Rise up to 54%
  • Tentative, 2-Week Iran Ceasefire Takes Effect
  • Peace Talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan are Advancing
White House demands Iran reopen Strait of Hormuz immediately

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - The United States demanded Wednesday that Iran immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the Islamic Republic closed the waterway in response to Israeli attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. Iran's move cast doubt over whether an already precarious ceasefire to end more than a month of war would hold.

Pakistan and Afghanistan peace talks are underway in China after deadly fighting

ISLAMABAD (AP) – Pakistan on Thursday confirmed it was holding peace talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban government in China, where Beijing is mediating to broker a lasting ceasefire after weeks of fighting that have killed hundreds, disrupting trade and cross-border travel.

100 killed as Israel strikes Beirut after saying truce doesn't apply there

BEIRUT (AP) – Israeli strikes hit several commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning on Wednesday, hours after a ceasefire was announced in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Lebanon said at least 112 people were killed and hundreds were wounded in what was one of the deadliest days in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

Wall Street swings sharply as uncertainty increases

NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stocks swung sharply as uncertainty about what will happen in the war with Iran increased. The S&P 500 fell as much as 1.2% Tuesday. The S&P 500 erased all its losses and ended 0.1% higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up 0.1%.

Ackman's Pershing Square makes $64B bid for Universal Music Group

Activist investor Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management is offering to purchase Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny’s music label, Universal Music Group, in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $64 billion. The proposed deal would involve Universal Music merging with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings, an acquisition company approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2023.

Deere & Co agrees to pay $99 million to settle 'right to repair' lawsuit

NEW YORK (AP) – Deere & Co. has agreed to pay $99 million as part of a settlement that would resolve a class action lawsuit accusing the farm equipment giant of monopolizing repair services. The Moline, Illinois-based manufacturer, which does business under the John Deere brand, has faced a handful of “right to repair” complaints over the years.

Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanon

Iran, the United States and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, an 11th-hour deal that headed off U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to unleash a bombing campaign that would destroy Iranian civilization. Hours after the announcement, Iran and Gulf Arab countries reported new attacks Wednesday.

Trump to meet NATO leader as he muses about pulling out of military alliance

WASHINGTON (AP) – NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is expected to meet with President Donald Trump on Wednesday to try to smooth over the president’s anger with the military alliance over the Iran war. Trump had suggested the U.S. may consider leaving the trans-Atlantic alliance.

Here's where things stand after tentative, 2-week Iran ceasefire

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – The ceasefire reached Wednesday has raised hopes of halting hostilities between Iran, Israel and the United States, but many issues remain unresolved. Reaching a permanent deal will be key to ending a war that’s shaken the Middle East and global energy markets.

ROME (AP) – Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization was “truly unacceptable” and said any attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law. Leo urged Americans and other people of good will to contact their political leaders to demand they reject war and work for peace.