BANGKOK (AP) — Shares in the financial technology company Block have soared more than 20% in after-hours trading after its CEO announced it was laying off more than 4,000 of its 10,000 some employees due to its use of artificial intelligence. “The core thesis is simple. Intelligence tools have changed what it means to build […]
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s defense minister said that his country ran out of “patience” and considers that there is now an “open war” with Afghanistan, after both countries launched strikes following an Afghan cross-border attack. In a post on X, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the […]
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Relatives of a boat captain from the eastern Caribbean island of St. Lucia told The Associated Press on Thursday that he has been missing since a recent U.S. strike on a suspected drug vessel in the region. They fear that Ricky Joseph, a 35-year-old father of four, was killed because they […]
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The United States and Congo signed a $1.2 billion health partnership Thursday, the two countries’ governments said in a joint statement. The Department of State said it will provide up to $900 million over the next five years to support the Central African country to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and […]
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — American hockey player Brady Tkachuk said Thursday that he did not appreciate a doctored TikTok video shared by the White House that made it look like he was disparaging Canadians after winning Olympic gold, calling it fake and something he would never say. The video includes fabricated audio of Tkachuk referring […]
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica (AP) — A speedboat carrying 10 people approached Cuba’s north shore and opened fire on Cuban soldiers when they confronted the vessel, according to the Caribbean island’s government. Troops returned fire, killing four people and wounding six others who were detained Wednesday after the encounter. The Ministry of the Interior said […]
JERUSALEM (AP) — As U.S. forces mass in the Middle East, Iran faces the threat of major strikes by the world’s most powerful military, potentially targeting its leaders, military, nuclear sites and critical infrastructure. Iran has nowhere near the same capabilities, and is even more vulnerable after last year’s war launched by Israel and recent […]
HONG KONG (AP) — U.S. futures fell while Asian shares mostly advanced on Thursday after strong-than-expected earnings from chipmaker Nvidia helped ease some investor worries over the artificial intelligence boom. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 crossed the 59,000 mark for the first time, although it later gave up some gains, rising 0.2% to 58,715.33. Shares of SoftBank […]
GENEVA (AP) — A convoy believed to be carrying Iranian diplomats arrived on Thursday at the Omani residence in Geneva for indirect nuclear talks with the United States. An Associated Press journalist saw the convoy drive into the residence. An earlier convoy was believed to be carrying the American negotiators. Iran and the U.S. are […]
HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s government said Wednesday that its soldiers killed four people aboard a speed boat registered in Florida that opened fire on officers in Cuban waters. Cuba’s Interior Ministry issued a statement that provided few details about the shooting, but noted that the boat was roughly one mile northeast of Cayo Falcones, off […]
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — The United States has said it will wind down health assistance to Zimbabwe after negotiations collapsed on a U.S.-proposed funding deal that the African nation rejected in part over a requirement to share sensitive health data. The loss of the southern African nation’s largest health donor casts uncertainty over programs to […]
PARIS (AP) — The home of the ‘Mona Lisa’ is getting a new boss. Two French officials told The Associated Press that art historian Christophe Leribault, a veteran museum director, is taking over at the Louvre. He will shoulder the challenge of getting the world’s largest museum out of crisis after the brazen heist in […]
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran pushed back Wednesday against U.S. President Donald Trump’s pressure tactics ahead of critical talks in Geneva over Tehran’s nuclear program, alternating between calling his remarks “big lies” to saying negotiations may yield an agreement through “honorable diplomacy.” The remarks by two Iranian officials ahead of Thursday’s talks come […]
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A United States military plane carrying five American personnel hit a concrete barrier while attempting to take off from a road during a contingency training in a northern Philippine province, injuring all those aboard, Philippine officials said Wednesday. The pilot and two other American personnel were brought to a hospital for […]
TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose in Wednesday morning trading, with Japan’s benchmark hitting a record high, as investors were cheered by an overnight Wall Street rally that seemed to reflect optimism about the artificial-intelligence boom. Japan’s benchmark surged 1.3% to 58,081.62. That came despite China’s move the previous day to restrict exports to […]
JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem plans to offer consular services for the first time at an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. A statement posted Wednesday to the U.S. embassy’s account on the social platform X said consular officers “will be providing routine passport services” to U.S. citizens Friday in the […]
CHANIA, Greece (AP) — Protesters gathered on the Greek island of Crete late Tuesday following the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier that is part of a major buildup of American forces in the Middle East. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, docked Monday at the American naval base at Souda […]
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Caribbean leaders prepared to meet Tuesday in St. Kitts and Nevis to debate pressing issues including the region’s relationship with the U.S. government, which has continued to strike suspected drug boats in the area, killing local fishermen. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet with Caribbean leaders on […]
LONDON (AP) — The former Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson, the U.K.’s former ambassador to Washington, were arrested within days of each other for their ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and both are under investigation for the same offense: misconduct in public office. Neither of them has been charged, yet, but their […]
MONTREAL (AP) — Canadian regulators have approved Gulfstream G700 and G800 business jets in a move that comes weeks, after new tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump over the planes’ status in Canada. A Transport Canada database shows that it certified the American company’s latest private planes on Monday, roughly a week after green-lighting […]
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — As the United States assembles its greatest military firepower in decades in the Middle East, Iranians are warily awaiting the next round of talks with the U.S. in Geneva this week — negotiations that many see as a last chance for their ruling theocracy to strike a deal with […]
PARIS (AP) — France’s spat with the U.S. ambassador to Paris took another turn Tuesday with the French foreign minister saying the top U.S. diplomat in France must explain himself after ignoring a French summons. The minister suggested that Ambassador Charles Kushner won’t have access to French government officials until he complies. French authorities had […]
BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares were mixed Tuesday after U.S. stocks slumped on heavy selling of shares in companies that could be losers in the artificial-intelligence boom. U.S. futures climbed and oil prices also gained. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index surged 0.9% to 57,354.14 as computer-chip related companies advanced. Chip testing equipment maker Advantest was up […]
MOSCOW (AP) — An unidentified assailant detonated an explosive device next to a patrol vehicle in Moscow early Tuesday, killing himself and a police officer, and leaving two other officers injured, officials said. The attack happened minutes after midnight near the Savyolovsky Train Station in the Russian capital’s downtown, according to Moscow’s branch of the […]
