International 

Greece boosts special firefighting units to cope with its growing heat risk

Greece boosts special firefighting units to cope with its growing heat risk

Under pressure to cope with the impact of rising temperatures, Greece's emergency response planners are shifting tactics this summer.

Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah 'with or without a deal' as cease-fire talks with Hamas continue

Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah 'with or without a deal' as cease-fire talks with Hamas continue

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to launch an incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are sheltering from the almost 7-month-long war.

5 takeaways from the global negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution

5 takeaways from the global negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution

The world's nations finished a round of negotiations early Tuesday on a treaty to end plastic pollution and made more progress than they have in three prior meetings.

2 men are charged with cutting down famous 150-year-old tree near Hadrian's Wall in England

2 men are charged with cutting down famous 150-year-old tree near Hadrian's Wall in England

Prosecutors say the men are charged with causing criminal damage and damaging the wall built in A.D. 122 by Emperor Hadrian to guard the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire.

Antony Blinken meets with China's President Xi as U.S., China spar over bilateral and global issues

Antony Blinken meets with China's President Xi as U.S., China spar over bilateral and global issues

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials in Beijing.

These are the countries where TikTok is already banned

These are the countries where TikTok is already banned

TikTok is banned in a handful of countries and not allowed on government-issued devices in a number of others. That's due to official worries that the popular video-sharing app poses privacy and cybersecurity concerns.

U.S. coalition warship shoots down missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels over the Gulf of Aden

U.S. coalition warship shoots down missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels over the Gulf of Aden

Early Thursday, the U.S. military's Central Command said a coalition warship shot down the missile likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged, owned and operated vessel with 18 U.S. and four Greek crew members.

Hamas official says group would lay down its arms if an independent Palestinian state is established

Hamas official says group would lay down its arms if an independent Palestinian state is established

A top Hamas political official says the Islamic militant group is willing to agree to a truce with Israel and that it will lay down its weapons and convert into a political party if an independent Palestinian state is established along pre-1967 borders.

100-year-old British D-Day veteran dies before he can honor fallen comrades one more time

100-year-old British D-Day veteran dies before he can honor fallen comrades one more time

British army veteran Bill Gladden, who survived a glider landing on D-Day, wanted to return to France for the 80th anniversary of the invasion so he could honor the men who didn't come home.

A Russian strike on Kharkiv's TV tower is part of an intimidation campaign, Ukraine's Zelenskyy says

A Russian strike on Kharkiv's TV tower is part of an intimidation campaign, Ukraine's Zelenskyy says

The northeastern Kharkiv region straddles the approximately 600-mile front line where Ukrainian and Russian forces have been locked in battle for more than two years since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow court rejects Evan Gershkovich's appeal, keeping him in jail until at least June 30

Moscow court rejects Evan Gershkovich's appeal, keeping him in jail until at least June 30

A Moscow court on Tuesday rejected Evan Gershkovich appeal that sought to end his pretrial detention. The 32-year-old U.S. citizen was detained in March 2023 while on a reporting trip and has spent over a year behind bars.

Israel's military intelligence chief resigns over failure to prevent Hamas attack on Oct. 7

Israel's military intelligence chief resigns over failure to prevent Hamas attack on Oct. 7

Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, the head of Israel's military intelligence, becomes the first senior Israeli figure to step down over the failures surrounding Hamas' attack, which triggered the war in Gaza.

Review of U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees found Israel did not express concern about staff

Review of U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees found Israel did not express concern about staff

The review was carried out after Israel alleged that a dozen employees of the agency known as UNRWA had participated in Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks.

European nations with Patriot missiles hesitate to give the air defense systems to Ukraine

European nations with Patriot missiles hesitate to give the air defense systems to Ukraine

European Union countries possessing Patriot air defense systems appear reluctant to give any to Ukraine. The country is desperately seeking at least seven of the missile batteries to help fend off Russian air attacks.

Aid approval brings Ukraine closer to replenishing troops struggling to hold front lines

Aid approval brings Ukraine closer to replenishing troops struggling to hold front lines

The Pentagon has said it could get weapons moving to Ukraine within days if the Senate and President Joe Biden give final approval to the plan.

Toxic: How the search for the origins of COVID-19 turned politically poisonous

Toxic: How the search for the origins of COVID-19 turned politically poisonous

The Chinese government froze meaningful efforts to trace the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, despite publicly declaring that it supported an open scientific inquiry.

Europe is the fastest-warming continent, at nearly twice the average global rate, report says

Europe is the fastest-warming continent, at nearly twice the average global rate, report says

Two top climate monitoring organizations are reporting that Europe is the fastest-warming continent and its temperatures are rising at roughly twice the global average.

Russia pummels exhausted Ukrainian forces with smaller attacks ahead of a springtime advance

Russia pummels exhausted Ukrainian forces with smaller attacks ahead of a springtime advance

With a vital U.S. aid package for Kyiv slowed down in Congress, Russia has relied on its edge in firepower and personnel to step up attacks across eastern Ukraine.

U.S. vetoes widely supported resolution backing full U.N. membership for Palestine

U.S. vetoes widely supported resolution backing full U.N. membership for Palestine

The United States has vetoed a widely backed U.N. resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for Palestine.

Israel, Iran play down apparent Israeli strike. The muted responses could calm tensions -- for now

Israel, Iran play down apparent Israeli strike. The muted responses could calm tensions -- for now

The muted public responses signal the two bitter enemies are ready to prevent their latest eruption of violence from escalating into a full-blown regionwide war.

U.N. agency helping Palestinians in Gaza seeks support against Israel's demands for its dissolution

U.N. agency helping Palestinians in Gaza seeks support against Israel's demands for its dissolution

The head of the U.N. agency that has helped millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank for decades is urging the U.N. Security Council to ensure its survival as Israel again demands its dissolution.

Russian missiles slam into a Ukraine city and kill 17 people as the war approaches a critical stage

Russian missiles slam into a Ukraine city and kill 17 people as the war approaches a critical stage

The latest Russian bombardment came as the war approaches what could be a critical juncture. A lack of further military support from Ukraine's Western partners increasingly leaves it at the mercy of the bigger Kremlin forces.

Netanyahu brushes off calls for restraint, saying Israel will decide how to respond to Iran's attack

Netanyahu brushes off calls for restraint, saying Israel will decide how to respond to Iran's attack

Israel has vowed to respond to Iran's unprecedented attack without saying when or how. That's left the region bracing for further escalation after months of unrest linked to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Israel says it will retaliate against Iran. These are the risks that could pose to Israel

Israel says it will retaliate against Iran. These are the risks that could pose to Israel

Any direct attack on Iranian soil would risk prompting an all-out war between the two foes at a time when Israel is focused on defeating Hamas in Gaza.

U.K. lawmakers back landmark bill to gradually phase out smoking for good

U.K. lawmakers back landmark bill to gradually phase out smoking for good

A plan by Britain's government to introduce a smoking ban that aims to stop young people from ever smoking has cleared its first hurdle in Parliament despite opposition from within Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party.