US to offer passports in West Bank settlement

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- The US will provide on-site passport services this ‌week in a settlement in the West Bank, marking the first time American consular officials have offered such services to settlers in the occupied territory, US officials said Tuesday. Most of the world considers Israel's West Bank settlements illegal ‌under international law relating to military occupations. Israel disputes that the settlements are illegal, and many on the Israeli right advocate annexing the West Bank. Pal

Feb. 25, 2026

UN data shows 6.5 million people in Somalia at risk of severe hunger from drought

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Nearly 6.5 million people in Somalia are facing severe hunger as worsening drought, conflict and global aid cuts intensify the country’s humanitarian crisis, the federal government and UN agencies said Tuesday. New data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report shows that 6.5 million people are projected to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity by the end of March. The report also estimates that 1.84 million children under the age of 5 are e

Feb. 25, 2026

Rescuers search for missing after deluge kills 30 in Brazil

JUIZ DE FORA, Brazil (AFP) -- Three firemen pulled a man's body from the mud amidst the rubble of houses swept away in a landslide in southeastern Brazil, where 30 people died and 39 were still missing on Tuesday after torrential rains. A river burst its banks and streets became raging currents of brown water in the state of Minas Gerais after the overnight downpour in a region that has seen record rain this month. State firefighters said 30 people had died in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Uba.

Feb. 25, 2026

Sudanese paramilitary forces kill at least 28 people in an attack in Darfur, medical group says

An attack by Sudanese paramilitary forces on a stronghold of a Darfur tribal leader left at least 28 people dead, a doctors group said Tuesday, the latest in a devastating war with no resolution in sight. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on Monday rampaged through the town of Misteriha in North Darfur province, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, which tracks the country’s ongoing war. The town is a stronghold of Arab tribal leader Musa Hilal who also hails from the Rizeigat Arab tribe

Feb. 25, 2026

Louvre Museum director resigns in the wake of October's brazen French crown jewels heist

PARIS (AP) -- The Louvre Museum's director resigned Tuesday after months of pressure following the October theft of the French crown jewels, as the world's most visited museum faced widening scrutiny over security failures, labor unrest and a suspected ticket fraud scheme. Laurence des Cars quit after a punishing year for the former royal palace -- the high-profile jewels heist from the Apollo Gallery, a mid-February burst pipe near the "Mona Lisa," water leaks damaging priceless books, staff wa

Feb. 25, 2026

Huge US snowstorm forces millions to stay home

NEW YORK (AP) — A massive snowstorm pummeled the northeastern US from Maryland to Maine Monday, forcing millions of people to stay home amid strong wind and blizzard warnings, transportation shutdowns, and school and business closures. Meteorologists said the storm is the strongest in a decade, dumping more than 60 centimeters of snow in parts of the metropolitan Northeast, shattering accumulation records in places, immobilizing transit and even leading the UN to postpone a Security Council meet

Feb. 24, 2026

Former UK ambassador Mandelson arrested

LONDON (Reuters) -- Former British ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson was arrested by London police Monday on suspicion of misconduct ‌in public office, following revelations over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson, 72, was fired from the most prestigious posting in Britain's diplomatic service in September, when the depth of his friendship with Epstein started to become clear. Police earlier this month began a criminal investigation into Mandelson after Prime Minist

Feb. 24, 2026

Ukraine's soldiers dare to dream of home

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AFP) -- On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II, Ukrainian soldiers told Agence France-Presse that they hoped to see their families again. For "Tourouk," a 37-year-old soldier in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia who wished to be identified solely by his nom de guerre, "to return home safe and sound" would be victory enough. Today, the conflict looks very different to the early days after Russia launched its invasion on Feb, 2

Feb. 24, 2026

US pulling staff from embassy in Beirut amid Iran tensions

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The US State Department is pulling out non-essential government ‌personnel and their eligible family members from the US Embassy in Beirut, a senior State Department official said Monday, amid growing concerns about the risk of a military conflict with Iran. "We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel," said ‌a senior State Department official, speaking on conditi

Feb. 24, 2026

US urges China for nuclear disarmament

A US official focusing on arms control on Monday provided what he called new, declassified details of a Chinese underground nuclear test nearly six years ago and urged countries to press China and Russia to do more on nuclear disarmament. Christopher Yeaw, assistant secretary of state for the bureau of arms control and nonproliferation, spoke to a UN-backed body after the last nuclear arms pact between the US and Russia expired this month. That has ended limits on the arsenals of the world’s big

Feb. 24, 2026

Colombia's ELN rebels declare a unilateral ceasefire ahead of key congressional elections

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia’s largest remaining rebel group declared a unilateral ceasefire Monday ahead of next month's high-stakes congressional elections, which have already been marred by acts of violence against candidates in rural areas. The National Liberation Army, or ELN, said in a statement published on its website that it will cease attacks against military and electoral authorities to allow for people to vote “in liberty,” but did not clarify when the ceasefire would end. The re

Feb. 24, 2026

Rob Reiner's son pleads not guilty to murder in the killing of his parents

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of Hollywood luminary Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, pleaded not guilty Monday to two counts of first-degree murder more than two months after their deaths, denying for the first time that he fatally stabbed his parents. Reiner's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene, entered the plea on his behalf as he stood behind glass in an enclosed custody area of the packed Los Angeles courtroom. The third of Rob Reiner's four children

Feb. 24, 2026

Pakistan claims to have killed at least 70 militants in strikes along the Afghan border

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Pakistan’s military killed at least 70 militants in strikes along the border with Afghanistan early Sunday, targeting what it described as hideouts of Pakistani militants it blamed for recent attacks inside the country, the deputy interior minister said. Kabul rejected the claim. Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s deputy interior minister, offered no evidence for his claim in an interview with Geo News that at least 70 militants were killed in the strikes. Pakistan’s state-run

Feb. 23, 2026

Russian missile barrage hits energy, railways across Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) -- Russia fired scores of missiles and drones at targets across Ukraine Sunday, crashing into energy and rail infrastructure and residential buildings, just two days before the fourth anniversary of Moscow's all-out invasion. The capital Kyiv, which Russia has regularly hit with missiles and drones since the start of the full-scale invasion, has faced waves of overnight strikes in recent weeks as Moscow has intensified assaults amid freezing winter temperatures. "Moscow conti

Feb. 23, 2026

Iran, US to talk despite fears of strikes

Iranian officials held out hope for progress toward a deal to forestall fresh conflict when talks with US negotiators resume Thursday, despite a huge build-up of American military might in the Middle East. Speaking to CBS News Sunday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said details of a possible deal were being drawn up ahead of the renewed talks on Tehran's nuclear program, after Washington's envoy Steve Witkoff had publicly wondered why Tehran had not yet "capitulated." Badr Albusaidi, for

Feb. 23, 2026