World

In California’s boom-and-bust climate, Death Valley has offered some of the strangest scenes over the past few years. Some of the area’s perennial creosote bushes died back during a severe drought that hampered the region through 2022. Then torrential downpours — from the remnants of Hurricane Hilary and subsequent storms — revived annual wildflowers from seed […]

(Adds new Ukrainian reports of Russian attacks, paragraphs 12-15) By Tom Balmforth and Olena Harmash KYIV, April 20 (Reuters) – Ukraine attacked eight Russian regions with dozens of long-range strike drones, setting ablaze a fuel depot and hitting three power substations in a major attack early on Saturday, an intelligence source in Kyiv told Reuters. […]

At least two Palestinians have died and a further seven suffered gunshot wounds in an Israeli military operation in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm on the West Bank, the Palestinian health authority reported on Saturday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the operation had begun on Friday and was continuing into Saturday. […]

Of the more than 300 Iranian projectiles launched Israel’s way last week, the vast majority were shot down by Israel and its allies. Israel’s response on Friday against military targets in Isfahan also had more to do with spectacle than substance. Whatever comes next, Iran’s attack – and the way it was characterised in the […]

A military base in Iraq housing a pro-Iranian militia has been damaged in an explosion, killing one and wounding eight, security officials there have said. Iraq’s military reported no drones or fighter jets in the area before or during the blast, and the US said it was not involved. Meanwhile the militia, the Popular Mobilisation […]

Sinking Feeling A new study has discovered that a staggering number of Chinese cities are sinking into the Earth. According to the study, which was conducted by a team of over 50 Chinese scientists using radar observations and published this week in the journal Science, almost half of China’s 82 major cities are experiencing rapid […]

A new federal rule is aimed at reducing coal miners’ exposure to silica dust, a leading cause of black lung disease (Getty Images). It was a celebratory moment years in the making when acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, flanked by miners and advocates, announced the rollout of a new rule limiting silica dust exposure for […]

Sen. Tuberville thinks Social Security wastes taxpayer money. What’s wrong — and what it might take to fix it Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has a reputation as a controversial political figure. In particular, his trading practices on the stock market have raised eyebrows — especially given the power and influence his position affords […]

Michael Schollhorn, CEO Airbus Defence and Space, speaks during a ceremony at Wunstorf Air Base. The head of the defence unit of European aerospace giant Airbus has expressed understanding for the decision by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz not to provide Ukraine with the German-made Taurus cruise missile. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa The head of the defence unit […]

United States lawmakers are expected to vote on Saturday evening on three military aid packages for Ukraine, Israel and other allies in the Asia Pacific region. The three bills are part of Speaker Mike Johnson’s complex strategy to get aid out to foreign allies while quelling a rebellion by hardline Republicans who would prefer to see […]

By Richard Cowan, Moira Warburton and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday with broad bipartisan support passed a $95 billion legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, over bitter objections from Republican hardliners. The legislation now proceeds to the Democratic-majority Senate, which passed a similar measure […]