Israel mourns as preparations begin for Peres' funeral

JERUSALEM (AP) — Shimon Peres, a former Israeli president and prime minister, whose life story mirrored that of the Jewish state and who was celebrated around the world as a Nobel prize-winning visionary who pushed his country toward peace, died early Wednesday, a person close to him confirmed. Peres was 93. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to...

Pres. Obama praises Peres for advancing dignity, goodwill

President Barack Obama is praising former Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres as a statesman whose commitment to Israel's security and the pursuit of peace "was rooted in his own unshakeable moral foundation and unflagging optimism." Peres died early Wednesday, two weeks after suffering a stroke.

India's prime minister says Pakistan a haven for terrorism

NEW DELHI (AP) — India's leader says he'll work to isolate Pakistan internationally, accusing India's archrival of trying to destabilize Asia by exporting terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a speech Saturday that in the last four months, Indian security forces have killed 110 terrorists who crossed over the cease-fire line in Kashmir from Pakistani territory. He...

Docs to operate on boy born with 31 fingers, toes

An 8-month-old Chinese boy has undergone the first of three surgeries to correct a rare defect wherein he was born with 31 fingers and toes.

4 white lions, 3 white tigers born in zoo in Poland

Seven rare white wild cats — four lions and three tigers — have been born in the past week in a private zoo in central Poland.

Bayer signs deal to acquire Monsanto for $66B

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — After months of courtship, German drug and farm chemical maker Bayer AG has finally reached an agreement to buy U.S. seed and weedkiller company Monsanto, in a deal that is valued at $66 billion and which will keep the merged entity's seed business in Monsanto's home base of St. Louis.

Former Prime Minister of Israel Peres hospitalized after stroke

Former Israeli President Shimon Peres on Tuesday suffered a stroke and was rushed to a hospital. His office said the 93-year-old politician's condition was stable and that he was fully conscious. It gave no further details, but Channel 10 TV, citing hospital officials, said he was awake but confused, and that tests had determined he suffered a stroke.

US Coast Guard ends search for woman overboard in Bahamas

The U.S. Coast Guard has ended its search for a New York woman who went overboard while on a cruise in the Bahamas.  

Seoul: North Korea's 5th nuke test 'fanatic recklessness'

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said it conducted a "higher level" nuclear test explosion on Friday that will allow it to finally build an array of stronger, smaller and lighter nuclear weapons. It was the North's fifth atomic test and the second in eight months.

Houston-based trade mission to Cuba in September

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Greater Houston Partnership will work together to lead a historic trade mission to Cuba in late September.

First-ever face transplant patient dies at age 49

Isabelle Dinoire, a Frenchwoman who received the world's first partial face transplant, has died 11 years after the surgery that set the stage for dozens of other transplants worldwide. She was 49. The Amiens University Hospital in northern France said in a statement Tuesday that Dinoire died in April after a long illness. The hospital didn't release any further details and it...

Nigeria's urgent polio vaccination drive targets 25 million

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — An emergency polio vaccination campaign aimed at reaching 25 million children this year has begun in parts of Nigeria newly freed from Boko Haram Islamic extremists, with fears that many more cases of the crippling disease will likely be found. Two toddlers discovered last month were Nigeria's first reported polio cases in more than two years, putting the...

EU foreign ministers seek unity on relations with Turkey

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — European Union foreign ministers on Friday looked for a way to speak with one voice on relations with Turkey amid concerns over human rights that could threaten a key deal meant to keep refugees away from European shores.

Brazil president Rousseff ousted by senate

Brazil's Senate on Wednesday voted to remove President Dilma Rousseff from office, the culmination of a yearlong fight that paralyzed Latin America's most powerful economy and exposed deep rifts among its people on everything from race relations to social spending.

Historic commercial flight from US lands in Cuba

The first commercial flight between the United States and Cuba in more than a half century landed in the central city of Santa Clara on Wednesday morning.

Astronauts ignite dreams of 4H students

On Tuesday November 15, Peggy Whitson, Tomas Pesquet and Oleg Novitskiy will go to a place many have only dreamed about when they embark on a six month journey to the international space station. These astronauts are venturing to space for expedition 50 of 51. The program is set to end in 2024.  "I think the international space station, the legacy is going to be the international...

Islamic State group says spokesman killed in Syria

The Islamic State group said Tuesday that its spokesman and senior commander has been killed while overseeing military operations in northern Syria, and threatened to avenge his death.  

Vigil held for Cal student killed in Nice attack

Nicolas Leslie, a UC Berkeley student who had been studying in Nice, France, has been identified as among the 84 people killed in Thursday’s terrorist attack.