Protesters go on strike in Israel demanding ceasefire and release of Gaza hostages

JERUSALEM (AP) — Families of hostages held in Gaza are stepping up their campaign to secure their release by holding a strike across Israel. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum organized a “day of stoppage" on Sunday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure over stalled hostage talks and a new Gaza offensive. Protesters fear further fighting could endanger the 50 hostages believed to remain in Gaza, only about 20 of whom are thought to be alive. Netanyahu has demanded the unconditional and immediate release of the hostages but is balancing competing pressures, haunted by the potential for mutiny within his coalition.

Mistrust and fear: The complex story behind strained Syria-Lebanon relations

BEIRUT (AP) — Relations between Beirut and Damascus remain tense — as they have been for decades past, a time during which Syria failed to treat its smaller neighbor as a sovereign nation. A lot has happened on both sides of the Lebanon-Syria border. A lightning offensive by Islamist insurgents in Syria toppled longtime autocrat Bashar Assad last December and brought a new government in place in Damascus. In Lebanon, a bruising war with Israel dealt a serious blow to Hezbollah and a U.S.-negotiated deal has brought a fragile ceasefire. Still, even with the fall of Syria's 54-year Assad family rule and the events in Lebanon of the past year, attempts to reset Lebanese-Syrian political ties have been slow to take hold.

High-tech drones turn Ukraine's front line into a deadly kill zone, complicating evacuations

In eastern Ukraine, medics face increasing challenges as evacuations become more dangerous due to drone warfare. They often can't save soldiers because it takes too long to reach them. Drones, especially first-person-view types, have turned areas up to 20 kilometers from the front line into deadly kill zones. Medics say most injuries now come from these drones and not gunfire. The commander of a medical unit notes that the situation has significantly increased mortality among the wounded. Medics must adapt by focusing on self-aid and self-evacuation, but the risk remains high.

Hurricane Erin downgraded to Category 3 as tropical storm warning issued for Turks and Caicos

Hurricane Erin has been downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands as winds and heavy rains hit the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, reached Category 5 before weakening. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported Sunday that Erin had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. The storm's center is about 155 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Scientists link the rapid intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic to climate change, with global warming causing more intense storms.

Pakistan expands rescue and relief efforts after floods kill over 200 in a single district

BUNER, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani officials say they are expanding rescue and relief operations after flash floods killed more than 220 people in a single northwest district and destroyed homes, roads, and businesses. Buner, a mountainous part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was struck by cloudbursts and torrential rains that triggered flash floods and landslides. Crews were using heavy machinery on Sunday to remove the rubble of collapsed homes after families reported that some of their relatives were missing. Higher-than-normal monsoon rains have lashed Pakistan since June 26 and killed more than 600, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for local homeless people, invites them to lunch at summer villa

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) — Pope Leo XIV is spending the last Sunday of his summer vacation with several dozen homeless and poor people and the church volunteers who help them. He is celebrating a special Mass for them and inviting them into the Vatican’s lakeside estate for a lunch of lasagna and roast veal. In his homily, Leo celebrated the “fire of charity” that had brought them together. Leo, the former Robert Prevost, spent most of his adult life working with the poor people of Peru, first as an Augustinian missionary and then as bishop. There, he greatly reinforced the work of the local Caritas charity, opening soup kitchens and shelters for migrants.

Bolivia heads to the polls as its right-wing opposition eyes first victory in decades

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivians have headed to the polls for a pivotal election that could end the long reign of the leftist Movement Toward Socialism party. The election could see a right-wing government in power for the first time in over two decades. The race is tight, with many voters still undecided. Bolivia faces its worst economic crisis in 40 years, with inflation and shortages affecting daily life. The outcome could shift Bolivia's geopolitical alliances, currently aligned with countries like Venezuela and China. If no candidate wins outright, a runoff is expected on October 19.

With the Bayeux Tapestry that tells of their long rivalry, France and Britain are making nice

BAYEUX, France (AP) — The Bayeux Tapestry, a medieval masterpiece depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England, is set for a new chapter. Next year, it will be transported from Bayeux, Normandy, to the British Museum in London for an exhibition from September 2026 to July 2027. This will be its first U.K. appearance in nearly 1,000 years. The tapestry's journey symbolizes warming relations between the U.K. and France after Brexit. Moving the fragile, 70-meter-long artwork poses risks, but both countries are working to ensure its safe transport. During its absence, the Bayeux Museum will undergo major renovations.

Senegal's ‘schools for husbands’ aim to shift gender roles and keep mothers from dying

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal's “schools for husbands” have been training hundreds of men in largely conservative communities on issues ranging from women's rights to the need to help with household chores. The government has seized on the program as a way to further improve maternal and newborn health in a West African country where many women must seek a men's permission for life-changing decisions. From a Muslim imam to a former army commando, men who teach in the program or attend its talks acknowledge the benefits. But not all issues are easily embraced.

Chimaev wins UFC middleweight belt by unanimous decision

CHICAGO (AP) — Khamzat Chimaev continued his dominance in the UFC, capturing the middleweight belt by defeating  Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision at UFC 319. With a smile on his face, Chimaev (15-0) shot out of his corner in the first round with a takedown of Du Plessis (23-3) in the opening seconds and had Du Plessis on his back for almost the entire first round. Despite the ground control by Chimaev, Du Plessis was able to avoid significant damage in the first round. All three judges scored the fight 50-44.