Germany players cover mouths at World Cup in FIFA protest

Germany's players covered their mouths for their team photo before their opening World Cup match in an apparent rebuke of FIFA’s clampdown on plans to wear armbands to protest discrimination in host nation Qatar.

Workers at virus-hit iPhone factory in China beaten, detained after protests

Videos and postings on Chinese social media showed people in masks confronting police. One person was hit in the head with a club and another was taken away with his arms held behind his back.

Indonesia earthquake: Death toll rises to 268; 151 still missing

The toll is expected to rise further, but no estimates were immediately available. Officials say another 1,083 people were injured in the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that hit Monday near the city of Cianjur.

2 killed after plane crashes into firetruck upon takeoff in Peru

Luis Ponce La Jara, general commander of the fire department, said two firefighters were killed and one was injured when the truck they were in was struck by the plane.

US moves to shield Saudi crown prince in journalist killing

The Biden administration says Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s high office should shield him from a lawsuit over his role in the killing of a U.S.-based journalist, making a turnaround from Joe Biden’s passionate campaign trail denunciations of the prince over the brutal slaying.

Qatar bans alcohol sales at World Cup stadiums in about-face

The decision comes only two days before games start in Qatar and raised questions about how much control FIFA retains over its tournament.

North Korea test-launches ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in US

North Korea test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying a nuclear warhead with a range that could strike anywhere across the U.S.'s mainland, defense officials said Friday. 

WNBA star Brittney Griner transferred to Russian penal colony in Mordovia region

The WNBA star has been placed at Female Penal Colony IK-2 in Yavas, which is in the region of Mordovia – the same area where American Paul Whelan is being held, according to Reuters.

Hilarious video proves reporter's point about why elephants need our protection

Kenyan reporter Alvin Kaunda had an important message for viewers about human impacts on the environment. A nearby baby elephant had other concerns. 

Kevin Spacey to face 7 additional sex charges in UK

Kevin Spacey will be charged with seven further sex offenses in Britain, all relating to the same alleged victim, authorities said. The actor now faces 12 charges total in the U.K.

Biden: 'Unlikely' missile that hit Poland was fired from Russia

President Joe Biden convened an "emergency" meeting of the Group of Seven and NATO leaders Wednesday morning for consultations after NATO-ally Poland said a "Russian-made" missile killed two people in the eastern part of its country.

Poland says Russian-made missile fell on country, killing 2

Poland said early Wednesday that a Russian-made missile fell in the eastern part of the country, killing two people in a blast that Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy decried as “a very significant escalation” of the war.

There are now 8 billion people on Earth, UN report says

The U.N. report says much of the growth expected between now and 2050 is coming from just eight countries.

Recent false reports of attacks at US schools coming from overseas, federal agents say

Federal agents believe a recent spate of threats and false reports of shooters at high schools and colleges across the U.S. may be coming from outside of the country.

DEA's most corrupt agent details parties, sex amid 'unwinnable' drug war

José Irizarry accepts that he’s known as the most corrupt agent in U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration history. he used his final hours of freedom to tell his story to The Associated Press, and a Pinellas County man is currently jailed for not telling what he knows about related cases.

Biden discusses Taiwan with China's Xi Jinping in effort to avoid 'conflict'

In a news conference following the meeting, Biden said that despite China's recent saber-rattling, he does not believe "there’s any imminent attempt on the part of China to invade Taiwan.”

Istanbul explosion: At least 6 killed, several hurt in bomb blast

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the blast a “treacherous attack” and said its perpetrators would be punished