Turkey begins offensive against Kurdish fighters in Syria

(AP) -- Turkey launched a military operation Wednesday against Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria after U.S. forces withdrew from the area, with activists reporting airstrikes on a town on Syria's northern border.

Madrid to cull nearly 12,000 invasive parakeets over threats to environment, public safety

Madrid’s city council on Monday announced plans to rid the Spanish capital of thousands of invasive parakeets through “ethical culling” and sterilization of eggs.

More dead wild elephants discovered at Thai waterfall; toll at 11

Wildlife officials in Thailand said Tuesday they have discovered the carcasses of five more wild elephants downstream from a waterfall where the bodies of six other elephants were found last weekend.

Trump defends decision to abandon Kurdish allies in Syria

(AP) -- President Donald Trump cast his decision to abandon Kurdish fighters in Syria as fulfilling a campaign promise to withdraw from "endless war" in the Middle East, even as Republican critics and others said he was sacrificing a U.S. ally and undermining American credibility.

Hong Kong leader: Chinese military could step in if uprising gets bad

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam warns the Chinese military could step in if an uprising for democratic reforms in the city gets bad, but she reiterates the government still hopes to resolve the crisis on its own.

Parents sue Fortnite creator for ‘knowingly’ making an ‘addictive game,’ comparing it to drug

The parents of two children are attempting to sue the maker of the massively popular video game Fortnite because they believe the creators “knowingly” made the game as addictive as drugs such as cocaine.

Tuna over-fished across the globe at unprecedented rates — scientists say it’s unsustainable

Humans are fishing more tuna from the ocean than ever before, and we’re venturing further than ever into open ocean to do so, but the rate at which industrial tuna fishing is increasing is unsustainable, according to a recent study published in the journal Fisheries Research.

US troops start pullout from along Turkey's border in Syria

There are about 1,000 U.S. troops in northern Syria, and a senior U.S. official said they will pull back from the area -- and potentially depart the country entirely, should widespread fighting break out between Turkish and Kurdish forces.

'I was suspicious, but it was tasty': Guinea pig ice cream for sale in Ecuador

In Ecuador, people typically cook guinea pigs with salt and serve them with potatoes and peanut sauce. But one vendor is taking things to another gastronomic level.

Trump allies sought changes at Ukraine utility: AP sources

A circle of businessmen and Republican donors touted connections to Giuliani and Trump while trying to install new management at the top of Ukraine's massive state gas company. Their plan was to then steer lucrative contracts to companies controlled by Trump allies, according to two people with knowledge of their plans.

Security forces kill more than 80 in 5 days of Iraq protests

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi protesters pressed on with angry anti-government rallies in the capital and across several provinces for a fifth day Saturday, setting government offices on fire and ignoring appeals for calm from political and religious leaders. Security agencies fatally shot 19 protesters and wounded more than three dozen in a sustained deadly response that has claimed more than 80 lives since the upheaval began.

French wine, Irish whiskey and cheese will be more expensive thanks to the latest US tariffs

If you love Irish whiskey or French wine, you may end up paying quite a bit more for the imported goods because the Trump administration slapped steep tariffs on $7.5 billion in European goods.

Diplomats pushed Ukraine to investigate, dangled Trump visit

Top U.S. diplomats encouraged Ukraine's newly elected president to conduct an investigation linked to Joe Biden's family in return for a high-profile visit with President Donald Trump. It soon escalated into what one diplomat feared was a "crazy" swap that risked vital U.S. military aid.

Massive iceberg breaks off Antarctica

A gigantic iceberg broke off Antarctica recently, but scientists say the incident is part of a normal cycle and not related to climate change.

Koala joey makes adorable debut at Australian zoo

Elsa the koala joey was introduced to the world at the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, New South Wales, in September.