INTERNATIONAL

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration is aiming to lead the international bloc opposed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine into a broader coalition to counter what it sees as a more serious, long-term threat to global order from China.

Earlier this month, we asked you, readers and viewers, if you could relate to what’s happening in Ukraine.

The city of Mariupol looks like it will be in Russian hands shortly after hundreds of the remaining Ukrainian soldiers were ordered to evacuate.

Russian forces pounded targets across Ukraine, taking aim at supply lines for foreign weapons in the west and intensifying an offensive in the east, as the European Union moved Wednesday to further punish Moscow for the war with a proposed ban on oil imports.

This oil spill in Santa Monica was the worst in U.S. waters at the time.

Refugees continue to pour into other countries such as Poland and England, with an estimated four million Ukrainian refugees leaving the country.

As veterans of World War II get older and older, with most of them now in their late 80s and 90s, how will we preserve that legacy and keep their sacrifice alive?

Russia’s relentless bombardment of Ukraine has edged closer to central Kyiv. Large explosions thundered across Kyiv before dawn Tuesday as Russia’s assault on the capital appeared to become more systematic, The Associated Press reported.

Endurance belonged to Sir Ernest Shackleton, who led a crew of 27-men and 69 dogs who attempted to traverse the continent via the South Pole and establish a base on the coast of the Weddell Sea.

A United Nations report is painting a dire picture of the Great Barrier Reef's future.

After weeks of buildup, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier this week, invading the country from the north, east and south, launching airstrikes on cities and military bases.

Hundreds of mourners in Ireland have turned out for the funeral Mass of a 23-year-old elementary school teacher whose killing has reignited debate about how to tackle violence against women.

There are many holiday rituals that are celebrated by just about everyone around the world, whether that means exchanging gifts, family get-togethers or attending church services.

When we think of castles, we often think of kings and queens, or maybe even some fairytale Disney movie -- but always some extravagant place, and certainly not one in which we’d be able to stay -- until now.

How would you like to live forever? If a child prodigy in Belgium has his way, then that could eventually be the case.

Thousands of people poured into the streets in Cuba on Sunday in what is becoming the largest anti-government protest in decades.

Back in May, a farm in Mexico started developing a sinkhole that has since caused the evacuation of a family living in a nearby house, the collapse of that same house and a rescue operation for two dogs that, like the house, were also swallowed up by the sinkhole.

What are some interesting facts about flags around the globe?

Already famous at home, China's wandering elephants are now becoming international stars.

As the United States has seen vaccination numbers rise and COVID-19 cases decline, many Americans might be feeling a desire to travel more.

Some countries celebrate Father's Day a little differently than in the U.S.

How well do you know your international travel destinations? It’s time to test your knowledge.

Just like in 84 countries around the world, Father’s Day is celebrated in the United States the third Sunday of every June.

Forty-eight people in the Moncton area and New Brunswick Acadian peninsula of Canada have suffered from a rare and debilitating brain disorder.

Most of the world seems to have a traditional way of celebrating Mother’s Day and making sure moms everywhere feel loved and receive the praise they deserve.

Britain mourned the death of Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, on Friday from the moment the BBC interrupted scheduled programming to broadcast the national anthem, “God Save the Queen.”

Prince Philip, the irascible and tough-minded husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died, Buckingham Palace said Friday.

From February to November, Mother's Day is celebrated year-round throughout the world.

It’s time to adjust the clocks in the kitchen, bedroom, car and wherever else is needed, as another daylight saving time day is upon us this weekend.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive to attend the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 in London, England. As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently completed their North America transition, many things have changed for them, including from where they are getting their income. Harry told James Corden in an interview last week that he had to step back and eventually withdraw from his royal duties, because: “We all know what the British press can be like, and it was destroying my mental health. The reason for the couple removing themselves from their royal duties will likely be one of the hottest topics of the interview. But the couple’s endeavors and expenses will no longer be covered with royal money.

Valentine’s Day is big business in the United States.

Miners in Uruguay recently made a once-in-a-lifetime type of discovery when they uncovered a set of identical geodes shaped in a heart. The heart-shaped geodes feature a white outline of crystals, surrounding a purple middle. Contributed photo/Marcos Lorenzelli (Uruguay Minerals)The discovery was made by miners from Uruguay Minerals, who were working to open a mine on the border of Uruguay and Brazil, according to My Modern Met. The geodes came totally by surprise. “We were opening the mine to work normally,” Marcos Lorenzelli of Uruguay Minerals told My Modern Met.

(2020 Getty Images)On Jan. 9, the World Health Organization first announced news about the deadly coronavirus that had emerged in Wuhan, China. (2020 Getty Images)On March 24, it became official: The Olympics would be postponed. (2020 Getty Images)On May 4, it was reported that giant insects called “murder hornets” were spotted in the U.S., specifically, Washington state. (Getty Images)On Aug. 18, on the second night of the (virtual) 2020 Democratic National Convention, the party officially nominated Biden. (Getty Images)On Oct. 11, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat in NBA Finals to win another championship.

As astronauts work on the International Space Station, it’s easy to wonder what their lives are like up there. How do astronauts do basic life activities on a floating space ship? How are their needs met?

President Donald Trump has joined a growing group of world leaders who have been infected with the coronavirus. (WPA Pool-Getty Images)The British prime minister was the first major world leader confirmed to have COVID-19, after facing criticism for downplaying the pandemic. Other top officials in former Soviet states who were infected include Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. (Getty Images)The virus drove the Bolivian interim president into isolation in July, but she said she was feeling well. 2 man in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, was hospitalized for COVID-19 last month and has recovered.

We’re guessing there were plenty of people who welcomed the change, but even working from home comes with its disadvantages. And let’s be honest: After the year we’ve had, we could all use a vacation by now. The One Happy Workation stay is up to three months of excellent deals on condos, villas and more. “When you workation in Aruba, you’ll live like a local, with discounts and access to special local experiences,” the website states. You can learn more about traveler health requirements by clicking hereThe minimum stay to take advantage of the program is one week.

While the U.S. surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths and the world approaches 1 million, Africa’s surge has been leveling off. Nkengasong insists that Africa can stand up to COVID-19 if given a fighting chance. Nkengasong urges African countries not to wait for help and rejects the image of the continent holding a begging bowl. ‘If we do not, something is terribly wrong with us’When the pandemic began, just two African countries could test for the coronavirus. Less than half of Africa’s countries have access to modern health care facilities, he said.

So, what made Mother Teresa such a figure of goodness? After leaving home at age 18, Mother Teresa joined the Sisters of Loreto at Loreto Abbey in Ireland and learned English there. Mother Teresa wasnt just a champion of one or two causes. In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2016, almost two decades after her death, Pope Francis declared Mother Teresa a saint.

MADRID – Masks will be mandatory for all students in Spain, ages 6 or older, when returning to schools in September because of increased coronavirus cases, the government announced Thursday. Previously, masks were only required for students above age 12 by some Spanish regions. Students will receive a daily body temperature check, must wash hands at least five times per day and classrooms will need frequent ventilation, the government said. That allows localized quarantines if there’s a positive test, rather than closing entire schools. Parents and teachers have expressed concern, with new waves of outbreaks since the country emerged from a strict lockdown.

The last economic boom the island experienced was in the mid-2000s, Insider reported, when the population reached about 650. Swen Lorenz, a local to Sark, created the Sark Society in an attempt to grow the village after hearing a rumor that the only supermarket might go out of business. The village was recognized as the worlds first dark sky island, according to the BBC, for its lack of light pollution. Sark restauranteurs try to reduce air miles to tractor minutes, the Sark website says. The Sark Society website says, You are about to receive a relocation consultancy for free!

Police in Singapore have taken an extraordinary step to ensure people are following social distancing rules. In a 3 1/2-month trial, police have used 22-pound pilotless drones, developed by Israel’s Airobotics, as a way to enforce social distancing and contain the spread of COVID-19, according to Reuters. Airobotics CEO Ran Krauss told Reuters the company is simply helping police maintain normal operations, specifically related to COVID-19. “The pandemic created a situation where it might be difficult for police to maintain,” Krauss said. The trial continues on in the social distancing aspect, according to Airobotics, and Krauss said the company is in talks with other cities to deploy drones.

Photo by Daniel Carde (Getty Images)Scenes in Beirut, Lebanon following an explosion near the city's port area on Tuesday. Photo by Daniel Carde (Getty Images)Scenes in Beirut, Lebanon following an explosion near the city's port area on Tuesday. Photo by Daniel Carde (Getty Images)Scenes in Beirut, Lebanon following an explosion near the city's port area on Tuesday. Photo by Daniel Carde (Getty Images)Scenes in Beirut, Lebanon following an explosion near the city's port area on Tuesday. Photo by Marwan Tahtah (Getty Images)Scenes in Beirut, Lebanon following an explosion near the city's port area on Tuesday.

The United States isn’t the only country gearing up for a birthday celebration this week.

The World Health Organization tried on Tuesday to clear up confusing comments about how often people can spread the coronavirus when they do not have symptoms. On Monday, Van Kerkhove had said that what appear to be asymptomatic cases of Covid-19 often turn out to be cases of mild disease. Van Kerkhove added that she was referring to reports from WHO member states when she made her comments on Monday. He said it "was not correct" to describe asymptomatic spread of the coronavirus as rare. The best scientific studies to date suggest that up to half of cases became infected from asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic people.

This week was a sad one for Christians around the world, as advocate, author and apologist Ravi Zacharias died Tuesday of sarcoma. Here are notable facts about the life of Zacharias:He was an atheist until a suicide attempt changed his life. He attempted suicide by swallowing poison, but he survived, and his life completely changed while at an Indian hospital, according to the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries website. At age 19, Zacharias won a preaching contest, and his life in ministry was off to a flying start. Celebrities, politicians and church leaders around the world paid tribute to Zacharias this week on Twitter.

KARACHI A jetliner carrying 98 people crashed Friday in a crowded neighborhood near the airport in Pakistans port city of Karachi after an apparent engine failure during landing. Video on social media appeared to show the jet flying low with flames shooting from one of its engines. Sir, mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday Pakistan 8303, the pilot said before the transmission ended. Science Minister Fawad Ahmed Chaudhry said this year has been a catastrophe just survival is so difficult, with the pandemic and now the tragedy of the plane crash. Airbus said it would provide technical assistance to investigators in France and Pakistan, as well as the airline and engine manufacturers.

A St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland without celebrations at local pubs? Yes, it is true, and just the latest example of how serious the coronavirus pandemic has become. The Irish government sent a release Sunday asking all pubs be closed from Sunday night until March 29 to help quell the spread of the coronavirus. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations surely will be affected around the world, and it’s hard to imagine you can’t even go to a pub in the heart of Ireland anymore to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But that once again emphasizes the seriousness of the pandemic and the sacrifices so many are making.

Shakira may have created the best new meme of 2020, but there’s cultural significance behind the tongue trill that instantly became iconic Sunday night. There were hit songs, lasers, sexy backup dancers, guitar solos and Lopez on a stripper pole absolutely living her best life. Most people know that Shakira is Colombian, but her father is Lebanese, and the tongue flick she did is actually called a zaghrouta, which is a traditional Arabic expression of celebration and happiness. This is called zaghrouta. https://t.co/bixdVn34vF — Bozi Tatarevic (@hoonable) February 3, 2020Chiming in because I know everyone will be making jokes about this for days — this is a popular Arab tradition, called zaghrouta, used to express joy at celebrations.

SAN ANTONIO – Dr. Jason Bowling, an infectious disease specialist at UT Health San Antonio, says the U.S. has “no need to panic right now" amid international efforts to contain the coronavirus that began in China. At least 17 deaths have been reported in China, where more than 500 cases are now confirmed. “Lots of travel and transmissible diseases can lead to increased numbers of cases,” Bowling said. “It appears to be a respiratory disease,” Bowling said. Bowling said technology helped unlock the genetic sequence of the new coronavirus strain.

“Deep down, I know there was an element of trying to get a pat on the back,” Albert said. “That’s when they completely blew me away with their response.”What the community leaders essentially told Albert and Zelaya was this: Thanks for your efforts and compassion, but you actually did more harm than good. The experience was such an eye-opener that it led Albert and Zelaya to a greater purpose and mission. “That goes back to the negative aid that is undermining the natural development of the Haitian people,” Albert said. The two discovered that nearly 80% of Haitian teachers haven’t been properly trained, and 60% of kids dropped out of classes during elementary school.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that intelligence sources indicate the plane was shot down by an Iranian missile. The secretary of Ukraine's national security council says seven possible causes are under investigation in the plane crash in Iran earlier this week. The French air accident investigation authority says it has been invited by Iran to join the probe into this week's plane crash near Tehran. He wouldn't comment on whether the plane could have been hit by an Iranian missile, which the U.S. has asserted. He wouldn't comment on whether the plane could have been hit by an Iranian missile, which the U.S. has asserted.