June 23, 2016 Islamic State militants push back in Syria, Iraq and Libya Even as internationally backed forces chip away at Islamic State-held territory in Syria, Iraq and Libya, the militants have demonstrated a stubborn resilience this week in the face of recent losses.
June 23, 2016 Police: Inmates take guard hostage in Quebec courthouse Quebec's Public Security Department says inmates have taken a female security guard hostage in the basement of a courthouse in a northern town.
June 23, 2016 US and Japan request urgent UN meeting on North Korea launch The United States and Japan have requested an urgent meeting of the U.N.
June 23, 2016 Panama Canal to open amid shipping downturn The $5.25 billion expansion of the Panama canal is set to open Sunday at a difficult moment for the international commercial shipping market.
June 23, 2016 AP Analysis: NKorea missile success followed flurry of flops North Korea endured international humiliation with five failed launches in about two months before it finally pulled off what appears to be a successful test of a powerful new midrange missile.
June 23, 2016 North Korea makes apparent progress with midrange missile North Korea took a significant step Wednesday in the development of a powerful ballistic missile intended to reach U.S. bases in the Pacific, launching one of the weapons about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) high after five failed attempts in recent months.
June 23, 2016 Cayman launches program to thin exploding numbers of iguanas A ballooning population of invasive green iguanas on Grand Cayman has become so alarming that the U.K. Caribbean territory has launched a pilot program to figure out how best to fight reptiles that began as escapees from the pet trade.
June 22, 2016 McIlroy out of Rio Olympics over Zika concerns Golfer Rory McIlroy became one of the most high-profile sports stars to opt out of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics because of concerns about the Zika virus, saying Wednesday it is "a risk I am unwilling to take."
June 22, 2016 Security guard held hostage at Quebec jail freed after standoff Inmates at a jail in eastern Quebec took a female security guard hostage Wednesday, prompting the evacuation of a courthouse and an hours-long standoff with police.
June 22, 2016 Colombia, FARC rebels announce historic cease-fire deal The Colombian government and leftist FARC rebels say they have reached a deal on a bilateral cease-fire that would be the last major step toward ending one of the world's longest wars.