World News TheFOXposts

Asylum applications in the European Union continued to rise in the first half of 2023 following a major hike last year, pressuring limited hosting capacities and moving the issue up the political agenda in many nations BRUSSELS -- Asylum applications in the European Union continue d to rise in the first half of 2023 following a major hike last year, pressuring limited hosting capacities and moving the issue up the political agenda in many nations. The European Union Agency for Asylum said applications in the 27-nation bloc plus Switzerland and Norway rose 28% in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year. In all of 2022, applications increased 53%. “Based on current trends, applications could exceed 1 million by the end of 2023” in the region of about 460 million people, the agency said in a statement. The numbers are in addition to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, who are estimated at about 4 million and are hosted under temporary protection provisions. Sy...

Scores of Israeli protesters have flooded the streets outside the home of Israel’s justice minister, the architect of the country’s divisive judicial overhaul, a day before a pivotal Supreme Court hearing on the legality of the changes MODIIN, Israel -- Scores of Israeli protesters on Monday flooded the streets outside the home of Israel's justice minister, the architect of the country's divisive judicial overhaul, a day before a pivotal hearing in which the Supreme Court will decide whether to accept the curbing of its powers. Israeli police said they arrested six people in the central Israeli town of Modiin, home to Justice Minister Yair Levin, on charges of disrupting public order and blocking roads as they protested plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government to weaken the Supreme Court. The judicial plan has triggered one of the biggest domestic crises in Israeli history and exposed the country's bitter divides. On Tuesday, all 15 of Israel...

Major cities around the world have experienced alarming temperature increases in recent years, new research shows. Major cities around the world have experienced alarming temperature increases in recent years, new research shows. Average temperatures in several major cities in OECD countries have risen by more than 10% since 2019 alone, which could indicate amplified effects of climate change in the last decade, according to the Global Temperature Index report by Utility Bidder, a U.K.-based energy consulting firm. A tourist uses a fan to shade her face from the sun while waiting to watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace, during hot weather in London, July 18, 2022. Matt Dunham/AP, FILE The report found "exemplified changing weather patterns that are the prime example of global warming," James Longley, managing director at Utility Bidder, said in an emailed statement to ABC News. MORE: 2023 on track to become warmest year on record: Copernicus repo...

Russia waging major new offensive in eastern Ukraine, mounting its biggest push since last winter. But it already appeared to have suffered heavy casualties. KYIV, Ukraine -- With the eyes of the world glued to Israel and Gaza, Russia is waging a major new offensive in eastern Ukraine, mounting the largest push it has attempted since last winter. Thousands of Russian troops and hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles have been sent into the offensive operations, which began around a week ago and have seen Russia suffer severe casualties while making minor gains, according to Ukrainian officials and independent researchers. The Russian offensive operations are focused mainly on two areas in eastern Ukraine—the strategic city of Avdiivka and further north near Kupiansk, a city Ukraine liberated in a counteroffensive last year. MORE: Russia mounts largest assault in months in eastern Ukraine Russia has stopped its new offensive in part of Ukraine’s northeast after suffering heavy casu...

The widespread underground tunnel system in Gaza is designed to conceal and cover Hamas militants and execute surprise attacks, experts say. As Israel warns of an imminent ground assault in Gaza, one challenge that awaits a potential ground invasion involves a widespread under ground tunnel system designed to conceal and cover Hamas militants and execute surprise attacks, experts say. Hamas has previously claimed to have built 500 kilometers -- more than 300 miles -- of tunnels under Gaza. The tunnel system is so extensive and well-known it's referred to by some -- including the Israel Defense Forces -- as the "metro." A fighter from Izz al-Din al-Qassam, the military wing of Hamas in the Maghazi camp, stands in front of a tunnel in the central Gaza Strip, July 19, 2023. Yousef Masoud/SOPA Images via Getty Images Israel has become adept at detecting so-called terror tunnels that have crossed its border -- though the extensive tunnel system in Gaza "will present...

QatarEnergy, the Gulf country’s state-run petroleum firm, has agreed to buy a 25% stake in a massive gas project in Iraq DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- QatarEnergy, the Gulf country's state-run Pet roleum firm, said Wednesday it has agreed to buy a 25% stake in a massive gas project in Iraq, marking the rare entry of a major producer into a market that Western firms have pulled back from in recent years. The Gas Growth Integrated Project, launched by French oil giant Total in 2021, aims to develop facilities to recover natural gas from several oil fields in southern Iraq. That's where it is currently being “flared” — when the natural gas released through oil production is burned and released into the atmosphere. The project also aims to treat seawater for injection into oil reservoirs to boost production. Total maintains a 45% share of the project, while Iraq's Basra Oil Company owns 30%. QatarEnergies said the total investment in the project would be around $10 billi...