Extreme heat brings earlier fruit harvest

At a fruit stand in Vancouver, cherries and blueberries are for sale about three weeks earlier than usual, the result of a record-setting heat wave in Vancouver and throughout the province of British Columbia.

Solar-powered flight breaks world record

A Swiss team attempting to circumnavigate the globe with an aircraft powered only by the sun's energy has broken a world record for the longest nonstop solo flight, the project team said on Thursday.

Farmers use wastewater from oil companies to irrigate crops

An efficient solution to a historic drought or an environmentally risky pact with the devil?

Voters swing to 'yes' camp as crucial decision looms

A new survey on Friday ahead of Greece's make-or-break weekend referendum on whether to accept tough new bailout conditions showed a swing against the government to a "yes" result, amid a sense of crisis fueled by cash rationing and burgeoning protests.

Hard-hit firms grind to a halt

The ANTYMET car-recycling company northwest of Athens was already down on its luck after six years of one of the worst economic crises of modern times. Then the Greek government closed the banks.

Country's neighbors also feeling the pinch

Greece's debt crisis is lapping over the border into the southwestern corner of Bulgaria, where the owner of the Felipe Z textile factory worries she may not be able to pay her 60 workers next week.

More troops deployed on Syrian border

Turkey has deployed additional troops and equipment along part of its border with Syria as fighting north of the city of Aleppo intensified, security sources said, but Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said there were no immediate plans for any incursion.

IN BRIEF (Page 9)

Great Barrier Reef to stay off UN's 'endangered' list

Australia hailed a United Nations decision to keep the Great Barrier Reef off its endangered list as "tremendous" on Thursday, but activists warned more must be done to improve the marine park's health.

California mulls move to 'zero-emission buses'

Fifteen years ago, California led the way to cleaner transit buses with strict tailpipe emissions standards, which effectively ushered out diesel as the primary fuel for buses in the state and replaced it with natural gas.

Joy over deal to restore ties with US

The announcement that diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States are to be restored has been welcomed by Cubans.

Veteran diplomat in Havana shortlisted for ambassador

From his office high above Havana, Jeffrey DeLaurentis has a sweeping view of the cerulean Florida Straits and the blood-red letters declaring Cuba's defiance of the United States.