Last week, in surprise move, Ukraine sent it's military into Russian territory. And so far the Russians have been struggling to mount a defense and kick them out. We hear what is known about the operation from our correspondent in Kyiv.

Hamas is hinting it may not attend a cease-fire meeting with Israel after its latest attack in Gaza. Plus, a recap of the Paris Olympics and its closing ceremony.

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Hundreds of firefighters backed by more than 30 water-dropping planes were battling a major forest fire raging out of control Monday on the northern fringes of Athens.

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In a joint statement released Monday, the British, French and German leaders endorsed the latest push by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt to broker an agreement to end the 10-month-old Israel-Hamas war.

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After rapid advances in western Russia, a Ukrainian military offensive slowed over the weekend. Russia is sending reinforcements to the area for a likely counterattack, but hasn't launched it yet.

Strikes in Gaza continue to kill dozens of Palestinians, and Israeli military evacuation orders are forcing Palestinians to displace with their families -- again.

Thousands filled the streets of the Serbian capital Belgrade on Saturday to protest plans to mine one of Europe’s largest deposits of lithium. Lithium is a crucial material for electric car batteries.

After several days of rapid advances in western Russia, the Ukrainian military offensive has slowed. Russia is sending reinforcements to the area, but has not yet launched a major counterattack.

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Nigeria had a terrible showing at the Olympics. Its athletes say they were failed by corruption and mismanagement by the nation's sports officials.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Mushfiq Mobarak, a Professor of Economics at Yale University, about how regional powers will view the overthrow of Bangladesh’s authoritarian leader last week.

Researchers say an ancient calendar discovered in southern Turkey may also memorialize a devastating comet strike that hit Earth nearly 13,000 years ago.

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NRR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Firas Maksad, the Middle East Institute, about a potential Iranian response to the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran.

Officials and state-controlled media have launched a major campaign against the rally, comparing it to the uprising in Ukraine that led to the fall of that country's then pro-Russia president in 2013.

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The recent hostage swap with the Kremlin raises questions about the risks of future detentions.

NPR's Pien Huang speaks to Ashley Jackson, co-director of the Center on Armed Groups, about the role of Islamic State affiliate groups on the recent foiled attacks on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.

An Israeli strike on a school in Gaza killed at least 80 people, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel says it hit a Hamas command center.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro is using social media to crack down on government opponents and glorify security forces.

Ukraine invaded Russia this week - an attack that was shocking in scope and execution. Ukraine’s cross-border incursion into western Russia is now in its fifth day.

NPR’s Scott Simon speaks to Dr. Marc Owen-Jones, a disinformation researcher, about the role of social media during race riots in the UK.

The Israeli military acknowledged the strike, claiming it hit a Hamas command center within the school. Hamas denied that.

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