More than 2 million people dead globally from COVID-19
The number of dead from the virus is about equal to the population of Brussels, Mecca, Minsk or Vienna.
Dad arrested for breaking curfew to buy formula for newborn
A South African father was arrested after going out to buy baby formula for his newborn baby during curfew hours.
Trump hits Cuba with new terrorism sanctions
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the United States has designated Cuba as a "state sponsor of terrorism."
Boeing jet carrying 62 in Indonesia goes missing
A Sriwijaya Air passenger jet carrying 62 people lost contact with air traffic controllers after taking off from Indonesia’s capital on Saturday on a domestic flight, officials said.
'Disgraceful scenes in US Congress': World leaders express shock at pro-Trump rioters' breach of US Capitol
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is among those in the United States and abroad speaking out after a mob of violent protesters made its way into the U.S. Capitol.
Top US national security agencies say hack of federal departments 'likely Russian in origin'
Top national security agencies are confirming that Russia was likely responsible for a massive hack of U.S. government departments and corporations, rejecting Trump’s claim that China might be to blame.
South Africa testing whether COVID-19 vaccines work against country’s coronavirus strain
Scientists in South Africa are urgently testing to see if the vaccines for COVID-19 will be effective against the country’s variant virus.
South African coronavirus variant 'very significant problem,' UK health secretary says
South African researchers are testing current vaccines against the coronavirus variant
New UK lockdown issued until mid-February to combat fast-spreading COVID-19 strain
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday a new national lockdown for England until at least mid-February to combat a fast-spreading new variant of the coronavirus, even as Britain ramped up its vaccination program by becoming the first nation to start using the shot developed by Oxford University and drugmaker AstraZeneca.
Greek nurse builds ICU at home to treat relatives with COVID-19
Tachtatzoglou, who had to quarantine and could not go to work once his relatives tested positive for the virus, decided to put his ICU experience to use by looking after them himself.
Pope Francis misses Vatican New Year's ceremonies due to back pain
Francis was suffering from "painful sciatica" and could not preside at an hour-long, year-end prayer service Thursday evening, spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
China approves 1st homegrown vaccine as COVID-19 pandemic surges globally
China has approved its first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine for general use, marking the addition of another vaccine as the virus surges back around the world.
Canada to require negative COVID-19 test for people entering country
Passengers must have a negative test taken within three days before their arrival to the country, the Canadian government said Wednesday.
Bill legalizing abortion passes in Pope Francis' native Argentina
Abortion will be legalized in Pope Francis' homeland up to the 14th week of pregnancy, and also will be legal after that time in cases of rape or danger to the mother’s life.
Girl Scout cookies tied to child labor in palm oil industry
An Associated Press investigation has found an army of children toiling beneath a canopy of towering palm oil trees in Indonesia and Malaysia, the main suppliers of the world’s most consumed vegetable oil.
Pierre Cardin, French fashion designer and licensing pioneer, dies at 98
France’s Academy of Fine Arts says fashion designer Pierre Cardin has died at age 98.
12-year-old girl dead after magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes Croatia
A strong earthquake hit central Croatia on Tuesday, causing major damage to homes and other buildings in a town southeast of the capital. Authorities said a girl was killed and at least 20 people were injured in the quake.
Hospital develops 'hugging curtain' for sick children to touch loved ones
A hospital in Rome has come up with a unique solution to allow families to have personal contact with children who are patients while also minimizing the risk of them catching the coronavirus.
A pandemic Christmas: Churches and borders shut
Curfews, quarantines and even border closings complicated Christmas celebrations Friday for countless people around the globe, but ingenuity, determination and imagination helped keep the day special for many.
New coronavirus variant appears to emerge in Nigeria, Africa's CDC says
Africa’s top public health official says another new variant of the coronavirus appears to have emerged in Nigeria, but further investigation is needed.