Novak Djokovic held at Australian border over visa mix-up

Novak Djokovic had to spend the night at the Melbourne airport as officials refused to let him enter the country for the Australian Open.

Pope criticizes couples who adopt pets instead of children: 'a form of selfishness'

Pope Francis on Wednesday branded couples who adopt pets instead of children as "selfish" as part of a call to resolve the "demographic winter" that the West faces.

How will pandemic end? Despite omicron, COVID-19 will become endemic

Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic will eventually end, even if omicron is complicating the question of when. But it won’t be like flipping a switch.

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok resigns, cites political turmoil

Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announced his resignation Sunday amid political deadlock and widespread pro-democracy protests following a military coup that derailed the country’s fragile transition to democratic rule.

Holocaust survivor 'Mrs. Gertrude' dies at 94

Gertrude Pressburger died Friday after a long illness, her family told the Austrian press agency APA on Saturday.

New Year's Eve: Omicron mutes celebrations as many hope for better 2022

New Year's Eve celebrations were muted or canceled in many places around the world for the second straight year due to a surge of COVID-19 infections.

Israel to offer 4th dose of COVID-19 vaccine to most vulnerable

Israel approved a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for people most vulnerable to the virus, the first country to do so.

WHO: Global COVID cases up 11% last week, biggest increase in Americas

The WHO says the number of new COVID-19 cases worldwide increased by 11% last week, while newly reported deaths were down 4% globally.

Biden revokes COVID-19 travel ban from southern African nations

The U.S. travel ban from several southern African countries is being lifted, President Joe Biden said in a proclamation.

James Webb Space Telescope, world’s largest and most powerful, launched Christmas morning

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launched successfully early Christmas morning from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the sky.

Israel to ban travel to US, Canada due to omicron variant concerns

Israel will ban travel to the United States, Canada and eight other countries amid the rapid, global spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

New snake species discovered thanks to Instagram post

Oligodon churahensis is the newest snake species after a university student unknowingly posted a picture of it on Instagram in June 2020.

Christmas light displays from around the world

While it seems to be an age-old tradition, electric Christmas lights didn’t really catch on until the early twentieth century. Here’s a look at displays nowadays from around the world.

Omicron variant detected in 89 countries; WHO says cases rapidly doubling

WHO said on Saturday that omicron’s “substantial growth advantage” over the delta variant means it's likely to soon overtake delta as the dominant variant.

Pope Francis celebrates 85th birthday as reform hits stride

Pope Francis turns 85 on Dec. 17, a milestone as he continues efforts to make the Catholic Church more attuned to the laity.