Call between IOC, Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai raises more questions
A video call between the head of the International Olympic Committee and Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai was meant to reassure the world that she was safe — but instead has raised more questions.
Austria's nationwide lockdown begins, with COVID-19 vaccine mandate looming
The new lockdown measures kicked in Monday a day after many Austrians hurriedly enjoyed a last day out at coffeehouses and Christmas markets across the country.
Haiti kidnapping: 2 missionaries freed weeks after abduction, organization says
Christian Aid Ministries issued a statement Sunday saying the two “are safe, in good spirits and being cared for.”
Peng Shuai: Olympic committee says it spoke with Chinese tennis star in 30-minute video call
The IOC said Peng 'appeared relaxed' and asked that they respect her privacy.
Mask-wearing cuts new COVID-19 cases by 53%, global studies suggest
A team reviewed the results of several studies worldwide and said findings suggest that mask-wearing was found to reduce new COVID-19 cases by more than half.
'Whole of society' effort needed to fight misinformation: Aspen Institute
A new report says misinformation is hurting efforts to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges, be it climate change, COVID-19 or political polarization.
17 dead, dozens missing after heavy rains flood southern India
Authorities in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh say at least 17 people have died and dozens are reported missing after days of heavy rains.
Iran-backed hackers accused of targeting US with ransomware, other cyber threats
An advisory issued by officials in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia warns that hackers linked to the Iranian government have been targeting a “broad range of victims” inside the U.S. with ransomware and other malicious cyber activity.
Brazil's Amazon rainforest deforestation surges to worst levels in 15 years, data shows
The area deforested in Brazil’s Amazon region reached a 15-year record after a 22% increase from the prior year, according to official data published Thursday.
Peng Shuai: Doubts over China tennis star's email raise safety concerns
Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, not seen in public since she accused a former top government official of sexual assault, purportedly sent an email claiming she was safe and that the allegation was false.
Germany implements new COVID-19 measures amid coronavirus surge
Germany has approved new measures to rein in record coronavirus infections as Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the pandemic situation in the country “really worrying” and demanded “consequent action” to contain the spread of the virus.
2 Iranian hackers charged with threatening US voters ahead of 2020 election
The indictment filed in federal court in Manhattan was unsealed on Thursday.
Blinken arrives in Kenya to boost US response to regional crises
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made his first official visit to Africa in Kenya amid worsening crises in neighboring Ethiopia and Sudan.
US to invest billions in COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing to boost world supply
The Biden administration is making billions of dollars available to drugmakers to scale up domestic production of COVID-19 vaccines to share with the world.
Callers to helplines around the world voiced similar pandemic worries
A study on calls to crisis helplines in 19 countries shows a striking similarity in the pandemic's toll on mental health. Fears of infection, loneliness and physical health were the main concerns voiced in the pandemic's early weeks.
Bird flu cases reported in Europe and Asia, raising alert for global poultry industry
Health experts are concerned about the pandemic potential of avian flu and the global poultry industry has been put on high alert following recent reported cases of the virus among birds in Europe and Asia.
World Cup European qualifiers: Italy stumbles into playoffs again
Italy will have to go through the playoffs once again in its bid to reach the World Cup. Switzerland and England are heading straight to Qatar.
Pfizer signs deal to let other companies make its COVID-19 pill
Pfizer has signed a deal with a U.N.-backed group to allow other manufacturers to make its experimental COVID-19 pill in an effort to expand access.
Biden-Xi meeting: Leaders try to tamp down US-China tension with summit
President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping held a more than three-hour virtual talk, concluding that they need to tread carefully amid fraught competition.
Liverpool explosion: UK says taxi blast was a bomb, raises threat level
U.K. police say an explosion in a taxi outside a Liverpool hospital that killed the suspected bombmaker is being treated as a terrorist incident.