Amnesty International calls for charges to be dropped against Julian Assange

Amnesty International is calling for the release of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange ahead of a hearing against a decision by U.K. courts in January to reject the United States’ request to extradite him.

Japan’s Princess Mako gives up royal status to marry commoner boyfriend

Japanese Princess Mako gave up her royal status to marry commoner Kei Komuro and said it was "a necessary choice to live while cherishing our hearts.”

Moderna to supply Africa with up to 110 million COVID-19 vaccine doses

Moderna said it will make up to 110 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine available to African countries at its “lowest tiered price.”

UN: Greenhouse gas levels hit new record in 2020 despite lockdowns

Greenhouse gas levels hit a new record high in 2020 and increased at a faster rate than the annual average for the last decade, the U.N. says.

Greenhouse gas levels hit record high, UN report says

The U.N. weather agency says greenhouse gas concentrations hit a new record high last year and increased at a faster rate than the annual average for the last decade.

Sudan's military seizes power in coup, arrests PM and other leaders

Sudan’s military seized power on Monday after troops arrested Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other senior officials.

Facebook: Language gaps weaken platform's screening of hate, terrorism

Internal Facebook files reveal that in some of the world’s most volatile regions, terrorist content and hate speech proliferate because of the company’s language gaps.

Australia wants social media companies to seek parental consent for kids

Australia wants to make social media companies seek parental consent for users under 16 or face millions of dollars in fines, according to a draft law.

Ed Sheeran tests positive for COVID-19

Ed Sheeran revealed Sunday that he tested positive for COVID-19. He will conduct interviews and perform from his house while self-isolating.

South Africa tries to end vaccine inequity by replicating Moderna shot

A team of young scientists in South Africa is assembling the equipment needed to reverse engineer Moderna's coronavirus vaccine.

Forecasters monitor system expected to form off U.S. east coast

“The frontal low will likely move generally northward through the middle of the week and could bring rain and wind impacts to portions of the mid-Atlantic and northeast U.S. coast,” the NHC said.

Colombia’s most wanted drug lord captured in jungle raid

Colombian security forces have captured the country’s most wanted drug trafficker, a rural warlord who stayed on the run for more than a decade by corrupting state officials and aligning himself with combatants on the left and right.

More elephants evolving to be tuskless after years of poaching, researchers say

Researchers have pinpointed how years of civil war and poaching in Mozambique have led to a greater proportion of elephants that will never develop tusks.

New Zealand prime minister keeps cool amid earthquake during news conference

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was visibly startled by an earthquake during a news conference, but she quickly smiled and turned her attention back to the reporter.

Queen Elizabeth II returns to Windsor Castle after hospital stay

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II went to a hospital in London on Wednesday but was back at Windsor Castle on Friday and in good spirits.

Putin orders Russians stay off work for a week amid rising COVID-19 infections, deaths

President Vladimir Putin has ordered many of Russia's workers to stay off work for a week starting later this month amid rising coronavirus infection and death numbers.

COVID-19 cases soar in Czech Republic; new restrictions imposed

The Czech Republic has been hit by a steep rise in coronavirus infections that have reached levels unseen since late April. In response, the government will require everyone to wear face coverings at workplaces.