Magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes Croatia; 6 deaths reported

In Petrinja, cries could be heard from underneath destroyed houses. One woman was found alive some four hours after the quake.

South African president bans sales of alcohol, orders bars closed amid COVID-19 spikes

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reimposed a ban on the sales of alcohol and ordered the closure of all bars as part of new restrictions to help the country battle a resurgence of the coronavirus, including a new variant.

Europe comes together to receive COVID-19 vaccine

Doctors, nurses and the elderly rolled up their sleeves across the European Union to receive the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine Sunday.

First two cases of more contagious COVID virus detected in Canada

Two people in Canada have the new, more contagious strain of COVID-19. They are a couple. They have not been traveling. They did not have any exposure to anyone who was at high risk.

COVID-19 vaccinations begin in Hungary, Germany hours after shipments

Germany, Hungary and Slovakia began giving out their first coronavirus vaccine shots on Saturday only hours after receiving their first shipments.

US requires UK passengers to get negative test

The United States will require airline passengers from Britain to get a negative COVID-19 test before their flight. 

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.

Happy ‘howlidays’: Shelter dogs pick out their own toys for Christmas

A video showing shelter dogs choosing their Christmas gifts is the most wholesome content you didn’t know you needed this holiday season.

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.

Trump pardons of Blackwater contractors in killing of Iraqi civilians stir angry response

The pardons of four Blackwater contractors convicted in the shooting deaths of more than a dozen Iraqi civilians has prompted outrage from some human rights activists and Iraqis.

UK and EU reach historic post-Brexit trade agreement

Britain and the European Union have struck a provisional free-trade agreement that should avert New Year chaos for cross-border traders and bring a measure of certainty for businesses.

UK health officials announce 2nd new COVID-19 strain

The latest discovery has the United Kingdom taking extra precautions amid increased spread of COVID-19 due to the newly discovered coronavirus variants.

More EU nations ban travel from UK, fearing virus variant

A growing list of European Union nations and Canada barred travel from the U.K. on Sunday and others were considering similar action, in a bid to block a new strain of coronavirus sweeping across southern England from spreading to the continent.  

Cayman Islands jails Georgia college student in coronavirus case

A U.S. college student and her boyfriend have been sentenced to four months in prison in the Cayman Islands for violating strict COVID-19 measures following a recent ruling that will be appealed, their attorney said Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gets COVID-19 vaccine

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was vaccinated against the coronavirus on live television Saturday, becoming the first Israeli and one of the world’s leaders to be inoculated.