Mike Pompeo to begin difficult 7-nation tour in France

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says he discussed “global challenges” with a handful of members of a Paris think tank at the start of a seven-country tour of Europe and the Middle East.

Austria shuts schools, most stores, to curb spread of COVID-19

Austria is tightening its partial lockdown, including by closing non-essential stores and shifting schools to online teaching, amid galloping coronavirus infection rates in the Alpine nation.

Russian, North Korean hackers target vaccine work, Microsoft says

Microsoft said that most of the attacks in recent months were unsuccessful, but provided no information on how many succeeded or how serious those breaches were.

6 Americans among peacekeepers killed in Egypt helicopter crash

The international force that monitors the four-decade-old Israeli-Egyptian peace agreement has confirmed the deaths of eight peacekeepers in a helicopter crash in Egypt's Sinai region.

Plant-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate enters Phase 2 trial

A biopharmaceutical company has announced positive Phase 1 trial results of a potential plant-based COVID-19 vaccine.

Boris Johnson calls Trump 'previous president'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called Donald Trump the “previous president” of the United States and said it was “refreshing” to talk to President-elect Joe Biden.

Vatican faults many for ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick's rise but spares Pope Francis

A Vatican investigation into ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has found that bishops, cardinals and popes downplayed or dismissed reports that he slept with seminarians.

Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to end fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh

Officials in Armenia and Azerbaijan have announced an agreement to end fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region (also known as Artsakh) under a pact signed with Russia.

Mexico, Brazil leaders silent as world congratulates president-elect Joe Biden

There were two notable holdouts among the world leaders who rushed to congratulate Joe Biden on his victory in the U.S. elections: the leaders of Latin America’s two biggest countries, both of whom have been seen as friendly to President Donald Trump.

Iranian president wants Joe Biden to bring US back to nuclear deal

Iran’s president has called on President-elect Joe Biden to return the United States to Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

Millions of minks ordered to be euthanized after mutated COVID-19 virus spread to humans

More than a quarter million Danes have gone into lockdown in a northern region of the country where a mutated variation of the coronavirus has infected minks being farmed for their fur, leading to an order to kill millions of the animals.

Mutated variation of coronavirus among minks spreads to humans in Denmark

The coronavirus evolves constantly and, to date, there is no evidence that any of the mutations pose an increased danger to people. But Danish authorities were not taking any chances.

Vienna attack: 2 killed, 15 wounded in Vienna terror attack, authorities say

Gunmen opened fire on people enjoying a last evening out in Vienna before a coronavirus lockdown Monday in a terror attack that left at least two dead — including one of the attackers — and 15 wounded, authorities said.

Onlookers weep with joy as crew rescues 2 girls from rubble in Turkey

As onlookers applauded in joy and wept with relief, rescue teams in Turkey brought two girls out alive from the wreck of collapsed apartment buildings in the coastal city of Izmir.

Russian oligarch killed in sauna with crossbow

A Russian oligarch has reportedly been murdered with a crossbow while sitting in an outdoor sauna.