Pope Francis individually baptizes infants during annual ceremony at Sistine Chapel

Pope Francis baptized 16 babies in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday under the ceiling frescoed by Michelangelo, in what has become an annual tradition near the end of the Christmas holiday period at the Vatican.

Competing Chinese chess player says he's going to court after losing his title over defecation

Yan Chenglong wrote in a civil complaint that he drank a moderate amount of beer to celebrate his win, adding that he had stomach problems and couldn’t get to the bathroom in time.

Parkour daredevil does pullups off edge of Istanbul building

A daredevil parkour athlete showed off his skills in a nail-biting video that shows him doing pullups off the edge of a building in Turkey. 

Tokyo runway crash: Investigators looking into air traffic communication

A transcript of communication between traffic control and two aircraft that collided and burst into flames at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport shows that only the larger Japan Airlines passenger flight was given permission to use the runway.

Iran says at least 95 killed in blasts at ceremony honoring slain general

No one immediately claimed responsibility for what appeared to be the deadliest militant attack to target Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Earthquakes in Japan leave at least 57 dead, destroy buildings along western coast

Japanese officials are warning people in some areas to stay away from their homes because of a risk of more strong quakes. Aftershocks continued to shake Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas a day after a magnitude 7.6 temblor slammed the area on Monday.

US authorities continue to seize illegal e-cigarettes with thousands more pouring in from China

U.S. officials are seizing more shipments of unauthorized electronic cigarettes. But industry data shows thousands of new flavored products continue pouring into the country from China.

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung stabbed in neck by knife-wielding man

The attacker approached Lee Jae-myung, saying he wanted to get his autograph, and then stabbed him, authorities said. Democratic Party officials near Lee quickly subdued the attacker before police detained him.

Japan Airlines plane catches fire after collision at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, leaving 5 dead

A plane burst into flames on the runway of Tokyo’s Haneda airport on Tuesday, with news reports saying it hit another aircraft after landing. NHK TV reported that all passengers aboard, believed to have been about 400 people, got out safely.

Israel pulling thousands of troops from Gaza as combat focuses on main southern city

Israel's military said in a statement Monday that five brigades, or several thousand troops, were being taken out of Gaza in the coming weeks for training and rest.

Blast off! India soars into 2024 with space mission to study black holes

India kicked off 2024 with a significant milestone as the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched its second-ever space mission. The PSLV-C58/XPoSat Mission aims to measure X-ray emissions from celestial sources, including black holes.

Japan earthquakes: At least 4 confirmed dead as tsunami warning lowered

The earthquakes in Japan today, the largest of which had a magnitude of 7.6, started a fire and collapsed buildings on the west coast of the main island, Honshu.

Japan earthquakes: Tsunami warnings issued. Follow latest updates

Japan dropped its highest-level tsunami alert, issued following a series of major earthquakes on Monday, but told residents of coastal areas not to return to their homes as deadly waves could still come.

Seal playfully tugs at scuba diver's hat in cute moment caught on cam

Video shows Ben Burville up close and personal with two curious seals, one of which tugs at his scuba hat while the other holds his hand.

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II to abdicate throne on Jan. 14

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II announced Sunday that she plans to abdicate after 52 years and hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.