WHO greenlights AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, opening door for use in the UN

The World Health Organization has granted an emergency authorization to the COVID-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca, likely allowing the U.N. health agency's partners to ship millions of doses to countries worldwide.

Cow attacks people in hospital waiting room

A cow on the loose ran into a hospital waiting room and attacked people waiting to see the doctor.

New Zealand enters first lockdown in 6 months after unexplained COVID-19 cases found

The lockdown in Auckland, which extends through Wednesday, is the first in New Zealand in six months and represents a significant setback in the nation's largely successful efforts to control the virus.

Strong quake hits Japan's northeast coast; no tsunami alert

A strong earthquake hit off the coast of northeastern Japan late Saturday, shaking Fukushima, Miyagi and other areas, but there was no threat of a tsunami, officials said.

Some countries could require ‘vaccine passports’ by summer 2021

Some European countries and tech leaders are already working together to develop a “vaccine passport” which could be required for travel this summer.

18 bags of hacked-up body parts found in western Mexico

Mexican police have found 18 plastic bags full of hacked-up body parts on the outskirts of the city of Guadalajara.

Coast Guard saves 3 Cubans stranded on island for 33 days

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two men and a woman who said they had been stranded for 33 days on a deserted island between Florida and Cuba. 

World's second-oldest person survives coronavirus at age 116

A 116-year-old French nun who is believed to be the world’s second-oldest person has survived COVID-19 and is looking forward to celebrating her 117th birthday on Thursday.

WHO team says coronavirus unlikely to have leaked from China lab

A World Health Organization expert says the coronavirus is unlikely to have leaked from a Chinese lab and most probably jumped to humans via an intermediary species.

Coronavirus variant P.1 surging in Brazil 'deeply worrying,' experts say

A new variant of the coronavirus that’s exploded in Brazil and has since been found in the U.S. is causing some concern among scientists. Here’s what one Harvard researcher is saying.

'Captain Tom,' 100-year-old veteran who raised millions for COVID relief, hospitalized with virus

Captain Sir Tom Moore raised more than $40 million toward COVID-19 relief last year, and now he’s been admitted to the hospital after testing positive and having trouble breathing.

Over 5,100 arrested at pro-Navalny protests across Russia

Chanting slogans against President Vladimir Putin, tens of thousands took to the streets Sunday across Russia to demand the release of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, keeping up nationwide protests that have rattled the Kremlin. More than 5,100 people were detained by police, according to a monitoring group, and some were beaten.

Thousands arrested in Russia for 2nd week straight at protests backing activist Alexei Navalny

Thousands were arrested for the second week straight during protests in Russia demanding the release of Alexei Navalny, Putin's best-known critic. Now the U.S. is criticizing the crackdown and urging Russia to release Navalny.

President Biden proposes 5-year extension of Russian nuclear arms treaty

The Biden administration is proposing to Russia a five-year extension of the New START treaty limiting the number of U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear weapons, U.S. officials said Thursday.

Under Biden, world leaders hope for renewed US cooperation

World leaders welcomed into their ranks the new U.S. President Joe Biden, noting their most pressing problems, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, require multilateral cooperation, an approach his predecessor Donald Trump ridiculed.

Ice cream from China contaminated with coronavirus: report

Officials believe the coronavirus was able to survive in the ice cream due to the cold temperature and was likely transferred from a person who had the disease.