New Year's Eve: Omicron mutes celebrations as many hope for better 2022

New Year's Eve celebrations were muted or canceled in many places around the world for the second straight year due to a surge of COVID-19 infections.

France will require new car ads to promote walking, cycling

In 2022, new car ads in France will encourage greener alternatives like walking or cycling, while several fruits and vegetables will no longer be sold in plastic.

Israel to offer 4th dose of COVID-19 vaccine to most vulnerable

Israel approved a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for people most vulnerable to the virus, the first country to do so.

Mexico approves use of Cuba’s Abdala coronavirus vaccine

Mexico’s health safety council has approved the use of Cuba’s three-dose Abdala coronavirus vaccine.

WHO: Global COVID cases up 11% last week, biggest increase in Americas

The WHO says the number of new COVID-19 cases worldwide increased by 11% last week, while newly reported deaths were down 4% globally.

Putin to consider options if West declines guarantees on Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday he would ponder a slew of options if the West fails to meet his push for security guarantees precluding NATO's expansion to Ukraine.

Save the Children: Staff missing after massacre in Myanmar

Save the Children said that two of its staff who were traveling home for the holidays after conducting humanitarian response work in a nearby community were “caught up in the incident and remain missing."

Desmond Tutu, South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize-winning equality activist, dies at 90

Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist for racial justice and LGBT rights and retired Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, has died at the age of 90.

Congo attack: Suicide bomber kills 6 at restaurant and bar

Saturday's attack marked the first known time that a suicide bomber has killed victims in eastern Congo, where an Islamic State group affiliate earlier this year took responsibility for a suicide bombing near another bar in Beni who had caused no other casualties.

Largest cluster of rogue planets discovered by astronomers

A team of astronomers has discovered nearly 70 rogue planets— cosmic objects that resemble a planet but do not orbit a star.

Queen Elizabeth's Christmas message shares grief over Prince Philip

Queen Elizabeth said in her Christmas message she understands the difficulty of spending the holiday season “with one familiar laugh missing."

Pope Francis prays for pandemic's end in Christmas Day address

Pope Francis' Christmas Day speech gives him an opportunity to draw a global audience's attention to conflicts big and small. This year was no different.

James Webb Space Telescope, world’s largest and most powerful, launched Christmas morning

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launched successfully early Christmas morning from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the sky.

WHO chief: Blanket COVID booster drives risk prolonged pandemic

The head of the World Health Organization warned Wednesday that blanket booster programs in rich countries risk prolonging the world's battle with COVID-19 and said that “no country can boost its way out of the pandemic.”

South Africa's COVID-19 case drop may show its omicron peak has passed

South Africa's noticeable drop in new COVID-19 cases may signal that the country's omicron-driven surge has passed its peak, medical experts say.

National Geographic names Oakland's Ahmed Muhammad among select group of youth changemakers worldwide

A teen from Oakland, who has received national attention for his achievements both in the classroom and in his community, was now being recognized as one of 25 young people around the world inspiring global change.

Israel to ban travel to US, Canada due to omicron variant concerns

Israel will ban travel to the United States, Canada and eight other countries amid the rapid, global spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.