China records slowest population growth in decades, census data shows

China’s population grew at its slowest pace in decades, according to government data. A shrinking workforce as fewer couples have children could complicate the country’s economic ambitions, experts say.

School shooting in Russia leaves students, teacher dead

Eight people including seven students and a teacher were killed in a shooting at a school Tuesday morning in the Russian city of Kazan.

German Catholics will bless same-sex couples, defying Vatican ban

Germany’s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions.

China defends how it handled the rocket falling to Earth

The administrator of the American space agency and others accused Beijing of acting recklessly by allowing its rocket to fall to Earth seemingly uncontrolled Sunday.

China says most rocket debris burned up before crashing into Indian Ocean

China’s space agency says a core segment of its biggest rocket has reentered Earth’s atmosphere in the Indian Ocean above the Maldives.

WHO approves China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use

The World Health Organization gave its authorization for emergency use of a COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by China's Sinopharm, potentially paving the way for millions of doses to reach needy countries.

India shatters record, reports more than 412K new COVID-19 cases in 1 day

On Thursday, the number of new confirmed coronavirus cases breached 400,000 for the second time in India since the devastating surge began last month.

Family upset that California men get Italy's harshest sentence

The family of one of two American youths, both convicted of a fatal stabbing of an Italian police officer, blasted the jury for ordering Italy's harshest punishment of life imprisonment.

Woman from Mali, who expected 7 babies, gives birth to 9

Mali’s Ministry of Health says a Malian woman has given birth to nine babies after only expecting seven.

EU proposal could allow vaccinated Americans to travel to Europe by end of June

In announcement sure to be welcomed by travelers worldwide, the EU’s executive branch has proposed easing restrictions on visiting the 27-nation bloc as vaccination campaigns keep gathering speed.

US backs waiving intellectual property rules on vaccines

The Biden administration on Wednesday joined calls for more sharing of the technology behind COVID-19 vaccines to help speed the end of the pandemic.

Rome jury convicts 2 Bay Area men in slaying of police officer

A jury in Rome has convicted two American friends from the Bay Area in the 2019 slaying of a police officer in a drug sting gone awry, sentencing them to life in prison.

Moderna vaccine booster appears to neutralize South Africa, Brazil COVID-19 variants

Moderna shared data from an ongoing trial of its COVID-19 vaccine booster suggesting the shot appeared to be effective against concerning variants of the coronavirus from South Africa and Brazil.

Chinese rocket falling to Earth, location of impact 'cannot be pinpointed'

The largest section of the rocket that launched the main module of China's first permanent space station into orbit is expected to plunge back to Earth as early as Saturday at an unknown location.

Italy jury deliberates fate of two Bay Area men charged with police slaying

Finnegan Lee Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, were indicted on charges of homicide, attempted extortion, assault, resisting a public official and carrying an attack-style knife without just cause. Both contend they acted in self-defense.

WHO: More COVID-19 cases reported globally in past 2 weeks than in 1st 6 months of pandemic

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said more cases of COVID-19 have been reported globally in the past two weeks than in the first six months of the pandemic.

Mexico City metro overpass collapses onto road, killing at least 24

An elevated section of the Mexico City metro collapsed and sent a subway car plunging toward a busy boulevard late Monday, killing at least 24 people and dozens of others, city officials said.