World

On the eve of the first day of Pope Emeritus Benedict’s body being available for viewing, Italian police predicted 30,000 visitors. By the end of the evening, 65,000 people passed through St. Peter’s Basilica.  As the day began 10 Papal Gentlemen – lay assistants of the Pope – carried the …

China is dealing with an explosive outbreak of COVID-19 as health officials relax their draconian “zero-COVID” containment policy, prompting several countries around the world to mandate tests for Chinese travelers.  The U.S. cited the surge in infections as well as a “lack of adequate and transparent epidemiological and viral genomic …

Condoms are now free in French pharmacies for everyone younger than 26 years old as part of the government’s efforts to curb sexually transmitted diseases.  The measure, which went into effect on Jan. 1, was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in early December. It was originally aimed at French …

MANCHESTER, England – Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s downfall was just one of many big stories in the U.K. this past year, as Johnson’s time as prime minister was overshadowed by scandal after scandal. In fact, Johnson shook off so many of them during his time in office, it seemed …

Hundreds of rescuers in Vietnam were battling for a third day Monday to save a 10-year-old boy who fell more than a hundred feet down a concrete shaft at a construction site New Year’s Eve.  The boy was reportedly heard calling for help shortly after he fell through a narrow, …

Moscow admitted heavy casualties suffered in a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region in one of the deadliest attacks on the Kremlin’s forces since the war began over 10 months ago.  Russia’s defense ministry said Monday that Ukrainian forces fired rockets at a facility in the eastern Donetsk region …

Brazilian leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was sworn in as president on Sunday with his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro notably absent.  Bolsonaro, now lacking presidential immunity, reportedly departed for the United States on Friday still without conceding defeat since October’s election. Bolsonaro reportedly plans to stay in Florida for …

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un removed his top military leader last week during an annual end-of-year meeting with the nation’s highest officials. Pak Jong Chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, was the second most powerful military official in the country, behind only Kim himself. He was replaced …

Russia continued its assault on Ukraine’s infrastructure in Kyiv with a swarm of explosive drones throughout Monday morning. Russia’s attacks on Kyiv have been relentless since New Year’s Eve. Russia followed up its holiday missile attack with drones that flew into the city just after midnight on Monday morning. Air-raid …

At least four people are dead, and three others critically injured after two helicopters collided on Australia’s Gold Coast near a Sea World theme park Monday afternoon. Police said the crash drew emergency aid from beachgoers who had been enjoying the water during the southern summer. Police official Gary Worrell …