Health of retired Pope Benedict XVI 'worsening,' Vatican says

Earlier Wednesday, Pope Francis asked the faithful to pray for Benedict and went to visit his predecessor in the monastery on Vatican grounds.

World governments using COVID-19 tech to expand global surveillance

Now, from Beijing to Jerusalem to Hyderabad, India, and Perth, Australia, The Associated Press has found that authorities used these technologies and data to halt travel for activists and ordinary people, harass marginalized communities and link people’s health information to other surveillance and law enforcement tools.

South Korean military apologizes for failing to down North Korea’s drones

North Korean drones entered South Korean airspace for the first time since 2017 . The drone flights came days after South Korea said North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles, extending its record testing activities this year.

Notable deaths of 2022: The influential people we lost this year

As 2022 comes to a close, here's a look back at the actors, athletes, entertainers, creators and politicians who died this year.

Pope Francis orders return of Parthenon Sculpture fragments to Greece

The Vatican on Friday termed the gesture a “donation” from the pope to His Beatitude Ieronymos II, the Orthodox Christian archbishop of Athens and all Greece.

King Charles' first Christmas address pays tribute to first responders, late queen

"Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones," Charles said. "We feel their absence ... and remember them in each cherished tradition."

Pope laments 'icy winds of war' in Christmas address

"Indeed, we must acknowledge with sorrow that, even as the Prince of Peace is given to us, the icy winds of war continue to buffet humanity," Pope Francis said.

Pelé's family gathers at hospital as cancer worsens

Doctors said the three-time World Cup winner is under “elevated care” at a Brazilian hospital with his family by his side.

‘Hard road’ lies ahead for China as COVID-19 cases spiral

China has reduced testing and stopped reporting most mild COVID cases. China is among a few countries that managed to stop most domestic transmission of the virus in 2020, but it’s the last to end restrictions.

'Rescue vehicle' may be needed to bring cosmonauts, NASA astronaut home from space

NASA and the Russian Space Agency managers are still working on a plan for how two cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut will return to Earth after their ride home from the International Space Station was damaged.

Ali Ahmed Aslam, often credited as inventor of chicken tikka masala, dies at 77

Ali Ahmed Aslam said in a 2009 interview that he first came up with the dish in the 1970s when a customer asked if there was a way of making his chicken tikka less dry.

'I thank every American family': Zelenskyy says US support is vital to defense against Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has paid a defiant wartime visit to Washington to thank U.S. leaders and “ordinary Americans” for their support in fighting off Russia’s invasion.

More arms to Ukraine will aggravate war, Kremlin warns

The Kremlin is warning that increasing the supply of U.S. arms to Ukraine would aggravate the devastating 10-month war ignited by Russia’s invasion.