What is the new IHU variant found in France?

A new COVID-19 variant IHU has been detected in France. Here is what you need to know about it.

Novak Djokovic held at Australian border over visa mix-up

Novak Djokovic had to spend the night at the Melbourne airport as officials refused to let him enter the country for the Australian Open.

Nearly 100 hostages freed after 2 months in captivity in Nigeria

A military operation targeted the camps of armed groups that have been terrorizing remote communities in northwest Nigeria. Soldiers rescued dozens of hostages, including many babies and children.

Labor shortages force businesses to curtail operations

At one slaughterhouse the worker shortage became so extreme in recent days it opted to euthanize thousands of chickens that couldn't be processed.

Newborn baby found abandoned in plane bathroom

A woman was arrested after a newborn baby was allegedly found abandoned in the trash can in a plane lavatory.

North Korea claims dictator invented burrito

Move over Mexico, North Korea is the real birthplace of the burrito, at least if you believe the state media.

Israel detects case of 'flurona' in unvaccinated pregnant woman

'Flurona' has been detected in an unvaccinated pregnant woman in Israel. It's believed to be one of the first documented cases of an individual infected with both the flu and COVID-19.

Judge blocks Prince Andrew's attempt to halt sex abuse lawsuit

A judge has rejected Prince Andrew's attempt to block the progression of a lawsuit by claiming that a woman who says he sexually assaulted her when she was 17 doesn't live in the U.S.

How will pandemic end? Despite omicron, COVID-19 will become endemic

Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic will eventually end, even if omicron is complicating the question of when. But it won’t be like flipping a switch.

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok resigns, cites political turmoil

Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announced his resignation Sunday amid political deadlock and widespread pro-democracy protests following a military coup that derailed the country’s fragile transition to democratic rule.

Holocaust survivor 'Mrs. Gertrude' dies at 94

Gertrude Pressburger died Friday after a long illness, her family told the Austrian press agency APA on Saturday.

Pope Francis starts new year with call to protect women, focus on the good

Pope Francis has used his New Year's Day appearances to encourage people to focus on the good which unites them and to decry violence against women.

12 dead, 15 injured in crowd surge at popular Hindu shrine in Kashmir

At least 12 people died and 15 others suffered injuries in a crowd surge at a popular Hindu shrine in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Ghislaine Maxwell Trial: Behind the wait for a verdict at jury deliberations

The jurors’ identities were kept secret. Still, there were clues in the record about who they were and hints about how they reached a decision that hung in the balance for five days.

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.

Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse teens

A jury has found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty on five of six charges in her sex abuse trial. Prosecutors accused Maxwell of helping Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of minor girls between 1994 and 1997. She was convicted of recruiting, grooming, and abusing the victims, some as young as 14.

Science delivered but politics triumphed amid pandemic, WHO chief says

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is concerned that the delta and omicron variants will create a "tsunami" of new COVID cases and he criticized wealthier nations for allowing politics to exacerbate the pandemic.