Scott Atlas resigns as Donald Trump's special advisor on COVID-19 after controversial tenure
During his four months in the role, Atlas, who had no formal experience in public health or infectious diseases, questioned the need for masks and other measures to control the pandemic
Joe Biden speaks with UN chief, discusses need to strengthen partnership on urgent global issues
Biden and Antonio Guterres talked about building resilience to future public health challenges and confronting the threat of climate change
'Donald Trump is better': In Asia, pro-democracy forces worry about Joe Biden
Over the last 12 months, the Donald Trump administration has considerably stepped up its actions in Asia
Iran will seek revenge in due time, Hassan Rouhani says after top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh's assassination
Two days after Fakhrizadeh died, Tehran demanded a halt to international inspections of Iranian nuclear sites while a top official hinted Iran should leave the global non-proliferation treaty
President-elect Joe Biden's pick of Neera Tanden as OMB head threatens to spark political fight
If confirmed at the Office of Management and Budget, Tanden would be responsible for preparing Biden’s budget submission and would command several hundred budget analysts, economists and policy advisers with deep knowledge of the government
Two killed, 15 injured after car plows into pedestrians in Germany's Trier; driver in custody
The city of about 110,000 people is known for its Roman gate, the Porta Nigra, which is near the scene of the crash, and as the birthplace of Karl Marx
Indonesian authorities evacuate thousands after multiple volcanoes see increased activity
Hot ash tumbled as far as 9,800 feet down the slopes of Mount Semeru early Tuesday, triggering panic among villagers, said Raditya Jati, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman
UK court extends Nirav Modi's remand till 29 Dec, final hearings in Jan 2021
The jeweller has been in prison in connection with the PNB scam case since his arrest on 19 March, 2019, on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard
Fireball spotted! Meteor sighting lights up sky over Japan and social media
The fireball was caught on cameras owned by the national broadcaster NHK, which generally records earthquake activity.
Giant metal monolith spotted in Romania days after unexplained disappearance of similar one in Utah
The strange metal object was first spotted on 18 November by a helicopter crew counting big horn sheep from air, in a remote south eastern location of Utah
COVID-19 pandemic has pushed global aid needs to record $35 billion for 2021, says UN
The world body's annual Global Humanitarian Overview estimated that 235 million people worldwide will need some form of emergency assistance next year, a staggering 40 percent increase in the past year
India stays away as SCO members reaffirm support for China’s Belt and Road project at virtual meet
India has said it cannot accept the project, which includes the China Pakistan Economic Corridor passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as it ignores concerns on territorial integrity
Moderna says its vaccine 94% effective against COVID-19, asks European and US regulators for emergency use
The US pharma company said it was on track to have about 20 million doses of its vaccine ready to ship in America by 2020-end
Scott Morrison terms Chinese official's tweet with fake photo of Australian soldier 'repugnant', demands apology
Morrison sought an apology from the Chinese govt a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, posted the graphic image that shows a soldier holding a bloodied knife to the throat of a veiled child
President-elect Joe Biden to nominate ex-Fed chair Janet Yellen as treasury secretary
Yellen became Federal Reserve chair in 2014 when the economy was still recovering from the devastating Great Recession. In the late 1990s, she was then president Bill Clinton’s top economic adviser during the Asian financial crisis
Trump administration wages last major Supreme Court fight to exclude undocumented immigrants from census
If the outgoing president's plan goes forward, states with large numbers of undocumented immigrants could see their influence reduced in the US House of Representatives
Wu Chi-wai, chairman of Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy party says democracy fight needs rethink
Since the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests, pro-democracy activists have demanded greater democracy and accused China of going back on its promise to allow the people to vote freely for their leader
Moderna to file today for US, EU clearance for emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine
Moderna, which created its shots with the US National Institutes of Health, said it got the final needed results over the weekend that suggest the vaccine is more than 94 percent effective
Brazil's municipal elections see Centre-right candidates make gains in blow to Jair Bolsonaro
Brazil's biggest cities, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, both elected experienced Center-right mayors — incumbent Bruno Covas and returning veteran Eduardo Paes, respectively — as the candidates endorsed by Bolsonaro were roundly defeated
President-elect Joe Biden fractures foot after slipping while playing with dog, to wear walking boot
Fractures are a concern generally as people age, but Biden’s appears to be a relatively mild one based on his doctor’s statement and the planned treatment