South Korea offers free COVID-19 tests for pet cats and dogs

South Korea’s capital says it will give free coronavirus tests to pet dogs and cats if they come into contact with infected humans and show symptoms.

18 bags of hacked-up body parts found in western Mexico

Mexican police have found 18 plastic bags full of hacked-up body parts on the outskirts of the city of Guadalajara.

UK hospital adopts transgender-friendly terms for birthing

A UK hospital is adopting gender-inclusive language for perinatal services to cater to trans and non-binary people who are giving birth.

COVID-defying French nun toasts 117th birthday with wine and prayer

A French nun who is believed to be the world’s second-oldest person celebrated her 117th birthday in style on Thursday, with multiple treats and well-wishes, cards and flowers to fete her exceptional longevity through two world wars and a recent coronavirus infection.

Coast Guard saves 3 Cubans stranded on island for 33 days

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two men and a woman who said they had been stranded for 33 days on a deserted island between Florida and Cuba. 

Powerful quake strikes New Zealand, prompting tsunami warnings

The U.S. Geological Agency said the magnitude 7.7 quake was centered at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles) southeast of the Loyalty Islands. The shaking was not expected to cause significant damage or fatalities on land.

World's second-oldest person survives coronavirus at age 116

A 116-year-old French nun who is believed to be the world’s second-oldest person has survived COVID-19 and is looking forward to celebrating her 117th birthday on Thursday.

UAE, China and US spacecrafts will reach Mars in quick succession

After hurtling hundreds of millions of miles through space since last summer, three robotic explorers are ready to hit the brakes at Mars.

AstraZeneca tweaking COVID-19 vaccine to fight South African variant

The lead researcher of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine says she expects to have a modified jab to cope with the South Africa coronavirus variant by the autumn.

'It's a cultural embarrassment': Jamaica is running out of marijuana

Why is Jamaica running short on marijuana? Heavy rains followed by a long drought. More locals smoking weed. Fewer locals growing it. "It's something so laughable that cannabis is short in Jamaica."

Two men arrested in international child pornography ring

Interpol arrested two men in Pakistan for alleged connections to an international child pornography ring. Interpol works with police from 194 countries.

Man wakes up from 11-month coma, as family weighs how to explain pandemic to him: report

A teenager from the United Kingdom has woken up from a roughly 11-month long coma, leading his family to weigh how they will explain the coronavirus pandemic to him, according to reports this week. 

Coronavirus variant P.1 surging in Brazil 'deeply worrying,' experts say

A new variant of the coronavirus that’s exploded in Brazil and has since been found in the U.S. is causing some concern among scientists. Here’s what one Harvard researcher is saying.

Four travelers eat 66 pounds of oranges to avoid extra airline fees

Four travelers probably never want to see an orange again after reportedly devouring 66 pounds of the citrus fruit at an airport to avoid paying extra airline fees.

'Captain Tom,' 100-year-old veteran who raised millions for COVID relief, hospitalized with virus

Captain Sir Tom Moore raised more than $40 million toward COVID-19 relief last year, and now he’s been admitted to the hospital after testing positive and having trouble breathing.

Thousands arrested in Russia for 2nd week straight at protests backing activist Alexei Navalny

Thousands were arrested for the second week straight during protests in Russia demanding the release of Alexei Navalny, Putin's best-known critic. Now the U.S. is criticizing the crackdown and urging Russia to release Navalny.

Relatives of suburban Chicago man kidnapped in Afghanistan hoping Biden will bring him home

Mark Frerichs of Lombard, Illinois,has been held by a Taliban-linked militant group for a year now. He's a Navy veteran and his family is hoping that President Joe Biden will bring him home.

From runt to Guinness Record: Freddy, world’s tallest dog dies at 8

Freddy, a Great Dane in the UK, grew from the runt of the litter to the tallest living dog in the world. Standing on his hind legs, he measured in at more than 7 feet tall.