The World

Six people wearing medical masks stand and shout slogans.

Mass arrests of opposition lawmakers in Hong Kong; Sudan and US sign historic 'Abraham Accords'; All eyes on Georgia Senate runoffs

Early morning arrests in Hong Kong were the most sweeping crackdown on Hong Kong’s democracy movement since the controversial national security law was imposed by Beijing last June.

A man is shown sitting with his head back and a medical professional taking a nasal swab from his nose.

India begins ambitious COVID-19 vaccination campaign

Health professionals in India are gearing up to begin the world’s most ambitious vaccination campaign after officials there approved the emergency use of two COVID-19 vaccines. And, one of the main issues the US President-elect Joe Biden’s administration will be dealing with when it enters the White House is the war in Afghanistan. Also, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain have ended their 3-year-old land, air and sea blockade on Qatar.

Supporters of Rizieq Shihab, leader of the Islam Defenders Front, confront police officers during a rally in Jakarta, Indonesia, Dec. 18, 2020. Hundreds of protesters marched in Indonesia's capital on Friday to demand the release of the firebrand cleric w

Indonesia outlaws one of the world’s largest vigilante groups

Morals are the stock-in-trade of the Islamic Defenders Front, which is likely the largest vigilante group in Asia. They claim millions of followers — though 200,000 is a more reasonable estimate — and they seek to purify society through fear.

A man is shown with his hands in his coat pockets and wearing a face mask crossing a the street with England's Royal Exchange is in the distance.

England to enter third lockdown; Mexico approves Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine; Saudi Arabia ends embargo with Qatar

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a strict new national lockdown starting midnight on Tuesday to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as the country struggles to cope with a surge in cases. And, health officials in Mexico on Monday approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for emergency use. Also, Saudi Arabia announced that the kingdom would end its embargo with Qatar.

People pass by posters of Gen. Qassem Soleimani along with several other illustrated portraits alongside.

Tensions high one year after US attack that killed Iran’s Soleimani

It’s been one year since the US killed Iran’s top military commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone attack in Iraq. And, on the campaign trail, Democratic candidate Joe Biden said he would end a Trump administration program that makes asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border wait out their court cases in Mexico. President-elect Biden has walked back the timeline of his promise. So what’s next? Also, in the US, hairy crabs are seen as a menace, but in China they are a delicacy — and lately, they are selling big.