The mission to track Santa begins when a cluster of radar stations in northern Canada and Alaska pick up an infrared signature emanating from Rudolph’s nose.

Those who focus on the danger of surveillance in the everyday world find something creepy about the elf.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Christmas message will have her sitting next to a photo of her and Philip taken for their diamond wedding anniversary.

“You demand from me some guarantees,” Putin said of Ukraine security. “You should give us guarantees. You! And right away, right now.”

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

Some scientists warned that too many shots might cause a sort of immune system fatigue, compromising the body’s ability to fight the coronavirus.

Japan’s government signalled a more assertive position on China’s aggressive posture towards self-ruled Taiwan, suggesting it would prepare for “various scenarios”.

Potter, who is white, shot and killed the 20-year-old Wright, who was black, during an April 11 traffic stop as she and other officers were trying to arrest him on an outstanding warrant.

The Republican former president recently called the COVID-19 vaccines “one of the greatest achievements of mankind”.

The couple released a holiday card with a welcome surprise: the public’s first look at their six-month-old daughter, Lilibet Diana.

Omicron appears to be less severe but more contagious than any other COVID-19 strain to date, the UK government said, as daily infections soared to another record.

Didion died from complications from Parkinson’s disease, her publisher said.

Devin Ratray, who played older brother Buzz McAllister in the 1990 Christmas movie, surrendered to authorities after he was accused of assaulting his girlfriend, police said.

In Xian, only one person will be allowed out of the house to shop every two days. Hotel guests cannot leave.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of considering a new attack on Ukraine as early as next month.

Australian resident Bernie Osler had just arrived in the Philippine province of Cebu to meet his one-year-old son. Then he found himself in the eye of a storm.

The UN and others have warned the freezing of Afghanistan foreign reserves, mostly held in the US, brought the country to the brink of disaster.

A new study by 223 co-authors documents a previously unknown major migration wave from 1300BC to 800BC - and a diet with more cheese and yoghurt.

The artwork, of anguished human torsos, is one of the few remaining public memorials marking the Tiananmen Square massacre - a taboo topic in mainland China.

Given the Chinese government’s well-documented history of forcing dissidents and activists to make public denial videos, there is reason to believe that Peng is still not speaking freely.

The jury in the British socialite’s sex trafficking trial ended an abbreviated first week of deliberations without reaching a verdict.

If she were to be called, the Duchess of Sussex would be required by law to co-operate as she is an American citizen and the case has been brought in the US.

Even so, daily infections have passed 100,000 in the UK for the first time.

Antibodies induced by the vaccine protected mice from what would otherwise have been lethal doses of the virus causing COVID-19 and the one that caused SARS.

The Home Affairs Minister is pushing to enhance counter-terrorism ties with Indonesia during a visit to Jakarta.

Conspiracy theorists, including anti-vaxxers, have attacked France’s first lady on social media after a far-right publication published the baseless rumours.

“Honestly, we do not know the exact reason behind the sudden drop in COVID deaths in Japan,” said Taro Yamamoto, a professor of global health.

“The rapid rise of new cases has been followed by a rapid fall and it appears we’re seeing the beginning of the decline of this wave.”

Australia is right to join with other nations to call out the deterioration of democratic freedoms in Hong Kong.

A new program includes “patriotic education” and aims to attract at least 600,000 children as young as eight to join the ranks of a uniformed Youth Army.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

Scientists said “Baby Yingliang” was found in a pose similar to a chicken before hatching.

Since the Omicron variant emerged last month, we have been navigating mixed messages as we plan our holidays. Here are the key points you need to know.

A ruling by a judge at the High Court detailed an order to Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed to provide much more than £554 million ($1 billion) to settle a long-running custody battle. 

The jury in federal court in Manhattan began deliberations on sex abuse charge late on Monday afternoon after three weeks of emotional testimony from the four accusers.

The US president offered both a warning to the unvaccinated and confidence about the power of vaccines and additional measures.

The NHL flagged last September that it could withdraw if COVID-19 disruptions forced games to be rescheduled during the Olympics window. 

“The guy should be fired on the spot,” the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said after learning the Fox News host encouraged a crowd to ambush him.

The settlement is the latest development in a legal saga that began when Princess Haya bint al-Hussein fled to Britain in April 2019, fearing for her safety.

The announcement on quarantine came a day after Thailand reported the first case of local transmission of the Omicron variant.

The Australian PPE giant is being taken to task over its response to forced-labour claims at a company whose products have now been banned by the US.

The President shared a video of his new German Shepherd puppy Commander, but rescue dog Major will now live elsewhere after a few biting incidents.

Victims said Richard Daschbach taped a roster of their names to the door of his room at the orphanage, outlining which one he would abuse each night.

The Ardern government had planned to allow fully vaccinated citizens and residents to arrive from Australia from January 16 without going through quarantine.

Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey said the British socialite believed her four trial accusers were beneath her: “In her eyes, they were just trash.”

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

Viya, 36, is known for her ability to sell “anything” via livestreaming on the Taobao Live platform. Last year, she sold a rocket launch service for 40 million yuan.

It’s a boost for Novavax, which has suffered months of delays despite securing some of the largest funding in the early stages of the pandemic.

Britain has reported record levels of COVID-19 cases over the past week, with officials and ministers warning that hospitalisations are also rising.

While Trump has expressed opposition to vaccine mandates, he has long taken credit for the vaccines developed on his watch.