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Giant statue of the Buddha in New Jersey becomes interfaith hub and spiritual home for many One of the largest statues of the Buddha in the United States springs up unexpectedly in the middle of a backyard just off a busy New Jersey state highway.

Giant statue of the Buddha in New Jersey becomes interfaith hub and spiritual home for many

Adam Pemble, AP journalist whose compassionate lens brought stories to life, dies at 52 Adam Pemble, an Associated Press journalist who covered some of the biggest global news of the past two decades, from earthquakes and conflicts to political summits and elections, has died.

Adam Pemble, AP journalist whose compassionate lens brought stories to life, dies at 52

The stars will come out at the Kennedy Center for Coppola, the Grateful Dead, Raitt and Sandoval Celebrities, cultural icons and a few surprise guests are gathering for the annual Kennedy Center Honors celebration in Washington.

The stars will come out at the Kennedy Center for Coppola, the Grateful Dead, Raitt and Sandoval

How it happened: Two seismic weeks that toppled Syria's government Half a century of rule by the Assad family in Syria has crumbled with astonishing speed. It has been less than two weeks since insurgents burst out of a rebel-held enclave and converged on the capital, Damascus, taking city after city in a matter of days.

How it happened: Two seismic weeks that toppled Syria's government

South Korea's democracy held after a 6-hour power play. What does it say for democracies elsewhere? A short-lived martial law decree by South Korea's leader last week raised worries about budding authoritarianism around the world.

South Korea's democracy held after a 6-hour power play. What does it say for democracies elsewhere?

Syria latest: Syrians celebrate Bashar Assad's fall as his whereabouts remain unknown Crowds have gathered in Syria’s Damascus on Sunday to celebrate the fall of Bashar Assad’s government with chants, prayers and the occasional gunfire after opposition fighters entered the capital following a stunning advance.

Syria latest: Syrians celebrate Bashar Assad's fall as his whereabouts remain unknown

Marrakech festival spotlights tensions animating Morocco's movie industry Each year, celebrities descend on Morocco to attend the Marrakech International Film Festival, enjoy warm weather, luxurious resorts and laud the power of cinema.

Marrakech festival spotlights tensions animating Morocco's movie industry

Burkina Faso junta appoints new prime minister Burkina Faso’s ruling military junta has appointed a new prime minister, a day after dissolving the government without providing any reason.

Burkina Faso junta appoints new prime minister

Supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party march in protest at attacks in India Thousands of members of associate bodies of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have marched toward the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh’s capital to denounce attacks on a diplomatic mission and alleged desecration of Bangladeshi flags in India.

Supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party march in protest at attacks in India

Trump calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Ukraine after meeting Zelenskyy in Paris In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that Moscow and Kyiv have both lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers in a war that “should never have started.”

Trump calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Ukraine after meeting Zelenskyy in Paris

Romania's far-right presidential candidate denounces canceled vote at closed polling station Romania’s far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu has protested outside a closed polling station against a top court’s unprecedented decision to annul the first round of the vote in which he emerged as frontrunner.

Romania's far-right presidential candidate denounces canceled vote at closed polling station

Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad? Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader who led the stunning insurgency that toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image and that of his fighters.

Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria's Assad?

Rescuers search for victims after an explosion at a Dutch apartment block that killed at least 5 Emergency services are searching for a second day through the debris of an apartment block that was destroyed by an explosion and fire, killing at least five people.

Rescuers search for victims after an explosion at a Dutch apartment block that killed at least 5

An elephant dies of apparent heart failure in Pakistan weeks after family reunion An elephant has died of apparent heart failure at a Pakistani safari park, less than two weeks after being reunited with her sister.

An elephant dies of apparent heart failure in Pakistan weeks after family reunion

Ghana's ruling party candidate concedes presidential election to his opposition rival Ghana’s vice president and ruling party candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, has conceded to opposition candidate and former President John Dramani Mahama in the country's presidential election, ahead of the official announcement.

Ghana's ruling party candidate concedes presidential election to his opposition rival

Milan's Brera boosts its cultural cachet with an overdue modern art wing and Leonardo's Last Supper Milan’s Pinacoteca di Brera museum, conceived under Napoleon as a “little Louvre,” is finally getting a modern art addition first envisioned more than 50 years ago with the opening Sunday of Palazzo Citterio.

Milan's Brera boosts its cultural cachet with an overdue modern art wing and Leonardo's Last Supper

Britain's famous Sycamore Gap tree is gone. 2 men accused of cutting it down are going on trial When local residents and admirers learned the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in northern England had been cut down last year, they wanted to know why and who could have committed such a senseless act.

Britain's famous Sycamore Gap tree is gone. 2 men accused of cutting it down are going on trial

Europe's economy needs help. Political chaos in France and Germany means it may be slower in coming Europe's economy has enough difficulties, from tepid growth to trade tensions with the U.S. Dealing with those woes is only getting harder due to the political chaos in the two biggest European countries, France and Germany.

Europe's economy needs help. Political chaos in France and Germany means it may be slower in coming

Syrian government falls to fast-moving rebels, ending 50 years of iron rule by the Assad family The Syrian government collapsed to a lightning rebel offensive that sent crowds into the streets to celebrate the end of the Assad family's 50 years of iron rule.

Syrian government falls to fast-moving rebels, ending 50 years of iron rule by the Assad family

'Reindeer' volunteers bring holiday magic to Ukrainian children living on the frontlines A volunteer group is trying to fulfill the holiday dreams of thousands of children living near the frontlines in Ukraine. The St.

'Reindeer' volunteers bring holiday magic to Ukrainian children living on the frontlines

A farming project in South Africa is helping deaf people build skills and find jobs In South Africa, where the general unemployment rate is over 32%, deaf people face even steeper hurdles.

A farming project in South Africa is helping deaf people build skills and find jobs

Trump's return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jubilant about President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Trump's return may be a boon for Netanyahu, but challenges abound in a changed Middle East

More than 900 people died in Jonestown. Guyana wants to turn it into a tourist attraction Guyana is revisiting a dark history nearly half a century after U.S. Rev. Jim Jones and more than 900 of his followers died in the rural interior of the South American country.

More than 900 people died in Jonestown. Guyana wants to turn it into a tourist attraction

Taiwan reports 14 Chinese warships and 4 balloons near the island China has sent 14 warships, seven military aircraft and four balloons near Taiwan, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, as Beijing ramps up pressure on the island it claims as its own.

Taiwan reports 14 Chinese warships and 4 balloons near the island

The spiritual heart of Paris awakens: Notre Dame’ hosts first Mass since 2019 fire Notre Dame Cathedral will host its first Mass since the catastrophic fire of 2019, a moment that transcends religious significance to become a powerful symbol of Paris’ resilience.

The spiritual heart of Paris awakens: Notre Dame’ hosts first Mass since 2019 fire

The fall of Bashar Assad after 14 years of war in Syria brings to an end a decades-long dynasty The departure of Syrian President Bashar brings an end to the Assad family rule, spanning just under 54 years. With no clear successor, it throws the country into further uncertainty.

The fall of Bashar Assad after 14 years of war in Syria brings to an end a decades-long dynasty

Hemingway look-alikes visit Cuba and some of the late writer's favorite places Eighteen white-bearded men who resemble the late U.S. author Ernest Hemingway have arrived in Havana for the weekend to visit some of the his favorite places when he lived on the island decades ago.

Hemingway look-alikes visit Cuba and some of the late writer's favorite places

Search for UnitedHealthcare CEO's killer yields evidence, but few answers As the search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer stretches into a fourth day and beyond the New York City limits, investigators are reckoning with a tantalizing dichotomy.

Search for UnitedHealthcare CEO's killer yields evidence, but few answers

South Korean prosecutors detain ex-defense chief over martial law imposition, reports say News reports say South Korean prosecutors have detained a former defense minister who allegedly recommended last week’s brief but stunning martial law imposition to President Yoon Suk Yeol.

South Korean prosecutors detain ex-defense chief over martial law imposition, reports say

Marrakech Film Festival bestows Palestinian film 'Happy Holidays' with top award The Marrakech International Film Festival has bestowed its top prize on “Happy Holidays,” a Palestinian drama set in Israel whose screenplay won an award at the Venice Film Festival in September.

Marrakech Film Festival bestows Palestinian film 'Happy Holidays' with top award