Pope Francis has reportedly tested negative for coronavirus.
According to a report in the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, he was forced to cancel a Lent retreat for the first time in his papacy due to a cold.
Pope Francis, who had part of one lung removed because of an illness decades ago, had cancelled most audiences last week as well.
The Vatican did not immediately respond to the reports.
It comes as Italy is battling a surging outbreak of the coronavirus, with 52 deaths reported on Monday.
Sudanese army says it's broken siege of famine-stricken Kadugli
The Sudanese army said it broke a years-long siege on the city of Kadugli on Tuesday, potentially providing tens of thousands of people a reprieve from famine and signalling a shift in the war's momentum.
WHO says first five patients evacuated via Gaza's Rafah crossing
A World Health Organisation (WHO) official said on Tuesday that the first five patients were transferred through Gaza's Rafah crossing with Egypt, which reopened on Monday.
Russia pounds Ukraine with record number of missiles, Zelenskyy says
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Tuesday of exploiting a US-backed energy truce to stockpile munitions and using them to attack Ukraine with hundreds of drones and a record number of ballistic missiles.
Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit searches X office
French police raided the offices of Elon Musk's social media network X on Tuesday and prosecutors ordered the tech billionaire to face questions in April in a widening investigation, amid growing scrutiny of the platform by authorities across Europe.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has led messages welcoming guests to the World Governments Summit 2026, running from February 3 - 5 under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled an autonomous electric transit system that officials say could transform urban travel and help ease congestion across the emirate.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, has announced a new Life and Biodiversity Laboratory, as part of efforts to promote conservation science and protect species from extinction.
