Why Malta enters before Australia, and other facts about the Parade of Nations
Hint: The order of countries presented in the Olympics opening ceremony doesn't follow the English Alphabet.
World
Tongan flag bearer Pita Taufatofua is skipping the Games to focus on volcano relief
Taufatofua made headlines as Tonga's bare-chested flag bearer at the last three opening ceremonies. He's missing the 2022 Games to help his country recover from January's deadly tsunami.
Discovery of HIV variant shows virus can evolve to be more severe — and contagious
Findings from a new study help answer questions about why some people get more severe and transmissible HIV than others — and serve as a reminder that viruses don't always weaken over time.
The Beijing Winter Olympics' cauldron lighting made a political statement
The cauldron is a snowflake, with a much smaller flame than usual. It was lit by two Olympians, including an athlete from the Xinjiang autonomous region, home to the Uyghur minority.
The Winter Games have begun. See photos and highlights from the opening ceremony
The Winter Games kicked off Friday night in Beijing with an eye-catching but scaled-back opening ceremony. The city has made history as the first to host both the Summer and Winter Games.
How the Winter Olympics are being received in China
Despite a campaign from China to increase enthusiasm for winter sports, many in the country are indifferent to the Games and excitement is more muted than in 2008.
These are the largest teams competing at the Winter Olympics
More than 220 athletes will represent the United States at the Olympics in Beijing, making it the largest delegation at the Games. Other large teams include China and the Russian Olympic Committee.
Figure skater Nathan Chen kicks off redemptive Beijing Olympics with a bang
Chen's showing at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing clenches a season-best international score and helps put U.S. figure skating on top in the team event.
France's Macron to visit Russia and Ukraine next week on mediation trip amid tensions
While France is a major player in NATO, President Macron has also been actively pushing for dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two are set to meet Monday one-on-one.
U.S. says Russia is planning a staged attack in Ukraine to justify an invasion
The Biden administration said on Thursday that disinformation campaigns, like a potential false-flag operation, are part of Russia's standard playbook.