Beijing Winter Olympics: US announces diplomatic boycott of games
White House press secretary Jen Psaki says U.S. athletes will continue to compete and will “have our full support,” but added “we will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games.
Fossils reveal a new dinosaur species that was the size of dogs
The plant-eating critter had a combination of traits from different species that initially sent paleontologists down the wrong path.
Haiti kidnapping: 3 more hostages freed, 12 remain abducted, organization says
The Haitian 400 Mawozo gang kidnapped a group of 17 missionaries in mid-October, made up of 12 adults and five children — including an 8-month-old.
'Significant' human smuggling ring taken down as part of US-Brazil investigation
A “significant” human smuggling ring involving people ultimately bound for the U.S. was taken down and eight people were arrested, U.S. immigration officials said.
Oxford scientist behind COVID-19 vaccine says next pandemic may be worse
Professor Sarah Gilbert, one of the scientists behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, is warning that more money needs to be devoted to research and preparations.
Antarctica observes total eclipse, next one expected in 2039
Saturday’s total eclipse was a rare event in Antarctica, only to have happened one other time in the last century.
Italian man tries to get COVID-19 vaccine with fake arm
A nurse said she could tell right away that something was off when a 57-year-old man presented the phony limb for a shot earlier this week.
EPA head tours ‘Cancer Alley,’ other embattled communities, pledges action
EPA Administrator Michael Regan recently completed a tour from Mississippi to Texas, highlighting low-income, mostly minority communities affected by industrial pollution.
Omicron: WHO says measures used against delta should work for new variant
The WHO says measures like higher vaccination rates, social-distancing guidelines and wearing masks should remain the foundation for fighting the pandemic.
Pfizer asks FDA to expand emergency use of COVID-19 booster to include 16, 17-year-olds
The request comes as the world rushes to learn more about the new and highly transmissible omicron variant first discovered by South Africa.
Tel Aviv is the most expensive city in the world to live in, according to economic data
Residents of Israel’s seaside metropolis Tel Aviv have for years complained of how expensive it is, with living costs taking a chunk out of their paychecks.
Peng Shuai: IOC says it held 2nd video call with tennis player
The International Olympic Committee says it held a second video call with Peng Shuai.
Greece to impose monthly fine on unvaccinated residents over 60
Greek residents have until Jan. 16 to get their first jabs, or will be fined 100 euros ($113) for every month they remain unvaccinated.
Peng Shuai worries lead women's tennis tour to suspend China events
In the strongest public stand against China taken by a sports body, the head of the women’s professional tennis tour announced Wednesday that all WTA tournaments there would be suspended because of concerns about the safety of Peng Shuai, a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a former government official of sexual assault.
Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Bunny among Spotify’s most-streamed content of 2021
On Wednesday, Spotify unveiled the top artists, albums, songs, podcasts and more that users listened to the most throughout 2021.
Barbados cuts ties with Queen Elizabeth II, becomes republic for 1st time
Barbados has stopped pledging allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II and officially became a republic. A ceremony was attended by Prince Charles and Rihanna.
Dozens stuck in remote UK pub after blizzard
Dozens of customers who stopped for a drink at Britain’s highest pub are getting a longer stay than they bargained for after the building was cut off by a blizzard. Sixty-one people woke up Monday after their third night at the Tan Hill Inn in the Yorkshire Dales about 270 miles (435 kilometers) north of London.
Spain's La Palma volcano spewing new lava, posing more threats to evacuees
The eruption on the island, which lies on the western end of the Canary Islands archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, began on Sept. 19.
WHO says omicron variant poses 'very high risk'
The U.N. health agency, in a technical paper issued to member states, said "considerable uncertainties” remain about the variant that was first detected days ago in southern Africa.
EXPLAINER: What we know and don’t know about omicron variant
The World Health Organization says it could still take some time to get a full picture of the threat posed by omicron, a new variant of the coronavirus as scientists worldwide scramble to assess its multiple mutations.