News

A local resident of the Ukrainian-controlled village of Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk region, gestures as she cleans up debris from her home after the shelling by Russia-backed separatists on February 18, 2022.

World News

President Biden agrees to a tentative meeting with Putin to discuss Ukraine

11:19pm February 20, 2022

by Joe Hernandez

Biden has agreed to meet with the Russian leader "in principle" if Russia does not invade Ukraine, the White House said, but Russia appears to be pursuing plans for a "full-scale assault" very soon.

Hussein Raad, a 22-year-old college student, gets his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at Zayoona Mall in Baghdad.

Iraq has enough doses of COVID vaccine for everyone. But many Iraqis don't trust it

5:19pm February 20, 2022

by Jason Beaubien

The vaccination rate is only 17%. People are scared and skeptical for many reasons. Now government health workers are trying to up the numbers. One strategy: vaccination booths in the mall.

A Guiera senegalensis shrub grows in an agricultural test plot outside Thiès, Senegal. The shrubs used to be considered a threat to other crops. Now American and Senegalese researchers are conducting studies to see if the shrubs in fact are beneficial.

Health & Safety

Farmers in Senegal learn to respect a scruffy shrub that gets no respect

2:38pm February 20, 2022

by Nick Roll

For decades, they've been told to rip out the Guiera senegalensis shrub. But now there's a new philosophy: The scrappy green plant could be the key to a better harvest.

Jessie Diggins competes during the women's 30km mass start free cross-country skiing competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics on Feb. 20, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China.

Sports

30 hours after food poisoning, Jessie Diggins wins silver in 30-km cross-country race

2:18pm February 20, 2022

by Dustin Jones

Diggins not only became the first non-European athlete to bring home a medal in the event, she's now the only American to bring back multiple cross-country medals from the same Olympics.

A firework display is seen during the closing ceremony on Day 16 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Beijing National Stadium on Feb. 20, 2022.

The — at times complicated — 2022 Beijing Winter Games come to a close

12:47pm February 20, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

After 16 days and 109 events, the Winter Olympics officially ended Sunday with the traditional closing ceremony. Team U.S.A. finished with 25 medals in all.

Buckingham Palace said Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022 that Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19, has mild symptoms and will continue with duties.

World News

Queen Elizabeth II has tested positive for COVID-19

10:11am February 20, 2022

by The Associated Press

Buckingham Palace said the 95-year-old monarch is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms and will continue with light duties over the next week. She has received three jabs of coronavirus vaccine.

Olympic athletes experience the highest of highs and lowest of lows. After training for years, the spotlight shines brightly during almost three weeks of competition. Then it's time to go home and that return can be difficult.

'A deep depression after the Olympics.' The challenges facing athletes at home

8:50am February 20, 2022

by Emily Russell

"Athletes post-Olympics or post-retirement need a lot of support, a lot of people reminding them of their worth beyond just their athletic achievements and results," says therapist Holly Brooks.

Kevin Tranbarger poses with his two children outside the Hong Kong International Airport in July, before they left for the United States. A few weeks later, Tranbarger decided to permanently move away from Hong after living there for nearly three decades.

World News

He loved Hong Kong. Its COVID crackdown made him leave without even saying goodbye

8:06am February 20, 2022

by David Gura

Hong Kong has imposed severe restrictions to fight COVID-19. For many expatriates, it's proving the last straw after years of seeing its autonomy erode as China tightens its grip on the territory.

Queue Listen Now

People participate in a protest organized by truck drivers opposing vaccine mandates on Wellington St. on Saturday in Ottawa, Ontario.

World News

Police clear protesters around Canada's Parliament building

10:21pm February 19, 2022

by Wynne Davis

Police in Ottawa have made 170 arrests so far as they work to clear the streets in Canada's capital city. Protests against COVID-19 restrictions have spread across Canada in recent weeks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday. He proposed a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid heightened tensions between their two countries.

Ukraine President Zelenskyy proposes to meet with Putin as tensions with Russia grow

8:15pm February 19, 2022

by Deepa Shivaram

As fears grow of a Russian invasion of his country, the Ukrainian president offered to meet with his Russian counterpart. The U.S. warned of swift sanctions against Russia if it moves into Ukraine.