The festivities featured a parade of athletes through a mostly empty stadium — including the Afghan flag carried by a volunteer in a show of solidarity — and a one-winged plane that learned to fly.

Mark your calendars: The Games will feature 539 events across 22 sports before the closing ceremony on Sept. 5.

The Olympics and Paralympics have for decades been held in tandem, and both celebrate world-class athletic achievement. The Special Olympics differs in key ways.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z's new Tiffany & Co. campaign marks several milestones: the couple's first joint campaign, a never-before-seen Basquiat painting and just the fourth woman to wear the Tiffany Diamond.

Gov. Greg Abbott — who announced Tuesday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus despite being fully vaccinated — has been fighting with local governments over masks for months.

Ghani said on Sunday that he had left the country to avoid further bloodshed.

The average SNAP benefit will increase by $36.24 per person, per month, starting in October.

The country is reeling after a recent earthquake and is in need of humanitarian aid. Osaka, whose father is Haitian, and other celebrities like Cardi B are trying to draw attention to the crisis.

Looking to get involved but not sure how to help? Here are some resources to get you started.

A gunman in southwest England killed five people, including a 3-year-old girl, before turning his weapon on himself, police say.

COVID-19 cases are overwhelming the South. Arkansas set a record for hospitalizations, while officials in one Florida county are urging residents to "consider other options" before calling 911.

A day after the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a star-studded roster of comedians will perform at a benefit to raise money for victims and their families.

Allison Crimmins, who heads the National Climate Assessment, says the U.N.'s landmark report confirms the need for "significant, sustained action" to reduce emissions.

The state's top medical official says Louisiana went from its lowest to highest number of cases and hospitalizations in just four weeks, and the surge doesn't show signs of slowing.

Comedian Kathy Griffin said she has never smoked, and that doctors are optimistic because the cancer appears to be contained to her left lung — half of which she is getting removed.

Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon could be closed for days or even weeks after last week's mudslides. Last year's wildfires burned the vegetation that normally helps soak up rainwater.

The vast majority of these laws apply only to state and local governments, meaning private schools and employers could still require people to get vaccinated.

A large slice of icing from one of the nearly two dozen official 1981 wedding cakes will go up for auction next week. The auction house says it's in good condition, "but we advise against eating it."

In addition to smashing a longtime world record, Tatjana Schoenmaker took home South Africa's first gold medal of the Tokyo Games.

There's been about two degrees Fahrenheit of warming so far worldwide. That may sound like a small number, but scientists say it's enough to make extreme weather events much more common.