Olympic begin in Beijing; Amazon workers vote on unionization; the fate of the International Space Station

Plus, how Medicare beneficiaries can get free COVID-19 tests [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen First up Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images Here's what we're following today: The 2022 Winter Olympic Games officially kick off this morning with the opening ceremony. The festivities air live this morning, but will be played again tonight in primetime. [Keep up with the schedule of events]( so you don't miss a single moment. ➡️ Some of the team events have already begun. U.S. figure skater Nathan Chen had a strong showing, earning a [season-high international score]( for his short program. The Biden administration is accusing Russia of planning a fake attack from Ukraine in order to justify an invasion. A State Department spokesperson says intelligence reveals Russia might be considering the production of [a graphic propaganda video](. Medicare recipients will be eligible to receive up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests a month for free as early as this spring. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says this is [the first time]( that an over-the-counter test has been provided at no cost to beneficiaries. Americans are getting sicker in hospitals during the pandemic — but not from COVID-19. Hospitals overcrowded with COVID-19 patients are leading to delayed medical care across the board, [sometimes leading to life-threatening complications](. In quiet, polite voices, two small Uyghur children recount their abusive experiences in a boarding school in the Xinjiang region of western China. Since 2017, authorities in Xinjiang [have rounded up hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs]( and sent them to detention centers. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s listen Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images Amazon workers in Alabama are voting for a second time to unionize. They're getting another chance after a federal ruling found Amazon unfairly influenced the first election, in which workers rejected unionization. 🎧 [Listen to why a "yes" vote would be groundbreaking for the company]( or [read the story.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Before you go NASA/Getty Images - The International Space Station is headed for the ocean. Operations will wind down at the end of this decade, and the station will be [sent into a remote part of the Pacific Ocean](. - Check fraud is on the rise, and thieves have some creative ways of getting their hands on your checks. Make sure you know [how to protect yourself.]( - Sarah Palin's lawsuit against the New York Times is back on after her bout with COVID-19. Jurors will decide [if the newspaper defamed her.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Daily News emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]