Russia says Paul Whelan was detained on Friday while on a spy mission. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on espionage charges.
The Best Tiny Desk Concerts Of 2018
Watch 25 of the year’s greatest, most surprising Tiny Desk performances, featuring just a sampling of the gifted artists who passed through NPR Music’s office this year.
Jair Bolsonaro, A Polarizing Figure, Prepares To Become Brazil’s President
On New Year’s Day, Jair Bolsonaro will be sworn in as president. He’s an admirer of Donald Trump, and his rise to power has created — and reflected — deep divisions among Brazilians.
A Menstruation Movie Is On The Short List For An Oscar Nomination
It all started when a guy wanted to create a better sanitary pad for his wife. And now there’s a new documentary about the impact of his work.
Chickpeas Sit In Silos As Trump’s Trade Wars Wage On
The largest importers of crops like lentils, garbanzos or peas — China and India — aren’t buying because of trade wars and tariffs. But farmers already planted in anticipation of sales.
‘We Can Win’: Elizabeth Warren Outlines 2020 Presidential Bid
Warren is launching an exploratory committee. The 69-year-old senator, former law professor and consumer advocate is likely to face a crowded Democratic field eager to take on President Trump in 2020.
How Sen. Orrin Hatch Shaped America’s Health Care In Controversial Ways
Republican Orrin Hatch is leaving the Senate after 42 years. He led bipartisan efforts to get more kids and AIDS patients health care. He also thrived on donations from the drug industry.
Way Beyond Pluto, An Icy World Is Ready For Its Close-Up
Minutes after the turn of the new year, NASA’s New Horizons probe will fly by a minor planet in the most distant exploration of a world ever attempted.
Is Coconut Oil All It’s Cracked Up To Be? Get The Facts On This Faddish Fat
In the past few years, enthusiasts have touted coconut oil as the next great health food. But it contains high levels of saturated fat, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
When Too Cute Is Too Much, The Brain Can Get Aggressive
Adorable babies and cute puppies can make us happy. But researchers say their cuteness can be so overwhelming that it unleashes some ugly thoughts.
Bangladesh PM Wins 3rd Term After Violent Election, Accusations Of Rigging
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ruling alliance handily won Sunday’s general election, which saw at least 17 people killed during voting. The main opposition party rejects the results.
Minimum Wages Rising In 20 States And Several Cities
The minimum wage will increase on or around January 1 in 20 states and 21 cities, impacting millions of American workers. Twenty-nine states will have set minimum wages above the federal level.
Stolen Calculators, A Search Warrant And 2 Varying Memories Of What Happened
Greg McKelvey says his interactions with Andrew Halbert, a police officer at his Oregon high school, traumatized him. Eight years on, McKelvey’s tweets led them to reflect on their shared experiences.
More Than A Million Florida Felons Aren’t Sure Yet Whether They Can Register To Vote
The incoming Florida governor and other politicians in the state say they will need to weigh-in before the amendment passed by voters in Nov., giving voting rights back to felons, is implemented.
American Flown To Nebraska After Possible Ebola Exposure
The University of Nebraska Medical Center is monitoring an American health care worker who may have been exposed to the Ebola virus after treating patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
What 3 Deaths Among Thousands Tell Us About Afghanistan In 2018
Thousands of civilians, soldiers and police were killed this year in suicide attacks, bombings and airstrikes. The lives and deaths of three Afghan men shed light on the challenges the country faces.
Nancy Grace Roman, ‘Mother Of Hubble’ Space Telescope, Has Died, At Age 93
Roman was one of the first female executives at NASA, its first chief of astronomy and she played an instrumental role in making the Hubble Space Telescope a reality. She died on Dec. 25.
It’s Easy For Migrants To Get Sick; Harder To Get Treatment
Two children recently died in Border Patrol custody. In response, volunteers created pop-up clinics and the Department of Homeland Security ordered medical checks on kids in custody.
The Year In Washington Scandals: The ‘Swamp’ Remained Murky In 2018
“Bad optics,” charter jets, abusive tweets and insider trading. It has been that kind of year in President Trump’s Cabinet and on Capitol Hill.
Endangered Species Observers Have Spotted The First Right Whale Calf Of The Season
The sighting is a glimmer of hope for a species that has seen a hard few years: 19 right whales died in 2017 and 2018, and not a single North American right whale calf was seen last season.
Trump Blames Democrats For Deaths Of Migrant Kids As DHS Secretary Visits Border
Kirstjen Nielsen’s visit to Texas and Arizona comes as her department is under scrutiny for the recent deaths of two Guatemalan children in U.S. custody.
Trump Says ‘Big Progress’ Is Being Made On Trade Deal
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on the phone Saturday. The U.S. has said it will raise tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, if a deal is not reached by March.
Social Worker Led Frugal Life To Leave Nearly $11 Million To Children’s Charities
Alan Naiman died nearly a year ago from cancer at age 63. As the anniversary of his death nears, charities say that he stunned them with his generous donations.
Those End-Of-The-Year Charitable Donations May Not Help Your Tax Bill
Many people wait until the end of the year to make contributions to their favorite charities and churches. But this year, those donations are unlikely to be deductible, as a result of the new tax law.
How To Help Kids Overcome Their Fear Of Doctors And Shots
Half of the parents of young children in a recent survey said their kids fear going to the doctor. Some admit skipping vaccines and needed appointments. Here’s how to nip medical anxiety in the bud.
FCC Investigates Widespread CenturyLink Outage That Disrupted 911 Service
The FCC chairman called CenturyLink’s widespread telecom outage unacceptable and says an investigation will start immediately.
16-Year-Old Set To Graduate From Kansas High School And Harvard University
When he was about 11 years old, Braxton Moral started Harvard University’s extension program. “I’m not any different; I just do a little thing on the side,” he says.
Pediatricians Voice Concerns About Care Following Two ‘Needless’ Migrant Deaths
The deaths of two migrant children raise new questions about the quality of medical care at Border Patrol facilities. But pediatricians at the border have been raising these concerns for years.
In China’s Push For High-Tech, Hackers Target Cutting-Edge U.S. Firms
U.S. law enforcement says China is racing to become a world leader in the most advanced technologies, and that’s driving intellectual property theft directed at a broad range of U.S. industries.
Amos Oz Dies At 79; Hailed As ‘Glory’ Of Israel’s Writers
The novelist and peace advocate died Friday. He once called the language in which he wrote, modern Hebrew, his “musical instrument” and compared it to “an erupting lava, an earthquake in action.”
National Parks? Many Are Open During The Shutdown. Their Bathrooms? Not So Much
Some state governments and tourism boards have been using their own funds to keep the parks open. Elsewhere, open but unstaffed parks have become something of a free-for-all.
Trump EPA Says Mercury Limits On Coal Plants Too Costly, Not ‘Necessary’
The EPA says it will keep limits on toxic mercury emissions from coal plants but now deems them not cost-effective. Environmental groups worry the move could hinder future regulations.
Oldest American World War II Veteran Dies At 112
Richard Overton enlisted in an all-black battalion, serving in Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He loved ice cream, whiskey and cigars. “Today we mourn not just a hero, but a legend,” the U.S. Army said.
The Health Of The World In 2018, By The Numbers
There is cause for optimism — and for despair. One statistic is so distressing that the Red Cross calls it “a hideous milestone for the 21st century.”
Syrian Army Amasses Outside Kurdish-Held Manbij, As Turkish Force Looms Over Border
Weeks ago, Turkey threatened to send its military over the border if Kurdish militants didn’t leave Manbij. Now the U.S.-backed Kurds seem to be making a deal with the Syrian regime.
Determined To Seek An Education, Teenagers In Raqqa, Syria, Create Their Own School
With their city in ruins and little international help, a group of teenagers decided to take matters into their own hands. They recruited teachers, found a building and set up classes for themselves.