Democrats will hold 12 presidential primary debates. The Democratic National Committee says it will have about one a month through the process.
Derailed By Fire And Disarray, Congo Delays Presidential Election — Again
It has been over two years since President Joseph Kabila was scheduled to step down. But after Thursday’s announcement, voters will have to wait a bit longer to finally cast their ballots.
Trump Administration Will Send Asylum-Seekers To Mexico While Claims Are Processed
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Thursday that migrants entering the U.S. from Mexico — regardless of country of origin — must wait in Mexico while their claims are heard.
Justice Department Charges Chinese Hackers In Bid To Curtail Cyber-Theft
The two men are accused of being part of a vast government effort to transfer American trade, technology and defense secrets into Chinese hands, but are unlikely to face trial.
Democrats Can’t Avoid Identity Politics In 2020
Facing a crowded primary in 2020, Democratic presidential candidates may not be able avoid identity issues in a Democratic party that is increasingly the party of nonwhites and white liberals.
Sidestepping Congress, Trump Administration Proposes More Work Rules For Food Stamps
The Agriculture Department wants to limit states’ ability to apply for exemption waivers. It wants more able-bodied people to work in exchange for federal food benefits.
Trump Won’t Sign Spending Plan Without More For Border
The measure would fund about a quarter of the government but included no money for the border wall demanded by President Trump.
After Mugabe, Zimbabwe Still Enforces A Law Against Insulting The President
Under rules inherited from British colonial times, jokes, slurs or accusations against the head of state are unlawful. An “insult” carries a hefty fine and a brief jail sentence.
VIDEO: 4 Ways That Wild Edibles, Including Insects, Will Wow You
California-based chef and forager Pascal Baudar is a master of wildcrafted cuisine, creating visually stunning, palate-pleasing recipes from foraged ingredients — including insects.
Is Genocide Predictable? Researchers Say Absolutely
Scholars at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum say that mass killings follow predictable patterns. They’re using a computer model to track where the next genocide is likely to occur.
Gatwick Airport Shuts Down After Drones Fly Near Its Runway
Passengers who had been expecting to land near London were instead flown to a range of cities, from Liverpool and Manchester in Britain to Paris, Bordeaux, and Amsterdam.
The Monumental Push Behind Getting That Package Delivered By Christmas
The explosion in online holiday shopping is resulting in billions of packages needing to be delivered and stressing companies like UPS, FedEx and Amazon like never before.
5 Ways Nixing The Affordable Care Act Could Upend U.S. Health System
If the decision of a judge in Texas to invalidate the federal health law holds up, expect broad effects on your health care — from insurance coverage to Medicare payments to pre-existing conditions.
Judge Denies Bid To Drop Sex Assault Charges Against Harvey Weinstein
Weinstein’s legal team unsuccessfully attempted to throw out charges of rape and sexual assault. Allegations against Weinstein from a multitude of women boosted the #MeToo movement.
Celebrated 33-Year-Old German Journalist Adds A Line To His Resume: Fraudster
Claas Relotius, who has admitted to faking some of his reporting, had written dozens of articles for Der Spiegel.
‘Realization Of An Impossible Dream’: MLB And Cuba Make Historic Deal
The agreement, negotiated over years, represents the first time since Cuba’s revolution that baseball players can sign with U.S. teams without defecting.
5-Time Gold Medalist Missy Franklin Retires From Swimming
The 23-year-old became an Olympic sensation as a teen during the 2012 London games, where she broke a world record and became the first woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympics in any sport.
Tornado Touches Down Near Seattle, Causing Damage But No Deaths
The Port Orchard twister was extremely rare, especially for December, says the National Weather Service. No serious injuries were reported, but homes and other buildings were affected by the storm.
Cuba Scraps Words Establishing Same-Sex Marriage From Drafted Constitution
The amendment stirred controversy on the island. The National Assembly said this week that eliminating a definition of matrimony was “a way of respecting all opinions.”
From Cocaine To Cacao: One Man’s Mission To Save Colombia’s Farmers Through Chocolate
As efforts to get farmers to stop growing coca in favor of legal crops falter, some farmers feel abandoned. But one man says he’ll stand by them, helping farmers shift to cacao for high-end chocolate.
Woman Charged With Fake Witchcraft, Days Before Canada Scraps Old Law
Police say the woman “attempted to elicit funds … in return for protection from some form [of] potential danger.” The law was scrubbed from Canada’s criminal code last week.
Study: Kids More Likely To Die From Cars And Guns In U.S. Than Elsewhere
A New England Journal of Medicine study looks at death rates for children in the U.S. and compares them to rates from countries around the world.
San Francisco Orders Man To Rebuild His Iconic Home After It Was Demolished
Built in 1936, it was one of only a handful of Bay Area projects by the renowned architect Richard Neutra.
Judge Who Invalidated Obamacare Has Been A ‘Go-To Judge’ For Republicans, Critics Say
Court watchers weren’t shocked when Reed O’Connor, a U.S. district judge in Texas, ruled the Affordable Care Act invalid. Critics say he usually sides with Republicans on ideological cases.
The Saga’s Not Over: South Africa Issues Arrest Warrant For Grace Mugabe
Zimbabwe’s former first lady allegedly beat a model with an extension cord, though for nearly a year she had diplomatic immunity. That shield was dropped, and authorities say they’re back on the case.
A Weed Grows In Toledo, And Residents Hang Their Christmas Hopes Upon It
An attempt to bring a little Christmas cheer has grown to capture the imagination of the Ohio city.
Why The U.S. Remains The Most Expensive Market For ‘Biologic’ Drugs In The World
Biologic drugs, often made with the help of living organisms, are especially lucrative because they have scant competition from biosimilars, drugs akin to generics. It’s a different story in Europe.
White House Orders Pentagon To Pull U.S. Troops From Syria
U.S. troops have been in Syria since late 2015. The move is a reversal of U.S. policy: Earlier this month, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said troops would stay to stabilize the country.
Fed Raises Rates Despite Trump Attacks, Stocks Tank
The U.S. Federal Reserve is raising the benchmark borrowing rate to a range of 2.25 percent to 2.50 percent, a move that would put it at the highest level in a decade.
Warning To Democrats: Most Americans Against U.S. Getting More Politically Correct
An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll finds that 52 percent don’t want the country to become more politically correct and are upset there are too many things people can’t say anymore.
Why Aren’t More Users Of Opioids Or Meth Screened For Hepatitis C?
As the number of people who inject drugs and share needles has soared, the rate of infection with hep C has climbed, too. Yet many drug treatment patients aren’t tested for the liver-damaging virus.
The Next Commander In Chief? Democrats Hone Foreign Policy Pitches
A key step in running for president: laying out a foreign-policy vision showing he or she can command the military and keep the country safe. Several likely candidates are hard at work on this front.
Open Scientific Collaboration May Be Helping North Korea Cheat Nuclear Sanctions
New research shared exclusively with NPR suggests that Pyongyang is refining its weapons technology through open scientific research. China leads the way in scientific collaboration with North Korea.
Fatal Disease Outbreak Among Miners Spurs House Hearings On Coal Mine Dust
The review comes in response to an NPR and Frontline investigation that revealed the failure of government regulators to identify and prevent dangerous conditions.
Bipartisan Criminal Justice Bill Closer To Becoming Law After Senate Approval
The Senate voted in favor of legislation that would reduce sentences for some drug crimes and offer training programs for prisoners.
Hispanic Caucus Calls For Investigation Into Migrant Child’s Death
After touring the two border facilities where Jakelin Caal was detained before she died, the congressional delegation called for better medical facilities and trained personnel at ports of entry.