The record number headlined the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees’ annual “Global Trends” report published Wednesday, just a day before World Refugee Day.
‘Starving’ Polar Bear Wanders Into Siberian Town
Residents in the town of Norilsk in northern Siberia were surprised to see the female bear, who reportedly appeared to be exhausted and looking for food.
From A Napkin To A White House Medal — The Path Of A Controversial Economic Idea
Art Laffer receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom Wednesday. For decades, Laffer has promoted the idea that tax cuts pay for themselves, against all evidence to the contrary.
Hong Kong Leaders Apologize For Extradition Bill As They Brace For More Protests
A day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam offered her mea culpa, two top advisers followed suit. But the apologies are unlikely to be enough to placate protesters.
Canada’s Trudeau Approves Controversial Pipeline Expansion
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first approved the project, which is opposed by many environmental groups, in 2016, but Tuesday’s announcement means construction can begin later this year.
Trump Launches Reelection Bid With Promises Of Greatness And Familiar Grievances
The president told supporters that Democrats want to “destroy” the country, turning up the heat on opponents in a speech that mostly picked up where the 2016 campaign left off.
Congressional Hearing On Slavery Reparations Set For Wednesday
A proposal to create a commission to study reparations for African Americans comes as the presidential election season is kicking into gear. Some Democratic hopefuls support reparations.
Sandy Hook Victim’s Father Wins Defamation Suit; Alex Jones Sanctioned
“Mr. Pozner has sought for years to try to get these conspiracy theorists to understand that his son really was a person and that his son really did die,” attorney Jake Zimmerman told NPR.
California Utility PG&E To Pay $1 Billion To Local Governments For Wildfire Damage
Attorneys for a group of counties and cities announced the proposed settlement Tuesday to help cover taxpayer losses from wildfires dating back to 2015.
Humongous Horns: Texas Longhorn From Alabama Sets Guinness World Record
This steer isn’t much different from other Texas longhorns except it holds a world record. Poncho Via’s horns were measured at nearly 11-feet wide, that’s longer than the Statue of Liberty’s face.
Kushner Meets With Bipartisan Architects Of Dreamer Legislation
Jared Kushner met privately with Sens. Lindsey Graham and Dick Durbin, the two architects of plans to provide citizenship for those brought to the country illegally as children.
Harvard Rescinds Offer To Parkland Survivor After Discovery Of Racist Comments
Kyle Kashuv, a Parkland student survivor, was accepted into Harvard, but after the university discovered racist slurs he made when he was 16, the offer was rescinded.
For Saudi Military Vehicle Deal, Canada Weighs Jobs And Human Rights
An agreement for Canada to sell light armored vehicles to Saudi Arabia continues to stir debate.
Boaty McBoatface, Internet-Adored Sub, Makes Deep-Sea Discovery On Climate Change
Since the delightful snafu that led to the research vessel’s goofy moniker, the autonomous submarine has been off gathering deep-sea data on the effects of Antarctic winds.
Florida Wants To Import Medicine From Canada. But How Would That Work?
A new law would let the state make bulk purchases of prescription drugs from Canada. But it still faces hurdles that could keep it from becoming reality.
Google Will Devote $1 Billion To Try To Tame Housing Costs In SF Bay Area
Over the next 10 years, Google hopes to help bring 20,000 new homes to the local market. Part of the plan calls for rezoning company-owned land so that it can be used for residential housing.
Facebook Unveils Libra Cryptocurrency, Sets Launch For 2020
Libra will be controlled by a nonprofit group in which Facebook will share responsibilities with companies ranging from Mastercard and PayPal to Uber and eBay.
‘The Accident Of Color’ Looks At The Failure Of Reconstruction
Daniel Brook has written a book that goes a long way toward injecting thoughtfulness into popular notions of the history of race and racism in America but doesn’t delve far enough into class conflict.
U.S. Schools Underreport How Often Students Are Restrained Or Secluded, Watchdog Says
Districts are supposed to tell the government how often students are held or detained. But a new report says those numbers are so inaccurate, there’s no way of knowing the prevalence of these methods.
Trump Threatens To Deport ‘Millions,’ As He Kicks Off Campaign For Reelection
The administration is seeking to ramp up deportation, focusing on those who have skipped court hearings.
Michel Platini, Europe’s Former Soccer Boss, Arrested As Part Of Qatar Inquiry
Just four years ago, Platini was the powerful head of Europe’s football association and was seen as the heir apparent to Sepp Blatter.
‘Fleishman Is In Trouble’ Flips Expectations Upside Down
Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s debut novel seems like a Portnoy-esque tale of a lovable lout, but halfway through, the story shakes itself up and reorients itself in a completely different direction.
U.S. Resident Imprisoned In Iran On Spying Charges Returns To America
Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese citizen, was recently released from Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, where he served nearly four years.
Miami Officer Acquitted Of Attempted Manslaughter In Shooting Of Caregiver
Jonathan Aledda testified that he did not intend to shoot Charles Kinsey, a caregiver for an autistic man who the officer says he mistakenly thought was armed.
Apple’s Scary Buying Power And The Woman Who Named It
Celebrating the legacy of Joan Robinson, the British economic theorist who named a powerful — and increasingly worried about — force in the economy.
Texas Is Latest State To Attack Surprise Medical Bills
A new Texas law says hospitals and insurers will have to work it out when they can’t agree on a price — instead of sending huge unexpected bills to patients.
Trump Set To Officially Launch Reelection Bid, But Hasn’t He Been Running All Along?
President Trump filed official paperwork to run for a second term on Inauguration Day. Since then, he’s held dozens of rallies, but his campaign says Tuesday’s event in Florida will be “historic.”
Going ‘Zero Carbon’ Is All The Rage. But Will It Slow Climate Change?
Cities, states, businesses and electric utilities are setting ambitious goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions. But it’s not clear exactly how they’ll do that or whether it will actually work.
Heavily Armed Gunman Shot Dead Outside Federal Courthouse In Dallas
Authorities identified the gunman as a 22-year-old Army veteran. Police have not released a motive for the shooting in which no one else was injured.
4 Wounded In Shooting At Toronto Raptors Victory Celebration
The shots set off a panicked stampede at a gathering to honor the NBA champs. None of the injuries was life threatening and police quickly apprehended three suspects.
Pentagon Sending 1,000 More U.S. Troops To Middle East
The announcement comes after Iran said it would surpass limits on its uranium stockpiles as set by a landmark international agreement. The Pentagon insisted it is not seeking a war with Iran.
NPR Identifies 4th Attacker In Civil Rights-Era Cold Case
A fourth man was involved in the 1965 attack on civil rights worker and minister James Reeb, but that man was never identified or charged in Reeb’s murder, an NPR investigation revealed.
‘Sports Illustrated’ Magazine Now Under Ross Levinsohn, Exec With Controversial Past
The storied magazine was sold last month. And now editorial control of the 65-year-old magazine has been licensed to TheMaven, a digital outfit that is bringing in a controversial CEO.
Supreme Court Justices Split Along Unexpected Lines In 3 Cases
The court decided four cases Monday, and three defied the usual ideological fissures.
Meth In The Morning, Heroin At Night: Inside The Seesaw Struggle of Dual Addiction
Many users now mix opioids with stimulants such as meth and cocaine. Researchers say efforts to get doctors to reduce opioid prescriptions may have driven some users to buy meth on the street instead.
Chinese President Xi Jinping To Visit North Korea This Week
The leaders are scheduled to meet on Thursday, according to Chinese and North Korean news agencies. The visit comes after stalled negotiations with President Trump.