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Delta apologizes – again – after another stowaway boards a flight without ticket
The incident marks the second time in less than a month that an unticketed passenger was discovered on a Delta Air Lines flight, this time en route to Hawaii.
Photos from Azerbaijan jet crash suggest a missile strike, according to experts
The Embraer 190 with 67 passengers and crew was flying from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to Grozny in Chechnya, Russia, when it crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 people.
End of Year Slideshow
This year, our team spent a lot of time outside the confines of the station, visiting communities across the heart of Alabama. Getting out from behind the microphone and discussing the news with our listeners has been a powerful reminder that public media – and WBHM’s work right here in our community – must remain invested in local reporting on issues that affect us all, as well as the art, culture, and events that inspire us.
New leaders in Damascus call for cordial Syria ties with a resistant Israel
"Our problem is not with Israel. We don't want to meddle in anything that will threaten Israel's security," Damascus Governor Maher Marwan tells NPR. Syria and Israel have never had diplomatic ties.
Rescue team ends search for a man overboard from Norwegian Cruise Line ship
The tragedy marks the 19th overboard incident on a cruise ship this year, with only two passengers successfully rescued.
Global stories from 2024 that we loved … but that you may have missed
These stories didn't get huge numbers of views, but readers who found them stayed with them for what qualifies as an eternity on the online clock. Here are our underappreciated favorites.
How a fox skull shape conquers the snow
Research explains how foxes hunting mice can plunge down into the snow at high speeds without injuring their poor little snouts.
Top global TikToks in 2024: Mr. Bean disciple, lip-synch for their life, baby hippo!
Scenes from some of the most popular TikToks from the Global South in 2024: a dancing teen from the Philippines; an homage to Mr. Bean, that cute baby pygmy hippo.
More than 10,000 migrants died in 2024 trying to reach Spain by sea, aid group says
The migration route that connects West African nations with the Spanish Canary Islands remains the deadliest in the world, according to a Spanish aid organization.
You can take the suspense: Get cozy with a new mystery or thriller
Here are 10 heart-pounding novels recommended by NPR staff and critics — perfect for winter reading by the fire.
Congressional lawmakers almost got a pay bump this year. Then it crashed and burned
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill haven't had a pay increase since 2009, representing a 31% decline in their salary when adjusted for inflation.
A health care provider that faced dozens of prisoner lawsuits is filing for bankruptcy
Wellpath, a health care provider for hospitals, prisons and jails, has been dogged by wrongful death and medical negligence suits. What happens to those cases now that it has filed for bankruptcy?
Living HealthSmart in Alabama is getting easier thanks to a growing UAB initiative
The Live HealthSmart Alabama initiative, which the University of Alabama at Birmingham launched in 2019, has a goal of pulling Alabama out of the bottom 10 states in terms of negative health indicators by removing systemic barriers. Pilot projects in four Birmingham neighborhoods wrapped up this year, and organizers hope their success can be replicated throughout the state.
For homeless seniors, finding stable housing takes a village — and a lot of luck
The number of unhoused seniors is expected to triple by 2030. As rents rise, it becomes tougher to find affordable housing that's accessible for those with medical conditions and disabilities.
A wild year in politics, by the numbers
From the election results to the the charges against President-elect Donald Trump, here are the numbers that defined 2024 in politics.
South Korea’s opposition-controlled parliament votes to impeach acting president
The impeachments of the country's president and then acting-president worsen the nation's political turmoil, deepen its economic uncertainty and hurt its international image.
Finland detains Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea
Finnish authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia that Finnish customs officials and the European Union's executive commission describe as part of Russia's shadow fleet of fuel tankers.
Richard Parsons, who steadied Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76
Parsons, one of corporate America's most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, was known as a skilled negotiator, a diplomat and a crisis manager.
The ‘Beyoncé Bowl’ halftime show was a massive hit for Netflix. The football was too
Netflix says more than 200 countries tuned into the "Beyoncé Bowl" and its two NFL games. We may just be starting to learn what that ultimately means for the future of television and sports media.
Bird flu has killed 20 big cats including cougars at a U.S. wildlife sanctuary
The sanctuary in Washington state said it was working with officials to determine the cause of the outbreak, which has killed over half of its cats in recent weeks.
Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen’s capital. WHO chief says he was nearby
A round of Israeli airstrikes targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports. The head of the World Health Organization said the bombardment occurred as he prepared to board a flight.
Public Radio’s Favorite Live Sessions of 2024
Watch in-studio videos from Rosanne Cash, Nathaniel Rateliff and more.
Giving a kidney to a stranger? Researchers call it ‘extraordinary altruism’
Only about 300 to 400 people a year give a kidney to someone they never met. It's an act of generosity so unusual, a neuroscientist studies the people who do this.
Manmohan Singh, India’s prime minister from 2004 to 2014, has died
Singh was known as the father of economic reforms in India. He served as finance minister in the early 1990s, and his policies then set India on the path of economic liberalization and globalization.
Investigation begins into the cause of the Azerbaijan Airlines crash
Azerbaijan observed a day of mourning for the victims of the plane crash that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured as speculation mounted about a possible cause of the disaster.
Photos: Fishermen, known as ‘Sea Nomads,’ dive to protect ocean life in Madagascar
They make their living off the sea, but their catch is dwindling. So these traditional fisherfolk are taking steps to preserve both sea life — and their livelihood.
Mourners mark 20 years since Indian Ocean tsunami that killed some 230,000 people
Triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the catastrophic event was the deadliest tsunami in recorded history.
How to navigate gift returns and regifting this holiday season
Etiquette experts weigh in on what to do with that ugly sweater you got for the holidays.
Here are some of the NPR stories that had a big impact in 2024
From learning a new skill to prompting federal legislation, here are some of the ways people's lives were affected by the NPR Network's journalism this year.
50 wonderful things from 2024
Pop culture critic Linda Holmes has been making this annual list since 2010. Big, small, inspirational, silly — what these items have in common is that they are all wonderful and brought her joy.
The 2024 moments that will stick with us: Reflections from the Gulf States Newsroom
Our regional reporters reflect on delightful, discarded moments they had in the field as they covered stories across Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Israeli strike kills 5 Palestinian journalists in Gaza, officials say
An Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight, according to the Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it had targeted a group of militants.
