News
Party City files for bankruptcy and plans to shutter nationwide
Party City was once unmatched in its vast selection of affordable celebration goods. But over the years, competition stacked up at Walmart, Target, Spirit Halloween, and especially Amazon.
Sudan’s biggest refugee camp was already struck with famine. Now it’s being shelled
The siege, blamed on the Rapid Support Forces, has sparked a new humanitarian catastrophe and marks an alarming turning point in the Darfur region, already overrun by violence.
FDA approves weight loss drug Zepbound to treat obstructive sleep apnea
The FDA said studies have shown that by aiding weight loss, Zepbound improves sleep apnea symptoms in some patients.
Netflix is dreaming of a glitch-free Christmas with 2 major NFL games set
It comes weeks after Netflix's attempt to broadcast live boxing between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was rife with technical glitches.
Big dreams: He’s the founder of a leading African photobook library
Paul Ninson had an old-school, newfangled dream: a modern library devoted to photobooks showing life on the continent. He maxed out his credit cards, injured his back — and made it happen.
Opinion: The Pope wants priests to lighten up
A reflection on the comedy stylings of Pope Francis, who is telling priests to lighten up and not be so dour.
The FDA restricts a psychoactive mushroom used in some edibles
The Food and Drug Administration has told food manufacturers the psychoactive mushroom Amanita muscaria isn't authorized for food, including edibles, because it doesn't meet safety standards.
People power’s unfinished work: Can Bangladesh be an exception?
The Wilson Center's Michael Kugelman says that for many Bangladeshis, a successful youth-led mass movement has shattered a long malaise and kindled a newfound optimism about the country's future.
Latinos are the fastest-growing fanbase in the NFL. What’s the league’s playbook?
The NFL is reaching more Latinos than ever. Here's how they've scored with a Spanish-speaking audience.
A pair of satellites will create artificial solar eclipses to study the sun
Astronomers hope the Proba-3 mission will help them get a better view of the corona, the sun's outer atmosphere, which is even hotter than the sun's surface.
How AI deepfakes polluted elections in 2024
The most visible use of AI in many countries was to create memes and content whose artificial origins weren't disguised. They were often openly shared by politicians and their supporters.
‘Driven by something greater’: Meet Birmingham’s trainer to the stars of today and the future
Otis Leverette, better known as ‘Coach O,’ is a strength and conditioning coach in the South that’s impacting athletes' lives beyond sports.
What happens if Congress doesn’t fund the government?
If lawmakers can't reach a deal to avoid a shutdown, many federal workers would be furloughed, while essential functions like Social Security payments would continue.
At least 2 dead and dozens injured after a car plowed into a German Christmas market
A car plowed into a busy outdoor Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg in what authorities believe was an attack. The driver was arrested.
Malaysia plans to restart a private search for the missing Flight MH370
Over a decade later, none of the bodies of the 239 passengers and crew members abroad have been recovered.
House Republicans to move forward with Plan C to fund the government
But several hurdles remain to avert a government shutdown ahead of a Friday midnight deadline.
What a government shutdown could mean for your holiday travel plans
Millions of Americans are planning to travel in the coming days. Here's what a potential government shutdown could mean for flying, driving and more — and what you can do to prepare.
Once again, the debt ceiling is roiling Washington. Here are 4 things to know
Lawmakers will have to authorize additional borrowing to pay the government's bills, but there's no reason it has to be done right away — except for politics.
CFPB sues three top U.S. banks for failing to protect consumers from Zelle fraud
The consumer financial watchdog says customers of the top three banks lost more than $870 million over seven years due to a lack of safeguards against fraud on the Zelle network.
An Indiana man is sentenced to 130 years in prison for murdering 2 teenage girls
Richard Allen, who was convicted in the 2017 killings of two teens who vanished during a winter hike, received the maximum prison sentence in a case that's long cast a shadow over the town of Delphi.
Great global photos from 2024: These images delighted us, touched us, dazzled us
People love looking at photos. (Just ask Instagram.) This year, we published a number of photo-driven posts that resonated deeply with our audience. Here are some of our favorites.
Alabama profits off prisoners safe enough to work at McDonald’s, deems them too dangerous for parole
No state has a longer, more profit-driven history of contracting prisoners out to private companies than Alabama. Best Western, Bama Budweiser and Burger King are among the more than 500 businesses to lease incarcerated workers from one of the most violent, overcrowded and unruly prison systems in the U.S.
Watch: A satellite time-lapse shows the world’s biggest iceberg is on the move again
About the size of Rhode Island, the iceberg known as A23a got stuck in an ocean vortex this summer, spinning in place for months. Now, it's free, and heading back into open Antarctic waters.
Starbucks workers say they will begin a strike in 3 cities on Friday
Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United said in February they had come to common ground in moving forward for the rest of the year. But the union says Starbucks has not kept its end of the commitment.
History has never ended, but are we at a crossroads again?
Oxford professor Ben Ansell says we are witnessing a battle between nationalism and liberalism that will write our own time indelibly into the history books of tomorrow.
Big Lots says it is having going-out-of-business sales as it seeks a new buyer
The national discount retailer says that a previously announced deal to sell itself to a private-equity group fell through.
Saturday is the winter solstice. Make the most of the shortest day of the year
Saturday marks the shortest day of the year and the official start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. NPR has compiled plenty of expert tips for celebrating the solstice and weathering winter.
‘Bill of the Month’: The series that dissects and slashes medical bills
Since 2018, readers and listeners sent KFF Health News-NPR's "Bill of the Month" thousands of questionable bills. Our crowdsourced investigation paved the way for landmark legislation and highlighted cost-saving strategies for all patients
Louisiana forbids public health workers from promoting COVID, flu and mpox shots
An NPR investigation found Louisiana health officials told staff to stop promoting vaccines for COVID, flu and mpox, holding flu shot events or otherwise encouraging the public to get those vaccines.
Climate-warming gas leaks must be fixed by utilities in a new proposed rule
Natural gas utilities likely will face stricter federal regulations for their climate-warming methane emissions. Among the biggest sources of leaks is the meter outside a gas customer's home.
Trump is all about tariffs as he leads a party that used to be all about free trade
Once upon a time, Republicans spoke of free trade in glowing terms. With his constant threats of tariffs and a history of implementing them, President-elect Donald Trump has flipped that on its head.
Trump’s reelection victory pushes some LGTBQ Minneapolis residents to safety training
For some marginalized communities the second Trump term is fraught with fears over personal safety. In Minneapolis, one organization is helping with de-escalation services and gun training.
