News

3 dead in Alabama after tornadoes pummel the South

The deaths came in Dallas and Talladega counties.

Tren de Aragua — all you need to know about the Venezuelan gang

The Trump administration has invoked a 227-year-old law, the Alien Enemies Act, to target Tren de Aragua, a gang with its roots in the prisons of Venezuela. Who are they and how wide is their reach?

Hundreds of alleged gang members deported from U.S. despite court order

It was not immediately clear if the deportations happened before or after a federal judge in D.C. on Saturday issued an emergency order that told the administration to stop using wartime powers to deport anyone, and turn around any planes already in the air.

The missing children of Syria: Hidden in orphanages under Assad, where are they now?

Assad's forces detained mothers and children and sent many of the youth to orphanages. Syrians whose children vanished during the war are now seeking information on their fate. NPR investigates.

51 dead and more than 100 injured in nightclub fire in North Macedonia

A massive nightclub fire killed 51 people early Sunday in North Macedonia 's eastern town of Kocani, and injured more than 100. The blaze broke out during a concert by a local pop group.

Forget about rare earth minerals. We need more copper

In recent weeks, you've likely heard a lot about rare-earth substances with hard-to-pronounce names, but experts warn that the shortage of another crucial metal, copper, could be just as concerning.

March Madness begins for NPR’s College Podcast Challenge

Our 10 finalists for the best college podcasts in the country include students from some familiar schools, and a few surprises.

NASA’s stuck astronauts welcome their newly arrived replacements to the space station

Just over a day after blasting off, a SpaceX crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, delivering the replacements for NASA's two stuck astronauts.

Trump enacts a 1790s law to target ‘alien enemies’ for detention and deportation

In a presidential action Saturday, Trump invoked the wartime authority Alien Enemies Act, targeting members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to immediate detention and deportation.

Trump orders strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and issues new warning

Trump said the U.S. would use "overwhelming lethal force" until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping. The Houthis said nine civilians were killed.

Trump Administration say South Africa’s Ambassador to U.S. ‘persona non grata’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he's kicking out the Ambassador from South Africa -accusing him of hating America and hating Donald Trump.

‘Bloody Saturday’ at Voice of America and other U.S.-funded networks

Federal officials placed 1,000 employees at Voice of America on indefinite paid leave, while severing contracts with Radio Free Asia and other U.S.-funded networks.

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 9, including aid workers and journalists, witnesses say

Two back-to-back Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza killed at least nine people on Saturday, according to Gaza civil defense. Witnesses say several of those killed were aid workers and journalists.

Here are 8 photography winners with disabilities who show the world their perspective

Here are the winning entries in this year's Global Ability Photography Challenge.

‘Sounds like censorship to me.’ O cinema co-founder slams proposed eviction over film

No Other Land has no U.S. distributor, so the filmmakers have had to make one-on-one deals with cinemas. Art house theaters such as O Cinema have been screening the film independently.

Why there’s always room for dessert, according to brain science

It doesn't matter how full you are, you can always fit in a bite or two or three of pie and ice cream. Scientists say it has to due with special neurons in our brain that just can't get enough sugar.

HUD choked funding to enforce fair-housing laws. Legal aid groups may not survive

Most housing discrimination claims are handled by local nonprofits around the country. They say the Trump administration has hobbled them, and are challenging the cuts as unlawful.

A new team and a new attitude, Lewis Hamilton cruises into the 2025 Formula 1 season

Lewis Hamilton has a new team, a new outlook and a new hope. Led by the sport's most successful driver, Formula 1's closest season in recent history starts on Sunday at the Australian Grand Prix.

Threat of tornadoes moves south after storm unleashes winds and fans wildfires

The threat of tornadoes moved east into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Saturday, a day after a massive storm system unleashed winds that damaged buildings in several central states.

They look like Nazi salutes. Here’s why some people think they’re a joke

Multiple people have given stiff-arm salutes after Elon Musk did it twice on Inauguration Day. Many claim it was a joke but extremism experts worry the once-taboo salute is getting normalized.

Federal agencies plan for mass layoffs as Trump’s workforce cuts continue

Thursday's deadline for federal agencies to submit plans for large-scale layoffs kicks off a new phase in the dramatic restructuring of how the government operates. Here's what that looks like.

As enrollment in online college grows, students wonder: Why does it cost more?

Rather than lowering the price, some universities use online courses to subsidize everything else.

U.K.’s Starmer convenes ‘coalition of the willing’ meeting to discuss Ukraine

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is convening a second meeting of global leaders Saturday to discuss the developments regarding the war in Ukraine.

Arlington National Cemetery stops highlighting some historical figures on its website

Articles, photos and videos that are seen as promoting DEI will be removed under the new approach.

Turmoil rocks Columbia University as Trump administration demands changes — or else

The Trump administration delivered an ultimatum to leaders of Columbia University: Make a series of major changes or lose out on billions in federal aid.

Block on Trump’s executive orders restricting DEI programs is lifted

An appeals court on Friday lifted a block on executive orders seeking to end government support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, allowing the orders to be enforced as a lawsuit challenging them plays out.

Transgender veterans’ health services in question as VA rescinds guidance on care

In an internal VA memo seen by NPR, the VA says it's rescinding a directive that contains detailed guidance on the kind of care transgender veterans can receive at VA facilities.

Trump reclaims a Justice Department reshaped in his wake

The rare speech at the Justice Department comes as the Trump administration has spent the last several weeks trying to reconfigure the agency, including demoting attorneys who worked on cases related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and firing officials who investigated the president himself.

The NWSL is adopting a tool to protect players from online abuse, commissioner says

NWSL's Jessica Berman says the league is adopting a tool to monitor and protect players from online abuse. The NWSL was scrutinized for not doing more to protect player Barbra Banda from harassment.

Zelenskyy wants U.S. to hit Russia with ‘maximum’ sanctions if it refuses a ceasefire

Ukraine's president said he hopes the U.S. applies "maximum additional sanctions" on Russia if it refuses to accept a 30-day ceasefire, describing the Russian leader's "bravado" as a stalling tactic.

More Norwegian ski jumpers have been suspended due to a major cheating scandal

Team officials are accused of altering athletes' suits to enhance their aerodynamics. The suspension by International Ski and Snowboard Federation (IFS) follows last week's FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

Senate passes spending bill to avoid a government shutdown

The Senate voted 54 to 46 to approve a spending bill to fund the government through the end of September.