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Who or what else did President Biden pardon? Find out in the quiz!

Also in your grab bag of weekly trivia: martial law, bitcoin, the first lady's holiday décor, a Kennedy who's not RFK Jr., brain rot and the popemobile.

With the Voting Rights Act facing more threats, advocates renew a push for state laws

With efforts to bolster the federal Voting Rights Act unlikely under Republican control of the new Congress, advocates are refocusing on state protections against racial discrimination in elections.

Want a great photo of yourself? Try these confidence-boosting poses

Anyone can be photogenic. It just takes practice. A model and a posing coach share postures and movements to help you get more comfortable in front of the camera.

Microfeminism: The next big thing in fighting the patriarchy

People are sharing the different tactics they use help to uplift women in small ways.

After a shocking shooting, Americans vent feelings about health insurance

The death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson triggered a deluge of painful stories about health care denials on social media.

3 climbers from the U.S. and Canada are believed to have died in New Zealand

Three mountain climbers — two from the U.S. and one from Canada — missing for five days on Aoraki, New Zealand's tallest peak, are believed to have died in a fall, the authorities said Friday.

Trump names former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China

With his nomination, Trump is leaning on a former business executive-turned politician to serve as the administration's envoy to America's most potent economic and military adversary.

Trump nominates Rodney Scott to lead Customs and Border Protection

Rodney Scott at CBP and Caleb Vitello at ICE would work alongside Stephen Miller, who was named deputy chief of staff for policy and Tom Homan, also tapped to be a "border czar."

Some rural Nevadans want Trump to stop the state’s solar energy boom

Backlash against massive solar energy farms drove strong rural turnout in Nevada may have helped flip the presidential vote there to Republican for the first time since 2004. But it's not a given Trump will derail President Biden's plans for more Nevada solar.

France’s toppled government adds to the European Union’s bigger political problems

The political instability in France — and simultaneously in Germany, where the governing coalition collapsed a month ago — could have wide-ranging consequences.

NASA delays Artemis II human moon mission once again as it wraps up heat shield investigation

The mission to take four astronauts on a trip around the moon and back, previously targeting a launch at the end of 2025, has been delayed until at least April, 2026.

How worried should we be about Disease X?

An unidentified illness has claimed nearly 80 lives in DRC. Investigators are on the scenes to determine what it is — and how much of a threat it poses locally and globally.

Pope Francis goes electric in new eco-friendly popemobile

Pope Francis, who heads the Catholic Church, has doubled down on his commitment to the environment with a new electric popemobile presented by Mercedes-Benz.

A powerful 7.0 earthquake strikes off northern California coast

A powerful earthquake has struck off the northern California coast, triggering tsunami warnings that were later canceled. Several aftershocks continued to rattle the area off Eureka. 

Court rejects Boeing plea deal stemming from 737 Max crashes

A federal judge in Texas has rejected a plea deal between Boeing and the U.S. Justice Department, saying the court should play a bigger role in selecting an independent monitor to oversee the company.

Alabama leads US in ‘pregnancy criminalization’ cases following Dobbs decision: report

The report’s findings help shed light on the use of criminal laws informed by the idea of fetal personhood, a legal premise gaining traction in the South.

Memphis police use excessive force and discriminate against Black people, the DOJ finds

A Justice Department investigation launched after the beating death of Tyre Nichols in 2023 found that "Memphis police officers regularly violate the rights of the people they are sworn to serve."

Cryptic words were found on bullet casings at scene of CEO Brian Thompson’s killing

Shell casings with the cryptic words "deny," "defend" and "depose" were found at the scene of the fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO outside of a Manhattan hotel, police officials say.

Stay away from Dr. Google, and other lessons learned about hypochondria

Caroline Crampton developed excessive health anxiety after being treated for cancer as a teen. In A Body Made of Glass she chronicles her experience with hypochondria and the history of the condition.

Amnesty International accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza, which Israel strongly denies

Amnesty International says Israel has sought to deliberately destroy Palestinians in its war with Hamas, by mounting deadly attacks, demolishing vital infrastructure and preventing aid deliveries.

Anthem plans to put time limits on anesthesia coverage, alarming doctors

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is under scrutiny for planning to put time limits on anesthesia care. The Connecticut comptroller's office said Wednesday it had intervened to block the policy there.

Pantone’s 2025 color is Mocha Mousse: How the company sold color to the world

Pantone isn't the only color system of its kind. But thanks to an innovative founder and savvy marketing, it's become the industry standard.

Syrian opposition forces enter the strategic city of Hama

Syrian rebels have entered another major city, in a further blow to President Bashar Assad after they took over Aleppo days earlier.

Why do kids with cancer in the Global South have such low survival rates?

In wealthy countries, a child diagnosed with cancer often has an excellent chance of survival. But in lower resource countries, survival rates are dramatically lower. What's going on?

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy take their DOGE government efficiency pitch to the Hill

The leaders of the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" are calling for large-scale layoffs of federal workers and the elimination of some federal agencies during Trump's second term.

How sweet! A daily dose of dark chocolate may cut your risk of diabetes

A new study finds people who eat a small, daily serving of dark chocolate have a reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. People who ate milk chocolate did not have a lower risk. Here's why.

An unknown infant was rushed to a Gaza hospital. A nurse gave her a name, and a home

The newborn, found by rescuers after an Israeli attack, was rushed to a hospital. Nurse Amal Abu Khatleh gave her the name Malak, meaning angel. She is raising the baby until relatives can be found.

The right (and wrong) things to say to a grieving friend

It can be hard to find the right words to say to a friend whose loved one has died. Experts share the dos and don'ts of expressing condolences.

How a staffing shortage can make special education jobs more dangerous

Special educators are more likely to experience violence or aggression from students. That can make hiring a challenge, at a time when schools nationwide are struggling to fill these positions.

Jon Batiste traces the blues back to Beethoven and beyond

The Grammy winner and former Late Show bandleader unravels the crisscrossing threads of musical lineage from Beethoven's own personal blues to the musical art form that undergirds Batiste's Louisiana roots.

Long before this week, South Korea had a painful history with martial law

In 1980, violent clashes between government forces and pro-democracy demonstrators in the southwestern city of Gwangju created lasting scars that continue to shape South Korea to this day.

Mexican troops seize a record fentanyl haul in northern Sinaloa state

Mexican soldiers and marines have seized over a ton of fentanyl pills in two raids in the north, with officials calling it the biggest catch of the synthetic opioid in the country's history.