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Girls Rock Birmingham gives future artists the spotlight
Picture a rock band and chances are it’s a bunch of men. But Girls Rock Birmingham, a local youth organization, is fixing that spotlight on girls by giving them the chance to take the stage to rock out.
Biden commutes the sentences for 1,500 people, the largest act of clemency in a day
The 1,500 people had been serving long prison sentences that would have been shorter under today's laws and practices. They had been on home confinement since the COVID pandemic.
Some Syrian refugees in Berlin ponder returning post-Assad, others call Germany home
Germany hosts almost a million Syrians who fled war and dictatorship. The toppling of the Assad regime has raised questions for exiles about their next step.
10 biographies and memoirs for the nonfiction reader in your life
These true stories range from a "meow-moir" of a Siberian cat to an exploration of what U.S. presidents do after the White House. Check out these nonfiction reads recommended by NPR staff and critics.
South Korea’s Yoon defends martial law decree as an act of governance
In an address to the nation, President Yoon Suk Yeol claimed the opposition-controlled parliament has been destroying the country's liberal democratic order.
The Geminids meteor shower peaks at the end of the week. Here’s what to expect
The Geminids are one of the best and most visible annual meteor showers, when at least 120 meteors can usually be seen per hour. But 2024 will be different, thanks to the year's final full moon.
Dear Life Kit: My daughter was left out of the holiday newsletter — again!
A father wonders why his father-in-law keeps neglecting to mention his daughter in his annual newsletter to family. It includes updates on the other grandchildren. Why not her?
The Essential Jazz Discoveries of 2024
This year's unmissable jazz releases came in two flavors: breakthrough releases by driven young newcomers, and a heap of unearthed treasures from the vault.
These neurons in the abdomen help form the gut-brain connection
Scientists have identified two types of brain cells in the abdomen that appear to control different aspects of digestion.
UHC murder suspect railed about U.S. health care. Here’s what he missed
The man charged in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was critical of U.S. health care. Experts say the system's problems are complex and can't be pinned on one player or industry.
An explosion in the Afghan capital kills the Taliban refugee minister
The explosion struck inside the ministry, killing Khalil Haqqani, officials said. His last official photo showed him at a meeting chaired by the deputy prime minister earlier Wednesday.
Judge declares mistrial over killing of gay University of Mississippi student
Jimmy "Jay" Lee's body has never been found, but a judge declared him dead. Jurors said they were unable to reach a verdict after over nine and a half hours of deliberation.
Rights group accuses Russian mercenaries of abuses against civilians in Mali
Malian armed forces, the Russia-backed Wagner Group and jihadi groups deliberately killed civilians and burned homes in Mali according to Human Rights Watch.
North Carolina GOP lawmakers enact a law eroding the Democratic governor’s powers
North Carolina lawmakers have enacted a law over the governor's veto that would diminish the powers afforded to his successor and other other Democratic statewide winners in the Nov. 5 elections.
Mystery drones flying over New Jersey have residents and officials puzzled
The drones have been seen above critical infrastructure like reservoirs, rail stations and military bases. The governor says there is "no known threat," but the FBI is still investigating.
Police say gun found with suspect matches casings at UnitedHealthcare CEO crime scene
The New York police commissioner also said investigators matched Luigi Mangione's fingerprints with those found on items near the scene where the UnitedHealthcare CEO was fatally shot last week.
FBI Director Wray to resign at end of Biden administration
Wray told employees at an FBI town hall that he is resigning next month to "avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray." President-elect Donald Trump called the resignation "a great day for America."
The U.S. is facing a severe housing shortage. Will Trump’s proposals help?
The U.S. is short approximately four million homes. Wharton economist Ben Keys traces the beginning of the housing crisis to the 2008 financial meltdown — and says climate change is making things worse.
Shot in secret, ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’ calls out Iran’s authoritarian regime
Earlier this year, Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof fled his country to escape an eight-year prison sentence. His new film centers on a middle class family grappling with Iran's social unrest.
Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 FIFA World Cup — a controversial pick
FIFA's selection of Saudi Arabia to host the World Cup was celebrated in the kingdom but criticized by human rights groups, who fear residents, visitors and migrant workers will be at risk of abuse.
Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death is back in the U.S. and in custody, police say
Ryan Borgwardt disappeared in August while kayaking in Wisconsin, but an investigation revealed he intended to fake his death and had fled to Europe. Police said he willingly returned to the U.S.
In South Korea, insurrection charges are closing in on the president
Police, prosecutors and investigators have deemed President Yoon Suk Yeol as a suspect in a rare investigation into a sitting president for possible insurrection charges.
Kimberly Guilfoyle is the latest Trump family ally chosen for an ambassadorship
Kimberly Guilfoyle, who got engaged to Trump's son in 2020, is the latest appointee he's chosen from his family tree. There's a long and controversial history of presidents picking relatives for jobs.
Albertsons sues Kroger and ends failed grocery megamerger
The lawsuit over a deal to combine the two largest U.S. supermarkets came just a day after it was blocked in both federal and Washington state courts.
Trump’s withdrawn nominees latest in a long line of Cabinet members who never were
Many presidents face failed Cabinet picks so when former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet, it wasn't unprecedented, though Trump's style has been.
One family thought they had left Syria forever. After Assad’s fall, they plan to return
Rehab Alkadi and her husband, Feras, fled Syria's war with their young son in 2013. They and other Syrian refugees in the U.S. are now hopeful for their country's future, even as uncertainty remains.
Through ‘The Loss Mother’s Stone,’ mothers share their grief from losing a child to stillbirth
Through her work, photographer Nancy Borowick says she hopes to draw awareness to women's stories, educate Americans and destigmatize the conversation that occurs between doctors and patients.
GM to retreat from robotaxis and stop funding its Cruise autonomous vehicle unit
The automaker will focus on development of partially automated driver-assist systems for personal vehicles like its Super Cruise, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel.
Bankruptcy judge rejects The Onion’s bid for Infowars
The bidder that lost last month's auction of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' assets had complained that the process was rigged and "fatally flawed."
Monarch butterflies will get federal protections as a threatened species
U.S. officials decided to extend protections to monarch butterflies after warnings from environmentalists that populations are shrinking and the beloved pollinator may not survive climate change.
Kroger and Albertsons grocery megamerger halted by two courts
Two rulings — in federal and state courts — make it increasingly likely that Kroger might abandon its $24.6 billion plan to buy Albertsons. The merger aimed to combine two of America's largest supermarket chains.
An Afghan museum, that buried its artifacts after Taliban takeover, is reborn online
The Afghanistan Memory Home Museum shares details and belongings from those who've died in conflict. It shut its doors when the Taliban took power, buried much of its collection — but has now reemerged.
