News
Multiple explosions heard in Venezuela’s Capital. Maduro accuses the U.S.
Multiple explosions and fires are being reported around Caracas. It is not immediately clear what is the cause of the blasts. The explosions began at around 2 am local time.
Is Trump taking too much aspirin? Here’s what experts say
Trump takes four times the recommended dose of aspirin for cardiac prevention. Even low-dose aspirin is no longer recommended for people over 60 who don't have heart disease.
Yemen’s separatists announce a constitution for an independent south
The move comes as an escalation of a confrontation that has pitted Gulf powerhouses Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against each other.
DHS pauses immigration applications for an additional 20 countries
The Department of Homeland Security is pausing immigration applications from 20 additional countries following increased scrutiny on people who seek legal pathways for immigrating to the U.S.
Alabama can’t stage another CFP comeback, has no answers for Indiana in Rose Bowl rout
The Crimson Tide tried everything possible to stage a historic comeback on the site of so many memorable moments for the program. Star quarterback Ty Simpson having to take himself out of the game in the second half because of a cracked rib did not help matters in what ended up a 38-3 loss to the Hoosiers.
George Clooney gets French citizenship — and another dust-up with Trump
The French government says it granted George and Amal Clooney citizenship because of their contributions to its international influence. Their family has primarily lived in France since 2021.
Trump and Iran start 2026 exchanging new threats on social media
President Trump warned Iran not to kill protesters. A top Iranian official fired back to stay out of it, alleging the U.S. and Israel were stoking the economic protests sweeping parts of Iran.
Slow Epstein files release not as concerning as docs DOJ has withheld, says Ro Khanna
Rep. Ro Khanna of California says the Justice Department should've started preparing Epstein files for release months ago. Now, he tells NPR how Congress could intervene to speed up the process.
Brain organoids are helping researchers, but their use also creates unease
Pea-size clusters of human cells called brain organoids inspire both hope and fear. Experts are debating how scientists can responsibly use these bits of gray matter.
U.S. interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean haven’t always gone as planned
President Trump's pressure campaign against Venezuela is the latest in a long saga of U.S. intervention in the region that is rooted in the 1823 Monroe Doctrine — and is a mix of success and failure.
With few Epstein files released, conspiracy theories flourish and questions remain
President Trump's changing messaging, Congress' unprecedented demands and the Justice Department's piecemeal release of information haven't quieted the questions. Here's what we know — and don't.
A fire in an Swiss ski resort bar has left about 40 people dead
A New Year's party at a Swiss Alpine bar turned into a tragedy after about 40 people died in a fire and another roughly 115 were injured, many in their teens to mid-20s.
Taiwan’s president pledges to defend island’s sovereignty after Chinese military drills
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te vowed to defend the self-ruled island's sovereignty in the face of what he termed China's "expansionist ambitions," days after Beijing wrapped up live-fire military drills near its shores.
Deaths reported during widening protests in Iran sparked by ailing economy
The protests began due to economic pressures, with Iran's currency rapidly depreciating. Demonstrators have also chanted against the country's theocracy.
Congress failed to extend Obamacare subsidies. This Democrat says Trump can save them
Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., says he thinks the Senate can pass a "retroactive" Affordable Care Act subsidy extension, but "we need President Trump."
Rideshare union rights, social media limits and other state laws taking effect Jan. 1
Every new year, public media reporters across the country bring us some of the new state laws taking effect where they are. Here are six in 2026.
Guides to help you tackle your New Year’s resolutions
From building your strength to tackling credit card debt, NPR's Life Kit has a newsletter journey to help you tackle your New Year's resolution.
Guides to help you tackle your New Year’s resolutions
From building your strength to tackling credit card debt, NPR's Life Kit has a newsletter journey to help you tackle your New Year's resolution.
Dozens presumed dead in fire at Swiss Alps bar during New Year’s celebration
Dozens of people are presumed dead and about 100 injured, most of them seriously, following a fire at a Swiss Alps bar during a New Year's celebration, police said Thursday.
Crypto soared in 2025 — and then crashed. Now what?
For most of 2025, cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin surged as President Trump vowed to make the U.S. a crypto leader. But now, a severe sell-off has shaken the sector.
Warren Buffett officially retires as Berkshire Hathway’s CEO
The legendary 95-year-old investor spent decades building his company into one of the world's largest and most powerful. Now Greg Abel is taking it over.
Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York City mayor, capping historic rise
Mayor Zohran Mamdani took the oath of office in New York City after midnight Thursday. The city's first Muslim mayor, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has promised to focus on affordability and fairness.
Rising from the ashes, a symbol of hope at the Rose Parade
Survivors of the Eaton and Palisades Fires find healing and community working on a Rose Parade float to honor the lives and communities lost in last year's wildfires.
The history behind the NYC subway station chosen for Mamdani’s swearing-in
The city shut down the station in 1945 on New Year's Eve. Eighty years later, it's a symbolic venue choice for the incoming mayor's private swearing-in ceremony.
U.S. military strikes 5 more alleged drug boats, killing 8
The U.S. military says it struck five alleged drug-smuggling boats over two days. The attacks killed eight people, while others jumped overboard and may have survived. U.S. Southern Command did not reveal where the attacks occurred.
Capitol riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress
Former special counsel Jack Smith also described President Trump as the "most culpable and most responsible person" in the criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results, according to a transcript of Smith's closed-door interview with the House Judiciary Committee.
Trump will drop push for National Guard deployments in Chicago, LA and Portland, Ore.
Courts blocked troops from deploying in Chicago and Portland, Ore., and the Los Angeles deployment effectively ended after a judge blocked it earlier this month.
What Stranger Things gets right about wormholes
The final episode of fifth season of the Netflix series Stranger Things is out this week, and the concept of a wormhole figures largely into it. While the show is a work of fiction, theoretical wormholes have making appearances for decades not only in science fiction but in actual science.
Photos: The world welcomes the new year
As fireworks light the sky and crowds count down together, communities around the globe welcome 2026.
Meet five new species discovered in 2025
A bumpy snailfish, Andean mouse opossum and ancient sea cow were just some of the many species described in 2025.
What to know about Nick Shirley, the YouTuber alleging daycare fraud in Minnesota
Shirley is a 23-year-old self-described "independent YouTube journalist" who made prank videos in high school before pivoting to politics. He participated in a White House roundtable in October.
Greetings from Vienna, where an imperial palace hosts a holiday market for all
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
