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Supporters of conservative presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki hold up signs as they rally in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The writing reads: Karol, the man who will become president, Wake up, Poland! and Our president Karol Nawrocki.

Supporters of conservative presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki hold up signs as they rally in Warsaw, Poland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The writing reads: Karol, the man who will become president, Wake up, Poland! and Our president Karol Nawrocki. Czarek Sokolowski/AP hide caption

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Czarek Sokolowski/AP

Europe

Poles vote for a new president as security concerns loom large

The vote comes amid rising security fears over the war in neighboring Ukraine and uncertainty about continued U.S. support for Europe's defense.
Smoke come out from kiln at a brickfield on the outskirt of Dhaka, Bangladesh on February 6, 2021. The world is going through a speedy urbanization and Bangladesh is not an exception from this. Such rapid urbanization generates a massive demand for bricks as it is one of the key ingredients to build concrete structure. To meet this growing need, numbers of brick making field have been increasing at an alarming rate in Bangladesh. Most of them took place in farming lands which causes reduction of agricultural production. We know that burning coal causes tremendous emission of Carbon-Di-Oxide (CO2) gas which is primarily responsible for climate change. Brick making fields use coal as fuel to burn raw bricks. Burning coal is also foremost cause of acid rain, and toxic air pollution. Workers work here from dawn to dusk still their wage is not up to the minimum standard.

Smoke come out from kiln at a brickfield on the outskirt of Dhaka, Bangladesh on February 6, 2021. The world is going through a speedy urbanization and Bangladesh is not an exception from this. Such rapid urbanization generates a massive demand for bricks as it is one of the key ingredients to build concrete structure. To meet this growing need, numbers of brick making field have been increasing at an alarming rate in Bangladesh. Most of them took place in farming lands which causes reduction of agricultural production. We know that burning coal causes tremendous emission of Carbon-Di-Oxide (CO2) gas which is primarily responsible for climate change. Brick making fields use coal as fuel to burn raw bricks. Burning coal is also foremost cause of acid rain, and toxic air pollution. Workers work here from dawn to dusk still their wage is not up to the minimum standard. Ahmed Salahuddin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)/NurPhoto hide caption

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Ahmed Salahuddin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)/NurPhoto

Goats and Soda

A study finds stacking bricks differently could help this country fight air pollution

Bangladesh suffers from extreme air pollution, but a new study shows the brick industry can make small changes to have a big effect on the country's smog problem.
In an aerial view, inmates are seen in the courtyard at the Bluebonnet Detention Center on May 12 in Anson, Texas. ICE has begun transferring illegal immigrant detainees to the Bluebonnet Detention Center after U.S. District Judge Wesley Hendrix readily offered the facility to the Trump administration under the Alien Enemies Act.

In an aerial view, inmates are seen in the courtyard at the Bluebonnet Detention Center on May 12 in Anson, Texas. ICE has begun transferring illegal immigrant detainees to the Bluebonnet Detention Center after U.S. District Judge Wesley Hendrix readily offered the facility to the Trump administration under the Alien Enemies Act. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

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Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Law

Supreme Court extends pause on deportations under Alien Enemies Act in Texas

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting a group of immigrants in Texas under the Alien Enemies Act. It said it's not directly addressing whether the invocation of the act was legal.
The Government Accountability Office, which falls under the legislative branch, has rejected DOGE's efforts to embed staffers at the agency.

The Government Accountability Office, which falls under the legislative branch, has rejected DOGE's efforts to embed staffers at the agency. Government Accountability Office/Government Accountability Office hide caption

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Government Accountability Office/Government Accountability Office

Deep Dive

Politics

How DOGE has tried to embed beyond the executive branch

NPR has identified nearly 40 small, independent entities – both inside and outside the federal government's control – that a team of young DOGE staffers has tried to access in recent weeks.
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers recover the bodies of passengers after a Russian drone struck a passenger bus at the village of Bilopillya in the Sumy region, Ukraine, on Saturday.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers recover the bodies of passengers after a Russian drone struck a passenger bus at the village of Bilopillya in the Sumy region, Ukraine, on Saturday. Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP hide caption

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Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP

Ukraine invasion — explained

Trump plans to call Putin, then Zelenskyy, on Monday to push for Ukraine ceasefire

President Trump said he plans to speak by phone with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, followed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders of NATO countries, about ending the war in Ukraine.
Cassie Ventura (left) and Sean Combs at the Met Gala in New York City in 2017. Ventura testified for the prosecution in the criminal trial of Combs, who is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transporting to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Cassie Ventura (left) and Sean Combs at the Met Gala in New York City in 2017. Ventura testified for the prosecution in the criminal trial of Combs, who is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transporting to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images hide caption

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Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Sean Combs trial

Sean Combs trial: Cassie concludes four days of testimony

On Friday, Sean Combs' defense lawyers questioned Cassie Ventura about how much of the former couple's activities she willingly participated in. "I had to fight my way out," she said.

WATCH

Carín León: Tiny Desk Concert

Accompanied by a 16-piece band, Carín León's commanding presence shows why he's one of the best in the Mexican Regional scene.
Former FBI Director James Comey is shown testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee in June 2017.

Former FBI Director James Comey, shown here testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee in June 2017, is under fire from conservatives for a social media post some interpret as a threat to President Trump's life. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Politics

James Comey is under investigation for his '8647' Instagram post. What does it mean?

The former FBI director posted — then deleted — a picture of seashells forming "8647." Trump and his allies view it as a call for his assassination, but Comey says he was unaware of that meaning.

James Comey investigated over '8647' IG post

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People participate in a protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court over President Trump's move to end birthright citizenship as the court hears arguments over the order in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.

People participate in a protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court over President Trump's move to end birthright citizenship as the court hears arguments over the order in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Law

The Supreme Court's justices appear to be divided in birthright citizenship arguments

The arguments focused on whether federal district court judges can rule against the administration on a nationwide basis.

Supreme Court weighs whether birthright citizenship can remain law in America

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International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan attends a United Nations Security Council meeting on Sudan and South Sudan in January in New York City.

International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan attends a United Nations Security Council meeting on Sudan and South Sudan in January in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

World

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan is on leave amid a sexual misconduct investigation

Facing allegations of sexual misconduct, Karim Khan has temporarily stepped aside as a U.N. investigation enters its final stage, the International Criminal Court announced Friday.
Relatives of victims hold a placard with photos of victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash in March 2019, prior to a hearing in Fort Worth, Texas, in January 2023.

Relatives of victims hold a placard with photos of victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash in March 2019, prior to a hearing in Fort Worth, Texas, in January 2023. Shelby Tauber/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Shelby Tauber/AFP via Getty Images

National

DOJ may drop case against Boeing over deadly 737 Max crashes, despite families' outrage

Boeing agreed last year to plead guilty to defrauding regulators after the crashes of two 737 Max jets, in 2018 and 2019, that killed 346 people. But a federal judge rejected that proposed plea deal.
A copy of the 1300 version of the Magna Carta on display at the Harvard Law School.

A copy of the 1300 version of the Magna Carta on display at the Harvard Law School. Lorin Granger/Harvard Law School hide caption

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Lorin Granger/Harvard Law School

Opinion

Simon Says

A wealth of wisdom for a bargain price

NPR's Scott Simon reflects on the discovery that what Harvard University thought was a copy of the Magna Carta is actually an original.

ESSAY 5-17-2025

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Bill Chappell writes about the sense of bravery he feels while cycling.
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Josie Norton for NPR
Bill Chappell writes about the sense of bravery he feels while cycling.
Josie Norton for NPR

I'm Really Into

Just like life, riding my bike doesn't always make sense. But that's why I love it

Cycling is especially good for people with long-running knee problems or health issues. I've been able to do everything I've wanted to, but a clamor of what-ifs were often in the back of my mind.

Just like life, riding my bike doesn't always make sense. But that's why I love it

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Army soldiers patrol the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas, in January, 2025.

US Army soldiers patrol the US-Mexico border at Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 24, 2025. US President Donald Trump ordered 1,500 more military personnel to the border with Mexico as part of a flurry of steps to tackle immigration, his spokeswoman said on January 22. Border security is a key priority for the president, who declared a national emergency at the US frontier with Mexico on his first day in office, and the additional personnel will bring the total number of active-duty troops deployed there to around 4,000. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

Immigration

Historical precedent: Courts wrestle with the White House's 'invasion' claim

Federal judges are looking back to the 18th century to define what constitutes an invasion, weighing a key legal argument for the Trump administration's use of a wartime deportation authority.
Children selling hibiscus in Jebel Aulia, a town where the last battles in Khartoum City took place.

Children selling hibiscus in Jebel Aulia, a town where the last battles in Khartoum City took place. Faiz Abubakr for NPR hide caption

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Faiz Abubakr for NPR

Goats and Soda

Bikes and bakeries are back: War-torn Khartoum struggles to rebuild

Government forces retook the capital city from rebel troops in April. Now comes the task of rebuilding what was once a bustling metropolis on the Nile.

After two years of civil war, Sudan's capital is a shell of its former self

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Flamingos are filter feeders that live off shrimp, algae and other nibbles in wetlands around the world.

Flamingos are filter feeders that live off shrimp, algae and other nibbles in wetlands around the world. Serhat Cetinkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images hide caption

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Serhat Cetinkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images

Science

Scientists have figured out why flamingos are such weird eaters

Flamingos look silly when they eat, but new research suggests they're actually being smart.

Scientists have figured out why flamingos are such weird eaters

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