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Steve Witkoff walks to an interview after meeting with Russian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 18, 2025.

Steve Witkoff walks to an interview after meeting with Russian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 18, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AFP hide caption

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Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AFP

Politics

Trump has his old friend Steve Witkoff leading his toughest diplomatic talks

President Trump has put Steve Witkoff — a friend from New York's real estate world — in charge of delicate talks on the war in Ukraine, Iran's nuclear ambitions and the conflict in Gaza.

Steve Witkoff profile

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In this photo provided by Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), firefighters work as black smoke rises in the sky after a massive explosion rocked a port near the southern city of Bandar Abbas, Iran on Saturday.

In this photo provided by Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), firefighters work as black smoke rises in the sky after a massive explosion rocked a port near the southern city of Bandar Abbas, Iran on Saturday. Mohammad Rasoul Moradi/IRNA via AP hide caption

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Mohammad Rasoul Moradi/IRNA via AP

Middle East

A massive explosion at an Iranian port kills 8, injures roughly 750

A massive explosion and fire rocked a port in southern Iran possibly linked to a shipment of a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attends an Oval Office meeting with President Trump and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store at the Oval Office on April 24.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attends an Oval Office meeting with President Trump and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store at the Oval Office on April 24. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Politics

New senior staff announced as White House looks to 'right the ship' at the Pentagon

The defense department has announced new senior level positions after recent firings and resignations. But with Pentagon head Pete Hegseth under fire for missteps, the way ahead is still unclear.
Thirteen stickers against a wood background that read, "Elon is a dogebag," "I bought this before Elon went crazy," "Elon ate my cat," "Anti Elon Tesla club," "Elon" in a circle with a line through it, "Recharge democracy," Elon sucks," "I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy," "Shut up Elon," "Elon killed my resale value" and "Elon cheats at video games."

Anti-Elon Musk stickers sold by Mad Puffer Stickers Mad Puffer Stickers hide caption

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Mad Puffer Stickers

National

Meet the man who made six figures selling anti-Elon Musk Tesla stickers

Matthew Hiller started making anti-Elon Musk stickers for Teslas after Musk's X takeover. He's made six figures selling them.

Some Tesla owners slapping anti-Elon Musk stickers on their vehicles

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BALTIMORE, MD -- 4/14/25 -- City Councilman James Torrence represents the 7th district which includes Sandtown-Winchester. Residents consider him a reliable advocate at City Hall. Ten years after the death of Freddie Gray, Baltimore’s Sandtown-Winchester community is still healing. Neighborhood residents, pastors and other change makers are tirelessly working to provide services — parks, rec centers, food access, and the like — and lifting the quality of life. …by André Chung {fbase}

BALTIMORE, MD -- 4/14/25 -- City Councilman James Torrence represents the 7th district which includes Sandtown-Winchester. Residents consider him a reliable advocate at City Hall. Ten years after the death of Freddie Gray, Baltimore's Sandtown-Winchester community is still healing. Neighborhood residents, pastors and other change makers are tirelessly working to provide services — parks, rec centers, food access, and the like — and lifting the quality of life. …by André Chung {fbase} André Chung for NPR hide caption

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André Chung for NPR

National

10 years after Freddie Gray's death, his neighborhood looks for hope

There's still a lot of need in Baltimore's Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood, where Freddie Gray lived. People from the neighborhood work to meet it.

Sandtown neighborhood works to heal, and thrive 10 years after Freddie Gray

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Mokhtar Alkhanshali, in a promotional picture from his company, Port of Mokha

Mokhtar Alkhanshali, in a promotional picture from his company, Port of Mokha Port of Mokha hide caption

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Port of Mokha

Culture

Built on a rich coffee history, Yemeni cafes find U.S. success and new challenges, too

Yemen is an ancient birthplace of the coffee trade, and immigrants fleeing its civil war have brought their culture here in the form of cafes. Hundreds of Yemeni coffee shops have opened in the U.S.

The Rise of Yemeni Coffeeshops

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Students and educators attend a rally at Northwestern University one week before the Trump administration reversed course on the issue of student visas. The federal government has now said it will restore the records of international students deleted from a crucial database, which had raised questions about students' ability to stay in the U.S.

Students and educators attend a rally at Northwestern University one week before the Trump administration reversed course on the issue of student visas. The federal government has now said it will restore the records of international students deleted from a crucial database, which had raised questions about students' ability to stay in the U.S. Nam Y. Huh/AP hide caption

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Nam Y. Huh/AP

National

Government says — for now — it will restore international students' status

International students had filed dozens of lawsuits after the government removed them from a database crucial for maintaining their legal status.
Danielle Waterfield was fired, rehired and fired again from her job at CHIPS for America, part of the Department of Commerce. Now, she fears her health insurance was cut off weeks ago, even though she was told otherwise.

Danielle Waterfield was fired, rehired and fired again from her job at CHIPS for America, part of the Department of Commerce. Now, she fears her health insurance was cut off weeks ago, even though she was told otherwise. Andrea Hsu/NPR hide caption

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Andrea Hsu/NPR

Politics

Fired, rehired, and fired again: Some federal workers find they're suddenly uninsured

Commerce Department employees caught up in a legal battle over their mass firings are now learning that their health care coverage was cut off weeks ago, even though they were paying their premiums.

Stuck without health insurance

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WATCH

Laura Marling: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The warm, home setting makes room for Laura Marling's extraordinary voice to shine.
A truck displays pictures of Luigi Mangione on April 25, 2025 in New York City, as he was set to appear for the arraignment on charges that he murdered the CEO of UnitedHealthcare last year.

A truck displays pictures of Luigi Mangione on April 25, 2025 in New York City, as he was set to appear for the arraignment on charges that he murdered the CEO of UnitedHealthcare last year. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Law

Luigi Mangione's case marks a shift in politics of the death penalty in the U.S.

Over the last half-century, the political leanings of the Supreme Court, Congress, and the presidency contributed to dramatically different approaches to the federal death penalty.

Trump administration's call for the death penalty for Luigi Mangione signals a larger shift

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Former U.S. Rep. George Santos, left, leaves federal court Friday after being sentenced to more than seven years in prison for fraud and identity theft.

Former U.S. Rep. George Santos, left, leaves federal court Friday after being sentenced to more than seven years in prison for fraud and identity theft. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP hide caption

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Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Former N.Y. Republican Congressman George Santos is sentenced to seven years in prison

 WSHU

A federal judge sentenced the ex-congressman to the maximum sentence of 87 months in prison over multiple wire fraud and identity theft charges in connection with his 2022 run for Congress.
Academy members now have to watch all the nominated films in a category if they want to cast a final-round vote. Above, Oscar winners pose with their awards in 2017.

Academy members now have to watch all the nominated films in a category if they want to cast a final-round vote. Above, Oscar winners pose with their awards in 2017. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images hide caption

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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

This new rule won't fix the Oscars — but it's a step in the right direction

The Academy has announced that Oscar voters will actually have to watch all the movies in a category before making their final-round picks. It's on the honor system, but hey, it's a start.
A flooded street with debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, in Siesta Key, Fla., on October 10, 2024. The monster weather system sent tornadoes spinning across the state and flooded swaths of the Tampa Bay area after the storm rapidly intensified to a top-of-scale category 5 major hurricane.

A flooded street with debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, in Siesta Key, Fla., on October 10, 2024. The monster weather system sent tornadoes spinning across the state and flooded swaths of the Tampa Bay area after the storm rapidly intensified to a top-of-scale category 5 major hurricane. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

Weather

Scientists say NOAA cuts by Trump undermine improvements in hurricane forecasts

The Trump administration is targeting top climate and weather labs for cuts. Insiders worry about the impact on research and NOAA's ability to forecast severe weather like hurricanes and tornadoes.

Scientists say NOAA cuts by Trump undermine improvements in hurricane forecasts

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Escherichia coli or E. coli is a part of family of bacteria that are commonly found in the human gut. Scientists found that a toxin the bacteria release is linked to some cases of colorectal cancer.

Escherichia coli or E. coli is a part of family of bacteria that are commonly found in the human gut. Scientists found that a toxin the bacteria release is linked to some cases of colorectal cancer. Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Libra/Getty Images hide caption

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Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Libra/Getty Images

Your Health

Damage from gut bacteria may play a role in the rise in colon cancer in young adults

Scientists have a new clue in the mystery of why younger people are getting more colon cancer. It may have to do with a toxin produced by a common gut microbe.

Bacterial toxin may be factor in rise of colon cancer in younger people, study finds

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It's the twinnies being twins!

It's the twinnies being twins! Screenshot via YouTube/7 News Australia hide caption

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Screenshot via YouTube/7 News Australia

Main Character of the Day

These Australian twins have gone viral after speaking in synch

Meet Bridgette and Paula Powers, identical twins who speak in synch and dedicate themselves to animal conservation.

These Australian twins have gone viral after speaking in synch

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Tina Knowles at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29 in Los Angeles, Calif.

Tina Knowles at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29 in Los Angeles, Calif. Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images hide caption

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Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images

Culture

Tina Knowles, mother of Beyoncé and Solange, knows how to be a 'Matriarch'

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Tina Knowles, the mother of artists Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Solange Knowles, about her new memoir, "Matriarch."

Tina Knowles, mother of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, discusses new memoir 'Matriarch'

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Rockalina the eastern box turtle enjoys the outdoors for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Rockalina the eastern box turtle enjoys the outdoors for the first time in nearly 50 years. Garden State Tortoise hide caption

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Garden State Tortoise

Animals

After nearly 50 years cooped up inside, Rockalina the turtle finds the great outdoors

Rockalina was an adult eastern box turtle living in the wild when she was taken into a New York home in 1977. When a reptile rehabilitation center got a hold of her this February, they worried for her survival.

After nearly 50 years cooped up inside, Rockalina the turtle finds the great outdoors

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A colorful, whimsical illustration showing a writing desk covered with tools used to write letters, including an inkwell, a letter opener, a feathered pen, scissors, stationery, stamps, washi tape, and a seal.

There are so many ways to get in touch with friends and family. Why write letters? Among other things, "It's fun," says Rachel Syme, author of Syme's Letter Writer. Illustration © by Joana Avillez, Reprinted with permission from "Syme's Letter Writer," by Rachel Syme, published by Clarkson Potter Publishers hide caption

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Illustration © by Joana Avillez, Reprinted with permission from "Syme's Letter Writer," by Rachel Syme, published by Clarkson Potter Publishers

Life Kit

The delightfully analog art of letter-writing

Tired of texting? Send your loved ones some snail mail instead. Rachel Syme, author of "Syme's Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence," shares whimsical ways to start a letter-writing habit.

The art and pleasure of writing a letter

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