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Sultan al-Jaber is the president of this year's climate talks and the head of the U.A.E.'s state-run oil company. Oil companies have a big platform at the climate conference, and experts say their language is important because it can make it into policy. Ryan Lim/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Ryan Lim/AFP via Getty Images

Oil companies are embracing terms like 'lower carbon.' Here's what they really mean

The oil industry has a huge voice in this year's climate talks. But what are oil companies actually saying? And why does it matter? We break down their pledges and statements into plain English.

Oil firms are out in force at the climate talks. Here's how to decode their language

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In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo with the White House in the background, President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Prosecutors cite Trump's history of false election claims as evidence of motive in his fraud case

Prosecutors want to use evidence of former President Trump's baseless statements about election fraud and his embrace of rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, to bolster the election interference case against him.

A pedestrian walks along the roadside amid heavy smoggy conditions in New Delhi. Delhi is considered the world's most polluted megacity, with a melange of factory and vehicle emissions exacerbated by seasonal agricultural fires. Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images

Can anything stop the toxic smog of New Delhi?

It's, considered the world's most polluted megacity. The air is so bad that a new report estimates that on average each resident loses 12 years of life. Here's what they're doing about it.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., paid the recently expelled Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., to record a video message aimed at Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. Like Santos, Menendez is under a federal indictment. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

George Santos is available on Cameo, so a senator hired him to troll an indicted colleague

"I thought my ethically-challenged colleague" should hear from former Rep. George Santos, Sen. John Fetterman said. He hired Santos to record a message for Sen. Bob Menendez.

Several hundred people filled the streets of downtown Lewiston, Maine on Saturday Dec. 2, 2023 for a traditional holiday festival. It's been nearly six weeks since a mass shooting in the city left 18 dead and 13 injured. While some see these celebrations as a way to lift each other's spirits, others are still processing trauma and grief. Susan Sharon/Maine Public hide caption

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Susan Sharon/Maine Public

Still grieving after a mass shooting, residents of Lewiston navigate the holidays and moving forward

Several hundred people filled the streets of downtown Lewiston, Maine Saturday for a traditional holiday festival. It's been nearly six weeks since a mass shooting in the city left 18 dead and 13 injured. While some see these celebrations as a way to lift each other's spirits, others are still processing trauma and grief.

Rep. Liz Cheney, vice chairwoman of the select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, delivers remarks during a hearing on Oct. 13, 2022. (Also pictured are Rep. Bennie Thompson and Rep. Adam Kinzinger.) Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Liz Cheney, focused on stopping Trump, hasn't ruled out 3rd-party presidential run

Fresh Air

The former representative says a second Trump presidency would be an "existential threat" to democracy: "There's simply no defense, no excuse for putting that power back in the hands of Donald Trump."

Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley addresses a gathering during a campaign stop at a brewery, Nov. 29 in Meredith, N.H. Charles Krupa/AP hide caption

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Charles Krupa/AP

Strong but 'feminine': how Nikki Haley navigates gender as only woman in the GOP race

The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations tries to balance her identity as the only woman in the race for the GOP nomination with a Republican electorate that eschews identity politics.

Strong but 'feminine': how Nikki Haley navigates gender as only woman in the GOP race

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Chittenden County Forester Ethan Tapper walks into a control plot at the Catamount Community Forest in Williston, Vt., — a stand of 90-year-old white pine that grew up in an old pasture. The forest there is dense and dark, with very little growing in the understory. While beautiful, he says this monoculture stand is vulnerable to climate change and disease. Abagael Giles/Vermont Public hide caption

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Abagael Giles/Vermont Public

Older forests are better for ecosystems and the climate. Can we age up young ones faster?

Scientists think helping a few trees get big faster while leaving others to rot could create a diversity environment that makes forests better able to survive invasive pests, extreme weather and hotter temperatures.

Rescuers carry the body of a victim of the eruption of Mount Marapi in Batu Palano, West Sumatra, Indonesia, on Tuesday. Rescuers searching the hazardous slopes of the volcano found more bodies of climbers who were caught by a surprise weekend eruption. Ardhy Fernando/AP hide caption

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Ardhy Fernando/AP

22 climbers are now confirmed dead in Indonesia volcanic eruption

Rescuers searching the hazardous slopes of Indonesia's Mount Marapi volcano found 11 more bodies of climbers who were caught by a surprise weekend eruption. More than 50 climbers were rescued.

A Brightline train is shown at a station in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Jan. 11, 2018. A high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area is getting a Biden administration pledge of $3 billion to help start laying track. Wilfredo Lee/AP hide caption

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Wilfredo Lee/AP

High speed rail linking L.A. to Las Vegas expected to receive $3B in federal funds

Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto says the project will create thousands of union jobs, and will reduce traffic between the two cities.

Rose Previte's stuffed summer squash with lamb and rice, from her new cookbook, Maydān: Recipes from Lebanon and Beyond. Elissa Nadworny/NPR hide caption

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Elissa Nadworny/NPR

Rose Previte, of D.C.'s Michelin star restaurant Maydān, releases her debut cookbook

The word maydan means a gathering place. And that's what Rose Previte wants her debut cookbook, Maydān: Recipes from Lebanon and Beyond, to be: a way for people to come together around table.

Rose Previte, of D.C.'s Michelin star restaurant Maydān, releases her debut cookbook

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Houthi supporters chant slogans and hold signs reading "Death to America, Death to Israel," as they attend a rally on March 26, 2023, in Sanaa, Yemen. Hani Mohammed/AP hide caption

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Hani Mohammed/AP

After Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, fears of a wider Middle East conflict grow

The Iran-backed rebel group attacked multiple ships in the Red Sea over the weekend. The Houthis control large swaths of Yemen's territory.

After Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, fears of a wider Middle East conflict grow

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An Israeli artillery unit is pictured near the border with the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, amid continuing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas. Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP via Getty Images

Israel is expanding its offensive in Gaza, forcing more Palestinians to flee south

The apparent drive to encircle Gaza's second-largest city of Khan Younis, a Hamas stronghold, was forcing people to flee further south to escape the fighting.

Rizz is the word of year for 2023, according to the publishers of the Oxford English Dictionary. The term deals with charisma and charm — and other rizzes are available, such as Stockard Channing, center, seen here as Betty "Rizz" Rizzo in the 1978 film Grease. CBS via Getty Images hide caption

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CBS via Getty Images

Rizz is Oxford's word of the year for 2023. Do you have it?

If you're asking what "rizz" means, you're not alone. There's even a chance that you have rizz without actually knowing what it is.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, left, and first lady Tammy Murphy attend the National Governors Association summer meeting, July 15, 2022, in Portland, Maine. Robert F. Bukaty/AP hide caption

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Robert F. Bukaty/AP

A Senate race raises concerns over the 'ballot Siberia' in New Jersey's primaries

WNYC

In a ballot system unique to New Jersey, candidates endorsed by county parties are all placed under a single line, while others vying for the same seat are placed in what's known as ballot Siberia.

A Senate race raises concerns over 'ballot Siberia' in New Jersey primaries

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People of color who have a doctor who looks like them report more satisfaction with their health care. Here, Abel Woldu and Dr. Kelsey Angell participate in the University of Minnesota's white coat ceremony in 2022. Half of that incoming class of doctors-in-training are people of color. Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via Getty Images hide caption

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Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via Getty Images

Black Americans expect to face racism in the doctor's office, a survey finds

For many people of color in this country, a visit to the doctor means being extra careful about their appearance in the hope to be treated fairly during the appointment.

Black Americans expect to face racism in the doctor's office, survey finds

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Disinformation researcher Joan Donovan testifying remotely during a U.S. Senate hearing in April 2021. Donovan contends she lost her job at Harvard University due to pressure from the social media company, Meta. Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Pool/Getty Images

A disinformation researcher says Harvard pushed her out to protect Meta

Joan Donovan accused Harvard of violating her free speech rights and the school's own commitment to academic freedom in an attempt to protect its relationship with the tech company and its executives.

Left: Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich. Right: Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif.. The two are co-sponsoring legislation to create a bipartisan, bicameral commission to address the national debt. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Patrick Semansky/AP hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Patrick Semansky/AP

As federal debt grows, a bipartisan push for another commission to address it

Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich.,, and California Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., say looming benefit cuts and mounting interest payments squeezing federal investments underline need for their plan.

As federal debt grows, a bipartisan push for another commission to address it

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Anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela delivers a policy statement in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Jan. 8, 1994. Mandela called on all South Africans to pledge themselves to peace. Later that year, Mandela became South Africa's first Black president. Walter Dhladhla/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Walter Dhladhla/AFP/Getty Images

A legacy in speeches: Remembering Nelson Mandela 10 years after his death

South Africa's first Black president, Nelson Mandela, died on Dec. 5, 2013. Revisit the speeches that made Mandela the most prominent figure of the anti-apartheid movement.

A legacy in speeches: Remembering Nelson Mandela 10 years after his death

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A salvo of rockets is fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza toward Israel on Oct. 10. Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel started Oct. 7. A senior Hamas official told NPR that its planning was kept a close secret. Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images

These were NPR.org's biggest international stories in 2023

Hamas' attack in Israel and the war that followed and the stalemate in Ukraine were our biggest international stories in 2023, but we also found some wonder around the world.

Rimah Shahada poses in her daughter Aseel's bedroom in Qalandiya refugee camp in Ramallah, West Bank Nov. 22. Maya Levin for NPR hide caption

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Maya Levin for NPR

What the resumption of Israel-Hamas fighting means for Palestinians in Israeli jails

Human rights groups say Israel stepped up arrests in the occupied West Bank during the war. Only a fraction of those arrested have been released as part of hostage and prisoner exchanges.

What the resumption of Israel-Hamas fighting means for Palestinians in Israeli jails

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In La Paz, a low-income neighborhood on the outskirts of Santa Marta, Colombia, water service from the local utility can be erratic or nonexistent. Pictured: Neighborhood kids stand next to a rain barrel positioned under a corrugated roof. Ben de la Cruz/NPR hide caption

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Ben de la Cruz/NPR

Waiting for water: It's everywhere in this Colombian city — except in the pipes

The country is rich in water resources. Yet many people in the city of Santa Marta struggle to get enough to meet daily needs. They improvise, strategize — and rely on a tangle of 1-inch pipes.

Rupert Murdoch, shown in London in July 2011, sought for years to acquire full control of Sky. His British newspaper arm now faces allegations its tabloids hacked into Cabinet ministers' voice mails to pressure them to allow the deal to go through. Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images hide caption

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Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images

Ex-British officials say Murdoch tabloids hacked them to aid corporate agenda

Ex-U.K. cabinet ministers allege Murdoch's tabloids hacked voicemails for scoops to try to intimidate them from blocking its takeover of a satellite TV firm.

Mark Rowe (right) and Jeff Kruse (left) decked out their bikes for Milwaukee's annual Santa Cycle Rampage. Rowe declined to share how long his sleigh took to construct. Lina Tran/WUWM hide caption

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Lina Tran/WUWM

A thousand Santas ditch the sleigh in favor of bikes in downtown Milwaukee

For nearly two decades, thousands of Santas take over the streets of Milwaukee in what's known as the Santa Cycle Rampage — the "world's largest holiday-themed costume group bicycle ride for charity."

President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk together after meeting in November. Brendan Smialowski /AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski /AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. supports China's growth if it 'plays by the rules,' commerce secretary says

China's president says success for the U.S. and China can be mutually beneficial. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says that the reality is a bit more complicated than that.

The U.S. supports China's growth if it 'plays by the rules,' commerce secretary says

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The National Ignition Facility used lasers to generate net energy from a pellet of fusion fuel in 2022. But the experiment is still a long way from truly producing more electricity than it requires. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory hide caption

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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Companies say they're closing in on nuclear fusion as an energy source. Will it work?

For decades, government scientists have toiled away trying to make nuclear fusion work. Will commercial companies sprint to the finish?

Companies say they're closing in on nuclear fusion as an energy source. Will it work?

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Karli (left) and Elmo (right) appear in Season 51 of Sesame Street. In separate videos and stories available for free online, Karli, Elmo and supportive adult characters discuss how Karli's mother is in recovery for an unspecified addiction. Sesame Workshop hide caption

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Sesame Workshop

Muppets from Sesame Workshop help explain opioid addiction to young children

WYPR

The educational nonprofit behind Sesame Street has created videos and stories for caregivers or therapists to share with kids 6 and under, to help explain addiction or why parents need treatment.

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