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Fatma Tanis Fatma Tanis is a correspondent covering global health and development for NPR.
Fatma Tanis
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Fatma Tanis

Sunday

As school resumes in Afghanistan, will all girls be allowed to go?

Afghan girls participate in a lesson at a high School, in Herat, on Nov. 25, 2021. Petros Giannakouris/AP hide caption

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Petros Giannakouris/AP

World

As school resumes in Afghanistan, will all girls be allowed to go?

Schools in Afghanistan are expected to open for the new semester Wednesday. But despite Taliban assurances that girls will be allowed back, students and teachers are unclear about what will happen.

As school resumes in Afghanistan, will all girls be allowed to go?

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Monday

Politics

Those arguments over school book bans may influence midterm elections

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Elizabeth Bruenig from The Atlantic about the political benefits of arguing over book bans in schools.

Those arguments over school book bans may influence midterm elections

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Sunday

Asia

Lahore, Pakistan, is locking down to improve air quality

Pakistan's second largest city, Lahore, tops the world's most polluted city list, along with India's New Delhi. Poor air quality has prompted the government to order a partial shutdown of schools.

Lahore, Pakistan, is locking down to improve air quality

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Monday

Afghan music students escaped the Taliban and are beginning their new lives abroad

Afghan music students, teachers and their families disembark from their flight to Lisbon on Dec. 13. The group of more than 270 evacuees had been staying in Doha, awaiting resettlement in Portugal. Armando Franca/AP hide caption

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Armando Franca/AP

World

Afghan music students escaped the Taliban and are beginning their new lives abroad

Students and faculty with the Afghanistan National Institute of Music flew last week from Doha to Lisbon, where they will start their new lives and reconstitute their celebrated academy in exile.

Afghan music students escaped the Taliban and are beginning their new lives abroad

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Islamic countries are pledging to launch a humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi speaks at a news conference following the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting in Islamabad on Sunday. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

World

Islamic countries are pledging to launch a humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan

The emergency gathering of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation was the largest international meeting on Afghanistan since the country fell to the Taliban in August.

Islamic countries are pledging to launch a humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan

Listen · 2:31
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Wednesday

What the Taliban really want from the world, in their own words

Taliban political office spokesman Muhammad Naeem Wardak spoke with NPR in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 11. Fatma Tanis/NPR hide caption

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Fatma Tanis/NPR

World

What the Taliban really want from the world, in their own words

"We want to prove to everyone forever that we respect humanity," Taliban spokesman Muhammad Naeem Wardak told NPR in Doha, Qatar. He also said women "must have the right to education and to work."

What the Taliban really want from the world, in their own words

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Monday

Middle East

In Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, Palestinians Find Respite, Sanctuary And Rallying Cry

In the news, the al-Aqsa mosque compound is a fuse for conflict between Israel and Palestinians. But in daily life of Muslims, it's a park, holy site and, yes, a symbol of resistance.

In Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, Palestinians Find Respite, Sanctuary And Rallying Cry

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Tuesday

Wednesday

Palestinians Hope A New Israeli Government Means Progress For This Poor Town

Jisr al-Zarqa is home to Palestinian citizens of Israel and one of the poorest parts of the country. Fatma Tanis/NPR hide caption

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Fatma Tanis/NPR

Middle East

Palestinians Hope A New Israeli Government Means Progress For This Poor Town

In the village of Jisr al-Zarqa, residents wish for opportunities available in nearby Jewish towns. They wonder if the new government, which includes an Arab party for the first time, will help.

Palestinians Hope A New Israeli Government Means Progress For This Poor Town

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Tuesday

Israel's New Government Is Dealt A Defeat With Vote Over Palestinian Citizenship Law

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett attends a Cabinet meeting Sunday at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. Abir Sultan/Pool via AP hide caption

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Abir Sultan/Pool via AP

Middle East

Israel's New Government Is Dealt A Defeat With Vote Over Palestinian Citizenship Law

The controversial law would prevent Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza from acquiring residency in Israel, even after they marry Palestinians with Israeli citizenship.

Israel's New Government Is Dealt A Defeat With Vote Over Palestinian Citizenship Law

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Wednesday

World

Saudi Arabia Releases Women's Rights Activist Lujain Al-Hathloul From Prison

Saudi Arabia released activist Lujain al-Hathloul from prison on Wednesday. AlHathloul led the campaign to allow women drivers in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia Releases Women's Rights Activist Lujain Al-Hathloul From Prison

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Saudi Activist Who Led Campaign To Legalize Driving For Women Is Released From Jail

Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul is best known for leading the campaign to legalize driving for women in Saudi Arabia. She was detained in May of 2018 just weeks before the Saudi government lifted the ban. Marieke Wijntjes via Reuters hide caption

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Marieke Wijntjes via Reuters

Middle East

Saudi Activist Who Led Campaign To Legalize Driving For Women Is Released From Jail

Loujain al-Hathloul has been held for nearly three years. While she was behind bars, she became an emblem of the struggle for women's rights in Saudi Arabia.

Tuesday

World

Saudi Arabia To Release Activist Loujain Alhathloul From Prison

Saudi Arabia is expected to release women's rights activist Loujain Alhathloul from prison this week, but she will likely continue to be under tight government control.

Saudi Arabia To Release Activist Loujain Alhathloul From Prison

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Tuesday

Christopher Nolan On 'Tenet' And Time, 'The Most Cinematic Of Subjects'

Director Christopher Nolan (left) and actor John David Washington on the set of Tenet. Melinda Sue Gordon/Warner Bros. Entertainment hide caption

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Melinda Sue Gordon/Warner Bros. Entertainment

Movie Interviews

Christopher Nolan On 'Tenet' And Time, 'The Most Cinematic Of Subjects'

The director, producer and writer discusses the making of Tenet, directing actors who are moving and talking forwards and backwards, and why he's drawn to exploring time in his films.

Christopher Nolan On 'Tenet' And Time, 'The Most Cinematic Of Subjects'

Listen · 7:56
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Friday

Christopher Nolan Calls Warner Bros.' Shift To Streaming New Movies 'A Great Danger'

Wonder Woman 1984, starring Gal Gadot, will open in theaters and stream on HBO Max when it's released on Christmas Day. Clay Enos/Warner Bros. Entertainment hide caption

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Clay Enos/Warner Bros. Entertainment

Movies

Christopher Nolan Calls Warner Bros.' Shift To Streaming New Movies 'A Great Danger'

In an interview with NPR, the blockbuster director said the studio's decision to stream movies on HBO Max on the day of their release will hurt the people who work in the movie industry.

Christopher Nolan Calls Warner Bros.' Shift To Streaming New Movies 'A Great Danger'

Listen · 7:57
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