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Drug-Resistant Malaria Turns Up In The U.K.

Malaria parasites, spread by a mosquito's bite, have started to adapt so the go-to drugs won't knock them out. Daniel Heuclin/Nature Picture Li/Getty Images/Nature Picture Libr hide caption

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Daniel Heuclin/Nature Picture Li/Getty Images/Nature Picture Libr

Goats and Soda

Drug-Resistant Malaria Turns Up In The U.K.

Artemisinin-based medications have long been the treatment of choice for malaria. But late in 2015, health officials in Britain came across a cluster of cases that refused to succumb to the drugs.

Business

Volkswagen Overtakes Toyota As World's Largest Automaker

Toyota had held the top spot since 2012. Strong demand for VW vehicles in China was more than enough to overcome the PR fallout from VW's emissions cheating scandal.

Volkswagen Overtakes Toyota As World's Largest Automaker

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Scientists Describe Ancient Bag-Like Sea Creatures From China

An artist's impression of Saccorhytus coronarius, a sea creature that lived 540 million years ago. Jian Han, Northwest University, China hide caption

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Jian Han, Northwest University, China

The Two-Way

Scientists Describe Ancient Bag-Like Sea Creatures From China

They were ugly. And, unfortunately, they were not equipped with an anus. But the sand dwellers could be an important part of filling in our own early evolutionary tree.

Scientists Describe Ancient Bag-Like Sea Creatures From China

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How The U.S. War In Laos Was Key To The 'Birth Of A Military CIA'

Laotian Gen. Vang Pao, seen here calling in air strikes against suspected Communist positions from the Long Cheng Command Post in January 1972, led an army of Hmong tribesmen to fight against Communist insurgents backed by the North Vietnamese. A CIA-led effort that started in 1961 tried to help him in that fight. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive hide caption

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Bettmann/Bettmann Archive

Parallels

How The U.S. War In Laos Was Key To The 'Birth Of A Military CIA'

A new book by Joshua Kurlantzick examines how the U.S. involvement in Laos in the 1960s and 1970s transformed the CIA from an intelligence-gathering organization into a war-fighting one.

Philippines Temporarily Halts Anti-Drug Raids, Citing Crimes By Police

Elizabeth Manosca tends to her baby during a wake for her slain husband and 7-year-old son, who were killed when unidentified gunmen shot through the door of their home in Manila, Philippines, in December. Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images hide caption

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Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Philippines Temporarily Halts Anti-Drug Raids, Citing Crimes By Police

A brutal law enforcement crackdown has led to the extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspected drug users and dealers. President Rodrigo Duterte was elected after vowing a "bloody war" on drugs.

Sports

Japan Returns To Top Spot In Sumo Wrestling

Japan has its first Japanese sumo champion in 19 years. In recent decades the sport has been dominated by Mongolians. Sumo commentator Doreen Simmons explains the shift.

Japan Returns To Top Spot In Sumo Wrestling

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As Chinese New Year Approaches, Shanghai's Bustling Streets Grow Quieter

The last remaining street vendor in Rising Peace Lane before new year celebrations begin sells new year's decorations and calendars. Rob Schmitz/NPR hide caption

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Parallels

As Chinese New Year Approaches, Shanghai's Bustling Streets Grow Quieter

The Year of the Rooster begins Saturday, and hundreds of millions have departed to celebrate with family. "All the outsiders have left for home," says 85-year-old grandmother Yuan Suizhen.

As Chinese New Year Approaches, Shanghai's Bustling Streets Grow Quieter

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Journalist: Russia's Interference Is An 'Assault On The Western Liberal Order'

A police officer stands guard in Moscow's Red Square. Pavel Golovkin/AP hide caption

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Pavel Golovkin/AP

World

Journalist: Russia's Interference Is An 'Assault On The Western Liberal Order'

Fresh Air

Luke Harding, the former Moscow Bureau Chief for The Guardian, says that Putin "wants to turn the clock back to an age ... where strong sovereign nations didn't talk about values or human rights."

Journalist: Russia's Interference Is An 'Assault On The Western Liberal Order'

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North Korean Defector: Information Flow Will Help Bring Down Kim Jong Un

Former North Korean deputy ambassador to London Thae Yong Ho speaks during a briefing on Wednesday in Seoul. NurPhoto via Getty Images hide caption

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NurPhoto via Getty Images

Parallels

North Korean Defector: Information Flow Will Help Bring Down Kim Jong Un

After defecting, the ex-diplomat told his sons: "You can go to the Internet, you can do Internet games whenever you like, you can read any books, watch any films." In North Korea, this was impossible.

North Korean Defector: Information Flow Will Help Bring Down Kim Jong Un

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Sri Lanka's 'Kithul' Palm Syrup: An Ancient Sweetener In Need Of Saving

The fishtail palm tree grows all over South Asia. In Sri Lanka, its sap is refined into a syrup that is used as a sweetener in Sri Lankan cuisine. Dinesh Valke/Flickr hide caption

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Dinesh Valke/Flickr

The Salt

Sri Lanka's 'Kithul' Palm Syrup: An Ancient Sweetener In Need Of Saving

Sri Lanka's most popular sweetener is disappearing, due to the destruction of rainforests, inconsistent yields, intensive labor and a fading workforce. And turning the tide isn't going to be easy.

For Journalists Who've Worked In China, New White House Tactics Seem Familiar

President Trump, shown here in an ad for a Chinese magazine in Shanghai, continues to attack the integrity of reporters who challenge him — even as he keeps making false claims. Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images

Opinion

Parallels

For Journalists Who've Worked In China, New White House Tactics Seem Familiar

China tries to discredit the press and to convince citizens not to believe their own eyes. Trump's White House seems to favor similar tactics, writes Frank Langfitt, NPR's former China correspondent.

India Expands Ban On What Politicians May Not Say To Attract Voters

India's Supreme Court has ruled on what is allowable speech by politicians to use during elections. The court says speeches by politicians must be shorn of references to religion and caste.

India Expands Ban On What Politicians May Not Say To Attract Voters

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