News: U.S. and World News Headlines : NPR

Mindy Kaling's Super Bowl Ad: Are Indian Women Invisible?

After years of being treated like she's not there, Mindy Kaling realizes she just might be invisible. YouTube hide caption

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YouTube

Mindy Kaling's Super Bowl Ad: Are Indian Women Invisible?

January 31, 2015 • In a commercial, the comedian pretends no one can see her. One Indian journalist wonders if there's more to the ad than selling insurance.

After Alzheimer's Diagnosis, 'The Stripping Away Of My Identity'

Greg O'Brien (left), with Colleen, Mary Catherine, Conor, and Brendan O'Brien, has been grappling with Alzheimer's disease for the last five years. Courtesy Greg O'Brien hide caption

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Courtesy Greg O'Brien

After Alzheimer's Diagnosis, 'The Stripping Away Of My Identity'

January 31, 2015 • Greg O'Brien talks about how his life has changed in the five years since he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. "More and more I don't recognize people," he says.

After Alzheimer's Diagnosis, 'The Stripping Away Of My Identity'

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Cumberbatch Wants Britain To Pardon Men Convicted Under Anti-Gay Law

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch poses for photographers in London in December. Joel Ryan/Joel Ryan/Invision/AP hide caption

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Joel Ryan/Joel Ryan/Invision/AP

Cumberbatch Wants Britain To Pardon Men Convicted Under Anti-Gay Law

January 31, 2015 • The Oscar-nominated star of the Alan Turing biopic The Imitation Game has joined actor and comedian Stephen Fry in calling for a blanket pardon of 49,000 men punished under long-defunct law.

Video Appears To Show Beheading Of Japanese Hostage Kenji Goto

January 31, 2015 • The SITE Intelligence group has acquired footage that appears to show the execution of the Japanese journalist a week after another Japanese hostage was killed by the so-called Islamic State.

Islamic State Blames Coalition Airstrikes For Losing Kobani

January 31, 2015 • For the first time, the extremist group acknowledges its defeat earlier this week in the heavily contested Syrian border town.

Four Years After Revolution, Libya Slides Into Chaos

Bullet holes from recent clashes riddle an apartment building in Tripoli. Bilal Hussein/AP hide caption

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Bilal Hussein/AP

Four Years After Revolution, Libya Slides Into Chaos

January 31, 2015 • Libya was hopeful after Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown, but today it's a nation torn apart, with two competing governments in two different cities, each with its own parliament and military.

Four Years After Revolution, Libya Slides Into Chaos

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Party Ban Is Patronizing, U.Va. Sorority Women Say

University of Virginia students walk to fraternities at the start of rush week. Sorority women are always invited to Boys' Bid Night, but this year national sororities have ordered women to stay clear. Steve Helber/AP hide caption

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Steve Helber/AP

Education

Party Ban Is Patronizing, U.Va. Sorority Women Say

RADIO IQ

January 31, 2015 • National sorority leaders have told members at the University of Virginia not to attend a multi-frat Bid Night party after a discredited article about a gang rape.

Party Ban Is Patronizing, U.Va. Sorority Women Say

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Record-Setting Balloonists Touch Down In Mexico After Pacific Crossing

A photo provided by Tami Bradley-Two Eagles Balloon Team, shows pilots from left, Troy Bradley of Albuquerque, N.M., and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of Russia, before their liftoff in a gas balloon in Saga, Japan. AP hide caption

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AP

The Two-Way

Record-Setting Balloonists Touch Down In Mexico After Pacific Crossing

January 31, 2015 • Pilots Troy Bradley and Leonid Tiukhtyaev, dubbed the "Two Eagles," traveled the farthest and stayed aloft the longest for anyone in a gas-filled balloon.

All Is Not So Well In The NFL Ahead Of Super Bowl Sunday

At a pre-Super Bowl news conference in Phoenix, Ariz., on Friday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said it's been a "tough year" for the League. David J. Phillip/AP hide caption

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David J. Phillip/AP

The Two-Way

All Is Not So Well In The NFL Ahead Of Super Bowl Sunday

January 31, 2015 • Deflategate tops a "tough year" for the League, says Commissioner Roger Goodell. The NFL has also grappled with domestic violence and child abuse claims.

Merkel: No Relaxing Of Terms On Greek Debt

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stands in front of a poster showing a new two-euro commemorative coin at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday. Britta Pedersen/DPA/Landov hide caption

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Britta Pedersen/DPA/Landov

The Two-Way

Merkel: No Relaxing Of Terms On Greek Debt

January 31, 2015 • The German chancellor says she wants to keep Athens in the eurozone, but that EU lenders have already made substantial concessions on the terms of the bailout.

Serena Williams Wins Australian Open For 19th Grand Slam Title

Serena Williams celebrates after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in their women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday. Lee Jin-man/AP hide caption

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Lee Jin-man/AP

The Two-Way

Serena Williams Wins Australian Open For 19th Grand Slam Title

January 31, 2015 • The tennis superstar beat Russia's Maria Sharapova in the final 6-3, 7-6 (5). She is now third in a list of Grand Slam singles champs.

Europe

An Arctic Institution, Sweden's Ice Hotel Turns 25

January 31, 2015 • This year marks 25 years of the original Ice Hotel, carved from snow and ice bricks in far northern Sweden. This story originally aired on All Things Considered on Jan. 29, 2015.

An Arctic Institution, Sweden's Ice Hotel Turns 25

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Just Your Typical Teenagers Helping To Fight World Poverty

They're members of the global-minded teens club: (left to right) Toluwanimi Sola-Adeyemi of Lagos, Chloe McGill of Seattle and Emine Arcasoy of Chapel Hill. Courtesy of Tolu Sola-Adeyemi, Chloe McGill and Emine Arcasoy. hide caption

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Courtesy of Tolu Sola-Adeyemi, Chloe McGill and Emine Arcasoy.

Goats and Soda

Just Your Typical Teenagers Helping To Fight World Poverty

January 31, 2015 • Their goal is to make the world a better place 15 years from now. And the U.S. State Department listened to their ideas. But that doesn't mean they are oblivious to Justin Bieber and Gossip Girl.

A Former Child Soldier Finds Escape, Heaven Through His Music

"Through music," says former child soldier Emmanuel Jal, "I was able to become a child again." Courtesy of Gatwitch hide caption

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Courtesy of Gatwitch

Goats and Soda

A Former Child Soldier Finds Escape, Heaven Through His Music

January 31, 2015 • Starved, brainwashed and beaten, Emmanuel Jal was a child soldier who escaped Sudan's war. Now he's an actor, musician and activist. But he says he still gets nightmares.

A Former Child Soldier Finds Escape, Heaven Through His Music

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Why Do We Love Football So Much? Theater Tackles Tough Questions

Football rules, uniforms, helmets and protective gear have changed a lot over the years. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images hide caption

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Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Why Do We Love Football So Much? Theater Tackles Tough Questions

KQED

January 31, 2015 • A play based on interviews with former NFL players, their families and fans digs deep: What's so fun about a sport that devastates bodies and brains? And what if it can't be made safer?

Why Do We Love Football So Much? Theater Tackles Tough Questions

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Saturday January 31, 2015

After Alzheimer's Diagnosis, 'The Stripping Away Of My Identity'

Four Years After Revolution, Libya Slides Into Chaos

RADIO IQ

Party Ban Is Patronizing, U.Va. Sorority Women Say

An Arctic Institution, Sweden's Ice Hotel Turns 25

A Former Child Soldier Finds Escape, Heaven Through His Music

KQED

Why Do We Love Football So Much? Theater Tackles Tough Questions