Alex Leff
@alexleff.bsky.social
Editing world news and features online at the venerable @npr.org
Reposted by Alex Leff
Veteran Jim Blane, almost 101 years old, sat down with CPR News to detail his experience in one of the most pivotal WWII battles, 80 years later. (via Colorado Public Radio)
The Battle of Iwo Jima, through the eyes of a US Marine who lived it
Colorado USMC veteran Jim Blane, almost 101 years old, sat down with CPR News to detail his experience in one of the most pivotal WWII battles, 80 years later.
n.pr
November 11, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Veteran Jim Blane, almost 101 years old, sat down with CPR News to detail his experience in one of the most pivotal WWII battles, 80 years later. (via Colorado Public Radio)
Congrats to Katerina! www.npr.org/2025/11/10/g...
Katerina Barton is the 2025-2026 Above the Fray Fellow
www.npr.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Congrats to Katerina! www.npr.org/2025/11/10/g...
More and more Ukrainian women are volunteering to fight Russia as the war nears its fourth year, and troops are in short supply. Latest deep dive by @npr.org's @joannakakissis.bsky.social with Tetiana Burianova & Polina Lytvynova, and 📸 by Anton Shtuka. www.npr.org/2025/11/11/n...
'No turning back': More and more Ukrainian women join the army to fight Russia
An increasing number of women are joining the Ukrainian military, with thousands serving in front line roles, as Russia's war on Ukraine nears its fourth year — with no peace in sight.
www.npr.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:53 PM
More and more Ukrainian women are volunteering to fight Russia as the war nears its fourth year, and troops are in short supply. Latest deep dive by @npr.org's @joannakakissis.bsky.social with Tetiana Burianova & Polina Lytvynova, and 📸 by Anton Shtuka. www.npr.org/2025/11/11/n...
"Decades later, across once-devastated Europe, nations are again rearming, plowing investments into the defense industry in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine." apnews.com/article/euro...
The specter of new conflict haunts memorials around World War I's end
Tens of thousands of soldiers were killed in World War I and left without graves. On Tuesday, authorities are unveiling a renovated memorial for them in Ypres, the Belgian town that earned the grim ho...
apnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
"Decades later, across once-devastated Europe, nations are again rearming, plowing investments into the defense industry in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine." apnews.com/article/euro...
In an encrypted group chat, National Guard members question Trump deployments
www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
In an encrypted group chat, National Guard members question Trump deployments
As President Trump's call for National Guard deployments rings out across the U.S., a small contingent of Ohio guard members is quietly expressing concern in an encrypted group chat.
www.npr.org
November 10, 2025 at 1:33 PM
In an encrypted group chat, National Guard members question Trump deployments
www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
www.npr.org/2025/11/10/n...
An AP investigation into some of the victims of US strikes in the Caribbean challenges the official line. As NPR has also found reporting in the region, some of these folks were apparently small-time fishermen rather than some major narco gangsters
www.npr.org/2025/11/08/n...
www.npr.org/2025/11/08/n...
Trump says boat crews are narco-terrorists. The truth is more nuanced, AP finds
In interviews in villages on Venezuela's northeastern coast, from which some of the boats departed, residents and relatives said the dead men had been running drugs but were not narco-terrorists.
www.npr.org
November 8, 2025 at 6:39 PM
An AP investigation into some of the victims of US strikes in the Caribbean challenges the official line. As NPR has also found reporting in the region, some of these folks were apparently small-time fishermen rather than some major narco gangsters
www.npr.org/2025/11/08/n...
www.npr.org/2025/11/08/n...
here's a fun way to familiarize yourself with Grammy nominees - check out their @npr.org Tiny Desk Concerts! From Bad Bunny to Tame Impala and even some music theater performances like Gypsy and Death Becomes Her www.npr.org/2025/11/07/g...
Grammy nominated artists who played the Tiny Desk in 2025
It's no surprise that a boatload of 2026 Grammy nominations are for rappers, rockers, legends and newcomers who performed at the Tiny Desk in just 2025 alone.
www.npr.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:57 PM
here's a fun way to familiarize yourself with Grammy nominees - check out their @npr.org Tiny Desk Concerts! From Bad Bunny to Tame Impala and even some music theater performances like Gypsy and Death Becomes Her www.npr.org/2025/11/07/g...
Japan deployed troops to help contain a surge of bear attacks that have terrorized residents in a mountainous region in the northern prefecture of Akita www.npr.org/2025/11/06/n...
Japan deploys the military to counter a surge in bear attacks
The deployment comes following a surge of bear attacks in Japan's northern Akita prefecture.
www.npr.org
November 6, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Japan deployed troops to help contain a surge of bear attacks that have terrorized residents in a mountainous region in the northern prefecture of Akita www.npr.org/2025/11/06/n...
Reuters photographed construction at an abandoned US naval base in the Caribbean, which military officials and maritime experts said pointed to preparations that could enable the US military to carry out operations inside Venezuela. www.reuters.com/graphics/USA...
How the US is preparing a Caribbean staging ground near Venezuela
The US military is upgrading a Cold War base in the Caribbean it abandoned 20 years ago. Experts say it’s a step towards sustained operations in the region.
www.reuters.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reuters photographed construction at an abandoned US naval base in the Caribbean, which military officials and maritime experts said pointed to preparations that could enable the US military to carry out operations inside Venezuela. www.reuters.com/graphics/USA...
Guardian: The Spanish government has granted citizenship to 170 descendants of volunteers in the International Brigades in recognition of their fight against fascism during the Franco dictatorship that followed the civil war. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Spain grants citizenship to descendants of civil war’s International Brigades
About 32,000 volunteered to fight Franco dictatorship, including 2,500 men and women from Britain and Ireland
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Guardian: The Spanish government has granted citizenship to 170 descendants of volunteers in the International Brigades in recognition of their fight against fascism during the Franco dictatorship that followed the civil war. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
“Instead of setting up a serious challenger to Wikipedia, Musk has scored a major own goal. Grokipedia demonstrates that, while humans might be highly imperfect, biased and tribal beings, they are still better than AI at getting to the truth” - Jemima Kelly in FT
November 2, 2025 at 3:36 PM
“Instead of setting up a serious challenger to Wikipedia, Musk has scored a major own goal. Grokipedia demonstrates that, while humans might be highly imperfect, biased and tribal beings, they are still better than AI at getting to the truth” - Jemima Kelly in FT
the man formally known as prince shall henceforth be called Andrew Mountbatten Windsor www.npr.org/2025/10/30/g...
King Charles III strips Prince Andrew of his titles and evicts him from the Royal Lodge
Buckingham Palace said the king's brother will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and not as a prince, and he will move from his Royal Lodge residence into "private accommodation."
www.npr.org
October 30, 2025 at 8:16 PM
the man formally known as prince shall henceforth be called Andrew Mountbatten Windsor www.npr.org/2025/10/30/g...
"It has been misconstrued as a civil war but I can tell you no civilians call what's happening in Sudan a civil war. It is an escalation of the Darfur genocide and it is a proxy war involving some of the richest countries in the world." @npr.org interviews Emi Mahmoud www.npr.org/2025/10/29/n...
Sudanese-American poet talks about the fall of her hometown El Fasher
NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Sudanese-American poet Emi Mahmoud about the fall of Al-Fashir to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.
www.npr.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:36 PM
"It has been misconstrued as a civil war but I can tell you no civilians call what's happening in Sudan a civil war. It is an escalation of the Darfur genocide and it is a proxy war involving some of the richest countries in the world." @npr.org interviews Emi Mahmoud www.npr.org/2025/10/29/n...
Who is Doug Ford, the Canadian politician pushing Trump's buttons? www.npr.org/2025/10/27/n...
Who is Doug Ford, the Canadian politician pushing Trump's buttons?
In his first campaign to lead Ontario, Ford started out as a Trump-style populist. But tariffs changed his view and he is now a consistent thorn in the U.S. president's side.
www.npr.org
October 27, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Who is Doug Ford, the Canadian politician pushing Trump's buttons? www.npr.org/2025/10/27/n...
"Trump critics suggest his Venezuela intimidation is little more than a performative campaign to distract Venezuelan expat voters — most of whom opted for him in last year's election — from the fact that he's deported so many Venezuelan migrants this year." www.wlrn.org/americas/202...
Venezuela braces for a U.S. military strike. But will it change anything?
From Sucre to South Florida, Venezuelans have mixed feelings about whether a threatened U.S. military incursion against drug traffickers will affect their desperate situation — and their brutal dictat...
www.wlrn.org
October 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
"Trump critics suggest his Venezuela intimidation is little more than a performative campaign to distract Venezuelan expat voters — most of whom opted for him in last year's election — from the fact that he's deported so many Venezuelan migrants this year." www.wlrn.org/americas/202...
Israel, having barred UNRWA, is now taking steps to de-register major NGOs, blocking them from sending aid or staff to Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
www.npr.org/2025/10/21/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/21/n...
Israel takes steps to shut down international aid groups in Gaza and the West Bank
Israel is de-registering major nongovernmental aid groups from helping people in the Palestinian territories, according to several officials with humanitarian organizations.
www.npr.org
October 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Israel, having barred UNRWA, is now taking steps to de-register major NGOs, blocking them from sending aid or staff to Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
www.npr.org/2025/10/21/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/21/n...
From major cities to small rural towns, NPR station photographers were on the ground documenting the events in their communities.
www.npr.org/sections/the...
www.npr.org/sections/the...
Photos: Scenes from the No Kings Protests
People gathered for pro-democracy protests across the country today.
www.npr.org
October 18, 2025 at 9:59 PM
From major cities to small rural towns, NPR station photographers were on the ground documenting the events in their communities.
www.npr.org/sections/the...
www.npr.org/sections/the...
Reposted by Alex Leff
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia says new legislation is needed to prevent the Trump administration's escalating actions against Venezuela from leading to war. n.pr/47aKfOd
Senators will force a vote to prevent war on Venezuela without approval from Congress
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia says new legislation is needed to prevent the Trump administration's escalating actions against Venezuela from leading to war.
n.pr
October 17, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia says new legislation is needed to prevent the Trump administration's escalating actions against Venezuela from leading to war. n.pr/47aKfOd
Doctors Without Borders said violence in the capital of Haiti has forced it to close its Port-au-Prince emergency care center, which had been a key lifeline in a city now 90% controlled by gangs www.npr.org/2025/10/16/g...
Doctors Without Borders permanently closes its emergency center in Haiti's capital
Doctors Without Borders said Wednesday that ongoing violence in the capital of Haiti has forced it to permanently close its Port-au-Prince emergency care center, a city now 90% controlled by gangs.
www.npr.org
October 16, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Doctors Without Borders said violence in the capital of Haiti has forced it to close its Port-au-Prince emergency care center, which had been a key lifeline in a city now 90% controlled by gangs www.npr.org/2025/10/16/g...
@wamu.org's Nayion Perkins reports that over 50 new marijuana dispensaries have opened in across DC, but there are questions about how sustainable the sector will be
wamu.org/story/25/10/...
wamu.org/story/25/10/...
District of cannabis: Is D.C.’s new weed economy sustainable?
Within the last year, over 50 new dispensaries have opened in neighborhoods across all eight wards. Both newcomers and veterans of the industry are wondering how stable the cannabis business will be, ...
wamu.org
October 13, 2025 at 9:18 PM
@wamu.org's Nayion Perkins reports that over 50 new marijuana dispensaries have opened in across DC, but there are questions about how sustainable the sector will be
wamu.org/story/25/10/...
wamu.org/story/25/10/...
Reposted by Alex Leff
Photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia music in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States. n.pr/4h5y75M
Ecuador: The Andean reinvention of cumbia
Photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia music in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.
n.pr
October 13, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia music in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States. n.pr/4h5y75M
See @npr.org for the latest on the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Trump got a standing ovation in Israel's Knesset after hostages were released.
www.npr.org/2025/10/13/g...
Palestinians celebrate as Israel frees prisoners and detainees as part of the deal
www.npr.org/2025/10/13/n...
Trump got a standing ovation in Israel's Knesset after hostages were released.
www.npr.org/2025/10/13/g...
Palestinians celebrate as Israel frees prisoners and detainees as part of the deal
www.npr.org/2025/10/13/n...
Hamas releases Israeli hostages, Trump gets standing ovation in Israel's parliament
President Trump received a rousing welcome in Israel and declared the Gaza war over. Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli hostages. Palestinian prisoners were also set to be freed.
www.npr.org
October 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
See @npr.org for the latest on the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Trump got a standing ovation in Israel's Knesset after hostages were released.
www.npr.org/2025/10/13/g...
Palestinians celebrate as Israel frees prisoners and detainees as part of the deal
www.npr.org/2025/10/13/n...
Trump got a standing ovation in Israel's Knesset after hostages were released.
www.npr.org/2025/10/13/g...
Palestinians celebrate as Israel frees prisoners and detainees as part of the deal
www.npr.org/2025/10/13/n...
Reposted by Alex Leff
When millions lost power in Spain and Portugal this spring, some were quick to blame too much solar and wind power. That wasn't the cause, but the misinformation had an impact.
After Spain's blackout, critics blamed renewable energy. It's part of a bigger attack
When millions lost power in Spain and Portugal this spring, some were quick to blame too much solar and wind power. That wasn't the cause, but the misinformation had an impact.
n.pr
October 9, 2025 at 5:38 PM
When millions lost power in Spain and Portugal this spring, some were quick to blame too much solar and wind power. That wasn't the cause, but the misinformation had an impact.
"Populous developing countries like China and India led the charge in making the switch to renewable energies, Ember reports. Meanwhile, Western societies including the European Union and the United States increased their consumption of coal during this period." www.npr.org/2025/10/09/n...
Renewable energy outpaces coal for electricity generation in historic first, report says
For the first time on record, renewable energy generated more electricity for the planet than coal, a new report says.
www.npr.org
October 9, 2025 at 12:50 PM
"Populous developing countries like China and India led the charge in making the switch to renewable energies, Ember reports. Meanwhile, Western societies including the European Union and the United States increased their consumption of coal during this period." www.npr.org/2025/10/09/n...
Why scientists are using corals from other countries to help save Florida's reefs
www.npr.org/2025/10/01/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/01/n...
Why scientists are using corals from other countries to help save Florida's reefs
The past three summers have been the worst on record for Florida's coral reefs. To try to restore them, scientists are breeding corals that can handle heat better, using coral from other countries.
www.npr.org
October 2, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Why scientists are using corals from other countries to help save Florida's reefs
www.npr.org/2025/10/01/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/01/n...