Morning news brief
Electronic pagers belonging to members of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah were attacked. The Federal Reserve is on the verge of cutting interest rates. Drug overdose deaths dropped in the U.S.
World News
Lael Wilcox rode around the world and then went for another bike ride
American cyclist Lael Wilcox rode more than 18,000 miles in 108 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes. She's claiming the record for the fastest woman to ride around the world.
Meet Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo so popular you can visit her for only 5 minutes
A baby pygmy hippopotamus in a Thailand zoo has become a worldwide internet sensation, leading to crowds at the zoo. Zoo officials say the increased attention has led to some bad visitor behavior.
Tracking the exploding pagers used in apparent Israeli attack on Hezbollah
Gold Apollo denied all involvement with the explosive pagers, telling NPR outside its offices in Taiwan that it was a Budapest-based company called BAC Consulting which manufactured the devices.
David Rennie, of 'The Economist,' on the intrusiveness of the Chinese state
In Part 2 of David Rennie's exit interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep, the former Beijing Bureau chief for "The Economist" talks about living under the strict scrutiny of the Chinese Communist Party.
The Lebanese government blames Israel for pagers that exploded across the country
An attack on pagers used by members of Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah led to thousands of casualties. NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Beirut-based journalist Kim Ghattas about the unusual attack.
Kashmir is holding its first state elections since India brought it under direct rule
Residents of India-administered Kashmir begin voting in the first regional elections in a decade. It comes years after India's government stripped away the territory’s statehood.
Flooding has devastated several parts of the world in a short period of time
Floods have taken lives and buried towns in eastern Europe, Nigeria and Shanghai this week. Scientists say intense precipitation is becoming more possible with human-driven climate change.
Husband in France admits he and men he recruited raped his unconscious wife
A man at the center of a mass rape trial in France testified Tuesday. He is accused of drugging his wife and offering her up to a steady stream of men from an online chatroom.
Pagers belonging to Hezbollah members exploded across Lebanon in apparent attack
An apparent synchronized attack on pagers used by Hezbollah members. Lebanese health authorities say at least nine people were killed and more than 2,700 wounded.