Is there mercury in the fish we eat? Amazonians tap WhatsApp to find out A community of Indigenous peoples worried that mercury used by gold miners was contaminating the fish they eat. So they created a DIY team to find out more. Read more on NPR

Burst pipes in Jackson, Mississippi, are just the latest of the city’s water woes Officials have been struggling for months to patch up an “old, crumbling system” while planning for a more permanent fix. Read more on NPR

In Afghanistan, coal mining relies on the labor of children Since the return of the Taliban, Afghanistan’s coal exports have increased — and so has child labor. At a coal mine in Baghlan province, boys earn between $3 and $8 for a day’s work. Read more on NPR

These were the top political stories of 2022 There was a lot that happened in politics this year, from the consequential midterm elections to the Supreme Court’s historic abortion ruling and record migration at the southern border. Read more on NPR

War against Ukraine has left Russia isolated and struggling — with more tumult ahead Russia will end 2022 in a weaker global standing than when the year began. Its struggles in Ukraine surprised the Kremlin, and the global punishments are starting to hamper the Russian economy. Read more on NPR

Retired Pope Benedict XVI dies at 95 He is remembered as a staunch conservative who opposed modernizing reforms and as the first pope to step down since the 15th century. Read more on NPR