The World’s Largest River is Running Low (Encore) The region drained by the Amazon River, including the Amazon Rainforest, is in the second year of a punishing drought. That has lead to the lowest water levels in more than 100 years for the Amazon and its major tributaries. Millions of people and an array of…

Protests in Georgia continue as demonstrators rally in support for joining the EU On the eastern edge of the Black Sea, the Georgian president is refusing to step down, as demonstrations have gone on for weeks in support of Georgia joining the European Union. Read more on NPR

Congressional lawmakers almost got a pay bump this year. Then it crashed and burned Lawmakers on Capitol Hill haven’t had a pay increase since 2009, representing a 31% decline in their salary when adjusted for inflation. Read more on NPR

A health care provider that faced dozens of prisoner lawsuits is filing for bankruptcy Wellpath, a health care provider for hospitals, prisons and jails, has been dogged by wrongful death and medical negligence suits. What happens to those cases now that it has filed for bankruptcy? Read more on NPR

For homeless seniors, finding stable housing takes a village — and a lot of luck The number of unhoused seniors is expected to triple by 2030. As rents rise, it becomes tougher to find affordable housing that’s accessible for those with medical conditions and disabilities. Read more on NPR

A wild year in politics, by the numbers From the election results to the the charges against President-elect Donald Trump, here are the numbers that defined 2024 in politics. Read more on NPR

At the end of 1999, many thought Y2K would cause the world to collapse At the end of 1999, there was anxiety about a potential computer glitch known as Y2K. Some thought the world would crumble, including some who waited out the apocalypse in an old house in the woods. Read more on NPR

South Korea’s opposition-controlled parliament votes to impeach acting president The impeachments of the country’s president and then acting-president worsen the nation’s political turmoil, deepen its economic uncertainty and hurt its international image. Read more on NPR

Finland detains Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea Finnish authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia that Finnish customs officials and the European Union’s executive commission describe as part of Russia’s shadow fleet of fuel tankers. Read more on NPR

Richard Parsons, who steadied Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76 Parsons, one of corporate America’s most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, was known as a skilled negotiator, a diplomat and a crisis manager. Read more on NPR