Azerbaijan’s president says crashed jetliner was shot down by Russia unintentionally Read more on NPR

Under a ‘grandma moon,’ Native Americans honor their sacred pact with salmon Native American New Year was celebrated on the solstice under a canopy of winter stars. Near a crackling bonfire, the Nisqually tribe shared their culture and renewed their sacred pact with the salmon. Read more on NPR

The fall of Syria’s dictatorship ripples out to one family in Toledo, Ohio When Syria’s dictatorship fell, celebrations broke out around the world, including in Ohio, where Mohammed al-Refai, a refugee from Syria, lives now. NPR has followed his story for nearly a decade. Read more on NPR

What were the biggest life lessons in 2024? Here’s what NPR listeners learned The year is coming to an end and with it, many lessons were learned. Some of which could have altered how we move forward into the new year. NPR listeners provide insight on their lessons from 2024. Read more on NPR

Belgium will ban sales of disposable e-cigarettes in a first for the EU The ban, which will take effect on Jan. 1, is based on health and environmental grounds and is a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Read more on NPR

A plane has caught fire at a South Korean airport and rescue work is underway The emergency office says the plane caught fire at an airport in Muan after its landing gear malfunctioned. Read more on NPR

WHO chief recounts narrow escape at Yemen airport hit by Israeli missile The World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says he and colleagues “escaped death narrowly” when an Israeli airstrike targeted Yemen’s main airport. Read more on NPR

Magnus Carlsen quits chess championship after refusing to change out of jeans The Norwegian chess grandmaster was fined $200 and given a warning by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to change into acceptable attire or be disqualified. Read more on NPR

Big Lots reaches deal to keep hundreds of US stores open Big Lots said Friday it will be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, a firm that specializes in distressed companies. Read more on NPR

Y2K seems like a joke now, but in 1999 people were really freaking out People feared the computer glitch would mean “the end of the world as we know it.” Thankfully, Y2K didn’t live up to the hype after years and billions of dollars were spent on painstaking preparation. Read more on NPR