Nation Jan 29 On a crowded toy shelf, making room for a new era of Barbie Barbie will now come in more shapes and sizes than its iconic, and unrealistic, original form. The decision to diversify was partly about softening sales, but also about the growing sense that the doll seemed out of touch. William Brangham…
Health Jan 29 Drug shortages force U.S. doctors into ‘unethical corner’ Shortages of some prescription drugs are forcing doctors to make difficult decisions, in some cases choosing one patient over another, or sharing a dose between multiple patients. Hari Sreenivasan learns more about the rationing from Sheri Fink of The New…
World Jan 29 A dance to change Denmark’s minds about refugees The Danish government has courted controversy by seizing valuables from asylum seekers to pay their living expenses, a policy intended to make the country less attractive to migrants. But one of Denmark’s leading dance troupes is incorporating asylum seekers into…
Education Jan 29 Female cadet commands respect at her high school Shantell Gonzalez of Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High in Miami refuses to let gender stereotypes get in the way of service to her country: she is the only female CO in her school’s Junior ROTC unit. Our Student Reporting…
World Jan 28 American released from Iran prison describes solitary confinement, constant surveillance Matthew Trevithick had been studying Farsi at Tehran University when he was arrested and held for 40 days in the notorious Evin prison, accused of trying to overthrow the government. Trevithick, one of the five Americans set free by Iran…
Health Jan 28 WHO to consider declaring international emergency over Zika virus The World Health Organization offered a powerful new warning about the rapid spread of the Zika virus, which apparently causes birth defects such as microcephaly and neurological problems. Officials estimate that there could be 3 to 4 million cases in…
Politics Jan 28 Will ethanol fuel caucus voters in corn country Iowa? Ethanol took center stage in Iowa last week when Gov. Terry Branstad urged voters not to support Sen. Ted Cruz, who wants to repeal the mandate that ethanol be blended into most types of gasoline. Special correspondent David Biello of…
Economy Jan 28 Are the best days of the U.S. economy over? If you add up all of the innovations made from the late 1800s up to 1970, there's been no comparable stretch of economic growth, before or since, says economist Robert Gordon. According to his new book, "The Rise and Fall…
World Jan 28 News Wrap: More deadly sea crossings for migrants flocking to Europe In our news wrap Thursday, at least 25 migrants drowned when their boat sank off the Greek island of Samos. Meanwhile, the Italian Navy rescued nearly 300 people and recovered six bodies of Sicily. Also, three more members of an…