Search results for

France's Council of State said the town of Villeneuve-Loubet breached several "fundamental freedoms" by forbidding the swimwear on its beaches. Some 30 towns have instituted such bans this summer.

U.S. forces take into custody one of Iraq's top biological weapons experts, nicknamed "Dr. Germ" for her work in the production of biological warfare agents such as anthrax and botulinum toxin. Rihab Taha, a British-educated microbiologist, was not on the U.S. list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis, but U.S. officials say her capture was still a top priority. Hear NPR's Tom Gjelten.

One-third of the Texas blues-rock mainstay ZZ Top has died. Dusty Hill, the band's bassist and one of its vocalists, was 72 years old, and according to his bandmates died at his home in Houston.

NPR's Scott Detrow talks with Tom Grossi about his "If the NFL Was Scripted" series and the characters and storylines viewers should be watching for in the NFL playoffs.

Critic Alan Cheuse likes his books thoughtfully plotted — and 2011 has made him a happy reader. A tiger haunts, a teen flees, ballplayers dream and vampires reign in beautifully conceived stories from new and distinguished authors.

Experts say the well-funded militant group is focused on gaining power in the Middle East, not attacking America. The bigger risk is of an opportunistic attack, locally or in Europe.

Deadlines to apply for colleges are coming up - and some experts say a lot of qualified minority students won't be applying to the top schools. Host Michel Martin speaks with Donald Fraser, Jr., of CollegeSnapps, Inc. and Caroline Hoxby, an economist at Stanford University about why some students of color aren't trying to get into prestigious schools.

Women in power often have to choose between being seen as likeable but incompetent, or competent but cold. We explore what's known as "double bind" — assumptions about men, women and leadership.

Army Surgeon General Kevin Kiley has abruptly stepped down, requesting retirement. He is the third top Army official to depart amid fallout over the way wounded soldiers were treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Republicans are feeling pressure to deliver the first overhaul of the federal tax code in more than 30 years after the collapse of the long-promised dismantling of the Affordable Care Act.