Merrit Kennedy
Merrit Kennedy is a reporter for NPR's News Desk. She covers a broad range of issues, from the latest developments out of the Middle East to science research news.
Kennedy joined NPR in Washington, D.C., in December 2015, after seven years living and working in Egypt. She started her journalism career at the beginning of the Egyptian uprising in 2011 and chronicled the ousting of two presidents, eight rounds of elections, and numerous major outbreaks of violence for NPR and other news outlets. She has also worked as a reporter and television producer in Cairo for The Associated Press, covering Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan.
She grew up in Los Angeles, the Middle East, and places in between, and holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Stanford University and a master's degree in international human rights law from The American University in Cairo.
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The bill, which passed on Tuesday night in a 407-1 vote, condemns Beijing's treatment of the Muslim minority in Western China. It comes days after a measure supporting Hong Kong protesters. -
Pyongyang did not elaborate on the statement, but in 2017, state media referred to North Korea's first test launch of an ICBM as part of a "package of gifts" for the U.S. -
The blast is the latest in a string of industrial incidents in east Texas. The explosion at the petrochemical plant injured three people and blew out windows and mangled doors of some nearby homes. -
It's believed to be the highest single loss for the French military since 1983. "These 13 heroes had only one goal: to protect us," French President Emmanuel Macron said. -
Participants in the U.K. experimental study dramatically reduced their average alcohol intake for months after the initial dose. Ketamine has also been used to treat severe depression. -
There's been speculation about whether President Trump will pursue his pledge to impose sweeping regulations on e-cigarettes. On Friday, he met with advocates for and against restrictions.
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Major rallies started on Thursday as demonstrators are "angry over a great big long list of issues." President Iván Duque is trying to get a grip on the unrest by announcing a "national dialogue." -
It's a massive blow for the longtime leader — Israel's first sitting prime minister to be indicted. He stands accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, and has denied any wrongdoing. -
Benny Gantz's failure to form a coalition prolongs months of political deadlock. It does not automatically trigger new elections; rather, it kicks off another wave of political haggling. -
Dutch authorities say the people are receiving medical assistance. The Denmark-flagged ship turned around several hours after leaving port.
