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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USA Volleyball says Taylor Crabb — part of a duo that is ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 4 in the world — will be replaced by another player due to his positive test. -
Kara Eaker is the athlete who tested positive, her mother and her gym in Missouri confirmed on Monday. The women's team is continuing to prepare for the Games, according to USA Gymnastics. -
The 17-year-old was expected to lead the U.S. tennis team at the Tokyo Olympics. A positive coronavirus test has dashed her hopes of competing in the Games. -
More than 150 people remain unaccounted for after a 12-story condo building partially collapsed near Miami. Rescue workers are using sonar and dogs to search for survivors in the rubble. -
Amy Cooper filed a federal lawsuit against her former employer, saying the company never investigated the incident that led to her firing — the confrontation between her and Christian Cooper. -
Officials in Gaza say at least 230 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict. In Israel, 12 people have been killed. -
"If I had grandchildren, I would certainly recommend they get vaccinated," President Biden's chief medical adviser said. COVID-19 vaccines for younger children are being tested in clinical trials now. -
In Washington, calls for an end to the fighting have intensified, including among Democrats in Congress who support Israel and even some Republicans. -
Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell said what happened to George Floyd last May was "so simple that a child could understand it." Blackwell quoted a 9-year-old witness who said, "Get off of him." -
Khashoggi was killed during a visit to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The report is expected to damage the already complicated relations between the traditional allies.
