Hannah Bloch

Ali Akbar, who's sold newspapers on the streets of Paris for 50 years, is now a knight For decades, Ali Akbar has sold papers on the Left Bank of Paris. Last month, France gave the beloved 73-year-old immigrant from Pakistan one of its highest honors — and his neighborhood is cheering.

For decades, Ali Akbar has sold papers on the Left Bank of Paris. Last month, France gave the beloved 73-year-old immigrant from Pakistan one of its highest honors — and his neighborhood is cheering. n.pr/3MzrJci

Sunday, DC

The 2026 Nieman Fellows honor Gaza-based Palestinian journalists Shrouq Aila and Anas Baba with the Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism - Nieman Foundation The Nieman Fellows in the Class of 2026 have awarded the Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism to two Palestinian journalists in Gaza: Anas Baba, a reporter for National Publ...

The 2026 Nieman Fellows have chosen Gaza-based Palestinian journalists Shrouq Aila and @npr.org’s Anas Baba with the Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism for reporting that documents the human consequences of war with accuracy and care. nieman.harvard.edu/the-2026-nie...

Greetings from Kyiv, where candles are the last option during wartime blackouts The fourth winter of Russia's war on Ukraine has been the most brutal in recent times, with heat and electricity blackouts lasting for days as Russia repeatedly attacks Ukraine's energy grid.

The fourth winter of Russia's war on Ukraine has been the most brutal in recent times, with heat and electricity blackouts lasting for days as Russia repeatedly attacks Ukraine's energy grid.

The CIA World Factbook is dead. Here's how I came to love it The Factbook survived the Cold War and became a hit online. It mixed quirky cultural notes and trivia with maps, data, and photos taken by CIA officers. But it was discontinued this week.

Without warning, the CIA said this week that it will no longer produce the publication that it previously touted as "indispensable."
By @likeapple.bsky.social

www.npr.org/2026/02/07/n...

Club offers 3-month free membership for laid off journalists The National Press Club is offering a complimentary three-month guest membership to Washington, D.C.–area journalists who have been laid off in 2026 — a way to stay connected to community, resources, ...

The @pressclubdc.bsky.social is offering 3 months of free membership to laid-off journalists

www.press.org/newsroom/clu...

Washington Post cuts a third of its staff in a blow to a legendary news brand The Washington Post has laid off one-third of its staff, eliminating its sports section, several foreign bureaus and its books coverage

When I searched to see how the Washington Post covered the story of its massive layoffs, all I could find was this AP story, posted overnight

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction ceased to exist on Jan. 31, and it seems its website (sigar.mil) did too.
Congress created this watchdog in 2008 to do independent oversight of Afghanistan reconstruction efforts. Over the years SIGAR identified billions of dollars wasted.

Reporter's Notebook: He was my fruit vendor for years. I saw immigration agents take him NPR's Adrian Florido has been buying fruit from the same fruit-cart vendor in his LA neighborhood for years. On Tuesday, Florido was there when federal immigration agents whisked him away.

NPR's Adrian Florido has been buying fruit from the same fruit-cart vendor in his LA neighborhood for years. On Tuesday, Florido was there when federal immigration agents whisked him away.

Ali Akbar, Paris's last newspaper hawker, honored by Macron The French president presented Ali Akbar with one of the French government's highest honors on Wednesday evening. Akbar has sold Le Monde for decades in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood of Paris.

Ali Akbar, Paris's last newspaper hawker, honored by Macron

Harassed at home, convicted abroad: Pakistan steps up prosecution of overseas journalists - Committee to Protect Journalists Pakistan’s government has stepped up the use of in absentia convictions and arrest warrants against Pakistani journalists living overseas since late 2025, highlighting an escalating crackdown by Prime...

Pakistan steps up prosecution of overseas journalists
@pressfreedom.bsky.social
cpj.org?p=554403

Journalists are civilians under international humanitarian law.

Facilities and equipment utilized for reporting and disseminating news are also civilian structures.

They must be respected and protected.

Journalists are #NotATarget.

Today marks 18 years since Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. Her courageous fight against dictatorship was an early spark for my interest in Pakistan. This photo, by Robert Nickelsberg during our 1998 interview for TIME magazine in Karachi, was damaged long ago in the mail but am so glad to have it.

Here are some fantastic nonfiction 'Books We Love' recommendations from NPR staff NPR Staff recommends several non-fiction titles from Books We Love: "Good Movies As Old Books," "Pakistan," "Baldwin: A Love Story," and "One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This."

Delighted to be included in this morning’s @npr.org Weekend Edition roundup to talk about one of the books I most enjoyed this year, Maryam Jillani’s PAKISTAN cookbook. It’s a beautifully presented and refreshing look at Pakistan in all its diversity.

www.npr.org/2025/12/20/n...

DC Fire And EMS Department
Engine Company 9

Feast your eyes on these 10 cookbooks from 2025 Whether you're craving something sweet, savory, spicy — or all of the above in one flavorful meal — we've got you covered. Here are 10 favorite cookbooks from the past year.

Whether you're craving something sweet, savory, spicy — or all of the above in one flavorful meal — we've got you covered. Here are 10 favorite cookbooks from the past year. n.pr/4pAXArl

From the beautiful Textile Museum on the campus of George Washington University

We were very sad to learn about the passing of Dr. Iain Douglas Hamilton - legendary conservationist, Save the Elephants Founder, and subject of 2025 Festival Selection A LIFE AMONG ELEPHANTS.

His incredible story resonated so strongly with our audience. He leaves behind a truly monumental legacy.

At the Australian Embassy in Washington

Books We Love Here are 380+ great reads from 2025 handpicked just for you by NPR staffers and trusted critics.

Books We Love is back with a brand new batch of hand-picked titles. Mix and match tags like “Book Club Ideas” and “Eye-Opening Reads.” Find 380+ new 2025 reads, and stick around to browse more than 4,000 books from the last 13 years.

Writing radio obituaries is an art of its own NPR's reporters on the choices and challenges of writing obituaries.

Wonderful insights into the art of obituary writing from @npr.org’s @dongonyea.bsky.social and Elizabeth Blair

www.npr.org/2025/11/08/n...

Remarkable story by @ejnicholson.bsky.social about 3 nuns sent to a nursing home against their will and how they made a getaway. Their supporters include a granddaughter of Maria von Trapp and former students, one of whom says they “they deserve agency and dignity in old age.” As do all our elders -

An NPR reporter's journey into Gaza, for the first time since the war began NPR Mideast correspondent Daniel Estrin has entered the Gaza Strip for the first time since the war began, but Israel still requires a military escort.

NPR's Israel correspondent Daniel Estrin has entered the Gaza Strip for the first time since the war began, but Israeli still requires a military escort. n.pr/498GMTe

Pentagon Press Restrictions – Experts Weigh In A Pulitzer Prize-winning Pentagon reporter and former USMC press officer reflect on the latest restrictions from Hegseth’s DOD.

Must-read analysis from two POGO experts:

Pulitzer-winner Mark Thompson and former USMC press officer @virginiajburger.bsky.social reflect on the latest restrictions from the DOD⬇️

A Statement from NPR’s Editor in Chief on the Pentagon’s Press Policy.
Read More: www.npr.org/2025/10/13/g...

Press Release | The Academy’s 2025 Ross Media Award Winners Announced | American Academy of Diplomacy In a statement issued on October 6, 2025, the American Academy of Diplomacy announced that the winners of the 2025 Ross Media Award for Reporting and Commentary on the Practice of American Diplomacy a...

Many congratulations to @npr.org’s Anas Baba on this wonderful, hugely deserved recognition of his “steadfast and factual coverage of the war in Gaza [that] is making a singular contribution to public understanding of the conflict at great personal risk.”

www.academyofdiplomacy.org/news/press-r...

Redford le Magnifique—needs no translation

Afghan Storytelling and Preserving Culture - National Museum of Asian Art Register on Eventbrite to attend in personFree. Registration required.This hybrid program will also

This looks to be an incredible event at the National Museum of Asian Art, featuring Omara Khan Masoudi, the former director of the National Museum of Afghanistan, among others. Sept. 20, in-person and via Zoom:

asia.si.edu/whats-on/eve...

Greetings from the Dubai airport, where a long layover can also be a destination Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.

have not yet been to the dubai airport but can very much can relate to the reflections on travel in this latest far-flung postcards installment by my dear colleague @hannahbloch.bsky.social www.npr.org/2025/08/20/g...

Greetings from the Dubai airport, where a long layover can also be a destination Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.

I wrote about the perfect limbo of a Dubai airport layover

www.npr.org/2025/08/20/g...