News from NPR

The Trump administration has achieved remarkable success in confirming federal judges, while left-leaning groups are sounding alarms about diversity and other concerns.

As the partial government shutdown continued into its second week, the president invited a bipartisan group of lawmakers to the White House for talks. "Let's make a deal?" Trump asked in a tweet.

David Whelan, who says he is Paul Whelan's brother, tweeted that his brother was in Moscow for a wedding, not a spy mission.

About 50,000 homeless people live in and around L.A., according to the latest count by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. The vast majority of them live unsheltered on the streets.

Big mainstream consumer brands, which have owned our cupboards and closets, face a turning point: a time to evolve or wither. The Internet and the echoes of the recession have changed us as shoppers.

In a New Year's address, the North Korean leader says Pyongyang is willing to work with the United States but suggests cooperation could be contingent on lifting sanctions.

The law requires Internet companies to store locals' data in Vietnam and hand over user information if the government asks for it, among other contentious provisions.

The Saudi government asked Netflix to remove an episode of the comedian's show Patriot Act that was critical of the regime over the death of Jamal Khashoggi. Netflix said it was following local law.

Brazil's new far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, took office Tuesday, calling for unity — in contrast with his past homophobic, misogynistic and racist statements.

The U.S. and Russia are beginning the new year much like they ended last year — with a note of friction. Russia is detaining an American and is accusing him of spying.