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By
Brittney Melton
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U.S. Central Command announced that it destroyed five Iranian oil carriers in the Gulf of Oman and near Iran's Kharg Island yesterday. In retaliation, Iran targeted U.S. troops stationed at an air base in Jordan. Since Saturday, the U.S. has struck eight Iranian crude tankers as part of its efforts to weaken Iran's economic lifeline. Turmoil from this war has pushed Brent crude oil prices back above $100 a barrel today.
An aerial view shows the sprawling BP refinery on Sept. 8, 2026, in Whiting, Indiana. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption
The United Kingdom announced a ban on imports from Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, accusing Israeli settlers of being "terrorists" who engage in "ethnic cleansing" against Palestinians. The move aims to pressure Israel over settlement expansion, which the U.K. argues undermines the two-state solution. Canada and France have also imposed sanctions, intensifying international pressure on Israel. Israel retaliated quickly with the announcement of the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem.
Smithsonian Institution head Lonnie G. Bunch announced yesterday that he would step down from his role at the end of the year. Bunch has spent nearly four decades with the organization, rising through the ranks starting as a curator before taking over the top position in 2019 and making history as the first African American and the first historian to lead the Smithsonian. His retirement announcement comes after more than a year of criticism from President Trump about the Smithsonian. In August 2025, the president called for a comprehensive internal review of eight Smithsonian museums and directed them to "celebrate American exceptionalism." In July 2026, the Trump administration accused the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History of "extreme political activism."
Hanna Barczyk for NPR Living Better is a special series about what it takes to stay healthy in America.
Copper peptides, known as GHK-Copper or simply GHK-Cu, are one of the latest social media skin care hacks. People have gone from smearing the compound on their faces to using injections, in hopes of achieving firmer, wrinkle-free skin and other anti-aging benefits. GHK-Cu isn't an approved drug, but there is considerable scientific research behind it. No published human studies show that injectable forms of the peptides are safe and effective. The risks are compounded by the fact that many people source these injectables from a grey market of online sellers. Here's what we know about the substance:
Ann M. Martin, at her home in New York state. She is the author and creator of the Baby-Sitters Club series, which turns 40 this year, as well as numerous award-winning standalone novels. DeSean McClinton-Holland hide caption
The Baby-Sitters Club series has influenced generations of readers for four decades. Author Ann M. Martin created characters like Claudia, one of the first Asian-American characters in mainstream culture, and Stacey, who lives with diabetes. The two are part of the original four babysitters, along with Kristy and Mary Anne. Over the years, Martin has introduced more characters as the series about a group of middle schoolers starting a babysitting business has grown. She has written more than 100 books. To celebrate the series' 40 years of defining childhoods, NPR sat down with Martin. See photos of what it's like inside her world, and read about how much life has changed since the series began.
A poster calling on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to get out of the community hangs on a door in the Little Village neighborhood on January 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
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