Chapter 1: What are the latest developments in the Iran protests?
Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dualisa Kautel. In Iran, the internet and phone lines are still cut as protests continue through a second week. Iran's attorney general is warning that anyone taking part in protests will be considered a, quote, enemy of God, a death penalty charge. NPR's Jackie Northam has the latest.
Today's protests were some of the largest since Iranians first turned out on the streets about two weeks ago. They chanted death to the dictator, meaning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and some mosques were set on fire. Human rights groups say Iranian security forces have killed dozens of civilians and detained hundreds more.
These protests come at a time when the regime is particularly vulnerable. The economy is crumbling and Iran's military was weakened after Israel attacked last summer. Many senior members of the security forces and intelligence agencies were also killed in those strikes.
Chapter 2: What events led to protests in Minneapolis over ICE actions?
President Trump has warned the US will hit hard if Iran kills protesters. Khamenei told Trump to concentrate on problems in the US instead. Jackie Northam, NPR News. Police in Minneapolis say at least 29 people were arrested last night while protesting the ICE killing of Renee Good. This follows a video that was released showing Good moments before she was fatally shot.
NPR's senior contributor Ron Elving says the facts seem clear depending on whose perspective you agree with. So millions have seen the video of Renee Good trying to get away from Officer Jonathan Ross, but the president said Good ran the officer over.
There is no tape that shows that, but there are angles that suggest she may have grazed him, and it is possible to imagine an officer under these circumstances believing he's about to be struck. Elving notes the federal government is refusing to include Minnesota officials in their investigation. Stocks gained ground this week despite a disappointing report on the job market.
Chapter 3: How did the job market perform in December 2025?
NPR's Scott Horsley reports 2025 was the worst year for hiring since the beginning of the pandemic. Investors mostly shrugged off the report from the Labor Department, showing U.S. employers added just 50,000 jobs in December. Job growth for all of last year was down more than 70 percent from 2024. The ouster of Venezuela's president gave a modest boost to oil company stocks.
Shares of Chevron, the only U.S. company operating in Venezuela, rose nearly 4 percent. Meanwhile, retail gasoline prices are lower now than they were a week ago. For the week, the S&P 500 index gained 1.6 percent, the Nasdaq climbed 1.9 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 2.3 percent. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
Chapter 4: What is the significance of South Africa's naval exercises with Russia and China?
Federal officials are saying that more than 15 million people have had the flu so far in what the CDC is describing as a moderately severe flu season. You're listening to NPR News from New York. South Africa is defending its right to host a week-long naval exercise involving China, Russia, and Iran, now underway in waters off the coast of Cape Town.
Its National Defense Force says the drills are to enforce the safety and stability of shipping routes in the maritime region, and not a joint operation of the informal trade and security bloc called BRICS. President Trump has been critical of BRICS nations, a group that has to some become a major political force.
Trump threatened them with additional 10% tariff earlier this year and called the BRIC policies anti-American. The National Football League playoffs get underway today with the first two of what will be six games over the next three days. Chuck Kornbach reports. First up in this weekend's wildcard round is the contest between the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers.
Chapter 5: What are the highlights of the NFL playoffs this weekend?
Then tonight, the 104-year-old rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers resumes at Soldier Field in Chicago. Despite the expected intensity of the game, it's only being broadcast over the air in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Green Bay. Elsewhere, viewers need a subscription to Amazon Prime Video or access to another online service that carries NFL games.
The pro football playoffs continue for two more weekends leading up to the Super Bowl on February 8th. For NPR News, I'm Chuck Quirmbach in Milwaukee. And Indiana is headed to its first national championship game after beating Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl. This is NPR News.