Weekend Edition Saturday

With new CDC guidelines saying those vaccinated against COVID-19 can ditch face masks except for certain situations, NPR's Scott Simon ponders how masks have become a symbol for this age.

French beekeepers say there's been an increase in beehive thefts, often with a large number being taken at once. The likely culprits are other beekeepers, says the French beekeeping union president.

Covid Inc. in Tempe, Ariz., has been selling audiovisual equipment for decades, but in the past year, some visitors stop by for an altogether different reason: They're looking for a COVID-19 test.

President Biden has offered few public comments on escalating violence between Israel and Hamas. The White House says it is focused on diplomacy behind the scenes.

A little boy and his Moshom — which means grandfather in Swampy Cree — travel north to visit the trapline where, many years ago, the grandfather grew up living off the land.

Israel toppled buildings in Gaza with aerial and artillery fire as Hamas fighters in Gaza continued to fire rockets at Israeli targets.

We take a look at Congressional response the conflict in Israel and Gaza as well as President Biden's ongoing quest to get Republican support for his $2 trillion infrastructure bill.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken's latest trip is focused on U.S. interests in the Arctic. He will also hold talks with his Russian counterpart during an Arctic Council meeting in Iceland.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have been holding talks in the Middle East. Both sides say there are many contentious points to address.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to ESPN's Howard Bryant talks about the start of the NHL playoffs, the significance of the WNBA's 25th anniversary and a COVID-19 outbreak among the New York Yankees.

Scott Simon speaks with director Timur Bekmambetov about Profile, a movie set on a computer screen that follows a journalist as she investigates ISIS online.

NPR's Scott Simon talks to writer Daniel James Brown about his new book, Facing The Mountain, which tells the story of Japanese American soldiers who fought for a country that rejected them.