Akita Prefecture has Japan's most aged population, lowest birthrate and fastest declining population. Rigid gender roles are prompting young women to leave rural areas like this for opportunities elsewhere.

Former N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a long list of accomplishments, many of them progressive. In the race for New York City mayor, that experience hasn't given him the boost he wanted.

Many voters told NPR they like that California's redistricting measure provides the Democratic-leaning state a rare opportunity to directly counteract President Trump and other Republicans.

In 2008, when banning same-sex marriage in California was put on the ballot, Kate Elsley's commute changed. Seeing signs supporting the ban became a reminder of what she might not be able to do.

Along Lebanon's border, Israel has continued demolitions and attacks despite a ceasefire in the country's war with Hezbollah last year.

Scientists say the return to "standard time" is good for our health. But the time change can be disruptive and we must also adjust to more winter darkness. Syncing our habits to our body clock helps.

President Trump and several others now high up in his second administration have been talking about using the National Guard to help with mass deportations — and possibly invoking the Insurrection Act — for years. Now, those plans might be playing out.

The mayor of the Uruapan municipality, in the western state of Michoacan, was gunned down Saturday night in front of dozens of people who had gathered for Day of the Dead festivities, authorities said.

President Trump's administration faces deadlines on Monday to tell two federal judges whether it will continue to fund SNAP, the nation's biggest food aid program, using contingency funds.

Israel says the remains of three hostages have been handed over from Gaza and will be examined by forensic experts as a month-old ceasefire holds.