Weekend Edition Saturday

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 a the new mask guidelines issued by U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breaking down what it means for fully-vaccinated people to go maskless — for the most part.

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.

David Miliband discusses his work on a report presented by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response to the World Health Organization.

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.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with the president of the Indian American Medical Association of Illinois, Dr. Suneela Harsoor, about physicians aiding India's COVID-19 crisis.

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

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.

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.

Canada's coronavirus vaccination rates lag far behind that of the U.S., largely due to supply shortages. But some American border communities are sharing their supplies with their Canadian neighbors.

Ryan Stills, personal trainer at Odd Barbell gym in Portland, Oregon talks about what it's been like owning a gym during the pandemic, and what he's doing to help clients get back in shape.

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.