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Over the past three decades, the U.N. says Afghanistan's forest cover has decreased by about 50 percent — to just about 2 percent of the country's land. The main reason is the illegal harvesting and trade of timber. A visit to Kunar province, near the Pakistan border, reveals that many people, from top officials down, are involved.

Julie Zetlin is the United States' top-ranked rhythmic gymnast; she has already qualified to compete in London. And while she wants a medal from the Summer Olympics, she also wants Americans to take her sport seriously.

The descriptions of the White House lunch meeting from those on the opposing red and blue teams made it sound like yet another meeting featuring the nation's top policymakers that you could have accurately scripted beforehand.

As congressional leaders negotiate, other lawmakers are demanding more details. Plus, Democrats are objecting to a push by some Senate Republicans to limit emergency lending rules.

Scott Simon speaks to Elizabeth Neumann, formerly a top counterterrorism official at the Department of Homeland Security, about the militia plot to kidnap the governor or Michigan.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis had claimed to be a national leader in handling clergy sex abuse cases. But after a whistle-blower revealed evidence of a cover-up, alleged victims are preparing lawsuits, and some parishioners are calling for the archbishop to resign.

The economy added 312,000 jobs in December — topping analysts' expectations of 180,000 jobs added. Unemployment climbed as more people felt confident enough to quit their jobs and look for new ones

Forbes in Israel has published a first-of-its-kind ranking of the country's richest rabbis. The estimated wealth of the top-ranked rabbi? $335 million. Some self-styled Jewish mystics attract wealthy, high-profile followers who donate huge sums in exchange for blessings and advice.

Stock prices are lower and energy prices are higher, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. stock market opened sharply lower, while crude oil prices topped $100 a barrel.

President Biden will cut short his trip to Asia in order to keep negotiating with top congressional leaders over the debt limit — with a possible default as little as 15 days away.