Thursday's decision by the high court upends 30 years of patent awards granted by the U.S. Patent Office. The ruling also has enormous implications for the future of personalized medicine.

The Obama administration has decided to send military aid to the rebels in Syria. The decision was announced after the administration said it had concluded, with high confidence, that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons on multiple occasions over the past few months.

The Nicaraguan congress has granted a Chinese tycoon the exclusive right to develop a multi-billion dollar rival to the Panama Canal. The bill grants the investor 50 years of control over the potential shipping route — pending a study of its viability.

The Black Forest Fire burning near Colorado Springs is now the state's most destructive fire ever. At least two people have been confirmed killed. That fire also has forced nearly 40,000 people to evacuate. It's consumed more than 300 homes since lightening first ignited it on Monday.

Some college students in Maine are getting to know the state's bear population. Undergraduates at Unity College are in the woods tranquilizing bears and collaring them so the state can better understand the animals. Jay Field of Maine Public Radio has the story.

Emergency manager Kevyn Orr will ask unions, retirees and banks to take big losses on debt the city just can't afford to pay. But Orr is walking a fine line trying to convince those parties to accept a bankruptcy-style settlement, without actually going to bankruptcy court — at least, not yet. Michigan Radio's Sarah Cwiek reports.

Iranians are voting for president Friday. It's the country's first presidential election since the stunning vote in 2009. Renee Montagne talks to Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep, who's in Tehran, as Iranians cast ballots to choose a new president.

Venezuelans do the oddest things to have normal lives in an abnormally crime-plagued country, like jog in groups of up to 300 to avoid muggers.

Linda Wertheimer and Renee Montagne have the Last Word in business.

Ralph Reed's Faith and Freedom Coalition kicked off its third annual conference Thursday in Washington D.C. The conclave's stated aim is to grow the conservative vote for next year's mid-term election. But as NPR's David Welna reports, it's also a forum for a constellation of conservative stars, some of them evening the White House.

A plan to build on a small park in Istanbul's downtown Taksim Square prompted an outpouring of opposition to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. That led to clashes between police and protesters that have killed at least five people and injured hundreds.

Thursday's decision by the high court upends 30 years of patent awards granted by the U.S. Patent Office. The ruling also has enormous implications for the future of personalized medicine.

The Obama administration has decided to provide more assistance to the Syrian opposition after officials became confident the Syrian regime was using chemical weapons against rebel forces. Linda Wertheimer talks to NPR's Deborah Amos for reaction to the U.S. decision to provide military aid to the rebels in Syria.

Renee Montagne has business news.

The Obama administration has decided to send military aid to the rebels in Syria. The decision was announced after the administration said it had concluded, with high confidence, that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons on multiple occasions over the past few months.

The Black Forest Fire burning near Colorado Springs is now the state's most destructive fire ever. At least two people have been confirmed killed. NPR's Kirk Siegler reports on the situation and firefighting efforts.

By this time next year, there will be roughly half as many U.S. troops in Afghanistan as there are today. And for U.S. strategy in the country to work, Afghan security forces will have to hold off the Taliban after the Americans leave. But it's unclear if the Afghans will all stand together.

"I understand that I'll probably end up paying a lot," one customer says. "But right now, I need the tires."

The electric car company Better Place failed to build the dream it had designed. Its bankruptcy left tech-watchers worried about the stain on the country, which is proud of its image as a startup hotbed. But there may be a savior in the wings.

Bobbie Hanvey is a prolific photojournalist and radio interviewer from Northern Ireland. His son Steafán is a musician, currently on tour in America. Father and son reflect on the Troubles, art, and their relationship in a video featuring their photos and music.