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American citizen Travis Timmerman is now with U.S. forces after being found in Syria

Travis Timmerman, a U.S. citizen found wandering barefoot in Damascus after being freed from a Syrian prison following the fall of the Assad regime, was handed over to U.S. forces in Syria on Friday.

The Best of 2024: Our favorite movies, TV, books, music and games, all in one place

Your one-stop guide to the year in arts and culture, from binge-worthy shows to hundreds of books recommended by NPR staff and a playlist of the 124 best songs of 2024.

Paula Abdul settles suit alleging sexual assault by ‘Idol’ producer Nigel Lythgoe

Paula Abdul and former American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe have agreed to settle a lawsuit in which she alleged he sexually assaulted her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the show.

Texas challenges shield laws by suing New York doctor who prescribed abortion pills

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the lawsuit against a New York doctor who prescribed abortion pills for a client near Dallas, pitting an abortion ban against laws that protect physicians.

McKinsey & Company to pay $650 million for role in opioid crisis

The powerful consulting firm McKinsey will "accept responsibility" and pay $650 million for helping to fuel the opioid crisis, but executives will once again dodge prosecution.

What’s your surprise holiday recipe or ingredient? Here’s your chance to tell NPR

Tell us what your favorite unexpected recipes and ingredients are when cooking during the holidays.

Supreme Court to hear challenge to California’s authority to set vehicle emissions standards

Ohio and 16 other Republican-dominated states have sued, asserting that a waiver granted to California to set its own rules violates the basic design of the U.S. Constitution, which they assert should treat states as equals.

Jubilant Syrians gather for Friday prayers for the 1st time since Assad’s ouster

In Damascus, people stood shoulder to shoulder at one of Syria's holiest sites, the Umayyad Mosque, in the first Friday prayers since Bashar al-Assad was overthrown less than a week ago.

Tech moguls Altman, Bezos and Zuckerberg donate to Trump’s inauguration fund

The donations are seen as the latest example of tech moguls' changing stance toward the incoming president. During his first administration, Trump clashed with Bezos and Zuckerberg.

How to prevent drowning: a ground-breaking report that’s startling yet hopeful

The World Health Organization gathered data from 139 countries for its first-ever report on how to prevent drowning.

In the movies, villainous health insurers have been a chronic condition

For better or — mostly — worse, Hollywood has helped shape the public's image of the health insurance industry in films ranging from John Grisham's The Rainmaker to the Oscar-winning As Good as It Gets.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi injured during trip abroad

A spokesperson said Pelosi was "admitted to the hospital for evaluation."

What Syria means for Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild Lebanon

With a ceasefire in place, Hezbollah wants to rebuild Lebanon. But its supply chains across Syria have been weakened by Israeli airstrikes, rebel fighting and the ouster of its ally Bashar al-Assad.

Remembering Gip’s Place and the Bessemer bluesman who started it all

The unassuming juke joint operated in the backyard of longtime Bessemer resident Henry “Gip” Gipson. Gipson died five years ago this fall.

People in colder countries understand the magic of winter. What’s their secret?

Researcher Kari Leibowitz traveled to places with some of the harshest winters on Earth to understand how people thrive in the cold and dark. Her findings may inspire you to find comfort and joy in the season.

‘Nickel Boys’ establishes a new way of seeing Black characters on screen

RaMell Ross' adaptation of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is an ambitious, immersive experience.

For kids with rare genetic disorders, customized CRISPR treatments offer hope

The gene-editing technique is effective for treating some illnesses but it's been too expensive to consider it for rare conditions. A new approach in the works could make it more widely available.

Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with widespread aerial strikes

Russia launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine on Friday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described it as one of the heaviest bombardments of the country's energy sector since Russia's full-scale invasion.

How much do you remember about 2024? What does 2025 hold? Find out in the quiz

Who or what died? Who or what broke up? Why so many bears? And what color IS "brat green," anyway? Test yourself in this year's final news quiz.

Here are the deadlines for mailing your holiday gifts to ensure they arrive on time

Mail carriers and shipping companies will be closed on Christmas Day.

How D.C. tackled a child care crunch through a tax hike on the rich

In Washington, D.C., a tax on residents earning more than $250,000 a year is boosting the wages of child care workers. Two years in, it's proving to be a great investment.

1972 Munich Olympics thriller shows nail-biting decisions in ABC Sports control room

Director Tim Fehlbaum's new film September 5 is centered on how the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre changed the way media outlets cover major global stories, especially those involving acts of terror.

Stanley recalls about 2.6 million travel mugs

The company behind the uber-viral water bottles is recommending customers affected by the recall reach out for a replacement part.

The 2024 Game Awards recap: All winners and most surprising reveals

Astro Bot, Balatro, and Metaphor Re: Fantazio claimed the most trophies at The Game Awards in a night dominated by sweeps, surprising reveals and fourth-wall breaks.

At 18, India’s Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest world chess champion ever

Dommaraju unseated China's Ding Liren to become the new world chess champion. "Every chess player wants to experience this moment, and very few get the chance," Dommaraju said after the match.

Americans are furious over health care. Is this an Occupy Wall Street moment?

The public outrage unleashed by the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO echoes the anti-banking fury after the financial crisis and comes as populist economic fatigue helped re-elect Donald Trump.

Trump invites China’s Xi to next month’s inauguration

President-elect Donald Trump is breaking with precedent in inviting a foreign head of state to his inauguration.

Remembering Dominique Brown, co-founder of Black Girl Disney

Disney influencer Dominique Brown, co-founder of Black Girl Disney, died last week after experiencing a medical emergency at an event in Los Angeles hosted by BoxLunch.

FBI missed ‘basic step’ in its intelligence efforts ahead of Jan. 6 Capitol riot

The long-awaited report from DOJ Inspector General office comes nearly four years after a crowd of Donald Trump's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to try to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden's election win.

This drug is the ‘breakthrough of the year’ — and it could mean the end of the HIV epidemic

That's the title that Science magazine is bestowing upon the medication called lenacapavir — a twice yearly injectable that prevents infection by the HIV virus.

‘Does This Taste Funny?’ is a Colbert family cookbook

What do cooking and a nightly TV show have in common? Both require "a little care, a little love and a little imagination," says Stephen Colbert. He and his wife Evie Colbert have written a cookbook.

Trump says Kari Lake will lead Voice of America. He attacked it during his first term

If successful, Trump's move would install a loyalist at the helm of the network. A U.S. judge found Trump appointees illegally violated Voice of America's journalistic independence in his first term.