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‘She’s awesome’: How U.S. veterans helped Venezuela’s Machado escape

In a daring nighttime martime operation, U.S. veterans whisked Venezuela's María Corina Machado out of the country to claim her Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo

A momentous week as Syria celebrates lifting U.S. sanctions and a year without Assad

As they mark the first anniversary of toppling Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syrians also celebrate another coming milestone: the lifting of sanctions, which could help give the country a new start.

The Justice Department has now sued 18 states in an effort to access voter data

The Department of Justice has sued four more states as part of the Trump administration's far-reaching attempt to access sensitive voter data. The DOJ is also suing Fulton County in Georgia.

In photos: Flooding in Western Washington state forces thousands to evacuate

Record flooding in Washington state has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate after torrential rains this week.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sweeps The Game Awards — analysis and full winners list

Independent video game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 swept the Game Awards last night. The L.A. ceremony draws millions of views for its industry honors and exclusive previews of upcoming games.

There’s a ‘Dead Man’ in church in this snarky ‘Knives Out’ mystery

A firebrand fundamentalist is stabbed to death at church in Rian Johnson's new film, Wake Up Dead Man. This over-the-top whodunit uses mystery conventions to open up a spiritual inquiry.

Sean Shibe: Tiny Desk Concert

Guitarist Sean Shibe pushes his instrument to the limit in new music written for him by Thomas Adès, and softens the vibe with intimate pieces by Bach, Mompou and the eccentric street musician Moondog.

In photos: Flooding in Western Washington state forces thousands to evacuate

Record flooding in Washington state has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate after torrential rains this week.

If the holidays are stressing you out, remember: everything is optional

Managing a full December calendar can quickly take you from festive to frazzled. ⁠Psychotherapist Niro Feliciano shares advice on reducing stress and increasing joy this season.

Trial starts for a Wisconsin judge accused of obstructing ICE

Was Judge Hannah Dugan trying to obstruct a proceeding or trying to run her courtroom when ICE agents came to arrest an undocumented immigrant? A federal jury will decide

Germany’s train service is one of Europe’s worst. How did it get so bad?

You won't arrive on time and may not even get a seat. Your booking might get lost. Things have gotten so dire that a foreigner has been brought in to shake things up.

CNN has endured turmoil for years. With Warner Bros. sale, things will get bumpier

In the corporate battle over parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's fate remains up for grabs. President Trump wants a say in what happens next.

COMIC: A couple’s therapist says you can break these relationship rules

Is it a red flag if a couple has separate beds? What about separate bank accounts? Therapist Stephanie R. Yates-Anyabwile says ignoring relationship norms can actually make a partnership stronger.

Amputees often feel disconnected from their bionic hands. AI could bridge the gap

Sensors and artificial intelligence help a prosthetic hand act more like a natural one, new research shows.

Trump touts his peace deals – but many are already unraveling

President Trump has been racing to rack up peace deals — but keeping them intact is proving far more difficult.

Thailand’s Parliament is dissolved for new elections early next year

Thailand's Parliament was dissolved Friday for new elections early next year as the country engaged in deadly fighting with Cambodia.

For 50 years, Rockalina the turtle lived on a kitchen floor. Now she has a new friend

The Oreo-sized baby turtle represents a turning point in Rockalina's recovery: Spending time with her own kind.

U.S. military members fear personal legal blowback tied to boat strikes

Staff officers and at least one drone pilot have sought advice from outside groups over legal concerns about their own involvement — or potential involvement — in the strikes against suspected drug boats.

Trump struggles to find his economic messaging amid voter skepticism

Nearly a year into his second term, President Trump is facing growing skepticism as Americans feel persistent cost-of-living pressures despite his efforts to defend the strength of the economy.

Reddit challenges Australia’s world-first law banning children under 16 from social media

Global online forum Reddit files a court challenge to Australian law blocking children under 16 from holding accounts on the world's most popular social media platforms.

Trump is trying to preempt state AI laws via an executive order. It may not be legal

The executive order is the latest in a series of attempts by the Trump administration to hold back state-level AI rules. But many Republicans are also uncomfortable with the effort.

In a setback for Trump, Indiana lawmakers defeat redistricting plan

Indiana Republicans resisted the call by President Trump for redistricting. He and the state's Republican governor threatened to back primary challenges against senators who wouldn't get on board.

Head Start centers told to avoid ‘disability,’ ‘women’ and more in funding requests

New court documents reveal a list of nearly 200 words or phrases the Trump administration told Head Start programs it does not want to see in their funding requests.

Alabama commission approves licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries as program eyes 2026 start

Commission Chairman Rex Vaughn estimated the products will be available in the spring of 2026. The state’s medical marijuana program has been delayed by false starts and litigation over who should hold the licenses to sell and grow cannabis.

Forget flowers: These ancient plants attract pollinators by getting hot

While many modern plants use colorful flowers to attract pollinators, ancient palm-like plants called cycads lure them by heating up and glowing in the infrared.

Billion-dollar OpenAI deal allows users to make content with Disney characters

It's a whole new world for Mickey, Simba, Stitch and more as Disney brings hundreds of its characters to Sora, the short-form video platform from OpenAI, as part of a three-year licensing agreement.

The State Department reinstates an old font, in a typeface about-face

The State Department is swapping out Calibri for Times New Roman in all its official documents, reversing a Biden-era change that aimed to increase accessibility for readers with disabilities.

How Madison Cunningham went from heartbreak to writer’s block to ‘Ace’

On her latest album, the California singer-songwriter creates delicate but powerful songs about falling in and out of love.

U.S. and Japan flex military muscles in a show of force amid Tokyo’s feud with Beijing

This follows joint drills by Chinese and Russian strategic bombers and fighters on Tuesday that prompted Japan and South Korea to scramble planes to monitor them.

Farmers welcome Trump’s $12 billion aid package, say additional relief is needed

President Trump says he's sending $12 billion in aid to American farmers who are reeling from global trade disruptions. Those include inflation and Trump's tariffs that are making fertilizer and farm equipment more expensive, and the President's trade war with China which closed a huge market for American soybean exports. 

Was Michael Jordan NBA’s GOAT? Phil Jackson reflects on the ‘Masters of the Game’

Legendary NBA head coach Phil Jackson and sports writer Sam Smith talk about the stars who helped define the sport, including Jordan, Kobe, Shaq and "bad boy" Dennis Rodman.

These 10 terrific movies emerged from a tumultuous year for the film industry

Fresh Air film critic Justin Chang says most of his favorite films this year were made overseas, including his No. 1 pick, Sirāt.