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The brutal regime of Bashar al Assad fell over the weekend with dizzying speed. Syrians within the country and around the world burst into celebration.

Now, the rebel group Hay'at Tahrir al Sham, or HTS has to govern. They are designated a terrorist organization by the US.

And some worry that HTS could slide into its own kind of autocratic regime.

That fear is not unfounded. Across the Middle East and North Africa, many revolutions have overthrown autocrats, only for those countries to descend back into chaos or a more oppressive rule.

The Syrian revolution began amid a wave of uprisings in the region that led to new, undemocratic regimes. Can Syria avoid a similar fate today?

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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

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The FBI and NYPD offered up to $60,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect. But cashing in on the reward is a complicated process.

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

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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.

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Why universities are advising international students to return before Inauguration Day. And, the last NPR news quiz of the year.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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In this week's StoryCorps, a father and son talk about sources of love in their lives.

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

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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FBI Director Christopher Wray announced yesterday that he will resign before President-elect Trump takes office. This comes after Trump announced he would appoint loyalist Kash Patel to lead the Bureau.

President-elect Trump's pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, held several national security positions in the first Trump administration. Since then, he's found money and attention as a pro-Trump influencer promoting conspiracy theories.

What can that tell us about his plans for the FBI?

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