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As security threats mount in the Asia-Pacific, the hard-won defense alliance between Japan and South Korea is the linchpin to regional safety. Now, political upheaval in Seoul threatens to test the partnership’s resilience.

The fall of Bashar al-Assad has created challenges and opportunities for the United States in Syria. But the dissonance between the current and future U.S. administrations is confusing major players in the Middle East.

As President-elect Donald Trump decries his foes, the Biden administration considers preemptive pardons for those who have provoked Republican ire.

An art festival in Senegal coaxes a youthful continent toward a future no longer defined by a painful past.

Rural students enroll in and complete college at lower rates than their urban and suburban peers. What are colleges and universities doing to get more of them to apply?

The size and scale of a recent Chinese military deployment is “unheard of,” says a diplomat in the region. Beijing, which views Taiwan as its own territory, says it is defending its sovereignty.

Wildfires are threatening Southern California again, this time near Malibu. One college in the Santa Monica Mountains lay directly in the path of the Franklin Fire, but extensive safety plans have saved buildings from burning down and students from getting hurt.

In a victory for Alex Jones amid his bankruptcy case, a federal judge prevented The Onion from purchasing Infowars, Mr. Jones’ radio show, calling the bidding process flawed. The Onion had planned to relaunch Infowars in January as a parody.

Christian teachings are increasingly finding their way into public education, raising the question: should the government be employed to stop the decline of religious belief in America?

Northern Israel offered residents a relaxed refuge away from the country’s crowded center. Now a ceasefire with Hezbollah, bolstered by the fall of Syria’s government, offers northerners displaced by war hope that they can return home.

As of Dec. 10, Boston has reported just 22 homicides – a little over half of the 40 it had just two years ago.

As political prisoners are freed and low-level soldiers forgiven, the new leaders have started a long process of reconciliation, driven by a balance between justice and mercy.

The fall of Bashar al-Assad has opened the playing field for a stronger U.S. hand in shaping what’s to come.

Some say violence is valid political speech. But the investigation of a CEO’s killing – with a citizen-led capture – sparked a different response.

In our progress roundup, an underwater mountain in the Southern Pacific yields new species and South Africa researchers grow fungi to fight river pollution.

A champion of the Black Power movement, Nikki Giovanni, who passed away Dec. 9, was a writer, poet, and educator. “To love her is to love contradiction and conflict. To know her is to never understand but to be sure that all is life,” wrote author Barbara Crosby.

President Javier Milei’s first year saw a sharp decrease in inflation and a stronger peso as he implemented sweeping government cuts. Even as unemployment and poverty have surged, his approval rating still hovers around 50%.

In an effort to solidify Fox News’ conservative leaning, Rupert Murdoch tried to entrust the entirety of his media empire to his son, Lachlan. A judge rejected his attempt, saying that the pair had acted in “bad faith.” All four of his children are currently heirs.

After decades of repression, the pace of political change in Syria over the weekend was stunning. But resetting the country’s institutions and reassuring the public will be painstakingly slow.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has reportedly arrived in Moscow with his family, granted asylum by Russia after rebel advances. Russian state media says Assad fled Syria following negotiations with rebels, sparking celebrations nationwide.

The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has sparked a wave of frustration over the insurance industry. Patients are sharing personal stories, with many hoping the amplified voices lead to change in an industry often criticized for prioritizing profits over people.

In South Africa, where unemployment exceeds 32%, deaf individuals face greater challenges. A deaf entrepreneur left her job to launch a program training the deaf in agriculture, offering skills development and sustainable livelihoods.

Syrian insurgents advance near Damascus as the army retreats, seizing key areas. sparking rumors of Assad's flight. Rumors of President Bashar Assad fleeing the country circulate amid largest opposition gains in years.

Most lawmakers in President Yoon's ruling party boycotted a vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. With growing protests, polls show most South Koreans support his removal.