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"Romeo and Juliette" movie director Franco Zeffirelli (from left), actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting are seen after the Parisian premiere of the film in Paris on Sept. 25, 1968.

"Romeo and Juliette" movie director Franco Zeffirelli (from left), actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting are seen after the Parisian premiere of the film in Paris on Sept. 25, 1968. Eustache Cardenas/AP hide caption

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Eustache Cardenas/AP

Obituaries

Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73

Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her in his adaptation of the Shakespeare tragedy. The film won two Oscars and Hussey won a Golden Globe for best new actress for her part as Juliet.
A tanker ship enters the Panama Canal on October 25, 2024. President-elect Donald Trump raised the idea that the U.S. should reclaim ownership of the canal.

A tanker ship enters the Panama Canal on October 25, 2024. President-elect Donald Trump raised the idea that the U.S. should reclaim ownership of the canal. Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Analysis

With Trump's Panama Canal talk, it feels like 1976 all over again

It's unclear how the issue of ownership of the Panama Canal became a talking point for President-elect Donald Trump this week, but the question has a long political history.
U.S. Reps. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., (left) and Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., pose for a portrait together at the NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 18, 2024.

U.S. Reps. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., (left) and Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., pose for a portrait together at the NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 18, 2024. Maansi Srivastava for NPR hide caption

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Maansi Srivastava for NPR

Politics

With Trump's return, these House Democrats look for influence outside of Washington

Two moderate House Democrats with national security backgrounds came to Congress in the first Trump era. Now they're running for governor, in races that could be a referendum on Trump's second term.

Two Demos who won national office in the first Trump era are focused on their states

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Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference at the Kremlin in Moscow, on Saturday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference at the Kremlin in Moscow, on Saturday. Sergei Ilyin/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP hide caption

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Sergei Ilyin/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Ukraine invasion — explained

Putin apologizes to Azerbaijani leader for 'tragic incident' involving crashed plane

The Kremlin said air defense systems were firing near Grozny due to a Ukrainian drone strike as the airliner attempted to land, but stopped short of saying it was shot down by Russian air defenses.
A close-up photo shows people holding fizzy water and a soda, cheersing with one another in front of a purple backdrop with bubbles.

A zero-proof cheers to an alcohol-free month. Make sure to give yourself "sober treats" along the way, says Casey Davidson, a sobriety coach. They're "nice things you do for yourself that give you something to look forward to."
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Photo Illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR

Life Kit's Guide to Dry January

Curious about Dry January? What to expect — and how it works

If your New Year's resolution is to give up drinking for the month of January, this expert guide can help you get to Day 31 alcohol-free.
Congressional freshmen of the 119th Congress pose on the steps of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Capitol Building on Nov. 15, 2024 in Washington, D.C.

Congressional freshmen of the 119th Congress pose on the steps of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Capitol Building on Nov. 15, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Politics

Congressional lawmakers almost got a pay bump this year. Then it crashed and burned

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill haven't had a pay increase since 2009, representing a 31% decline in their salary when adjusted for inflation.

No pay bump for Congress

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The FDA says that people who bought 24-count packages of organic pasture-raised eggs with UPC 9661910680 under the Kirkland Signature brand — and also bearing the Julian code 327 and a use-by date of Jan 5, 2025 — should bring the products back to Costco or discard them.

The FDA says that people who bought 24-count packages of organic pasture-raised eggs with UPC 9661910680 under the Kirkland Signature brand — and also bearing the Julian code 327 and a use-by date of Jan 5, 2025 — should bring the products back to Costco or discard them. Food and Drug Administration hide caption

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Food and Drug Administration

Health

Costco egg recall for salmonella receives FDA's most severe designation

The FDA has classified its recall of eggs sold under Costco's Kirkland brand as a Class I recall, a designation reserved for instances of the highest potential health risk — including death.
Michael Jeffries (right), former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, exits the federal courthouse after his arraignment on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges Oct. 25 in Central Islip, N.Y.

Michael Jeffries (right), former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, exits the federal courthouse after his arraignment on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges Oct. 25 in Central Islip, N.Y. Heather Khalifa/AP hide caption

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Heather Khalifa/AP

National

Claim of dementia could derail former Abercrombie CEO's sex trafficking case

Can his legal team's claims that he has late-onset Alzheimer's disease and dementia put a pause in the sex trafficking trial of former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries?

WATCH

Doechii: Tiny Desk Concert

Best of Tiny Desk 2024: "So many gems were dropped during this show, and it's truly a master class in creativity and musicality." —Ashley Pointer
Palestinians carry white sacks containing the bodies of those killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes on the Maghazi refugee camp, at Al-Aqsa Hospital, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Saturday.

Palestinians carry white sacks containing the bodies of those killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes on the Maghazi refugee camp, at Al-Aqsa Hospital, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Saturday. Abdel Kareem Hana/AP hide caption

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Abdel Kareem Hana/AP

Middle East crisis — explained

Israel detains a Gaza hospital director, Palestinian medical officials say

Gaza's Health Ministry said the head of Kamal Adwan Hospital was arrested along with dozens of other staff. Israel's military alleged Hamas militants were using the facility.
Clockwise from left: James Earl Jones, Michaela DePrince, Bob Newhart, Maggie Smith, Nikki Giovanni and Richard Simmons.

Clockwise from left: James Earl Jones, Michaela DePrince, Bob Newhart, Maggie Smith, Nikki Giovanni and Richard Simmons. Jesse Dittmar for The Washington Post/Getty Images; Ian Gavan/Getty Images; Gerald Smith/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP; Getty Images/Hulton Archive; American Broadcasting Companies/Getty Images hide caption

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Jesse Dittmar for The Washington Post/Getty Images; Ian Gavan/Getty Images; Gerald Smith/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP; Getty Images/Hulton Archive; American Broadcasting Companies/Getty Images

Culture

Remembering the actors, musicians, writers and artists we lost in 2024

Every year, we remember some of the writers, actors, musicians, filmmakers and performers who died over the past year, and whose lifetime of creative work helped shape our world.
Clockwise from top left: Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in Babygirl (A24); Ted McGinley in Shrinking (Apple TV+); Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada in Shogun (FX); James McAvoy in Speak No Evil (Susie Allnutt/Universal Studios); Tyler James Williams and Quinta Brunson in Abbott Elementary (Gilles Mingasson/Disney); Aaron Pierre in Rebel Ridge (Allyson Rigg/Netflix).

Clockwise from top left: Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in Babygirl (A24); Ted McGinley in Shrinking (Apple TV+); Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada in Shogun (FX); James McAvoy in Speak No Evil (Susie Allnutt/Universal Studios); Tyler James Williams and Quinta Brunson in Abbott Elementary (Gilles Mingasson/Disney); Aaron Pierre in Rebel Ridge (Allyson Rigg/Netflix). hide caption

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

50 wonderful things from 2024

Pop culture critic Linda Holmes has been making this annual list since 2010. Big, small, inspirational, silly — what these items have in common is that they are all wonderful and brought her joy.

50 wonderful things from 2024

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