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A pastor of a prominent underground church who was detained in China in October has been released, less than two months after U.S. President Donald Trump brought up his case when meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

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President Trump ushered in America's 250th anniversary with a darkly political speech that swerved from the typically apolitical, unifying speeches past presidents have given to mark Independence Day.

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Organizers called off the Independence Day Parade late Friday, citing an extreme heat warning with temperatures expected to reach up to 115 degrees. The evening fireworks display remains scheduled.

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Spread by parasitic worms that can infect via a splash of water, schistosomiasis causes debilitating symptoms. It hits kids hard. A board game teaches how to prevent it.

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The shake-up is believed to be an effort to ensure the military's loyalty to the Communist Party and its leader, Xi Jinping.

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Poets like Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes have written movingly about America.

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As America turns 250, voters from our Swing Shift project talk about the state of the country. Their views ranged from "uncertain" and "concerned" to "excited" and "cautiously optimistic."

(Image credit: Illustrations by Tara Anand)

Cape Verde didn't win a match at the World Cup, and somehow, that didn't seem to matter. The African team's debut on this stage was unforgettable.

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Iran began a dayslong funeral Saturday for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, months after an airstrike killed him at the start of the war. He was 86.

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NPR member station reporters across the U.S. asked people how they are thinking about their country on its semiquincentennial.

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Superfans and sleuths appear to have their hunches confirmed on Friday, as dozens of black cars dropped off elegantly dressed guests outside of Madison Square Garden in New York City. The wedding bash is expected to last into Saturday morning.

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Despite efforts by U.S. negotiators, Iran says it wants to charge a toll for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. It's yet another unresolved issue of the U.S.-Iran war.

Primm, Nev., a once-thriving casino town on the border with California, was on the verge of fading away for good. The family it was named for has stepped in and faces the challenge of reviving it.

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The country's theocracy hopes to see millions flood the streets of the capital beginning Saturday in scenes reminiscent to the burial of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989.

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July 4th events for America's milestone birthday are being threatened by a brutal heat wave. And, Russia has struck Ukraine's capital, killing several people in what it calls retaliatory attacks.

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The costs of having a baby in the U.S. can be hard to predict and budget for. We want to hear your stories and questions about how to navigate the system.

Former USAID administrator reflects on a year since USAID's shutdown and the new direction of US foreign aid.

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The Airbnb-style company Swimply said there have been about 275,000 private pool reservations so far this year.

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Colonial Americans were drinking coffee long before they dumped tea into Boston Harbor or fought a war for independence. The establishments that served it were already brewing revolutionary ideas.

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In a test of a new state law, doctors in Eugene went up against a national physician staffing firm seeking to replace them. Their success is getting attention across the U.S. as other states consider similar laws.

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