Middle East

World News

Syrian Government Limits Humanitarian Aid To Qusair

8:18am June 16, 2013

The last remaining areas of the embattled Syrian town of Qusair fell to government forces and fighters from the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah over the weekend. The main concern now is what's happening to the civilians.

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Obama's Dilemma: Arming The Syrian Rebels

6:19pm June 15, 2013

The White House is taking its first tentative steps toward arming Syrian rebels. Host Jacki Lyden speaks with James Fallows, national correspondent with The Atlantic, about the U.S.' ongoing struggle to determine when is the right time to intercede. They also discuss moderate candidate Hasan Rowhani's victory in the Iranian presidential election.

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How U.S. Arms Will Reach Syrian Rebels

4:40pm June 15, 2013

This week the Obama administration announced it would send weapons to the Syrian rebels, because of credible evidence Syrian government forces had indeed used chemical weapons. Weekend Edition Saturday Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Deborah Amos about how Syrians are reacting to the news.

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Turkish Protesters Refuse To Leave Gezi Park

4:40pm June 15, 2013

by Peter Kenyon

The Turkish government has offered to avoid bulldozing the park, but protesters say other demands have not been met.

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Are The Protests In Turkey Really About A Park?

4:40pm June 15, 2013

Weekend Edition Saturday Host Scott Simon talks to award winning Turkish novelist Elif Shafak about the nature and deeper causes of the protests in Turkey, which erupted two weeks ago.

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Some Turkish Protesters Optimistic After Meeting With Leaders

6:12pm June 14, 2013

by Peter Kenyon

Protesters in Istanbul are mulling an offer from Prime Minister Erdogan that could bring an end to the unrest.

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Voters Cast Ballots In Iran's Presidential Election

6:56am June 14, 2013

It's Iran's first presidential election since the stunning vote in 2009. Back then, a surprisingly early declaration of victory for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparked a wave of protests, followed by years of government repression.

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U.S. To Provide Military Support To Opposition In Syria

6:52am June 14, 2013

by Michele Kelemen

The Obama administration has decided to send military aid to the rebels in Syria. The decision was announced after the administration said it had concluded, with high confidence, that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons on multiple occasions over the past few months.

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Chemical Weapons Use In Syria Crosses U.S. 'Red Line'

7:37pm June 13, 2013

U.S. and European intelligence has determined that the Syrian government has used Sarin chemical weapons on multiple occasions in its fight to suppress rebels. With this determination, the White House says aid for the rebels — perhaps in the form of heavy weapons — will be forthcoming.

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Death Toll In Syria Jumps To Nearly 93,000

6:35pm June 13, 2013

Death toll numbers in Syria have been revised higher after a report released by the Human Rights Data Analysis Group. Melissa Block talks to Megan Price, the group's director of research.

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