Middle East

World News

Religious Tensions Escalate In Egypt Amid Violence

10:09am April 08, 2013

Egypt suffered the worst religious violence over the weekend that it has seen since President Morsi came to power last year. Egyptians are already struggling with an economic crisis and political instability. Now, religious tensions appear to be boiling over.

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Op-Ed: The Iraq War's Lessons For Syria

8:23am April 07, 2013

Washington Post deputy editorial page editor Jackson Diehl says that the Iraq War taught him a lot about how we should deal with the civil war in Syria. In an op-ed he argues that without U.S. intervention, Syria could produce "a much worse humanitarian disaster" than Iraq.

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Talks Over Iran's Nuclear Program Resume In Kazakhstan

7:30am April 05, 2013

Iranian envoys are to meet over the next two days with diplomats from the U.S., Russia, Britain, France, China and Germany. No one is expecting a breakthrough though in the long-running confrontation over Tehran's nuclear enrichment program.

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Egyptian protesters hold bread along with fliers reading "Danger, no to loans that lead to poverty" during a rally Wednesday in Cairo. An International Monetary Fund delegation is in Cairo for talks on a loan needed to lift Egypt's economy out of crisis.

World News

As Egypt Negotiates IMF Loan, Food And Fuel Prices Soar

2:30pm April 04, 2013

by Leila Fadel

Cairo is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for a $4.8 billion loan to help pull Egypt out of its deep economic crisis. The government subsidizes wheat and fuel but is running out of money to purchase these crucial imports, and Egyptians are feeling the pinch.

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Risks Increase For Humanitarian Aid Workers In Syria

6:29am April 04, 2013

David Greene talks to Muhannad Hadi, the World Food Program's regional emergency coordinator for Syria, about the growing humanitarian crisis in Syria. The civil war there has entered its third year, and last month was its deadliest.

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Syrian refugees are pictured at Kilis refugee camp in Gaziantep, Turkey, on Nov. 1. An estimated 150,000 Syrians are reported to be living in the Turkish border town.

World News

Syrian Financial Capital's Loss Is Turkey's Gain

10:20pm March 29, 2013

by Deborah Amos

Aleppo was once the financial heart of Syria. But as the country's revolt grinds on, many of the city's most innovative businessmen have moved to the Turkish border town of Gaziantep. An estimated 150,000 Syrians are there — some of whom are putting down roots — raising questions about Aleppo's future.

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World News

The Fear That Drives Russia's Support For Syria's Assad

2:11pm March 27, 2013

Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently supported President Bashar Assad through Syria's violent crisis. Fiona Hill, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, argues that Putin's support is linked to Russia's own history.

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World News

President Obama Makes First Official Trip To Israel

9:30am March 27, 2013

President Obama's past relations with Israel's government have not always gone well. The two nations insist they've reached new levels of security cooperation. They have publicly debated issues ranging from Iran to the Mideast peace process.

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Amid Syria's Crisis, Mental Health Care For Refugees

11:03am March 26, 2013

There are now more than one million Syrians seeking refuge in camps and towns in neighboring Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. Many arrive without access to basic amenities, such as adequate shelter and clean water. Over two years of conflict has also left them with the mental scars of war.

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Obama Leaves Middle East With Mixed Reviews

9:26am March 24, 2013

by Scott Horsley

President Obama heads home from the Middle East Saturday, after a mixed reception to his four-day visit. Obama spent much of that time in Israel, trying to lay the groundwork to revive the long-stalled peace process with the Palestinians. He also traveled to the West Bank and met with Jordan's King Abdullah. NPR's Scott Horsley has a recap from Amman, Jordan.

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