Middle East

World News

Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu declares war after surprise attack by Gaza militants

8:07am October 07, 2023

Gaza militants have infiltrated Israel in several locations, while militants inside Gaza fired a heavy barrage of rockets toward central and southern Israel, the Israeli military says.

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World News

Israel ramps up military response to attack by Gaza militants

8:02am October 07, 2023

by Scott Simon

We'll have the latest on the attack by Gaza militants on Israel, as well as the Israeli military's response.

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World News

Countries are treading cautiously around escalation in the Israel-Palestine conflict

7:58am October 07, 2023

We look at the regional response to the latest conflict in Israel after Gaza militants launched an attack on southern and central Israel today.

Syrian author Khaled Khalifa, a titan of contemporary Arabic literature, dies at 59

4:22pm October 06, 2023

Celebrated Syrian novelist Khaled Khalifa died at age 59 in Damascus. An important figure in contemporary Arabic literature, he was known for his outspoken nature and proclivity to critique power.

Narges Mohammadi seen at her home in Tehran in 2001. Mohammadi, now imprisoned, was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to ensure women's rights in Iran.

World News

Jailed Iranian women's rights activist wins 2023 Nobel Peace Prize

8:17am October 06, 2023

by Fatima Al-Kassab

Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi, who remains in prison in Iran, is this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

In this file photo, a U.S. military vehicle patrols near the northeastern Syrian town of Qamishli in December 2022. The U.S. said it shot down an armed Turkish drone in the region on Thursday when it came close to U.S. forces.

U.S. shoots down armed drone flown by NATO ally Turkey

6:29pm October 05, 2023

by Tom Bowman

An American F-16 shot down an armed Turkish drone in northeast Syria. Officials said it was the first time the U.S. shot down an aircraft from Turkey, a NATO ally.

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. Five years on, there has been little accountability — and human rights groups say that has implications for free expression around the world.

5 years after Khashoggi's murder, advocates say the lack of justice is dangerous

1:51pm October 02, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in October 2018. Those involved in his killing have largely avoided consequences, and Saudi Arabia continues to crack down on its dissidents.

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Politics & Government

Israel and Saudi Arabia have hinted they may be open to establishing formal relations

7:20am September 29, 2023

NPR's Sarah McCammon talks to Congressmen Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) about the U.S. role in fostering a relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

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Migrants in Lampedusa's Porto Vecchio wait to be transferred by ferry to Porto Empedocle, from where they will be sent to reception centers across the country, Sept. 22. Most of them arrived in the previous week, a period when Lampedusa declared a state of emergency due to an influx of about 7,000 migrants in a few days.

World News

On Lampedusa, there's sympathy for migrants — as long as they don't stay

11:24am September 28, 2023

by Ruth Sherlock

Some 12,000 migrants — more than twice the population of this island — arrived in a single week this month. Islanders showed compassion, but prefer that any newcomers leave as quickly as possible.

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Passengers at the check-in desks in the departures hall at Ben Gurion International airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Nov. 30, 2021.

World News

U.S. allows Israelis visa-free entry as Israel opens travel to Palestinian Americans

1:09pm September 27, 2023

by Daniel Estrin

The decision is part of a deal that requires Israel to end bans and restrictions on Palestinian Americans and other Arab Americans traveling to Israel.

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