Middle East

Iranian security stand guard to protect Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran, Iran, while a group of demonstrators gathered to protest execution of a Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia late Saturday into early Sunday.

World News

Iranian Protesters Arrested At Saudi Embassy In Tehran

8:58pm January 02, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

Angry over the execution of Shiite cleric Sheik Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, protesters gathered at the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, reports Iran's semi-official news agency. Some entered the building.

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World News

Saudi Arabia Executes Dozens, Exacerbating Sectarian Tensions

5:55pm January 02, 2016

by Leila Fadel

The country executed 47 people today, including a prominent cleric for the minority Shia in the Kingdom. Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was a vocal critic of the Saudi monarchy and was arrested in 2012.

The Rise Of The Mega-Mosque In Turkey

5:08pm January 02, 2016

The country has been undergoing a building spree of massive places of worship, which not all the residents are thrilled about. Borzou Daragahi, who's been writing of the boom for Buzzfeed, explains.

Saudis carry a poster in May demanding freedom for jailed Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Nimr was executed on Saturday.

World News

Saudi Arabia's Killing Of Leading Shiite Cleric And 46 Others Sparks Outcry

2:43pm January 02, 2016

by L. Carol Ritchie

Saudi Arabia executed 47 people convicted of terrorism Saturday, including prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr, prompting condemnation throughout the Middle East.

World News

Asia Expert: Taliban's Resergence Threatens Afghanistan's Stability

11:22am January 02, 2016

Andrew Wilder, vice president of Asia programs at the United States Institute of Peace, speaks with NPR'S Scott Simon about why the war in Afghanistan intensified in 2015.

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Israeli officers evacuate the body of a Palestinian assailant from the site of a stabbing attack outside Jerusalem's Old City on Dec. 23. For more than three months, Jerusalem has seen near-daily Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

World News

Amid Attacks In Jerusalem, A New Fear: That Person Next To You On The Street

8:06am January 02, 2016

by Daniel Estrin

Three months into near-daily Palestinian attacks on Israelis, the mood in Jerusalem is grim. But many people are adjusting to the violence as a new normal.

World News

Saudi Arabia Executes 47, Including Prominent Cleric

7:54am January 02, 2016

Saudi Arabia has executed 47 people, including Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Iran had close ties to al-Nimr and condemned the execution, saying there will be consequences for Saudi Arabia.

One of the trendiest videos in India in 2015? This comedy sketch on Indian weddings.

You've Heard Of The Nae Nae. But What About Na Goore?

5:16am January 02, 2016

by Malaka Gharib

Viral videos come from every corner of the planet. Here's a look at some of the year's most popular YouTube videos from the developing world.

An Israeli policeman runs at the scene of a shooting incident in Tel Aviv, Israel on Friday.

World News

Gunman In Downtown Tel Aviv Kills 2 Israelis

10:29pm January 01, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Police say they are searching for the shooter who opened fire during a busy Friday afternoon.

World News

Hotel Fire Raises Concerns About Safety Of Dubai's Skyscrapers

4:28pm January 01, 2016

by Leila Fadel

A fire engulfed a 63-story hotel in Dubai just before the new year on Thursday, causing extensive damage but fortunately only minor injuries. It was the latest in a series of skyscraper fires in the emirate.