Middle East

World News

Reporter: Syrians Put Faith In Russians To Help End Conflict

8:18pm October 09, 2015

NPR's Kelly McEvers talks to journalist Thanassis Cambanis, who visited regime-held areas where Syrians are hopeful Russian airstrikes will help bring a swift end to the conflict.

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Tunisia's National Dialogue Quartet Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

5:09pm October 09, 2015

by Eleanor Beardsley

Leaders of Tunisia's political factions win the Nobel peace prize for guiding the country through a political transition that's been a lot more peaceful than transitions in neighboring countries.

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December 2013: A Tunisian boy waves a flag as he runs at a rally in Tunis, marking the third anniversary of Tunisia's revolution. A prominent member of the group that's credited with averting civil war in the country says the group acted "to give hope to

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How Tunisia's 'Quartet' Saved A Country From Civil War And Won The Nobel Peace Prize

4:01pm October 09, 2015

by Bill Chappell

Before the Quartet was formed, Tunisia seemed doomed to walk the same path of violence, retributions and political chaos that had wreaked havoc in Egypt.

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Fighters from the Islamic State group parade in Raqqa, northern Syria. The U.S. is considering arming Arab and Kurdish fighters who are poised to attack the Islamic State stronghold.

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U.S. Shelves Program Intended To Train Syrian Rebels

1:37pm October 09, 2015

by Eyder Peralta

The U.S. will shift the focus to training so-called "enablers" in Turkey. Those leaders of opposition groups will gather intelligence and coordinate airstrikes with existing fighters.

Tunisia's National Dialogue Quartet, seen here at a news conference in 2013, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for its contribution to building democracy after the Jasmine Revolution in 2011.

World News

'We Did It Together,' Says Tunisian Co-Winner Of 2015 Nobel Peace Prize

8:55am October 09, 2015

by Bill Chappell

The National Dialogue Quartet stepped in during the violent summer of 2013, when Tunisia was sliding toward a civil war in the wake of its 2011 Jasmine Revolution.

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French Ad Campaign Aims To Keep Youths From Fighting In Syria

7:57am October 09, 2015

by Eleanor Beardsley

The French government has launched an ad campaign to dissuade young people from going to Syria to join ISIS militants. The TV spots draw on parents' pain at the loss of their children to jihad.

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A U.S. Negotiator Says There's Still Pending Business With Iran

7:57am October 09, 2015

Wendy Sherman, the lead U.S. negotiator in the Iran nuclear talks, tells NPR the U.S. still has plenty of other issues to settle with Iran, such as the release of Americans being held in that country.

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As Russia's Cruise Missiles Strike At Targets In Syria, NATO Stands With Turkey

8:53am October 08, 2015

by Bill Chappell

In his speech kicking off the NATO meeting, Stoltenberg also said the alliance will establish two "small headquarters" in Hungary and Slovakia.

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Russian Air Campaign Triggers New Wave Of Displaced Syrians

8:15am October 08, 2015

by Alison Meuse

With Russian air support, forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad have launched ground attacks into rebel-held areas. There's more displacement from residential areas that have been hit.

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'Travel Agents Of Death' Earn Billions Off Migrants, Organization Says

8:15am October 08, 2015

European navy ships can now stop and search some vessels suspected of being used to smuggle human cargo. William Lacy Swing of the International Organization for Migration talks to Renee Montagne.

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