NPR visits Qardaha, hometown of ousted Syrian President Assad
We visit the hometown of the ousted Syrian President, Bashir al-Assad. Qardaha lies in northwest Syria, considered the heartlands of the Alawite religious sect.
World News
Venezuela's Maduro to be sworn in for third term as protesters take to the streets
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro prepares to be sworn in for a third term despite accusations of stealing the last election. Thousands took to the streets to demand a return to democracy.
A baby is born at sea on an overcrowded migrant boat
a baby girl, born at sea on an overcrowded rubber dinghy, has been rescued with her mother.
Venezuelans prepare for a tense inauguration day
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Raul Stolk, the managing director of Caracas Chronicles, which covers Venezuelan politics. Friday will see President Maduro sworn in despite disputed results.
Lebanon chooses a new president after two years without one
Lebanon's parliament chose the head of the country's armed forces, Joseph Aoun, to be its next president, a post that's been vacant since October 2022.
Wildfires upend lives in Southern California. And, Jimmy Carter's state funeral
Wildfires drastically impact life in Southern California, destroying neighborhoods. Here's where things stand. And, what to expect from former President Jimmy Carter's state funeral today.
Imprisoned Belarus activist resurfaces after being incommunicado for over 700 days
He was last heard from in February 2023. Since then, authorities haven't released any information about his condition and barred his lawyer from visits.
What's next for Canada? 5 questions will help decide the future after Trudeau
"We're in a unique situation in Canadian politics," Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, tells NPR. Voters need to replace a lame-duck leader — and cope with threats from Trump.
Here's what's behind Russia cutting off its last gas line to Europe
A decades-long Russian-Ukrainian transit gas deal to Europe ended on Jan. 1. For now, the most acute effects are being felt in a region called Transnistria, on the eastern edge of Moldova.
Japanese crime leader pleads guilty to conspiring to sell nuclear materials to Iran
Prosecutors said samples of the alleged nuclear material was weapons-grade, meaning enough of it would be suitable for use in a nuclear weapon.