World News

Oil Producing Nations Struggle To Cope With Falling Prices

by John Ydstie

U.S. consumers are enjoying extremely low gasoline prices, but the big drop in oil prices is causing hardship in nations that depend on oil production to fund their governments and social programs. NPR takes a look at which oil producing countries are hurt most and how they're coping.

CIA Director: ISIS Is 'Much Larger Than Al-Qaida Ever Was'

by Mary Louise Kelly

Terror leaders captured by the U.S. would likely be subject to the laws of the nations in which they were caught, CIA Director John Brennan told NPR in an exclusive interview. Brennan also warns that ISIS is a bigger danger than al-Qaida, and he says he is leaving the door open to staying on in a new presidential administration.

Is Venezuela's Collapsing Health System Ill-Equipped To Handle Zika?

by John Otis

The scale of the Zika virus outbreak in Venezuela is unclear. The government is reporting more than 5,000 cases with three related deaths. But independent Venezuelan physicians fear it could be as many as 400,000 infections. The outbreak is occurring in a country with a collapsing medical system, an economy in tatters and no funds to buy mosquito repellant, contraception or medicine.