World News

"Away with the bourgeois tree," reads the illustration, which was originally published in the newspaper "Worker of the Urals," in December 1930.

World News

Don't Call It A Christmas Tree: How Russia's 'Yolka' Survived The Revolution

2:56pm December 19, 2015

by Deena Prichep

When the Soviet Union rejected religion, it ditched Christmas, too — but kept the tree. Nowadays, many Russian Jews continue the yolka (New Year tree) tradition, though they've taken it to America.

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Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around a reef in the disputed Spratly Islands, in a still image from video taken by a U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft in May. China says a U.S. bomber got too close to one of the islands.

World News

U.S. Bomber's Flight A 'Serious Military Provocation,' China Says

12:28pm December 19, 2015

by Bill Chappell

Complaining that an American B-52 bomber flew near disputed islands in the South China Sea, China's defense ministry calls the flight "a serious military provocation" that caused an alert.

Fact Check: Did Obama Withdraw From Iraq Too Soon, Allowing ISIS To Grow?

10:52am December 19, 2015

by Alice Fordham

Republicans have hammered President Obama for underestimating ISIS and naively allowing it to grow by leaving Iraq. But the withdrawal is only one factor in the rise of the extremists.

Children light candles during an overnight vigil at a protest camp in Juarez, Mexico, outside the manufacturing plant for the American-owned printer company Lexmark.

World News

Mexican Border Workers Make A Push To Unionize

9:11am December 19, 2015

by Mónica Ortiz Uribe

Unions are virtually non-existent in the northern Mexico factories around Juarez. But now some 300 workers are trying to unionize to push for higher wages and other benefits.

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Carlos Aguilera recently discussed how he played the saxophone during surgery to remove a brain tumor at Regional Hospital of Malaga, in Andalusia, Spain.

Brain Surgery Serenade: Man Plays Saxophone During Tumor Removal

8:57am December 19, 2015

by Bill Chappell

Partially sedated, Spanish musician Carlos Aguilera played "Misty" and read sheet music to help neurosurgeoons preserve his talents.

World News

New U.S.-Russia Resolution Outlines ISIS Strategy

8:04am December 19, 2015

The U.N. Security Council approved a U.S.-Russia resolution outlining a strategy to defeat ISIS and end the conflict in Syria. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with former national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski.

World News

Why Are The New York Times' Tours Of Iran Controversial?

8:04am December 19, 2015

The New York Times is conducting cultural tours of Iran at the same time a Washington Post reporter has been imprisoned there for more than 500 days. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with NPR's David Folkenflik about the controversial program.

World News

New Libyan Peace Deal Could Ease Government Instability

8:04am December 19, 2015

Rival governments in Libya have signed a U.N. peace agreement. After years of unrest, there is now hope for a unified government. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Claudia Gazzini of the International Crisis Group.

World News

Why Does Vladimir Putin Walk With So Much Swagger?

8:04am December 19, 2015

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been under scrutiny recently, but not for the reasons you may suspect. As NPR's Scott Simon notes, this time it's for his unusual gait.

NPR played the latest version of Pandemic with four real-life epidemiologists.

This Holiday Season, Give The Gift Of World Disease

7:00am December 19, 2015

by Angus Chen

We played the latest version of Pandemic with four real-life epidemiologists. And it made them sweat!