World News and International Headlines : NPR

'Egypt's Jon Stewart' Questioned For Five Hours

Television satirist Bassem Youssef waves to supporters as he enters Egypt's state prosecutors office to face accusations of insulting Islam and the country's Islamist leader in Cairo on Sunday. Amr Nabil/AP hide caption

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Amr Nabil/AP

The Two-Way

'Egypt's Jon Stewart' Questioned For Five Hours

March 31, 2013 • Bassem Youssef lampoons Egypt's public figures on TV. He's accused of insulting Islam and President Mohammed Morsi, and his interrogation is prompting fears for free speech in the transitioning country.

Middle East

Syrian Rebels' Gains Could Be Due To Influx Of Weapons

March 31, 2013 • In Syria this week, rebels fighting to bring down President Bashar Assad have taken a key town in the country's south. And in Syria's capital, Damascus, a mortar attack killed at least 10 students when an outdoor cafe was attacked. Host Rachel Martin talks with NPR's Kelly McEvers about the continuing conflict.

Pope's First Easter Mass Sends Messages Of Peace

Pope Francis celebrates the Easter mass on Sunday at the Vatican. AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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AFP/Getty Images

Europe

Pope's First Easter Mass Sends Messages Of Peace

March 31, 2013 • Pope Francis called for peace before a crowd of tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square on Sunday. He called for reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula, an end to the conflicts in Syria and between Israelis and Palestinians.

Sports

Pakistani Squash Player Now Free To Play Sport She Loves

March 30, 2013 • Pakistan's top female squash player used to disguise herself as a boy, to avoid possible Taliban retribution. When her secret was revealed, she faced a terrible choice. Host Scott Simon talks with Maria Toorpakai and her coach, former squash world champion Jonathon Power.

Europe

Cypriots' New World Marred With Uncertainty

March 30, 2013 • The eurozone bailed out Cyprus, but the years ahead will bring poverty, job losses and fewer opportunities. Host Scott Simon talks with Joanna Kakissis about the mood in Cyprus now.

Europe

German Anti-Euro Group Has Big-Name Backers

March 30, 2013 • In Germany, a new political party has cropped up with one sole aim: doing away with the euro. Unlike past anti-euro parties in Europe, this one is no fringe group. NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson reports they are banking on German frustration over bailouts of eurozone countries to propel them into office in national elections this fall.

Asia

'Think Again' About U.S. Impact On N. Korean Economy

March 30, 2013 • For years, U.S. policy toward North Korea has been going on the premise that economic sanctions could deter North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. Host Scott Simon talks with David Kang, professor of international relations and business at the University of Southern California, about the state of the North Korean economy.

In India, Discrimination Against Women Can Start In The Womb

Dr. Nayna Patel performs an ultrasound exam on Rinku Macwan, at a hospital near Ahmedabad, India. It's illegal in India for doctors to reveal a baby's sex during these exams, but many do it anyway. Sam Panthaky/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Sam Panthaky/AFP/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

In India, Discrimination Against Women Can Start In The Womb

March 29, 2013 • Indian mothers are more likely to get more prenatal care when they're having a boy, health economists say. These small decisions about iron supplements and tetanus shots can have a profound effect on a girl's life, the researchers argue.

Western Money, African Boots: A Formula For Africa's Conflicts

Ugandan soldiers serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia prepare to advance on the central Somali town of Buur-Hakba. Stuart Price/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Stuart Price/AFP/Getty Images

Africa

Western Money, African Boots: A Formula For Africa's Conflicts

March 29, 2013 • This model was hailed as a success in Somalia and is now being marshaled to fight rebels in the eastern Congo. It involves Western nations providing financial support to African troops who do the peacekeeping. But why are African countries so silent about their casualty figures?

Asia

Is North Korea's Warmongering Rhetoric-As-Usual Or Something To Worry About?

March 29, 2013 • Robert Seigel talks to Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic and International Studies about recent threats from North Korea on the United States and South Korea.

In Court, Former Pakistani President Faces A Flying Shoe

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf (center) arrives in court in Karachi on Friday. An angry lawyer threw a shoe at Musharraf, who was not hit. He faces legal charges following his return to the country after four years in self-imposed exile, police said. Fareed Khan/AP hide caption

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Fareed Khan/AP

The Two-Way

In Court, Former Pakistani President Faces A Flying Shoe

March 29, 2013 • Pervez Musharraf angered Pakistan's legal community for actions he took against the judiciary when he ran the country. He received a rude greeting at his first court appearance.

Middle East

Refugees Creating 'Instant Cities' Across Syrian Borders

March 29, 2013 • Guest host Celeste Headlee speaks with Al-Jazeera's Abderrahim Foukara and NPR's Deb Amos about the worsening refugee crisis in countries bordering Syria. Rioting at refugee camps and rumors of deportations are putting the spotlight on Jordan and Turkey's ability to manage the refugee influx.

The Two-Way

Russia Calls On U.S., North Korea To Step Back From The Brink

March 29, 2013 • Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's remarks follow a week of tense rhetoric and tit-for-tat military moves between the two sides.

Cyprus' Crisis Frames Eurozone As 'Work In Progress'

Banks in Cyprus reopened to customers for the first time in nearly two weeks Thursday, albeit with strict restrictions. Petros Giannakouris/AP hide caption

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Petros Giannakouris/AP

Economy

Cyprus' Crisis Frames Eurozone As 'Work In Progress'

March 29, 2013 • New restrictions on big depositors are controversial, and there's no consensus on the efficacy of the country's strategy. Besides affecting Cyprus' economy, the new measures could become a template for other eurozone countries. Selective restrictions might create a tiered system within the bloc.

Versailles Gets Spiffed-Up On Its Day Off

Restorer Nicoletta Rinaldi works on the ceiling of the Hall of Mirrors at the Versailles Palace, west of Paris, in 2007. Remy de la Mauviniere/AP hide caption

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Remy de la Mauviniere/AP

Europe

Versailles Gets Spiffed-Up On Its Day Off

March 29, 2013 • Nearly 7 million people visit the Chateau at Versailles a year. But one day a week, it's closed. That's a spa day of sorts, when conservation work and cleaning takes place at the Grande Dame of France royal residences. The hardwood floors alone require nearly 1,000 gallons of wax a year.