Accessibility links
World News and International Headlines NPR world news, international art and culture, world business and financial markets, world economy, and global trends in health, science and technology. Subscribe to the World Story of the Day podcast and RSS feed.

NPRWorld

Many Stories, One World

Middle East

Syria Cracks Down On Southern City

There are reports of heavy gunfire in Daraa, the southern Syrian city that has become a symbol of the uprisings against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Residents there say the Syrian army stormed a mosque that was a rallying point for anti-regime demonstrators. Kelly McEvers, who is following the story from Beirut, discusses the latest developments with host Guy Raz.

Syria Cracks Down On Southern City

Listen · 2:50
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135875567/135875640" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

William And Kate: The Royal Wedding

Hot Fashion, Lukewarm Style From Royal Wedding

The royal wedding served as a public viewing of traditional pomp and cutting-edge Brit-style, from Kate Middleton's classic wedding dress to amazing hats that ranged from the refined to the ridiculous. Guest host Linda Wertheimer talks with Simon Doonan, creative ambassador for Barneys New York and a columnist for Slate.com, about the fashion trends the royal wedding might spark.

Hot Fashion, Lukewarm Style From Royal Wedding

Listen · 5:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135867069/135867115" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sanctions Follow Syria's Deadly Crackdown

The Obama administration has imposed new sanctions against key officials in Syria. The move comes after more than 60 people reportedly were killed during demonstrations Friday against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. NPR's Kelly McEvers is monitoring the situation from nearby Beirut and speaks with guest host Linda Wertheimer.

Sanctions Follow Syria's Deadly Crackdown

Listen · 1:56
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135867061/135867025" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

William And Kate: The Royal Wedding

Royal Couple's Future Brighter Than Royal Family's?

Even Brits who were ambivalent about the much-ballyhooed royal wedding still hold Prince William and Kate Middleton in relatively high regard. Guest host Linda Wertheimer talks with Simon Hoggart, a political columnist with The Guardian newspaper in London.

Royal Couple's Future Brighter Than Royal Family's?

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135867033/135867015" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

William And Kate: The Royal Wedding

Even A Stiff Upper Lip Trembles For Royal Wedding

Saturday is the first full day of marriage for Prince William and his new bride, Kate Middleton. The royal couple was wed Friday at Westminster Abbey, capturing attention around the planet. Much of the build-up focused on how foreigners, especially Americans, seemed more obsessed about the event than people in Britain. Still, thousands of Britons flocked to the wedding. NPR's David Greene went to find out what they were looking for.

Even A Stiff Upper Lip Trembles For Royal Wedding

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135867029/135867014" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
U.N.-Led Syria Probe A Win For U.S. Diplomacy

Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-Wha Kang of Korea speaks during a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva Friday. The council agreed to launch an urgent investigation into Syria's bloody crackdown on protests. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

U.N.-Led Syria Probe A Win For U.S. Diplomacy

The UN Human Rights Council voted Friday to investigate Syria's bloody crackdown on protesters. The action gives the Obama administration a reason to argue the council was worth joining, despite critics who say it's not worth the effort.

U.N.-Led Syria Probe A Win For U.S. Diplomacy

Listen · 4:04
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135850960/135867026" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Iran Suddenly Turns Silent As Protests Spread In Syria

Syrian anti-government protesters demonstrate in Banias on April 29, the "Day of Rage" called by activists to pile pressure on President Bashar Assad as his regime enacted a violent crackdown on dissent. AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
AFP/Getty Images

Middle East

Iran Suddenly Turns Silent As Protests Spread In Syria

Iran's government supported the protests in Bahrain, Yemen and Egypt, but it fears losing an ally if Syrian President Bashar Assad falls. Among other benefits, the Syrian connection is crucial for Iran's relationship with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran Suddenly Turns Silent As Protests Spread In Syria

Listen · 4:09
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135804964/135846430" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
One Big Obstacle To Japan's Recovery: Trash

In Kesennuma, garbage covers much of the city, particularly in the harbor. Some baseball fields and parks nearby have been converted into areas where cranes can sort through the debris. Yuki Noguchi/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Yuki Noguchi/NPR

Rebuilding Japan

One Big Obstacle To Japan's Recovery: Trash

The March earthquake and tsunami in Japan made junkyards of entire cities and created the equivalent of 16 years' worth of waste. With both the national and local governments struggling to handle cleanup, corps of volunteers in places like the seaside city of Kesennuma are starting to tackle the daunting task on their own.

One Big Obstacle To Japan's Recovery? Trash

Listen · 3:24
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135770675/135846422" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

U.N. Human Rights Council Condemns Syrian Violence

Michele Norris interviews Ambassador Eileen Donahoe, the United States representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council, about the council's meeting regarding Syria. She says the action by the international community sends a strong message to the Syrian government that it cannot mistreat its people — and sends messages to the protesters that they are not alone.

U.N. Human Rights Council Condemns Syrian Violence

Listen · 4:13
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135846454/135846429" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Middle East

Witness Describes Syrian Crackdown On Protesters

Syrian tanks and troops descended on Daraa Monday, clamping down on protests and bringing life there to a standstill. Melissa Block speaks with a resident of Daraa, Syria, about the situation there.

Witness Describes Syrian Crackdown On Protesters

Listen · 5:02
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135846446/135846426" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Middle East

Protesters Take To The Streets In Syria

Despite a massive country-wide security crackdown, thousands of Syrians took to the streets in several cities and towns Friday, calling for the overthrow of the government.

Protesters Take To The Streets In Syria

Listen · 3:25
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135846442/135846425" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Libyan War Creates Far-Reaching Refugee Crisis

A Libyan girl brings bread into her tent at the U.A.E. Red Crescent refugee camp at the Tunisian village of Dhuheiba on April 22. Pier Paolo Cito/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Pier Paolo Cito/AP

Libyan War Creates Far-Reaching Refugee Crisis

More than 600,000 people have fled the fighting in Libya, international agencies say — triggering one of the largest refugee crises seen in the past 20 years. Dealing with the displaced has stoked an already-hot political debate about immigration in Europe.

Europe

Will Kate's Bridal Dress Reach Fashion Runways?

People around the world tuned in Friday morning to watch the Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the new duke and duchess of Cambridge. Host Michel Martin discusses how the event influences pop culture with Robin Givhan, special correspondent for style and culture for Newsweek and The Daily Beast.

Will Kate's Bridal Dress Reach Fashion Runways?

Listen · 6:01
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135838531/135838518" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript