World http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1004&ft=1&f=1004 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. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sun, 19 May 2013 18:35:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif World http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1004&ft=1&f=1004 Syrian Troops Target Key Rebel-Held Town Qusair is a strategically important town that lies between Homs, where the Syrian uprising began two years ago, and the Lebanese border. If President Bashar Assad's troops – reportedly backed by Hezbollah fighters — regain the town, they would control an important route from the coast to the capital, Damascus. Sun, 19 May 2013 18:35:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/19/185363866/syrian-troops-target-key-rebel-held-town?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/19/185363866/syrian-troops-target-key-rebel-held-town?ft=1&f=1004 Qusair is a strategically important town that lies between Homs, where the Syrian uprising began two years ago, and the Lebanese border. If President Bashar Assad's troops – reportedly backed by Hezbollah fighters — regain the town, they would control an important route from the coast to the capital, Damascus.

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]]> Young Kenyans Build Mobile Apps For Local Use College students and recent graduates crammed the top floor of a tech hub in Nairobi for a competition built around the theme "Solutions for the Next Billion Mobile Users." Africa has more than 600 million mobile phone users (approximately 11 percent of the global total) – and the number is growing. Sun, 19 May 2013 17:25:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/19/185350354/young-kenyans-build-mobile-apps-for-local-use?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/19/185350354/young-kenyans-build-mobile-apps-for-local-use?ft=1&f=1004 College students and recent graduates crammed the top floor of a tech hub in Nairobi for a competition built around the theme "Solutions for the Next Billion Mobile Users." Africa has more than 600 million mobile phone users (approximately 11 percent of the global total) – and the number is growing.

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]]> Afghans With Disabilities Fight For The Right To Rights Their country isn't an easy place for anyone to make a living, but it's a downright hostile environment for those with disabilities. Support has mostly come from nonprofits, but activists are pressing the government to take action. Sun, 19 May 2013 05:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/185194207/afghans-with-disabilities-fight-for-the-right-to-rights?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/185194207/afghans-with-disabilities-fight-for-the-right-to-rights?ft=1&f=1004 Their country isn't an easy place for anyone to make a living, but it's a downright hostile environment for those with disabilities. Support has mostly come from nonprofits, but activists are pressing the government to take action.

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]]> Russian Lawmakers: Don't Criticize Soviet Actions In WWII Don't mess with Soviet history, especially when it comes to World War II. That's the message coming from some hard-line Russian legislators who are angry with an opposition lawmaker who criticized Josef Stalin's World War II counterintelligence agency, SMERSH, and likened it to Adolf Hitler's Gestapo. Sun, 19 May 2013 06:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/19/181573908/russian-lawmakers-dont-criticize-soviet-actions-in-wwii?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/19/181573908/russian-lawmakers-dont-criticize-soviet-actions-in-wwii?ft=1&f=1004 Don't mess with Soviet history, especially when it comes to World War II. That's the message coming from some hard-line Russian legislators who are angry with an opposition lawmaker who criticized Josef Stalin's World War II counterintelligence agency, SMERSH, and likened it to Adolf Hitler's Gestapo.

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]]> Spaniard's Song Brings YouTube Fame ... And Maybe A Job Enzo Vizcaíno looks like a busker, strumming away on his ukulele as he roams a Barcelona metro car. But he sings of his bachelor's degree and postgrad diploma. "I'm the King of Microsoft," he croons. He's not looking for a handout. He just wants a job. And his creative approach may be paying off. Sat, 18 May 2013 16:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/18/181574121/spaniards-song-brings-youtube-fame-and-maybe-a-job?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/18/181574121/spaniards-song-brings-youtube-fame-and-maybe-a-job?ft=1&f=1004 Enzo Vizcaíno looks like a busker, strumming away on his ukulele as he roams a Barcelona metro car. But he sings of his bachelor's degree and postgrad diploma. "I'm the King of Microsoft," he croons. He's not looking for a handout. He just wants a job. And his creative approach may be paying off.

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]]> Bashar Assad: A Political Solution In Syria Is 'Unreal' The Syrian president also left no room for his departure. "The captain of a ship doesn't flee when faced with a storm," he said during an interview with an Argentine newspaper. Sat, 18 May 2013 15:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/18/185094064/bashar-assad-a-political-solution-in-syria-is-unreal?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/18/185094064/bashar-assad-a-political-solution-in-syria-is-unreal?ft=1&f=1004 The Syrian president also left no room for his departure. "The captain of a ship doesn't flee when faced with a storm," he said during an interview with an Argentine newspaper.

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]]> In Zimbabwe, Will Next Election Be More Peaceful? Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton about Zimbabwe's upcoming presidential election and efforts to alleviate its international isolation. Sat, 18 May 2013 07:23:09 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185012227/in-zimbabwe-will-next-election-be-more-peaceful?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185012227/in-zimbabwe-will-next-election-be-more-peaceful?ft=1&f=1004 Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton about Zimbabwe's upcoming presidential election and efforts to alleviate its international isolation.

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]]> Afghan Mineral Treasures Stay Buried, Hostages To Uncertainty Afghanistan is believed to be home to world-class mineral deposits, valued at up to $3 trillion and offering hope for the country's economic future. But in the current environment of uncertainty, investors are nervous and it could be many years before Afghanistan strikes pay dirt. Sat, 18 May 2013 05:13:53 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/18/184775139/Afghan-Mineral-Treasures-Stay-Buried-Hostage-To-Uncertainty?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/18/184775139/Afghan-Mineral-Treasures-Stay-Buried-Hostage-To-Uncertainty?ft=1&f=1004 Afghanistan is believed to be home to world-class mineral deposits, valued at up to $3 trillion and offering hope for the country's economic future. But in the current environment of uncertainty, investors are nervous and it could be many years before Afghanistan strikes pay dirt.

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]]> French President Signs Same-Sex Marriage Into Law Parliament had passed the legislation in April, but the main opposition party challenged its constitutionality. A ruling by the Constitutional Council on Friday paved the way for President Francois Hollande's official blessing. Sat, 18 May 2013 01:51:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/18/184955507/french-president-signs-same-sex-marriage-into-law?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/18/184955507/french-president-signs-same-sex-marriage-into-law?ft=1&f=1004 Parliament had passed the legislation in April, but the main opposition party challenged its constitutionality. A ruling by the Constitutional Council on Friday paved the way for President Francois Hollande's official blessing.

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]]> Toronto Mayor Blames Newspaper For Cocaine Video <em>The Toronto Star</em> says its reporters have seen a video that purportedly shows Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. Fri, 17 May 2013 20:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/17/184900979/toronto-mayor-blames-newspaper-for-cocaine-video?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/17/184900979/toronto-mayor-blames-newspaper-for-cocaine-video?ft=1&f=1004 The Toronto Star says its reporters have seen a video that purportedly shows Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine.

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]]> Need A Tattoo Translated? Forget The British Foreign Office British consular officials say they've gotten odd requests over the past year, ranging from help in getting Olympic tickets to checking the credentials of an online date. Fri, 17 May 2013 18:16:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/17/184869949/need-a-tattoo-translated-forget-the-british-foreign-office?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/17/184869949/need-a-tattoo-translated-forget-the-british-foreign-office?ft=1&f=1004 British consular officials say they've gotten odd requests over the past year, ranging from help in getting Olympic tickets to checking the credentials of an online date.

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]]> Architect Of Argentina's 'Dirty War' Dies In Prison Jorge Rafael Videla was a former senior commander in the Argentine Army who was the de facto president of Argentina from 1976 to 1981. He came to power in a coup d'etat that deposed Isabel Martinez de Peron. After the return of a representative democratic government, he was prosecuted for large-scale human rights abuses and crimes against humanity that took place under his rule, including kidnappings or "forced disappearance," widespread torture and extrajudicial murder of activists and political opponents (either real, suspected or alleged) as well as their families, at secret concentration camps. Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184845134&ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184845134&ft=1&f=1004 Jorge Rafael Videla was a former senior commander in the Argentine Army who was the de facto president of Argentina from 1976 to 1981. He came to power in a coup d'etat that deposed Isabel Martinez de Peron. After the return of a representative democratic government, he was prosecuted for large-scale human rights abuses and crimes against humanity that took place under his rule, including kidnappings or "forced disappearance," widespread torture and extrajudicial murder of activists and political opponents (either real, suspected or alleged) as well as their families, at secret concentration camps.

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]]> U.N. Tries To Get Syria Peace Talks Back On Track U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, saying it is important not to "lose momentum" in the effort to convene a peace conference on Syria. Ban was only the latest in a string of foreign dignitaries who have come to Russia, seeking Putin's blessing for such a conference, expected to be held in early June. There's a lot at stake. Russia has been a long-time supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and continues to supply weapons to his regime. U.S. officials have said lately that those weapons include advanced missile systems for attacking ships and airplanes. If Assad already has such weapons, they could pose a real threat to international efforts to impose a no-fly zone, to deliver supplies to the rebels, or to maintain a maritime embargo. Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184845128&ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184845128&ft=1&f=1004 U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, saying it is important not to "lose momentum" in the effort to convene a peace conference on Syria. Ban was only the latest in a string of foreign dignitaries who have come to Russia, seeking Putin's blessing for such a conference, expected to be held in early June. There's a lot at stake. Russia has been a long-time supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and continues to supply weapons to his regime. U.S. officials have said lately that those weapons include advanced missile systems for attacking ships and airplanes. If Assad already has such weapons, they could pose a real threat to international efforts to impose a no-fly zone, to deliver supplies to the rebels, or to maintain a maritime embargo.

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]]> Doctor: 'We Truly Are Failing The Syrian People' Stephen Cornish of Doctors Without Borders was recently in Syria. He talks to Audie Cornish about how medical personnel are managing to reach patients in the war-torn nation where he says there is a lack of respect for doctors on both sides of the conflict. Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184845130/doctor-we-truly-are-failing-the-syrian-people?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184845130/doctor-we-truly-are-failing-the-syrian-people?ft=1&f=1004 Stephen Cornish of Doctors Without Borders was recently in Syria. He talks to Audie Cornish about how medical personnel are managing to reach patients in the war-torn nation where he says there is a lack of respect for doctors on both sides of the conflict.

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]]> Mother Of India Gang-Rape Victim Faces Suspects In Court Following her brief testimony, she broke down and pleaded with the court, "Please bring justice for my daughter." Meanwhile, lawyers for the accused say their clients have been "tortured" since the beginning of the trial. Fri, 17 May 2013 14:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/17/184801285/mother-of-india-gang-rape-victim-faces-suspects-in-court?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/17/184801285/mother-of-india-gang-rape-victim-faces-suspects-in-court?ft=1&f=1004 Following her brief testimony, she broke down and pleaded with the court, "Please bring justice for my daughter." Meanwhile, lawyers for the accused say their clients have been "tortured" since the beginning of the trial.

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