Search results for

Ukraine issues an ultimatum for pro-Russian militants in the east to lay down their weapons and withdraw from buildings they have seized. Clashes between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian protesters in the eastern city of Slovyansk turned deadly. Guest host Tess Vigeland talks to NPR's Ari Shapiro.

Militant fighters are crossing into Syria through Turkey and public criticism of Turkey is growing louder. NPR's Linda Wertheimer talks to the Financial Times' Istanbul correspondent, Daniel Dombey.

Israel forbids Gazan boats from going more than a few miles from shore, where the fish are few and small. Israel says the blockade is for security; Palestinians say it's illegal.

Iraq chose a new speaker of its parliament today — a small step that the U.S. has been urging it to take toward ending the crisis there. But many say it's far from the overhaul that's needed.

Anne Barnard from The New York Times talks with NPR's Eric Westervelt about the differences between the current explosion of violence in Gaza and previous ones.

After a three-day cease-fire, which saw some halting peace talks in Egypt, fighting has resumed between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.

Many were damaged in the fighting with Israel and others are still serving as shelters for Gazans who lost their homes. Even before the fighting, kids went to school in shifts owing to overcrowding.

The U.S. and other countries are restricting flights over eastern Ukraine after a MH17 jet was shot down. But experts agree that the airline had every reason to believe its aircraft would be safe.

Bloodshed is escalating in Baghdad as the militant group known as the Islamic State seeks to expand its territory in Iraq. NPR's Eric Westervelt talks to reporter Alice Fordham in Erbil about life under the rule of the radical Islamic group.

Ivo Daalder, who was U.S. ambassador to NATO during the 2011 military intervention in Libya, says the United States should conduct military strikes against Syria, even if it can't get the backing of the United Nations. He argues that Syrian President Bashar Assad would interpret inaction as an invitation to use chemical weapons in the future. He also says that despite asking for congressional approval for military action, this is ultimately President Obama's call. "This is a lonely place for presidents to be. It will be up to him to make that decision."