Middle East

News Brief: Nevada Caucuses, Intelligence Briefing, Displaced Syrians

6:06am February 21, 2020

Democrats in Nevada will participate in state caucuses Saturday. Media reports say Russia wants President Trump to win the 2020 election. And, Syrians are fleeing a government military offensive.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plants a tree during a commemoration of the Jewish holiday of Tu BiShvat (New Year for Trees), in the Israeli settlement of Mevo'ot Yericho near the Palestinian city of Jericho in the Jordan Valley in the occupied

Israel Is Eager To Annex West Bank Lands, But U.S. Says To Wait For Israeli Election

6:23pm February 19, 2020

by Daniel Estrin

The Trump Mideast plan would recognize Israeli sovereignty of settlements and lands Palestinians want for a future state, but the administration urged Israel to hold off until after Israel's election.

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World News

U.N. Pleads For Cease-Fire As Displaced Syrians Head For Turkish Border

12:41pm February 19, 2020

by Deborah Amos

Syrians are fleeing fighting from the Syrian government and its Russian ally as troops push into the country's last rebel-held province. Satellite images give a sense of scale to that crisis.

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News Brief: Nevada Caucuses, Trump Pardons, Afghan Election Result

6:14am February 19, 2020

Before the caucuses, there's a Democratic debate in Nevada. An-ex Illinois governor is among the latest pardons issued by President Trump. And, the Afghan president has won a second term.

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Deir Hassan, Syria, is shown in February 2019 (left) and February 2020.

World News

Satellite Photos Show Rapid Growth Of Syrian Refugee Camps

10:24pm February 18, 2020

by Jordan Pascale

Fighting in northwest Syria has forced hundreds of thousands of people — many of them women and children — to seek shelter along the border.

Behind The U.S.-Taliban Ceasefire Agreement In Afghanistan

4:05pm February 18, 2020

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Vikram Singh, former deputy special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and a former defense negotiator. They discuss the U.S. and Taliban's ceasefire deal.

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Taliban Says It Hopes To Sign Peace Deal With U.S. By End Of February

6:26pm February 17, 2020

by Diaa Hadid

In Afghanistan, the Taliban says a peace deal with the United States will be signed by the end of the month. Its chief spokesman said this would be preceded by a period of reduced violence.

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World News

Understanding The Prisoner Swap In Yemen's Civil War

5:26pm February 17, 2020

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Peter Salisbury, senior Yemen analyst for the International Crisis Group, about the announcement of a prisoner exchange in the country's civil war.

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World News

Israeli Settlers And Palestinians In Occupied West Bank Grapple With U.S. Peace Plan

5:26pm February 17, 2020

by Naomi Zeveloff

Israeli settlers and Palestinians take a look at what it could mean to them if the U.S. peace proposal ends up making settlements in the occupied West Bank permanent.

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World News

U.S. Inching Closer To Afghan Peace Deal

10:38am February 17, 2020

by Diaa Hadid

The United States and the Taliban appear to be taking the first steps towards an Afghan peace deal.

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