A high-ranking general has reportedly defected from the Syrian army along with 20 soldiers. Brigadier General Mohammed Khalouf appeared on Al Arabiya television along with a rebel fighter. Also today, Human Rights Watch said the Syrian government is...
From NPR news in Washington, I'm Barbara Klein. The Obama Administration is beefing up the nation's missile defenses on the west coast. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the move follows threats from Iran and North Korea. Chuck: North Korea particul...
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Barbara Klein. The Senate Budget Committee is considering a Democratic plan for the next fiscal year. As NPR's Craig Windham reports it includes $1 trillion in spending cuts and an equal amount of new revenue from clo...
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Barbara Klein. We have a pope. The announcement this past hour at the Vatican. He is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina. The 76-year-old, who is the first pontiff from the Americas has chosen the name Pope Fr...
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Black smoke has emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signifying that the cardinals selected to choose next pope have not reached a decision on their first try. Earlier today, cardinals cha...
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The cardinals who will decide who will succeed Pope Benedict have wrapped up their pre-conclave discussions. Vatican's spokesman Thomas Rosica says the session focused on the qualities next pontiff w...
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is claiming the United States is working with the Taliban in an effort to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan. He says the U.S. and militants are scaring Afghans into beli...
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Two people are dead and dozens more are injured in violent clashes in Cairo. This follows a controversial ruling on an Egyptian case that has spurred weeks of violence. Soccer fans are angry there weren...
NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Labor Department says the unemployment rate dropped to 7.7% in February on higher job growth than the market expected. NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports the private sector also added higher paying jobs. The...
From NPR news in Washington, I am Craig Windham. President Obama has just signed into law an updated version of the Violence Against Women Act. The measure would expand federal programs for women affected by domestic and sexual violence. We'll expand...
From NPR news in Washington, I am Lakshimi Singh. The Republican-led House has passed a continuing resolution that would avoid a government shutdown this month. The measure would provide $982 billion in funding to keep federal agencies operating thro...
From NPR News in Washington, Im Lakshmi Singh. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has scaled record intra-day high. At last glance, we see the Dow up 134, nearly one percent at 14,262. It exceeded levels last seen in October, 2007 and has gained nearly...
From NPR news in Washington, I am Louise Schiavone. President Obama is introducing three new appointees to his new cabinet, of greatest interest in sequester-worried Washington. Sylvia Mathews Burwell's appointment to lead the Office of Management an...
From NPR news in Washington, I am Nora Raum. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad is rejecting calls from the US for him to step down. Assad's remarks came in a rare interview with a western newspaper. NPRs Philip Reeves reports. Washington says it's tim...
From NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Raum. $ 85 billion in federal spending cuts are now in effect. President Obama signed the sequestration order last night. As NPR's Giles Snyder reports, the presdent is pressing the Congress to work out a comprom...
