Search results for

In Statesville, N.C., there's a squabble over an American flag. The city sued Camping World over a flag along an interstate. The city limited flag sizes after large Confederate flags popped up.

There are five — count 'em — five special events, from World Poetry Day to International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani says he will accept a caucus-elected government in July if the United Nations guarantees direct elections will be held in Iraq by 2005. Sistani, Iraq's most prominent Shiite cleric, had previously insisted that elections take place by June 30, the date targeted by the United States for a transfer of power to an Iraqi government. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair meets with President Bush Friday. British officials say Blair hopes to flesh out a role for the United Nations in Iraq's transition. Blair has faced criticism at home for having little influence when it comes to Iraq -- despite Britain's 10,000 troops there. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

North Korea has agreed to provide a "complete and correct declaration" of its nuclear programs and says it will disable its main reactor complex by Dec. 31. The deal with five other countries has the U.S. taking a lead in overseeing the shutdown and funding initial activities.

With just a day to go before the New Hampshire primary, Michele Norris checks in with former North Carolina senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on his campaign bus. Given the recent polls and his rival's financing, Edwards admits he has a tough hill to climb.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in China, the final stop of her first Asian tour as America's top diplomat. Rice visited Japan and South Korea in the last two days; the focus of many of her discussions has been North Korea and its nuclear research.

The United Nations appeals for more help for Sudanese refugees, who have fled into the desert in neighboring Chad to escape civil war and persecution by government-backed militias. The humanitarian crisis is severe and likely to be made far worse by the approaching rainy season. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and Dr. Jennifer Leaning, professor of international health at Harvard.

The United Nations human rights agency says it has reports that hundreds of people attempting to leave rebel-held areas of Aleppo, Syria, have been prevented from doing so by rebel forces. It also says hundreds of men who left have gone missing after reaching regime-controlled areas and are believed to have been imprisoned or killed.

An estimated 90% of the capital Port-au-Prince is now under control of criminal groups who are expanding attacks not only into surrounding areas but beyond into previously peaceful areas.