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Tuesday

Romney Tries To Shape Distinct Iran Policy

Mitt Romney speaks in Jerusalem on Sunday, backing "any and all measures" to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Uriel Sinai/Getty Images hide caption

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Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

Elections

Romney Tries To Shape Distinct Iran Policy

The Republican presidential candidate says America's national security priority should be preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, a point he made directly during a weekend stop in Israel. But analysts say Mitt Romney's policy descriptions sound much like those of President Obama.

Romney Tries To Shape Distinct Iran Policy

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Opera Unfolds When A Cuban Cabaret Is Shut Down

Cuban performers ranging from dancers to opera singers were packing in audiences at Havana's El Cabildo restaurant and cabaret. In a case seen as a test of Raul Castro's commitment to economic changes, government inspectors recently closed the restaurant. Desmond Boylan/Reuters /Landov hide caption

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Desmond Boylan/Reuters /Landov

Opera Unfolds When A Cuban Cabaret Is Shut Down

When a prominent Cuban singer opened a restaurant and cabaret, he believed he was following President Raul Castro's cry for more small business. But local authorities shut it down without warning. What happens next is seen as a test of Castro's commitment to economic changes.

Opera Unfolds When A Cuban Cabaret Is Shut Down

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Bhutan Bets Organic Agriculture Is The Road To Happiness

A Bhutanese farmer puts her harvest of chilies on the roof of a shed to dry and protect it from wild boars, deer, and monkeys in 2006. James L. Stanfield/National Geographic/Getty Images hide caption

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James L. Stanfield/National Geographic/Getty Images

The Salt

Bhutan Bets Organic Agriculture Is The Road To Happiness

Bhutan wants to be the first country in the world to convert to a 100 percent agricultural system. Many farmers in Bhutan are already organic, which experts say should make the transition relatively easy.

U.S. Wages Sisyphean War Against Afghan Corruption

U.S. investigators allege that Afghan Gen. Ahmad Zia Yaftali stole tens of millions of dollars' worth of medicine from the Mohammad Daud Khan military hospital in Kabul. He has been removed from that post, but has not been prosecuted. He's shown here at the hospital on Dec. 18, 2010. Altaf Qadri/AP hide caption

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Altaf Qadri/AP

U.S. Wages Sisyphean War Against Afghan Corruption

The U.S. has cited corruption as a major issue in Afghanistan for years. Yet as the U.S. military effort has begun to wind down, the Americans have made little progress in combating an endemic problem.

U.S. Wages Sisyphean War Against Afghan Corruption

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Presidential Race

Political Stumbles Mark Romney's Trip Abroad

Mitt Romney headed home on Tuesday after an overseas trip to three countries. The presumptive Republican nominee visited Poland, where he delivered a speech in Warsaw. He also visited the United Kingdom and Israel.

Political Stumbles Mark Romney's Trip Abroad

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Asia

Second Day Of Mass Power Outages Rocks India

There were more power outages in India on Tuesday, and the second day of cuts was even worst than the first. More than 600 million people were left without power after elements of the national grid failed in a broad swath right across northern India.

Second Day Of Mass Power Outages Rocks India

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Asia

India's Infrastructure To Blame For Mass Blackouts

Audie Cornish talks to Kalpana Kochha, chief economist for South Asia at the World Bank. They discuss India's energy crisis and how the country can improve its infrastructure.

India's Infrastructure To Blame For Mass Blackouts

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Opinion

Middle East

What Happens If And When Assad Falls In Syria

Many analysts suspect that President Bashar al-Assad is losing his grip on power in Syria, and that his fall is now inevitable. But that leaves many difficult questions about what happens the day after. NPR commentator Ted Koppel talks about the tipping point in Syria and what comes next.

What Happens If And When Assad Falls In Syria

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Italy Worries Sicily's Woes Could Have Ripple Effect

Raffaele Lombardo, the governor of Sicily, speaks to reporters after his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in Rome last week. Lombardo has been accused of having ties to the Mafia in Sicily. Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters/Landov hide caption

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Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters/Landov

Europe

Italy Worries Sicily's Woes Could Have Ripple Effect

The eurozone crisis has led to sharp spending cuts and, with an economy based on public sector wages, Sicily is being called Italy's Greece. The central government fears Sicily's debt of more than $6 billion could further endanger Italy's financial stability.

Italy Worries Sicily's Woes Could Have Ripple Effect

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How U.S.-Iran Tensions Are Tied To Afghanistan

To the United States, Iran is a pariah state. To Afghanistan, Iran is a powerful neighbor that could help promote development and stability, and that puts U.S. foreign policy in conflict. On one hand, Washington is looking for every opportunity to contain Tehran. But, if Iran chooses to help achieve the American goal of peace and stability in Afghanistan, the U.S. might have to turn a blind eye.

How U.S.-Iran Tensions Are Tied To Afghanistan

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Punk Band's Case Tests Putin's Tolerance For Dissent

Three women charged with blasphemy went on trial Monday in Russia in a case that's being seen as a major test of President Vladimir Putin's tolerance for dissent. The women are members of the band Pussy Riot. They were arrested after staging a punk rock protest at the altar of a Moscow cathedral.

Punk Band's Case Tests Putin's Tolerance For Dissent

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Elections

Controversy Followed Romney On Overseas Trip

Mitt Romney's weeklong trip to London, Jerusalem and Poland was designed to bolster his foreign policy credentials. Instead it's been riddled with gaffes and controversy.

Controversy Followed Romney On Overseas Trip

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Monday