May 24, 2013 — Witnesses say the blast happened in the late afternoon. The sound of shots followed. There's no word yet on casualties.

May 19, 2013 — Their country isn't an easy place for anyone to make a living, but it's a downright hostile environment for those with disabilities. Support has mostly come from nonprofits, but activists are pressing the government to take action.

May 18, 2013 — Afghanistan is believed to be home to world-class mineral deposits, valued at up to $3 trillion and offering hope for the country's economic future. But in the current environment of uncertainty, investors are nervous and it could be many years before Afghanistan strikes pay dirt.

Jun 5, 2012 — Officials in northern Iraq caused a stir in Baghdad in May when they brought Turkey's oil minister to endorse a pipeline deal that would bring Kurdish-produced oil directly to Turkey and markets beyond. Outraged Baghdad officials said Ankara was playing a dangerous game, insisting on central government approval rights of all Kurdish oil exports. Analysts say Turkey may be enjoying a rare period of better ties with the Kurdish Regional Government than with Baghdad at the moment, but it's running the risk of cutting off lucrative economic opportunities in the rest of Iraq.

Jun 1, 2012 — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has angered many political groups in Iraq that say he's concentrating too much power in his hands. There's talk of a no-confidence motion, but at least for now, there's no clear rival to replace him.

May 8, 2012 — Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri is the man U.S. authorities believe is behind the latest bomb plot from al-Qaida's arm in Yemen. A former chemistry major dropout, Asiri was radicalized in a Saudi prison after he was arrested for trying to get to Iraq to fight the United States. He has been with al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula for six years but really made a name for himself among U.S. intelligence officials until 2009, when they discovered his fingerprint on the underwear bomb on Northwest Airlines Flight 253. Dina Temple-Raston talks to Audie Cornish about the bomb-maker.