Russian researchers in Antarctica are on the verge of piercing a hole through two miles of ice into an ancient lake, untouched by the light of day for some 20 million years. But it'll be a delicate process to break through without disturbing the pristine waters. Guest host David Green speaks with Antarctic researcher John Priscu about the process.

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In Syria, the death toll is rising after what activists and opposition leaders are calling a massive offensive by pro-government troops in the city of Homs. Activists say at least 250 have been killed in what may be single most violent day since Syria's anti-government uprising began in March.

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Opponents of Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin marched through the streets of Moscow Saturday in another large demonstration against alleged voting fraud. The protest is seen as a test both for the opposition and Putin, ahead of March's presidential election. Guest host David Greene gets the latest from NPR's Corey Flintoff in Moscow.

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Residents of a Chinese village who rebelled against corrupt local officials have been choosing an election committee. Some observers are highlighting the unusually open and fair voting process, but there are villagers who think their struggle is far from over. Guest host David Greene checks in with NPR's Louisa Lim in Beijing.

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Yulia Tymoshenko went from being Ukraine's prime minister to a prisoner, convicted of abuse of power last October. But her supporters say she is the victim of a political vendetta, and her daughter came to Washington, where she had access to top government officials as she fights for her mother's release.

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Protesters demanded an end to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's rule, casting a strong challenge to his bid to reclaim the presidency in March. Saturday's crowd appeared to be even bigger than two similar rallies held in December, despite temperatures plunging to minus 4 Fahrenheit.

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Syrian forces unleashed a barrage of mortars and artillery on the battered city of Homs for hours before dawn on Saturday, sending terrified residents fleeing into basements and killing more than 200 people in what appeared to be the bloodiest episode in the nearly 11-month-old uprising, activists said.

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Fighting between rebel forces and the Syrian government has been taking place in many areas, including the eastern suburbs of Damascus. The rebels actually took control of some suburbs, but a visit by a journalist found that the government forces had regained control after fighting that caused considerable damage.

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The surprise announcement that the U.S. and the Taliban could soon begin peace talks in Qatar may have increased the chances of a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan. But some Afghans wonder whether such talks are about stabilizing Afghanistan — or just helping U.S. troops leave.

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Violent protests continued for a second day in Egypt in response to the deadly riot at a soccer match earlier this week. Many of the protesters claim authorities chose not to stop the soccer riots as retaliation against fan groups — known as Ultras — who had a hand in the country's political uprisings last year. Melissa Block talks with Adel Iskandar, Lecturer in media studies at Georgetown University, about the role of the Ultra football fan clubs in Egypt's politics.

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NBC News and al-Jazeera are reporting that police in Egypt say two American women and an Egyptian tour guide have been released by gunmen who kidnapped them earlier today near the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

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Many Egyptians are angry about authorities' failure to prevent a riot after a soccer game earlier this week. Meanwhile, gunmen in the Sinai peninsula are reportedly demanding ransom for two American women.

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The surprise ruling increased a lower court's 19-year sentence for Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch. Prosecutors had appealed the sentence as too lenient, and outraged survivors had feared the man who oversaw the torture and killing of thousands could one day walk free.

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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of retaliation if Israel tries to hit Iran's nuclear sites. His comments followed word that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes there's a strong likelihood of such action by Israel this spring.

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Greece is trying to make a deal to slash the amount of money it owes bondholders. Hedge funds will take significant losses. But the International Monetary Fund also loaned Greece a lot of money, and it will be paid back in full. If the IMF isn't paid back, most countries will not lend Greece any more money.

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The Syrian government's crackdown on an uprising in 1982 was so brutal that Syrians rarely spoke about it. But now, some Syrians plan to mark the 30th anniversary of the events in Hama as they continue with the current uprising.

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It may be just a matter of time before treasure hunters set their sights on the ship's sunken spoils. The Costa Concordia was essentially a floating luxury hotel and many of the passengers embarked on the ill-fated cruise with their finest clothes and jewels.

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The ongoing violence in Syria is testing the power — and credibility — of the Arab League. Host Audie Cornish speaks with Shibley Telhami, a professor at the University of Maryland and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, for some context on the Arab League.

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Angry demonstrators converged on Cairo's Tahrir Square Thursday to protest yesterday's melee after a soccer match in northern Egypt that left more than 70 dead. Many of the demonstrators are blaming the ruling military council for the bloodshed, saying the generals have not done enough to restore security in the country.

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As al-Qaida fragments, threats to the U.S. are changing, though not disappearing, say intelligence officials. They are now worried about the threat posed by al-Qaida affiliates in Africa and the Mideast — and particularly how they may take advantage of unrest after the Arab Spring.

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