Federal government faces shutdown after stop-gap funding bill fails in the House, fighting rages in eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, Syria forming a new government after fall of Assad regime.

Syria's new rulers are forming a government after more than half a century of dictatorship under former leader Bashar al-Assad and his father.

NPR's Michel Martin talks to retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who served on the National Security Council, about the bomb attack on a Moscow street, outside a residential building.

NPR's Michel Martin talks to Russian historian Sergey Radchenko about what happens to Russia's sphere of influence in the Middle East with Assad gone.

Syrian rebels have overturned one of the oldest dictatorships in the world. It has been a long struggle, including more than a decade of civil war. But it all began in 2011, during the Arab Spring.

NPR's Jane Arraf has just crossed over the Jordanian border into Syria, and she is with us now. Jane, good morning. JANE ARRAF, BYLINE: Good morning, Michel. MARTIN: So I understand that you've ...

President Biden said the U.S. is prepared to work with Syrians as they try to create a new government. But President-elect Trump is sounding a different note.

President Biden said Sunday the U.S. is prepared to work with Syrians as they try to create a new government. LEILA FADEL, HOST: Yeah, President-elect Trump is sounding a different note.

Rebel insurgents swept into Hama as the Syrian army withdrew. The move puts the rebel fighters even closer to the Syrian capitol Damascus, and deals another blow to President Bashar Assad.

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Christine Wormuth, the outgoing Army secretary. She is the 25th secretary of the Army, and the first woman to hold that position.