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The Central American nation is the most violent country in the world, according to the United Nations. A mix of drug trafficking, political instability and history adds up to a murder rate that is now four times that of Mexico. Contributing to the volatility are the police themselves.

As the death toll mounts in Syria, the U.S. and its partners are seeking new diplomatic initiatives to persuade Syrian President Bashar Assad to silence his army's guns and give up power. Turkey's foreign minister says it's crucial for the world to send a signal to Syrians that they are not alone.

Argentina is mad for sports — and soccer in particular. There are plenty of opportunities for sportswriters and broadcasters, spawning an education industry that specializes in sports journalism.

The Archdiocese of Boston is taking a business approach to its problem of too many parishes, too few priests and not enough parishioners. It plans to merge parishes into clusters and placing them under one pastor. It will eliminate dozens of parish jobs for lay people and take away local control of a church's budget and religious education program. The plan is being met with considerable pushback from priests and parishioners. Monica Brady-Myerov of member station WBUR reports.

Dengue fever, a nasty disease caused by a virus, is just beginning to show up in the U.S. It's carried from person to person by mosquitoes, and one researcher studying the spread is looking for clues in the age of the insects. But it's not very easy to tell how old a mosquito is.

For sale: 160 acres of rolling hills in California perfect for a vineyard, cattle ranch or communication with outer space. The Jamesburg Earth Station and its 10-story satellite dish once relayed broadcasts of historical events like the Apollo 11 moon landing. Now it's on the market.

Along with Republicans, some Democrats said religious institutions shouldn't have to include birth control in their employees' health coverage. The Obama administration altered its policy Friday, but the issue could still affect which party controls the Senate next year.

President Obama announced a change of course Friday regarding religious institutions and birth control coverage. The administration, which seemed caught off guard by the strong opposition to its original policy, hopes to regain Catholic allies and maintain support from the women who put Obama in the White House.

Most of the country is having a mild winter, and that's having a positive impact on cities and towns. Local governments report being able to continue roadwork uninterrupted, and cities that are usually cleaning up after winter storms are saving tens of thousands of dollars.

Britons are in an uproar over a judge's decision to release a Muslim preacher suspected of al-Qaida links. The British government wanted to deport him to Jordan, where he's been convicted of terrorism charges, but European courts won't allow that because the convictions were based on evidence obtained by torture. NPR's Phil Reeves tells host Scott Simon that the case has stirred up resentment.