Two main conflicts dominated NPR’s worldwide protection over the previous yr: Hamas’ assault on Israel and Israel’s fierce response towards the Palestinian militant group; and the conflict in Ukraine, which is nearing its second anniversary with no clear final result in sight.

But along with these huge information occasions, we had some surprises among the many tales from world wide that have been considered most by our readers:

The Israel-Hamas conflict

A salvo of rockets is fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza towards Israel on Oct. 10. Hamas’ unprecedented assault on Israel began Oct. 7. A senior Hamas official told NPR that its planning was saved an in depth secret.

Mahmud Hams/AFP by way of Getty Images

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Mahmud Hams/AFP by way of Getty Images

A salvo of rockets is fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza towards Israel on Oct. 10. Hamas’ unprecedented assault on Israel began Oct. 7. A senior Hamas official told NPR that its planning was saved an in depth secret.

Mahmud Hams/AFP by way of Getty Images

On Oct. 7, Hamas militants surged over the Gaza border into Israel attacking a music live performance, navy bases and folks of their properties. Israel says some 2,000 militants killed round 1,200 males, girls and kids — taking about 240 hostage.

Israel responded inside hours with airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, vowing to destroy Hamas and rescue hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed, “Every Hamas member is a dead man,” after forming an emergency authorities and wartime cupboard. For weeks, Israel’s navy pounded Gaza with artillery and airstrikes. Then it launched a floor offensive, sending troops into Gaza to divide it between north and south. The United Nations says 40,000 properties have been destroyed together with bakeries, faculties and hospitals, and Gaza well being officers say Israeli assaults have killed not less than 15,000 individuals and wounded 40,000 others.

The two sides agreed to a brief cease-fire and an change of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons in late November, however after three extensions of the unique four-day settlement, talks fell aside final week and Israel resumed its assaults in Gaza.

In addition to our protection of developments in Israel and Gaza, the West Bank and southern Lebanon, the place Israel has battled Hezbollah militants, we provided some context round these occasions.

A sluggish slog in Ukraine endlessly

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine floor on by means of the yr with neither facet in a position to break by means of and the approaching winter slowing fight operations on each side.

The yr began with Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaiming a cease-fire that wasn’t — and Ukraine by no means agreeing to 1 within the first place, though each side accused the opposite of violating it.

In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged conflict crimes involving accusations that Russia has forcibly taken Ukrainian youngsters.

War fatigue is beginning to set in amongst a few of its neighbors, whereas in a divided Washington, D.C., some — particularly Republicans — are turning against President Biden’s dedication to proceed to supply arms and ammunition to Ukraine.

Erdogan faces backlash over “amnesty” in Turkey quake aftermath

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the city center two days after the damaging Feb. 6 earthquake in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey.

Turkish Presidency by way of AP

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Turkish Presidency by way of AP

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the city center two days after the damaging Feb. 6 earthquake in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey.

Turkish Presidency by way of AP

As Turkey struggled within the aftermath of a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in February that killed 35,000 individuals there and in neighboring Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated no authorities might have been prepared for a catastrophe of such magnitude.

But then videos emerged exhibiting Erdogan bragging in regards to the “zoning amnesty” he granted to builders that allowed them to disregard the security codes that had been placed on the books particularly to make condominium blocks, homes and workplace buildings extra proof against earthquakes.

Critics say contractors have been allowed to skip essential security laws, rising their earnings however placing residents in danger. Engineers and designers say the shortage of security options designed to soak up the shock of earthquakes seemingly contributed to the loss of life toll.

The revelations fueled public outrage over sluggish efforts to assist residents within the aftermath, which left many injured and with out a residence, meals or heating in the midst of winter.

Kidnapped in Haiti

Alix Dorsainvil, initially from New Hampshire, was working as a neighborhood well being nurse for a Christian group in Haiti when she and her daughter were taken in July from El Roi Haiti’s campus in a gang-controlled space close to Port-au-Prince.

They were released 13 days later. Who kidnapped them and why stays unclear.

El Roi Haiti stated Dorsainvil fell in love with Haiti’s individuals on a go to there after the devastating 2010 earthquake hit the Caribbean nation. She’s additionally married to the group’s founder and director, Sandro Dorsainvil, who grew up in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital.

In her first look after her launch, Dorsainvil informed her captors, “I want you guys to know that everything I said during my time in captivity was sincere,” she stated in Haitian Creole in a video on El Roi Haiti’s site. “I love you in Christ, and one day I hope to hug you in heaven.”

New discoveries within the cradle of civilization

Zerzevan Castle, the location of a Roman Empire navy garrison, is offering what UNESCO calls “important information about the Roman soldiers, civilians’ daily lives and the battles.”

Alice Martins for NPR

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Alice Martins for NPR

Zerzevan Castle, the location of a Roman Empire navy garrison, is offering what UNESCO calls “important information about the Roman soldiers, civilians’ daily lives and the battles.”

Alice Martins for NPR

Archaeologists informed us that recent finds in southeastern Turkey promise to vary our understanding of Mesopotamia’s historical past.

Zerzevan Castle, the location of a Roman Empire navy garrison, has modified our understanding of pre-Roman exercise within the space. UNESCO says it provides “important information about the Roman soldiers, civilians’ daily lives and the battles.”

The Mithras religion — also called the “Mithras cult” — is believed to have originated in historical Persia, and the Mithras Temple, found six years in the past, is probably the best-preserved such temple on the earth, UNESCO says.

There’s nonetheless a lot to be uncovered on the website: There are big, multistory constructions that archaeologists have recognized with ground-penetrating radar scans. They are revealing layer upon layer of artifacts, some relationship again properly into pre-Roman historical past.

Snakes on a airplane, the sequel

Rudolf Erasmus was piloting a private flight from South Africa’s Western Cape to the northeastern city of Nelspruit in April when he felt a chilly sensation below his shirt close to what he referred to as his “love handles.” When he regarded down for the supply, he was stunned to see a Cape cobra, whose chew can kill somebody in as little as an hour, below his seat.

Concerned about what the snake may do and the security of his passengers, Erasmus turned the airplane round and made an emergency touchdown in Welkom, the closest airport.

Erasmus stated he had seen the cult 2006 movie Snakes on a Plane, and the expletive-laden tirade Samuel L. Jackson’s FBI agent unleashes when he discovers the airplane he is on is filled with venomous snakes performed out in his head.

“That’s how I felt at some point,” he stated, laughing.

South African civil aviation commissioner Poppy Khoza praised Erasmus as “a hero” and stated he “saved all lives on board.” The cobra escaped.

Building a citadel the old school manner

In October we informed the story of a gaggle of heritage commerce craftspeople and historical past buffs which can be building a castle within the Burgundy area of France utilizing instruments and building strategies from the thirteenth century.

Matisse Lacroix, 20, a blacksmith at Guédelon Castle, works a big bellows to make the fireplace scorching sufficient to soften iron and make it malleable.

Cristina Baussan for NPR

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Cristina Baussan for NPR

Matisse Lacroix, 20, a blacksmith at Guédelon Castle, works a big bellows to make the fireplace scorching sufficient to soften iron and make it malleable.

Cristina Baussan for NPR

The thought to construct Guédelon was born in 1995 amongst three pals, residents of the world who’re additionally historical past buffs and nature lovers. One of the three owned a close-by seventeenth century château and was concerned in work to revive completely different castles within the space. They laid the primary stones in 1997, and the builders say it might take 10, 15, even 20 extra years to construct.

One motive its building is taking so lengthy is that employees, wearing medieval clothes and a few mandated fashionable security gear, cease their work to elucidate what they’re doing to guests in addition to prepare younger craftsmen in heritage expertise.

The challenge was initially financed by donations and a few European Union funding. It’s now financed by means of greater than 300,000 paying guests a yr, which generate greater than $5 million a yr that largely covers pay for 100 employees members.

An “unsubstantiated stunt”

Mexico’s Congress took time away from urgent issues of state in September to hear testimony on extraterrestrials. Then got here the massive reveal.

As self-described ufologist Jaime Maussan spoke, two males uncovered caskets revealing two our bodies, which Maussan stated below oath have been nonhuman.

The corpses regarded like stereotypical depictions of aliens — huge head, little physique, three fingers. Maussan stated they have been found in Peru in 2017 and are estimated to be 1,000 years outdated.

Maussan and others have beforehand introduced related claims about alleged alien stays up to now. Scientists have dismissed them as both historical Peruvian mummies or manipulated mummies.

The listening to additionally included remarks by Ryan Graves, considered one of three U.S. veterans who testified in entrance of a U.S. congressional subcommittee investigating the existence of UFOs the identical month, who later distanced himself from the listening to.

In a submit on X, previously Twitter, he wrote: “Unfortunately, yesterday’s demonstration was a huge step backwards for this issue … I am deeply disappointed by this unsubstantiated stunt.”