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House Set For 'Marathon Debate' On Sandy Aid; Final Vote Likely Tonight

Credit Tom Mihalek / Reuters /Landov

Shattered homes lined the beach front in Mantoloking, N.J., after Sandy tore through. The superstorm caused billions of dollars in damage to New Jersey, New York and surrounding states.

By Mark Memmott

Originally published on Tue January 15, 2013 7:39 pm

Update at 7:35 p.m. House Passes Measure

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Tuesday to approve $50.7 billion in aid for victims of Superstorm Sandy.

The vote was 241-80; the measure now goes to the Senate, which is expected to take it up next week.

Here's more from The Associated Press:

"Northeast lawmakers from both parties have been pressing for the aid for more than two months.

11:56 am

Tue January 15, 2013

Pictures May Speak Louder Than Words When It Comes To Smoking

Credit Food and Drug Administration

A cigarette warning label image approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

By Patti Neighmond

Researchers have found that graphic anti-smoking images may be more powerful than words alone in warning people from different income and racial groups about the dangers of smoking.

11:38 am

Tue January 15, 2013

In War-Torn Aleppo, Old Doors That Reflect A Grand Tradition

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Credit Kelly McEvers / NPR

Syria door

Credit Kelly McEvers / NPR

The ancient city of Aleppo in northern Syria has been the scene of heavy fighting. Many homes that have survived have inscriptions above the doorways that note the owner has made the pilgrimage of Islam's holiest site, Mecca.

Credit Kelly McEvers / NPR

The black stone structure, or Kaaba, at the center of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca is often represented in the drawings.

Credit Kelly McEvers / NPR

A pilgrim's doorway in Aleppo.

Credit Kelly McEvers / NPR

Aleppo is Syria's largest city and dates back centuries.

Credit Kelly McEvers / NPR

A doorway in Aleppo.

By Kelly McEvers

Originally published on Tue January 15, 2013 12:37 pm

Aleppo's storied old city, which dates to the 12th century, has suffered much in the fighting between Syrian government forces and rebels over the past few months. But parts of the city remain intact, as I saw on a recent walk through the winding, stone alleys on the way to the front line.

Centuries ago, it took Muslims from this area months in a caravan to make the pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca, the holiest site in Islam, which is now part of Saudi Arabia.

10:59 am

Tue January 15, 2013

Pakistan's Latest Political Crisis: Court Orders Arrest Of Prime Minister

Credit Waqar Hussein / EPA /LANDOV

Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

By Mark Memmott

"The news that the [country's] Supreme Court had called for the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf ran through Pakistan like an electric current Tuesday afternoon," The Christian Science Monitor writes from Islamabad.

10:49 am

Tue January 15, 2013

The Politics Of Disaster Aid Are Starting To Shift

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Credit Spencer Platt / Getty Images

A U.S. flag still hung on the remains of homes in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, N.Y., in December, nearly two months after Superstorm Sandy tore through the area.

Credit Tim Larsen / AP

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie blasted his party's "toxic internal politics" after House Republicans initially failed to vote on disaster relief for victims of Superstorm Sandy.

By editor

Originally published on Tue January 15, 2013 12:11 pm

House Republicans are taking a Solomonic approach to relief for areas ravaged by Superstorm Sandy.

Having already split financial aid for the Northeast into two votes, House leaders are now splitting the second package itself into two, giving conservatives the opportunity to oppose spending provisions they don't like.

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12:08 pm

Tue January 15, 2013