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Employees scoop ice cream, which is topped with pistachios, at Bakdash's opening in Amman, Jordan, this week. Bakdash has been a landmark in Damascus, Syria, since 1895. But the war there has made it hard to get supplies, so the owners have set up a new shop in Amman.

As Syria Melts Down, Ice Cream Shop Sets Up In Jordan

The Bakdash ice cream parlor has been a landmark in the Syrian capital Damascus for more than a century. But after two years of war, the owners have set up a new shop in Amman, Jordan, home to many Syrian refugees.

Places Transformed: Syrian Refugees Overwhelm Camps, Towns

The fighting in Syria has created tens of thousands of refugees seeking shelter in neighboring Jordan. Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Deborah Amos about a refugee camp in northern Jordan that has quickly become the second largest such camp in the world. Then we hear voices from a small town in southern Lebanon, where recently arrived Syrian refugees now outnumber the Lebanese residents.

Standing on a rooftop, a man looks at the Springs fire's approaching flames in California Friday. The wildfire, reportedly, 20 percent contained, might be weakened by high humidity and cooler temperatures Saturday.

Shifts In Weather And Strategy Help Slow Springs Wildfire

Firefighters in Southern California are welcoming the latest weather forecast, as lower temperatures and higher humidity could help them control the Camarillo Springs Fire. So far, only 15 structures have reportedly been damaged, in an area where rugged wilderness provides plentiful fuel for fires.

When illustrator Ralph Steadman accepted an assignment with writer Hunter S. Thompson at the Kentucky Derby, he never imagined the weekend that would ensue. Here, Steadman depicts the race's winner, a colt named Dust Commander.

A 'Decadent And Depraved' Derby With Hunter S. Thompson

Illustrator Ralph Steadman had never heard of Hunter S. Thompson before he flew to Churchill Downs on assignment to cover the Kentucky Derby. But after an unforgettable, booze-ridden weekend with the writer, Steadman's life was never the same.

Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches performs at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, in March.

Big Songs, Big Hype (Oh Yeah, They're Women)

Three heavily hyped new bands have little in common, except being led by women. How important is that?

A cruise run by the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif., exposes guests to the "urban ocean" in the country's biggest shipping terminal.

A Splash Of 'Urban Ocean' On A Southern California Cruise

Instead of traveling alongside picturesque beaches, this boat takes passengers on a tour of the nation's busiest shipping terminal. The sightseeing includes sea lions and trash, juxtaposing Long Beach's commercial might with a fragile ecosystem.

Honduran Army soldiers patrol streets in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in April. Gang violence has many Hondurans fleeing to the U.S.

Violence, Hardship Fuel Central American Immigration To U.S.

While Mexican immigration to the U.S. has slowed in recent years, the number of Central Americans heading north has been on the rise. Last year, the number of illegal border-crossers caught from countries other than Mexico hit nearly 100,000 — more than double the year before.

This recently restored painting in the Vatican, created in 1494 by the Renaissance master Pinturicchio, has a small depiction of naked men with feathered headdresses. This may be the first European depiction of Native Americans. The scene, just above the tomb of Jesus, is too small to be seen in this view of the entire painting but is shown in the photo below.

Long Hidden, Vatican Painting Linked To Native Americans

A newly cleaned painting in the Vatican, which dates to 1494, may be the first European depiction of Native Americans. The painting had been largely ignored for more than 500 years.

Soccer referee Ricardo Portillo died Saturday, after being struck by a player. Here, Portfillo, is seen holding a soccer ball, in a photo held by his brother-in-law, Jose Lopez, Thursday.

Soccer Referee Dies, One Week After Being Felled By Punch

A soccer referee who was punched by a player after calling a foul on him during a recreation soccer game in Utah died Saturday night, one week after he sustained the injury. The suspect, 17, who received a yellow card penalty from referee Ricardo Portillo, was arrested Monday.

Elite U.S. Forest Service Hotshot firefighters walk the blackened edge of the Springs Fire near Camarillo, California. Citing favorable weather, officials say the fire could be contained Monday.

Springs Fire May Be Fully Contained Monday, Officials Say

Firefighting officials in California are optimistic that they can get more of the Springs Fire under control Sunday, as for the second day cooler temperatures and higher humidity are expected to help their cause. The fire could be entirely contained by Monday, officials say.

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