NPR News

Smokey is being honored by the Guinness record people. She's the world's loudest house cat. The 12-year-old feline's purr reached more than 67 decibels.

A rights activist said Syrian security forces are conducting house-to-house raids across the country, detaining hundreds of people as part of a widening crackdown on anti-government protests.

Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the arrests are zeroing in on the demonstrations' organizers and participants.

Monday's raids were focused on the central city of Homs, the coastal city of Banias, some suburbs of the capital Damascus and villages around the southern flashpoint city of Daraa, he said.

Relations between Egypt's Muslims and Christians have degenerated to a new low. Riots left 12 people dead and a church burned.

The Los Angeles Lakers have won the last two NBA championships. They won't add to that this year. The Lakers were swept by the Dallas Mavericks 122-86. Renee Montagne talks with NPR's Tom Goldman about the game.

NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro profiles a council member in rebel-held Misrata, Libya. The man's father was killed recently in shelling. And, rockets keep his daughter up at night. But he says trying to establish a new government is his most important work.