From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lackshmi Singh.

Despite relentless shelling in parts of Syria today, thousands of people still demonstrated across the country in support of the city of Homs. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports that 4 embassies and Red Cross are working now to evacuate the wounded including two western journalists. A large demonstrations were in solidarity for Homs where the Baba Amr neighborhood has been under fewer shelling for 3 weeks. But violence continues elsewhere too. This Youtube video appeared to show demonstrators in Al-Hara in the southern Deraa province running down at the rally as they came under fire. There was little reaction to the calls for a ceasefire emerging from the Friends of Syria meeting in Tunisia. One of activists in Homs said such small measure simply show the weakness of international community in the face of the murder of regime. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Beirut.

Outrage over the Burning of the Koran at US base in Afghanistan continues to stir protest across the country. And they're feeling worry Afghan police would not be able to oversee security once foreign troops leave. But German General says local police can handle on rally crowds. “Years ago Afghan forces would probably have had no alternative but turning to bullets. They have now really learned to master the skills of crowd control. And they did very well over the last hours.”

President Obama has formally apologized to the Afghan people for the burning of the Koran at the background in air base saying it is not intentionally. Violence today claimed 11 more lives.

There is a new choice of Britain's phone-hacking scandal. Officials say they are investigating the conduct of senior police officer. NPR's Philip Reeves says the inquiry focusing on whether the officer inappropriately passed information to one of Rupert Murdoch's executives. The phone-hacking scandal has already greatly damaged Scotland yard. Two top officers resigned. A major investigation is underway into allegations of police accepting bribe. And an ethic inquiries about the shine of light on the cozy relationship between the Yard and Murdoch's tabloids. Now the independent police compliance commission is looking into whether a senior police officer in its words ”inappropriately disclosed information to the executives of Murdoch's News International which allegedly happened during the regional 2006 police inquiry into phone-hacking by the News of the World. That inquiry was later discredited after wrongly concluding with a little evidence of wide spread illegality. Officials say there is not indication that the senior officer was paid for information. Philip Reeves, NPR News in London.

At last check on Wall Street, Dow Jones Industrial Average up 6 points at 12,990. NASDAQ gaining 11, it's 2,968. And S&P 500 up 4 points at 1367. You're listening to NPR News.

National MLBP Ryan Braun says he is working to restore his name now the positive result of drug test has overturned. The Milwaukee Brewers outfielder no longer faces a 50-game suspension. Ryan is the first major league baseball player to successfully challenge the penalty in the agreement. Today he describes himself as a victim of a fail process. “we are part of a process where you are 100 percent guilty until proven innocent. With what's at stake, this is everything that I have worked for my life being called into question. We need to make sure that we get right. Should get me the position where you are 100 percent guilty until proven innocent. You can't mess up. And today is about to make sure this never happens to anybody else who plays this game.”

The New York city department of education has released individual ratings on 18,000 teachers. NPR's Margot Adler reports the release comes after Union lost a legal battle with the city and with News organizations. They'll request the information under the freedom of information law. “Originally, the city said the rating would only be used internally. The court rules the public has the right to know. United Federation of Teachers took out Newspaper ads arguing the teacher date reports are filled with errors. Independent expert says they are acceptable errors in a mission. The rating involves 4th to 8th grade English and math teachers and they compare standardized test results to what's students are predicted to do. There're also effect in poverty and special ads. The rating is more than 2 years old and School Chancellor Dennis Walcott says they should not be used to judge individual teachers. A new rating system with more attention to class observations has already been agreed to by state city and union officials.