A shrine on the outskirts of Damascus has long been a prominent destination for Shias from around the world. Its golden dome glistens in the sun and its outer walls are covered in tiles from Iran. But the shrine’s connection to Iran goes beyond aesthetics. Iranian guards not only once protected the holy site — they also helped keep Syria’s former leader, Bashar al-Assad, in power.

National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek’s walks through the countryside of Japan have been unexpectedly lonely. That’s because he’s been trekking through a region undergoing depopulation. Host Marco Werman speaks with Salopek about his all-too-rare encounters with people on this stretch of his journey, as well as the difference between traveling through natural landscapes that are uninhabited and traveling through towns that once thrummed with life, gone quiet.

The goal of the law, nicknamed the Evictions Express, is to allow property owners with illegal tenants to get them out within 15 days. But the law relies on a court system that’s currently overwhelmed, with cases that are delayed for months or even years. Meanwhile, housing prices continue to rise, making it harder for people to pay rent.

Alaa Hassan’s project, “Vital Signs,” shows a country in transition.

After delaying an earlier ultimatum, the European Union has passed a new sanctions package against Russia. The sanctions come as a result of Russia rejecting plans for a 30-day ceasefire that the US, the UK, and Ukraine signed off on, bringing negotiations to a standstill. What is the potential impact of further sanctions, given the current state of the Russian economy?