State of the World from NPR

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What Cuts to U.S. Aid Mean in Africa Mar 13, 2025

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President Trump has derided aid the U.S. provides overseas as rife with fraud. His administration has moved aggressively to eliminate such funding including cancelling contracts already in progress. This is all being challenged in court but the effects are being felt acutely by those providing the aid on the ground in foreign countries. We hear from three providers in Africa.
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India Sees Opportunity in U.S. Tariffs Mar 12, 2025

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With the U.S. undertaking a tariff war with countries like China, India sees and opening. As goods from China sold in the U.S. get more expensive, India hopes to lure away manufacturers. But can they do that while avoiding being hit with U.S. tariffs themselves? We go to an Indian manufacturing hub to see what the strategy looks like.
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Rising Sectarian Violence In Syria Mar 11, 2025

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In a part of Syria that had been a stronghold of deposed dictator Bashar Al-Assad, there has been a wave of violence against Alawites, the religious minority of the Assad family. Hundreds of Alawites have been killed and hundreds more have fled their homes in fear. The episode highlights the challenges the new government in Syria faces in uniting the country. But as we learn from an incident in a different Alawite community, this isn't the first episode of violence against the sect.
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Canada's Next Prime Minister; UN World Heritage Soap Mar 10, 2025

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Mark Carney once lead the central bank of Canada and then was tapped to do the same job in England. So he knows a lot about government and finance but he has never held elected office. This weekend he was elected to be head of Canada's Liberal Party which means he'll soon be prime minister. We learn more about the man who takes the job at a time of strained relations with the U.S.
And the Palestinian city of Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, is so renowned for it's soap that the process of making it has been listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. We go to one of the oldest soap factories there.
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The Dangerous Popularity of Skin Whitening Products in Nigeria Mar 07, 2025

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In many parts of the world skin whitening is a major industry, but women in Nigeria have a particular fondness for creams and lotions that promise to lighten their skin. By one estimate, over 77% of women in the country have used such products. We go to Nigeria and learn that the effects of skin whiteners can be severe and many people who use them are unable to stop.
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The European Union Decides to Rearm Mar 06, 2025

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Leaders of the European Union have voted to approve a plan to dramatically increase defense spending. The move is a reaction to the U.S. reducing its support for Ukraine in the war against Russia's invasion. We go to Brussels to understand the ramifications.
And we hear what the series of recent developments in the relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine could mean for peace talks with Russia.
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Going Back in Time to Soviet Central Asia's Boogie Nights Mar 05, 2025

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Today we take a break from the serious and often depressing international news beat to bring you the sound's of Soviet Central Asia in the 1970's and 80's. Our Moscow correspondent introduces us to an anthology of songs that came out of a record factory in Tashkent documenting a wide variety of music from the silk road in that time period.
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Mexico and Canada React to U.S. Tariffs; Ukraine Adjusts to Losing U.S. Support Mar 04, 2025

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The Trump administration has made good on it's threat to apply 25% tariffs to the two biggest U.S. trading partners, Mexico and Canada. China also had its tariff increased from 10 to 20 percent. Canada and China are hitting back with retaliatory tariffs and Mexico has promised to follow suit. We hear about the reaction and impact.
And the Trump administration has announce it is suspending military aid to Ukraine. Our correspondent in Kyiv says Ukraine is figuring out how it can continue despite losing support from the country's single most important ally.
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A Political Dilemma for Israel's Prime Minister Mar 03, 2025

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Our correspondent takes a look at the near future of the the war with Hamas in Gaza through the eyes of Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. He is being pulled in opposite directions politically: President Trump wants the ceasefire in Gaza to continue, while influential right-wing members of Netanyahu's political coalition want fighting to resume.
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Price of Palestinian prisoner release, and gridlock hell in Lagos Feb 28, 2025

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A Palestinian man serving 18 life sentences for a pair of bus bombings in 2004 speaks to NPR days after his release. And, the average person in Lagos, Nigeria, spends over 6 hours of their day in traffic - have new Chinese-backed railways made a difference?
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