World

President Obama holds a press conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Friday on the sideline of the G-20 summit.

Syria Puts Obama's Multilateralist Philosophy To The Test

1:11am September 08, 2013

by Ari Shapiro

Multilateralism has been the foundation of the president's foreign policy, and not just on issues of war and peace. At the G-20 summit in Russia this week, he used familiar words when urging military action in Syria. So far, few allies are onboard.

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Leo del Aguila (from left), Vesa Gashi, Scott Simon, Erblin Mehmetaj and Shawn Fox in 1999 in a housing complex in Pristina. Del Aguila, Simon and Fox were covering the Kosovo conflict for NPR; the children lived in the war-stricken area.

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When Weighing Intervention In Syria, Consider The Children

1:01pm September 07, 2013

by Scott Simon

This week, NPR's Scott Simon ran into a young man he knew years ago while covering the war in Kosovo. His friend was just a child during that conflict, and their chance reunion prompted Simon to wonder anew about children trapped in conflict zones and the unknowable consequences of military intervention in Syria.

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Rahul Kacker owns a factory that makes car components. His business has been hit by the economic slowdown.

India's New Central Banker Steps Into A Perfect Storm

8:54pm September 06, 2013

by Julie McCarthy

The new chairman of the Reserve Bank of India infused a sense of much-needed optimism this week, but analysts say the exuberance is unlikely to last. India's economic growth has crashed, its currency has plunged and prices are up. After a decade of high growth rates, India is now the sick man of Asia.

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Olympic Committee To Announce 2020 Summer Games Host

2:22pm September 06, 2013

Saturday in Argentina, the International Olympic Committee will announce the host of the 2020 Summer Games. The committee is choosing from among Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo. The contenders all have strong selling points, but each also has serious issues clouding its bid.

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White House 'Exhausts' Diplomatic Options On Syria

12:40pm September 06, 2013

President Obama is trying to win congressional support for a limited military strike on Syria. Democrat Rep. Joe Manchin of W. Va. says Washington must "exhaust all diplomatic options" before it acts. Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken tells Steve Inskeep he believes all options have been exhausted.

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Tlacoyos can be filled with beans, potatoes, mushrooms or cheese and are often topped with grilled cactus, onions, cilantro, and salsa.

Tlacoyos: A Mexican Grilled Snack That Tempted The Conquistadors

2:10pm September 04, 2013

by Carrie Kahn

Tlacoyos are a doughy corn tortilla of sorts that's cooked on a grill. Whether enjoyed on a plastic plate as street food or fine china in a high-end restaurant, it's been a favorite snack for centuries.

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Obama Considers Training Options For Syrian Rebels

6:42am September 04, 2013

by Tom Bowman

As Congress debates the Obama administration's plans for military action in Syria, the White House is looking at broader options. The president may call on the U.S. military to help build up the Syrian opposition.

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Congress Should Examine Fine Print When Voting On Syria

6:42am September 04, 2013

Potential U.S. military action in Syria has raised some big questions about the duty of the United States to intervene in other countries' affairs — as well as how the U.S. goes about such action. For some perspective, Steve Inskeep talks with novelist and Yale law professor Stephen L. Carter.

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Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., met with President Obama on Sunday at the White House.

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McCain Says Right Strikes Can Hurt Assad's Capabilities

1:18pm September 03, 2013

by Mark Memmott

The Republican senator supports military action that makes it harder for Syrian President Bashar Assad to wage war against his people. The Senate on Tuesday starts debating the president's request for authorization to strike Syria in response to its alleged use of chemical weapons.

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Iran Weighs Heavily In Debate Over Syria

10:54am September 03, 2013

A lot of the debate over Syria is actually a debate about Syria's ally Iran. If the U.S. does strike, could Iran retaliate against the U.S. or its ally Israel? For more, Steve Inskeep talks to Scott Peterson, of The Christian Science Monitor, who is in Istanbul, Turkey.

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