World News

Ecuadoran Province Churns Out Top-Notch Soccer Players

7:29am June 20, 2014

by John Otis

Ecuador produces some excellent soccer players, but they predominantly come from the same area. The sparsely populated Pacific coast province of Esmeraldas. What makes it Ecuador's soccer hotbed?

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Political Solution Needed In Iraq, Obama Says

7:29am June 20, 2014

by Tamara Keith

President Obama is sending up to 300 military advisers to Iraq to gather intelligence on the insurgency. He was adamant there will be no American combat operations on the ground in Iraq.

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Even If Their Team Loses, Japanese Fans Still Sweep The World Cup

7:12pm June 19, 2014

It's common to hear of soccer hooligans taunting players and fighting in the stands. In Japan, it's a different story: Soccer fans there have a tradition of cleaning up the stadium after matches.

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World News

German Defense Minister On U.S.: We Have To Defend Common Values

7:12pm June 19, 2014

Robert Siegel speaks with Ursula von der Leyen, the defense minister of Germany, about the latest news out of Ukraine and Germany's complex relationship with the U.S.

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U.S. Program Hopes To Inspire Young Africans To Be Tomorrow's Leaders

7:50am June 19, 2014

by Michele Kelemen

President Obama is organizing the first of its kind African summit in Washington. In the run-up to that high-level gathering, young African leaders are in the U.S. for a leadership training program.

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World News

United Nations Launches Review Of Peacekeeping Efforts

7:50am June 19, 2014

U.N. peacekeepers are in some of the world's most violent places. Linda Wertheimer talks to Herve Ladsous, U.N. under-secretary-general for Peacekeeping Operations about the changing mission.

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The Specter Of Iraq Haunts The Political Life Of Barack Obama

7:08pm June 18, 2014

by Don Gonyea

From his time as an Illinois state senator to his role as U.S. commander in chief, President Obama's political life has been defined by the issue of Iraq — and not necessarily because he wanted it to.

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As Death Count Rises, Health Officials Work To Stem Ebola's Spread

7:08pm June 18, 2014

by Jason Beaubien

The World Health Organization is reporting that the Ebola virus has yet to be contained in West Africa. It's one of the largest Ebola outbreaks in decades.

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World News

In Support For Kurds, Does Turkey Hope For A Redrawn Middle East Map?

7:08pm June 18, 2014

One actor with an eye on Iraq's ongoing violence is Turkey. For more on Turkey's complex relationship with Iraq, as well as its interests in Iraqi Kurds, Robert Siegel speaks with Hugh Pope.

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In Brazil, Predictions Of Doom And Gloom Give Way To Minor Annoyances

4:32pm June 18, 2014

by Russell Lewis

Brazil's World Cup preparation endured some heavy criticism leading up to the games. Stadiums were still under construction, Internet connections were sketchy and transportation faced major challenges. A week into the tournament, NPR's Russell Lewis has traveled to three airports and three cities so far. He talks to Melissa Block about what has worked and what remains a challenge.