World http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1004&ft=1&f=1004 NPR world news, international art and culture, world business and financial markets, world economy, and global trends in health, science and technology. Subscribe to the World Story of the Day podcast and RSS feed. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Mon, 20 May 2013 15:46:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif World http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1004&ft=1&f=1004 British Aircraft Carrier HMS Ark Royal Heads For Scrap Yard The former Royal Navy flagship fell victim to a 2010 defense review that recommended scrapping the vessel and selling its Harrier jump jets. Mon, 20 May 2013 15:46:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185578507/british-aircraft-carrier-hms-ark-royal-heads-for-scrap-yard?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185578507/british-aircraft-carrier-hms-ark-royal-heads-for-scrap-yard?ft=1&f=1004 The former Royal Navy flagship fell victim to a 2010 defense review that recommended scrapping the vessel and selling its Harrier jump jets.

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]]> An Ancient Religious Pilgrimage That Now Draws The Secular The 1,200-year-old European pilgrimage route known as the Way of St. James is undergoing a revival. Tens of thousands of people are walking across France to the Spanish coastal city of Santiago de Compostela, and the relics of St. James. Once a religious affair, it's now a cultural and social phenomenon as well. Mon, 20 May 2013 17:19:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/20/185577205/Modern-Pilgrims-Find-New-Meaning-Walking-An-Ancient-Path?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/20/185577205/Modern-Pilgrims-Find-New-Meaning-Walking-An-Ancient-Path?ft=1&f=1004 The 1,200-year-old European pilgrimage route known as the Way of St. James is undergoing a revival. Tens of thousands of people are walking across France to the Spanish coastal city of Santiago de Compostela, and the relics of St. James. Once a religious affair, it's now a cultural and social phenomenon as well.

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]]> Iran's 'Zahra' Tells Alternate Tale Of Presidential Campaign What do you do when you can't openly wage a campaign for the presidency? Some Iranians inside and outside the country have turned to the heroine of an online graphic novel who has embarked on a virtual campaign. Mon, 20 May 2013 16:02:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/20/185558815/irans-zahra-tells-alternate-tale-of-presidential-campaign?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/20/185558815/irans-zahra-tells-alternate-tale-of-presidential-campaign?ft=1&f=1004 What do you do when you can't openly wage a campaign for the presidency? Some Iranians inside and outside the country have turned to the heroine of an online graphic novel who has embarked on a virtual campaign.

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]]> Former U.S. Ambassador: 'Don't Go Into Blind' To Syria Robert Siegel talks with Ryan Crocker, former U.S. ambassador to both Iraq and Afghanistan, about how lessons learned in those conflicts could inform how the U.S. deals with Syria today. Crocker is now a fellow at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale University. Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185596314&ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185596314&ft=1&f=1004 Robert Siegel talks with Ryan Crocker, former U.S. ambassador to both Iraq and Afghanistan, about how lessons learned in those conflicts could inform how the U.S. deals with Syria today. Crocker is now a fellow at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale University.

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]]> White House Has Renewed Resolve To Close Guantanamo Later this week President Obama is expected to give a major address on counterterrorism; the closing of Guantanamo Bay prison could figure prominently in his address. The president promised to close the facility back in 2009, but he has made little progress in doing so. For the first time in years, the administration is looking to reduce the number of detainees at the island prison. Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185596308&ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185596308&ft=1&f=1004 Later this week President Obama is expected to give a major address on counterterrorism; the closing of Guantanamo Bay prison could figure prominently in his address. The president promised to close the facility back in 2009, but he has made little progress in doing so. For the first time in years, the administration is looking to reduce the number of detainees at the island prison.

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]]> Pope Francis Puts The Poor Front And Center Shunning the formalities of his office and focusing on poverty, Pope Francis is drawing a sharp contrast between his 2-month-old papacy and those of his predecessors. Mon, 20 May 2013 13:51:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/20/185511880/Pope-Francis-Put-The-Poor-Front-And-Center?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/20/185511880/Pope-Francis-Put-The-Poor-Front-And-Center?ft=1&f=1004 Shunning the formalities of his office and focusing on poverty, Pope Francis is drawing a sharp contrast between his 2-month-old papacy and those of his predecessors.

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]]> Beijing Angry Over North Korea's Seizure Of Chinese Fishermen North Korea's capture of a Chinese fishing boat and its crew of 16 has angered Beijing, adding to its concern over Pyongyang's recent provocations. Mon, 20 May 2013 14:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185560583/beijing-angry-over-north-koreas-seizure-of-chinese-fishermen?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185560583/beijing-angry-over-north-koreas-seizure-of-chinese-fishermen?ft=1&f=1004 North Korea's capture of a Chinese fishing boat and its crew of 16 has angered Beijing, adding to its concern over Pyongyang's recent provocations.

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]]> Life In Argentina's 'Little School' Prison Camp During Argentina's so-called Dirty War, thousands were abducted and taken to secret prisons like a place known as "the little school," where many were tortured and killed. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks to a former prisoner, Alicia Partnoy, about her disappearance and her time there. Mon, 20 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185559556&ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185559556&ft=1&f=1004 During Argentina's so-called Dirty War, thousands were abducted and taken to secret prisons like a place known as "the little school," where many were tortured and killed. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks to a former prisoner, Alicia Partnoy, about her disappearance and her time there.

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]]> After Nearly 50 Years, Burmese Leader Comes To Washington It's been a while since the last visit by a head of state from Myanmar. The last time was 47 years ago, when the country was still known as Burma. As President Thein Sein arrives at the White House Monday, some will hail him as a reformer who set his country on the path to democracy. Others may protest his arrival, as excessive recognition for a head of state that has presided over continuing human rights abuses. Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185458139/after-nearly-50-years-burmese-leader-comes-to-washington?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185458139/after-nearly-50-years-burmese-leader-comes-to-washington?ft=1&f=1004 It's been a while since the last visit by a head of state from Myanmar. The last time was 47 years ago, when the country was still known as Burma. As President Thein Sein arrives at the White House Monday, some will hail him as a reformer who set his country on the path to democracy. Others may protest his arrival, as excessive recognition for a head of state that has presided over continuing human rights abuses.

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]]> Children Of China's Wealthy Learn Expensive Lessons Some super-rich Chinese are sending their kids to weekend classes in order to learn how to deal with money. The lessons include things like a charity sale designed to teach the children compassion, sharing and the value of money. Mon, 20 May 2013 03:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/20/182926183/Children-Of-Chinas-Wealthy-Learn-Expensive-Lessons?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/20/182926183/Children-Of-Chinas-Wealthy-Learn-Expensive-Lessons?ft=1&f=1004 Some super-rich Chinese are sending their kids to weekend classes in order to learn how to deal with money. The lessons include things like a charity sale designed to teach the children compassion, sharing and the value of money.

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]]> Seeing The (Northern) Light: A Temporary Arctic Retirement Inspired by a TED talk, Winston Chen quit his software job and moved from Boston to a tiny Norwegian island with his wife and kids. He spent the year enjoying the outdoors with his family and writing an iPhone app, something he would never have done without his self-imposed sabbatical. Mon, 20 May 2013 03:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183910777/seeing-the-northern-light-a-temporary-arctic-retirement?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183910777/seeing-the-northern-light-a-temporary-arctic-retirement?ft=1&f=1004 Inspired by a TED talk, Winston Chen quit his software job and moved from Boston to a tiny Norwegian island with his wife and kids. He spent the year enjoying the outdoors with his family and writing an iPhone app, something he would never have done without his self-imposed sabbatical.

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]]> Syrian Troops Target Key Rebel-Held Town Qusair is a strategically important town that lies between Homs, where the Syrian uprising began two years ago, and the Lebanese border. If President Bashar Assad's troops – reportedly backed by Hezbollah fighters — regain the town, they would control an important route from the coast to the capital, Damascus. Sun, 19 May 2013 18:35:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/19/185363866/syrian-troops-target-key-rebel-held-town?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/19/185363866/syrian-troops-target-key-rebel-held-town?ft=1&f=1004 Qusair is a strategically important town that lies between Homs, where the Syrian uprising began two years ago, and the Lebanese border. If President Bashar Assad's troops – reportedly backed by Hezbollah fighters — regain the town, they would control an important route from the coast to the capital, Damascus.

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]]> Young Kenyans Build Mobile Apps For Local Use College students and recent graduates crammed the top floor of a tech hub in Nairobi for a competition built around the theme "Solutions for the Next Billion Mobile Users." Africa has more than 600 million mobile phone users (approximately 11 percent of the global total) – and the number is growing. Sun, 19 May 2013 17:25:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/19/185350354/young-kenyans-build-mobile-apps-for-local-use?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/19/185350354/young-kenyans-build-mobile-apps-for-local-use?ft=1&f=1004 College students and recent graduates crammed the top floor of a tech hub in Nairobi for a competition built around the theme "Solutions for the Next Billion Mobile Users." Africa has more than 600 million mobile phone users (approximately 11 percent of the global total) – and the number is growing.

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]]> Afghans With Disabilities Fight For The Right To Rights Their country isn't an easy place for anyone to make a living, but it's a downright hostile environment for those with disabilities. Support has mostly come from nonprofits, but activists are pressing the government to take action. Sun, 19 May 2013 05:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/185194207/afghans-with-disabilities-fight-for-the-right-to-rights?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/185194207/afghans-with-disabilities-fight-for-the-right-to-rights?ft=1&f=1004 Their country isn't an easy place for anyone to make a living, but it's a downright hostile environment for those with disabilities. Support has mostly come from nonprofits, but activists are pressing the government to take action.

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]]> Russian Lawmakers: Don't Criticize Soviet Actions In WWII Don't mess with Soviet history, especially when it comes to World War II. That's the message coming from some hard-line Russian legislators who are angry with an opposition lawmaker who criticized Josef Stalin's World War II counterintelligence agency, SMERSH, and likened it to Adolf Hitler's Gestapo. Sun, 19 May 2013 06:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/19/181573908/russian-lawmakers-dont-criticize-soviet-actions-in-wwii?ft=1&f=1004 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/19/181573908/russian-lawmakers-dont-criticize-soviet-actions-in-wwii?ft=1&f=1004 Don't mess with Soviet history, especially when it comes to World War II. That's the message coming from some hard-line Russian legislators who are angry with an opposition lawmaker who criticized Josef Stalin's World War II counterintelligence agency, SMERSH, and likened it to Adolf Hitler's Gestapo.

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