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Leila Fadel Leila Fadel is a host of Morning Edition, as well as NPR's morning news podcast Up First.
Leila Fadel, photographed for NPR, 2 May 2022, in Washington DC. Photo by Mike Morgan for NPR.
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Leila Fadel

Thursday

World

U.S. Couple Held In Egyptian Prison For 1 Year Over Unfounded Child Abuse

An Egyptian-American and her husband have been held in Cairo prisons for more than a year. They're accused of abusing street children in the shelter they ran, but the government has shown little evidence and may be after them because of suspected political activity.

U.S. Couple Held In Egyptian Prison For 1 Year Over Unfounded Child Abuse

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Friday

Egypt's Military Struggles To Quell Growing ISIS-Linked Insurgency

Egyptians carry the coffin of 1st Lt. Mohammed Adel Abdel Azeem, one of more than 20 Egyptian military personnel killed by militants in the Sinai on July 1. Hassan Ammar/AP hide caption

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Hassan Ammar/AP

Parallels

Egypt's Military Struggles To Quell Growing ISIS-Linked Insurgency

Egypt has intensified its military response against insurgents who've pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State. But some warn that the government's crackdown is creating more extremists.

Egypt's Military Struggles To Quell Growing ISIS-Linked Insurgency

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Tuesday

Hearing Postponed For Freelance Photographer Jailed In Egypt

Pictured here in a protest sign, Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid has been held without charge since his arrest on August 14, 2013. He was taken into custody by Egyptian police while he was taking pictures during a chaotic protest in Cairo. Amr Nabil/AP hide caption

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Amr Nabil/AP

The Two-Way

Hearing Postponed For Freelance Photographer Jailed In Egypt

Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid has been behind bars for 705 days without charge. He was arrested in 2013 while taking photos at a protest in Cairo.

Monday

Movies

Egypt Mourns Omar Sharif, Its Homegrown Cinema Star

The international film star, best known for Doctor Zhivago and Lawrence Of Arabia, represented a bygone era for many Egyptians — though not many could get to his funeral on Sunday.

Egypt Mourns Omar Sharif, Its Homegrown Cinema Star

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Sunday

Seeking Control Over Narrative, Egypt Puts Growing Pressure On Journalists

Al-Jazeera English journalists Mohammed Fahmy, left, Baher Mohamed, center, and Peter Greste, right, appeared in a cage during their trial on terrorism-related charges in Cairo in March 2014. The journalists denied all charges. Greste, an Australian, was released earlier this year, but Fahmy, a Canadian-Egyptian, and Mohamed are still on trial. Heba Elkholy/AP hide caption

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Heba Elkholy/AP

Parallels

Seeking Control Over Narrative, Egypt Puts Growing Pressure On Journalists

It's not easy being a journalist in Egypt. The government sometimes tries to control the words reporters use, and new legislation could carry fines or jail time for contradicting the state.

Seeking Control Over Narrative, Egypt Puts Growing Pressure On Journalists

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Friday

A Muslim-Jewish Love Story On Egyptian TV Sends Sparks Flying

A still from Haret al Yahood. Haret al Yahood hide caption

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Haret al Yahood

Parallels

A Muslim-Jewish Love Story On Egyptian TV Sends Sparks Flying

The soap opera features an Egyptian Muslim army officer in love with an Egyptian Jewish woman. It's airing daily during Ramadan and is proving both popular and controversial.

A Muslim-Jewish Love Story On Egyptian TV Sends Sparks Flying

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Friday

The Business Of Smuggling Migrants Across The Mediterranean

Some 800 migrants from the Middle East arrive at the Greek port of Piraeus on Sunday. Smugglers are charging thousands of dollars to take migrants across the Mediterranean, and prices can vary widely. Children are often allowed to travel for free. Anadolu Agency/Getty Images hide caption

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Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Parallels

The Business Of Smuggling Migrants Across The Mediterranean

A family and a smuggler talk about how the smuggling market works on the Egyptian coast. It can run up to $5,000 a person, but kids go for free.

Thursday

As Egyptian Activists Vanish, Suspicion Falls On The Security Forces

Egyptian security forces take up positions during anti-government demonstrations in Cairo last November. Egyptian activists have been disappearing in growing numbers, and human rights groups say they believe the security forces are responsible. Amr Sayed/APA\Landov hide caption

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Amr Sayed/APA\Landov

Parallels

As Egyptian Activists Vanish, Suspicion Falls On The Security Forces

Egyptian activists disappeared in years past and now it's happening again, according to human rights groups. They are again blaming the security forces, who have been cracking down on dissent.

As Egyptian Activists Vanish, Suspicion Falls On The Security Forces

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Monday

Middle East

Syrian Mother Sends Children Across Mediterranean With Smugglers

A Syrian family in Egypt describes how they arrange to send their children with smugglers across the sea to Europe.

Syrian Mother Sends Children Across Mediterranean With Smugglers

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Thursday

Africa

Fisherman By Day, Human Smuggler By Night

An Egyptian fisherman describes his low-level but profitable roll in the migrant smuggling business. He helps place desperate Syrians on boats to Europe.

Fisherman By Day, Human Smuggler By Night

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Saturday

Mecca Becomes A Mecca For Skyscraper Hotels

An aerial view of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca in October 2014. Muhammad Hamed/Reuters/Landov hide caption

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Muhammad Hamed/Reuters/Landov

Parallels

Mecca Becomes A Mecca For Skyscraper Hotels

Mecca is the destination for Muslim pilgrims. To house the millions of worshippers, massive hotels are rising at a furious pace, upsetting those seeking to protect the city's traditional architecture.

Mecca Becomes A Mecca For Skyscraper Hotels

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Friday

Middle East

Self-Declared Islamic State Claims Responsibility For Saudi Mosque Attack

A suicide bomber killed several people in a Shiite mosque in Saudi Arabia Friday, raising fears of anti-Shiite violence there.

Self-Declared Islamic State Claims Responsibility For Saudi Mosque Attack

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Saturday

Middle East

Saudi Shiites Fear A Backlash Over War In Yemen

Saudi Arabia's Shiite Muslim minority rose up four years ago to demand equal rights. Now it's even more marginalized, as the Sunni government wages war against Shiite fighters in neighboring Yemen.

Saudi Shiites Fear A Backlash Over War In Yemen

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Thursday

Saudi King Salman Reshuffles Line Of Succession

Earlier this month, Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's new deputy crown prince, met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo. Egyptian Presidency Handout/EPA /Landov hide caption

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Egyptian Presidency Handout/EPA /Landov

Parallels

Saudi King Salman Reshuffles Line Of Succession

Saudi Arabia's King Salman shook up the monarchy on Wednesday. According to a royal decree, the king's nephew takes over as crown prince, and the king's young son becomes deputy crown prince.

Saudi King Salman Reshuffles Line Of Succession

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Wednesday

Middle East

Saudi Arabian Monarch Announces Changes To Kingdom's Line Of Succession

Saudi Arabia's new monarch announced a major overhaul in the kingdom's line of succession Wednesday.

Saudi Arabian Monarch Announces Changes To Kingdom's Line Of Succession

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