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Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson Special correspondent Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson is based in Berlin. Her reports can be heard on NPR's award-winning programs, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and read at NPR.org.
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Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson is a NPR foreign correspondent based in Cairo.

Story Archive

Thursday

Wednesday

Tuesday

Mubarak, Egypt's Ousted President, Is Dead At 91

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was a supporter of Israel and took a hard line against terrorism, but eventually U.S. administrations began to pressure the Egyptian leader over human-rights abuses. Amr Nabil/AP hide caption

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Amr Nabil/AP

World

Mubarak, Egypt's Ousted President, Is Dead At 91

For many Egyptians, Mubarak became the symbol of all that was wrong with their country. His nearly 30-year rule is recalled as a time of repression and economic stagnation for all but an elite few.

Mubarak, Egypt's Ousted President, Is Dead At 91

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Sunday

Europe

The German View On The Impeachment Inquiry

Some key figures in the impeachment inquiry are involved in European policy. And Germans are watching warily — they face political uncertainty as Chancellor Angela Merkel's tenure nears its end.

The German View On The Impeachment Inquiry

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Tuesday

'Our Women On The Ground' Unites Stories From Female Journalists In The Arab World

A Kiowa Warrior helicopter flies above soldiers with 4th Squadron 2d Cavalry Regiment during a live-fire exercise in the desert on March 6, 2014 near Kandahar, Afghanistan. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

Review

Book Reviews

'Our Women On The Ground' Unites Stories From Female Journalists In The Arab World

There's a deep fascination in the West with how women function in ultra-conservative societies where repression can be violent and even deadly. This anthology pulls back the curtain on those places.

Monday

Europe

Merkel Expected To Push For Global Cohesiveness In New Year's Speech

Angela Merkel is still the chancellor of Germany and could stay in that job until 2021 — although you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise, given the speculation over who is to be her successor.

Merkel Expected To Push For Global Cohesiveness In New Year's Speech

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Friday

Monday

Europe

E.U. Leaders Formally Back Britain's Brexit Plan

British Prime Minister Theresa May has the support from European Union leaders on a Brexit deal. But it must still be approved by Parliament in the United Kingdom.

E.U. Leaders Formally Back Britain's Brexit Plan

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Sunday

Europe

The European Union And The Brexit Vote

After a messy, year-and-a-half long battle, European leaders today signed off on a divorce deal for the United Kingdom, which is leaving the European Union in March.

The European Union And The Brexit Vote

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Friday

Europe

Comprehensive Post-Brexit Deal Drafted By Britain And EU

Officials from the United Kingdom and the European Union on Thursday approved a draft agreement on their future relationship — for when the U.K. leaves at the end of March 2020.

Comprehensive Post-Brexit Deal Drafted By Britain And EU

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Thursday

Europe

Poland Requests U.S. Base To Guard Against Russian Aggression

The Polish government is asking the U.S. to open a military base in Poland as a counter balance to Russia. They've offered the U.S. up to $2 billion, as well as a promise to call it "Fort Trump."

Poland Requests U.S. Base To Guard Against Russian Aggression

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Monday

Europe

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Announces She Won't Seek Another Term

Merkel had told her party she won't run for re-election as its chairwoman. Her decision comes after the CDU suffered heavy losses in regional elections. She's held the chancellor post for 18 years.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Announces She Won't Seek Another Term

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Wednesday

Europe

Where Things Stand As European Leaders Try To Reach An Agreement On Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May was urged to bring "new facts" to Wednesday's summit of E.U. leaders in Brussels. But U.K. ministers say the ball is the EU's court, so Brexit talks appear to be at stalemate as the clock ticks down.

Where Things Stand As European Leaders Try To Reach An Agreement On Brexit

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Europe

With Deadline Looming, Brexit Negotiations Once Again Are Stalled

EU leaders are gathering in Brussels on what is supposed to be the deadline for a deal to ease the U.K. out of the bloc next March. Plans to unveil a draft declaration have been scrapped.

With Deadline Looming, Brexit Negotiations Once Again Are Stalled

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Monday

Europe

In German Regional Elections, Merkel's Allies Falter

Bavarian voters dealt German Chancellor Angela Merkel a tough blow Sunday. Her conservative allies there are projected to receive their second-worst result in regional elections since 1946.

In German Regional Elections, Merkel's Allies Falter

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Saturday

Germany's Far Right Finds A New Stronghold In Bavaria, And It's Costing Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's political allies in the wealthy alpine state of Bavaria risk losing ground to the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party in upcoming regional elections. Pool/Zick,Jochen-Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Pool/Zick,Jochen-Pool/Getty Images

Europe

Germany's Far Right Finds A New Stronghold In Bavaria, And It's Costing Merkel

A booming economy and ever fewer migrants crossing the border haven't eased a populist backlash against the German chancellor's political allies in the wealthy alpine state of Bavaria.

Germany's Far Right Finds A New Stronghold In Bavaria, And It's Costing Merkel

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Thursday

Europe

Germany's Coalition Government Braces For Bavaria's Elections

A prosperous area of Bavaria has become a stronghold for the far-right AfD. If the party does well in Sunday's regional elections, it could knock Chancellor Merkel's closest political ally from power.

Germany's Coalition Government Braces For Bavaria's Elections

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Friday

World

Winners Of 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Recognized For Their Fight Against Sexual Violence

This year's winners of the Nobel Peace Prize are a Congolese surgeon and a Yazidi activist, both cited for their work opposing sexual violence against women in conflict zones.

Winners Of 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Recognized For Their Fight Against Sexual Violence

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Europe

Norwegian Nobel Committee Announces 2018 Peace Prize Winner

Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad have been named winners of the prize. The committee praised them for being symbols in the fight to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.

Norwegian Nobel Committee Announces 2018 Peace Prize Winner

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Wednesday

Chinese Companies Get Tech-Savvy Gobbling Up Germany's Factories

Containers from China are stacked next to the train station in the Duisburg port in July. Approximately 25 trains a week use a new connection between Duisburg and the Chinese cities of Chongqing and Yiwu. Several European countries use the railway for trading goods both from and into China. Maja Hitij/Getty Images hide caption

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Maja Hitij/Getty Images

China Unbound

Chinese Companies Get Tech-Savvy Gobbling Up Germany's Factories

Beijing wants to up its manufacturing game to make high-end technology — so it has gone on a buying spree, acquiring key German tech firms.

Chinese Companies Get Tech-Savvy Gobbling Up Germany's Factories

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Tuesday

Europe

Polls Show Germany's Far-Right Party Grows In Popularity

The AFD is benefiting from being the official opposition to Chancellor Merkel's grand coalition government. Polls rate it Germany's second most popular party, dropping the Social Democrats to third.

Polls Show Germany's Far-Right Party Grows In Popularity

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Thursday

In The U.K.-EU Faceoff, Neither Side Is Blinking

British Prime Minister Theresa May addresses a press conference at the end of the EU Informal Summit of Heads of State or Government at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria, on Thursday. Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

Europe

In The U.K.-EU Faceoff, Neither Side Is Blinking

British Prime Minister Theresa May appealed to her European counterparts, trying to preserve Britain's access to the EU's single market after the Brexit. But EU leaders are playing hardball.

Tuesday

German Doctors Say It's 'Highly Plausible' Pussy Riot Activist Was Poisoned

The CEO of Berlin's Charite Hospital, Karl Max Einhaeupl (left), and leading doctor Kai-Uwe Eckardt discuss the health of Pyotr Verzilov in Berlin on Tuesday. Verzilov, a member of Russian punk protest band Pussy Riot, was flown to Germany on Sept. 16 after a suspected poisoning. Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

World

German Doctors Say It's 'Highly Plausible' Pussy Riot Activist Was Poisoned

Physicians in Berlin say that anti-Kremlin activist Pyotr Verzilov's illness does not appear to be caused by infection or disease. But they could not confirm what he was poisoned with, or by whom.

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