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Putin's invasion of Ukraine may be putting Russia's alliance with China to the test

Ahead of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China was widely seen as one of Moscow's few allies. But the recent actions of President Vladmir Putin now has China trying to distance itself from Russia.

Putin's invasion of Ukraine may be putting Russia's alliance with China to the test

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Science

Physical evidence indicates that the coronavirus emerged at Wuhan seafood market

Scientists have solid, physical evidence indicating the COVID pandemic began at a seafood market in Wuhan, China. Data suggest the virus jumped from an animal at the market into people at least twice.

Physical evidence indicates that the coronavirus emerged at Wuhan seafood market

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China is a Paralympics star, but its people with disabilities face high hurdles

People attend the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games 100 Day countdown event at the National Aquatic Center in Beijing, China, on Nov. 24, 2021. Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images

The 2022 Winter Olympics

China is a Paralympics star, but its people with disabilities face high hurdles

China has dominated the medal count at the last five Paralympic Games. That's in stark contrast with the low level of disability access in Chinese society.

China is a Paralympics star, but its people with disabilities face high hurdles

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North Korea fires ballistic missile in resumption of testing

People at the Seoul Railway station watch a TV showing a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022. Ahn Young-joon/AP hide caption

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Ahn Young-joon/AP

World

North Korea fires ballistic missile in resumption of testing

North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the sea on Sunday, its neighbors said. It was the eighth of its kind this year and comes as U.S. attention is focused on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Woman found chained in Chinese village is victim of trafficking, authorities say

Three screen grabs from a video that recently went viral in China show a woman chained to a wall in a doorless shed in a rural Chinese village. The video has prompted a heated discussion about the trafficking of women. Screen grabs by NPR/TikTok hide caption

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Screen grabs by NPR/TikTok

Woman found chained in Chinese village is victim of trafficking, authorities say

The 44-year-old woman who was filmed in a TikTok video, had been sold at least three times, Chinese officials said.

In phone call, China plays a balancing act over Russia's invasion of Ukraine

China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, stressed to his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, that China wanted "dialogue and negotiation," rather than military means, to solve tensions. Pavel Golovkin/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Pavel Golovkin/AFP via Getty Images

World

In phone call, China plays a balancing act over Russia's invasion of Ukraine

In a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasizes dialogue and negotiation in the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

How the U.S. benefits when China turns its back on Bitcoin

A view of the Compute North facility in rural Nebraska. John Ruwitch/NPR hide caption

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John Ruwitch/NPR

World

How the U.S. benefits when China turns its back on Bitcoin

Until the middle of last year, most cryptocurrency mining took place in China. Then authorities pulled the plug. So Chinese bitcoin miners began moving their gear to U.S. towns like Kearney, Nebraska.

How the U.S. benefits when China turns its back on Bitcoin

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Up for reelection, Uttar Pradesh's ruling party tells Indian voters crime is down

India's most populous state has a long reputation for lawlessness. But the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh says it has dramatically reduced crime — and it's running for reelection on that issue.

Up for reelection, Uttar Pradesh's ruling party tells Indian voters crime is down

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Examining the strategic alignment between China and Russia

China has been drawing closer to Russia. It's a signal that the two are increasingly ideologically aligned — even as Russia threatens Ukraine, and that's put China in a tough position.

Examining the strategic alignment between China and Russia

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Nixon's trip to China laid the groundwork for normalizing U.S.-China relations

It's been 50 years since President Nixon went to China, a trip that changed the world's balance of power. The fate of Taiwan was not addressed, and the issue still stalks U.S.-China relations.

Nixon's trip to China laid the groundwork for normalizing U.S.-China relations

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The Philippines government hopes a surge in tourists will save its economy

Boracay Island, the most popular beach in the Philippines, is making a comeback after nearly two years of pandemic restrictions. It comes as the Philippines finally reopens its borders to tourism.

The Philippines government hopes a surge in tourists will save its economy

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Hollywood relies on China to stay afloat. What does that mean for movies?

Audience members sit separately for social distancing at a cinema in China's eastern Zhejiang province in July 2020. AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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AFP via Getty Images

Hollywood relies on China to stay afloat. What does that mean for movies?

Fresh Air

Wall Street Journal reporter Erich Schwartzel says that film studios increasingly need Chinese audiences to break even — which can result in self-censorship. His new book is Red Carpet.

Hollywood relies on China to stay afloat. What does that mean for movies?

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Controversy brews in India over school dress codes and Muslim headscarves

At a high school in southern India, Muslim girls now have to take off their hijabs inside. Six girls refused and sued — their fight has drawn attention to discrimination against Muslims in India.

Controversy brews in India over school dress codes and Muslim headscarves

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