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Saturday

'Byzantine' Tips For Today's Foreign Policy

When we say "Byzantine" today, we usually mean complicated and disorganized. But historian Edward Luttwak argues that the U.S. should look to the Byzantines — the ancient empire, that is — for foreign policy answers today. Luttwak, who wrote the book The Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire, tells host Guy Raz about what strategic tips President Obama could get from the Byzantium.

'Byzantine' Tips For Today's Foreign Policy

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Afghans Cope With Violence In Kabul

Earlier this week, the Taliban took credit for two attacks in Kabul. One killed eight people at a United Nations office; the other targeted the city's best-known hotel, the Serena. Reporter Jean MacKenzie of GlobalPost, who was in the Serena at the time of the attack, talks to host Guy Raz about the latest violence.

Afghans Cope With Violence In Kabul

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Yearwood On The News: Afghanistan, Honduras

Headlines were plentiful on the world stage this week, with one candidate threatening a boycott of the Afghan runoff election, Hillary Clinton jousting with Pakistani journalists, and a potential political breakthrough in Honduras. Host Guy Raz gets behind those headlines with John Yearwood, the world editor for The Miami Herald.

Yearwood On The News: Afghanistan, Honduras

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Karzai Challenger May Boycott Afghan Runoff

Abdullah Abdullah, the runner-up in Afghanistan's presidential election, is threatening to boycott next weekend's runoff. NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson talks to host Guy Raz about Abdullah's announcement, which is expected Sunday morning, and how that could scramble the country's political scene.

Karzai Challenger May Boycott Afghan Runoff

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Iraq Reconstruction Program Needs Its Own Rebuild

The U.S. government established the "CERP" fund -- Commander's Emergency Response Program -- to win hearts and minds in Iraq by building schools, roads and water purification facilities that the country needs. Today, almost two years later, the program is still marred by allegations of corruption and waste. Stuart Bowen, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, is leading the battle to clean up CERP. He joins host Scott Simon to talk about the progress he's made and where he'd like to see improvement.

Iraq Reconstruction Program Needs Its Own Rebuild

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Analysis

Analysis

Week In Review With Daniel Schorr

This week there was growth in the GDP but not in consumer confidence. The House version of a health care bill headed to a vote, and violence continued throughout the Middle East. Host Scott Simon reviews the week in the news with NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr.

Week In Review With Daniel Schorr

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Strange News

Halloween Warning: That's Not A Polar Bear Costume

It's polar bear season in the town of Churchill, Manitoba. Officials usually warn kids to stay inside after dark in case a migrating bear comes too close to town. But on Halloween night, the town bands together in a polar bear patrol to keep the streets safe for trick-or-treaters.

Halloween Warning: That's Not A Polar Bear Costume

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Iraqis Fear New Enemy: H1N1 Virus

An Iraqi schoolgirl wears a protective mask as she is walked to school in the central Iraqi city of Kut, Oct. 19, 2009. Panic over swine flu prompted officials in Iraq to close about 2,000 schools in a bid to combat the virus. Ali al-Alak/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Ali al-Alak/AFP/Getty Images

Iraqis Fear New Enemy: H1N1 Virus

Fewer than 500 cases of H1N1 have been reported in Iraq, but it's not uncommon to see schoolchildren walking home wearing surgical masks. Fear of the virus has caused a rash of school closures, and is even preventing some Iraqis from making this year's pilgrimage to Mecca.

Iraqis Fear New Enemy: H1N1 Virus

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Friday

Middle East

Iran Appears To Reject Uranium Deal, Seek Changes

Iran has apparently rejected a nuclear deal with the United States, Russia and France that it initially agreed to. Iran is saying it wants another arrangement, but Iran's leaders insist they are not reneging on the deal. The U.S. and Europe aren't so sure.

Iran Appears To Reject Uranium Deal, Seek Changes

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Can Afghanistan Hold A Clean Runoff Election?

Workers transport ballot boxes on a trolley to be loaded on trucks at the Independent Election Commission compound in Kabul. Taliban fighters have warned Afghans not to take part in the country's Nov. 7 presidential runoff election. Altaf Qadri/AP hide caption

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Altaf Qadri/AP

Can Afghanistan Hold A Clean Runoff Election?

The August presidential election was so marred by fraud it has raised questions about whether Afghanistan can do much to make the Nov. 7 runoff a credible vote. The credibility of the Afghan government is at stake and the Obama administration has delayed a decision on whether to send additional troops to Afghanistan.

Business

China Lifts Ban On U.S. Pork Products

KCUR

American pork producers say China's decision to lift a ban on U.S. pork imports comes at a critical time. The industry is struggling because of fears over swine flu. China imposed the ban on U.S. pork five months ago following the outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus. The disease cannot be caught by eating pork.

China Lifts Ban On U.S. Pork Products

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Clinton Faults Pakistan On Al-Qaida Inaction

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wraps up her trip to Pakistan Friday, and she's been causing a stir. On Thursday, she suggested the Pakistani government was not doing enough to root out al-Qaida. Her remarks were the strongest suggestion yet by the Obama Administration that the Pakistanis could find al-Qaida leaders, but aren't really going after them.

Clinton Faults Pakistan On Al-Qaida Inaction

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In Egypt, Succession Worries Prompting Crackdown?

In this file photo from April 2008, supporters of Egypt's main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, demonstrate in Alexandria, Egypt, against a wave of arrests targeting the group's leaders and potential candidates in upcoming local elections. Members of the group say it is experiencing similar persecution now, more than a year away from parliamentary elections. AP hide caption

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AP

Middle East

In Egypt, Succession Worries Prompting Crackdown?

Egypt's ruling party is working to quell speculation about President Hosni Mubarak's intentions — and whether his son will succeed him. Parliamentary elections are a year off, but the opposition, including the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, is already facing daunting obstacles.

In Egypt, Succession Worries Prompting Crackdown?

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