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Saturday

National

Human Trafficking In The U.S.: One Woman's Story

KUOW

This year, for the first time ever, the U.S. included itself in the State Department's annual report on human trafficking. The report said the U.S. is a source country and a destination for victims. One woman, whose name was withheld to protect her and her family, tells her story about being lured from East Africa to Seattle -- into a bad situation.

Human Trafficking In The U.S.: One Woman's Story

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Diplomat: 'Ghosts In The Room' Plague U.S., Iran

John Limbert stepped down Friday as head of the State Department's Iran desk. In 1979, Limbert was one of 52 Americans taken hostage during the Islamic Revolution. He was held for more than a year. Brad Horn/NPR hide caption

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Brad Horn/NPR

Middle East

Diplomat: 'Ghosts In The Room' Plague U.S., Iran

John Limbert, who spent 444 days as a hostage in Tehran, stepped down as head of the State Department's Iran desk on Friday. Limbert says that while the White House has made persistent efforts to change the tone of America's relationship with Iran, conflicts between the two nations are deeply ingrained.

Diplomat: 'Ghosts In The Room' Plague U.S., Iran

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The Americas

Mexico's Drug War More Sophisticated, Deadlier

Mexico's army claimed a victory this week against one of the country's most powerful drug cartels. Soldiers shot and killed Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel, a top lieutenant to the kingpin of the Sinaloa cartel. Guest host Jacki Lyden talks to reporter Michael O'Boyle about the latest developments in Mexico's drug wars.

Mexico's Drug War More Sophisticated, Deadlier

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Middle East

Syria, Saudi Arabia Brace For Strife In Lebanon

The leaders of Syria and Saudi Arabia wrapped up a visit to Lebanon Friday, seeking to cool tensions over an imminent move to indict members of a Shiite militia for the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri. The anticipated indictment from a special international tribunal has prompted worries about a new flare-up of sectarian violence in Lebanon. Guest host Jacki Lyden recaps the visit with NPR's Deborah Amos.

Syria, Saudi Arabia Brace For Strife In Lebanon

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Friday

In Rare Summit, Arab Rivals Try To Ease Tension

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman (center) receives Saudi King Abdullah (left) and Syrian President Bashar Assad upon their arrival at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, on Friday. The leaders of Syria and Saudi Arabia launched an unprecedented effort Friday to defuse fears of violence over upcoming indictments in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Bilal Hussein/AP hide caption

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Bilal Hussein/AP

Middle East

In Rare Summit, Arab Rivals Try To Ease Tension

Saudi Arabia and Syria were bitterly divided in the aftermath of the 2005 murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. But the leaders of both countries visited Lebanon on Friday to try to ease tensions over reports Hezbollah will be implicated in the crime by an international tribunal.

In Rare Summit, Arab Rivals Try To Ease Tension

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Faith Matters

Jewish Women Fight For Equality At Jerusalem Western Wall

Israeli law prohibits women from reading the Torah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, one of Judaism's most sacred spots. Anat Hoffman wants to change that. She's the chairwoman of Women of the Wall and a leading figure in the Reform movement in Israel. Earlier this month she was arrested for carrying the Torah at the wall. Hoffman tells guest host Rebecca Roberts about the incident and why she is so steadfastly working to upend the gender-based restrictions.

Jewish Women Fight For Equality At Jerusalem Western Wall

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Asia

Floods Paralyze Pakistan

Northwest Pakistan has been hit by its heaviest rains in 80 years. The storms are affecting some 400,000 people from the tribal areas. There is also flooding in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, and its sister city, Rawalpindi.

Floods Paralyze Pakistan

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China's Hidden Economy Of Graft Undermines State

Former Chenzhou city anti-corruption official Zeng Jinchun stands trial in Changsha, the capital of China's Hunan province, in 2008. He was convicted of corruption, sentenced to death, and is now awaiting execution. Similar corruption scandals have occurred across China. xinhuanet.com hide caption

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xinhuanet.com

Asia

China's Hidden Economy Of Graft Undermines State

Behind China's complicated economy exists a vast underground economy of corruption and bribery. A recent case in which an anti-corruption official was convicted of taking bribes -- and now awaits execution -- shows how endemic and open a secret the problem is.

China's Hidden Economy Of Graft Undermines State

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India: No Country For Old People?

Bindu Ahlawadi gets used to meals for one at a pay-for-stay home in New Delhi. Her daughter lives in Pittsburgh. Courtesy of Bishan Samaddar hide caption

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Courtesy of Bishan Samaddar

Opinion

India: No Country For Old People?

As India competes in the global economy, new challenges arise for its aging population, who once relied on their children to help them through old age. Morning Edition commentator Sandip Roy explains.

India: No Country For Old People?

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Thursday

National Security

Pentagon Slams Leak Of Afghan War Reports

WikiLeaks' publishing of secret intelligence reports has done severe damage, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday, noting that his department would aggressively investigate how it happened. Adm. Mike Mullen said the group's founder may already have the blood of a soldier or Afghan family on his hands.

Pentagon Slams Leak Of Afghan War Reports

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Beijing Wary Of Rising Tide Of Veterans' Discontent

Chinese paramilitary officers march in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing during a rehearsal for China's 60th anniversary celebrations last year. A consequence of China's military modernization program is that some veterans have been left behind, which has led them to protest their condition. Once the backbone of the communist revolution, soldiers are now considered among the groups that should be suppressed. Feng Li/Getty Images hide caption

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Feng Li/Getty Images

Asia

Beijing Wary Of Rising Tide Of Veterans' Discontent

A seldom-seen aspect of China's ambitious military modernization is the plight of demobilized soldiers who have fallen through the cracks -- and who have Beijing worried. Many veterans are taking to the streets to protest lack of jobs, health care and other benefits.

Beijing Wary Of Rising Tide Of Veterans' Discontent

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Witness Says Leaked Reports Don't Tell Full Story

As an embedded reporter, Noah Shachtman witnessed one of the battles described in classified documents released on Wikileaks. He says the report doesn't reflect the reality of events on the ground. Based on those discrepancies, he explains how he thinks readers should interpret the 92,000 documents.

Witness Says Leaked Reports Don't Tell Full Story

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Secret Jails Used To Enforce China's 'Hidden Rules'

A man walks through a Beijing building formerly used as a secret detention center in 2009. In these "black jails," Chinese citizens are held, forcibly restrained and sometimes beaten to prevent them from lodging formal complaints with the central government. Elizabeth Dalziel/AP hide caption

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Elizabeth Dalziel/AP

Asia

Secret Jails Used To Enforce China's 'Hidden Rules'

On the surface, they appear to be simply farmyards, hotels or guesthouses run by provincial governments. In fact, they are part of a network of extrajudicial detention centers known as "black jails," where local governments hold people who come to Beijing to complain about abuses.

Secret Jails Used To Enforce China's 'Hidden Rules'

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U.S. Steps Up Pressure On Iraq Stalemate

It's been nearly five months since Iraq's the general elections, but the country's politicians have been unable to agree on much of anything, including who will be the next prime minister. Iraqi officials say the Obama administration is stepping up pressure to end the stalemate.

U.S. Steps Up Pressure On Iraq Stalemate

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National Security

U.S. Turns Up Heat On Internet Imam Awlaki

Last month, U.S. lawyers got a series of unexpected phone calls from Yemen. The father of Anwar al-Awlaki -- a cleric with al-Qaida ties who appears on a CIA "capture or kill" list -- was asking for legal advice as he seeks to protect his son.

U.S. Turns Up Heat On Internet Imam Awlaki

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