WAMU

It's part of the "Arab Spring" that's been taking place largely out of Western view. Protesters have been challenging the Syrian government for weeks, despite aggressive efforts by President Bashar al-Assad to stamp out dissent. But details about events on the ground are hard to come by - the ruling regime has essentially banned journalists. We explore what's at stake as unrest grows and the challenges of following the events as they unfold. Katherine Zoepf comments.

Original article

Kojo chats with Pultizer-winning author and journalist Steve Coll about the history shaping current events in Afghanistan and its neighbors.

Original article

Lisa Guernsey, director of New America Foundation's Early Education Initiative, discusses how to get the most educational values out of tech toys during the holiday season on the Kojo Nnamdi Show.

Listen to the show here. Read the full transcript here.

Steve Coll interviews with WAMU. ... Original Article

Choosing a person to care for a child is a big decision for any parent. But in the Washington region, that decision is further complicated by sky-high costs, long waiting lists, and a lack of quality caregivers. Join Kojo and Sara Mead as we look at how families across the income spectrum are affected by these challenges, and what policymakers are doing to ease the child care shortage. ... Original Audio

In Melissa Koide's interview, with the Kojo Nnamdi Show, Mrs. Koide talks about the factors contributing to the growth of "un-banked" communities and how they're related to our region's economic health. ... Original Audio

A young American (Nicholas Schmidle) goes to Pakistan to launch his journalism career. Twenty-two months later he's expelled from the country. A first-person account of the power and appeal of the Taliban, the ideological cross-currents in Pakistan, and life in one of the world's most dangerous places. ... Original Audio

New America's Lisa Guernsey interviews with the Kojo Nnamdi Show.

Whether they're starting kindergarten or college, students today are less interested in pencils and books than in cellphones and laptops. We'll look at the hot tech items on this year's back-to-school shopping list. ... Original Audio

A panel of China experts joins guest host Susan Page to discuss the first round of high-level talks between the Obama administration and Chinese officials in Washington, D.C.

Guests

Albert Keidel, former acting director of the U.S.Treasury Department's Office of East Asian Nations, currently teaches a graduate course on China's economy at Georgetown University.

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A new page unfolds in transatlantic relations as President Obama's makes his first overseas trip to the G-20 meeting, the NATO summit, a U.S.-E.U. meeting and a state visit to Turkey. A look at divisions he faces with allies, and the appetite for international cooperation on the global economic crisis, Afghanistan, and other security issues.

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