State of the World from NPR

Ukrainians say they don’t put much stock in the latest  round of peace talks with Russia underway in Abu Dhabi. But they do sense optimism after a seismic political shift in the U.S. midterm elections. 

In Russia, meanwhile, the country’s best-known independent newspaper, Novaya Gazeta,  is shutting down after more than 30  years amid state pressure and wartime censorship laws.

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The Czech Republic’s distinctive pilsner beer owes its crisp, bitter taste to a specific variety of hops. But climate change is making it harder to grow the plants. Now, Czech researchers are developing hop varieties that can survive hotter, drier summers.
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Eight years after the death of Anthony Bourdain, people around the world still mourn the beloved chef, author and TV star. At a movie theater in Moscow, hundreds of Russian fans gathered recently for the premiere of ‘Tony,’ the new Hollywood film based on Bourdain’s early life. Among them was a man Bourdain loved to call “international man of mystery,” someone who became essential to Bourdain’s success in Russia and beyond. Our Moscow correspondent introduces us to him. 

Please note: this story contains mentions of suicide.  If you or someone you know is in crisis, in the U.S. call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Iran is bracing for the possibility of another round of U.S. and Israeli attacks now that the midterm elections are over.  The war has driven inflation to almost 90 percent in Iran and has also damaged natural gas infrastructure, forcing people to conserve energy as winter sets in or face higher prices.  But despite all these hardships many Iranians still support the Islamic Republic.  We hear from some of them.

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Russia’s war in Ukraine has raised tensions not only in Europe, but also in Asia. Ties between Russia and neighboring Japan are at their worst in decades. Tokyo would like more support from Washington, but as we hear, some Japanese are concerned they may not get it.

And ancient Egyptian mummies were once used as medicine. But why? Chemists are trying to find out what it was in the mummification process that had medicinal properties.

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