India Announces Widespread Ban Of E-Cigarettes
The government expressed alarm at the growing rate of use by young people and possible health hazards.
Asia
China Is The U.S.'s Top Intelligence Threat, American Officials Say
Three ex-U.S. intelligence officers recently were convicted or pleaded guilty to spying for China, and the Justice Department brought almost a dozen more cases related to Chinese economic espionage.
Solomon Islands Officials End Ties With Taiwan, Realign With China
NPR's David Greene talks to Tarcisius Kabataulaka of the University of Hawaii about the Solomon Islands switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.
China Used Twitter To Disrupt Hong Kong Protests, But Efforts Began Years Earlier
Social media networks banned hundreds of thousands of accounts last month. In NPR's assessment of the data, telling details begin to depict large disinformation campaigns.
Gates Foundation's Humanitarian Award To India's Modi Is Sparking Outrage
The Indian prime minister is cited for the millions of toilets his government has built in rural India. Activists say his human rights record should disqualify him.
In South Korea, Anguish Over Deaths Of North Korean Defectors Who May Have Starved
A mother and her young son were found dead in July, apparently of starvation. The case has refocused attention on the circumstances of defectors, who often struggle to start new lives in the South.
Protesters Turn Out In Hong Kong For 15th Straight Weekend
The streets of Hong Kong were hot with protests over the weekend. Tear gas and water cannons were fired by police at protesters after the initially peaceful demonstrations turned violent.
South Korea's Indifference Blamed For Deaths Of North Korea Defectors
After a mother and child who defected from North Korea died in South Korea, many ask: Why risk your life for freedom and escape a dictatorship, only to die without food and money in a land of plenty?
How Afghans Are Reacting To Breakdown Of Peace Talks
NPR'S Scott Simon speaks with Afghan scholar and activist Orzala Nemat on how Afghans are reacting to U.S.-Taliban peace efforts.
News Brief: Asylum Requests, Tariff Delay, Flavored E-Cigarettes
The Supreme Court allows the government to curtail asylum request during the legal fight. President Trump agrees to delay tariffs on China for two weeks. And, the FDA will ban flavored e-cigarettes.