1.) What would be the best currency to use for international transfers from the US to places like India, North Korea, the Middle East.
Bitcoin. I'm not very specific and aware of the current status of crypto adoption on India and North Korea but AFAIK, you can use it there. Wait, you have contact on North Korea?
2.) How could the recipients turn their crypto into cash without going through a bank? For example, if we sent 10,000 worth of Rupee to India via crypto, how would the end user convert this into Rupee in their country?
They can use a local exchanger for that or sell it through Peer to peer trading.