State of the World from NPR

Speaking at a meeting of NATO, President Trump said the ceasefire with Iran is over, but he is open to negotiations. That statement came after days of renewed airstrikes between the two sides. We know President Trump wants a deal to help bring down oil prices ahead of midterm elections, Iran stands to lose out on billions of dollars without the deal. We hear about the stakes for Iran on the ceasef...

The Gaza strip has been split in half ever since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire went into effect in October, 2025. Israel’s military occupies the east and 2 million Palestinians are squeezed into the remaining half along Gaza’s western coast. But in recent months, despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have been expanding their area of control, pushing deeper into Gaza. They now control at least 65% o...

They’re called “cockroaches”, but the name itself is a dig at the political establishment. It is a political movement in India dominated by Generation Z. They’re demanding political reforms and accountability from the government of prime minister Narendra Modi. We go to New Delhi to understand this youth movement. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data fo...

As a meeting of NATO leaders begins in Ankara, Turkey we look at the alliance’s relationship at the top level, where messages of unity are challenged by anxieties about President Trump’s commitment to the alliance. And at the ground level, where the militaries of NATO countries conduct joint exercises off the coast of the U.S. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of per...

Six years ago, the Chinese government imposed its national security law on Hong Kong which, among other things, restricted free speech and increased government surveillance on the former British territory. At the time officials said it would only affect a small number of people, but critics say it has transformed life in the city. We go to Hong Kong to see how it has changed. See pcm.adswizz.com f...

In the United States, a long holiday weekend over the 4th of July celebrates America’s 250th birthday. Recently, NPR’s correspondent in India found an unlikely place that same birthday is being marked. On the back of three-wheeled motorbike taxis known as rickshaws in New Delhi. We investigate. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to...

Thousands remain missing more than a week after the twin earthquakes struck Venezuela and hope for finding survivors is fading into and effort to recover remains. With little help from the government many families are taking it upon themselves to dig through the rubble to find their loved ones. We witness some these efforts on Venezuela’s northern coast. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...

Exiled Russian journalist Vladimir Raevsky has used a well-known Russian fairy tale as the basis for his stand-up comedy. It’s called “the realm that never smiled” and it encourages Russian speaking audiences to laugh at their own history as a way to fight authoritarianism. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast...

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 300 people, putting it on track to become one of the deadliest incidents of Ebola in recent history. We go to the epicenter of the outbreak where overwhelmed clinics and a lack of protective gear leave health workers exposed See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship a...

The death toll continues to rise in Venezuela after twin earthquakes struck last week devastating coastal areas. The government says more than 1,700 people have been killed. Tens of thousands are still missing. In today’s episode, we’re on the ground in Venezuela to get an understanding of the rescue effort. We’ll hear frustration at the Venezuelan government’s response which many consider slow an...

As the world focused on the war with Iran, Israeli forces steadily took more territory in the Gaza Strip and killed more people last month than at any time this year, according to Gaza health records. More than one thousand Palestinians have been killed in the eight months since President Trump declared the war there was over. We go to Gaza where civilians say they don’t feel safe anywhere, despit...

Earthquakes have caused vast damage in Venezuela, catching residents by surprise in a place not accustomed to temblors. A state of emergency has been declared in Venezuela— a nation that was politically and economically fragile before this natural disaster hit. Rescue workers are searching buildings for survivors as help begins to arrive from nearby countries. We hear from people there and from sc...

An Ebola outbreak is spreading across eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo that health experts warn could become one of the largest Ebola outbreaks in recent years. In just over a month, Congo's Ministry of Health says more than 1,000 cases have been confirmed, and more than 250 people have died. The outbreak was first detected in the gold-mining town of Mongbwalu, where health workers began n...

In today’s episode we look at political shifts in two countries. In the UK, the former mayor of Manchester, England, Andy Burnham, may soon replace British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation. Burnham would be the U.K.'s seventh leader in 10 years. And in Colombia a sharp political turn from a president on the left to one on the far-right, backed by President Trump. See pcm....

Now that World Cup games have taken over nearly every television around the globe, today we bring you two stories of World Cup firsts in this year’s tournament. Uzbekistan is the first Central Asian country to appear in the tournament, and we go there to find that their achievement is not an accident and may be a sign of bigger changes underway. And Iran is the first team to play in a host country...

India plans to build a major port, airport and town on pristine, remote Great Nicobar Island. Supporters say it could boost trade and jobs, but critics worry about environmental damage. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Ukraine recently launched one of the biggest attacks on Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country began. Hundreds of long-range drones were sent towards the Russian capital. This attack illustrates a paradigm shift in the conflict: Ukraine has seized the advantage even though Ukrainian forces are far outnumbered by the the Russian military. They’re doing it largely with drones, like...

We’re learning more about the deal between the U.S. and Iran that’s aims to end hostilities and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz. It’s called a Memorandum of Understanding, and it’s a preliminary agreement to set up negotiations for a final deal. Major issues still need to be worked out in those negotiations like the fate of Iran’s nuclear program and lifting U.S. sanctions. Speaking to reporters...

President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner, are planning to develop a luxury resort on a beautiful stretch of Albania’s coastline. But there is a growing protest movement against the project, which is on public land and many Albanians view it as government corruption. And the identities some partners involved in the development are hard to find. We go to the Adriatic c...

In eastern Congo’s Ituri province, a new Ebola outbreak is testing an already fragile health system. In the city of Bunia, hospitals are overwhelmed or shut down after suspected infections, while health workers race to contain the virus. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy...

Ukraine’s use of cutting edge drone technology is turning the tide in the war with Russia. And the latest breakthrough has been the use of drones that operate high-stakes missions on the ground. We meet one of the Ukraine military’s ground drone units near the front line. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sp...

Soccer’s biggest event is officially underway as the 2026 World Cup kicked off in Mexico. The games will be played in Canada and the U.S. as well, but we go to Mexico City, the capital of the most soccer-obsessed host country, to hear about the jubilant atmosphere. And a Somali referee who was set to make history officiating the World Cup was denied entry to the U.S. He returned to Mogadishu to a...

A new report shows conflicts across the globe surged in 2025, reaching levels not seen since the Second World War. And violence against civilians reached new heights. We hear from one of the report’s authors and get an update on one of the flashpoints driving the increase in violence: the war in Sudan. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorshi...

North Korea hosted a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the first in nearly seven years. Though the two neighboring countries have had an alliance for decades, the meeting comes as North Korea has been prioritizing its relationship with Russia. We hear from our correspondents in Shanghai and Seoul about what this meeting means. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use o...

Guadalajara is preparing for the World Cup with fan zones and celebrations, but the city is also the capital of one of Mexico’s most violent states. Families of the more than 130,000 people reported missing in Mexico continue to search for their loved ones, putting up posters and digging for remains, even as the world watches soccer’s biggest spectacle. We go to Guadalajara to here from families b...