State of the World from NPR

A series of deadly attacks within China in recent weeks have killed dozens and left people uneasy. Those who carried out the attacks have been seemingly ordinary people who authorities say became disgruntled or unhappy. Our correspondent brings us to the site of one recent attacks and says these incidents are raising difficult questions about society and the government. See pcm.adswizz.com for inf...

NPR has been collecting eyewitness accounts from Gaza that indicate Israel is using a new type of drone. One that has a gun attached that can shoot people remotely. We hear how Israel is using it in Gaza and what this technology could mean for the future of warfare. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsors...

Ukraine is granted permission from the Biden administration to fire U.S.-made long range missiles into Russian territory. We hear from two NPR correspondents about this major policy shift by the White House. Our Pentagon correspondent tells us the goals around the move and what it might mean on the battlefield. And our correspondent in Moscow gives us the Russian Government's reaction to the move....

We bring you views from both sides of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Israel says they're closer to accomplishing their mission of pushing Hezbollah militants away from the border so that tens of thousands of Israelis can safely return to the area. Our correspondent visits the tense borderland and finds a dramatically changed landscape. And in Lebanon, intense Israeli airstrikes since Sep...

In Argentina, President Javier Milei is celebrating both the success of this radical cost cutting in lowering inflation and the re-election of Donald Trump in the U.S. The ultra-libertarian has said that he wants to "make Argentina great again" and is travelling to Florida to congratulate Trump in person. We hear how Argentinians are reacting. And without a war, a revolution or even a debate, plan...

North Korea and Russia each ratified a mutual defense treaty within days of each other. The pact means the countries will defend one another if attacked. And some say it may mean more involvement by North Korea in the war between Russia and Ukraine. We hear about the ramifications from our correspondent in Seoul. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for...

Israel's Defense Minister was fired last week by Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu who said that trust had "eroded" between them. The now former defense minister met with families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and gave his thoughts on what Israel can still achieve in Gaza. We hear what was said. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and...

Israel's airlines are generating a windfall as international carriers cancel or limit flights due to security concerns. Flying in or out of Israel has become a logistical challenge since the war in Gaza erupted. 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

We visit Old Trafford Stadium, where iconic British football club Man U is in crisis. Are its US owners running it into the ground, or playing a long game? 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

Donald Trump's return to the White House will reverberate through trade, security and immigration in China and Mexico. NPR's John Ruwitch and Eyder Peralta take us to both key nations. 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

Germany, China and Russia react to Donald Trump's re-election to the U.S. presidency with cautious words of welcome— and sometimes, silence. NPR's International Correspondents Rob Schmitz, John Ruwitch and Charles Maynes report. 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

A pedal through Beijing's small alleys and side streets brings bright glimpses of life in this massive city. Biking used to be commonplace in China before it became the world's largest car market, with some of the worst traffic. Now, a new generation is discovering China's cycling tradition. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to ma...

This Russian dissident believes the country must be changed from within. He and others were traded in the largest prisoner swap in the post-Cold War era. Now, they're planning a protest in Berlin and advocating for pro-Ukrainian policy in the U.S. to defeat Russia. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorsh...

There are rules and norms in place in conflicts meant to shield civilians from the worst harms of war. But human rights groups say lately they're being ignored or broken. Our correspondent has been covering two wars in which many of the laws of war are being flouted. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsor...

We go to the borders between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan to see the dried up shores of what was once one of the largest lakes in the world, the Aral Sea. Mismanagement of the rivers that fed the sea because of demand for irrigation in the dry region, caused the Aral Sea to slowly disappear. And now an irrigation project being undertaken by the Taliban government in Afghanistan threatens...

The region drained by the Amazon River, including the Amazon rainforest, is in the second year of a punishing drought. That has led to the lowest water levels in more than 100 years for the Amazon and its major tributaries. Millions of people and an array of wildlife depend on those quickly disappearing waters. We travel to the region to see the effects. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...

A mystery scrapbook at a Paris flea market and the search for a wartime photographer's identity reveal bravery and sacrifice. 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

Japan is the only country where married couples are required to use one surname or family name. Most often it's women who give up their surname and women's rights advocates have fought for decades for the right to use different surnames in marriage. And now proponents are using a new argument to make their point. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for...

The U.S. Justice Department says it has foiled at least four assassination attempts tied to foreign powers in recent years. They're part of a trend of governments attempting to silence their critics overseas. We hear from the target of one of those assassination plots, which was allegedly orchestrated by an Indian intelligence official. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and...

An upcoming Taiwanese television show, 'Zero Day,' is generating buzz for depicting what a Chinese invasion of the democratic island would be like for everyday citizens. 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

Even as the war in Gaza is still on-going, there are calls from inside Israel's right-wing government for a permanent occupation of the Palestinian territory and to allow Jewish settlements there. While the Prime Minister says this is not the government's policy, some say the military's latest moves make it possible. Our correspondent tells us more from the Israel-Gaza border. For more coverage of...

More than a fifth of Lebanon's population is now displaced, mostly fleeing from the country's south as Israel carries out airstrikes against the Iran-backed group Hezbollah there. With so many people out of their homes, they're taking refuge anywhere they can, including in one of Beirut's most popular nightclubs. Our reporter in Lebanon introduces us to some of the displaced. For more coverage of...

The former Soviet republic of Moldova narrowly passed a referendum to pursue membership in the European Union. That puts it at odds with Russia, which is accused of meddling in the election. Our correspondent in Moscow tells us what the vote could mean. And we go to the bar in Paris that for over a century has held a U.S. presidential straw poll that is usually accurate. See pcm.adswizz.com for in...

NPR's Eyder Peralta takes us to Dahieh, a stronghold of Hezbollah, and an important symbol in the war. This vibrant district of Beirut is hollowed out by weeks of Israeli attacks. 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

Yahya Sinwar was the mastermind of the October 7th attack on Israel that lead to the war in Gaza. Israel says its forces killed him in an operation in Gaza. We'll hear reaction to his death, more about who he was, and how his killing might affect the future of the war. For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collec...