State of the World from NPR

Five years after mass protests rocked Hong Kong, and were crushed by the government, people who took part are downsizing their dreams and ambitions — but keeping a small flame of hope alive. 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

In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and many western governments sought to isolate Russia politically and economically through sanctions. But Russia insists it still has plenty of friends in the world. Our Moscow correspondent went to meet some of them at an economic forum in Saint Petersburg. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal...

The first 400 Kenyan police arrived in Haiti this week, part of a multinational force that will attempt to bring stability back the country. Gangs control most of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. But the Kenyan police arrived in Haiti as the same police force was firing on protesters in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. We hear about what is happening both in Haiti and in Kenya. See pcm.adswizz.com for in...

Brazil is experiencing one of the wettest rainy seasons on record. On Brazil's southern coast, five months of rain fell in 15 days. Flooding lead to over a hundred deaths and over 400,000 people displaced. With more extreme weather expected due to climate change, officials in Brazil are considering relocating whole towns, adding to a growing global phenomenon of people becoming "climate refugees"....

The war between two armed groups in Sudan has been going on for over a year and has engulfed much of the country. About 12 million people are internally displaced, there is a potential for famine in many parts of the country and there are again fears of genocide in Darfur. The International Rescue Committee has put Sudan at the top of their emergency watchlist and their report says that the intern...

France will hold national elections soon and it appears the far right could take political power for the first time since World War II. This would represent a huge political shift in France. We hear from our correspondent in Paris. And the price of gold shot up this spring, due in large part to increased demand for the precious metal in China. We find out what is driving that demand. Sign up for S...

After a tumultuous few years in British politics, with Brexit and multiple prime ministers, one lasting less than two months, U.K. voters will go to the polls on July 4th. Many in Britain say their country feels broken. Our correspondent in London takes a look at what the U.K.'s next prime minister will inherit. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for...

A growing number of children in the U.S. are being targeted in sextortion schemes— a scam in which a cybercriminal obtains and then threatens to release nude or sexually compromising photos, blackmailing victims for a ransom. And sadly dozens of young victims have died by suicide in the last few years. Cybercriminals are often based abroad and it is a particular problem in Nigeria. Our corresponde...

Today we bring you an episode from NPR's science podcast Short Wave about how Israel is using facial recognition software to track Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. And what the proliferation of this technology means for privacy around the world. You can find more Short Wave episodes here . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and...

Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a two-day state visit to North Korea meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. We explore how the two countries might cooperate, with NPR's correspondents in Moscow and Seoul. 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

Israel has announced a daily pause in fighting in an effort to allow more food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza. But some are criticizing the move. We go to the border crossing. And in London, our correspondent descends beneath the streets in search of the inspiration behind the world's most famous secret agent. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...

In India, the world's largest democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently won a third term in office. While he is clearly popular, during his time in power there has also been brutal repression of dissent. We examine a major scandal that unfolded in the run-up to the previous election, five years ago, and examine what it means for the health of Indian democracy. See pcm.adswizz.com for inform...

Authorities in Venezuela are using all manner of tricks to try to ensure President Nicholas Maduro is reelected next month. However, as we hear, it seems that the stunts and intimidation are not working. And in China, the number of American's studying abroad is increasing, but is nowhere near pre-COVID levels. We look at why. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of pers...

There are fears of a second full-on war igniting on Israel's northern border. Hezbollah, the group based in Lebanon and backed by Iran, has been trading fire with Israeli forces across the Israel-Lebanon border since Israel's conflict with Hamas began last October. Those exchanges of fire have hit new peaks recently. We hear from two NPR correspondents who each visited a side of that border. See p...

Violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is increasing. We hear from Palestinians there who are watching events in Gaza with concern. And we hear about the past and current efforts to get Palestinians a state of their own. 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

In European Parliamentary elections, 27 countries went to the polls and handed right-wing parties big gains. And in a surprising move, the president of France dissolved the country's parliament and called elections for the summer. We'll hear analysis of what this means for Europe and reaction from stunned French voters. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal d...

Chef Thierry Marx grew up in a gritty Parisian neighborhood, and is now helping others from disadvantaged backgrounds learn to cook in the restaurant industry. And far-right, anti-establishment conservative Nigel Farage throws a wrench into U.K. elections. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship prefer...

A father in Gaza tries to save his sick son as the family flees Israeli bombs, but their quest for treatment and the baby's skeletal frame reveal malnourishment is only part of the story. 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

Musicians in Kharkiv, Ukraine refuse to cancel the city's music festival, despite weeks of Russian strikes. And American veterans of the Normandy invasion travel to France to mark the anniversary of D-Day. 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

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third win is rare, but is tempered by his party's loss of a parliamentary majority. 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

For the first time since their country became a republic more than two hundred years ago, Mexicans have elected a woman as president. And Ukraine's center for book publishing survives a punishing Russian bombardment. 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

The Ukrainian border town of Krasnopillia, in the country's northeast, is near the only open checkpoint between Ukraine and Russia. When Ukrainians are freed from Russian captivity, or when the bodies of dead Ukrainian soldiers are returned, they usually come through the town. Our correspondent visited and found the returning countrymen are always welcomed by residents and the staff from the town'...

Nearly eight months ago, Israel reacted to the attacks of October 7th by invading Gaza with the goal of destroying Hamas. Our correspondent in Tel Aviv examines how close they are to achieving that goal but looking at Hamas' capability on three fronts: on the battlefield, in continuing to govern and controlling the narrative. For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastup...

Taiwan has developed a large language model artificial intelligence chat bot to compete with a product from China because of fears regarding national security. And North Korea sends garbage-filled balloons over the border into South Korea, escalating a long-standing balloon battle between the Koreas. Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Vi...

Israel has expanded its military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. This comes after an Israeli airstrike on Sunday near a displaced persons camp started a fire killing at least 45 people and injuring hundreds more. We hear details from our correspondent in Tel Aviv. For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates See pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...