State of the World from NPR

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/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

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. Visit plus.npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

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

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Russia's war in Ukraine is deepening divisions across Europe. One example is the Baltic nation of Latvia, formerly part of the Soviet Union. One third of those living in Latvia are Russian speaking and now some elderly residents, who may have lived there for decades, are being forced to prove their loyalty or leave.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Iran laid the body of President Ebrahim Raisi to rest, after he died in a helicopter crash. Though thousands attended funeral ceremonies, we hear from Iranians who say he won't be remembered fondly.

And in South Korea, a propaganda video from North Korea is banned after it goes viral on TikTok.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

After a long decline of the government in Haiti, gangs have seized complete control. A multi-national force is being sent to Haiti to restore the government to power, but their success is not assured. We go to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to see the challenges this international mission will face.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

A new president in Taiwan was inaugurated this week. Lai Ching-te will now lead a Taiwan that is divided politically on many issues, including on how to confront China. We'll hear from our correspondent in Taipei and from some young Taiwanese preparing for mandatory military service.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has announced he will seek arrest warrants for leaders of Hamas and of Israel for war crimes in Gaza. The U.S. has denounced the possible prosecution of Israeli leaders. We get response from a minister in Israel's government.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Iran's president, foreign minister and other officials have died in a helicopter crash. President Raisi was the top elected official in Iran and seen as a possible successor to the Supreme Leader, who has has ultimate power over the government. We'll hear the details from Iran and analysis of what happen next in Iran's government.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Ckunsa, an indigenous language in Chile, was declared dead 70 years ago. But groups in northern Chile are successfully reviving the language and teaching it to a new generation.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

While Israel's government has strongly rejected the idea that the International Criminal Court could prosecute Israeli's accused of war crimes in Gaza, many in Israel say the military doesn't do an adequate job holding it's own soldiers accountable. Our correspondent looks into how the Israeli military polices itself.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

China, the country that once feared overpopulation, is now experiencing a falling birthrate. The government is encouraging its citizens to have children. We visit a "marriage market" where hopeful young people are looking for a match.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Unexploded bombs and other ordinance are hidden throughout Gaza posing a threat to civilians now and they will continue to potentially kill long after the war is over. We hear about a victim of one of these munitions and of the challenges of removing such threats as civilians are fleeing fighting.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Russia launched a surprise new offensive in northeast Ukraine, near the second largest city of Kharkiv. Russian troops are continuing to advance, we get the latest from our Ukraine correspondent. And in another development in that war, Russia's President Putin replaced the country's defense minister. We get context on both events from a retired U.S. Lieutenant Colonel who used to oversee European affairs at the National Security council.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Prabowo Subianto will become the president of Indonesia in the Fall. Critics worry that the former general under a previous authoritarian government will roll back democracy. That presents a challenge for the U.S., which once trained and supported Prabowo, then subsequently banned him from entering the U.S. for twenty years.

And a TV song contest in Venezuela in which every song is about the authoritarian president.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Ukraine uncovers what they say was a sophisticated network of spies working with Russia to kill President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials. And in Russia, during a celebration marking the USSR's victory over Germany in World War II, Russia's president again drew parallels between that fight against fascism and the war in Ukraine. We hear from Russians who attended the event.

Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Visit plus.npr.org

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Scams that target people via direct message and texts in an effort to steal money have become pervasive. But the scammer on the other end of the communication might be a victim too, in a human-trafficking scheme. We hear the story of one such victim.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Mexico's general election will be held at the beginning of June and it will mark the end of a campaign season of record violence. Some thirty candidates have been assassinated in the past year. Our reporter goes to one of Mexico's most violent towns to talk to candidates who are brave enough to run for office.

Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Visit plus.npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Increasingly, Israelis and Palestinians are experiencing the war in Gaza in completely different ways. Critics charge Israeli media outlets with failing to cover the extent of civilian suffering in Gaza. And Palestinian news media is accused of downplaying the level of violence committed in the October 7th attacks on Israel. We hear from news consumers and journalists on both sides.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

As protests over the Israel Hamas war roil college campuses across the U.S., similar protests are happening elsewhere in the world. We hear from some of them. And a quirky festival in Colombia celebrates the donkey.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

After months of delay in Congress, Ukraine is finally receiving the U.S. military aid it says is crucial in winning its fight against Russia. But after two years of war, what it means to win is increasingly complicated. We hear about the state of the conflict from our correspondent in Kyiv and our Pentagon correspondent.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

European countries that border Russia are concerned that they'll be invaded next if an emboldened Russia is successful in Ukraine, even though they're members of the NATO alliance. We go to the Baltic nation of Estonia and hear from people who are making preparations in case of invasion.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Israel has been public with it's plan to conduct an assault on the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza, absent a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Such a military operation could be catastrophic for more than a million Palestinian civilians there, many having fled there from fighting elsewhere in Gaza. We hear the voices of people who are weighing the risks of staying and wondering where they can go.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We take a look at China's economy as it has emerged from the pandemic experiencing slower growth than in years past. We hear that economic ties between the U.S. and China have loosened and that high unemployment among young people has meant far less optimism about the future.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Germany might be known for precision technology, but the government and many businesses still rely on that darling of the 90's— the fax machine! However, those chirpy, screeching tones may give way to modern technology by this summer. At issue is bureaucracy that some say is hurting the German economy. Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Visit plus.npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Newly approved military aid package goes to Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel. We'll hear about what its impact on the battlefield will be. And in London, royal horses get loose during rush hour. Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Visit plus.npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

As Israel's war against Hamas continues, children in Gaza are suffering. According to the United Nations, more than 25,000 children have been killed or injured since October. That's one child every ten minutes. We hear about one of those children, a twelve year-old boy injured in Gaza.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Two stories of how our reliance on GPS becomes problematic in regions experiencing war. In Ukraine, the power grid's use of GPS becomes a liability. And in the Middle East today, GPS "spoofing" causes a variety of issues from plane navigation to internet dating.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The U.S. Congress is poised to finally approve a package of aid to Ukraine worth over $60 billion, with the House having approved the funds on Saturday. The Ukrainian prime minister was in Washington to urge for the aid to be passed and explains why Americans should continue to assist in his country's war effort.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Israel and Iran have been trading attacks on each other for a week including, for the first time, attacks on each other's territory. Will Israel's latest retaliation be the end of this wave of hostilities, or will Iranian response bring the long-standing enemies closer to all-out war? We hear from NPR's national security correspondent and our correspondent in Israel.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

H-Pop is the Indian popular music and poetry of Hindu nationalism. But critics worry that the music is spreading hate and encourages violence against Muslims.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Ultra-Orthodox Israelis have long been exempt from compulsory military service. But the October 7th attack by Hamas and Israel's subsequent military response have brought forward calls for change. The government's decision on whether to end the exemption has major political consequences.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

More than 8 million people have been displaced in Sudan, according to the United Nations. A powerful paramilitary group has been fighting the Sudanese army for over a year. We hear from a Sudanese poet, who is trying to draw attention to the overlooked conflict in her country.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Following the attack of more than 300 weaponized drones and missiles launched by Iran at Israel, the Israeli prime minster is getting pressure from the U.S. for Israel to be measured in its response, while some domestic politicians are demanding a strong reaction. Our correspondent in Tel Aviv gives us the latest. And Jordan was part of the success in shooting down the majority of projectiles bound for Israel. We hear what the reaction has been in that country where 60 percent of the population is of Palestinian origin.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

It has been three decades since the East African country of Rwanda experienced a genocide that changed the country and shocked the world. We look at the state of their society today.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Ownership of the Spratly Islands are in dispute. This has been the case for decades, but tensions have been raised recently as China has tried to expand its claims in the remote area. We get a rare glimpse of one of the islands that has a Filipino community living on it.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

While the ideological gender gap among young people is widening across the developed world, it is particularly alarming in South Korea. Experts are concerned about what it means for the country's future. Our reporter in Seoul examines the phenomenon.

Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Visit plus.npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Understandably, a movie about the man who steered the development of atomic bombs is seen differently in a country where some 200,000 people were killed by those bombs. "Oppenheimer" opened in Japan 8 months after premiering in the U.S. Our reporter talks to movie goers in Nagasaki, Japan.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Aviva Siegel was among the more than 200 Israelis taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th. She was held 51 days before being released. Her husband, Keith, who is a U.S. citizen, is still being held in Gaza. We hear about Aviva Siegel's time in captivity and her advocacy for the release of Keith and the remaining hostages.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Chinese-funded marijuana farms are popping up across the United States. Many of them exploit workers from China. We go to New Mexico, which has seen the rise of such farms and explore the reasons why this is happening.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

NATO, the alliance formed to protect Europe from the Soviet Union is marking 75 years. It the focus is still on Russia.

And a controversy in France over a singer selected to perform at the opening ceremony of the Olympics, raises questions about French identity.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Israel's military laid siege to Gaza's largest medical complex for two weeks because, they said, Hamas fighters had regrouped inside. Following the Israeli withdrawal from the hospital, Palestinians were able to get a glimpse of the results of the raid.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo is increasing and has caused over a million people to flee their homes. It is threatening to become a regional war. Many of the displaced end up next door in Rwanda and we hear about the conflict from some Congolese in a refugee camp.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Sderot, Israel, near the border with Gaza, was the biggest city attack by Hamas on October 7th. At the beginning of the war, Israel evacuated nearly everyone. Our correspondent visits Sderot and finds that people are returning.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

"Blossoms Shanghai" is A 30-part TV series directed by acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai, set in the 1990's that has become a huge hit in China. Our China correspondent tells us the nostalgia unleashed by the show tells us a lot about how people in China are feeling these days.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We hear the story of an Israeli man taken captive by Hamas on October 7th. He was freed by Israeli special forces 129 days later and talks about his ordeal.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Haiti is the middle of a crisis and is without a government as gangs in Port-au-Prince prevent one. But some parts of Haiti have lived without a functioning government for so long they cannot remember what it's like to have one. Our reporter in Haiti takes us to one such village.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We hear from a U.N. spokesperson about the conditions for civilians he saw in Gaza. We also speak to an Israeli government minister about the level of humanitarian aid entering Gaza and about why a delegation to the U.S. was cancelled over a vote at the U.N.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Islamic insurgents and other heavily armed groups have increasingly turned to kidnapping to get money. They abduct individuals, families and even large groups and then demand to be paid to let them go. We hear the story of one family, whose life has been turned upside down by a kidnapping.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We go to a town in Eastern Ukraine that is close to the front lines and under constant fire. Russians are advancing in Eastern Ukraine as Ukrainian forces run low on ammunition and weapons.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We hear what life is like for three families in northern Gaza where finding food and water is a struggle and hundreds of thousands of people are facing starvation.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

In Cuba, protests over the weekend revealed frustrations over shortages of food and electricity as the country confronts a serious economic crisis. And the World Happiness Report tells of interesting differences in happiness between generations.

Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists around the world. Visit plus.npr.org

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We go to two places where China has been exerting control. In Hong Kong, the government finally passed national security laws that are seen by critics as eroding civil liberties. In the Philippines, China's attempts to expand its territorial waters are being met with increasingly fiery rhetoric from senior officials.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin was reelected with a reported 87% of the vote. The US government said the election was neither free nor fair. Our correspondent in Moscow tells us about why the Kremlin wanted to be sure of a high turnout and lopsided result.

And the legacy in the Middle East of a young American activist who died in Gaza 21 years ago.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The island of Ireland is divided into the Northern part, which is part of the UK and the independent Republic of Ireland to the south. But a political party is poised to take power in both places and it has pledged to make the border disappear.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Gang violence has brought fear, chaos and uncertainty to Haiti. Amidst food shortages and looting, the capital, Port-au-Prince, is experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis since the devastating earthquake in 2010. Our reporter on the border with the Dominican Republic talks to Haitians.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Israel says more than 1,200 Israelis were killed during the Hamas led assault on October 7th. Israel also says there were numerous instances of sexual violence perpetrated that day. This is a charge Hamas denies. To understand the difficulties in investigating the allegation, we hear about the experience of a first responder on October 7th.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Even in the face of food shortages a bakery in Gaza is making cakes for people living in tents. NPR's producer in Gaza takes us to the bakery and introduces the baker.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

When Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, the U.S. and western allies froze $300 billion dollars worth of Russian assets. Now the U.S. wants to send that money to Ukraine, but many European countries don't agree with that plan.
And we take a trip to the wild, remote High Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

In this longer episode we go deep on what it's like to cover both sides of the war between Israel and Hamas. Our friends at the Embedded podcast talk to NPR's Daniel Estrin about some of the people he's reported on and how he approaches covering this difficult and divisive story.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

It has been five months since the October 7th Hamas attack that was the single deadliest day for Israelis in history, prompting the deadly Israeli assault on Gaza. Our reporter in Israel brings us five ways Israelis have been changed through five months of war.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Our reporters from around the world give perspectives on what the U.S presidential election means for the countries they cover.

Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Visit plus.npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

During the COVID-19 pandemic, European cities experienced a dramatic drop in tourism. Now that visitors have returned in force, locals have mixed feelings. Many cities rely on tourism money, but throngs of people and the demand for short-term rentals can change the very places people are clamoring to visit. We hear about how Seville, Spain is experiencing that tension.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

There are an estimated six million Palestinian refugees. Most of them are descendants of families forced to leave their homeland in 1948, during the war surrounding the establishment of Israel. They're scattered around the world and in some of the countries where they've settled, they've been stateless for generations. We go to a Palestinian community in Baghdad, Iraq.

Join State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists bringing you stories from around the world. Visit plus.npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Butter Chicken is a much-loved Indian dish, both within the country and around the world. But who can claim they invented it? That question is the subject of a lawsuit. Our reporter tries to get to the bottom of butter chicken's origin and finds out that it is a journey through India's history.

You can find celebrated Indian chef Madhur Jaffrey's recipe for butter chicken here.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The former Soviet republic of Georgia is seeking membership in the European Union. But that effort may be complicated by treatment of the western-leaning former president who is in jail and in poor health. His supporters say he was poisoned.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

A young Instagram influencer in Gaza built a big following posting feel-good videos during years of hardship. He tried to keep the positivity in his feed after the war between Israel and Hamas started, but was then confronted with tragedy in his life.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Abnormally low rain fall and aging infrastructure cause a severe water shortage in Mexico City. Tens of thousands rally for Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro in Sao Paolo.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

During its eight years in power, the far-right Law and Justice Party dismantled democratic institutions in Poland. Now the new government is working to restore those institutions and they're starting with the judiciary.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is marking a grim second anniversary. We hear from Ukrainians who are determined to remain in their homes, and what some Russians say about their country as it enters a third year of waging war on Ukraine.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Ukraine is running out of arms. As Russian troops advance and the war grinds on, foreign aid to buy more weapons is stalled. So Ukraine is making its own. NPR's Joanna Kakissis visits the Ukrainians ramping up the manufacture of mortars, howitzers and high-tech defense weapons.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Alexei Navalny is the latest in a string of critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin to die. So what is the future of Russian opposition? We hear about the challenges Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, will face in taking a leadership role in the opposition. And an interview with Russian politician Boris Nadezhdin, who tried to run against Putin in the upcoming election, but was barred from being on the ballot.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Israel has stepped up security in the occupied West Bank. And with the military focused on Gaza, they're using newly formed security forces made up of Jewish settlers to provide that security. Israeli activists and Palestinians warn that members of those forces want to drive Palestinians off their land. We go to the West Bank city of Hebron to see these new security forces in action.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We hear two stories of how Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza is being felt in places very far away. In India, thousands of workers are hoping to head to Israel because of a shortage caused by security concerns. And in the UK, people are worried that global supply chains disrupted because of the war, will mean there will be a shortage of tea.

For more stories from all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Alexei Navalny, frequent critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin, has died in prison according to Russian authorities. Our Moscow correspondent looks at the legacy of a man who fought to free his country from corruption and authoritarianism.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We'll hear from an U.N. administrator in Gaza about what conditions are like for civilians and what funding cuts, a result of Israel's accusations of UN employees' working with Hamas, will mean for humanitarian aid in Gaza.

And an unlikely connection between a graffiti artist in Dublin and a grieving mother in Gaza.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

When Ukrainian soldiers get a day or two off from the frontlines, loved ones will often take the train to nearby cities to see them. Our reporter shows us what love looks like in a time of war.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

While opioid deaths in the U.S. have soared, Portugal has been able to cut overdose deaths by 80%. We travel there and find that the different outcomes are the result of a different approach.

And while you might be able to picture what Rio de Janeiro's world-famous Carnival looks like in the Samabadrome, on the outskirts of the city a very different celebration takes place.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The war in Gaza is creating tensions across the Middle East. Nowhere more so than Iraq, where Iran-backed militias are attacking US bases and forcing a dangerous confrontation. We hear about it from our correspondent in Baghdad.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Some Palestinians in Gaza express rising anger at Hamas, four months after the militant group attacked Israel, prompting a punishing bombardment.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

If all goes as planned, the work by the late composer John Cage will take over 600 years to perform. A specially rigged organ in Germany has been performing the piece since 2001, and it recently struck a new chord in the first time in two years.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We hear from three Palestinians about their hopes and fears of a rebuilt Gaza after the fighting ends. We get perspectives from an architect, a humanitarian and a musician.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We hear about a kindergarten in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which has finally resumed, holding classes underground in a metro station to keep students safe from Russian attacks.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Among the vast destruction of buildings in Gaza, some historically valuable and irreplaceable sites are now in ruins. Our correspondent visited some of of these places before the war and brings us to them, then and now.

To see photos of some of the places referenced in this story and for more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

For Gazans in crisis, a West Bank emergency call center is one of the few remaining sources of help. For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Tensions and talk of war are escalating between North and South Korea. Our correspondent in Seoul explains why the temperature has increased and he takes us to an island near the maritime border between North and South Korea that has seen clashes in the past.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The small Gulf nation of Qatar recently announced a framework for a deal between Israel and Hamas to pause the fighting in Gaza. We sit down with the Prime Minister of Qatar to hear how soon a deal could be reached and what impact the recent killing of U.S. servicemembers has had on the negotiations.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Russia launches hundreds of missiles at Ukraine every month. We hear the story of one such attack, that destroyed a well-known hotel and changed the life of one young woman.

Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Visit plus.npr.org

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

A source of anguish for both Israeli and Palestinian families in nearly four months of the Gaza war, is the large number of hostages and prisoners taken by each side. Thousands of family members in the dark about the fate of their loved ones. So they're trying to reach them through Israeli and Palestinian radio.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

After the rise of K-pop and K-drama, Korean haute cuisine is also going global. We hear that it's the result of an evolution of the food, creative chefs and a touch of crafty support from the government.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

There is a small but growing anti-war movement in Israel and it includes mothers of those serving in the Israeli military. We hear why they're protesting.

And an American chemist's book about tea provokes a strong reaction in Britain.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We hear of the saga of the mango pineapple, an exclusive new pineapple cultivar from Taiwan that was allegedly stolen by China. It shows the economic ties between two places that are also adversaries and the incident is prompting questions about how far Beijing will go to coerce Taiwan — and who really owns the food we eat.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We look at the economic impacts caused by the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. In Israel, the call-up of military reserves has led to a severe labor shortage. In the West Bank, curtailed economic activity with Israel has taken a toll.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

We talk to a Russia expert who is keeping tabs on what is going on in the roughly 18% of Ukraine that Russia now controls. He says that an "administrative occupation" seeks to incorporate the people that live in those areas into Russian politics and culture. And that with U.S. and Western aid for Ukraine in doubt, there is a chance these areas could be lost for good.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Berlin's iconic nightclubs are a cultural institution. But they face dwindling revenue due to decreased tourism and strained relationships with their gentrifying neighborhoods.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

In Northern India, Prime Minister Modi consecrates a temple to the Hindu god Ram. The event is meant to draw support ahead of spring elections, but it also highlights the growing rift between Hindu nationalists and Muslim communities.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Grain export is a vital part of the Ukrainian economy and Russian attacks and threats on ports have come close to shutting it down. We go to one Ukrainian port, barely used before the war, which has now become crucial.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

It has been over one hundred days since the war between Israel and Hamas began with an attack on Israel October 7th, killing over 1,200 with more than two hundred Israelis taken hostage. Israel responded with a ground, air and sea offensive on Gaza that has killed thousands and displaced many more. Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas. We investigate whether, after a hundred days, Israel is any closer to that goal.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Taiwan held a close and closely watched election for president that has implications for the self-ruled island's relationship with China, which claims Taiwan as it's own.

And Guatemala swore in a new president, the anti-corruption campaigner Bernardo Arevalo. But opponents tried to prevent the transfer of power up to the last minute.

Sign up for State of the World+ to listen sponsor-free and support the work of NPR journalists. Visit plus.npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy