State of the World from NPR
NPR
Immerse yourself in the most compelling and consequential stories from around the globe. The world is changing in big ways every day. State of the World from NPR takes you where the news is happening — and explains why it matters. With bureaus spanning the globe, NPR reporters bring you facts and context from the ground so you can cut through the noise of disinformation. NPR's State of the World, a human perspective on global stories in just a few minutes, every weekday. State of the World was previously State of Ukraine. You'll continue to hear Ukraine coverage here, along with other international stories.Support NPR's reporting by subscribing to State of the World+ and unlock sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/stateoftheworld
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 4, 2026 • 6min
Will the U.S. withdraw military forces from Syria?
Jane Arraf, Middle East correspondent in Jordan covering regional dynamics and local perspectives. Tom Bowman, Pentagon correspondent tracking U.S. military operations and policy. They discuss ISIS remnants and security risks. They cover U.S. ties with Kurdish forces and the politics around troop withdrawal. They examine guarding Syrian oil fields and how a pullout could reshape regional influence.
5 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 5min
Fallout in the U.K. over the Epstein files
Lauren Freyer, London-based NPR reporter covering U.K. politics on the ground. She walks through revelations from the Epstein files, including forwarded government emails, alleged payments and photos, and a high-profile retirement from the House of Lords. The reporting captures public outrage and questions raised about political appointments.
6 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 5min
Voices from inside Iran
Jackie Northam, an NPR foreign correspondent reporting from Iran, presents first-hand interviews and narrated accounts from inside the protests. She shares voices of young creators, a housewife, and a former publisher describing crowds, flag burnings, shootings, disappearances, and morgue extortion. The reporting captures fear, grief, and a fierce resolve to keep protesting for future freedom.
7 snips
Jan 30, 2026 • 5min
China embraces A.I. in the classroom
John Riewicz, NPR correspondent in Beijing, reports on China making AI a required part of school curricula. He highlights student robotics tied to space ambitions. He explores AI as a creative tool in classrooms. He outlines Beijing’s grade-by-grade AI learning goals and the national competitiveness rationale. He covers parents weighing risks, screen time, and future job readiness.
Jan 29, 2026 • 10min
Can Mideast peace be treated like a business deal?
Emily Feng, an NPR reporter on the West Bank, highlights how frozen permits, withheld taxes, and checkpoints have crippled local economies. Michelle Kellerman, reporting from Tel Aviv, explores how Israeli entrepreneurs and the tech sector pitch startups and innovation as paths to regional opportunities. The conversation contrasts business-driven peace efforts with the deep economic and humanitarian damage on the ground.
5 snips
Jan 28, 2026 • 8min
What to know about President Trump’s Board of Peace
Daniel Estrin, NPR Middle East correspondent who reported on Gaza reconstruction, and Greg Myrie, NPR international correspondent covering U.S. military moves, discuss Trump’s new Board of Peace. They unpack its membership and billion-dollar pitch. They explore links between the board and Gaza rebuilding. They note U.S. military positioning in the region and tensions around oversight and legitimacy.
Jan 27, 2026 • 6min
What have U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats accomplished?
John Otis, NPR correspondent reporting from Colombia's Caribbean coast, shares on-the-ground reporting about how U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats reshape coastal life. He describes fishermen fleeing deep-water work. He covers human rights concerns, allies withholding intelligence, Colombia's capture-first navy approach, and how bombings have not stopped drug flows.
Jan 26, 2026 • 9min
A thorny ethical question: should sperm samples taken from fallen soldiers be used?
In Israel, families whose sons have died in the war in Gaza have the option of having sperm samples retrieved for future offspring. Many have agreed to the procedure. That has raised complicated questions of what can and should be done with this genetic material. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
5 snips
Jan 23, 2026 • 5min
Oil, dollars and daily survival: the strange state of Venezuela’s economy
Dollars from seized oil are flowing back into Venezuela and changing how prices are set. Economists worry about foreign control of the country’s finances and whether the fix is sustainable. Shoppers in Caracas are calculating costs in dollars while pensions collapse and extreme poverty deepens. Families use small-scale tactics to stretch meager resources amid dizzying price swings.
Jan 22, 2026 • 6min
The promise and frustration of a future economic powerhouse on Africa’s west coast
Emmanuel Akinwotu, an NPR reporter known for his on-the-ground international coverage, dives deep into the challenges and potential of West Africa's coastal corridor. He explores the notorious Lagos-Badagri road, highlighting the chaotic Mile 2 bus station and the economic struggles faced by traders like Mama Nana. Akinwotu discusses the slow progress of the planned superhighway, the pervasive extortion drivers encounter, and the stark contrast in road conditions upon crossing into Benin. He emphasizes the corridor's untapped potential as an economic powerhouse if infrastructure and governance improve.
