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
6 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 5min
A crackdown on the online scam epicenter of the world
Michael Sullivan, an NPR correspondent reporting from Southeast Asia, walks through how Cambodia and Laos became global hubs for online scams. He covers U.S. indictments and sanctions, massive Bitcoin seizures and extradition efforts. He details crackdowns, humanitarian abuses at scam compounds, and how syndicates are shifting operations abroad.
Feb 26, 2026 • 6min
The war raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Emmet Livingstone, a field reporter who covers conflict in eastern DRC, gives on-the-ground reporting from Fizi. He walks through frontline hospital scenes and soldiers’ grievances. He describes the fragile peace deal amid continued fighting. He traces militia networks, ethnic tensions, mass displacement, and harrowing civilian suffering.
Feb 25, 2026 • 5min
Israel’s far-right has dreams for Gaza
Itai Stern, NPR journalist reporting from Jerusalem, gives an on-the-ground view of Knesset debates over Gaza. He recounts far-right calls for Israeli control and settlement in Gaza. He describes heated speeches, resonant video imagery, and the clash between those demands and official ceasefire terms. The tension driving coalition pressure on policy is central to the conversation.
Feb 24, 2026 • 8min
After four years of war in Ukraine, how does each side see the conflict?
Joanna Kakissis, NPR Kyiv correspondent covering battlefield realities and civilian life. Charles Maines, NPR Moscow correspondent tracking Kremlin messaging and public mood. They compare battlefield shifts, how each side frames the conflict, human costs and displacement, stalled peace talks and political pressure, and daily life under war and propaganda.
Feb 23, 2026 • 9min
A wave of violence in Mexico after a drug lord is killed
Ader Peralta, Mexico correspondent reporting from Guadalajara, gives on-the-ground accounts of the chaos after the Jalisco New Generation leader El Mencho was killed. He describes streets emptied and businesses closed, the raid and firefight that led to the killing, and the political fallout as the government stakes its claim against powerful cartels.
Feb 20, 2026 • 6min
What is it like to return to Gaza?
Anas Baba, an NPR field reporter covering on-the-ground life in Gaza. He shares accounts of a handful of returnees who faced confiscations at Rafah, limits on belongings, stops by militias and intense screenings. Stories include shock at razed neighborhoods and bittersweet reunions amid fragile conditions.
Feb 19, 2026 • 9min
Trump inaugurates his 'Board of Peace.' Experts try to pinpoint his global doctrine
Jackie Northam, NPR international affairs correspondent who explains foreign policy theories. Michelle Kellerman, NPR State Department reporter who covered the Board of Peace and Gaza pledge. They discuss Trump’s $10 billion Gaza rebuilding announcement and the staged pledge event. Analysts debate labels for his global approach, from neo-royalist and personalist styles to madman tactics and realist power politics.
Feb 18, 2026 • 6min
Palestinians see Israel's new West Bank security wall cutting off their farmland
Emily Feng, an NPR foreign correspondent reporting from the West Bank, shares on-the-ground reporting about planned Israeli barrier construction. She describes how a proposed eastern barrier and existing walls cut off farmland and split villages. Farmers and shepherds recount crop loss, eviction notices, and fears of entrapment as settler violence and access restrictions rise.
Feb 17, 2026 • 6min
Ice fishing is a peaceful retreat for war-weary Ukrainians
Eleanor Beardsley, NPR correspondent who files on-the-ground stories from Ukraine, walks the frozen Dnipro and meets people ice fishing. They gather for companionship amid power cuts and drone attacks. Scenes include silent snowy expanses, tiny catches, wartime displacement, and fishing framed as a quiet act of resistance.
Feb 16, 2026 • 9min
Street markets light up for Ramadan in Cairo and the Lunar New Year in Beijing
Aya Batraoui, NPR field reporter and Cairo correspondent, walks through Old Cairo’s bustling markets as shoppers prep lanterns and festive decor for Ramadan. She contrasts ancient mosque settings with mass-produced trinkets and shares scenes of personal shopping traditions. The episode also visits Beijing’s Lunar New Year markets where people seek stability amid economic worries and job concerns.
