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 public media by joining NPR+ at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for State of the World.

State of the World from NPR

After the U.S. and Israel launched the war in Iran, and Iran responded by attacking U.S. targets in the region, hundreds of U.S. diplomats were evacuated from embassies in Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. and half a dozen other countries.  Some of those embassy staff may start returning to their posts soon, however the State Department is still limiting the number of personnel in the Middle East as the war in Iran drags on.  NPR’s Diplomatic Correspondent tells us what that reduced presence means for U.S. interests.
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Are U.S. embassies in the Middle East weakened?

It’s summer, so warm weather is to be expected.  But in Europe this summer has been really, really hot.  Five heat waves so far have broken records on the continent and there has been drought and wildfires as well. Extreme weather is linked to human-made climate change. And political parties in Europe are capitalizing on the fact that the heat is at the front of voters minds.  But as we learn, those political parties are probably not the ones you’re expecting.
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Surprising political effects of Europe’s heat waves

In July, Iraq’s new prime minister visited Washington. There he promised President Trump that Iraq would disarm Iran-backed militias by the end of September. Many of those militias attacked U.S. troops during their occupation of Iraq and since the U.S.- Iran war, some of these paramilitary groups have hit U.S. assets.  But for a country with close ties to neighboring Iran, it’s a tough promise for Iraq to keep. We go to Baghdad to see how the country is balancing its relationship between the two powers.
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Iraq is caught between Washington and Tehran

India’s ruling party, the BJP, realizes it has a problem reaching young voters.  Last month, youth-led protests, sparked by education policy and high unemployment, shook the political establishment. The Gen Z protest leaders started the “cockroach” political movement, so-named after an official disparagingly compared unemployed youth to “cockroaches.”  So now the ruling party is revamping it’s communications strategy.  But even as they hope to woo young voters, police are arresting protest organizers on public order charges.  We go to Mumbai to see the BJP’s charm and punishment campaign with the younger generation.
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Charm and charges for India’s youth

The family of a Palestinian American man have been under siege in their home in the occupied West Bank.  Extremist Israeli settlers attacked the home for days and the Israeli military has now sealed off the area.  A United Nations agency was called in to deliver food, water and medicine to the family.  We hear from a family member now trapped in the house.
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Israeli settlers besiege a West Bank house owned by a U.S. citizen

Beneath the shattered villages and scorched fields of southern Lebanon lies a quieter aftermath of war - contaminated land.  Israel's war against Hezbollah in south Lebanon has poisoned soil and destroyed valuable ecosystems for generations to come. Soil samples of the land show high levels of heavy metals, the herbicide Glyphosate, and white phosphorus.
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Heavy environmental toll of war in southern Lebanon

In China, top leaders are pushing the adoption of Artificial Intelligence. Companies there are using AI at a scale that far outpaces that of the US.  That means some Chinese workers are being displaced from their jobs.  Now, Chinese courts are stepping in.  And in some cases, courts are ruling that worker displacement is unlawful. But Chinese workers are still anxious.
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China's courts side with AI-displaced workers but job anxiety persists

The Trump administration is opening federally-protected marine areas in the Pacific Ocean to commercial fishing.  In rarely granted access, NPR visited Palmyra, a remote, low-lying atoll with one of the most pristine coral reefs in the world.
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Pacific marine monuments lose environmental protections

A trash-can wearing comedian is far-right Nigel Farage’s main rival in this week’s Parliamentary election in the British town of Clacton-on-Sea. Farage is the incumbent, and his campaign finances are under investigation. Polls show Farage is still likely to win, but that Count Binface — a spoof candidate who wears a garbage pail on his head — may get around 20-percent of the vote. Some say Binface’s relative popularity is a reflection of voter disaffection.  Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
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Count Binface runs against Reform Party’s Farage in UK election

Curators and archaeologists risked their lives to hide and protect Syria’s cultural treasures during its civil war. Some archaeological sites still face plunder by looters.  Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
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