State of the World from NPR

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An unlikely Indian movie makes it all the way to the Oscars Apr 24, 2026

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India has seen a rise in Hindu nationalism in recent years, in it’s politics but also in the culture. And India’s famed Bollywood film industry has been churning out movies echoing that with movies often featuring macho Hindu men fighting Muslims. We hear about a movie with a very different sensibility which has had a remarkable rise— all the way to the Oscars.
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Ukraine becomes an international arms dealer Apr 23, 2026

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Since the war with Iran began Ukraine has found itself in an unexpected position. In addition to receiving military aid, it is also a provider. Iran has been attacking it’s neighbors with the same type of drones Russia uses against Ukraine. And Ukraine has developed defense technology it can now export to the Middle East. We go to Ukraine to learn more.
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President Trump extends the ceasefire with Iran, what happens now? Apr 22, 2026

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Just before a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was set to expire, President Trump announced on social media that he was extending it. Iran says that a ceasefire is meaningless unless the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is lifted, it sees that blockade as an act of war. And then in the hours after Trump’s announcement, Iran attacked at least three ships in the Strait of Hormuz. To understand where the peace process stands we hear from a former top U.S. diplomat in the Middle East.
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How Gaza feels after six months of ceasefire Apr 21, 2026

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We mark this moment in both Gaza and Israel. In Gaza, it has been six months since major hostilities with Israel ended. Aid for the territory’s two million residents has resumed but it isn’t sufficient and reconstruction has yet to begin. We hear from some residents about their lives today.
And Israel celebrates its Independence Day during a rare pause in three conflicts: Gaza, Iran and Lebanon. It is the Gaza war that is the major theme for the country’s official celebration.
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What are the chances for peace between Israel and Lebanon? Apr 20, 2026

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As the end of a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran approaches, a separate but intertwined conflict may have an improved chance at peace. Israel and Lebanon have had a fraught relationship for decades. The most recent fighting flared up not long after the war in Iran began. It involves the Iran-backed militant group, Hezbollah. Now there is a temporary ceasefire and the two nations are engaging in direct negotiations. There is hope for a peaceful resolution, but they have been here before. In this episode we learn about the history behind this moment with a journalist and author how has covered the Middle East for over 20 years.
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An Israeli and Palestinian who bonded during war share vision for peace in a new book Apr 17, 2026

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The war in Gaza has hardened positions across the Middle East. But two men say it brought them closer together and convinced them that the "future is peace." That’s the title of their new book. NPR’s Michele Kelemen speaks to authors Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon.
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They were promised paradise — in North Korea Apr 17, 2026

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For 25 years, ethnic Koreans who called Japan home were lured by propaganda to North Korea. Over 90,000 people heeded the call. They were promised all basic needs, but ended up trapped in North Korea’s poverty and starvation. Now, survivors are fighting for justice in court.
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Sudan’s war enters a fourth year Apr 15, 2026

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What began as a power struggle between the army and the powerful paramilitary force — former allies in a coup that removed a civilian government — has spiraled into a devastating war. Now entering its fourth year, it has become the world's largest humanitarian catastrophe.
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The last detention camp for ISIS wives and kids Apr 14, 2026

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After U.S.-backed Iraqi and Syrian forces defeated ISIS, its surviving fighters went to prison. Their wives and children were sent to detention camps, where many remain to this day. NPR visits the last detention camp for ISIS wives and children in an increasingly precarious northeastern Syria.
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Hezbollah re-arms… but how? Apr 14, 2026

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In 2024, Israel killed Hezbollah's top leaders and is thought to have decimated its arsenal. So how is the Iran-backed group still firing rockets into Israel? NPR’s Lauren Frayer looks as how Hezbollah has re-armed and changed tactics.
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