State of the World from NPR

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Ukraine’s Government is Rocked by a Corruption Scandal Dec 08, 2025

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Even as Ukraine is engaged in high stakes peace talks with the U.S. and Russia, the country is dealing with a massive corruption scandal which has reached very high levels of the government. Though President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not been implicated, it has been a challenge for him. We go to Kyiv to get reaction from Ukrainians.
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Two Surprising Economic Stories from China Dec 05, 2025

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Today’s episode explores a pair of business stories in China that may be unexpected. We hear about the robust service industry springing up as young people in China increasingly choose having pets over having children. And we go to the Chinese town where nearly all of an iconic Russian handicraft are actually produced.
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Could Italian Pasta Disappear in the U.S.? Dec 04, 2025

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Americans' most loved Italian food staple could soon double in price or disappear from U.S. supermarket shelves following tariffs imposed by the Trump administration that could go into force from January. Our reporter in Rome explores why the tariffs are being applied and what it could mean for Italian producers and U.S. consumers.

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What are the Results of U.S. talks in Russia to end the war in Ukraine? Dec 03, 2025

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U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff visited Moscow this week to present the revised Ukraine peace proposal. We’ll hear how they were received. And Marco Rubio won’t attend a NATO meeting of foreign ministers about Ukraine, the first time in more than 20 years the U.S. Secretary of State won’t be at such a meeting. We’ll get reaction from Europe. And we’ll hear from a former U.S. ambassador to NATO on what the alliance’s role in a Ukraine peace deal should be.
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Is Israel Redrawing the Map of the West Bank? Dec 02, 2025

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During the over two years of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, there has also been violence in the other Palestinian Territory— the West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation for decades. There have been waves of attacks by Israeli settlers, some of which have been deadly. And arrests of residents, which Israel says is for its own security. Israel has also been quietly redistricting the land. It’s the same land Palestinians want for a future state and they fear it is being annexed by Israel. We go there to see what it means on the ground.
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Rebuilding Smarter in Jamaica Dec 01, 2025

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A month ago, Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica as a category five— one of the strongest storms ever to make landfall in the Atlantic. Scientists agree that Melissa was made stronger by climate change. We meet some Jamaicans that are wondering how to rebuild smarter for the possibility that another powerful storm may hit in the future.
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Encore: Why is Chile’s Birth Rate Plummeting? Nov 28, 2025

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In this encore episode we look at the decision to have children. Much of the attention on the world's plunging birth rate is on east Asian countries like Japan and South Korea. But Latin American countries, like Chile, are also seeing a decline in fertility. We go to Chile’s capital to understand the personal decisions behind the countries plummeting birth rate trend.
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Encore: Childhood Stamp Collection Opened a Reporter’s Eyes to the World Nov 27, 2025

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In this encore episode, we take a look at keepsakes. Clearing out a closet, attic or garage can be a chore. Old photographs, clothes and books can create clutter, or take up space that’s sometimes needed for something else. But every so often, the heirlooms or mementos that you find retain some value: if that’s emotional value, it can be hard to part with them. If it’s financial, that can make it easier, as Willem Marx hoped it would be with his childhood stamp collection in London.
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Surf’s Down in Munich Nov 26, 2025

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German surfers are not stoked after one of the world’s largest inland waves, in a river in Munich, disappeared following a city dredging project. Now the community is uniting to bring it back. Our correspondent investigates.

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China’s Split-Screen Economy Nov 25, 2025

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In China, two economic realities exist side by side. The country's fast-growing technology sector leads the world in some aspects, yet prospects for the average Chinese worker remain dim. We take a look at both sides of the economic picture.
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