State of the World from NPR

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Will the U.S. really control Venezuelan oil? Aug 31, 2026

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The U.S. and Venezuela say they have entered into a partnership that would give the U.S. majority control of more that 65 billion barrels worth of oil reserves. President Trump hopes to lower energy costs in the U.S., Venezuela’s leaders hope to bring investment and keep the unpopular U.S.-backed interim president in power. But given the U.S. oil industry’s past experiences in Venezuela, it’s not clear when, or if, that oil gets to U.S. gas pumps.
And it was a weekend of violence in the Israeli Occupied West Bank, with multiple assaults on Palestinians reported and one on a U.S. news crew. The attacks by Israeli settlers were condemned by both Israeli and U.S. officials, but no arrests were made. We go to the West Bank.
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Life in Iran after six months of war Aug 28, 2026

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It has been six months since the U.S. and Israel launched a war in Iran. And the effects of the conflict can be felt in the United States in higher fuel prices and extended deployments for some members of the military. In Iran, the war is felt more acutely. Economic exhaustion and an atmosphere of fear have left virtually no part of Iranian existence untouched. Civilians have had to adapt an intensifying wave of state repression and a collapsing domestic economy. We hear from people inside Iran to understand what their lives are like.
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How Israeli and American attitudes towards each other have changed Aug 27, 2026

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Since the October 7th, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel, much has happened with the U.S.’s key ally in the Middle East. Israel launched an invasion of Gaza and then Lebanon. The U.S. and Israel launched a war in Iran.
So, how do Americans feel about Israel now? And vice versa? Four years ago, 67 percent of Americans had a favorable view of Israelis, according to Pew Research Center. Last month, that number was 52 percent. To get beyond the numbers, we hear how Americans and Israelis talk about each other in Washington and Jerusalem.
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Congolese designers push fashion in a different direction Aug 26, 2026

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When the Democratic Republic of Congo is in the news, it’s usually related to poverty, or conflict— most recently it was the Ebola outbreak. But the country is a cradle of design creativity. Congolese artists have few places they can showcase their talents but in the last few years DRC Fashion Week has given them an outlet. We go to annual celebration of color, creativity and fashion.
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Chinese workers fight back against AI; the meaning of milk in Rwanda Aug 25, 2026

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Just like in the United States and elsewhere, workers in China are worried about artificial intelligence taking away their jobs. So they are fighting back. This summer, a court in the Chinese city of Guangzhou sided with a graphics designer who was replaced by AI, ruling his dismissal was unlawful. Similar court decisions have happened across several Chinese cities and are being hailed as victories for workers’ rights. But with China’s push to win the AI race, workers still have plenty to be anxious about. We go to China to learn more.
And in Rwanda, if you want to grab a tall cold one at the end of the day, your beverage very well might be milk. Milk bars are a part of daily life and the drink holds cultural significance. But, this popular beverage may be causing problems for the population.
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Will the Trump Administration’s latest economic pressure on Iran work? Aug 24, 2026

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced new pressure on Iran Monday, that the administration is calling an “economic D-Day”. Almost six months after the U.S. and Israel launched the conflict in Iran, this so-called Operation Economic Outcast aims to marginalize the country even further. It includes measures to impose sanctions on any country or entity that deals with the the government in Tehran.
We hear from NPR’s diplomatic and White House correspondents on what the sanctions hope to accomplish in the conflict. And from an Iran expert on how that country’s leadership might respond.
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Are U.S. embassies in the Middle East weakened? Aug 21, 2026

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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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Surprising political effects of Europe’s heat waves Aug 20, 2026

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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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Iraq is caught between Washington and Tehran Aug 19, 2026

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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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Charm and charges for India’s youth Aug 18, 2026

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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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