State of the World from NPR

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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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 financ...

Top U.S. and Ukrainian officials said they are making progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war. But European allies feel they've been left out of the plan, which they say placates Russia. We get reaction from Ukrainians on the state of negotiations and from a German diplomat on what the plan is missing

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During the more than decade-long civil war in Syria, millions were displaced in the country and millions more fled abroad as refugees. It’s been almost a year since the war ended and many Syrians are starting to come home.

Some have found their houses destroyed but others have found strangers have been living in their homes, sometimes for years...

Venezuela's leaders are under increasing pressure as U.S. warships stage off the South American country's Caribbean coast. The region is on edge as the U.S. weighs military action. We look at Venezuela’s President Nicholas Maduro’s ability to stay in power over the years and we hear from Venezuelans on the border with Colombia about what they think of the situation.

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The U.N. climate conference is being held this month in Brazil. The U.S. is conspicuously absent, but China is there. We look at how these two countries are taking opposite paths on renewable energy— China is expanding it exponentially while the U.S. is investing in fossil fuels. We look at what these decisions mean for the climate and for these countries’ economies.

Since the Gaza ceasefire began, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has received blowback from members of his ruling coalition but also an in-person boost from President Trump. And even while he’s on trial for corruption, Netanyahu is gearing up to run for reelection. Our correspondent in Tel Aviv takes a look at Netanyahu’s political present and future.

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Voters in Ecuador overwhelmingly voted not to allow foreign military bases to return to the country. The Trump Administration had hoped to use Ecuador to support U.S. military activity in the region. And it’s happening against the backdrop of frequent U.S. military strikes against alleged drug boats. Supporters of the national referendum wanted help to stem soaring violence f...

This year authorities in Mumbai, India banned feeding pigeons in public spaces over health concerns. That might seem like a minor civic act but the backlash has been huge. We go to Mumbai to understand the controversy that touches not just on public health but also caste dynamics and religious duty.

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In 1985 the Nevado del Ruiz volcano triggered a mudslide that wiped out the town of Armero, Colombia in one of the 20th century’s worst natural disasters. All these years later the ghosts of Colombia’s deadliest tragedy still haunt its slopes, and families are still searching for lost children.

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It has been a month since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was implemented and despite some violations the shaky truce is holding. Both sides say they’re committed to the deal. We look at how progress towards the next phase in the agreement is proceeding.

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An increasing number of women are joining the Ukrainian military, with thousands serving in frontline roles, as Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine nears its fourth year. NPR’s Joanna Kakissis talks to some of these Ukrainian women who are training and fighting to defend their country.

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The war with Russia has touched all aspects of Ukrainian life, including efforts to preserve the nation’s history. We go to an island in the Dnipro River where archaeologists from around the world are racing to preserve an 18th century shipwreck - exposed by Russia’s destruction of a major dam - as the site is threatened by both rapid deterioration and the nearby front line.<...

When the Dalai Lama fled Chinese-controlled Tibet over sixty years ago, he settled in Dharamshala, India, setting up a government-in-exile. Thousands of Tibetan refugees followed their spiritual leader there. But now their numbers are dwindling and their are concerns about their future. We go there to understand the pressures their population faces.

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After constant requests during two years of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the Israeli military finally brings our correspondent into the territory to see the devastation in post-war northern Gaza firsthand. And even though he’s been covering this conflict since it began, seeing the destruction up close was shocking.

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In Austria, three nuns, all in their 80’s, recently ran away from a nursing home. With the help of supporters, and a locksmith, they broke into their former convent in defiance of church orders. They’re determined to fulfill their vows and grow old on their own terms. These sisters are now taking Instagram by storm where they’re being supported by a growing community. We go to Salzburg to meet them.

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