Greg Dixon

The island nation of Palau is at the center of tensions between the U.S., China, and Taiwan. We go there to see what the competition between superpowers looks like on the ground.

In an unprecedented step, the U.S. has imposed sanctions in recent months on about a dozen Israelis who it says have taken violent action against Palestinians and posed obstacles to peace. We hear from one Israeli who the U.S. has taken action against.

Some 12 million people are displaced in Sudan as the military government battles a powerful paramilitary group. There is acute hunger and risk of famine for many. Peace talks hoping to resolve the crisis are being held in Geneva this week. We hear about the chances that those talks will succeed and details about conditions on the ground in Sudan.

In a rare interview with a Hamas leader our correspondent asks about the attacks of October 7th and the aftermath. He says the group has no regrets about launching the operation, but that mistakes were made.

Last week, in surprise move, Ukraine sent it's military into Russian territory. And so far the Russians have been struggling to mount a defense and kick them out. We hear what is known about the operation from our correspondent in Kyiv.

Ukraine has competing needs from its military aged population. It needs many of them to join the military to fight the Russian invasion. But it also needs them in the workforce, to keep the economy going so it can afford to pay for the war effort. As our reporter in Kyiv tells us, the most recent conscription law has exacerbated the problem.

A popular book and TV series in Europe imagines the straight-laced former German chancellor Angela Merkel solving crimes in her retirement. We unpack the premise's popularity. And an American has been jailed in Nigeria over a dispute the country has with the crypto-currency exchange Binance. Some say the man is effectively being held hostage.

Artificial Intelligence makes it possible to resurrect deceased loved-ones in the form of a very convincing video and audio imitation. Some companies in China are beginning to provide this as a service. We hear about the practice and the ethical questions it raises

Every five years China's Communist Party holds a meeting in secret called the "third plenum". And while it may sound arcane, there are a lot of important policy decisions that have come out of this meeting. Our correspondent in Beijing tells us what is at stake for the meeting this week.

In the latest escalation of tensions between the two, China seized a fishing vessel from Taiwan while it was in Taiwanese territorial waters. This is seen as Beijing sending a message that it plans to assert more control over Taiwan, which China claims as it's own. Our correspondent travels to a small Taiwanese island near where the boat was seized and finds residents who know they would be on the front line of any future military action that could erupt between China and Taiwan.

We hear from an American who moved to Israel before the October 7th attacks and has served in the Israeli army in Gaza. Over a series of conversations with NPR, he wrestles with the war, his role there, and how much more he can give.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and many western governments sought to isolate Russia politically and economically through sanctions. But Russia insists it still has plenty of friends in the world. Our Moscow correspondent went to meet some of them at an economic forum in Saint Petersburg.

The war between two armed groups in Sudan has been going on for over a year and has engulfed much of the country. About 12 million people are internally displaced, there is a potential for famine in many parts of the country and there are again fears of genocide in Darfur. The International Rescue Committee has put Sudan at the top of their emergency watchlist and their report says that the international community has failed in Sudan. We talk to the IRC country director about the dire situation.

A growing number of children in the U.S. are being targeted in sextortion schemes— a scam in which a cybercriminal obtains and then threatens to release nude or sexually compromising photos, blackmailing victims for a ransom. And sadly dozens of young victims have died by suicide in the last few years. Cybercriminals are often based abroad and it is a particular problem in Nigeria. Our correspondent in Lagos, Nigeria tells us about the issue, about the tragic case of one 17 year-old victim who took his own life, and about what the FBI is doing to combat the problem.

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, please get support. In the U.S. you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Israel has announced a daily pause in fighting in an effort to allow more food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza. But some are criticizing the move. We go to the border crossing.

And in London, our correspondent descends beneath the streets in search of the inspiration behind the world's most famous secret agent.

Authorities in Venezuela are using all manner of tricks to try to ensure President Nicholas Maduro is reelected next month. However, as we hear, it seems that the stunts and intimidation are not working.

And in China, the number of American's studying abroad is increasing, but is nowhere near pre-COVID levels. We look at why.

Violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is increasing. We hear from Palestinians there who are watching events in Gaza with concern. And we hear about the past and current efforts to get Palestinians a state of their own.

In European Parliamentary elections, 27 countries went to the polls and handed right-wing parties big gains. And in a surprising move, the president of France dissolved the country's parliament and called elections for the summer. We'll hear analysis of what this means for Europe and reaction from stunned French voters.

Israel has expanded its military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. This comes after an Israeli airstrike on Sunday near a displaced persons camp started a fire killing at least 45 people and injuring hundreds more. We hear details from our correspondent in Tel Aviv.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

Iran laid the body of President Ebrahim Raisi to rest, after he died in a helicopter crash. Though thousands attended funeral ceremonies, we hear from Iranians who say he won't be remembered fondly.

And in South Korea, a propaganda video from North Korea is banned after it goes viral on TikTok.