Greg Dixon

It has been four years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, starting a war the Kremlin believed would end in a matter of days with Ukraine capitulating. Now after years of death and destruction, the war grinds on with no end in sight as U.S.-sponsored peace talks appear to be at an impasse. NPR has correspondents in both Kyiv and Moscow and we hear from them about how both countries view the conflict now.

As Ramadan begins, traditional lanterns called fawanees brighten Cairo. They have become a symbol of Ramadan and are an almost-mandatory home decoration for the holy month in Egypt.

Israel said it struck military targets in Syria's capital to intervene after clashes between Syrian security forces and Bedouins against the Druze in southern Syria.

The Trump administration is undertaking shifts in U.S. foreign policy and that has meant big shifts at the State Department, which is in charge of that policy. The changes have veteran diplomats worried. And the gutted aid agency USAID has been absorbed into the State Department. We'll see what the loss of USAID funding has meant for the search for truth about Syria's civil war.

Syria's bloody civil war against the government of Bashar al-Assad started in 2011 but it had been in a stalemate for years. All that changed recently when rebels lead by a group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rapidly routed government forces seizing the second most populous Syria city, Aleppo. We hear reaction from Syrians and about the group behind the revival of the conflict. Support NPR and get sponsor-free episodes of State of the World. Sign up for NPR+ at plus.npr.org Or donate to NPR this Giving Tuesday at donate.npr.org

The Biden administration has urged Israel to conduct credible, transparent investigations into the Americans' deaths, so far Israel has not prosecuted anyone. We hear from families of those killed, and a member of congress, who think the U.S. Justice Department should be doing more.

There is a contentious fight in Mexico right now over constitutional reforms that would remake the judiciary. Opponents say the changes would weaken the judiciary's independence, but Mexicans elected a government with a super-majority, making these changes possible. Our correspondent in Mexico asks: in a democracy, what if the majority is wrong?

Ukraine's attack into Russian territory surprised many. Including, it would seem, the Russians themselves. But what are the strategic goals Ukraine is hoping to achieve with this move? We hear from a retired U.S. lieutenant general.

The first 400 Kenyan police arrived in Haiti this week, part of a multinational force that will attempt to bring stability back the country. Gangs control most of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. But the Kenyan police arrived in Haiti as the same police force was firing on protesters in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. We hear about what is happening both in Haiti and in Kenya.

Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a two-day state visit to North Korea meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. We explore how the two countries might cooperate, with NPR's correspondents in Moscow and Seoul.