Russia’s annual celebration of Victory Day, commemorating the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, is traditionally a huge celebration in Moscow’s Red Square featuring a parade with missiles, tanks and other military hardware. But this year the holiday has been scaled back considerably due to fears of Ukrainian drone attacks. Our correspondent in Moscow says the move is a symbol of Russians’ growing frustrations with the war.
And on the occasion of his 100th birthday we have an appreciation of iconic nature documentarian David Attenborough.
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The bus with beats and bling
07/05/2026 | 4 min
In Nairobi, Kenya, tricked-out buses known as, “matatus,” roll through the streets, entertaining both passengers and passers-by. Matatu buses bump with heavy bass over their sound systems, and are painted up with mural montages. It’s a rolling dance club and mobile art gallery in one.
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A fraying ceasefire in southern Lebanon with villages destroyed
06/05/2026 | 6 min
Although there is officially a ceasefire, fighting in south Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah has escalated recently. According to the U.N. attacks this week have been the most intense since the truce started.
And a family mourns the loss of their ancestral home in southern Lebanon, when their whole village was levelled by Israel during the conflict.
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U.S. diplomats depart; the new Grand Egyptian Museum
05/05/2026 | 9 min
Senior career diplomats at the U.S. State Department are effectively being forced into retirement. It’s a loss of talent that one former diplomat calls a “unilateral disarmament”.
And we visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo, which was more than 30 years in the making.
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The standoff in the Strait of Hormuz
04/05/2026 | 7 min
The U.S military has begun an operation to end Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in an effort and re-open the waterway to global shipping traffic. The U.S. Navy says it came under fire Monday, but helped two commercial ships safely through the strait. Iran meanwhile, reaffirmed that it will attack any ships that try to go through the strait of Hormuz without its permission. We hear from two NPR reporters about what this development means for global trade and the ceasefire.
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