He Escaped Russia in a Prisoner Swap. Why Did He Not Want to Be Part of It?

More families around the world are choosing to have fewer children or none all. Many countries, including the U.S., now face a rapidly aging population that could begin to shrink. We look at why this is happening and what it could mean for the future.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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 financial, that can make it easier, as Willem Marx hoped it would be with his childhood stamp collection in London.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Millions of Syrians fled their country during the civil war that lasted more than a decade. Now the dictator has been deposed and the country is trying to recover. Many ex-pat Syrians, including a large number in Turkey, are looking at what they have left in Syria and deciding whether to return. This reporting was sponsored by the Pulitzer CenterLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Russia ratcheted up air attacks by drones and missiles on Ukraine this week. The increase comes as President Trump has expressed frustration at Russian President Vladimir Putin's seeming unwillingness to enter talks to end the war. Trump indicated the U.S. would resume shipments of weapons to Ukraine that had previously been suspended. Our correspondent in Kyiv gives us the latest.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Our correspondent goes back to Syria six months after the ouster of dictator Bashar Al-Assad to see the country's growing pains in its new era.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is 86 years-old and his political power is weakened following the short war with Israel. Our correspondent explores who, or what, could replace Khamenei upon his death.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A typewriter recently discovered in a basement in upstate New York holds important clues about the origins of Chinese computing. And brings up questions about language and culture.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In the fertile central region, the fights between herders and farmers for land access has become violent. We go to one village where over 160 people were killed in what villagers say was an effort to drive them off their farms.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The reality of China's efforts to lead in two important tech sectors. In artificial intelligence, control of the data needed to train new models could dictate where the industry is able to expand fastest. And a price war in China's electric vehicle industry.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

An NPR journalist in Gaza describes his harrowing experience seeking food from a distribution site run by private American contractors. He found himself facing Israeli military fire, crowds fighting for rations, and masked thieves.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy