October 22, 2026 • The Iguazú Falls span more than a mile across both countries. A rain-soaked October, which scientists link to the Super El Niño, has sent near-record volumes of water surging over the towering cliffs.
A sign is posted in front of a Tesla dealership on Oct. 21, 2026, in Santa Clarita, Calif. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
October 22, 2026 • The U.S. and Israel are planning for a possible post-elections attack on Iran, an anonymous source tells NPR. And, Elon Musk considers merging his companies SpaceX and Tesla.
PLACEHOLDER FOR DRONE VIDEO An Amazon data center, currently under construction, is seen in Cuarte, Spain on September 29, 2026. The Spanish region of Aragon is seeing a huge surge in data center construction which has alarmed many local residents due to their high energy use, noise pollution and heat generation. Amazon alone is building 30 data center buildings, according to papers the company filed with the regional government. The Aragon regional government has offered Amazon, Microsoft, and other tech companies tax breaks to build there. Local residents say that the government has appropriate land agains the will of the owners to pave the way for the centers and their infrastructure to be built. (Photo by Michael Robinson Chávez for National Public Radio) Michael Robinson Chávez for NPR/for NPR hide caption
October 22, 2026 • A drought-stricken region of northeast Spain has become a focus for American companies searching for locations to place their data centers.
Traffic in Tehran on Wednesday moves past an installation depicting butterflies forming the Iranian national flag. Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
October 22, 2026 • The U.S. and Israel are preparing plans for a possible attack on Iran in early November, after the U.S. midterm elections, a person briefed on war planning told NPR. Iran said it is prepared.
Podcaster Kara Swisher in Washington on June 11, 2026. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption
October 22, 2026 • As Elon Musk considers merging Tesla and SpaceX, tech journalist Kara Swisher examines his business strategy, growing political influence and power over the war in Ukraine.
Armored police vehicles that are part of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) patrol the Tabarre neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. Odelyn Joseph/AP hide caption
October 22, 2026 • El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said Wednesday he had launched a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran aviation technicians kidnapped by gangs in Haiti.
FILE - A soldier stands at a North Korean military guard post next to loudspeakers, seen from Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, on Feb. 26, 2026. Ahn Young-joon/AP hide caption
October 22, 2026 • North Korea plans to resume anti-Seoul propaganda broadcasts along the heavily armed border with South Korea, leader Kim Jong Un's sister said, reviving a psychological warfare campaign.
In this file photo from 2023, U.S. and Israeli flags fill a field in Boston, Massachusetts. Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
October 21, 2026 • The pro-Israel lobbying group and influential political funder announced it would no longer endorse candidates or give directly to campaigns. AIPAC's affiliated super PAC, though, will continue.
Israeli security forces, including military and police, declared a closed military zone around a olive grove and escorted activists and rabbis away from the area before detaining them near the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit in the occupied West Bank. Ruth Sherlock/NPR hide caption
October 21, 2026 • In the Israeli occupied West Bank, dozens of Americans have been detained, including a politician running for Congress.
Dried grass in Greenwich Park, London, Aug. 11 during the UK's hottest summer on record. Two-thirds of England fell into drought, with water restrictions affecting 27 million people. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Europe hide caption
October 21, 2026 • As climate change fuels hotter summers, some Britons are moving north in search of cooler weather. Could a similar shift be on the horizon in the United States?
Israeli security forces, including military and police, declared a closed military zone around a olive grove and escorted activists and rabbis away from the area before detaining them near the Israeli settlement of Beitar Illit in the occupied West Bank. Ruth Sherlock/NPR hide caption
October 21, 2026 • Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander along with dozens of American and Israeli rabbis and activists were helping Palestinian olive harvesters when they were detained by Israeli forces.
Close view of the United Nations emblem and bilingual Nations Unies and United Nations signage on a wall at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, on Oct. 12, 2026. Guillaume Lambin / Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
October 21, 2026 • The Justice Department's "likely" noncitizen voter list in California is "unreliable," according to officials. And, the United Nations reports a major increase in U.S. climate pollution.
A screen set up at a hall of the Moscow City Court broadcasts the verdict in the trial of U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard, accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, in Moscow on Oct. 7, 2024. Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
October 21, 2026 • The announcement of Hubbard's release came as talks got underway between Putin and White House envoy Steve Witkoff in Saint Petersburg focused on the latest U.S. efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Kanchan and her son sit on his bed, next to Kamal, a relative, in the Muslim-majority neighborhood Bela Slum in New Delhi, India, October 13, 2026. Elke Scholiers for NPR hide caption
October 21, 2026 • India is plunged into political crisis after 130 million names were struck off voter rolls during a massive revision.
Rescuers with a search dog look for victims among the rubble of a house after a Russian air attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Andrii Marienko/AP hide caption
October 21, 2026 • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the change happened after talks with his American counterparts, including a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
A woman walks past burned-out cars after a quiet night Monday under curfew, the first since weekend protests over the cost of living turned into rioting and looting across France, in Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Christophe Ena/AP hide caption
October 21, 2026 • Fresh curfews were being imposed across the city centers of Paris and Lyon on Tuesday after the first quiet night since France's most destructive rioting in years.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands as they hold a bilateral meeting in conjunction with the 81st session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters on September 22, 2026 in New York City. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
October 20, 2026 • President Trump is turning U.S. policy on Ukraine upside down. He and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have been taking shots at one another in the press. What does this shift mean for that country's war with Russia and the global order?
A health care worker administers a dose of Ervebo vaccine against the Ebola virus in Beni, North Kivu province, eastern Congo, on Oct. 16. Sebastien Kitsa Musayi/AP hide caption
October 20, 2026 • Nigeria is the latest country to report an Ebola case as the outbreak spreads across the region. Kenya confirmed its first case earlier this month and has since recorded nine infections.
October 20, 2026 • Sometimes it feels like when we aren’t worried about AI destroying humanity — we worry about it replacing white collar jobs like lawyers, accountants, coders. But tech companies have plans for AI-powered robots to replace blue collar jobs as well.
A smartphone displaying the TikTok logo is pictured in front of a larger TikTok logo. Imen Ben Youssef / Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
October 20, 2026 • The Justice Department has charged 28 people in California with voting crimes as Election Day nears. And, TikTok staff raised child safety concerns with executives, who failed to act, court records show.
Supporters wait for results at the pro-Canada watch party in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday. James Maclennan/The Canadian Press via AP hide caption
October 20, 2026 • Voters in Canada's oil-rich Alberta province overwhelmingly backed remaining in Canada, with early referendum results Tuesday delivering a boost to Prime Minister Carney's push for national unity.
This photograph shows a fire burning and destroying the city hall after a group of individuals forced entry into the building during ongoing protest action against the "high cost of living", in Limoges, central France on October 17, 2026. Pascal Lachenaud/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
October 19, 2026 • For weeks, people in France have been protesting over the cost of living and school conditions. But this weekend, many protests turned violent -- and now French officials have implemented a curfew to quell the violence. The country’s far-right is seizing the moment to make a case for their policies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Likud party, speaks with supporters while he campaigns ahead of the country's general election at a shopping mall in Ramla, Israel, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. Ariel Schalit/AP hide caption
October 19, 2026 • Israel holds an election on October 27th, electing members of the Knesset, their parliament. And this election will decide the future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Australian independent member of parliament Helen Haines speaks to journalists in the Press Gallery at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP hide caption
October 19, 2026 • A car hit an Australian federal independent lawmaker on Monday, critically injuring her in an apparent deliberate attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. The driver was arrested.
