Today’s episode explores a pair of business stories in China that may be unexpected. We hear about the robust service industry springing up as young people in China increasingly choose having pets over having children. And we go to the Chinese town where nearly all of an iconic Russian handicraft are actually produced.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Americans' most loved Italian food staple could soon double in price or disappear from U.S. supermarket shelves following tariffs imposed by the Trump administration that could go into force from January. Our reporter in Rome explores why the tariffs are being applied and what it could mean for Italian producers and U.S. consumers.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff visited Moscow this week to present the revised Ukraine peace proposal. We’ll hear how they were received. And Marco Rubio won’t attend a NATO meeting of foreign ministers about Ukraine, the first time in more than 20 years the U.S. Secretary of State won’t be at such a meeting. We’ll get reaction from Europe. And we’ll hear from a former U.S. ambassador to NATO on what the alliance’s role in a Ukraine peace deal should be.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

During the over two years of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, there has also been violence in the other Palestinian Territory— the West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation for decades. There have been waves of attacks by Israeli settlers, some of which have been deadly. And arrests of residents, which Israel says is for its own security. Israel has also been quietly redistricting the land. It’s the same land Palestinians want for a future state and they fear it is being annexed by Israel. We go there to see what it means on the ground.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

A month ago, Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica as a category five— one of the strongest storms ever to make landfall in the Atlantic. Scientists agree that Melissa was made stronger by climate change. We meet some Jamaicans that are wondering how to rebuild smarter for the possibility that another powerful storm may hit in the future.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

In this encore episode we look at the decision to have children. Much of the attention on the world's plunging birth rate is on east Asian countries like Japan and South Korea. But Latin American countries, like Chile, are also seeing a decline in fertility. We go to Chile’s capital to understand the personal decisions behind the countries plummeting birth rate trend.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

In this encore episode, we take a look at keepsakes. 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/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

German surfers are not stoked after one of the world’s largest inland waves, in a river in Munich, disappeared following a city dredging project. Now the community is uniting to bring it back. Our correspondent investigates.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy