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.

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In an episode we first brought you in March, we consider butter chicken. It is a much-loved Indian dish, both within that country and around the world. But who can claim they invented it? That question is the subject of a lawsuit. Our reporter tries to get to the bottom of butter chicken's origin and finds out that it is a journey through India's history.

You can find celebrated Indian chef Madhur Jaffrey's recipe for butter chicken here.

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In an episode we first posted in January, we go to the West African country of Ghana. The Ghanaian government began encouraging people of African descent from around the world to move to the country in 2019, calling it the "Year of Return". They even created settlements for the people who took them up on the offer, giving out free land. But our correspondent talks to locals who say their farm land was stolen to give to foreigners.

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In an episode we first brought you in April, we go to southeast Asia and the Spratly Islands. Ownership of those island are in dispute. This has been the case for hundreds of years, but tensions have been raised recently as China has tried to expand its claims in the remote area. We get a rare glimpse of one of the islands that has a Filipino community living on it.

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Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon that hopes to bring an end to 13 months of fighting which has uprooted masses of civilians on both sides, and left immense destruction. We hear from NPR reporters on both sides of the conflict.

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Israel has mandatory military services for citizens over the age of eighteen that meet certain requirements, and refusing to serve, which has always been controversial is even more contentious now that the country is fighting in Gaza and Lebanon. We meet one young person choosing to go to jail rather than serve in the military.

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It has been over a thousand days since Russia began it's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has had huge geopolitical ramifications, but it has also has affected the lives of millions of ordinary people. Our correspondent in Kyiv tells us how the one couple in Ukraine has weathered the conflict.

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Israel has been accused of using starvation in Gaza as a weapon of war. It's a charge the government denies, however aid groups say too little food is being allowed into Gaza. And making the problem even worse, armed gangs are looting much of the aid that is coming in. We hear more about the issue and what Israel is doing about it.

For more coverage of all sides of this conflict, go to npr.org/mideastupdates

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A series of deadly attacks within China in recent weeks have killed dozens and left people uneasy. Those who carried out the attacks have been seemingly ordinary people who authorities say became disgruntled or unhappy. Our correspondent brings us to the site of one recent attacks and says these incidents are raising difficult questions about society and the government.

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NPR has been collecting eyewitness accounts from Gaza that indicate Israel is using a new type of drone. One that has a gun attached that can shoot people remotely. We hear how Israel is using it in Gaza and what this technology could mean for the future of warfare.

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