World Affairs Correspondent
David Okafor
David has reported from more than thirty countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. He covers the slower-moving stories — fragile states, sanctions regimes, the long arc of post-conflict recovery — and the breaking ones, when they matter. He joined Obsidian in 2024 to build out a global affairs desk that takes the same care with a coup as it does with a quarterly earnings beat.
Joined Obsidian 2024
More posts by David Okafor
Police arrest protester after five-days atop Washington bridge
Police have arrested an anti-war protester after he ended a five-day sit-in atop Washington’s Frederick Douglass bridge.
Iran war live: Trump says deal with Tehran ‘possible’; Israel bombs Beirut
UN calls on Israel to free two members of Gaza aid flotilla abducted in international waters and held without charge.
What are China’s surprise gains in the war on Iran?
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is in Beijing, seeking support on a deal with the US.
Israeli strikes kill five Palestinians across Gaza in one day
Five Palestinians were killed in one day in separate Israeli strikes across Gaza.
Argentina investigates link to deadly hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship
Three deaths reported from South America-related hantavirus as cruise ship remains off Cape Verde coast.
Hantavirus-hit cruise ship leaves Cape Verde after three evacuated
A British man is among three evacuees sent to the Netherlands after displaying symptoms while aboard the MV Hondius.
In rare push, US lawmakers demand transparency on Israel nuclear capability
Lawmakers say US policy of ambiguity on Israel's nuclear capabilities heightens risks amid US-Israel war on Iran.
Russia tells diplomats to leave Kyiv in case Moscow launches mass strikes
Moscow threatens retaliatory strikes if Ukraine attacks Russia during Victory Day commemorations.
Iran considering US proposal to end war, official says
The White House reportedly believes it could be closing in on a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran.
SpaceX backs Anthropic with data centre deal amidst Musk’s OpenAI lawsuit
Deal gives IPO-bound SpaceX a marquee customer, while helping Anthropic ease capacity constraints.
Trump says had ‘very good talks’ with Iran as Tehran reviews US proposal
Momentum could be building for Washington and Tehran to strike a deal that could ultimately end the war.
Holders PSG beat Bayern Munich to reach Champions League final with Arsenal
Paris Saint-Germain draw the second leg of their semifinal with Bayern Munich 1-1 in Germany to take the tie 6-4.
Antisemitism is a campaign issue in UK regional vote
After a spate of attacks on Jews in Britain, politicians there are accusing each other of antisemitism ahead of local elections.
Pussy Riot stage protest at Venice art festival over Russian involvement
Russian punk band Pussy Riot and members of a Ukrainian feminist group stormed the Russian pavilion at an arts festival in protest at Moscow's participation.
Israel strikes Beirut for first time since Hezbollah ceasefire
Israel says it targeted a senior Hezbollah figure in the capital, the first strike of its kind since mid-April.
These companies help parents try to pick their babies' traits. Experts are wary
Prospective parents can now pick embryos based on risk predictions for thousands of diseases and odds for specific traits. But should they?
Republicans want to add $1 billion for Trump's ballroom security to ICE funding plan
Republicans in Congress are proposing $1 billion in funding for security for President Trump's White House ballroom as part of their partisan plan to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Preserving pollinators is good for health -- and income
Pollinators have economic and health benefits, but those benefits have been difficult to quantify. A new study puts some numbers to how important pollinators are for both nutrition and income.
Trump's hopes for an Iran peace deal come with caveats
There are signs of fresh momentum to end the war, but Trump himself has injected a note of caution.
Oil prices drop and stock markets rise after reports of deal to end Iran war
Reports have raised hopes of an agreement between the US and Iran after days of escalation.
How Silicon Valley's new tech right has profited by aligning with MAGA
Atlantic writer George Packer discusses how tech venture capitalists, who are heavily invested in AI and cryptocurrency, aligned with Trump and influenced policies related to their own investments.
Megatsunami bigger than Empire State Building triggered by climate change
A tsunami at a popular tourist spot in Alaska was the second highest ever recorded and it was "unbelievably lucky" no one was hurt, researchers have said.
Greetings from a sea village in Indonesia, where Indigenous fishing gets help from mangroves
As a water taxi rounded a corner at sunset, the village of Torosiaje came into view, with its colorful stilted houses perched over the Molucca Sea.
Have you lost or are worried about losing SNAP benefits? NPR wants to hear your story
NPR wants to hear from people impacted by changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
US cancels visas for board of Costa Rica newspaper critical of Trump ally
Leading newspaper La Nación calls US’s barring of board members ‘indirect attack on press freedom’ The US state department has cancelled tourist visas for more than half of the board members of Costa Rica’s leading national newspaper, La Nación, which has been a critical voice against the country’s president, Rodrigo C
Massive Alaska megatsunami was second largest ever recorded
New research suggests glacier melt driven by climate change is increasing the risk of giant waves.
Mexico nightclub’s $300 cover charge for US citizens captures popular mood
Owner of Japan nightclub says ‘This is a response to a year of insults directed at us – as a country – by the United States’ A Mexico City nightclub has gone viral for charging Americans a nearly $300 cover charge, while citizens from any other country pay just $20 for access, and Mexicans and other Latin Americans pay
Student, 13, arrested after two killed in Brazilian school shooting
A 13-year-old student has been arrested after a shooting at a school in Brazil left two women dead.
Pilot dies after firefighting plane tackling major forest blaze crashes
A pilot has been killed after his firefighting plane crashed while battling a major blaze that has destroyed 200 hectares of protected forest in Poland.
Has Trump just made another mess in the Middle East?
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US pauses plan to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump has said that the US military operation guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz will be paused.
Spain agrees to let hantavirus-hit cruise ship dock in Canary Islands
Three people have died since the outbreak in April, while two crew members on board the ship require urgent care.
Protesters rally in Louisiana and Tennessee against redistricting
Demonstrators rallied in Louisiana and Tennessee against against redistricting.
Trump-backed Ramaswamy wins Ohio governor primary, setting up a competitive Nov. race
In Ohio, where a Democrat hasn't won an election for governor in 20 years, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton could be in for a tight race this fall.
Vivek Ramaswamy wins Republican nomination for Ohio governor
He spent much of the race criticising the state's response to the Covid-19 pandemic led by the Democrat nominee.
Iran war live: Trump says Hormuz operation paused amid US, Tehran talks
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says ceasefire with Iran remains in place despite growing tensions in Hormuz Strait.
Thai temples launch rockets in friendly festival rivalry
Temples in Thailand gathered for the annual ‘Look Noo’ rocket festival, an ancient Mon tradition.
Trump says 'Project Freedom' to be paused 'for a short period of time'
The operation guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz will be halted because progress has been made toward reaching a deal with Iran, the US president says.
Buses block off roads in Bolivia as transport workers strike over fuel
Public workers blocked the streets of El Alto, Bolivia with buses, cars, and trucks during a transportation strike.
Trump announces pause on US operation to reopen Strait of Hormuz
US president says Project Freedom paused to see whether an agreement with Iran can be finalised and signed.
Pennsylvania sues Character.AI over claims chatbot posed as doctor
State officials allege a Character.AI bot claimed to be a licensed psychiatrist and provided a fake state medical license number.
How Pakistan became peacemaker between US and Iran
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Cruise ship with hantavirus may have seen a rare occurrence: humans infecting humans
Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with rodent feces, urine or saliva. But cases on the MV Hondius cruise ship point to an unusual means of transmission.
CENTCOM: ‘Safe path’ through Hormuz is US priority in ‘Project Freedom’
US CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins says the main priorities in Hormuz are securing safe routes & blockading Iran.
Arsenal beat Atletico to reach first Champions League final in 20 years
Bukayo Saka seals a 1-0 win for Arsenal as they take their Champions League semifinal 2-1 on aggregate against Atletico.
Before Vatican trip, Rubio defends Trump remarks on Pope Leo over Iran
Comments come before Marco Rubio’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday.
From ICE detention to center stage: The Texas mariachi brothers opening for Kacey Musgraves
The brothers and their parents were taken into federal custody earlier this year during a required immigration check-in. The story caught the ear of a country music icon.
Israel kills one boy, injures officers in strike on Gaza police station
A 15-year-old boy, Mahmoud Sahweil, was killed when Israel struck a Gaza police station.
The oldest U.S. Jewish seminary, Hebrew Union College, shuts down a rabbinical program
Hebrew Union College, the oldest Jewish seminary in the United States, was established in 1875 in Cincinnati by the founder of Reform Judaism in North America. The college has other campuses, but its rabbinical program in Cincinnati will shut down and graduate its last four students at the end of the first week in May.
Russian attacks kill more than 20 ahead of rival ceasefires proposed by Kyiv and Moscow
Kyiv said it would begin a truce on 6 May and then "act symmetrically" after Moscow declared a pause for its Victory Day parade.
Midwives saved his mom's life -- and inspired him to pursue the profession
May 5 is International Day of the Midwife. This year's theme is "one million more" — reflecting a shortage of midwives.
NPR went looking for Polymarket's Panama headquarters. It's elusive
The hugely popular prediction market was shut down by U.S. regulators in 2022 and re-opened in Panama, where it has benefited from tax and legal benefits for years.
Alberta voter data leaked as separatists file signatures for independence vote
Authorities investigate leak of 2.9 million voters’ details, adding to turmoil over push for independence referendum Alberta separatists have delivered more than 300,000 signatures to elections officials in western Canada, in support of their attempt to force an independence referendum in Canada’s oil-rich province. B
Hantavirus may have spread between passengers on cruise ship, WHO says
Two cases of the virus, which rarely spreads between humans, have been confirmed on the ship, and three people have died.
Carney appoints former war crimes prosecutor as Canada governor general
Louise Arbour will serve as Canada’s representative of King Charles and carry out ceremonial and constitutional duties Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has appointed a former supreme court justice and war crimes prosecutor as the country’s new governor general, saying her appointment would reflect the importance o
Romanian PM ousted in no-confidence vote
Ilie Bolojan lost the vote after the largest party in his coalition joined the far-right opposition to depose him.
Romania's pro-Europe government collapses after PM loses no-confidence vote
Romania's pro-European coalition government has collapsed, after MPs voted against Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, plunging the country into further political turmoil.
New 'Mini-Pluto' discovered with atmosphere beyond Neptune
A new tiny ice world has been discovered beyond Pluto surrounded by a thin atmosphere, scientists revealed.
Nine coal miners die in gas explosion in Colombia
The explosion is the latest accident in the locality of Sutatausa, the site of another deadly mine disaster in 2023.
Indian prime minister's party wins controversial and contentious state election
In a resounding victory Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist Hindu party has wrested control of the key state of West Bengal.