Michele Kelemen
Michele Kelemen has been with NPR for two decades, starting as NPR's Moscow bureau chief and now covering the State Department and Washington's diplomatic corps. Her reports can be heard on all NPR News programs, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
As Diplomatic Correspondent, Kelemen has traveled with Secretaries of State from Colin Powell to Mike Pompeo and everyone in between. She reports on the Trump administration's "America First" foreign policy and before that the Obama and Bush administration's diplomatic agendas. She was part of the NPR team that won the 2007 Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award for coverage of the war in Iraq.
As NPR's Moscow bureau chief, Kelemen chronicled the end of the Yeltsin era and Vladimir Putin's consolidation of power. She recounted the terrible toll of the latest war in Chechnya, while also reporting on a lighter side of Russia, with stories about modern day Russian literature and sports.
Kelemen came to NPR in September 1998, after eight years working for the Voice of America. There, she learned the ropes as a news writer, newscaster and show host.
Michele earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master's degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Russian and East European Affairs and International Economics.
-
Sudan's army chief addressed the United Nations in an effort to burnish his image as statesman, while his rival posted his own attempted address online from Sudan.
-
World leaders are taking stock of a set of ambitious goals to fight poverty and hunger around the world. Ukraine's president is also expected to attend the general assembly.
-
The Biden administration's deal with Iran would also give Tehran access to $6 billion of its own oil revenue. Some in Congress warn that this will just encourage more Iranian hostage taking.
-
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended his trip to Ukraine Thursday by visiting a school where people were held captive, and talking to frontline sappers.
-
Russia withdrew from a deal that allowed Ukraine to export its goods to world markets despite the war. The U.S. and Europe have been working on alternative routes, though the options are limited.
-
Ahead of NATO's upcoming summit in July, European lawmakers want the transatlantic alliance to give Ukraine, not only more support, but also a pathway to membership.
-
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield is in Brazil to draw attention to the strong ties the two countries share. Brazil has been flaunting its close relationships with Russia and China.
-
Sudan's warring generals continue to fight on despite more calls for a cease-fire. Two rival generals are fighting for power and dashing hopes of a transition back to civilian rule.
-
Yemen has been one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. Aid groups worry it's being forgotten as the world focuses on Ukraine and the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
-
The State Department announced Secretary of State Antony Blinken will not go ahead with a planned trip to China, after the surveillance balloon was detected over U.S. airspace Thursday.