Avoiding war between US and China
The risk of war between the US and China is on the rise. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd discusses how the two superpowers can step away from the precipice. Also, in Southeast Asia, 99.9% of the regional population breathes in air with pollution levels high above World Health Organization standards, according to a new University of Chicago study. Plus, Ukraine is often known for its...
50m Jun 15, 2022
50m
Ukrainian troops face shortages on the frontlines of eastern Donbas
Ukrainian soldiers are having to make do with shortages of weapons and supplies on the frontlines in eastern Donbas, according to Ukrainian MP Mariana Bezugla, who is hunkered down there with the troops. Also, a fight between Turkish and Afghan teenagers has set off a series of attacks against migrant workers who pick up trash around Istanbul. As the country's economy worsens, tensions between ...
49m Jun 14, 2022
49m
UK plan to send migrants to Rwanda faces legal challenges
Faced with rising numbers of migrants and asylum-seekers crossing the English Channel on boats, the British government came up with a plan to fly them to Rwanda to apply for asylum there. Now, the plan is facing legal challenges, and it might not even happen. And, in 1962, revolutionary leader Fidel Castro banned professional sports in Cuba, and encouraged athletes to pursue amateur careers. No...
49m Jun 13, 2022
49m
US pledges $300 million in migration support at Americas Summit
The Summit of the Americas started with discord but ended the week on a high note. The United States unveiled a long list of measures to confront the migration crisis in the Western Hemisphere and pledged $300 million to tackle the problems. And the Polish government is being accused of setting up a "pregnancy register" to document all the pregnancies in the country. The country's Health Minist...
50m Jun 10, 2022
50m
Global gas prices soar at the pump
Gas prices in the US are at an all-time high, according to the American Automobile Association. But on the other side of the Atlantic in Europe, they're paying much more. And, earlier this month, the State Department dropped a massive report that looked at the state of religious freedom in some 200 countries. Also, this month in Rome, Pope Francis canonized 10 new saints. He's named a record nu...
49m Jun 09, 2022
49m
US woman pleads guilty to leading ISIS battalion
Allison Fluke-Ekren, from Kansas, has pleaded guilty to organizing and leading an all-female military battalion on behalf of ISIS. According to court documents, Fluke-Ekren trained women on to how to use assault rifles, grenades and suicide belts. And in Brazil, journalist Dom Phillips and anthropologist Bruno Pereira have gone missing from one of the largest Indigenous territories in the Amazo...
49m Jun 08, 2022
49m
Diplomatic firestorm over anti-Muslim sentiment in India
A diplomatic firestorm has engulfed India’s ruling party, the BJP, following the sanctioning of two party spokespersons over insulting remarks the pair are reported to have made toward Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Several Gulf countries described the comments as “insulting.” And in April, the UN refugee agency said it was on "high alert" for cases of human trafficking among Ukrainian refugee...
48m Jun 07, 2022
48m
Latin America's growing dissatisfaction with Washington
Several Latin American and Caribbean heads of state, including the president of Mexico, aren’t showing up to the ninth annual Summit of the Americas. A former ambassador discusses Latin America's growing dissatisfaction with Washington’s approach to the region. Plus, gunmen stormed a church in Nigeria over the weekend, leaving 50 people dead and many more injured. Experts say this is an example...
49m Jun 06, 2022
49m
100 days of war in Ukraine
Friday marks 100 days of war in Ukraine. During that time, death, destruction and displacement has occurred on a massive scale, and it’s difficult to accurately count the human toll. We hear about how Ukraine's seed bank is under threat amid the mass destruction of other critical infrastructure. Also, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, the chairmen of the African Union, Senegal's Pr...
51m Jun 03, 2022
51m
Travel chaos as COVID restrictions end in Europe
Hundreds of flights have been grounded across Europe this week with British airports particularly badly affected. Airport and airline operators blame the end of COVID-19-related restrictions and a lack of trained employees for the delays. And in Kenya, conflicting legislation on abortion has stirred confusion about what is and is not illegal. Also, Japan's government has pledged to achieve net-...
50m Jun 02, 2022
50m
British Columbia decriminalizes illicit drugs
In a first for Canada, British Columbia has joined a handful of regions around the world in decriminalizing small amounts of illicit drugs. The decision, granted by the federal government, comes amid a massive overdose crisis that has only worsened during the pandemic. Also, Italian officials have been circulating a four-point peace plan for Ukraine, calling on Kyiv to give up territory to Russ...
49m Jun 01, 2022
49m
After EU oil ban, Russia vows to find new buyers
European Union leaders agreed to punish Russia for its Ukraine invasion with sanctions banning the purchase of crude oil delivered to EU states by sea. Moscow has vowed to find other importers for their crude oil. And in response to the string of mass shootings this year in the US, neighboring Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that his government will put forth legislation freezi...
48m May 31, 2022
48m
Will the move away from Russian energy speed up renewable energy development?
The World's Memorial Day special is focusing on energy. Much of the world is working to wean itself off of Russian energy in the short-term, which in some cases means building up new fossil fuel infrastructure to secure supplies from different countries. At the same time, countries are struggling to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but falling behind on climate targets. Which raises a question:...
50m May 30, 2022
50m
Russian naval blockade has ripple effects worldwide
Since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine, Moscow’s navy has blockaded Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Its impact is having ripple effects all around the world. Also, pandemic restrictions have prevented most asylum-seekers hoping to enter the US from Mexico from entering. The Biden administration tried to end the practice on Monday, but a judge in Louisiana blocked it, at least for now. And in Isr...
48m May 27, 2022
48m
China’s influence campaign in the Pacific
China has dangled security agreements and cooperation on communications and cybersecurity before 10 Pacific nations. The Federated States of Micronesia has warned them not to go along with China. Also, Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has made the company a lot of money — tens of billions of dollars in sales. Those dizzying returns have led to accusations of pandemic profiteering. Also, the Marcos fam...
49m May 26, 2022
49m
US is an outlier on gun violence
Following the mass shooting on Tuesday at an elementary school in Texas, US Senator Chris Murphy gave an impassioned speech to Congress highlighting America's exceptionality when it comes to gun violence when compared to other countries. And around the world, few treatments exist for long COVID. In the UK, a group of medical specialists and professional opera singers are examining if opera sing...
48m May 25, 2022
48m
3 months of war in Ukraine
It’s been three months since Russia began its invasion into Ukraine on Feb. 24. Most of the fighting has shifted to areas in eastern Ukraine such as the Donbas and Kharkiv regions. And a trove of leaked police files and photos from Xinjiang, in western China, has revealed more than 2,800 mugshots of Uyghur detainees in what China terms "reeducation" camps, along with a shoot-to-kill policy for ...
48m May 24, 2022
48m
US says it will intervene militarily if China attacks Taiwan
President Joe Biden said during a summit in Tokyo that the US will get involved militarily in the event that China attacks Taiwan. Beijing responded by expressing opposition to the comments. And, new technology often gets tested in war zones. In Ukraine, one particular form of technology has taken hold within the Ukrainian army — facial recognition. Plus, a sobering statistic: 100 million peopl...
49m May 23, 2022
49m
Biden in South Korea on first Asia trip as president
US President Joe Biden arrived in South Korea on Friday and will meet with leaders from Japan, Australia and India on his first trip to Asia as president. The White House seeks to rally its allies in Asia to send a message to China against bullying its neighbors. And the UN human rights office has confirmed 8,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine, including 3,800 deaths, since Russia invaded the c...
48m May 20, 2022
48m
Mariupol soldiers face uncertain fate
On Monday, 260 Ukrainian fighters surrendered at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. The troops were taken to areas under Russian control and now face an uncertain fate. Also, Secretary-General António Guterres says that the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine has fueled unprecedented world hunger. In just two years, the number of food-insecure people has doubled to over 276 million worl...
48m May 19, 2022
48m
Baby formula shortage in US linked to global trade policy
For weeks now, baby formula has been hard to find in some US states. Amid pandemic supply chain issues and a formula plant shutdown, global trade policy is also responsible for the crisis. And on Tuesday, an armed opposition group tried to take power in Tripoli, Libya’s capital, sparking armed clashes between rivals. We hear about the challenges Libya faces toward the establishment of a unity g...
47m May 18, 2022
47m
Ukraine ends Mariupol battle
Ukrainian troops in Mariupol fought against Russia's military onslaught for more than 80 days. Now, after weeks of siege at the Azovstal steel plant, the last Ukrainian fighters mounting Ukraine's resistance have ended their defense. And as Sweden and Finland take steps toward joining the NATO military alliance, NATO member Turkey is saying no. We hear about the factors behind Turkey's decision...
47m May 17, 2022
47m
Sweden to join NATO in historic break from neutrality
Sweden has announced its intent to apply for NATO membership in an historic break with its neutral security policy in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And Turkey is closely watching Pennsylvania’s Senate race as Dr. Mehmet Oz, a dual Turkish and US citizen, edges ahead in recent polls for the state’s Republican primary on Tuesday. Opponents accuse the TV-doctor-turned-politician of con...
48m May 16, 2022
48m
Ukraine begins first war crimes trial
On Friday, a Russian soldier appeared in court for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine. Vadim Shishimarin, 21, stands accused of committing war crimes in a district court in Kyiv. And mourners were attacked by Israeli police during the funeral procession of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Jerusalem on Friday. The police claimed that rocks and projectiles were thrown at them. ...
46m May 13, 2022
46m
Finland to join NATO
On Wednesday, Finland’s leaders announced their support for joining NATO, a reversal from their decadeslong stance of neutrality in relation to Europe's NATO-Russia divide. And the Taliban in Afghanistan have announced new rules requiring women to cover their faces in public and to leave home only when necessary. This is the latest in a series of restrictions imposed on women since the Taliban ...
47m May 12, 2022
47m
Palestinian American reporter with Al Jazeera shot and killed in West Bank
Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed in the occupied West Bank while covering an Israeli army raid in the Jenin refugee camp. Palestinians are blaming the Israeli military, while Israel is neither confirming nor denying responsibility. Also, as the US Supreme Court weighs in on Roe v. Wade, we hear about abortion rights in India, where the procedure has been legal, within c...
47m May 11, 2022
47m
Battle lines shifting in eastern Ukraine
Russian troops in Ukraine are reportedly retreating from the region around Kharkiv, blowing up bridges as they pull back. But elsewhere along the eastern front line, Russian troops seem to be advancing. And US military aid to Ukraine has overwhelming support in Congress. But as American-made weapons go into battle, they deplete US stockpiles, potentially impacting US preparedness for other wars...
47m May 10, 2022
47m
Russia flexes its military muscle on Victory Day
On May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day, the Soviet Union’s historical triumph over Nazi Germany during World War II. President Vladimir Putin gave a speech in Moscow amid patriotic scenes, military muscle flexes and saber-rattling. And a drug cartel in Colombia's north has blocked roads and held residents hostage following the extradition of its leader, known as “Otoniel,” to the United States...
48m May 09, 2022
48m
Brittney Griner ‘wrongfully detained’ in Russia for 78 days
On Friday, the Women’s National Basketball Association’s season opens but star player Brittney Griner can’t compete. That’s because Griner was “wrongfully detained,” in Russia 78 days ago, according to the US State Department. And Spain has one of the most liberal abortion laws in Europe. But abortion rights activists say there are still setbacks, including the increased presence of outlier ant...
48m May 06, 2022
48m
Ukraine targets Russian generals with US support
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, 12 Russian generals have been killed. Ukraine's successful targeting of Russian generals has been helped by a classified intelligence gathering effort by the US. And police around the world use Pegasus spyware to track criminals and terrorists. But it’s also been used to hack the electronic devices of others, including the Spanish prime minister. Plus,...
48m May 05, 2022
48m
EU proposes Russian oil embargo
The European Union is looking at a proposal to cut itself off of Russian energy as part of a new package of sanctions. Putting the embargo in place would take some time to implement, and it would require all 27 member states to agree. And polls indicate that voters on Thursday are going to make Sinn Fein the largest electoral force in Northern Ireland. It would be a first for the former politic...
48m May 04, 2022
48m
The fate of Ukraine’s Mariupol remains uncertain
Russian troops resumed bombing a steel plant in the port city of Mariupol today, even though many civilians are apparently still trapped inside the factory. More than 100 Ukrainians who had escaped from bunkers below the steelworks have arrived in Kyiv-controlled Zaporizhzhia. And, a leaked draft opinion suggesting that the Supreme Court has a majority to overturn Roe v. Wade has implications b...
48m May 03, 2022
48m
Russia bombards eastern Ukraine in second phase of war
At least 100 people have been evacuated from hiding in bunkers in Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant, in southern Ukraine. As Russia enters the second phase of war with Ukraine, most of its ground troops are now concentrated in the eastern Donbas region. And, at the Venice Biennale, the world's largest art show in Italy, the Nordic pavilion is featuring art made by the Indigenous Saami people of A...
48m May 02, 2022
48m
Special edition: The prosecutor and the war criminal
The effort to document war crimes in Ukraine has gotten strong international support and the International Criminal Court is currently on the ground investigating. But what does it actually take to put a former leader on trial at The Hague? Before the International Criminal Court existed, there was the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. The marquee case was the trial of ...
52m Apr 30, 2022
52m
US’ global pandemic response momentum stalls
The United States plays a leading role in the global response to disease threats and pandemics. But the momentum for addressing COVID-19 worldwide is slowing down, according to the director of USAID’s pandemic task force, while global leaders warn that the world remains vulnerable. And one of Ukraine’s leading artists, Pavlo Makov, has become a spokesperson for Ukraine’s cultural resistance at ...
47m Apr 29, 2022
47m
Moldova fears Russia’s war is spreading with Transnistria attacks
Explosions this week rocked Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria, which borders Ukraine. A Russian military commander has said that the Kremlin plans to set up a corridor through southern Ukraine, connecting it to the separatist region. And Ukrainian families who fled to Poland are finding ways for their children to continue their education in Ukrainian, help them learn Polish and ease th...
49m Apr 28, 2022
49m
Russia halts natural gas supply to 2 NATO countries
Moscow has cut off natural gas supply to Poland and Bulgaria because they have failed to make their payments in rubles, a demand of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The European Union has countered that Russia is just trying to blackmail countries that support Ukraine. And, in a rare form of diplomacy between the US and Russia, the two nations agreed to an unexpected prisoner swap: Russia rele...
47m Apr 27, 2022
47m
EU countries ban letter Z
The letter Z has become a symbol of support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, appearing on T-shirts, billboards and social media accounts in defense of the war. Now, some European countries have decided to ban public displays of the letter altogether. And Twitter is one of the world's most influential public spaces. Its purchase by Elon Musk, who calls himself a “free speech absolutist” is like...
48m Apr 26, 2022
48m
Over 100 people dead after illegal oil refinery explodes in Nigeria
An explosion at an illegal oil refinery in Nigeria killed over 100 people this past weekend. The government vowed to crack down on these illegal operations, which it says steals over 150,000 gallons of oil each day. Also, roughly three months after ISIS fighters attacked a prison in northeast Syria, the United Nations says the fate of more than 100 minors who were held at the prison remains unc...
48m Apr 25, 2022
48m
French election offers stark choice for voters
Voters in France go to the polls to either reelect French President Emmanuel Macron or propel far-right challenger Marine Le Pen into office. Macron was comfortably ahead in the polls. But Le Pen has worked to soften her image and appeal more to the center. And after two years, Brazil’s Carnival returns with glitz, glamor and a serious message: Rio de Janeiro’s samba groups are turning the worl...
48m Apr 22, 2022
48m
US boosts military aid to Ukraine
President Joe Biden has announced that the US is sending $800 million in military aid, including weaponry suited for fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, as Russia prepares to launch a new offensive. And American and Cuban officials are meeting in Washington on Thursday to discuss migration concerns in the highest-level US talks with Havana since Biden took office. Plus, we hear fr...
48m Apr 21, 2022
48m
Mariupol: A city of resistance
The besieged port city of Mariupol has become a symbol of resistance during the war, as Ukrainian troops continue to push back against Russia's assault on the city. And, amid an ongoing debate in the European Union over an immediate ban on Russian energy imports, one German parliament member says the time is now. Germany has advocated for a gradual ban. Also, ahead of elections in France, the M...
48m Apr 20, 2022
48m
Russia expands bombing campaign in eastern Ukraine
Over the last 24 hours, Russia has expanded its artillery and bombing campaign in Ukraine, hitting cities, towns and villages — including civilians. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russian troops have begun the battle for the eastern Donbas region. And in China, 20 cities and regions are now experiencing some degree of lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. In China’s...
47m Apr 19, 2022
47m
Ukrainian forces continue to fight in Mariupol
Ukrainian forces holed up at a steel plant in the besieged port city of Mariupol have ignored a “surrender or die” ultimatum from Russian forces and continue to fight. Meanwhile, new cyberattacks targeting the Ukrainian electrical grid indicate a new phase in the digital war between Russia and Ukraine. Plus, some foods — like Champagne — can come only from one region, but for others, the rules ...
48m Apr 18, 2022
48m
Hundreds killed amid heavy rains and flooding in South Africa
Heavy rains and flooding have killed more than 340 people in South Africa, and the death toll is expected to continue rising. Persistent rains have collapsed buildings, swept away roads and flooded schools, prompting protests over a lack of official assistance. Also, Finland says it will decide as soon as this spring whether to join NATO, a rapid change in foreign policy from its historically n...
43m Apr 15, 2022
43m
Truck traffic jams at both sides of Texas-Mexico border
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has implemented a new vehicle inspection policy at the Texas-Mexico border that’s led to traffic jams for miles on both sides. Abbott accuses the Biden administration of not doing enough to secure the southern US border, but the White House says the new policy hurts American businesses and consumers. And Israel and the West Bank are on edge after one of the worst outburst...
48m Apr 14, 2022
48m
Biden calls Russian war atrocities ‘genocide’
US President Joe Biden has called Russian war atrocities in Ukraine "genocide." We hear from a genocide scholar who agrees. And a growing number of Haitians have been arriving on the coast of Florida since last fall. It's the latest challenge for authorities trying to control the numbers of new undocumented immigrants. Also, Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza was arrested earlier...
47m Apr 13, 2022
47m
Russia’s military regroups in eastern Ukraine
The Russian military is retreating from Kyiv and other northern cities, and regrouping in eastern Ukraine. Moscow has also appointed a new top commander, Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, to lead the war effort. And across Europe, countries are telling Russian diplomats to leave, accusing them of working covertly as spies. Plus, the United Kingdom's frigid North Devon coastline has been selected as a W...
47m Apr 12, 2022
47m
COVID lockdown persists in Shanghai
China's lockdown in Shanghai has been intense, with harsh restrictions on movement testing residents' patience. COVID-19 cases are also growing in the manufacturing hub of Guangzhou. We hear about what life has been like as the lockdown continues. And while India has sent aid to Ukraine, it has not censored or imposed sanctions against Russia. The country also abstained from UN Security Council...
43m Apr 11, 2022
43m
Assessing the impact of sanctions on Putin’s war effort
Russia’s military continues to target Ukrainian civilians, with revelations of possible war crimes committed in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha. Most countries, including the US, have responded with more sanctions. What impact does economic pressure have on Vladimir Putin’s war effort? And, the United Kingdom’s government has promised to ban the discredited practice of conversion therapy. But this wee...
48m Apr 08, 2022
48m