Stories of families from around the world
Today’s show focuses on families. We take a look at motherhood across the globe. Also, dads in Japan struggling to reform fatherhood. Meanwhile, Turkey names 2025 the “Year of the Family,” unveiling financial incentives for new parents and urging couples to have more children. Plus a look at the life of Andrée Blouin, who helped lead independence movements across Africa. Listen to today’s <a h...
50m Jul 02, 2025
50m
A show dedicated to sports
In today's sports-themed show, we take a look at a study that's trying to reduce soccer knee injuries in women. Also, universities are now offer crash courses in American football for international students to not only understand the sport, but also learn about American culture. And, a deadly fungal disease is threatening  to wipe out ash trees used in the national Irish sport of hurling. Plus,...
48m Jul 01, 2025
48m
A special show focusing on Japan
In today's special looking at all things Japan, we bring updates on two key trade deals with China and the United States. Also, a look at how Tokyo’s massive public transit system bucks the trends of traffic and air pollution. And, experiencing the country’s “listening lounges” that offer pure music, with a side of drinks. Plus, a peek into Hello Kitty’s world. Listen to today’s <a href="https...
52m Jun 30, 2025
52m
US schools create contingency plans for international students
Colleges abroad are stepping in to help international students at US campuses who are caught up in political havoc as the Trump administration announces enhanced scrutiny of student visa applications. Also, a look back at the legacy of Argentine American film score composer Lalo Schifrin who died at the age of 93. And, the Chilean government adds textiles to its producer responsibility law. Plu...
52m Jun 27, 2025
52m
Thailand seals border with Cambodia
Thailand has closed off its border with Cambodia — delivering a sharp blow to its economy. It’s the latest strike in a dispute centered around a remote piece of border land that both countries claim. Also, UNICEF warns that Sudanese children affected by war are increasingly malnourished. And, a new tourist destination is opening up — in North Korea. Plus, it’s mango season; a look at what makes...
52m Jun 26, 2025
52m
Kenyans mark one year since deadly anti-tax protests
Demonstrations mark the one-year anniversary of anti-tax protests that left 60 people dead in Kenya, while others remain missing. They come on the heels of last week's protests against police brutality in the country. Also, NATO allies  agree to a dramatic boost in defense spending — pledging to invest 5% of their economic output by 2035. And, Vietnam’s parliament votes to abolish the death pen...
50m Jun 25, 2025
50m
A shaky ceasefire between Israel and Iran
US President Donald Trump has claimed that a ceasefire is holding between Israel and Iran, though each side claims the other has already violated the agreement. Also, a group of international legal experts signs onto a letter warning that private military contractors and others working with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation may be criminally liable for the attacks and the displacement of Palesti...
51m Jun 24, 2025
51m
How urgent is the threat of Iran’s nuclear program?
We take a look a look at how urgent the threat from Iran’s nuclear program really is, and the reactions of people living near the nuclear sites bombed by the US over the weekend. Also, Kirsty Coventry takes over as the new president of the International Olympic Committee. And, Thailand’s prime minister is under fire from the nation’s army amid a border dispute with Cambodia. Plus, a look at the...
51m Jun 23, 2025
51m
Israel and Iran enter a second week of war
Iran's foreign minister is in Europe to meet with diplomats there as war with Israel continues. Meanwhile, hundreds of Israelis are caught in Cyprus, the EU country closest to Israel, still trying to get home. Also, cases of the recently identified COVID-19 variant dubbed "razor blade throat" are rising. And, the Enhanced Games allows athletes to actually take performance enhancing drugs. Plus,...
51m Jun 20, 2025
51m
Rwanda and DRC sign draft peace deal
Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a draft peace agreement that’s expected to be signed next week and aims to end the fighting in eastern DRC. Also, a look at acts of kindness and support amid the airstrikes in Iran. And, El Salvador courts exiles to return with incentives and promises of safety. Plus, remembering Sir Geoff Palmer, Scotland’s first Black professor, as an innova...
51m Jun 19, 2025
51m
Kenyan protesters denounce death of blogger in police custody
Protestors battle with police in downtown Nairobi, condemning the death of a 31-year-old teacher and blogger who died more than a week ago while in police custody. Also, Canada and India try to rebuild their fractured relationship. And, Finland cracks down on e-scooters to address a growing number of accidents. Plus, Jewish groups gather for the First Anti-Zionist Congress in Vienna. Listen to...
51m Jun 18, 2025
51m
Israel-Iran war continues for 5th day as residents flee
Israelis and Iranians spent the day today fleeing or hiding from the back-and-forth bombing between their two countries. Also, a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap faces a terrorism-related charge. And, the Louvre museum in Paris closes down as staff members protest working conditions. Plus, Switzerland offers 370,000 bunkers, enough to shelter all 9 million residents for up to two weeks dur...
50m Jun 17, 2025
50m
Israel orders Iranians to leave Tehran as it escalates strikes
Israel has ordered Iranians living in Tehran to evacuate as it plans to escalate its attacks in the city that’s home to roughly 10 million people. But for some residents, leaving is not an option. Meanwhile, although Israel has intercepted most of the hundreds of missiles that Iran has fired at it, the ones that have made it through have caused some major damage. Also, Britain’s foreign intelli...
50m Jun 16, 2025
50m
Israel launches early morning strikes on Iranian military, nuclear and civilian sites
Israel launched an attack on Iran, targeting the country's nuclear program and military leadership. Several Iranian nuclear scientists were killed along with top military officials including the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. An Israeli official has said the current offensive against Iran will continue for days. Also, a major conference convened in London to address knife attacks. An...
51m Jun 13, 2025
51m
Air India flight crash kills more than 200
A London-bound plane carrying 242 people crashed shortly after taking off from the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Officials have confirmed that there was a single survivor. The plane crashed into a hostel that houses medical students, several of whom also died. Also, in Syria, journalists are building a new media landscape in the post-Assad era. And, dinosaur bones found in Mongolia in ...
50m Jun 12, 2025
50m
Duterte dynasty faces judgment day
In the Philippines, an impeachment court convenes on Wednesday against Sara Duterte, the current vice president and daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte. With her father currently detained by the International Criminal Court, Sara Duterte is seen as her family's last hope to continue their political dynasty. Also, a Haitian church that's helping internally displaced people get back on t...
50m Jun 11, 2025
50m
Shock and grief in the Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday after mass shooting
In Austria, a mass shooting took place at a secondary school in the city of Graz. Nine students were killed, and 12 people were injured. The primary suspect is a former student, but not much is known about his motives. This was the the deadliest school shooting in Austria's modern history. Also, the UK is embracing nuclear power as part of the country's clean energy transition. And, some worker...
51m Jun 10, 2025
51m
Iran truck drivers strike for better pay and benefits
Since early June, Iranian truck drivers have been protesting for better pay and benefits. The action has seen drivers park their vehicles and refuse cargo deliveries in multiple provinces, disrupting transportation and supply chains. Labor activists in Iran say the strike reflects deepening economic frustration among workers already strained by inflation and sanctions. Also, the future of the g...
50m Jun 09, 2025
50m
Israeli PM confirms his government is arming groups in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms an allegation by lawmaker Avigdor Liberman that Israel is arming criminal groups in Gaza. Also, wildcard athlete Lois Boisson competes with top-ranked tennis players at the French Open in Paris. And, a look at how the Houthis in Yemen kept the US navy under constant pressure. Plus, a new project that documents seagulls devouring whatever they c...
1hr 1m Jun 06, 2025
1hr 1m
Trump and Xi agree during phone call to meet in-person
US President Donald Trump described his 90-minute conversation today with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping as "very good." The call comes as Washington and Beijing have been accusing one another of violating a trade truce that both nations had recently agreed to. Also, France saw a 46% rise in adult baptisms this past Easter. And, wildfires continue to burn across western and central Canada as the num...
50m Jun 05, 2025
50m
US firm Boston Consulting Group quits Gaza relief initiative
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a US-based firm that helped design and manage an aid initiative to deliver food to Palestinians in Gaza in areas controlled by the Israeli military, has withdrawn its team from the operation. Also, farmers express concern as Kenyan courts consider importing genetically modified seeds. And, Vietnam is scrapping its long-standing policy that families can only ha...
50m Jun 04, 2025
50m
US to reduce number of military bases in Syria
The US is planning to scale down its military presence in Syria from eight bases to one. We also take a look back at survivors of chemical attacks conducted by Assad regime forces during the Syrian civil war. And, exit polls show center-left Lee Jae-Myung winning the snap election in South Korea by a wide margin. Also, as officials in the US suspend visa interviews for all international student...
51m Jun 03, 2025
51m
Russia and Ukraine pursue peace talks in Turkey as they exchange airstrikes
Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia met in Istanbul, Turkey, today for peace talks as both sides continued to conduct airstrikes. The delegations agreed to a major prisoner exchange, but no ceasefire. Also, a new report documents a pattern of physical abuse and neglect toward Tibetan children at Chinese-run boarding schools that many are forced to attend. And, South Korea contends with a politi...
51m Jun 02, 2025
51m
The White House says it's working on a ceasefire deal for Gaza
The White House says it's working on a ceasefire deal for Gaza and that Israel has agreed to the proposal. Hamas is reportedly reviewing the offer, which would include a temporary truce and the release of Israeli hostages. Also, the UN has proposed a plan to do away with physical passports, replacing them with facial recognition technology. This, in a bid to streamline air travel. Also, as Voic...
50m May 30, 2025
50m
Poland votes this weekend in election seen as test for democracy
Poland’s presidential election this weekend is more than just a vote — it’s a pivotal moment for the country’s democracy. At stake is the future direction of Poland, with voters choosing between two starkly different candidates: a right-wing populist opposing abortion and LGBTQ rights, and a pro-European liberal who has marched in Warsaw’s pride parade. Also, how a drop in the number of interna...
50m May 29, 2025
50m
Concerns grow over suspicious candidates in Mexico's 1st judicial election
Mexico is set to become the first country in the world where every single judge is elected by popular vote. But as the country prepares for its first nationwide judicial election, concerns are mounting about many of the candidates. Activists say they have not been properly vetted, and numerous candidates have alleged ties to organized crime and religious groups. Also, Myanmar junta and rebels a...
50m May 28, 2025
50m
Russia captures 4 Ukrainian villages amid intense bombing campaign
Russia's military captured four Ukrainian border villages in the Sumy region of Ukraine on Tuesday. It follows an intense bombing campaign of Ukraine's cities and towns over the weekend by Russian drones. It also comes as Moscow holds a major security conference over the next two days. Also, a US-backed aid group has begun distributing humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. But Hamas has warned Pa...
50m May 27, 2025
50m
Memorial Day special
This year marks a half-century since the end of the Vietnam War. A well-known memorial in Washington, DC, pays tribute to the US service members who lost their lives in that war, but few memorials honor the Vietnamese who fought alongside them, or the hundreds of thousands who came to the US in subsequent years. A new memorial project in the "Little Saigon" neighborhood of Dorchester in Boston ...
50m May 26, 2025
50m
Federal judge blocks attempt to ban foreign students from Harvard
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. Also, five years after the killing of George Floyd in the US, a look at the global reckoning that ensued over racism, policing and historical injustice. And, Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, threatens to resign over political turmoil in the country. Plus,...
51m May 23, 2025
51m
Germany signals shift in defense policy by stationing troops in Lithuania
Germany is deploying 5,000 troops to Lithuania, marking the first such permanent deployment to another country since the end of World War II. Also, immigration lawyers are sounding alarms over what they say is an escalating immigration crackdown along the northern US border in Maine. And, Iran and Russia ratify a new agreement to strengthen economic ties, with more cooperation in banking and ar...
50m May 22, 2025
50m
Officials unmask a Chinese spy ring in Turkey
Turkish officials say they've caught Chinese intelligence using fake cell phone towers to eavesdrop on Uyghurs and the Turkish government. Also, Spain uses a new eviction law to crack down on squatters as housing prices continue to rise. And, European officials have launched a "tidal wave" of condemnation against Israel for its war in Gaza. Plus, a woman is raffling off her two bedroom house lo...
49m May 21, 2025
49m
El Salvador detains lawyer and human rights defender
Police in El Salvador have arrested Ruth López, a prominent human rights defender who headed the anti-corruption unit at the rights group Cristosal. Also, Ontario approves billions of dollars for  four small modular nuclear reactors, making Canada the first G7 country to implement them for civilian use. And, the World Health Organization approves an agreement to prevent, prepare for and respond...
50m May 20, 2025
50m
As displaced Syrians return, one photographer rediscovers his country
Displaced Syrians are returning to their homes following years of civil war. One photographer, Alaa Hassan, who was 25 years old when the uprisings against former President Bashar al-Assad began, hopes to now document the loss and rebirth of his country. Also, US President Donald Trump holds separate phone calls with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia as fighting continues. And, hunger and starv...
50m May 19, 2025
50m
US and UAE ink deal to build world's largest data center for AI
The United Arab Emirates is set to become home to the largest artificial intelligence campus outside of the US. The deal was struck in a meeting Thursday between the US and the UAE. The 10-square-mile campus will be built in Abu Dhabi, requiring 5 gigawatts of power capacity. We look into the energy implications of the plan. Also, in Australia, a murder trial where the defendant is accused of s...
50m May 16, 2025
50m
Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul
Russian and Ukrainian officials are meeting on Thursday in Istanbul to discuss a potential end to the war for the first time in more than three years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy showed up for the meeting in-person; Russian President Vladimir Putin did not. We have the latest updates and analysis from those talks. Also, the mental health crisis caused by climate change, and the emer...
50m May 15, 2025
50m
A new hope for Syria
President Trump's announcement that US sanctions on Syria would be lifted was met with elation by Syrians, but the country still has a long way to go to recover from years of civil war and brutal dictatorship. Also, the German government banned an extremist group known as the Kingdom of Germany, which believes Germany is a monarchy. And, a look back at the life of José Mujica, Uruguay's former ...
50m May 14, 2025
50m
Trump kicks off Middle East visit with talk of a 'golden age'
As President Donald Trump heads to the Middle East, a look at how the countries he plans to visit are trying to position themselves. Also, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, has announced it will disarm and disband. That marks the potential end of the group's four decadelong insurgency against the Turkish military. And, the former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has won a mayo...
49m May 13, 2025
49m
Israeli-American hostage in Gaza released following direct negotiations between the US and Hamas
Hamas has released the last living American hostage that was held captive in Gaza. That comes days before President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit the region. Hamas has not said what it expects to receive in return for the release. Also, Pope Leo XIV's roots in Chiclayu, Peru. And, a close look at Barcelona's "superblocks": pedestrian areas designed to keep cars out. Listen to today’s <a h...
49m May 12, 2025
49m
Peru calls Pope Leo XIV the 'Peruvian pope'
Pope Leo XIV gave his first mass as pontiff today and is being celebrated across the globe, including in Peru, where he carried out decades of missionary work and became a naturalized citizen. Also, the US cuts $50 million in medical aid to Zambia following a corruption investigation. And, Sudan cuts ties with the UAE as drone attacks on Port Sudan continue for a sixth day. Plus, the National G...
50m May 09, 2025
50m
Vatican selects new pope to lead the Catholic Church
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States has been elected the 267th pope. The 69-year-old is from Chicago, Illinois, and will be known as Pope Leo XIV. Also, after dozens of community kitchens providing desperately needed food to Palestinians in Gaza were shuttered this week, the US is asking aid groups to back a new Israeli aid plan run by US security contractors. And, a nonprofit ...
49m May 08, 2025
49m
Tensions rise as India launches airstrikes on Pakistan
Indian jets launch airstrikes on nine sites inside Pakistan in retaliation for a militant group's attack on mostly Indian tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir two weeks ago. Also, ongoing hunting and the growing effects of climate change are contributing to the dropping numbers of manatees in the Amazon region but local efforts are underway to bring them back. And, Syria's Interim President ...
58m May 07, 2025
58m
Pope Francis' legacy will be part of whoever becomes the next pope
More than a hundred Catholic cardinals from 70 different countries will convene for a secretive conclave on Wednesday to select a new pope. It's not clear who will ultimately be chosen to lead the Catholic Church next. Also, drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been pummeling Port Sudan for three straight days. And, Germany’s parliament confirms Friedrich Merz as the coun...
49m May 06, 2025
49m
Israel approves new military plan to ‘occupy’ Gaza indefinitely
Israel’s security cabinet has approved a new military offensive designed to “capture” Gaza and hold it indefinitely. The plan would relocate many of Gaza’s 2 million residents to the south and shutter hundreds of community kitchens. Also, North Korea confirms that it sent troops to fight in Ukraine, but with tens of thousands of Russians killed in the fighting, a new report finds that Moscow is...
50m May 05, 2025
50m
The suburbs of Damascus on edge after clashes
Clashes have broken out this week in Syria between government security forces and militias inside Syria's Druze community. Israel launched airstrikes in Syria on Wednesday, claiming they targeted operatives who attacked Druze civilians. Israel has threatened more strikes if the clashes continue. We hear from people on the ground, in Syria, who have been affected by the violence. Also, Romania's...
48m May 02, 2025
48m
Pope Francis' legacy of fighting church corruption
The work to choose a new pope begins next week with the secretive Papal Conclave. One of Pope Francis' lingering legacies that will need to be addressed: the late pontiff's efforts to reform the Vatican's less-than-transparent finances. Also, Maria Ressa is the Nobel Prize-winning journalist behind the investigative news site, Rappler, based in the Philippines. Her work made her a political ene...
50m May 01, 2025
50m
Vietnam celebrates 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon
Fifty years ago on Wednesday the fall of Saigon marked the end of the Vietnam War. Most Americans think of that war as one of the longest and most unpopular conflicts in US military history. But in Vietnam, it is being celebrated as the end of a much longer struggle for liberation, which predates US involvement by several decades. We examine both of those legacies. Also, what it would mean for ...
49m Apr 30, 2025
49m
Liberal Party's victory in Canada's federal election marks a shift
In Canada, election results mark a reversal of political fortunes. The Liberal Party's victory in Monday's federal election follows a long slump in popularity. But the Trump administration's trade policies and rhetoric concerning Canada have driven a shift in the country's political landscape. The election results are widely being seen as a mandate for how Canada should respond to Trump. Also, ...
50m Apr 29, 2025
50m
Massive power outage in Spain and Portugal causes chaos
A major power outage struck Spain and Portugal on Monday, shutting down transit and causing major gridlock in both countries. The two governments met to discuss the outage, the cause of which was not immediately known. This is the biggest power outage on the European continent since 2003. Also, a massive explosion in an Iranian port killed at least 40 people over the weekend and injured hundred...
50m Apr 28, 2025
50m
India suspends water sharing agreement with Pakistan
India has suspended its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, a major water-sharing agreement with Pakistan, following a recent attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. Also, more than 1,800 international students have seen their immigration statuses changed by the US government, prompting some to wonder if they should stay in the US or leave. And, US Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) discusses his...
51m Apr 25, 2025
51m
Qatar brokers talks between DRC, Rwanda and M23 rebel group
Qatar has brokered talks between the government of Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group, which is backed by Rwanda, to agree to common terms for a dialogue that includes a ceasefire. Also, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum bans foreign political ads on Mexican TV after a wave of anti-immigration spots sponsored by the Trump administration airs nationwide.  And, as Spain's Cata...
49m Apr 24, 2025
49m