New Zealand considers expanding police powers
In New Zealand, activists managed to stop plans to increase police powers that harm Maori communities. A year later, the government wants to expand police powers again. And in France, a group of generals recently published an open letter in a far-right magazine warning that the country could be headed toward civil war. Also, for the first time in nearly four months, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader...
48m May 25, 2021
48m
Belarus diverts commercial flight to arrest dissident
On Sunday, Belarusian authorities diverted a passenger flight carrying Roman Protasevich, a prominent dissident. He was then detained under the orders of Alexander Lukashenko, known as “Europe’s last dictator.” And, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in the Middle East tomorrow, following the start of Friday’s ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Also, 21 marathon runners have died...
49m May 24, 2021
49m
Hamas and Israel agree to Egyptian-brokered truce
After 11 days of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the sides agreed to an Egyptian-brokered truce. As Gaza rebuilds, what does the blockade imposed in 2007 mean for postconflict life? Also, as European countries open up to tourists, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease specialist, weighs in on the state of the pandemic and how to prepare for the next one. And, an i...
48m May 21, 2021
48m
Hope for a ceasefire in Israel-Gaza conflict
Hamas predicts that a ceasefire with Israel is imminent, but Israel has shown no signs of letting up its campaign against targets in Gaza. Both sides will likely continue to fight before a truce is called. And, over the years, the Arctic has become a source of tension between Russia and some NATO countries in the region. Also, bipartisan US lawmakers are calling on the Biden administration to d...
47m May 20, 2021
47m
India’s uneven health care systems strained under COVID crisis 
Even in India’s southernmost states with model health care systems, COVID-19 has taken a toll. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, second-wave virus outbreaks have strained their hospitals. And, in El Salvador, the popular 39-year-old president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, is taking measures to centralize power among his allies. Also, amid Israel’s full-blown military escalation against militant group H...
47m May 19, 2021
47m
Israel-Gaza ceasefire remains elusive
As fighting between Israel and Gaza continues, US President Joe Biden said he welcomes a ceasefire. But Israeli and Hamas leaders show few signs of letting up. The US continues to sell weapons to Israel, but these purchases are conducted with little transparency and are not held to any human rights standards. And, the Philippines currently has one of the worst COVID-19 infection rates in Southe...
47m May 18, 2021
47m
Israel-Gaza conflict tests Biden administration 
Pressure is mounting for President Joe Biden to do more to try to halt Israel’s assault on Gaza. Also, Chileans have decided that 155 citizens will rewrite the country's constitution, replacing the one drafted under the former Augusto Pinochet dictatorship. In Brazil, coastal fishing communities struggle to stay afloat during the pandemic. Are you exhausted? You’re not alone: The World Health O...
47m May 17, 2021
47m
Fighting intensifies between Israel and Hamas
Fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip intensified Thursday night, for the fifth day in a row. And, the CDC released new recommendations lifting indoor mask mandates for vaccinated people. In other parts of the world, including Greece, people are celebrating the lifting of other restrictions. Also, a taboo industry has gone mainstream in China: grave robbing.
47m May 14, 2021
47m
Gaza conflict intensifies as Arab and Jewish mobs attack each other
A "civil war" is erupting in the streets of Israel, as Arab and Jewish mobs attack each other. We get a view from inside Israel. Plus, Amsterdam has become the first city in the world to ban ads that promote fossil fuel-intensive products, like gas-guzzling cars and cheap flights. And, several months ago, the city of Krakow, Poland, realized it had a problem. It needed someone to play the trump...
48m May 13, 2021
48m
Coronavirus Conversations: The rise of racism against Asian Americans amid the COVID-19 crisis
A national spike in anti-Asian hate crimes — including a recent mass shooting in Atlanta — is prompting a national conversation. From physical assault to harassment to discrimination, Asian Americans have experienced a harrowing array of violence in the US, made more acute amid the coronavirus crisis. As part of The World's series of conversations with Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Healt...
1hr 4m May 13, 2021
1hr 4m
Deadly Israel-Gaza crisis deepens
Escalating violence in Israel and Gaza continues, with exchanges of rocket fire and airstrikes. Officials in the Gaza Strip say that at least 65 Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes launched after the Palestinian militant group Hamas fired hundreds of rockets at Israeli towns, resulting in the death of six Israelis. And, the US is defying an international treaty that would classify us...
48m May 12, 2021
48m
Insecurity in Afghanistan rises as US troops pull out
Insecurity in Afghanistan has been on the rise, and as the US pulls its troops out, things could get worse. Over the weekend, Afghanistan witnessed a horrific attack, in which dozens of schoolgirls were killed. In Nepal, the number of recorded coronavirus infections is doubling every three days. The country shares a long border with India, where a devastating outbreak has been raging. Also, at ...
48m May 11, 2021
48m
Violence between Israel and Palestinians escalates
Hundreds of Palestinians were injured as Israeli police stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. The latest clashes come as Palestinians protest court-ordered evictions in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. New Zealand is the latest nation to make a declaration about human rights abuses against Uyghur people in China. And trillions of cicadas that have been maturing underground f...
48m May 10, 2021
48m
China’s Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine gets WHO authorization
The World Health Organization gave emergency use authorization on Friday to a COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by China's Sinopharm, which could pave the way to helping vaccinate poorer countries. And, the ports of Belfast and Larne in Northern Ireland have become flashpoints, as Brexit has turned them into de facto borders. Also, a new album released Friday is aimed at raising awareness about mus...
48m May 07, 2021
48m
US to engage in talks on COVID-19 vaccine patent waiver
In a major policy shift, the US announced it would support the COVID-19 vaccine patent waiver efforts and engage in negotiations over the specifics. But many in the vaccine industry warn that a waiver does not address the underlying problem of vaccine shortages. And, the European Union and the United Nations are expressing concern over police violence against protesters in the Colombian city of...
49m May 06, 2021
49m
The global implications of Facebook upholding Trump ban
Facebook's independent Oversight Board on Monday announced that President Donald Trump's suspension from the platform would be upheld. What are the global implications for world leaders? European Union ambassadors met Wednesday to discuss plans to reopen Europe’s borders to tourists from around the world. And, the volcanic “ring of fire” that stretches across Latin America and the Caribbean has...
50m May 05, 2021
50m
Deadly Mexico City metro collapse raises infrastructure concerns
A section of the Mexico City metro collapsed late Monday, killing at least 23 people and injuring at least 79, according to officials. The accident happened on the city's newest line, just completed in 2012. And, Syria is set to hold presidential elections in May, with Bashar al-Assad widely expected to win. Many displaced Syrians in Turkey see the elections as a sham. Also, momentum is buildin...
48m May 04, 2021
48m
Two siblings at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, oceans apart
Two doctors, siblings, one in India and another one in the US — at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 — are finding ways to support each other, despite challenges. A landmark trial involving tech giant Apple gets underway in the US, just days after European regulators accused Apple of breaking EU competition rules. And a quieter revolution is playing out in Myanmar, one that is mostly ...
48m May 03, 2021
48m
Coronavirus Conversations: Understanding and tracking 'long COVID'
Doctors around the world are working to understand “long COVID” — a lingering range of symptoms that persists in some people after they have initially recovered from COVID-19 illness. As part of The World's regular series of conversations with Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health about the pandemic, and as a special in our podcast feed, reporter Elana Gordon moderated a discussion with D...
49m May 03, 2021
49m
Tragedy in Israel following a stampede at a religious gathering
Tens of thousands of religious Jews gathered in northern Israel to celebrate the annual holiday of Lag BaOmer. A stampede in a steep, tunnel-like passageway started when people slipped and fell, creating a deadly crush. And, elections in India continued this week despite the massive surge in COVID-19 cases. Also, the gun culture in both Brazil and the US is similar, but the current leaders in b...
49m Apr 30, 2021
49m
Indian residents crowdsource COVID-19 supplies on social media
As India faces a devastating coronavirus surge, most hospitals and pharmacies in New Delhi, the capital, have run out of stocks. Now, people are turning to social media with desperate pleas for ICU beds, medicine and oxygen tanks to keep their loved ones alive. And, millions of people around the world are involved in forced labor. US Customs and Border Patrol has started to seize goods made thr...
49m Apr 29, 2021
49m
India’s coronavirus crisis deepens
India is in a coronavirus state of emergency. The Indian government says that they are seeing more than 300,000 new COVID-19 infections each day — more than anywhere else in the world — and those are just the reported cases. And, Denmark  has become the first country in the European Union to revoke the residency status of Syrian refugees. Also, while travel restrictions remain in place for many...
50m Apr 28, 2021
50m
The impact of COVID-19 on aid for Syrian refugees
A center in Turkey near the border with Syria, which helped Syrian child laborers get therapy and education, has been shut down because of the pandemic. Now there are concerns about the fate of the children who benefited from it. And, Brazil's congress is starting an inquiry into President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic, while the number of COVID-19 deaths in the country continues to...
48m Apr 27, 2021
48m
US lifts ban on vaccine raw materials for India amid a second coronavirus wave
The Biden administration on Sunday lifted an export ban on raw materials for vaccines for India. The shift in policy comes amid an outbreak in India that is pushing that country’s health system to the brink. And, thousands of health care workers in Mexico have yet to get a coronavirus vaccine, even as government officials have moved on to giving shots to other priority groups. Also, three Germa...
48m Apr 26, 2021
48m
India health system pushed to the brink by COVID-19 surge
India continues to record dizzying levels of coronavirus cases, setting the record two days in a row for the most daily infections around the world. And, researchers have found in preliminary results that a new vaccine for malaria is more than 77% effective in a clinical trial in Burkina Faso. Also, British Indian composer and pop musician Nitin Sawhney — whose music ties in deeply with politic...
49m Apr 23, 2021
49m
Coronavirus Conversations: The latest on COVID-19 variants and rapid testing
With several vaccines approved, health authorities around the world are racing to inoculate populations before new, potentially more dangerous, variants of the coronavirus spread. What are the implications of the COVID-19 variants? As part of The World's regular series of conversations on the pandemic, and as a special in our podcast feed, reporter Elana Gordon moderated a discussion with Harva...
47m Apr 23, 2021
47m
US works to regain international credibility on combating climate change
At a US-hosted climate summit launched on Earth Day, the Biden administration hopes to prove what it's been saying for months: The US is back as a leader on climate action. And, in the wake of the Derek Chauvin trial, activists argue that increasingly militarized police shows that the US cannot solve its police brutality problems on its own. Also, a toaster-sized instrument on NASA’s Perseveran...
48m Apr 22, 2021
48m
The Black Lives Matter movement around the world
Throughout 2020, Black Lives Matter protests swept the globe sending millions of people into the streets. Often, these protests prompted people to look inward and revive calls for justice where they live. And, a jury on Tuesday found ex-police officer Derek Chauvin guilty in the murder of George Floyd. The case has raised questions about police brutality and justice in the US. Also, A plan by 1...
49m Apr 21, 2021
49m
An uncertain future for many Afghans as US troops prepare to withdraw
In recent years, thousands of Afghans have been forced out of their country because of direct threats from the Taliban. Now, with the US troop withdrawal looming, many Afghans face an uncertain future. And, US and Russia relations have reached a new low point after news that the US ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan, will be returning to the United States this week. Also, Biden administration ...
49m Apr 20, 2021
49m
France passes bill to restrict videos of police
French lawmakers passed a bill that could punish anyone sharing images or videos of police officers with the intent to cause "psychological or physical" harm. And, Russian dissident Alexei Navalny has been taken to a prison hospital following a three-week hunger strike and deteriorating health. Can the US intervene? Also, the long-awaited travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand is now o...
48m Apr 19, 2021
48m
Russia retaliates with sanctions on US
The Biden administration on Thursday slapped new sanctions on the Kremlin. Now, Moscow has responded with a set of its own sanctions against the US. And, a significant change is set for the future of Cuba: Raúl Castro is expected to step down as Communist Party secretary-general this weekend. Also, the European Commission is expected to unveil its long-awaited proposal on artificial intelligenc...
49m Apr 16, 2021
49m
Biden administration imposes tough new sanctions targeting Russia
The Biden administration has imposed significant sanctions against Russia. The sanctions tackle what the White House calls "harmful foreign activities by the Russian government." And, following the US announced plan to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by September, women fear a return to the dark days of oppression and abuse under Taliban rule. Also, boba, the chewy tapioca pearls in bubble...
48m Apr 15, 2021
48m
A last push toward a peace in Afghanistan
Afghans have five months before US troops depart and many see that period as the last chance to push the peace process forward. And, the police shooting of Daunte Wright, an unarmed Black man killed by an officer during a traffic stop in a suburb of Minneapolis, is raising questions once again about why policing in the US can be so deadly — and how other nations do things differently. Also, an ...
48m Apr 14, 2021
48m
Biden announces deadline for pulling us troops out of Afghanistan
President Joe Biden announced a new deadline to pull American troops out of Afghanistan for Sept. 11, 2021. It's an important development in the push to end a nearly 20-year war. And, the tension between Russia and Ukraine continues to build as tens of thousands of Russian troops have amassed along Ukraine's border. Now Ukraine, the US and Europe are on alert. Also, the government of Japan anno...
48m Apr 13, 2021
48m
Growing tension between Israel and Iran after blackout
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Israel reiterating Washington’s commitment to the country. The visit came coincidently as news of an explosion emerged from Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility. And, voters in Ecuador have elected conservative businessman Guillermo Lasso as their new president. Also, Monday marks 60 years since Russian Yuri Gagarin’s first voyage into space.
49m Apr 12, 2021
49m
India struggles to contain surge in coronavirus cases
COVID-19 cases are rising in India as its vaccination drive attempts to keep up. And, since President Joe Biden's first day in office, US-China relations have been both a priority and a concern. This week, Taiwan has been at the center of attention because China has revved up pressure there, with military exercises by air and sea. Also, new research shows Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica may be e...
48m Apr 09, 2021
48m
Belfast riots raise concerns over escalating post-Brexit tensions
Rioters set fire to a hijacked bus and lobbed gasoline bombs at police in Belfast Wednesday. Tensions have been on the rise since Britain's exit from the European Union. And, New Zealand recently made headlines when its Parliament approved a bill that requires employers to offer three days of bereavement leave for people who miscarry. Also, when pubs reopen fully in mid-May, the UK government i...
52m Apr 08, 2021
52m
Kenya races to vaccinate amid a COVID-19 surge
Since the arrival of its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines last month, Kenya has been rushing to vaccinate its front-line workers amid a deadly third wave. And, two months after a military coup in Myanmar, troops have killed more than 500 civilians, often simply for demanding the army give power back to elected officials. Also, since its launch in December 2020, the Calma Line has received about...
49m Apr 07, 2021
49m
The challenge of developing a variant-proof vaccine
The world needs a coronavirus vaccine that can protect people against emerging variants. But this idea — a vaccine to combat multiple strains — is easier said than done. And, the number of transgender people who hide their identity at work has risen sharply in Britain. Also, a few years ago, banning plastic straws was the hot environmental trend. China is on board and banned disposable plastic ...
43m Apr 06, 2021
43m
Jordan’s royal dispute comes at a difficult time
As Jordan’s royal dispute plays out between two top royals, many Jordanians are just trying to get by. And, the EU has announced a quarter billion euros to fund five new refugee camps on the Greek islands, including Lesbos, but some are worried the new sites will not improve conditions for migrants. Also, in Egypt this weekend, 22 mummies were on the move in a multimillion-dollar parade featuri...
49m Apr 05, 2021
49m
Brexit undercuts Northern Ireland’s peace pact
Twenty-three years ago on Friday, the Irish and British governments, along with most of the political parties in Northern Ireland signed the Good Friday accords. Former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern says Brexit has undercut the peace pact. And, migrant women have alleged gender discrimination in US seasonal work. For the first time, they now have a way to file complaints directly with Mexic...
49m Apr 02, 2021
49m
Myanmar authorities targeting medics among anti-coup protests
Myanmar’s military regime has killed more than 500 unarmed civilians since seizing power in a coup eight weeks ago. But the troops aren't just killing protesters. They’re also shooting at medics, nurses and EMTs who try to save the lives of injured protesters. And, across Africa, new daily cases of the coronavirus are rising at an alarming rate. Also, Apple announced that its iPhone digital ass...
47m Apr 01, 2021
47m
A political shake-up in Brazil as the country faces a coronavirus surge
Brazil’s top military commanders resigned Wednesday following a shuffling of President Jair Bolsonaro’s Cabinet. The political shake-up comes amid a worsening crisis over the coronavirus in the country where emergency rooms are beyond capacity. Also, US President Joe Biden unveiled his $2 trillion infrastructure plan on Wednesday. He framed the eight-year spending plan as a program to create jo...
49m Mar 31, 2021
49m
Coronavirus Conversations: A deepening crisis in Brazil
Brazil — Latin America’s largest country — is experiencing a deepening crisis with the coronavirus pandemic. As part of The World's regular series of conversations about the pandemic and as a special in our podcast feed, reporter Elana Gordon moderated a discussion with Marcia Castro, chair of the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who a...
46m Mar 31, 2021
46m
WHO releases report on COVID-19 origins
A long-awaited report was released on Tuesday outlining findings on the origins of the coronavirus outbreak. And, a top European Union official traveled to Greece this week to announce funding for several new refugee plans on Greek islands. Also, students in a bilingual program at Winnipeg's Isaac Brock School won first prize in an Indigenous language competition for their Cree rendition of the...
49m Mar 30, 2021
49m
Crackdown on protesters in Myanmar grows more deadly
Myanmar’s military celebrated Armed Forces Day on Saturday with a display of tanks, missiles and marches. Meanwhile, its troops were dispatched across the country, quelling a civilian uprising that left more than 100 citizens dead, including young children. And, a much-anticipated report is expected this week, laying out the findings of a World Health Organization joint mission to China. The re...
49m Mar 29, 2021
49m
What next for families turned away at the US-Mexico border
Many families, most from parts of Central America, are being turned back by US officials at the US-Mexico border in the name of a Trump-era policy to block non-US citizens entering the US by land. And, in the week since American and Chinese officials had their frosty meetings in Alaska, tensions between China and North American and European nations have only escalated. Also, a cargo ship the si...
49m Mar 26, 2021
49m
Coronavirus Conversations: Vaccine acceptance and public attitudes
There seems to be a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel with the approval of several vaccines and the widespread rollout of vaccination campaigns around the world. But questions about vaccine acceptance persist. As part of The World's regular series of conversations about the coronavirus and as a special feature in our podcast feed, reporter Elana Gordon moderated a discussion with Harvard ...
40m Mar 26, 2021
40m
Public health experts push to end an unfair border policy 
When the pandemic first hit, the Trump administration used a policy called Title 42 to justify its tightening of the southern border. Plenty of critics including public health experts say the policy doesn't have a science-based approach. And India is now dealing with a surge in COVID-19 infections, this time with a new variant. Also, H&M faces calls for a boycott in China after the company spok...
49m Mar 25, 2021
49m
US officials head to Mexico to tackle root causes of mass migration
What are the root causes that are driving tens of thousands of Central Americans to come to the US-Mexico border? That's a question White House officials are starting to tackle. Senior advisers to President Joe Biden were in Mexico this week discussing possible solutions. And, Chinese students in the US and China respond to the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans. Also, while Madrid's m...
49m Mar 24, 2021
49m