Are the US and China at a crossroads?
Relations between Beijing and Washington have long been rocky. But now many leaders in both capitals see a more serious rupture as inevitable or even desirable. And, across the US, various groups have mobilized to confront the sudden, intense crisis of starvation among immigrants and refugees. Also, Scottish virologist June Almeida identified the first coronavirus in 1964. But her work in the f...
46m May 06, 2020
46m
Has US leadership diminished over the coronavirus crisis?
The Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus crisis has been the butt of jokes and critical editorials the world over. How real is this loss of prestige, and does it matter? And, for months starting in October, Iraqis poured into the streets in several major cities demanding change in their government. Then, the coronavirus happened. Bread making, particularly sourdough bread making, ...
46m May 05, 2020
46m
Ecuador hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has devastated some countries more than others. Ecuador is one place that's been overwhelmed by COVID-19. Also, in this time of social isolation, many people are finding themselves without much of an opportunity for human touch. The condition is called "skin hunger," and it's known to cause depression, anxiety and insomnia. And, a hornet species, native to southeast Asi...
46m May 04, 2020
46m
A global effort to fast-track a vaccine for the coronavirus
Most leaders and medical experts say life won’t get back to relative normal until we get a vaccine to prevent COVID-19. It could take a while, so some scientists and ethicists are proposing a controversial method of testing. Also, Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has tested positive for the coronavirus and is temporarily stepping down from his position as he recovers. Plus, the British...
47m May 01, 2020
47m
How social distancing is impacting global vaccination efforts
Social distancing measures have been effective at countering the coronavirus pandemic, but have paralyzed global vaccination efforts. Already millions of children have become vulnerable to polio, measles, yellow fever and other killers. And, the death of a tribesman in northwest Saudi Arabia has raised alarms about the government's plans to forcibly remove locals from their land in order to bui...
46m Apr 30, 2020
46m
Global disruption of supply chains impacts food security
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted supply chains, prompting incidents of price gouging along with higher prices for fruits and vegetables around the world. How are poorer countries absorbing the costs? And, Israel's Supreme Court has weighed in on the country’s controversial COVID-19 digital tracking program. Also, dozens of French dentists are stripping down naked in their offices to prote...
47m Apr 29, 2020
47m
Crisis-hit countries facing the potential of millions of deaths from coronavirus
The curve may be starting to flatten in Europe and in the US, but a new report suggests in many crisis-hit countries around the world, the worst may yet be ahead. And, Chile is rolling out a plan to issue people with "immunity passports" allowing them to return to work. Also, professional sports leagues in most countries around the world have been either postponed or canceled, but this is not t...
48m Apr 28, 2020
48m
As some countries ease lockdowns, UK's Boris Johnson asks Britons to be patient
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is back on the job and urging the public to be patient with the lockdown restrictions. Meanwhile, the British parliament is back up and running though, without the traditional rancor for which the body is known. And, different countries are enforcing rules on self-isolation and quarantine differently. In the Philippines, a large part of the country is on loc...
47m Apr 27, 2020
47m
Nursing homes hit hard by the coronavirus in Canada
North of the US border in Canada, long-term care facilities for the elderly have been especially hard hit by the coronavirus. And, two Harvard University medical students are leading an initiative to raise awareness about COVID-19 and to debunk myths that are spreading in communities in South Asia and the Middle East. Also, as the pandemic continues to upend the lives of people around the world...
48m Apr 24, 2020
48m
Number in The News: 21: Calgary students launch hotline to bring uplifting stories to seniors
From The World and PRX, this is The Number in the News. Today’s number: 21. In these challenging times, sometimes you just need a pick-me-up — and fast. Luckily, residents of Calgary in western Canada literally have joy on speed-dial. High school students launched a hotline called Joy4All. Dial it, and you can hear local students share jokes, short stories and acts of kindness. The project is d...
4m Apr 24, 2020
4m
Calls for tracking racial data amid coronavirus crisis
Health advocates say that by failing to track racial data of coronavirus patients, governments are missing a rare opportunity to track, pinpoint and find solutions for vast disparities. And, the coronavirus can only be tackled if wealthy nations work hand-in-hand with the developing world, says former UN Ambassador Samantha Power. Also, officials in Ghana are using drones to transport coronavir...
49m Apr 23, 2020
49m
Europe takes tentative first steps to reopen
In Europe, a number of countries are taking tentative steps to reopen amid the coronavirus crisis. The key concern is a relapse and no one at this point can be sure what will happen next. After almost a decade of civil war in Syria, two former Syrian government officials will go on trial in Germany. Also, from Afghanistan to the Philippines, Scotland, Serbia and more, environmentalists around t...
48m Apr 22, 2020
48m
Trump to further restrict immigration
Late Monday night, US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to announce an executive order that will "temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!" On Tuesday, Trump seemed to back away from his controversial tweet, but is expected to announce plans for further restricting immigration to the US. And, Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel is one of the year’s most solemn of days. But i...
48m Apr 21, 2020
48m
Immigrants are likeliest to be frontline workers amid coronavirus pandemic
Hassan Akkad is a BAFTA award-winning documentary filmmaker who filmed his journey as a Syrian refugee traversing Europe. But when the coronavirus hit London, where he lives, he decided to take on a new role: hospital cleaner. And in Mexico, radio stations in Indigenous communities are trying to fill critical coronavirus information gaps. In New York, bodega workers say they face shortages of f...
49m Apr 20, 2020
49m
Guatemala suspends US deportation flights over coronavirus concerns
Guatemalan government officials say at least 44 Guatemalan migrants who were deported on a flight from the US this week have tested positive for COVID-19. And, Google and Apple are working together to improve the technology for contact tracing in an effort to help counter the coronavirus outbreak. Also, around the world, coronavirus restrictions are forcing people to get creative in their kitch...
48m Apr 17, 2020
48m
When and how to start lifting coronavirus restrictions
Communities across the globe under strict physical distancing measures — in many cases for weeks — are now wrestling with when and how to relax those policies. And, a group of scientists is looking for antibodies in those who have successfully recovered from the novel coronavirus, which could help develop drugs to fight COVID-19. Also, Finland's government has elevated the status of social medi...
48m Apr 16, 2020
48m
The Number in The News: 45 — Mr. Motivator wants you to have fun exercising under quarantine
From The World and PRX, this is The Number in the News. Today’s number is 45. As working from home during the novel coronavirus outbreak becomes the new norm, many of us have become even more tethered to our screens — and our chairs — than usual. Luckily, Derrick Evans is here to help. You may know him as Mr. Motivator. He rose to fame in the United Kingdom in the 1990s with his high-energy exe...
4m Apr 16, 2020
4m
Outcry over Trump's WHO funding cut order
President‌ ‌Donald Trump‌ ‌says‌ ‌he’s‌ ‌halting‌ ‌funding‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌World‌ ‌Health‌ ‌Organization‌ ‌pending‌ ‌a‌ ‌review.‌ ‌How‌ would the funding ‌cut ‌affect‌ ‌the‌ ‌WHO’s‌ ‌work‌? And, there's a global backlash against Trump's WHO announcement, especially in places where the organization is vital like in Democratic Republic of Congo, where they are not only dealing with COVID-19 but als...
49m Apr 15, 2020
49m
France stays under lockdown while other countries debate lifting restrictions
While US President Donald Trump clashed with state governors over plans to reopen the economy, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday that France will remain under lockdown for four more weeks. And, earlier this month, top cybersecurity officials in the US and the UK issued a warning about COVID-19-related scams and phishing attempts. Also, in Calgary, Canada, high school students l...
48m Apr 14, 2020
48m
When is it safe to lift coronavirus restrictions?
The US is now the center of the global pandemic. With more than a half a million confirmed cases and 22,000 deaths from COVID-19 and a surge still on the way for many parts of the country, is it premature to talk about opening things up again? And, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed the threat of the coronavirus in the country, but that's not the only thing that's making it hard ...
48m Apr 13, 2020
48m
Faith in the time of a global coronavirus crisis
The coronavirus has fundamentally changed how we live our lives — but perhaps most heartbreaking is how it's changed how we deal with death. And, every year, thousands of Catholic worshipers travel to the east side of Mexico City to watch a live reenactment of the stations of the cross. This year, as Mexico and much of the world is implementing social isolation measures to slow the spread of th...
48m Apr 10, 2020
48m
Politicizing the coronavirus crisis?
US President Donald Trump is threatening to pull funding from the World Health Organization, accusing it of being too "China-centric." The WHO has cautioned against politicizing the coronavirus crisis. And, health care professional burnout has been a long-standing and overlooked issue in hospitals around the world, even before the coronavirus. Also, triathlete Mirinda Carfrae was in second plac...
47m Apr 09, 2020
47m
China's coronavirus epicenter of Wuhan emerges from lockdown
The central Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus pandemic, began allowing people to leave on Wednesday for the first time after being locked down for 76 days. And, the pandemic has brought all sorts of things to a standstill, including elections. Many officials are looking to make online voting available to more people — that makes election security experts particularly...
48m Apr 08, 2020
48m
What's next for Britain with Boris Johnson in intensive care?
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is spending his second night in intensive care in a London hospital after contracting COVID-19. And, the Trump administration is pushing forward with a new plan for a power-sharing government in Venezuela, as the South American nation struggles with a collapsed economy and the looming threat of the coronavirus pandemic. Also, with much of the world cooped up...
47m Apr 07, 2020
47m
Coronavirus outbreak showing signs of slowing in Spain
Spain is the country with the second most reported cases of COVID-19 in the world. However, there seems to be some good news of late: Spanish officials are reporting the growth rate of the virus shows signs of slowing. And, Lebanon's Hezbollah, which recently invited reporters to tour some of its medical facilities, says it's ready for the battle against coronavirus. Also, New Zealand Prime Mi...
47m Apr 06, 2020
47m
Countries are spending big to stop economic losses
The US is rolling out its largest economic stimulus package in history. Other countries are also spending big to stop losses caused by the coronavirus crisis, but there are some differences in how they do it and who benefits. And, Iran is one of the countries worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more than a month, health authorities have struggled to contain the outbreak. Also, after much ea...
47m Apr 03, 2020
47m
Number in The News: 71 — Spotify creates a podcast to save your pup from loneliness
From The World and PRX, this is The Number in the News. Today’s number: 71. Swedish audio streaming site Spotify surveyed 5,000 pet owners from Britain, Australia, Spain, Italy and the United States and found that 71% of pet owners play music for their pets when they leave the house. Your pup might be getting extra attention as the world hunkers down amid the pandemic. But if you need some pet-...
3m Apr 03, 2020
3m
Privacy concerns amid government coronavirus tracking tools
Governments around the world are using digital tracking tools to stop the spread of the coronavirus. In Europe, where privacy and data protections are among the strongest in the world, there’s an effort to come up with effective digital tracking tools that are also privacy-friendly. And, the US armed forces are juggling contradictory goals — troop readiness and troop protection. Tensions around...
47m Apr 02, 2020
47m
The USS Theodore Roosevelt faces an outbreak of the coronavirus
The US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is docked off the island of Guam, a US territory. Onboard, an unknown number of sailors are sick with COVID-19. But Guam itself has its own coronavirus outbreak. And, the government of India has shut down the entire country, to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. As a result, millions of Indians have lost their jobs, which has triggered unpr...
47m Apr 01, 2020
47m
China steps up support as US and Europe struggle to contain COVID-19
As the US and Europe struggle to contain the coronavirus outbreak, China is sending aid and medical supplies around the world. And, over 70 million displaced people around the world are stuck in overcrowded refugee camps. The coronavirus outbreak is putting a strain on already poor living conditions. Also, archaeologists have discovered the remains of 3,400-year-old ball court in the mountains ...
47m Mar 31, 2020
47m
Deciding how to allocate scarce medical resources
With masks and ventilators in short supply, how health care providers around the world deciding to allocate scarce resources? And, Moscow residents got a four-hour notice Sunday before the city went under a sweeping quarantine. The order from the mayor of Moscow came just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a week-long, paid, stay-at-home holiday. Also, the new Social Distanci...
47m Mar 30, 2020
47m
Trump's medical advice triggers run on malaria drugs in Mexico
US President Donald Trump’s unproven endorsement of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 has triggered a run on the drug worldwide — including in Mexico. Also, the spread of the coronavirus and the border closures have slowed down humanitarian aid to war-torn Syria. Host Marco Werman speaks with David Miliband, the chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee, about w...
48m Mar 27, 2020
48m
Understanding COVID-19 from the front lines
The novel coronavirus is novel in a number of ways. It's disturbingly easy to spread, often coming from people with no symptoms. Infectious disease epidemiologist Gabriel Leung, who has been at the forefront of understanding the coronavirus, explains what we now know and what remains a mystery about COVID-19. And, we speak with former Pentagon chief Leon Panetta about the challenges that limit ...
48m Mar 26, 2020
48m
What's next after India's coronavirus lockdown?
As India settles into a country-wide lockdown, a looming question is whether its health care system will be prepared for what's next. And, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore have all been praised for "flattening the curve" of COVID-19 outbreaks. But sadly, these places can't celebrate just yet. If you're an ant the size of a sesame seed, danger can come in many forms. New research has...
49m Mar 25, 2020
49m
80: 'Harry Potter' and the Yiddish translation
From The World and PRX, this is The Number in the News. Today’s number: 80. The worldwide sensation that is the "Harry Potter" series has been translated into over 80 languages. One of the latest translations is Yiddish. Translator Arun Viswanath describes the process and teaches us how to say some magical words including “magic wand” in Yiddish.
4m Mar 25, 2020
4m
Number of lockdowns grows as countries try to counter the coronavirus
About a fifth of the world's population is now under some sort of lockdown to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus. At the same time, China has announced it will be lifting the restrictions on people in Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei, where the virus was first identified. And, in states like California, in shelter-in-place mode because of the coronavirus, farmworkers are co...
49m Mar 24, 2020
49m
Doctors in Italy struggle to keep up with COVID-19
Italy now has reported the most deaths from COVID-19, and doctors are scrambling to keep up with the demand for hospital beds and ventilators. More than 300 million students in China are stuck at home and getting their schooling through online classes. We report what massive experiment in online learning has been like for kids, parents and teachers across the country. For many athletes around t...
48m Mar 23, 2020
48m
The week in coronavirus
Everybody, everywhere is discussing one thing: the coronavirus pandemic. The World's public health reporter Elana Gordon lays out we've learned about the science of the virus this week. And, The World speaks to a bioethicist to clear up several of US President Donald Trump's false statements on treatments for coronavirus. Also, radio DJs across Europe send a musical message to people across the...
48m Mar 20, 2020
48m
Is China turning the tide on coronavirus?
China reported that there were no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. But in Italy, the death toll from coronavirus overtook China's, as hospitals said they were being overwhelmed and the government prepared to prolong emergency lockdown measures. And, governments around the world, including the US, are working to counter crashing economies. US Congress passed two coronavi...
48m Mar 19, 2020
48m
3: Your burger's carbon footprint
From The World and PRX, this is The Number in the News. Today’s number: 3. Restaurants have been adding caloric values to their menus alongside dishes for years in an effort to better inform their customers. Now, a diner in Edmonton, Canada, is going one step further by adding carbon footprint information to its menu. In this week’s special feature of The Number in the News, hear from the owner...
3m Mar 19, 2020
3m
The uncertainty wrought by the coronavirus pandemic
A global pandemic is bringing new questions, concerns and confusion every day. We're trying to stay on top of the latest information on how COVID-19 is spread and what epidemiologists are discovering as the coronavirus moves around the globe. And, the US and Canada have agreed to partially close its northern border to non-essential travel. Also, with millions of people working from home during ...
47m Mar 18, 2020
47m
COVID-19 rattles the global airline industry
The COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on people's lives in so many ways, from health to education, the economy to politics to the arts. First, what's this all going to mean for the airline industry? Flights are being shut down all over and airline staff are being laid off. We're also looking to see how this all ends. And, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to close the c...
47m Mar 17, 2020
47m
World leaders scramble to slow the spread of coronavirus
The international community has been scrambling to confront the global threat of the coronavirus pandemic. So far, multilateral diplomacy hasn't been used to effectively beat back spread of the outbreak. And, across much of Asia, it's incredibly hard to find a hospital-grade face mask — so the black market has stepped in. Also, Coronavirus-related toilet paper shortages have raised an awkward t...
47m Mar 16, 2020
47m
Coronavirus puts spotlight on global sick leave policies
The latest on the global impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, including a look at sick leave policies around the world, the reaction in Lebanon and the impact on businesses in India. And, thousands of migrants and refugees are trying to leave Turkey to get into Greece. The World’s Lydia Emmanouilidou reports on a group of migrants that landed in Lesbos, including one Syrian stuck on a beach. Al...
47m Mar 13, 2020
47m
22,000: Yoshi the turtle breaks tracking record
From The World and PRX, this is The Number in the News. Today’s number: 22,000. A loggerhead sea turtle named Yoshi has been on an incredible journey. In December 2017, Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa, released Yoshi into the open water after 20 years in captivity. Since then she has swum more than 22,000 miles from Cape Town to the western shores of Australia. The aquarium write...
2m Mar 13, 2020
2m
US restricts travelers from Europe to halt the spread of coronavirus
US President Donald Trump announced sweeping restrictions preventing most foreign nationals coming from much of Europe from entering the US for 30 days in an effort to try and combat the spread of the coronavirus. The move sent travelers scrabbling at airports around the world. And, the federal government has taken a lot of flack for inadequate testing for the coronavirus. How does testing in t...
46m Mar 12, 2020
46m
WHO says the coronavirus is now officially a pandemic
The World Health Organization has designated COVID-19 a pandemic. Today, we find out how epidemiologists predict the path of the coronavirus. And, as many US colleges cancel classes and boot students off-campus, they're creating logistical and financial nightmares that could leave some students in a bind. Also, scientists have discovered that lettuce grown in space is safe to eat and nutritional.
47m Mar 11, 2020
47m
A lockdown for the entirety of Italy to contain the coronavirus
From the boot's top to its toe and heel, Italy is in lockdown to try to contain the coronavirus. And, on the Greek isle of Lesbos, residents are becoming increasingly frustrated with migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in camps there. Also, who knew that hand-washing could spur so much creativity online? Amid concerns about the new coronavirus, memes about how to wash your hands have been goi...
48m Mar 10, 2020
48m
Russia and Saudi Arabia start an oil price war as global markets take a dive
Russia and Saudi Arabia have started an oil price war by pushing down prices amid a growing coronavirus outbreak, spooking financial markets worldwide. And, there has been chaos at the border fence between Greece and Turkey, with migrants and refugees trying to cross into Greece as police and security forces respond with tear gas and water cannons. Also, a conservator cleaning a painting of Dav...
46m Mar 09, 2020
46m
Tensions along the border between Greece and Turkey
Turkey has deployed security forces to its border with Greece to keep migrants from being pushed back into its territory. Meanwhile, Greek authorities are at the border trying to prevent access to their country. The World's Lydia Emmanouilidou is at the border in Orestiada, Greece. And, how we use our hands to interact with others is different across cultures, and habits are changing because of...
46m Mar 06, 2020
46m