Syrian refugees weigh the costs of returning home
Many Syrians who have lived in Turkey for years are eager to return home to Syria. But others say an evolving security situation and financial concerns are giving them pause. Meanwhile, governments across Europe have paused asylum applications submitted by Syrians. Also, a new report by the OECD finds that reading and math scores for adults in most of the world’s high-income countries have decl...
51m Dec 11, 2024
51m
Israel strikes chemical weapons stores across Syria
As many Syrians rejoice at the downfall of the former dictatorship in their country, Israel has been conducting numerous strikes on targets across Syria, reportedly destroying chemical weapons stores belonging to the former Assad regime. Also, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes the stand in his long-running corruption trial, facing charges of fraud, breach of trust and taking bribe...
50m Dec 10, 2024
50m
Syrians react to ouster of President Bashar al-Assad
For the first time in two decades, Syrians say they are experiencing a taste of freedom after President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. Also, a motion to impeach South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol failed over the weekend but many are still calling on him to resign. And, Ghana’s former President John Dramani Mahama has clinched a comeback election victory and will return to power seven years after s...
50m Dec 09, 2024
50m
1st round of Romanian elections canceled
A top Romanian court has annulled results from the first round of the country's vote for president. The unprecedented ruling comes after the declassification of intelligence alleging that a Russian campaign had promoted the far-right winner. Our Europe correspondent has the latest. Also, a new directive from the Taliban bans women in Afghanistan from studying dentistry, nursing, and midwifery. ...
50m Dec 06, 2024
50m
French President Emmanuel Macron faces major political challenge
As a successful no-confidence vote topples the French government, a look at the political career of President Emmanuel Macron, whose presidency once signaled hope for change. Also, this week marks 40 years since the world's deadliest industrial disaster. The Bhopal gas leak originating at a pesticide plant in 1984 exposed 500,000 people in India to toxic vapors, killing thousands that night and...
50m Dec 05, 2024
50m
In South Korea, democracy holds after martial law declared but Koreans on edge
In South Korea on Wednesday, the streets were relatively calm after a night that many saw as the beginning of a coup d'état. That followed the president's controversial declaration of martial law. With the president now facing an impeachment effort by parliament, many Koreans are calm but concerned. Also, new research out of Canada shows that the company Amazon restricts access to books in Midd...
50m Dec 04, 2024
50m
South Korean president declares martial law, but it doesn’t last long
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a surprise televised announcement overnight imposing martial law, saying "North Korean forces" needed to be eradicated. Lawmakers quickly acted to cancel the emergency declaration, but the bitter political divide in the country remains unresolved. Also, a coalition of rebel forces in Syria is continuing its advance after capturing Aleppo, making its w...
50m Dec 03, 2024
50m
Syrian rebels overtake Aleppo in surprise offensive
Syria's anti-government rebels launched a massive offensive last week, taking most observers by surprise and gaining control over  the largest city, Aleppo. The regime of President Bashar al-Assad has responded by conducting aerial attacks on Aleppo city and Idlib province. Also, the president of the International Criminal Court lashed out at the US and Russia for interfering with its investiga...
50m Dec 02, 2024
50m
Out of Eden Walk Special
National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek began an epic walk in early 2013, tracing the first steps of human migration out of Africa some 60,000 years ago. The World brings you some of his stories and experiences in this Out of Eden Walk special — starting in Ethiopia and walking through the Holy Lands, Uzbekistan and India, to mention a few. He even shares some of the foods he's eaten along th...
51m Nov 29, 2024
51m
Thanksgiving Food Special
As families and friends gather for meals together on US Thanksgiving Day, The World brings you a show packed with a variety of food stories. From brewing banana beer to a cookbook filled with African dishes; from the battle over döner kebabs to a lawsuit over butter chicken and from a mushroom restaurant in Mexico to savory ice cream flavors in 18th century England, this special show will pique...
51m Nov 28, 2024
51m
The 1st full day of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon
In the first day of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, we'll hear how people in Lebanon are feeling, as well as what analysts are seeing from military and diplomatic standpoints. Also, what's at stake for the Philippines in the wake of the vice president's public threat to assassinate the country's president? And, how mariachi singer Deyra Barrera ended up on the Kendrick Lamar al...
51m Nov 27, 2024
51m
Mexico warns Trump on the risks of imposing tariffs
Mexico’s president has warned US President-elect Donald Trump against plans to slap large tariffs on the United States' three largest trading partners: Mexico, Canada and China. Also, Interpol's affiliate, Afripol, which is a union of African law enforcement agencies, has arrested more than a thousand suspected cybercriminals of various stripes in a continent-wide dragnet. And, thousands of sup...
51m Nov 26, 2024
51m
Not all countries satisfied with new climate finance deal
Officials at the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, penned a new climate finance deal this weekend, with richer countries agreeing to pay $300 billion per year to help countries in the Global South cope with climate change. Also, Israel's ambassador to the US says that a ceasefire with Hezbollah could be implemented "within days." And, Nicaragua’s legislature appears set to approve a con...
51m Nov 25, 2024
51m
Brazil's former President Bolsonaro is indicted
Police in Brazil say they've indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro — along with three dozen others — for allegedly planning a coup to keep Bolsonaro in power in 2022. Also, Albania will transform an Islamic Sufi order into a sovereign state. If all goes to plan, the Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order will become the world's smallest state, just a quarter of the size of Vatican City, with ...
51m Nov 22, 2024
51m
ICC issues arrest warrants for top Israelis
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Netanyahu's office said these were "absurd and false accusations." Also, Iraq is getting underway with its first national census in decades — the results could have a big impact on the political direction of the country. And, a Scottish whis...
51m Nov 21, 2024
51m
Greece goes on strike
Public and private sector workers in Greece walked off the job to protest the rising cost of living. Public sector unions are demanding a 10% wage hike and the return of salaries cut during Greece's nearly decade-long financial crisis that began in 2010. Also the Biden Administration has agreed to supply Ukraine with anti-personnel landmines in an effort to slow the steady advance of Russia’s t...
47m Nov 20, 2024
47m
Proposed New Zealand bill redefining agreement with Māori erupts in political turmoil
A proposed New Zealand bill redefining the country’s founding agreement with the Indigenous Māori has erupted into political turmoil, with protests all week culminating in a thousands-strong march on the capital of Wellington. Also, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is at the center of a multi-faceted investigation involving documents gathered using secret intelligence methods. And, glo...
51m Nov 19, 2024
51m
China helps revive struggling Myanmar regime
Revolutionary groups in Myanmar have been successful in battling the military junta that controls the central government. But China is not giving up on the regime. That's making it difficult for the rebels to topple the military rulers who seized power in a coup. Also, Ukraine now has a green light from the US to strike deep into Russian-held territory with long-range American weapons. And, we ...
51m Nov 18, 2024
51m
A global surge in measles cases
The World Health Organization has released a new study saying that an estimated 107,500 people died from measles in 2023, most of them under the age of five. Also, a look at the effectiveness of “blue zones.” And, some moments of joy and resilience amid the war in Gaza. Also, farmers in Spain try to convert olive pits into "bio-fuel.” Plus, a look at last night’s Latin Grammy Awards.Listen to t...
50m Nov 15, 2024
50m
China opens massive port in Peru
Peru is inaugurating a huge commercial port built by China, which is expected to become a game changer in the region. Also, a new study finds that private aviation is booming, with flights often clustered around big international events — including climate summits. And, the Biden administration is set to begin sending US military contractors to Ukraine. Plus, a new AI bot whose job is to scam t...
51m Nov 14, 2024
51m
Biden administration hopes to increase aid for Ukraine before leaving office
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration plans to send as much aid as possible to Ukraine before it leaves office so it can hold Russia's military forces at bay. Also, the Archbishop of Canterbury resigns after an investigation found he failed to report physical and sexual abuse at Christian summer camps. And, an American defense contractor whose employees worked as in...
50m Nov 13, 2024
50m
Islands fill vacuum at climate summit
The list of “no shows” at the two-week COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan is long. Smaller countries, including island nations, most vulnerable to climate change are now trying to fill the leadership vacuum. Also, police in Italy say they have busted a major criminal art-forging network, recovering 2,100 fraudulent works peddled by the ring. And, a Dutch court has overturned a 2021 case tha...
51m Nov 12, 2024
51m
Haiti's ruling council fires prime minister, critics question legality
Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council has ousted leader Garry Conille after six months, naming businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé as his replacement, but critics say the move may violate the country's constitution. Also, doctors in Lebanon say they have seen a sharp increase in premature births and miscarriages as strikes from Israel intensify. And, experts sent by the UN Security Council la...
49m Nov 11, 2024
49m
What countries in Africa are saying about a 2nd Trump term
Africa is home to more than 1.3 billion people in 54 different countries. The reactions to Donald Trump's reelection are wide ranging, but there's also a gap between the expectations of African leaders and ordinary people. Also, COP29 opens on Nov. 11 in Azerbaijan. Many environmentalists are critical that the conference is being hosted by an oil-producing nation, but others are hopeful it will...
51m Nov 08, 2024
51m
Russia reacts cautiously to Trump's reelection
Officially, the Kremlin is keeping quiet about the reelection of Donald Trump. But Vladimir Putin might be looking forward to new opportunities with a second Trump administration. Also, Israel has carried out thousands of air strikes in Gaza and Lebanon -- there are serious ethical and legal questions about some of those attacks. And, in global health news: the WHO says it tracked 8 million cas...
50m Nov 07, 2024
50m
Reactions to US election results from Latin America, Europe and the Middle East
America's decision to bring Donald Trump back to the Oval Office will shape events worldwide for years to come. Our reporters bring us voices from Latin America, the Middle East and Europe for early reactions to the news. Also, we have the latest developments and perspectives on the political shake-up in Israel, including Benjamin Netanyahu's recent dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. A...
51m Nov 06, 2024
51m
Western officials link incendiary devices to DHL Mail in Russia
DHL's logistics hub in Leipzig, Germany, is sophisticated and enormous. So, when parcels in the facility started catching fire, at first, it was confounding and concerning. But it wasn't long before European spies and law enforcement figured out what was happening. They say Russia was sending incendiary devices through the mail. Also, only two countries do not allow divorce. One is the Vatican....
51m Nov 05, 2024
51m
High-stakes election has US allies and adversaries wary
American voters are about to choose their next president, but whoever takes office will influence matters far beyond US borders. On the eve of the presidential election, we'll get to the heart of what's at stake in the Middle East, Latin America, Asia and Africa. Also, the world lost one of the biggest names in music on Sunday. Quincy Jones passed away at the age of 91. He leaves behind a legac...
51m Nov 04, 2024
51m
Medical workers struggle to cope with limited aid entering Gaza
The number of aid trucks entering Gaza has hit an all-time low since the current war began there. The shortages are prompting new dire warnings from aid organizations. Also, a referendum in Moldova intended to put an end to decades of swerving between East and West yields a microscopic win for the pro-Western crowd. And, Italy considers reversing its ban on nuclear power plants. Plus, National ...
52m Nov 01, 2024
52m
Spain's Valencia region reeling from record flooding
As the death toll rises and the damage to homes and infrastructure becomes clear, authorities are saying that the record floods in Spain could be the worst flooding disaster in Spain’s modern history. Also, two former cops in Brazil went to trial yesterday for the 2018 assassination of Marielle Franco, a politician-turned-civil rights icon. And, for the first time in 15 years, the ruling Libera...
50m Oct 31, 2024
50m
Spain faces worst floods in decades
Flash floods in eastern Spain have claimed the lives of at least 95 people. Also, the island of Bougainville is seeking independence from Papua New Guinea — and an alliance with the United States. And, IKEA's German branch announced Tuesday that it will contribute $6.5 million to support victims of the former communist East German regime that the company forced to do labor. Plus, a look at how ...
51m Oct 30, 2024
51m
Volkswagen considers shutting down German factories
European auto giant Volkswagen has plans that may include closing some of its manufacturing plants in Germany, which could lead to tens of thousands of layoffs. Also, opposing political parties in Taiwan wrangle over constitutional issues at a time when the island faces a threat like never before from neighboring China. And, Hezbollah has appointed Naim Qassem as its new leader, with Israel alr...
51m Oct 29, 2024
51m
Georgia faces political crisis after disputed election
Georgians went to the polls over the weekend to cast their ballots in parliamentary elections, which resulted in a contested vote. Also, satellite images document the damage caused by Israeli airstrikes on Iran over the weekend. And, Pakistan launches a massive campaign to vaccinate 45 million children following a resurgence of polio cases in recent weeks there. Plus, a look at Jamaican apple p...
51m Oct 28, 2024
51m
Israel strikes media guesthouse in Lebanon, killing journalists as it continues its attacks on the country
An Israeli military strike on a media residence in Lebanon killed three journalists as they slept, and wounded several others. The Lebanese Information Minister called the strike “an assassination." Also, Major League Baseball draws star athletes from across the globe, with a whopping 28% of the players in the league this season born outside the country. As the Dodgers and the Yankees head to t...
50m Oct 25, 2024
50m
Georgians seek membership in the EU
People in the former Soviet republic of Georgia overwhelmingly seek membership in the European Union. But the EU has put those hopes on ice, accusing the government in Georgia of rolling back democratic freedoms. This weekend, Georgian voters head to the polls in a crucial election for the country, caught between pressures from Russia and Europe. Also, younger workers in Portugal are leaving th...
51m Oct 24, 2024
51m
Northern Gaza sees intense fighting between Hamas and Israel as civilians forced out
More than a year after the attack of Oct. 7, the Israeli military is still operating in the Gaza Strip. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel again this week, urging the Israeli government to find a way to end the war and bring the remaining hostages home. But it's not clear at this point what Israel's leaders are hoping to achieve. Also, Mexico's new president wants to address the pr...
51m Oct 23, 2024
51m
Russia gathers friendly nations
Russian President Vladimir Putin's government is being squeezed by international sanctions, and he himself faces an arrest warrant for war crimes. But that isn't stopping Putin from hosting a summit this week. Among those invited to the BRICS gathering in Russia are the leaders of China, India and Turkey. Also, the United Nations is calling for an investigation into reports about the killing of...
52m Oct 22, 2024
52m
How will the next US president handle events in the Middle East?
Whoever wins the November election will be inheriting an enormous foreign policy challenge in the Middle East. The most important US ally in the region — Israel — is fighting a multifront war with no end in sight. So, how would Kamala Harris and Donald Trump differ in the ways that they approach the region? Today, we speak with two foreign policy advisers on the Middle East, including one who's...
51m Oct 21, 2024
51m
Bangladesh issues arrest warrant for ousted prime minister
Bangladesh has issued an arrest warrant for the country's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Also, a bespoke press is now focusing solely on Asian American literature to counter discrimination among that demographic. And, the FBI has announced charges against Ryan James Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder for Team Canada, for allegedly running a drug trafficking ring and being involved in t...
50m Oct 18, 2024
50m
Israel says Hamas leader killed
The Israeli military says it has killed Hamas' leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. Also, the governor of La Rioja province in Argentina has put an alternate currency called "chachos" into circulation. And, Italy passes the most restrictive law against international surrogacy in the West. Plus, the US now has a new Arctic ambassador. Listen to today’s <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0krKDn...
50m Oct 17, 2024
50m
Zelenskiy presents five-point 'victory plan' to Ukraine's parliament
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has outlined a five-point "victory plan" to his nation’s parliament. Also, Turkish authorities have revoked the license of independent radio station Açık Radyo — or Open Radio — taking it off the air today. And, the Dominican Republic has deported more than 10,000 Haitians in the last week, the first of many planned weekly deportations. Plus, a UK-based g...
49m Oct 16, 2024
49m
Israel’s attack on Gaza hospital renews calls for upholding international law
Israel’s attack on a hospital complex in central Gaza, which led to a massive fire that killed at least four people and injured many more, has renewed calls for Israel to uphold international humanitarian law. Also, Canada has expelled India’s top diplomat in the country along with five others, with India responding in kind and expelling six Canadian diplomats. And, the first people to be inter...
50m Oct 15, 2024
50m
Education special: International students in the US and abroad
The United States has the highest number of international students in the world. Last year, the number of students who came to America were almost back to prepandemic levels at over 1 million. Many come in the hope of staying and living the American dream. But that's not so easy. On the flip side, some American students seek to expand their horizons by studying abroad. We hear about how going t...
50m Oct 14, 2024
50m
Japanese anti-nuclear activist group wins Nobel Peace Prize
This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been announced: the honor goes to Nihon Hidankyo, a group of survivors of the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They united in 1956 to speak out about the suffering caused by nuclear warfare. We'll hear some of their stories. Also, a Ukrainian missile strike in Russian controlled territory last week killed several North Korean military officers, accordin...
50m Oct 11, 2024
50m
Iran on edge, awaiting Israeli retaliation
Iranians have been on edge, waiting for retaliation ever since Tehran attacked Israel with waves of ballistic missiles. Officials in Israel have hinted they might target Iran's gas or oil infrastructure. Or they might go even further. We'll hear how Iranians are viewing the standoff. Also, Argentina's president, Javier Milei, garnered votes by promising to fix his country's economy. But since h...
50m Oct 10, 2024
50m
As Florida braces for Milton, non-English speakers face steep challenges
As Hurricane Milton nears Florida's west coast, the State Assistance Information Line has opened 24/7 phone lines in English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole. Today on The World, how language and storm preparedness intersect for immigrant communities. Also, Turkey has blocked the instant messaging platform Discord. This comes amid public outrage over Discord users responding to the recent murder of...
50m Oct 09, 2024
50m
After weeks of Israeli attacks, Lebanese feeling abandoned by international community
Israel is expanding its ground incursion into southern Lebanon and Israeli air strikes continue to target Beirut's southern suburbs. About a million Lebanese have been displaced in recent weeks and many in Lebanon are feeling abandoned by the international community. Also, British Canadian scientist Geoffrey Hinton has been called "the godfather of artificial intelligence" because his research ...
50m Oct 08, 2024
50m
1 year since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel
It's been one year since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that stunned the world. It forever changed the course of both large-scale global events and individual life stories. We'll step back and look at the impact of Oct. 7, 2023 — from the fate of the 100 Israeli hostages still unaccounted for, to the transformation of life in Gaza over the last 12 months. Also, during Argentina’s dictatorshi...
50m Oct 07, 2024
50m
Lebanon death toll exceeds 2K people amid Israel and Hezbollah conflict
Lebanon's facing a massive crisis right now. More than 2,000 people have been killed in the past two weeks amid Israel and Hezbollah's war. Also, with flights to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq canceled, many travelers are stranded in Turkey, a regional transit hub. Our reporter takes us to the scene, as we hear how people stuck-in-transit are thinking about the escalation of war in the Middle East, and...
51m Oct 04, 2024
51m
1 year since the start of Israel's attacks in Gaza, life is dire
While the eyes of the world are focused on Israel's invasion of Lebanon and war against Hezbollah, we have the latest from Gaza. It's almost a year since Hamas militants attacked several sites in Israel and the start of the persistent strikes on Gaza. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, and there's increasing concern about humanitarian needs of the people. Also, Taiwan has been ...
50m Oct 03, 2024
50m