Blinken heads to Middle East amid spike in Israeli-Palestinian tension
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head to Egypt and onward to visit Palestinian and Israeli officials. He will arrive on the heels of an Israeli counterinsurgency raid that killed at least two civilians and ratcheted up tensions on either side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited South Africa this week. South Africa is planning on holding ...
50m Jan 27, 2023
50m
Contaminated cough syrup kills 300 children in Asia, Africa
The World Health Organization is calling for "immediate action" to protect children from contaminated cough syrup that has killed more than 300 children in Asia and Africa. The syrup has been linked to pharmaceutical manufacturers in India. And, Israeli soldiers conducted a raid on suspected militants in Jenin Camp, a Palestinian refugee camp. Their targets were members of Islamic Jihad, but ci...
49m Jan 26, 2023
49m
Germany to send tanks to Ukraine
Germany announced on Wednesday that it will send tanks to Ukraine to aid in its fight against Russian invaders. German support for the war in Ukraine marks a big shift in its defense policy. And in Canada, grocery store theft is at an all-time high. Some Canadians blame big grocery store chains for profiteering from inflation. Also, more than 50 people have been killed in Peru in protests that ...
49m Jan 25, 2023
49m
Ukraine corruption scandal ousts top officials
Ukraine’s government has fired more than a dozen officials, including a top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, amid allegations of corruption. And, despite Turkey's promise to enroll Syrian refugee children in school, 1 in 3 are not attending classes. In Gaziantep, families say they've been barred from enrollment. Also, Amsterdam's hash cafés are legal but weed is not — across the EU. Th...
49m Jan 24, 2023
49m
Somali govt struggles to push out al-Shabab
Somalia's government has stumbled in its all-out campaign to push the insurgent group al-Shabab out of cities and villages. On Sunday, militants laid siege to the Mogadishu mayor's office. And, climate-vulnerable nations around the world have turned to the courts to try to force faster action. The island of Vanuatu recently asked the United Nation's highest court to weigh in on climate obligati...
50m Jan 23, 2023
50m
Defense chiefs fail to reach deal on tanks for Ukraine
European defense ministers met on Friday with US and Ukrainian officials to discuss aid for Ukraine. The focus was on battle tanks for Ukraine, and the verdict is still out. And, ahead of the Lunar New Year this weekend in China, many people are gearing up for their first holiday trip since tight pandemic restrictions were lifted. Also, an Iranian Canadian musician known as "King Raam" fears he...
48m Jan 20, 2023
48m
Ukraine calls for more heavy tanks
Ukraine says it needs heavy tanks. US Adm. James Stavridis discusses how a tank delivery would make a difference in the war with Russia. And, a Canadian agency that sets national standards for alcohol consumption is recommending Canadians dramatically reduce their alcohol intake. Also, President Emmanuel Macron wants to raise France's retirement age by two years to 64. The government claims it'...
49m Jan 19, 2023
49m
Why are so many Cubans leaving?
Over the last year, nearly a quarter million Cubans have migrated to the United States. We hear about why people are making what is often a dangerous journey. And, a helicopter crash in a Kyiv suburb on Wednesday took the life of Ukraine's Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky, leaving a gaping hole in the president's team. Also, many are looking to Brazil's new government, led by Luiz Inácio Lul...
48m Jan 18, 2023
48m
Alleged Wagner Group commander defects
A man who claims to be a commander from the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary group fighting in Ukraine, has fled to Norway. He says he is prepared to testify against the Wagner Group's founder and leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, about extrajudicial executions committed by members of the group. And, Mursal Nabizada could have fled Afghanistan with a humanitarian visa. But the former lawmaker remaine...
48m Jan 17, 2023
48m
Concerns about COVID surge ahead of Lunar New Year
There are concerns of a potential surge in COVID-19 cases in China as people prepare to travel for the Lunar New Year. And, Ukrainska Pravda, Ukraine’s first online newspaper, continues to operate despite frequent air raids and intermittent electricity amid war. Also, around 70 people have died in a plane crash in the mountains of Nepal. Plus, we bring you a new version of a song written in hon...
41m Jan 16, 2023
41m
Lula consolidates support in Brazil
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva appears to be consolidating support, almost a week after a mob of supporters of the previous president, Jair Bolsonaro, rampaged the seat of power in Brasília. And, human rights groups are raising alarms about the high number of recent death sentences and imprisonment of protesters in Iran. The United Nations has accused Tehran of “weaponizing” the ...
48m Jan 13, 2023
48m
Is the 1.5 degree Celsius climate target still within reach?
Scientists have confirmed that 2022 was among the hottest years on record. The world is closing in on the limit of keeping warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Is it still within reach? And, violence continues in southern Peru this week, spreading to the tourist city of Cusco on Wednesday, and prompting curfews in some parts of the country. At least 48 people have died dur...
48m Jan 12, 2023
48m
Brazil protesters may face charges under anti-terrorism laws
Brazilian authorities detained more than 1,000 demonstrators after they invaded and vandalized Brazil’s Congress, Presidential Palace and Supreme Court on Sunday. Many may be charged under the country’s anti-terrorism legislation with attempting to carry out a coup. And, in Haiti, there are no longer any democratically elected representatives working in the federal government. The last 10 senat...
49m Jan 11, 2023
49m
Biden seeks allies on US-Mexico border issue
US President Joe Biden is in Mexico City for the last day of the North American Leaders Summit. While trade and environmental issues are part of the agenda, the big issue for Biden at this summit is what’s happening at the southern border. And, at a UN meeting in Geneva on Monday, Pakistan received more than $9 billion in pledges from international donors to help it recover and rebuild from las...
48m Jan 10, 2023
48m
Brazil president vows to punish rioters who stormed parliament
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had harsh words for those who stormed his country’s parliament, its Supreme Court and presidential palace this past weekend. We hear about the role Brazilian authorities and security services may have played in the rioting. And Sweden's prime minister said Sunday that Turkey has made demands on Sweden that his country "cannot — and does not — want t...
49m Jan 09, 2023
49m
Violence erupts after son of ‘El Chapo’ arrested in Mexico
Mexican authorities in the city of Culiacan arrested Ovidio Guzman, the son of the notorious drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, on Thursday. In response, gunmen rampaged in the city streets, killing at least 29 people. And, rats are especially plentiful in the hills of Laos where they can eat 20% of the harvest. But rice farmers there take part in rat-killing tournaments that reward amateu...
49m Jan 06, 2023
49m
The legacy of Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI, who died at age 95, was laid to rest on Thursday following his funeral at the Vatican. We hear about Pope Benedict's legacy and where the Catholic Church goes from here. And Ukrainian officials say they have struck several barracks housing Russian soldiers in recent days. Russia now says it will impose a temporary ceasefire over Orthodox Christmas, beginning Jan. 6. Also, the...
49m Jan 05, 2023
49m
China faces surge in COVID cases
A top Chinese epidemiologist says that China is now experiencing the first of three expected waves of COVID-19 cases in the coming months. International health experts predict there will be at least 1 million deaths from COVID-19 in China this year. And, the Philippine government is urging hundreds of top police officials to resign after a probe found a handful of officers were involved in the ...
49m Jan 04, 2023
49m
The future of aid in Afghanistan
Several nongovernmental organizations have suspended their operations in Afghanistan after the Taliban banned women working for them. The ban comes at a time when over 28 million people in the country require aid to survive, according to the United Nations. And, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wept on Sunday as he vowed to reduce poverty and inequality as Brazil's returning president. Lula is moving ...
49m Jan 03, 2023
49m
We ring in the new year with music
The World is marking the new year by reflecting on some of its favorite music segments. Hear about how Spanish-language lyrics feel like the norm today, but wasn’t always the case. Also, Austrian British musician Alicia Edelweiss takes the stage with a heavy dose of glittery eye makeup, an accordion and a hula-hoop. Plus, hear about how the cuatro, the national instrument of Venezuela, is gaini...
50m Jan 02, 2023
50m
Brazil’s Lula to be inaugurated this weekend
Global leaders are descending on Brazil this weekend for the inauguration of the next president. It's a sign that Brazil will resume ties with many parts of the world that felt disconnected to the country during the previous government. We'll look at the incoming administration of the president known by one name, Lula. Also, some of the most memorable news of 2022, plus a few of our favorite st...
50m Dec 30, 2022
50m
Brazilian soccer legend Pelé dies
Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, who set all kinds of world records, died on Thursday at the age of 82. Also, the Biden administration announced that starting on Jan. 5, all travelers from China entering the US will need to present a negative COVID-19 test. How China is responding to the new rule and what it means for US-China cooperation around the pandemic. Plus, the Spanish Canary Islands, just...
49m Dec 29, 2022
49m
US Supreme Court says Title 42 must stay intact
The US Supreme Court says that Title 42 restrictions must stay in place at the southern border. But that's not the end of the legal fight over this Trump-era border policy. Plus, private security guards actually outnumber the police in Brazil. We'll hear about a training school for security guards. And Soviet cosmonauts during the Cold War communicated with mission control back in the USSR. For...
49m Dec 28, 2022
49m
Russia and Ukraine express interest in peace talks but only on their own terms
Over the last 24 hours, both Russian and Ukrainian officials have expressed interest in peace talks. But only on their own terms. Meanwhile, the fighting on the ground in Ukraine continues. Also, in Afghanistan, the Taliban is continuing to strip back more rights for women. Now, they can no longer work with nongovernmental organizations there. And what did Tyrannosaurus rex actually sound like?...
49m Dec 27, 2022
49m
Sacred Nation holiday special
In this holiday special, The World brings you Sacred Nation stories that focus on how religion impacted people’s lives this year around the globe. An Iraqi Muslim has been helping to preserve Mosul’s Jewish history. Afro Brazilians fear attacks as evangelism grows in Brazil. An ally of Viktor Orban discusses the shifting ideologies of his political career. And a cult in Japan tries to recruit b...
50m Dec 26, 2022
50m
People around the world offer a helping hand to others facing hard times
Many people faced a variety of hardships around the world in 2022. But there was also much hope, with people coming together to help others out in their time of need. Today’s show shines a light on those who went out of their way this year to offer a helping hand. World renowned Spanish chef José Ramón Andrés made a trip to the frontlines of Ukraine’s war. A Syrian refugee tried to draw attenti...
48m Dec 23, 2022
48m
China’s rapid COVID spike could crash public health system
Waves of new COVID-19 infections are threatening to overwhelm China’s health care system after the government lifted its stringent quarantine restrictions. And, male faculty members in Afghanistan are standing in solidarity with women after the Taliban-led government decreed that they will be banned from attending universities. Also, Caribbean nations react to the Dutch prime minister’s apology...
48m Dec 22, 2022
48m
Ukrainian President makes surprise visit to Washington
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is in Washington, DC, on a surprise visit and plans to address a joint session of Congress. Also, a library and center dedicated to the visual arts of Africa has opened in Accra, Ghana. And, the US Drug Enforcement Administration says it seized enough fentanyl to create 379 million lethal doses in 2022, twice last year’s amount. Plus, a massive spike in C...
48m Dec 21, 2022
48m
Putin reinforces military bond with Belarus
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Belarusian capital of Minsk to meet with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. In Ukraine, there's been speculation that Russia is trying to further integrate Belarus into its military command, and increase Belarus' role in the war. And, US President Joe Biden is expected to sign an $843 billion defense budget that includes an alignment ...
48m Dec 20, 2022
48m
The battle for Bakhmut in Ukraine
The once-elegant city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine has become the main battlefield in the with Russia. We hear why much is riding on the fight to control Bakhmut. And COVID-19 infections in China are spiking — jumping from very few cases to tens of thousands per day — and China’s government says that's OK. After years of “all-out war” on the virus, officials suddenly insist it’s actually not m...
49m Dec 19, 2022
49m
Dutch government set to apologize for its colonial past
The Dutch government is set to apologize for its role in 250 years of slavery, with a court in the Netherlands clearing the way to hold an official ceremony to mark the decision next week. And, following the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud paid a visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota, the home of the US’ largest Somali diaspora community. Also, negot...
49m Dec 16, 2022
49m
US to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine
The United States is poised to approve sending its most advanced ground-based air defense system to Ukraine, responding to the country’s repeated requests to help defend it against Russian missile and drone attacks. And, the United Kingdom is currently facing a number of labor strikes across different sectors. We hear how this is affecting the British economy, especially around the holidays. Al...
49m Dec 15, 2022
49m
TITLE ‘Title 42’ border restrictions set to expire
Trump's pandemic border restriction — Title 42 — is set to expire next week. Thousands of migrants have traveled to the US-Mexico border, mostly to seek asylum. And, on Wednesday, a Turkish court sentenced the mayor of Istanbul to two years for using the term "fool" to describe election officials. The mayor, Ekrem Imamoğlu, is a political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Also on...
49m Dec 14, 2022
49m
US-Africa Leaders Summit opens with focus on China
As the US-Africa Leaders Summit opens in Washington, DC, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield talks about the challenges that US officials face in trying to deepen ties with African nations, while countering the expanding roles of Beijing and Moscow across the continent. And, this month, the Udi people are celebrating 100 years since they established a home in the Republi...
49m Dec 13, 2022
49m
Lockerbie bombing suspect in US custody
The man alleged to have transported the bomb that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 that killed 270 people, is now in US custody. And, Canadian hospitals are struggling to cope with a recent surge in respiratory viruses, with children’s hospitals being especially hard-hit. Also, nurses in Northern Ireland walked off the job today, with more strikes planned in the ...
49m Dec 12, 2022
49m
UK, Japan and Italy collaborate to build fighter jet
The UK, Japan and Italy are partnering together to build a sixth-generation fighter jet, set to be ready by 2035 and complete with the latest weapons. And, the Nobel Banquet for the awards ceremony is back in person this weekend for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Also, the vaccine alliance Gavi plans to stop distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to middle income countries. Plus, ...
49m Dec 09, 2022
49m
WNBA star Brittney Griner freed in prison swap
Russia has freed WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner in a prisoner swap. In exchange, the US released convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. And, the Iranian government has executed protester Mohsen Shekariput. State media said he was sentenced to death for “waging war against God” and attacking Iranian guards during a protest in September. Also, the US is plotting to return to the massive...
50m Dec 08, 2022
50m
German police intercept far-right coup plot
German police conducted raids all across the country on Wednesday, making arrests, and attempting to dismantle a plot aimed at overthrowing the government. And, 50 years ago, the Apollo 17 Saturn V moon rocket crew took what would become one of the most iconic images from space: a photo of planet Earth — “the blue marble.” Former astronaut Mae Jemison reflects on it. Also, Peru's Congress has v...
50m Dec 07, 2022
50m
Ukraine missiles strike inside Russia
For the second straight day, Ukrainian missiles are landing deep inside Russia. It's a sign that Kyiv is willing to risk widening the war that has raged since February. And, officials in Democratic Republic of Congo say 270 people have been killed in a massacre in the eastern parts of the country. They blame the armed group M23, which they say is being backed by Rwanda. Also, Indonesia's parlia...
48m Dec 06, 2022
48m
Zero-COVID policy begins to lift in China
Recent protests against China's strict zero-COVID policy took a lot of people by surprise. But they might have worked. The Chinese government is now taking steps to ease the rules around the pandemic lockdowns that sparked so much public frustration. And, Sudan's military government has come to an agreement with the main pro-democracy group to ease the country back into civilian-led rule. Also,...
50m Dec 05, 2022
50m
Britain’s royals present Earthshot environmental prize
Britain's Prince William and Princess Catherine are in Boston on Friday to present his second annual Earthshot prize, awarded to innovators around the world working to save nature and combat global warming. And, the Syrian Democratic Forces, a majority Kurdish armed group, has announced it has ended cooperation with the US military in Syria. The announcement comes after the group said it would ...
48m Dec 02, 2022
48m
South African president faces threat of impeachment over theft scandal
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa faces a threat of impeachment following a report that found evidence that he had violated the country's constitution, in part, by covering up the theft of millions of dollars in cash hidden in a sofa on his farm in 2020. And, after a vote in March agreeing to build a treaty that would essentially “eliminate all plastic waste,” negotiations via the United ...
48m Dec 01, 2022
48m
Alzheimer’s drug heralded as game changer
Researchers are heralding a breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer's: a drug that is the first to slow the destruction of the brain. But it only works in the early stages of Alzheimer's and many people aren't diagnosed until the disease has already advanced. And, one of the more successful mystics in Japan says he’s a reincarnated alien from the planet Venus. He’s now intent on recruiting m...
49m Nov 30, 2022
49m
Ukraine allies to send winter aid
NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Tuesday that Russia was using winter as a "weapon of war" against Ukraine. Ukraine's allies prepare to send aid to get through the cold months ahead. And, in Colombia, ranchers are experimenting with a new kind of grass in the hopes of building a sustainable cattle farm. Also, as the uprising in Iran enters its third month, dissidents are finding few places to...
49m Nov 29, 2022
49m
Protests in China
Protests have erupted across China, a rare show of public dissent against the government there. Also, in Toronto, young activists are showing up at the City Council's meetings, trying to steer the direction of planning and make it a more affordable city. Plus, the latest news from the World Cup, on and off the field, including a preview of the much-anticipated match between the US and Iran on T...
47m Nov 28, 2022
47m
Millions of Ukrainians without heat and power after more airstrikes
As evidence of atrocities continue to surface in Ukraine, calls for war crimes tribunals are growing. Putting a leader on trial isn't easy though. Today, The World looks back at the trial of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, who oversaw the ethnic cleansing and bloodshed that enveloped the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. A pivotal witness against Milosovic was someone on the inside. Also, mill...
49m Nov 25, 2022
49m
A Thanksgiving food special
We bring you a special Thanksgiving Day show today that’s all about food. Find out where modern-day wheat comes from. And, how a British chef became a Mexican cooking legend. Also, more on electric chopsticks that make food taste saltier. Plus, tips on how to eat your Christmas tree after the holidays instead of kicking it to the curb. We can’t thank you enough for listening to and supportin...
49m Nov 24, 2022
49m
Protests in China at the world’s largest Apple iPhone factory
Protests have erupted at the world's largest Apple iPhone factory in China over strict COVID-19 lockdowns, lack of pay and poor working conditions. And, when the Soviet Union ended, Western culture rushed in — including “Sesame Street.” But adapting the American “Muppets” to 1990s Russia meant culture clashes and encounters with darker forces in post-Soviet media. Also, many municipalities in F...
48m Nov 23, 2022
48m
Stunning upset at World Cup
There was a stunning upset at the World Cup on Tuesday as Saudi Arabia beat heavily favored Argentina 2-1. At center stage, Argentina's Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player in the world. At age 35, this may be Messi's last chance to win the World Cup. Also, US state laws have put limits on abortion options for many women. That's increased the sales of mail-order abortion pills from the Ne...
48m Nov 22, 2022
48m
At UN conference, countries agree to pay for climate change damages
The UN climate conference wrapped up this weekend. And for the first time, wealthier nations have agreed to pay for damage caused by climate change in developing countries. Though the devil is in the details, nations feeling the environmental impacts say just agreeing to find a framework for "loss and damage" funding is still a big step forward. Also, Russian forces buried around 400 Ukrainians...
48m Nov 21, 2022
48m