The World

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. The Netherlands and Germany are now trying to phase in legalized cannabis.  Plus, the lost Chinese gehu instrument makes a comeback.

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 obligations. Also, amid Lunar New Year celebrations in Taiwan, people are bracing for an increase in COVID-19 cases. But higher vaccination rates on the island should mean much less danger for family and friends. Plus, a beloved Bollywood classic heads to Broadway.

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's being targeted by the Iranian government for his frank and emotional podcast. Plus, what do recent tech layoffs mean for visa holders?

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's key to financing the public pension system. In response, trade unions launched a general strike. Plus, Shakira's latest release tops the charts.

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 Lula da Silva, to help save the Amazon jungle. For the Karipuna people, ending deforestation and attacks on their land is key to their survival. Plus, a video of a Cape Town seal attack goes viral.

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 remained in Kabul after the Taliban seized power in 2021. On Jan. 15, gunmen killed Nabizada in her home. Also, a Canadian mining company is looking to build the largest gold mine in the Brazilian Amazon region. Nearby, riverside and Indigenous communities are concerned that the mine could destroy their environment. Plus, the fight for LGBTQ rights in Iran.

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 honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

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 criminal justice system. Also, Kenya's LGBTQ community is seeking answers about the death of gay fashion designer and model Edwin Chiloba. Last week, Chiloba's body was found shoved in a metal trunk in western Kenya. Plus, Sweden lifts a law requiring a permit for public dancing.

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 during clashes between police and protesters. Also, Ukrainian Cpl. Andrii Shadrin, 27, serves in a military unit that repairs and replaces equipment damaged on the war’s front lines. From his makeshift base in Donetsk, Shadrin talks about what he’s seen in the besieged towns of Bakhmut and Soledar. Plus, Noma, Copenhagen’s fine-dining star, closes its doors.

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 senators in Haiti's parliament left office on Monday night. Also, fresh on the heels of the North American Leaders Summit comes news that Canada has finalized a deal to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets from the US. The F-35s will replace Canada's aging fleet of fighter aircraft. Plus, move over rice — China says to eat more potatoes.