The World

The city of Izium in northeastern Ukraine was under Russian occupation for about six months. In September, Ukrainian forces managed to liberate the city, but the hard work of bringing it back to normal has only begun. And Chinese President Xi Jinping is reentering the international stage at the G-20 summit. It's his first trip abroad in three years and comes after he secured a historic third term as China's president. Also, at the UN climate summit in Egypt this week, developing countries are pushing to double the funding for climate adaptation, debt relief and changes to the global financial system. Plus, not everyone in Iran wants a revolution.

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The presidents of the US and China have met on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Indonesia. President Joe Biden said that Beijing is not on the brink of invading Taiwan, nor will there be a new cold war. And, Ukraine’s president visits the newly liberated southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. Also, the beloved “full English breakfast” is a one-plate cornucopia of meats and more. But it’s taking an inflation hit, and some restaurants are finding it harder to keep on the menu. Plus, Mehran Karimi Nasseri, a refugee from Iran who died this weekend, spent nearly two decades between 1988 and 2006 in France’s Charles de Gaulle airport after being caught in legal limbo. We look at how people like him become stateless.

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The coverage we provide on air, online and through our podcast is free and accessible to everyone — thanks to listener support like yours. Learn more about donating to The World here.

The British public is divided over the protest tactics of the environmental group Just Stop Oil. Members of the group brought Britain’s busiest motorway to a standstill for hours this week, and they’ve been splashing cans of soup onto famous paintings to draw attention to their cause. And, a new proposed bill in Finland's parliament that would recognize the rights of the Indigenous Sámi people is proving to be controversial. Also, Qatar is about to become the first Arab and Middle Eastern nation to host the FIFA World Cup in a region that has a rich soccer history. Plus, a tribute to Brazilian singer Gal Costa, who died on Wednesday in São Paulo at the age of 77.

Every weekday, you rely on The World for the best human-centered international news. This podcast, and all of The World’s coverage, is free because listeners like you support our nonprofit newsroom. Learn more here.

Beijing has been accused of setting up a global network of overseas police stations to help pursue government targets, including in Spain. And, a rescue ship carrying about 230 migrants had been stuck off Italy’s coast in recent days, after a new far-right government in Rome barred it from docking. France is now permitting the boat to anchor in Toulon. Also, Victoria Obidina was among a group of women who were taken as prisoners by the Russian military and held captive for six months. She was released last month as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. Plus, every year on Guinness World Records Day, ambitious people from around the world try to break the most random — yet impressive — records.

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Every weekday, you rely on The World for the best human-centered international news. This podcast, and all of The World’s coverage, is free because listeners like you support our nonprofit newsroom. Learn more here.

In a major shift in the war in Ukraine today, Sergei Surovikin, the Russian general in charge of Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, recommended that Russia shift its defenses to the east bank of the Dnipro River. This means that Russia is withdrawing its troops from the key southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. And, ships carrying liquified natural gas are sitting off the coast of Europe, holding onto their cargo. Analysts say an economic condition called contango is the cause. Also, as environmental leaders negotiate whether richer countries will pay for climate damages in poorer ones at COP27, we hear from one Pakistani family about how damages from climate change are affecting their lives. Plus, Iranian American author Marjan Kamali describes a happy accident at the polls.

Every weekday, you rely on The World for the best human-centered international news. This podcast, and all of The World’s coverage, is free because listeners like you support our nonprofit newsroom. Learn more here.

Brazil, Indonesia and Democratic Republic of Congo are among several nations that are considering banding together to preserve their rainforests. And, Russia's new isolation from the global economy has led to layoffs and business closures. It's affecting both Russians and migrant laborers from Central Asia, who are the backbone of Russia's labor force. Now, some of these workers are packing up and going home. Also, since 1995, when the Dayton Accords ended fighting in what is now Bosnia, power has been shared by the three main ethnic groups. But this leaves out many other minority groups, like Jews, Roma and ethnic Albanians or Italians, which has been a major barrier to EU membership. Plus, transgender and nonbinary people who seek abortions face various obstacles around the world.

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Every weekday, you rely on The World for the best human-centered international news. This podcast, and all of The World’s coverage, is free because listeners like you support our nonprofit newsroom.

Learn more here: https://on.prx.org/3FhIeDG

For the first time at COP27, funding for climate losses and damages is on the agenda. Pakistan’s historic floods demonstrate what developing countries are pushing for at the climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. And, rescue boats filled with stranded migrants are being ordered to vacate a Sicilian port. Advocates argue Italy's far-right government is breaking international law. A court may soon determine whether some asylum-seekers will have to stay adrift at sea. Also, the prominent Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has escalated his hunger strike over the weekend. This coincides with the start of the COP climate conference, linking the struggles for climate justice with human rights across the globe. Plus, climate action takes on many forms — just ask the band Plasticine.

Every weekday, you rely on The World for the best human-centered international news. This podcast, and all of The World’s coverage, is free because listeners like you support our nonprofit newsroom. Learn more here: https://on.prx.org/3FhIeDG

For months, the flooding in Pakistan has been held up by global leaders as a prime example of why funding for so-called "losses and damages" is essential. As COP27 kicks off on Sunday, the stakes are higher for countries like Pakistan. And, the Russian invasion in Ukraine has called for a reckoning from other former members of the Soviet Union. Kazakhstan is experiencing a surge in nationalism — and a push away from Russia. Also, Nov. 4 marks the 100th year since the discovery of the tomb of Egyptian King Tutankhamun Nebkheperure (popularly known as "King Tut"). It was discovered in the Valley of Kings by British Egyptologist Howard Carter in 1922, leading to groundbreaking archaeological research. Plus, Manu Chao and Bomba Estereo team up for a new song.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was shot in the leg while leading a protest march today. Gunfire rained onto his convoy and he was en route to Islamabad in a demonstration aimed at pushing for new elections. Thursday's shooting is inflaming an already heated political situation in Pakistan. And, a new British study out on Thursday shows that psilocybin — a substance found in “magic” mushrooms — can help people suffering from depression. For years, scientists have been taking a fresh look at the use of psychedelic drugs for treating anxiety and depression. Also, Canada prides itself as a climate champion, vowing to reduce emissions and kick fossil fuel use. But stubborn demand for oil and gas means the country is also eager to drill more oil. Plus, pasta lovers, take heart! Italian food scientists have figured out how to extend pasta freshness for up to 120 days.

After nearly two years of fighting, there's a new dawn in Ethiopia. On Wednesday, following 10 days of tense talks, representatives from Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front signed a peace deal, agreeing to end hostilities. And Israel's former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is close to being declared the winner in Israel's parliamentary election. Exit polls show Netanyahu and his right-wing allies winning the 61 seats necessary to form a government. Also, with COVID-19 cases on the rise in China, more than 30 cities across the country are experiencing restrictions. Beijing is censoring government criticism, but people are still using social media to voice their frustrations. Plus, in Iran, digital artists are finding powerful ways to document the protests.