The World

Switzerland could become the first country in the world to put a legal cap on its population. In a referendum this weekend, voters will decide whether to limit the country's population to 10 million people — which currently stands at 9.1 million. Also, today marks one year since an Air India flight bound for London crashed, killing all but one of the 260 people onboard, but a much-anticipated report from an investigation did not arrive on the anniversary, leaving victims’ families without answers. Also, Mexico opened the World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa, but for many fans in Mexico City, the celebrations have unfolded far from the stadium. Plus, a new treatment in Brazil could offer a path to recovery for millions of people with spinal cord injuries around the world.

Your support is critical in sustaining our nonprofit newsroom. Donate today and your gift will be matched 2:1!

A new report out this week shows conflicts between nations have now surged to their highest level since World War II. Meanwhile, protracted conflict in the Middle East suggests the world may be entering into an era in which states increasingly remain in perpetual confrontation without crossing into all-out war.  Also, FIFA World Cup host Mexico will play in its first match, going toe-to-toe with South Africa, a team that is making its first appearance at the men's World Cup in 16 years. And, Australia is about six months into a social media ban that prohibits kids under 16 from using certain platforms, but whether or not it’s working is up for debate. Plus, summertime in Japan kicks off a season of shrine festivals.

Your support is critical in sustaining our nonprofit newsroom. Donate today and your gift will be matched 2:1!

Violent anti-immigrant riots erupted in Belfast in Northern Ireland last night, in response to a viral video showing a stabbing attack perpetrated by a Sudanese national. Masked protesters burned down houses and torched cars, sending some families fleeing, and others into hiding. Also, local officials in southern Iran say the US has struck a water reservoir there, leaving thousands of people without clean drinking water, as the two countries continue with fraught negotiations. And, the government of Fiji has rejected a proposed waste incinerator plant that would risk, what they call, growing "waste colonialism." Plus, what it means to “Eat Like a Sardinian” on an island known for its population’s longevity.

Your support is critical in sustaining our nonprofit newsroom. Donate today and your gift will be matched 2:1!

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un played host to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping this week. It's the Chinese leader’s first visit to North Korea in seven years and follows two high-profile meetings in Beijing between Xi and the leaders of the US and Russia. Also, Taliban forces in Afghanistan have fired on protesters as women face increasing arrests and detention for leaving their homes without wearing a full face and body covering. And, a look into the world of the Yahoo Boys, young Nigerian hustlers who con lonely Westerners out of their money through online scams. Plus, sticker album fever is sweeping Latin America ahead of the World Cup.

Your support is critical in sustaining our nonprofit newsroom. Donate today and your gift will be matched 2:1!

Armenia’s pro-Western prime minister secured an election victory today, despite a pressure campaign from Russia. Also, Mexico’s World Cup has become a platform for many protests, including teachers, mothers searching for their disappeared children, anti-gentrification groups and others. And, shipping groups are issuing new safety guidance to their vessels as the Strait of Hormuz remains tightly controlled. Plus, a Japanese band plays a traditional folk song in a bouncy Ghanaian-style highlife melody.

Your support is critical in sustaining our nonprofit newsroom. Donate today and your gift will be matched 2:1!

Voters in Peru head to the polls this weekend for a runoff presidential election, with one key issue stemming from a wave of extortion that has surged in recent years. Also, a look at why Iran has conditioned a ceasefire with the US with an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. And, some criminal groups in Mexico are eyeing profits from the World Cup games. Plus, a German tradition of combining heat from a sauna with aromatherapy sees a new competitive twist.

We are aiming to raise $30,000 by June 30. Help us reach our goal! Every donation will be matched. Donate today!

Today marks 37 years since Chinese troops opened fire on peaceful protestors in Tiananmen Square. But in Hong Kong, even symbolic acts have caught police attention. Also, a look at the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. And, Marjane Satrapi, the Iranian author famous for her graphic novel “Persepolis,” has died at the age of 56. Plus, Kenya is a powerhouse when it comes to geothermal energy, and it’s now helping its neighbors to pursue the same.

We are aiming to raise $30,000 by June 30. Help us reach our goal! Every donation will be matched. Donate today!

Kenyan protesters are demonstrating against plans to build a quarantine center in Kenya for Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola. Critics say it exposes Kenyans to risk, without offering them the same protections provided to US citizens. Also, a new study has found multiple types of microbes preserved in the body of Otzi, the iceman mummified in a glacier from the Copper Age, which could potentially offer new insights for future medical research. And, the civil war in Sudan is complicating research into an ancient civilization in the country known for millennia as the Kingdom of Kush. Plus, Japan releases eight crested ibises, that went extinct in the country, into the wild.

We are aiming to raise $30,000 by June 30. Help us reach our goal! Every donation will be matched. Donate today!

Despite mass Russian assaults on Ukrainian cities, Moscow’s progress on the battlefield stalls. Also, police in Paris suspend dozens of school assistants in more than 100 schools, preschools and nurseries for abusing youngsters. And, Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado says she is planning to return to Venezuela “very soon” and expresses confidence that the country will emerge from authoritarian rule. Plus, a conversation about using the beloved axolotl as a World Cup mascot in Mexico as the real animal remains critically endangered.

We are aiming to raise $30,000 by June 30. Help us reach our goal! Every donation will be matched. Donate today!

Alex Saab, one of ousted President Nicolás Maduro’s most important fixers, is back in US custody for the second time. His case helps explain how corruption in Venezuela moved from state contracts into daily life. Also, Alberta's premier has announced that a referendum will be held in October, asking voters in the province whether they wish to remain part of Canada, or begin the legal process of pursuing separation. And, Brooklyn Rivera, Nicaragua’s most prominent Indigenous leader has died while in government custody, sparking questions and criticism. Plus, we take a listen to the mournful sounds of Vasilis Kostas' Greek lute.

We are aiming to raise $30,000 by June 30. Help us reach our goal! Every donation will be matched. Donate today!