The World

US President Joe Biden arrived in South Korea on Friday and will meet with leaders from Japan, Australia and India on his first trip to Asia as president. The White House seeks to rally its allies in Asia to send a message to China against bullying its neighbors. And the UN human rights office has confirmed 8,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine, including 3,800 deaths, since Russia invaded the country 86 days ago. Most of the fighting now is in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Plus, Russian President Vladimir Putin has challenged the validity of Ukrainian culture and identity. Olga Pariieva, a language teacher, weighs in on what it means to speak Russian in Ukraine.

On Monday, 260 Ukrainian fighters surrendered at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. The troops were taken to areas under Russian control and now face an uncertain fate. Also, Secretary-General António Guterres says that the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine has fueled unprecedented world hunger. In just two years, the number of food-insecure people has doubled to over 276 million worldwide. And Australian bands Hermitude and The Jungle Giants have teamed up to create a feel good vibe with their tune, "When You Feel Like This."

For weeks now, baby formula has been hard to find in some US states. Amid pandemic supply chain issues and a formula plant shutdown, global trade policy is also responsible for the crisis. And on Tuesday, an armed opposition group tried to take power in Tripoli, Libya’s capital, sparking armed clashes between rivals. We hear about the challenges Libya faces toward the establishment of a unity government. Plus, Biniam Girmay of Eritrea became the first Black African to win a stage of one of cycling's Grand Tours. But he had to pull out of the race after a freak eye injury at the winner’s podium.

Ukrainian troops in Mariupol fought against Russia's military onslaught for more than 80 days. Now, after weeks of siege at the Azovstal steel plant, the last Ukrainian fighters mounting Ukraine's resistance have ended their defense. And as Sweden and Finland take steps toward joining the NATO military alliance, NATO member Turkey is saying no. We hear about the factors behind Turkey's decision and what it means for NATO. Plus, fuel is running critically low in the island nation of Sri Lanka. The country’s new prime minister warns that only a day’s fuel supply remains.

Sweden has announced its intent to apply for NATO membership in an historic break with its neutral security policy in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And Turkey is closely watching Pennsylvania’s Senate race as Dr. Mehmet Oz, a dual Turkish and US citizen, edges ahead in recent polls for the state’s Republican primary on Tuesday. Opponents accuse the TV-doctor-turned-politician of conflicting loyalties. Plus, the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, over the weekend is not simply a domestic phenomenon. A growing, global network of extremists online played an important role in the shooter’s radicalization.

On Friday, a Russian soldier appeared in court for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine. Vadim Shishimarin, 21, stands accused of committing war crimes in a district court in Kyiv. And mourners were attacked by Israeli police during the funeral procession of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Jerusalem on Friday. The police claimed that rocks and projectiles were thrown at them. Plus, Princeton University researchers have discovered which chemical compounds in human odor cause mosquitoes to zero in on people and spread mosquito-borne diseases.

On Wednesday, Finland’s leaders announced their support for joining NATO, a reversal from their decadeslong stance of neutrality in relation to Europe's NATO-Russia divide. And the Taliban in Afghanistan have announced new rules requiring women to cover their faces in public and to leave home only when necessary. This is the latest in a series of restrictions imposed on women since the Taliban came to power last summer. And Brazil’s former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is aiming for a comeback. Lula is a frontrunner for the 2022 election, but incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro could still pull off a victory in the deeply divided country.

Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed in the occupied West Bank while covering an Israeli army raid in the Jenin refugee camp. Palestinians are blaming the Israeli military, while Israel is neither confirming nor denying responsibility. Also, as the US Supreme Court weighs in on Roe v. Wade, we hear about abortion rights in India, where the procedure has been legal, within certain confines, for more than 50 years. Plus, dengue cases are on the rise across Brazil, leaving public health experts rushing to tackle the mosquito-borne disease.

Russian troops in Ukraine are reportedly retreating from the region around Kharkiv, blowing up bridges as they pull back. But elsewhere along the eastern front line, Russian troops seem to be advancing. And US military aid to Ukraine has overwhelming support in Congress. But as American-made weapons go into battle, they deplete US stockpiles, potentially impacting US preparedness for other wars. Plus, we hear the story about a restaurant in small-town Vermont that’s receiving a lot of attention for its excellent regional Thai cuisine.

On May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day, the Soviet Union’s historical triumph over Nazi Germany during World War II. President Vladimir Putin gave a speech in Moscow amid patriotic scenes, military muscle flexes and saber-rattling. And a drug cartel in Colombia's north has blocked roads and held residents hostage following the extradition of its leader, known as “Otoniel,” to the United States. Plus, the European Union has a new law regulating tech platforms called the Digital Services Act. So far, Europe has led the world with the most aggressive regulation of so-called “Big Tech.”