The World

The Kremlin cracks down on its critics. Meanwhile, in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine, there’s an effort playing out to hold accountable local politicians accused of wrongdoing. And Sandra the orangutan from Argentina was granted nonhuman "person" rights in 2014. Now, she has found a place to enjoy her personhood: the Center for Great Apes in Florida. It took an unprecedented act of international cooperation to get her there.

In Hong Kong, clouds of white smoke and tear gas again fill the air as residents experience what they're calling a "white Christmas." Several clashes took place in shopping malls in prime tourist neighborhoods. Host Marco Werman speaks with one of the protest leaders about this latest escalation in the campaign against Hong Kong's government.

Also, we'll check in with James Scott at the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. He'll tell us how thousands of volunteer fire firefighters in Australia have been spending their Christmas Day, trying to control fires which have engulfed vast areas around Sydney.

Plus, at this time of over-indulgence, The World's Bianca Hillier tells us about new research on the benefits of putting on your hiking boots and going for more than a stroll around the block.

And, Carolyn Beeler reprises her journey to Thwaites glacier in West Antarctica where scientists see the consequences of warming oceans on one of the world's most remote giant glaciers.

"We'll see what happens," said US President Donald Trump Tuesday when he was asked about North Korea's threats that it's planning a "Christmas gift" for the United States. Experts say the "gift" is likely to be some kind of weapons test. But what are the Trump administration's diplomatic options for dealing with North Korea? Also, some Tanzanian human rights activists and journalists will be spending their holidays in jail. And, the legend of Pancho Claus brings a distinct Chicano flair to the role of St. Nick.

There’s an epic struggle underway: a challenge to lead the world in artificial intelligence — AI. But this space race for the 21st century doesn’t seem to be getting enough attention from at least one of the world’s superpowers — the United States. In this featured episode from The World's partners at the podcast "Raw Data," futurist Amy Webb tells the story of the world’s leading AI companies, and the struggle between East and West in her new book, "The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans & Their Thinking Machines Could Warp Humanity." We learn about China’s growing dominance in AI, and how US companies, in spite of stunning technological innovation, might someday fall behind. What’s at stake is nothing less than the future of power, governance and freedom.

In Saudi Arabia, five people were sentenced to death Monday in connection with the murder of the Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. And, US officials say they're ready for an unwelcome "Christmas gift" from North Korea that could come any day now. Plus, we'll hear about several new plant species discovered over the past year.

More than three years since the UK voted to exit the European Union in a 2016 referendum, Britain's Parliament has finally voted to approve the Brexit deal. Also, at Thursday's presidential debate, several of the Democratic candidates spoke about China. What were candidates' stances on China and how do they compare with President Donald Trump? And, the people in India-controlled Kashmir have been without the internet for 138 days, the longest blackout ever for a democracy.

From The World: The Number in the News — Today’s number is four. The fungus used to make Camembert cheese comes from northern France. But an American scientist was able to create the mold, known as Penicillium camemberti, in a lab in Boston. It could have ramifications for cheese makers — and charcuterie boards — worldwide. Our new show, the Number in the News, is a daily flash briefing for your smart speaker that we’re featuring as a special here in The World’s podcast feed. Everyday, listen to the Number in the News and hear a shareable story in just two minutes from The World’s Bianca Hillier. It’s one number you won’t forget, and why it’s in the news today. Add The Number in the News to your smart speaker news briefing on an Amazon or Google smart speaker.

US President Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representative Wednesday. Trump's tenure has marked a big shift toward nationalism, a trend that's growing worldwide, like in Great Britain, where Queen Elizabeth delivered a speech Thursday on behalf of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government to mark the re-opening of Parliament. But Washington, DC, wasn't in total disharmony, despite the impeachment vote. The House is expected to pass the new NAFTA, called the USMCA, with strong bipartisan support. And, the eastern German city of Dresden has declared a "Nazi emergency." The World's Orla Berry reports from Dresden about the city's growing problem with the far right.

It's an historic day in Washington. The US House of Representatives is set to take a momentous vote Wednesday on whether to impeach President Donald Trump on charges of abusing his office and obstructing a congressional probe. Also, The World's Sarah Birnbaum is also looking at how the impeachment process is being covered, or not covered, across the globe. Also, there were fresh protests in India on Wednesday against a controversial new citizenship law. Plus, a visit to London's Gatwick Airport to learn about a sensory room to accommodate families with children with autism.