The World

Is foreign money influencing US elections? We consider the question. Then we talk to Rupa Shenoy, creator of the Otherhood podcast, about how the Laotian community in the US helped push Washington to take responsibility for unexploded bombs littering the countryside in Laos. And, all the advertising at one London Underground station has been replaced by pictures of ... cats.

A new Netflix documentary, "White Helmets," follows the volunteers who rush in after Syrian airstrikes to save those buried in the rubble. Marco Werman speaks with the director and producer. Also, today marks the 100th anniversary of a major innovation in warfare: the battle tank. Plus, we hear about the adventures of a "Hajj rookie."

A former refugee from Afghanistan is now designing drones, and he's doing it to save the lives of other refugees. Plus, we check on how the ceasefire in Syria is holding up. Marco Werman speaks with a resident of a rebel-held area of Aleppo. Also, Guatemalan singer Gaby Moreno has a new bilingual album out, in Spanish and English. She tells Marco about that, and about the time when as a 10-year-old she opened for Ricky Martin.

Today we explore how the issue of transparency in politics plays out in different countries. Plus, we get an update on the political scandals that have been rocking Brazil. Corruption and a lack of transparency have been the big issues there. Also, we hear about efforts to make ultimate frisbee an Olympic sport — and why some ultimate athletes have reservations about that.

If the ceasefire in Syria works, what's next? That's a big "if." We get a reality check from a member of the Syrian opposition. Also, Native American groups work to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline project. Plus, a Pakistani-American author tells us about about creating characters who wrestle with the gray areas between good and evil.

Sunday marks the 15th anniversary of the terror attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. We ask journalist and author Lawrence Wright to connect the post-9/11 dots from al-Qaeda to the Islamic State. We also can't think about 9/11 without remembering the so-called Axis of Evil, which included North Korea. Well, today North Korea announced that it had mastered the ability to place a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile, after conducting its biggest nuclear test to date. Plus, we hear an appreciation of the late great ska legend Prince Buster.

Today we hear how the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, changed the trajectory of American lives. We check in with US veterans who signed up to fight because of 9/11, and ask young Muslims and Sikhs who were living in the US at the time how the events of 15 years ago affected their lives. Also, we'll introduce you to a 10-year-old girl in Yemen whose video about life in the midst of the Saudi bombing campaign has gone viral. Plus, some reflections as Star Trek turns 50.

A Saudi cleric draws rebuke for saying Iranians aren't "real Muslims." Plus, Donald Trump lays out a national security plan. Also, the Paralympic Games get started in Rio, while the Nomad Games begin in Kyrgyzstan.

Today we take a look at profane insults and America's global status. The Philippines' president made waves when he used a curse word in apparent reference to President Barack Obama. He's since expressed regret, but still standing by his main point: that the US has no right to come in and tell him what to do. Plus, we'll explore the colorful world of high-level insults throughout history. Also, speaking of insults ... wait until you hear what goes down in a new track by rap group Run the Jewels — or, better yet, where it goes down.

On this Labor Day, we celebrate the work of two doctors. One is a British physician who spent time this summer on a Doctors Without Borders rescue boat patrolling the seas between Libya and Italy. The other is an Indian microbiologist who uncovered the presence of HIV in India as part of her dissertation work 30 years ago. Plus, we hear how refugees and Germans are dealing with culture clash at German swimming pools.