The World

Israel is suspected of being behind the assassination of an Iranian revolutionary guard general in Syria over the weekend. The US also attacked pro-Iran groups in Iraq following an attack on US positions by these same groups. We take a look at Israel's hints at its willingness to regionalize the war between itself and Hamas. Also, after missing for three weeks, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has resurfaced in an Arctic penal colony in Siberia. And, the same wall preventing people from migrating across the US-Mexico border is also impacting wildlife. Plus, musician Zach Condon leads the band, Beirut, but his latest album is a solo project, recorded at an isolated cabin in Hadsel, Norway, near the Arctic Circle.Show us you’re with The World and make a gift today! Your support ensures we can continue bringing you the empathetic and human-centered journalism you expect. Hurry to make your gift before our fundraiser ends Dec 31. https://on.prx.org/3S9gY0O

Today, we're bringing you a special Christmas edition, with stories from ordinary people about extraordinary experiences. Like one Muslim father's creative Christmas stories, with a Persian touch. Hear personal tales from people all over the world in these pieces from Stories From The Stage on The World.Time is running out to support The World before our fundraising drive ends on Dec. 31. We need your help to make our goal. Donate today to power The World for another year! https://on.prx.org/3S9gY0O

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution today calling for more aid to be distributed to residents in Gaza. The US abstained from the vote, after a week of wrangling during which the US Ambassador to the UN crafted language to ensure that the US wouldn't veto the resolution. And, US President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with his Mexican counterpart, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, to discuss the number of migrants at the border. More than 10,000 people have been crossing into the US every day this week. Also, after an outstanding victory this past summer, Bernardo Arévalo is scheduled to be sworn in as the President of Guatemala on Jan. 14. But the country's ruling class is preventing him from taking office. Plus, a look at the writer who published a satirical magazine while hiding in a Dutch home during WWII.Time is running out to support The World before our fundraising drive ends on Dec. 31. We need your help to make our goal. Donate today to power The World for another year! https://on.prx.org/3S9gY0O

The Egyptian government is working to broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Also, young people in Britain have been drifting away from organized religion. But one group that's not part of that trend is Muslims. In Part 4 of our weeklong series about youth and faith in the United Kingdom, we'll visit one part of east London where young Muslims make up a huge portion of the community. Plus, Thailand just changed the legal definition of marriage, which will allow same-sex couples there to officially tie the knot. This change has been many years in the making. And, a federal judge in Australia just slapped Airbnb with a $20 million fine for tricking customers into paying higher prices.

The Sudanese state of Al-Jazirah has fallen to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in a matter of days. Some experts are concerned that a destabilizing military force like the RSF might overrun the whole country, with potentially huge effects on regional security. Also, a new documentary highlights the role Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has played from the Oslo Accords all the way up to today's war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. And, after years of debate, the EU has reached an agreement on reforms designed to share the cost of hosting migrants and refugees, and limit the numbers of people coming in to the bloc. Separately, the French Parliament passed a strict immigration reform law. Plus, election candidates in Taiwan are converging on temples to demonstrate their piety to the public.Time is running out to support The World before our fundraising drive ends on Dec. 31. We need your help to make our goal. Donate today to power The World for another year! https://on.prx.org/3S9gY0O

In Hong Kong, a high-profile trial will decide the fate of Jimmy Lai. The media mogul is on trial for charges of colluding with foreign forces to endanger Chinese national security, and conspiring with others to put out seditious publications. And, on Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law that allows Texas police to arrest migrants suspected of entering the state illegally. The law, known as SB-4, takes effect in March. Also, there's been renewed efforts at establishing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. A number of countries are working with the two sides to find common ground toward a potential ceasefire and release of hostages. Plus, penguin rescue in South Africa. Time is running out to support The World before our fundraising drive ends on Dec. 31. We need your help to make our goal. Donate today to power The World for another year! https://on.prx.org/3S9gY0O

After three hostages were killed by the Israeli army last week, the families of those still in captivity are putting more pressure on the Netanyahu government to get them released. Palestinians say the killings highlight that the Israeli army doesn't follow its own stated rules of engagement. Also, US Steel, once the largest steel company in the world, announced that it's being sold to the Japanese firm Nippon Steel for just over $14 billion. And, the Church of England is adopting a new strategy of evangelicalism to reverse the trends of low church attendance and a growing number of youth saying they don’t identify with any particular religion. Plus, Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned in Russia on a 19-year sentence, could not be reached for court hearings recently. His lawyers have not heard from him since Dec. 6.___Time is running out to support The World before our fundraising drive ends on Dec. 31. We need your help to make our goal. Donate today to power The World for another year! https://on.prx.org/3S9gY0O

It’s been a bittersweet 24 hours for Ukraine. First, the unexpected news that EU leaders have agreed to start talks to allow Ukraine join the bloc. But hours later came the blow: A funding package for Ukraine worth more than $55 billion had been vetoed by Hungary. And, ever since the brutal attack by Hamas in Israel, the group has been charged with committing acts of sexual violence. But it was just last week, two months after the event, that the UN's Special Representative on Sexual Violence expressed "grave concern" over these reports. Also, a rusting oil tanker with a million barrels of oil was in danger of breaking up when a rescue mission was launched this year by the UN. Veteran diplomat David Gressly is credited with averting a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe in the Red Sea by brokering a deal to replace the endangered vessel. Plus, the sounds of late Malian guitarist Zani Diabaté live on.___We are able to bring you human-centered journalism because listeners like you financially support our independent newsroom. Will you make a donation today to keep The World going strong? Give now.

Concerns remain in Egypt around the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip. The crossing has been the main point of entry for aid into the beseiged region as the war between Hamas and Israel continues. And, in Moscow on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a marathon four-hour, end-of-year press conference, featuring questions from journalists and Russian citizens from across the country. What was on his agenda? Also, the Gingerbread City is an annual holiday season display of edible urban designs in London, and for the first time, in New York. Architects in both cities use gingerbread, gumdrops and icing to try out ideas for building sustainable cities. Plus, a debut concert in Rwanda to attract touring musicians in Africa.We are able to bring you human-centered journalism because listeners like you financially support our independent newsroom. Will you make a donation today to keep The World going strong? Give now.

For the first time ever, negotiators at this year's UN climate summit have addressed the leading cause of climate change — fossil fuels. They have reached a historicl deal to transition away from them, but many countries are criticizing the agreement's loopholes and walking away unhappy. And, while most of the 2024 Paris Olympics will take place inside of Paris city limits, the surfing competition will happen nearly 10,000 miles away in Tahiti. Games organizers are planning to build a $5 million aluminum judging tower in the lagoon. Also, the "Click Here" podcast reports that Ukrainian officials are working with the International Criminal Court to collect the data and file cases so those who commit war crimes don't go free. Plus, the original surf sound.We are able to bring you human-centered journalism because listeners like you financially support our independent newsroom. Will you make a donation today to keep The World going strong? Give now.