PBS NewsHour - World

In our news wrap Monday, three people were killed and dozens more injured while headed to an aid distribution site in Gaza, more than 100 wildfires in Canada forced mass evacuations and sent smoke and unhealthy air deep into the U.S. and Newark airport reopened one of its three runways nearly two weeks ahead of schedule. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Ukraine launched an unprecedented attack that sent drones deep inside Russia to target bombers. Russia’s strikes also accelerated as it launched the largest drone salvo of the war. One attack killed more than a dozen soldiers, leading to the resignation of Ukraine’s land forces commander. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap, more than 20 Palestinians in Gaza were killed as they tried to get food aid, Ukraine launches drone attacks on Russian military planes inside Russia, voters in Poland went to the polls to select their next president, Paris celebrates a home team victory in Europe's biggest soccer tournament and forecasters predict the northern lights may be visible in southern states. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Wildfires burning in western Canada are triggering poor air quality warnings in the upper Midwest, advising people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people to limit outdoor activities. Meteorologists say that the impact of the fires this weekend could reach Oklahoma, Tennessee and Arkansas. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Israel said it accepted a new draft of a U.S. peace plan in Gaza, but Hamas so far has not provided an official reply. The deal would pause the war for 60 days, but not permanently end it, as Hamas is demanding. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Wednesday, Germany's chancellor offered to help Ukraine build long-range missile systems that could strike deep into Russia, a judge ordered the release of a Russian-born scientist and Harvard researcher saying she was unlawfully held by immigration authorities, the White House says President Trump issued a full pardon for former Congressman Michael Grimm. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The new aid distribution system in Gaza was quickly overwhelmed by Palestinians who for 11 weeks have been blocked from assistance. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the U.S. and Israel, says the old UN-led system allowed Hamas to flourish. But humanitarian groups say the new system is incapable of alleviating the suffering of Gazans. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Ciarán Donnelly. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In the past week, 30 Ukrainians have died and more than 163 others injured as Russia escalated its bombing campaign amid U.S. efforts to end the war. It prompted President Trump to lash out at not only Russian President Putin, but also Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Laura Barrón-López discussed more with retired Army Col. Robert Hamilton of the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Eurasia Program. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Monday, police arrested a British man after he drove into a crowd of fans in Liverpool as they celebrated their team's Premier League championship, health officials in Gaza say the latest round of Israeli airstrikes killed at least 52 people and President Trump says he's pardoning a former Virginia sheriff who was convicted of federal bribery charges. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A new book delves deep into the rise and fall of the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group and its close ties to Vladimir Putin. Nick Schifrin sat down with Candace Rondeaux, author of "Putin's Sledgehammer: The Wagner Group and Russia’s Collapse into Mercenary Chaos." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Nearly a quarter of global maritime trade goes through the South China Sea. In recent years, it’s become the site of clashes between Chinese coast guard ships and Philippine vessels as Beijing tries to exert its claim to virtually the entire sea despite international law. John Yang speaks with Andrew Chubb, Asia Society fellow and senior lecturer at Lancaster University, for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Sunday, Poland scrambled its air defenses as Russia conducted an aerial assault on neighboring Ukraine, Israel continued making deadly airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, Elon Musk signaled he may be easing out of his role in efforts to slash government spending under Trump, and Memorial Day preparations are underway at Arlington National Cemetery. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Saturday, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners hours after a large-scale Russian attack on Kyiv, dozens of staff members have been removed from Trump’s National Security Council, the U.S. measles outbreak passed 1,000 confirmed cases, tennis star Novak Djokovic won his 100th career singles title, and a wildlife center is going to great lengths to help a bear cub. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This week's prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine was the largest since the war’s onset. But skepticism of a lasting truce, and President Trump’s peace-making, remains. Bridget Brink resigned as ambassador to Ukraine in April, faulting the Trump administration’s Ukraine policy. Brink joined Amna Nawaz to discuss the war and her resignation. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Two Israeli embassy staffers, who were set to be engaged, were shot and killed Wednesday night in Washington. The killings sparked immediate, global outrage and anger. The assailant was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, along with other crimes. He allegedly yelled "free Palestine" after the shooting and reportedly told police he did it. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A day after two Israeli embassy staffers were shot and killed in Washington, Nick Schifrin spoke with Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and discussed the murders and Israel's war in Gaza. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A stunning scene unfolded in the Oval Office as President Trump met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Trump unexpectedly played videos that he says prove his claims that South Africa is committing genocide against white farmers there. The South African delegation pushed back and denied the claim in the historically tense meeting. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Wednesday, a judge says the Trump administration violated a court order when it shipped migrants to South Sudan, the Pentagon accepted a jet from Qatar for President Trump to use, Israeli airstrikes killed more than 80 as the UN says aid still has not reached Gaza's population and Target is warning that sales will slip as customers remain worried about the impact of tariffs. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Tuesday, the UN says no aid has reached Palestinians two days after Israel ended its three-month blockade, the FDA is changing the way it approves annual COVID-19 vaccines, the World Health Organization approved an agreement on how to handle future pandemics and New Orleans police arrested a maintenance worker at the jail where 10 inmates pulled off a daring escape. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Taiwan has long been a tense flashpoint between Washington and Beijing. By law, the U.S. is required to help Taiwan defend itself. But there is now a debate about whether Taiwan is spending enough on defense, whether Ukraine is a distraction or a test case, and whether defending Taiwan is a vital U.S. interest. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Randall Schriver and Michael Swaine. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Monday, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to strip legal protections from hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants, President Trump says Russia and Ukraine will begin ceasefire negotiations, the head of CBS News announced her resignation and the FAA is investigating a two-second outage involving the facility that handles air traffic at Newark airport. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Israeli military allowed humanitarian aid into Gaza for the first time in more than 11 weeks. It came after Britain, France and Canada threatened to sanction Israel if it did not provide assistance. Israel also ordered Gaza’s second-largest city evacuated, part of a new ground operation that Israel says will not only clear Hamas, but also hold “all of the Gaza Strip.” Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Israel is mobilizing forces for a new ground assault in Gaza, after Palestinian officials said about 300 people died in waves of airstrikes over the past 72 hours. Israeli officials say the objective is to pressure Hamas into freeing the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Meanwhile, ceasefire talks resumed Saturday in Qatar. John Yang speaks with The Washington Post’s Gerry Shih for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In highly anticipated peace talks, Russian and Ukrainian officials agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners, the war’s largest swap. While they agreed to keep talking, there was no breakthrough for peace and the two sides seemed even further apart. Nick Schifrin reports and Amna Nawaz speaks with former State Department official Andrew Weiss for perspective on the state of negotiations. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Friday, Israeli Defense Forces struck two Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen and launched dozens of airstrikes across Gaza, a transit strike in New Jersey forced 350,000 people to make alternative plans, group of GOP lawmakers blocked President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" and New Orleans police say ten inmates who escaped from jail may have had help from the inside. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump finished his tour of the Middle East with a trip to the United Arab Emirates, where the nation promised significant investment in the U.S. and partnership on AI technology and infrastructure. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Day two of President Trump's tour of the Mideast brought with it the prospect of a new future for Syria. The president announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. Trump also met with Syria's interim president, a former jihadist who until recently had a $10 million U.S. bounty. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Mouaz Mustafa of the Syrian Emergency Task Force. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump signed several new agreements with Saudi Arabia on the first leg of a three-nation tour of the Middle East. It's his first major trip abroad since retaking the White House. Trump also assailed decades of American policy in the region while he sets a new course. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Tuesday, the Trump administration is terminating another $450 million in grants to Harvard, inflation slowed for the third straight month even as some of Trump's tariffs took effect, the FAA is defending its decision to move control of Newark's airspace to Philadelphia and Zelenskyy is putting pressure on Putin to join him for ceasefire talks in Turkey. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

During his visit to the Middle East, President Trump announced the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria, arms sales and U.S.-Saudi business agreements. For additional perspective on this, Amna Nawaz spoke with Vali Nasr, an adviser in the State Department during the Obama administration, and Bernard Haykel, professor of Near Eastern studies at Princeton and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Monday, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party says it's laying down its weapons and disbanding after reaching a peace deal with Turkey, the prime minister of India is warning Pakistan that his country will retaliate against any further attacks and California Gov. Newsom is putting pressure on local governments across the state to clear homeless encampments. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The final living American hostage held by Hamas is free. Edan Alexander entered Israel from Gaza in a deal made directly between Hamas and the United States. His release came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went further than before on his plans for Gaza, calling for its reoccupation. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Nearly 60 white South Africans were admitted into the U.S. as part of President Trump’s resettlement program. Afrikaners, largely descendants of Dutch and French colonial settlers, led the apartheid government until it ended. The White House claims a new South African law is racist and the white minority is being persecuted. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Bill Frelick of Human Rights Watch. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Sunday blessing as pontiff, calling for unity in a polarized church and appealing to the world’s major powers for peace. He delivered his message to an estimated 100,000 people from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he was introduced as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church last week. Laura Barrón-López speaks with Crux editor John Allen for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Sunday, Hamas announced it will release the last living American hostage in Gaza, Zelenskyy said Ukraine will accept an invitation from Russia to attend direct talks on ending the war, the FAA is under fire after an equipment outage led to massive delays for air travelers, and the Department of Homeland Security released body camera footage of the Friday arrest of Newark’s mayor. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Israeli blockage of Gaza is now in its third month. Since early March, no food, water, shelter or medication has been allowed into the embattled territory and aid groups warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Laura Barrón-López speaks with Ghada Alhaddad, who works for Oxfam inside Gaza, about the latest conditions on the ground. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This Mother’s Day, we explore how government policies and society’s expectations shape the experience of new moms. Ali Rogin speaks with journalist Abigail Leonard, whose new book “Four Mothers” follows the ups and downs of the first year of motherhood around the world. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire Saturday after the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades. But just hours later, multiple explosions were heard in India-controlled Kashmir and India’s foreign secretary accused Pakistan of breaching the truce. Laura Barrón-López speaks with Lisa Curtis at the Center for a New American Security for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Saturday, European allies are backing Ukraine in an effort to pressure Russia for a ceasefire, trade talks began between the U.S. and China, a judge temporarily blocked Trump’s mass firings across the federal workforce, Newark’s mayor is out of jail after he was arrested at an ICE detention facility, and Pope Leo XIV held his first meeting with cardinals since his election. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Russia celebrated the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II in an annual parade that filled Red Square with military hardware and dozens of foreign leaders. Vladimir Putin once again tied Russia’s past triumphs to today’s war in Ukraine and further tied Russia’s fate to that of China. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Tensions are escalating between India and Pakistan after both sides exchanged heavy cross-border shelling along the de facto border in Kashmir. We spoke earlier this week with the Pakistani ambassador. To get India’s perspective, Geoff Bennett spoke with Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Vinay Kwatra. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Tensions in South Asia are running high after India and Pakistan accused each other of firing at their respective military sites. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called leaders in both countries and pushed for what he called immediate de-escalation and direct dialogue. But there is heavy shelling on both sides of the disputed border. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders