Learn more about your world through in-depth analysis and on-the-ground reports. (Updated periodically)
In Syria, violence continued between rival factions even after a ceasefire deal. Government troops withdrew overnight from a region as Israel said it would not allow Syrian forces south of Damascus, extending its attempted control of the area. Stephanie Sy reports on the new nation's fragile stability. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Some Syrian military units are withdrawing from the southern city of Suwayda after days of deadly fighting. Secretary of State Rubio announced late Wednesday that all parties, including Israel, agreed to a ceasefire. But the day began with Israeli strikes in Syria's capital, part of an operation it claimed was to protect a minority group in Syria it considers an ally. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
In our news wrap Wednesday, a second party in Israel exited Netanyahu's coalition, leaving him with a minority in parliament, an American aid organization in Gaza says 20 Palestinians died in a crowd surge at one of its distribution sites today and President Trump lashed out at his own supporters over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and called it a "big hoax." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
The U.S. is demanding accountability amid a surge in Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians. On Friday, a 20-year-old Palestinian American was beaten to death in the West Bank. Saifullah Musallet is now the fifth American to be killed in the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the war in Gaza began. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Musallet's cousin, Nizar Milbes. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
In announcing a new weapons package for Ukraine and a ceasefire deadline for Putin, President Trump reversed his previous stance towards Russia’s invasion. But will the weapons have the intended effect for Ukraine, or does the deadline give Russia weeks more to continue its onslaught? William Brangham has views from Kimberly Kagan and Jennifer Kavanagh. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
As the Trump administration ends USAID's mission, a project to bring water to drought-ridden lands is now in peril. In partnership with the Pulitzer Center, William Brangham and producer Molly Knight Raskin traveled to a community in central Kenya to look at the legacy of American foreign aid. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
New and troubling questions are emerging about what caused the Air India crash that killed 260 people. A preliminary investigation ruled out mechanical issues and found that the plane's fuel cutoff switches had been flipped seconds after takeoff. Experts believe it’s most likely that one of the pilots was responsible. William Brangham discussed more with aviation correspondent Miles O’Brien. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Comedy has long been a way to bring a different, lighter lens to heavy topics. That holds true for Palestinian American comedian Sammy Obeid, who has taken to the stage to spotlight the pain of the war in Gaza. Amna Nawaz sat down with Obeid for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
President Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced they would infuse Ukraine with American weapons bought by European allies. Trump also threatened massive sanctions on Russia if there is no ceasefire by early September. It was a remarkable turnaround for a president who only months ago blamed Ukraine for the war and ridiculed its president. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
In our news wrap Sunday, Israeli strikes killed at least 32 people including six children at a water collection point, two wildfires near the Grand Canyon are growing rapidly, the EU said it’s holding off on retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods in hopes of reaching a trade deal, and Italy’s Jannik Sinner beat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to win the men’s title at Wimbledon. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
A New York Times investigation found that Moscow has used Brazil as a launchpad for its global espionage operation. Brazilian federal police uncovered the deception after a yearslong hunt, dealing a massive blow to Putin’s spy program. Ali Rogin speaks with New York Times reporters Michael Schwirtz and Jane Bradley to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
This week, a human rights group in Argentina said a man who disappeared more than 40 years ago under the country’s military dictatorship had been identified and reunited with his sister. But there are concerns that the current government is reversing longstanding policy to continue searching for tens of thousands of citizens who were abducted. Special correspondent Kira Kay reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Adoring fans from around the world converged in Thailand this week to celebrate the first birthday of Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo who became a social media sensation. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
For the first time in four decades, the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK, is laying down its arms and says it will end its insurgency against Turkey. The separatist group’s disbandment comes after its imprisoned leader announced an end to its 41-year armed struggle and a transition to democratic politics. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
A senior Israeli official predicts Israel and Hamas will come to a ceasefire in the "next week or two," a longer timeframe than previously expected. Until a ceasefire can be reached, fighting goes on and Israel continues its airstrikes. Nick Schifrin reports on what Gazans are enduring on an average day to try and find food and where some still see a measure of hope. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
In our news wrap Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu continued his Washington visit by meeting with Vice President Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson, President Trump ramped up criticism of Russian President Putin after reversing course on sending additional weapons to Ukraine and the Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump's plan to fire hundreds of thousands of federal workers. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting with President Trump in his third visit to the White House this year. The two are meeting as Israel and Hamas are negotiating a ceasefire and the U.S. is lifting a terrorism designation on neighboring Syria. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House Monday. Netanyahu left Israel Sunday for the two leaders’ first in-person meeting since last month’s joint U.S.-Israeli assault on Iranian nuclear facilities. John Yang speaks with Kenneth Pollack at the Middle East Institute about what’s likely to be on the agenda for the talks. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
This week, federal prosecutors charged four North Korean nationals with scheming to get hired by a U.S. company as remote workers and then steal nearly $1 million in cryptocurrency. It’s a relatively new North Korean threat: operatives using fake IDs and credentials to infiltrate American businesses. John Yang speaks with freelance investigative reporter Bobbie Johnson to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced it had suspended some weapons deliveries to Ukraine. The Defense Department says the U.S. needs the weapons to be ready for its own contingencies. Nick Schifrin discussed the move with Kimberly Kagan of the Institute for the Study of War and Jennifer Kavanagh of Defense Priorities. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Iran announced it would suspend cooperation with the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, likely preventing a review of the damage done to its nuclear sites and setting Washington and Tehran on another collision course. It comes as Iran has launched a massive operation to find Israeli spies. Nick Schifrin spoke with Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi, who describes it as a harsh crackdown on all dissent. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
In our news wrap Tuesday, jurors in the sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs reached a verdict on four of the five counts and will return for deliberations, 165 international charities and aid organizations are calling for a shutdown of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation that has been plagued by violence and USAID was officially closed and absorbed into the State Department. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
The News Hour has learned that the United States is holding back weapons that the Biden administration and the last Congress marked for Ukraine. This comes as Russia has made territorial gains in Ukraine in recent days and blasted the country with unrelenting drone and missile attacks. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Palestinian officials say Israeli airstrikes killed more than 60 people, including at a cafe in northern Gaza and outside a food distribution site in southern Gaza. The violence comes as President Trump is making a push this week for a ceasefire. Nick Schifrin reports. A warning, images in this report may disturb viewers. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
At this week’s NATO summit in The Hague, Trump declared what was for him unprecedented support for the alliance. Meanwhile, at the European Union summit in Brussels, leaders called for support for Ukraine and diplomacy in the Middle East. Nick Schifrin sat down in The Hague with Kaja Kallas, Europe’s top diplomat, to discuss the relationship with Trump and the path forward with Iran. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
The Trump administration announced Friday that starting on Sept. 2, Haitians cannot remain in the U.S. under temporary protected status. It’s part of a broader change by the administration to revoke legal protections for citizens of several countries, including Venezuela. Many Venezuelan migrants ended up in Chicago, where special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports about a community on edge. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
The Trump administration again furiously defended the airstrikes against Iran's nuclear program, claiming the facilities were destroyed. Defense Secretary Hegseth denounced reporting on a leaked initial intelligence assessment that said Iran’s nuclear program was set back by only a few months. The leak of the report is being investigated by the FBI. Amna Nawaz discussed more with David Albright. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Republican Sen. Michael Rounds of South Dakota sits on both the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees. On Thursday, he and other senators were briefed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Gen. Dan Caine on the airstrikes against Iran's nuclear program. Amna Nawaz spoke with Rounds after the briefing. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
In our news wrap Thursday, hospital officials and witnesses in central Gaza say an Israeli airstrike killed at least 18 people as they waited for flour, the dangerous summer heat is finally easing across much of the eastern U.S., violent storms in France killed at least two people and injured 17 more and former Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy has died. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Ksenia Karelina thought she was going to visit family in Russia in January 2024, but authorities there had other ideas. They detained the 32-year-old because of a small donation she made to support Ukraine. They charged her with treason and gave her a 12-year sentence in a work camp. Karelina was released in a prisoner swap with the U.S. and sat down with Amna Nawaz for her first interview. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
President Trump again forcefully defended his conclusion that the bombing he ordered of Iranian nuclear facilities "obliterated" them. CIA Director John Ratcliffe released a statement affirming the administration’s claims about the effectiveness of the strikes, saying Iran's facilities "would have to be rebuilt over the course of years." Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
To talk about President Trump, Ukraine and NATO’s new spending commitments, Nick Schifrin sat down with Secretary General Mark Rutte. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
To discuss the aftermath of the Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and what the potential consequences of those attacks may be, Geoff Bennett spoke with Jon Finer. He was the deputy national security advisor during the Biden administration and is now a distinguished visiting fellow at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
President Trump is in the Netherlands for the NATO summit as the ceasefire between Iran and Israel is holding. Israel described enormous damage to Iran’s nuclear program. But PBS News Hour learned an initial U.S. assessment of the damage caused by the American bombing of 3 Iranian nuclear sites suggests the sites have not been as destroyed as Trump has claimed. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar, though also indicated a desire to de-escalate. President Trump is echoing that call and announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, which began this recent conflict when it attacked Iran and its nuclear program 12 days ago. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
For analysis of the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites and Tehran's response, Geoff Bennett spoke with retired Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan. He commanded the U.S. 5th Fleet based in Bahrain and is now a distinguished military fellow at the Middle East Institute. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been reacting to news of the Iran strikes. Lisa Desjardins reports on the role of Congress and what members of both parties are saying. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
The Middle East stands at a pivot point Sunday after the Trump administration launched airstrikes on three of Iran’s largest nuclear sites. In response, Iran said the time for diplomacy is over and hinted at military retaliation against the United States. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
The Trump administration said “Operation Midnight Hammer” severely damaged or destroyed Iran’s Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites. For more analysis of the strikes, John Yang speaks with retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, a Hoover Institution senior fellow who served as national security adviser during Trump’s first term. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Days before Trump ordered U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s supreme leader warned that American military intervention would result in “irreparable damage.” For more on how Iran could respond to the attack, John Yang speaks with Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
While the world’s attention is focused on Iran, Israel’s war in Gaza continues. Gaza health officials said Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours killed 51 Palestinians and wounded 104. John Yang speaks with James Elder, global spokesperson for UNICEF, about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders