PRI's The World

Bolivians have elected a center-right candidate, Rodrigo Paz, as their new president, ending 20 years of leftist political leadership. Paz's victory puts the 12-million-strong nation on a notably uncertain path as he attempts to implement significant changes for the first time since 2005. Also, authoritarian governments are increasingly using ‘foreign agent' laws to intimidate and silence civil society groups and journalists. And, a new study reports that cancer rates in Lebanon are rising faster than anywhere else in the world. Plus,  Hindus worldwide are celebrating Diwali today. The festival of lights involves oil lamps, fireworks ... and a bit of friendly gambling.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting the White House for his third visit since US President Donald Trump returned to office. While Zelenskyy hopes for stepped-up US support in the form of Tomahawk missiles, Trump's newly announced second summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin could complicate matters. Also, Israelis are cheering the return of 20 living hostages, and the potential remains of another 28, but the deal will not bring relief to the relatives of those whose bodies cannot be found. And, a small population of desert lions in Namibia become the only maritime lions in the world. Plus, musicians battle for glory at the legendary International Chopin Piano Competition in Poland.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct secret operations in Venezuela, adding that the White House is weighing the possibility of a land attack on the country. Also, staff members at a prestigious opera house in Venice, Italy, are going on strike to protest the incoming conductor, saying she lacks the experience needed for the role. And, Doctors Without Borders shutters its emergency care center in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, amid a surge in violence. Plus, 130 years later, The British Library reinstates playwright and author Oscar Wilde's library card.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

As a ceasefire to end the war in Gaza goes into effect, there have also been gun battles inside the Gaza Strip between Hamas and rival groups. Also, Kenyans mourn the death of key opposition leader Raila Odinga. And, a town in Nigeria celebrates its annual World Twins Festival. Plus, a growing industry that allows pets to fly in the cabin in style with their owners.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Truckloads of aid are entering Gaza, but the long-promised surge in deliveries has yet to materialize. Israeli officials say the Rafah border crossing will remain closed until the bodies of all slain hostages are returned. Also, clashes have escalated between Taliban forces and Pakistani troops along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. And, a discussion with an investigative journalist about a financial fraud case linked to Russia. Plus, an effort to clean up the ocean and find a way to repurpose abandoned fishing gear.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Two years of grief and anger in Israel turned into euphoria today with the release of 20 living hostages who survived kidnapping on Oct. 7, 2023, and captivity in Gaza since then. Israel released some Palestinian prisoners in exchange. Meanwhile, more than 20 world leaders are meeting in Egypt to sign a peace deal brokered by US President Donald Trump for ending the war in Gaza. Also, there are reports that Madagascar's president has fled the country as a branch of the military backs the ongoing “Gen Z” protests. Plus, acclaimed deaf poet Raymond Antrobus and percussionist Evelyn Glennie release a new album together.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Large crowds of Palestinians have started walking back to their homes — or what's left of them — in Gaza City as the Israeli military pulls its forces back from parts of central Gaza. We look at what comes next, including the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and potential sticking points for the truce. Also, Australia signs major security deals with India and Papua New Guinea, raising concerns for China. And, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her decades-long fight to restore democracy in her country. Plus, a NASA satellite that dipped into Venus' upper atmosphere and recorded radio waves reveals some haunting sounds.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The first phase of the Israel-Hamas peace deal has gained momentum but major obstacles may still block the plan's implementation. We take look at the truce itself, and speak with Israelis and Palestinians about their thoughts. Also, a mixture of resignation and defiance in India as the US increases its H-1B visa fees. And, a South American trade bloc rules that Peru has violated its commitments to cracking down on illegal gold mining. Plus, the house where the great Czech composer Antonin Dvorak was born in 1841 reopens after years of renovations.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A midwife describes assisting a growing number of women experiencing sexual violence at the hands of militias in the North Darfur region of Sudan. It comes a day after a Sudanese militia leader was convicted at the ICC on charges of mass murder and sexual violence going back to 2003. Also, FIFA suspends seven members of the Malaysian national soccer team over allegations of submitting fake birth certificates. And, a father of three recounts his agonizing decision to leave Gaza City amid Israeli strikes. Plus, the BBC's Shipping Forecast turns 100 years old.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A new report from the climate think tank Ember finds that renewable energy sources made up more of the global electricity mix than coal for the first half of 2025. Also, as cocaine use across Europe surges, traffickers have set their sights on a smaller, more unexpected corner of western Europe. And, an Israeli American rabbi shares her thoughts on the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Plus, people in India try to manage their encounters with migrating elephants.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Representatives from Israel and Hamas are meeting indirectly in Egypt today to talk about an end to the war in Gaza. At the center of the talks is a 20-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump, which includes details about the release of hostages, future governance in Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas. Also, a Russian drone and missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Lviv was one of the most serious attacks on the city since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion. And, South African prosecutors are reopening an inquest into the death of the prominent anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko nearly 50 years after he died in police custody. Plus, an installation at this year's Momentum Biennale in Norway explores the connections between nature, global issues and sound.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The Church of England has appointed Sarah Mullally to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury. It's the first time a woman has held the position. Also, a new trade agreement will allow for Zimbabwe to export more blueberries to China, tariff free. And, young people across Morocco have taken to the streets to protest the shortcomings of the country's health and education systems. Plus, Lithuania unveils what it's calling the first-ever electric passenger riverboats.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Two people died and four others were seriously injured after an attack at a synagogue in Manchester in the United Kingdom. The assault took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Also, citizens from four Caribbean nations — Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines — can now live and work in each others' countries without the requirements of visas, residency permits or other extensive paperwork. And, Israel intercepts nearly all the vessels that were part of the multinational Sumud Flotilla bound for Gaza with aid, arresting the activists onboard. Plus, the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia is drawing laughs — and criticism.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

EU leaders gathered in Copenhagen today, just days after airspace intrusions by unidentified aircraft closed Danish airports. Meanwhile, Washington gathered its top US military brass in Quantico, Virginia, focusing on what the White House has called “the enemy within.” Also, Brazil's free, instant payment platform Pix reshapes the country's financial landscape, with more than 150 million people using it daily. And, people in Afghanistan say the internet has been partially restored after two days of a complete shutdown across the country. Plus, a new musical in London revisits the history of Britain's Black Power movement and the secret police unit that worked to undermine it in the 1960s.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The longest-running and largest residential school in Canada had an estimated 15,000 children attend before closing down in 1970. Today, on the country's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the building is reopening as a historic site and museum to share the stories of survivors. Also, the UN mission in Kabul is urging the Taliban to reverse its shutdown of the internet and other telecommunications across Afghanistan. And, the Darien Gap in Central America was once one of the world's more dangerous and heavily used migration routes but is now nearly empty of people. Plus, a look at the long and surprising history of rope.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Mexico and the US have launched a new bilateral initiative aimed at disrupting the stream of illicit weapons across their shared border. Also, US President Donald Trump meets with Israel's prime minister in Washington for the fourth time in eight months to discuss a ceasefire deal in Gaza. And, Moldova's pro-European party secures a resounding victory in the country's parliamentary elections over a bloc of pro-Russia parties. Plus, Italy and Austria hit a major milestone in building the world's longest underground railway located deep beneath the Alps.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In Denmark, authorities are investigating a series of drone sightings near major airports and airbases in the country this week. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that the country was in the midst of a “hybrid war." Also, Iran will end its participation in international weapons inspections if United Nations sanctions are reimposed, says Ali Larijani, the country's secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. And, Moldova heads to the polls this weekend in what its President Maia Sandu calls the most consequential election in the country's history. The pro-EU leader has accused Russia of mounting an “unprecedented” campaign to influence the result. Plus, with Korea's pop music scene eclipsing other musicians and styles found in Seoul, we offer one example of an artist who does not perform K-pop.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week at the United Nations General Assembly, Syria's new interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa came with a message: Syria is back after being isolated for about six decades. Also, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the UN Climate Summit the country's first national emissions reduction targets. It marks a shift in China's approach to climate policy, which, until now, allowed emissions to grow in tandem with economic growth. And, Denmark issued a formal apology yesterday for forcing Indigenous women and girls from Greenland to use contraceptive devices. Beginning in the 1960s, Danish doctors inserted IUDs into thousands of Inuit women and school-age girls, often without their or their parents' knowledge or consent. Plus, climate change has exacerbated drought and extreme weather in northern Ghana, leaving many in the agricultural region struggling to grow enough food. Chef Fatmata Binta sees a solution in fonio, a grain similar to couscous, indigenous to West Africa.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Russian troops have made incremental gains in parts of eastern Ukraine, although their advances elsewhere have stalled. Also, as part of a cultural initiative to counter the influence of narco-corridos, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's government is hosting “México Canta” or “Mexico Sings,” a national songwriting contest designed to promote nonviolent musical expressions. And, the World Bank is sending $4 billion to Argentina ahead of schedule, attempting to stabilize the country's cratering economy. Plus, Chicago has a long history with organized crime. Its most famous — or infamous — mob boss was Al Capone. But it wasn't just Italian families that worked in Chicago's underworld. Decades ago, two rival Chinese gangs ran amok in the city, but they were able to fly under the radar. Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has taken tens of thousands of Ukrainian children. War crimes researchers at Yale University have described it as "the single largest kidnapping of children during wartime since World War II." Also, the world's largest storm this year to date, Super Typhoon Ragasa, is moving its way toward China after making landfall yesterday in the northern island of the Philippines, causing major flooding and the evacuation of thousands. And, Machu Picchu, a top tourist attraction in Peru and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, is seeing protests over bus contracts that left hundreds of visitors stranded last week, with trains and roads being blocked by demonstrators. The unrest has reignited long-standing concerns about overcrowding and mismanagement at the site. Plus, Alaa Abd el-Fattah, Egypt's most prominent political prisoner, has reunited with his family after six years in prison.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly is in New York this week. One issue that's at the top of the agenda is connected to the war in Gaza. Several countries announced over the weekend that they will formally recognize a state of Palestine. Other US allies are doing the same this week. Also, from London to Brussels and Berlin, some of Europe's biggest airports are grappling with a ransomware attack that has caused delays and cancellations. And, immigrant workers in Massachusetts with a particular type of immigration status are losing their jobs in critical industries like health, home care and nursing, after the Trump administration's policy changes. Plus, in Egypt, the country's most prominent political prisoner has received a presidential pardon.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

During his state visit to the UK, President Donald Trump expressed interest in the US reclaiming Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which is now in the hands of the Taliban and would likely require negotiations to retake. Also, a look at the status of democracy in Turkey as opposition mayors remain in jail. And, the US has now destroyed three ships off the coast of Venezuela, claiming they were tied to drug cartels; we look at the legal arguments around the airstrikes. Plus, new data from the World Meteorological Organization finds that the hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica is continuing to heal, and is expected to close entirely by mid-century.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

US President Donald Trump wrapped up his historic state visit to the United Kingdom today. He and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters that they discussed major international crises, but the two leaders did not present any new solutions for Gaza, Ukraine or global migration. Also, the Trump administration's policies are driving away international students from the US. And, Israel's strike on Hamas' political leadership in Qatar last week has raised alarms in Gulf capitals, with the countries questioning US protection guarantees. Plus, a look at what happens when cellphones are banned from classrooms.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

From Jakarta to Bangkok, new and unknown brands of Chinese electric vehicles have been cruising around major Southeast Asian cities over the past two years. Also, Shell and Exxon Mobil are suing the Dutch government over the closure of a major gas field over payouts to residents for damages tied to extraction. And, a new 72-page UN report released this week finds there are reasonable grounds to conclude Israel has committed four of the five genocidal acts as defined under international law since 2023. Plus, we find out which Peruvian dish won the World Breakfast Cup.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The US military has sunk another Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean. President Donald Trump says the vessels are tied to drug cartels but has offered no evidence. Amid the saber-rattling between Caracas and Washington, we hear what Venezuelans are saying. Also, voters in Malawi head to the polls as their country faces a tanking economy. And, the IDF unleashes a new military ground offensive into Gaza City, as the UN declares that Israel is commingling a genocide in Gaza. Plus, a cheating scandal at the World Stone Skimming Championships in Scotland.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Over the weekend in London, more than 100,000 people took to the streets for the anti-immigrant "Unite the Kingdom" rally organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, featuring Elon Musk as a guest speaker. Also, Syria holds its first parliamentary elections since the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad. And, a first-of-its-kind agreement to deal with overfishing around the world goes into effect. Plus, a look back at the 1881 global tour of the last king of Hawaii.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Brazil's Supreme Court has sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup to overturn his 2022 election loss. Also, Lithuania remains on edge as Russia and Belarus hold joint military drills. And, a look at how a five-day strike by tube operators, London's subway system, caused rush hour chaos across the city. Plus, Albania rolls out the world's first AI-powered government minister.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants the United States to take control of Greenland. It's reignited passions in the territory on the topic of independence — not just from the US, but from Denmark. Also, a government commission in Peru has voted to nix plans for a vast 3 million acre conservation reserve in the Amazon that would have protected uncontacted peoples there. And, a rapper who was born in Greece to Ghanaian parents calls out Greece's lack of birthright citizenship as “racist.” Plus, the Women's International Motorcycle Association celebrates 75 years on the open road.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Last night, more than a dozen drones believed to be from Russia flew into Poland's airspace, and at least four of them were shot down by Polish and allied NATO aircraft. While the incident drew condemnation, the Kremlin has not confirmed or denied that the drones were Russian. Also, 24 years after the 9/11 attacks, the detention center at Guantanamo Bay remains open, despite promises by former presidents to shut it down. And, divers have successfully removed a single, abandoned fishing net, one of the largest pieces of so-called "ghost gear" ever recorded, from a marine-protected area off the coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Plus, a look back at an initiative in the UK that normalizes support for parents of newborns.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Israel today attacked an apartment in Doha, Qatar, where the top leaders of Hamas were meeting to discuss a US ceasefire proposal. Israel claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had notified the Trump administration ahead of the strikes, which the White House called an “unfortunate incident” that did not advance peace in the region. Also, scientists say fresh water deep under the ocean floor could alleviate growing water scarcity. And, Nepal's prime minister resigns after 22 people were killed in over two days of protests. Plus, two friends who started the “Loose Ends” organization match a growing roster of volunteer knitters with those who have unfinished projects.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

At least 17 people have died in Nepal's capital Kathmandu after clashes with police. Tens of thousands took to the streets across the country to protest a government ban on dozens of social media platforms. Also, Ethiopia is set to formally inaugurate the massive and controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. And, a Palestinian-Israeli actor takes to the stage to dive into the chaos of identity, truth and family life. Plus, ecologists push for wildlife crossings to provide crucial routes for animals across the globe.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

When Chinese Leader Xi Jinping attended this week's massive military parade in Beijing, he arrived with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un. It was one of many wins for Kim, who wants to be accepted on the global stage as the leader of a normal nation, instead of a global pariah. Also, Jamaica's incumbent Prime Minister Andrew Holness wins a third term in office. And, India finds that its rising rabies rates can be traced back to a decline in the country's vulture population. Plus, one of São Paulo's largest favelas launches its own community-run delivery service.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Trump administration officials are talking about more military strikes against suspected drug gangs in the southern Caribbean. This follows a US attack on a small boat from Venezuela that President Donald Trump says killed 11 "narcoterrorists." Also, a new patient safety initiative dubbed “Martha's Rule” rolls out across hospitals in England. And, the world's largest iceberg that's been drifting in the Antarctic for a decade is disappearing. Plus, elite athletes swim 124 miles of the River Thames to raise awareness for clean bathing waters in the UK.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Chinese Leader Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un stand together to watch a massive military parade roll through Beijing's Tiananmen Square in an act of solidarity against the West. Also, a deadly landslide in western Sudan highlights the challenges of getting aid to conflict zones. And, Gaza war tests historic alliance between Germany and Israel. Plus, a class at Yale University uses rapper Bad Bunny's music to study Puerto Rico and colonialism.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Search and rescue operations continue in eastern Afghanistan after Sunday's deadly earthquake. Also, mothers in Mexico continue to search for their missing children. And, childhood vaccination rates are slumping in the United Kingdom. Plus, an acclaimed 8-hour music composition known as “Sleep” celebrates 10 years by touring in the UK with a live all-night affair, playing for audiences snuggled up in bed, wearing comfy clothes for dozing.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Our Labor Day special offers an in-depth examination of the value of an American higher education for international students and the challenges they now face in studying in the US, amid new visa restrictions. We also hear about American faculty and researchers faced with funding cuts and a potential brain drain. In this edition, we travel to India, Europe and Africa. We hear the story of a Kenyan woman who benefited from a computer science education in Illinois and brought computer literacy back to her community. And, two sisters from a family of Afghan refugees have the opportunity to steer the course of their education and lives in the United States, something that would have been impossible in their homeland.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was “disgusted” after altered photos of her and other women were found on an Italian pornographic website. Also, a look at the Lebanese government's plans to disarm Hezbollah. And, New Orleans is still learning from the lessons of Hurricane Katrina 20 years later, finding some help from Dutch engineers. Plus, a conversation about the latest album of Chilean band Calle Mambo.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Russia's massive attack on Ukraine's capital kills at least 19 people and injures many dozens more. Ukrainians grapple with heading to shelters or riding out incoming attacks. Also, UN officials see no end in sight for conflict in both Gaza and the West Bank. Meanwhile, protests by Israelis are on the rise. And, Greenland wants a new international airport to boost tourism. Plus, images of lions, cobras and sloths are among the winners of this year's Wildlife Photography competition.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Some foreign shippers are suspending US package deliveries, as a customs tax exemption for low-value goods comes to an end this Friday. Also, a look at the status of the Russian mercenary force Wagner Group's operations in Mali. And, new mouth guards with flashing lights may be able to alert rugby players of potential concussions. Plus, Istanbul's free public orchard allows visitors to pick their own produce.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Israel fired two missiles at another hospital in Gaza yesterday that killed 20 people, including five journalists. Israel says it was a mistake but the attacks have sparked global condemnation. Also, a look at sleeplessness in war zones — from Gaza to Ukraine. And, India bans online gambling. Plus, a look at musical collaboration between Ukrainian, Moldovan and Russian artists.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

As Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro remains under house arrest, Brazilians are debating what justice, accountability and democracy really mean. Also, South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung is in Washington for his first White House meeting with US President Donald Trump. And, tensions escalate as the US sends warships to waters off the coast of Venezuela and thousands of Venezuelans sign up to join the country's civilian militia in response. Plus, Lithuania hosts a corgi competition, complete with costume contests, time trials and races.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The US has imposed steep tariffs on Brazilian goods. But instead of pressuring Brazil's government, the move may have backfired. Also, the UN-backed group IPC has declared a famine for more than half a million people in Gaza. And, the skeletal remains of more than 140 people have been unearthed at a mass grave in Sri Lanka. Plus, a town in Nova Scotia, Canada, expands a living shoreline designed to protect the community from climate-fueled storms.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices