PBS News Hour - World

As the United States grew from a series of small colonies into a global superpower, it took bold, transformative steps on the world stage, but it has also stumbled. On this 250th anniversary, guest moderator William Brangham, Esther Brimmer, Michael Mandelbaum and Robert Zoellick examine America's global legacy and what history will teach us about President Trump's foreign policy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, Iran began funeral ceremonies for its late supreme leader, hundreds more in Venezuela have been confirmed dead after last week's earthquakes, Egypt won its first-ever game in the World Cup's knockout round, New York is preparing for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's expected wedding, and London's National Archives says it found a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

By some estimates, Russia has taken 1.5 million casualties in its war against Ukraine, including a half million killed since the war began. Now, as Russia runs out of recruits, it is bringing in mercenaries from far away. Special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky reports. A warning: Some images in this story are disturbing. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised heavy retaliation after an all-night barrage of Russian missiles and drones killed at least 25 in Kyiv. Ukraine has been launching mass drone attacks deep into Russia, targeting military installations and refineries. Russia has suffered as a result, with fuel shortages reported throughout the sprawling nation. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Venezuela's earthquake death toll has climbed to nearly 2,300 with thousands injured and tens of thousands still missing. Overwhelmed morgues, growing humanitarian needs, and mounting frustration over the pace of the response are compounding the crisis. Geoff Bennett spoke with Chef José Andrés, whose World Central Kitchen is on the ground delivering meals to survivors and first responders. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Wednesday, President Trump took his maiden voyage on the Air Force One donated by Qatar, negotiators from both the U.S. and Iran held more indirect talks in Qatar, a pair of masked climbers are in police custody after scaling the top of the Empire State Building's antenna and the Trump administration said that it will not renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Four months ago, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint war with a level of military and political integration rarely seen in history. But the U.S. is now unilaterally negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Iran. Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses the future of the U.S.-Israel alliance with former Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog, Danielle Pletka and Aaron David Miller. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The fight to rescue the stranded, care for the living and retrieve the dead accelerated in Venezuela after back-to-back major earthquakes centered near the capital, Caracas. The damage in places appears catastrophic and the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that a disaster of this scope may have killed as many as 10,000 people. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The U.S. and other nations are mobilizing relief efforts to assist the government in Venezuela following the twin earthquakes. Special correspondent Mónica Villamizar has extensive experience reporting in Venezuela and joined Amna Nawaz from Bogotá, Colombia, to discuss the latest developments. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Thursday, a National Park Service official said the Reflecting Pool liner was cut with a knife or razor, a federal judge halted President Trump's executive order aimed at regulating mail-in voting and creating a federal voter list and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" is closing. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A U.S. official confirmed to PBS News that Iran fired a drone that hit a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, and traffic through the strait has largely stopped. The strike came as Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Persian Gulf to try to reassure Arab allies that any agreement with Iran would protect their security. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Hussein Ibish. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Russian President Vladimir Putin's iron grip on power is being challenged by the war in Ukraine and his government's authoritarian crackdowns. He finds himself in unfamiliar political territory, questioned by some of the country's elite and embarrassed by Ukraine's strikes into Russian cities. Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses the state of Russian politics with Arkady Ostrovsky. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Heavy overnight fighting in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah militants threatened to derail the initial U.S.-Iran agreement to end the war. But a last-ditch effort to secure another ceasefire succeeded, for now, and the Americans and Iranians plan to meet soon to begin to hammer out a longer-term accord. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

What are the prospects that the Israeli-Hezbollah ceasefire will hold and for how long? For insight, Amna Nawaz spoke with Rob Malley. He was the U.S. Special Envoy for Iran during the Biden administration and was part of the team that negotiated the nuclear agreement with Iran during the Obama administration. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The U.S. is again striking targets in Iran after missile launches targeting U.S. bases in the region. President Trump revealed the U.S. has been helping stranded vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz, asserting American control over the vital waterway. Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is escalating quickly. There are growing warnings that, without a stronger response, this Ebola outbreak could become one of the deadliest. William Brangham takes a closer look with Jeremy Konyndyk, the president of Refugees International. In 2014, he ran USAID's foreign disaster assistance when Ebola broke out in Africa. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Israel and Iran traded long-range missile strikes for the first time since the ceasefire went into effect two months ago. Both countries appear to have agreed to stop their attacks, but not before sparking fears of a return to full combat in the region. Now, Trump and regional mediators are scrambling to salvage a deal to end the war with Iran. Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For analysis on how the latest escalation in the Middle East will affect a host of issues in the region, Amna Nawaz speaks with Miad Maleki at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and David Makovsky at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As U.S.-Iran talks show little sign of progress, commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains sharply reduced, raising concerns about global energy markets and supply chains. Geoff Bennett speaks with energy analyst Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of S&P Global, for more on what a prolonged disruption could mean around the world. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is accusing Russia of choosing war over peace, after Russian President Putin rejected his request for an in-person meeting. Putin spoke at an annual economic forum in St. Petersburg, a city on edge after several Ukrainian airstrikes earlier this week. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The U.S. said its ceasefire with Iran is still holding despite continued violence, with both sides trading fire overnight. Iran also struck Kuwait's main airport, killing one person and injuring dozens. Israel's ongoing invasion in Lebanon is also challenging the ceasefire and has sparked rare public tensions between President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap on Wednesday, Ukraine says it struck an oil depot in Russia's St. Petersburg with drones that flew more than 600 miles to reach their target, the UK's prime minister condemned violent protests that erupted over the death of a teenager, a hotel fire in New Delhi killed at least 21 people and federal prosecutors investigate former Rep. George Santos. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The World Health Organization said Wednesday that the fight against Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo is "catching up" with the spread of the virus. But health officials warn the crisis is far from over with more than 340 cases already confirmed and the outbreak crossing into neighboring Uganda. Chris Ocamringa reports from DRC's capital Kinshasa. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Tuesday, Rubio made his first appearance before Congress since the Iran war began, Israeli drone strikes killed at least 11 people in southern Lebanon, a Kenyan court extended its block on a proposed Ebola quarantine facility for Americans, and Trump signed an executive order asking AI companies to give the government early access to its models to assess national security risks. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Massive Russian attacks across Ukraine overnight killed at least 22 people nationwide and wounded more than 130. Russia has stepped up the size and pace of its attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent months, but on the battlefront, Ukraine is trying to turn the tide. Nick Shifrin reports on Ukraine's efforts, and speaks with retired U.S. Army Col. Robert Hamilton for more on the war. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

There were conflicting signals Monday from the U.S. and Iran over the status of negotiations to extend the ceasefire and begin talks on ending the war. Meantime, the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been all but shattered as Israel pressed deep into Lebanon. Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In Central Africa, authorities are still struggling to get their hands around an Ebola outbreak with more than 900 suspected cases. A Kenyan court temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to open a quarantine facility there to treat Americans exposed to or infected with the virus. William Brangham discussed the latest with Dr. Craig Spencer, who contracted Ebola during a 2014 outbreak. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Vice President Vance said the U.S. and Iran have made "a lot of progress" in their negotiations, but that it wasn't clear "when or if" President Trump was going to sign. Iran said no agreement has been made. The latest back-and-forth comes as the U.S. and Iranian militaries again traded fire, and Iran launched a ballistic missile at Kuwait. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Strait of Hormuz has been the focus of this war since Iran shut it down in the war's first days. But rarely do American reporters actually get to visit the crucial body of water. Special correspondent Reza Sayah is in Iran and has a rare look at the Strait of Hormuz from both land and water. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

With the Ukraine war deep into its fourth year, Russia has intensified attacks across the country. But even amid the barrage, Ukraine says it is adapting and carrying out increasingly sophisticated drone strikes deep inside Russia. Special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky sat down with Ukraine's foreign minister to discuss the state of the war and the battlefield lessons reshaping modern combat. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Wednesday, authorities say the presumed death toll is 11 after an implosion at a paper mill in Washington, peace talks between the U.S. and Iran remain in flux, Hamas says Israeli airstrikes killed their latest military leader in Gaza and Uganda is closing its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo as it tries to slow the spread of Ebola. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Cuba received a tranche of humanitarian aid from China this week as people there experience severe hunger due to food shortages and economic crisis. It comes as the Trump administration maintains that the island poses a threat to the U.S. Amna Nawaz spoke with Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Cuba's deputy foreign minister, to discuss what she says is Cuba's right to defend itself. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Iran says the United States has violated its ceasefire after the U.S. carried out what it called 'self-defense' strikes against Iranian missile launch sites and boats. U.S. officials insist the truce remains intact as they await a response from Iran on the latest outlines of a deal to end the war. But Iran is accusing the U.S. of acting in "bad faith." William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For perspective on the latest developments in the conflict with Iran, Amna Nawaz spoke with John Bolton. He served as national security advisor in President Trump's first term. During his tenure, the U.S. announced it was withdrawing from the JCPOA, the nuclear agreement with Iran that had been negotiated during the Obama administration. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The U.S. and Israel's air war with Iran has killed thousands since its launch, but few attacks left a deeper mark than the strike on a school in Minab. More than 150 died, most of them schoolchildren, and there is little dispute that the missiles were American-made. Special Correspondent Reza Sayah is the first American television correspondent to report from the site. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

At least 220 people are believed to have died from the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa. The World Health Organization says that it is spreading so quickly that response efforts are struggling to keep pace. The epicenter remains in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where mistrust of health authorities is complicating efforts. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Dr. Celine Gounder of KFF Health News. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Iranian and U.S. officials agree progress to end the war has been made, but how much remains uncertain. President Trump suggested this weekend that a deal was close, before saying that the U.S. is in no rush to reach an agreement. Negotiations resumed in Doha with a visit by senior Iranian officials. Iran acknowledged progress, but said any agreement was not imminent. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Pope Leo called for artificial intelligence to be "disarmed" in his first papal encyclical, urging major regulation to protect against potential risks, including war and economic dislocation. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Christopher Hale, who writes "Letters from Leo" on Substack. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with NATO allies amid confusion over recent statements on U.S. troop levels in Europe, authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are banning funeral wakes and large gatherings to try and slow the Ebola outbreak and a judge in Tennessee dismissed the human smuggling case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The countries along NATO's eastern flank have long been on the frontline against Russian aggression. But now they are in the firing line between Ukraine's long-range drones and targets in northwest Russia. Nick Schifrin spoke with Latvia's foreign minister and reports on NATO's efforts to defend itself against a growing drone threat. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Raúl Castro, the brother of the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, was indicted by the U.S. Justice Department. The 96-year-old has held many senior positions, including the presidency. Castro and four others were charged in the 1996 killings of Americans seeking to aid Cubans at sea. Ali Rogin reports and Geoff Bennett discusses more with Michael Bustamante. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Right on the heels of President Trump's state visit to China, Russian President Vladimir Putin stopped in Beijing for a meeting with his chief ally, Xi Jinping. As Nick Schifrin reports, they focused on economic issues and criticized the Trump White House's foreign policy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump is in Beijing for a state visit to America's chief global competitor, and increasingly, its chief geopolitical rival. Trump has long targeted China as an economic foe of the U.S. while cultivating a relationship with President Xi Jinping, the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. Nick Schifrin reports from Beijing. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Conflict in the Middle East has drawn attention away from other devastating wars, including in Sudan, where millions of civilians have been displaced and forced to flee to neighboring countries. It comes as nations have reduced refugee assistance, leaving humanitarian agencies scrambling. Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports from Uganda, one of the region's destinations for refugees. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump told PBS News Hour Wednesday there's a "very good chance" the U.S. and Iran are nearing a deal to end the war. The deal on the table would be a negotiated memorandum of understanding that would limit Iran's nuclear program and open the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has kept a chokehold since the beginning of the war and where U.S. warships continue a blockade. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

With the U.S and Iran considering a potential deal to end the war we turn to two or our experts. Alan Eyre of the Middle East Institute was a senior member of the Obama administration's negotiating team for the previous Iran nuclear deal. Miad Maleki was born in Iran and is a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. They join Aman Nawaz for additional perspective. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is now four weeks old. For the people of Iran who've endured decades of repression, economic privation and now a devastating air war, the ceasefire has brought a reprieve. But the threats and counter threats between the U.S. and Iran persist, as does the specter of renewed conflict. Reza Sayah reports from Tehran, a city on edge. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Top U.S. officials said Tuesday that the ceasefire with Iran has not ended, despite exchanges of fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Both Rubio and Hegseth said the U.S. was in a new phase of operations designed to ensure safe passage for commercial vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf. But so far, very few ships appear to want to run the Iranian gauntlet in the strait. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Tomorrow marks four weeks since the day known as "Black Wednesday" in Lebanon. The Israeli military, claiming to be targeting Hezbollah militants, unleashed an unprecedented aerial campaign on April 8 that killed more than 350 people in a matter of minutes. Special correspondent Simon Foltyn reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The tenuous truce between the U.S. and Iran was tested Monday, as American ships clearing a lane in the Strait of Hormuz came under fire and sank Iranian boats. Iran also fired drones and missiles at a key oil terminal in the United Arab Emirates, spooking markets and raising concerns that war could resume. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy