Latest Stories

December 17, 2020

The revolts a decade ago were among the first major protests in the age of omnipresent mobile phones, with social-network revolutions powered by Twitter and Facebook.

Global Politics

Fruit seller Mohamed Bouazizi's protest inspired the Arab uprisings. A decade later, his sister still mourns.

The World

December 17, 2020

“One day, I hope all Tunisians live in dignity. That’s what my brother wished for,” said Leila Bouazizi, sister of the Tunisian fruit seller who set himself on fire on Dec. 17, 2010.

COVID-19: The latest from The World

Mexico's battered tourism sector teeters fine line between economy and public health

The World

December 17, 2020

Navigating economic survival while trying to minimize harm to public health has been difficult for many in the tourism sector as COVID-19 cases continue to soar.

Marco Werman: Your support keeps us going

The World

December 17, 2020

Let’s face it: it hasn’t been an easy 2020 for any of us. Somehow, we at The World have kept cranking out a news show about how the entire planet has been challenged and is coping with this historic disease. The World isn’t going anywhere. Now more than ever, we are determined to push through and keep bringing you the expansive global coverage you rely on. No matter what.

Human rights

10 years after the Arab uprisings, Egypt at ‘lowest point’ for human rights

The World

December 17, 2020

Egypt has gone from a human rights success story to a place where thousands have been detained or executed — and human rights activists have gone underground.

Top of The World

Looking back at a historic time in the Middle East and North Africa

The World

December 17, 2020

Dec. 17 is a historic day on the minds of many people in Tunisia, elsewhere in North Africa and the Middle East — and around the world. That's because exactly 10 years ago, a single event in Tunisia triggered a series of revolutions across the region.

COVID-19: The latest from The World

French President Macron tests positive for COVID-19

Associated Press

December 17, 2020

French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday, following a week when he has met with numerous European leaders.

Photography

Photos: Arab uprisings began with quest for freedom and led to repression, wars

The World

December 16, 2020

What started as a series of idealistic revolutions turned into dashed dreams of democracy and revival of authoritarian governance. The decade since has seen yet more instability and violence.

Arts, Culture & Media

Happy Birthday, Jane Austen! 245 years on, devotees celebrate with virtual tours of the writer's home

The World

December 16, 2020

This year, Jane Austen fans are drawing parallels between the novelist's 18th-century life of limited freedoms and the pandemic of 2020.

Justice

ISIS widow convicted in Charlie Hebdo attacks

Associated Press

December 16, 2020

The fugitive widow of an ISIS gunman and a man described as his logistician on Wednesday were convicted of terrorism charges in the trial of 14 people linked to the January 2015 attacks in Paris against the satirical Charlie Hebdo newspaper and a kosher supermarket.

Top of The World

Biden taps trusted figures to lead US climate fight; FDA says Moderna vaccine is highly protective; SolarWinds hack fallout spreads

The World

December 16, 2020

US President-elect Joe Biden’s climate team is set to be announced this week, with key picks for energy, environment and transportation roles already named. The Food and Drug Administration released new data on Tuesday showing that the Moderna coronavirus vaccine is highly effective. And, a worldwide hacking campaign with links to Russia has caused data breaches at multiple federal agencies.

Conflict

A poem penned during Libya’s 2011 uprising continues to inspire hope

The World

December 16, 2020

Libyan American poet Khaled Mattawa penned "Now That We Have Tasted Hope" in 2011, on the heels of an uprising in Libya that led to the ousting of President Muammar Gaddafi. Looking back, the poem's message of hope still resonates.

Tunes that kept The World spinning in 2020: A playlist

The World

December 15, 2020

Music from artists featured on The World, suggestions from our team and anthems of 2020 — all on our end-of-year playlist.

Human rights

Executions under Trump administration buck global trend away from death penalty

The World

December 15, 2020

Updated

12/16/2020 - 4:45pm

"There is no doubt that the US is an outlier when it comes to its use of capital punishment," says Delphine Lourtau, executive director of the Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide.

Critical State

Federalism in violence: Part I

Inkstick Media

December 15, 2020

This week, Critical State, our global security newsletter, takes a deep dive into research on how national governments interact with their distributed networks to exercise a putative monopoly on violence.

Top of The World

Electoral College solidifies Biden victory; US begins COVID-19 vaccine rollout; COVAX faces major hurdles

The World

December 15, 2020

As expected, the US Electoral College has officially confirmed Joe Biden as the country’s next president. The US has begun to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine across the country. And, much of the developing world will have to wait a long time for the COVAX initiative to materialize.

Extremism

Boko Haram claims kidnapping of Nigeria students in north

Associated Press

December 15, 2020

Nigeria's Boko Haram jihadist extremists have claimed responsibility for the abduction of hundreds of students in one of the largest attacks in years on a boys' school in northern Katsina state.

Coronavirus Conversations

Discussion: The year ahead in the coronavirus pandemic

The World

December 14, 2020

Updated

12/15/2020 - 12:45pm

What will the next year bring in the coronavirus pandemic? As part of The World's regular series of conversation about COVID-19, reporter Elana Gordon moderated a discussion with epidemiologist Michael Mina from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Global Politics

International lawyers and activists organize independent inquiry into US police violence

The World

December 14, 2020

The Trump administration thwarted an investigation specifically into the US. But that didn’t deter those who believe an independent inquiry is necessary.

COVID-19: The latest from The World

To cheer up COVID-19 patients, Israeli hospitals send in the clowns

The World

December 14, 2020

Israel is considered a world leader in medical clowning. When the pandemic hit back in March, one clown knew she could help COVID-19 patients at her hospital — no matter their ages.