Countries

Evacuees leave Saudi Amanah ship after landing at Jeddah port, Saudi Arabia, May 4, 2023. 

Negotiations continue in Saudi Arabia to end fighting in Sudan

Conflict & Justice

Talks are underway in Saudi Arabia to end the fighting in Sudan. But so far, there’s been no major breakthrough. The World’s Shirin Jaafari spoke with Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, about where the talks are headed.

US paratroopers parachute at the Yavoriv training range in the western Lviv region, Ukraine, on Monday, July 17, 2000.

Winning the peace

US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet smiles ahead of a meeting in Serbia, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. 

America’s top priority is to help Ukraine ‘defend itself’ as a sovereign nation, Blinken adviser says

Ukraine
Parliament buildings over looks the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Oct. 28, 2022. 

State reformation: Part I

Critical State
Supporters of Capt. Ibrahim Traore parade waving a Russian flag in the streets of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Oct. 2, 2022. 

When putsch comes to shove: Part I

Critical State
a band in the street

Kenya’s popular band Sauti Sol calls on Kenyans to vote

Elections

Ahead of Kenya’s presidential election on Tuesday, Afropop stars Sauti Sol are using their music to encourage young Kenyans to vote. “A lot of the youth in Kenya feel like their voice doesn’t really count,” said band member Bien-Aimè Alusa. 

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attends a meeting of Presidents of ex-Soviet nations which are members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, at Konstantin Palace in Strelna, outside St. Petersburg, Russia

Uzbek govt needs ‘more consultation with the population’ amid unrest, expert says

Protest

Massive protests broke out after Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed constitutional changes that would have prevented the Karakalpakstan region from holding a referendum on secession. He has since backed away from the proposal, but imposed a monthlong curfew.

In this Oct. 13, 2011, file photo, Funafuti, the main island of the nation state of Tuvalu, is seen from Royal New Zealand Air Force's C-130 aircraft as it approaches at Funafuti, Tuvalu. 

Tuvalu cashes in on its coveted internet domain name amid rise in online streaming

Technology

The Pacific microstate of Tuvalu is in the unique position to capitalize on its much sought-after domain name — .tv — the worldwide abbreviation for “television.” In a new deal with GoDaddy, the small nation is poised to make an estimated $10 million a year from leasing its domain name to online streaming sites like Twitch.

In this Oct. 17, 2014, photo, a worker walks at power plant area in Cirebon, Indonesia. 

Indonesia poised to ease export ban on thermal coal

Energy

In an effort to protect Indonesia’s thermal coal supply, the country imposed an export ban in early January. But after several countries in Asia that depend on the crucial commodity lamented the move, the country has indicated an imminent ease of the ban.

Protesters chant slogans against the government's decision to withdraw from Istanbul Convention

Hundreds protest Turkey’s withdrawal from treaty to prevent violence against women

LGBTQ

On July 1, Turkey formally withdrew from the Istanbul Convention, designed to protect women against violence, claiming a section on sexual orientation and gender identity counters Turkey’s “family values.”