PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch Latest: S2024 E310

57m 46s

State plans must cover transgender care, federal court rules

6m 24s

A groundbreaking ruling by a federal appeals court ensures gender-affirming surgery is covered by state-run health insurance programs. The decision ordered the plans to “reinstate coverage for medically necessary services for the treatment of gender dysphoria.” It’s a win for the trans community, but it may not be the final word on the issue. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Selena Simmons-Duffin.

Columbia protest escalates with students occupying building

3m 57s

Protests took a dramatic turn at Columbia University overnight when some pro-Palestinian students occupied a building on campus. In California, police arrested 25 protesters at California State Polytechnic University who had taken over a building for about a week and shut down the campus. A similar occupation was in its third day at Portland State University. Geoff Bennett reports.

University connecting doctors to remote African communities

8m 39s

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about 25 percent of all disease in the world, yet it has just three percent of the healthcare workforce. There are not enough medical and nursing schools and many of the continent’s graduates are recruited to wealthier countries. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on one effort to educate African providers who will stay and serve. It's part of his series, Agents for Change.

Why many universities are rejecting protester calls for divestment from Israel

6m 22s

A key issue at these college protests against the war in Gaza is the demand for schools to divest from Israel. Monday, we heard a perspective arguing how universities can do that more readily. Now, Geoff Bennett has a different take from Chris Marsicano. He studies higher education finance and is an assistant professor of education studies at Davidson College.

Israeli, Palestinian singers hope for peace and justice

9m 8s

Amid the ongoing trauma in Israel and Gaza, the Jerusalem Youth Chorus is trying to do what few others seem able to these days: see each other as people and enjoy each other through a love of music. Jeffrey Brown spent a day with the group composed of Israeli and Palestinian singers for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Student journalists discuss covering campus protests

9m 42s

Student protests over Israel’s war in Gaza and U.S. involvement continue across campuses nationwide. Even as the school year comes to an end, administrators are struggling with how to respond. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Spencer Friedland of the Emory Wheel, Aarya Mukherjee of the Daily Californian at UC-Berkeley and Neil Mehta of the Brown Daily Herald.

Colleges face challenge with demands for Israeli divestment

8m 9s

Protests show no signs of letting up and universities are handling their respective situations differently. Columbia University warned of mass temporary suspensions, state troopers were called in at Texas and nearly 300 people were arrested at other schools over the weekend. Geoff Bennett has perspectives from student protesters and discusses their demands of divestment with Charlie Eaton.

'Tiny Desk' host reveals what's next for the popular series

7m 42s

It’s a Tiny Desk that’s become a huge draw for some of the world’s most famous musicians. Geoff Bennett spoke with the new host of the long-running NPR concert series about why this unique format continues to resonate with so many. It’s part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

News Wrap: At least 45 killed by flooding in western Kenya

4m 9s

In our news wrap Monday, at least 45 people died in flash floods in western Kenya, Ukraine appealed for quick delivery of Western weapons as it gave more ground in the east, weekend tornadoes in Oklahomas killed four people and injured at least a hundred and the FDA will begin regulating new medical tests developed by labs to see if they work.

India accused of trying to kill Sikh activists in U.S.

6m 26s

India has seen its stature grow on the world stage. Led by populist Hindu Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the world’s biggest democracy has grown its economy and its geopolitical influence. But an investigation by The Washington Post adds new evidence to allegations that India is trying to murder some of its critics, even on American soil. William Brangham discussed the report with Greg Miller.

'New Cold Wars' examines U.S. struggle with China and Russia

8m 18s

In 1991, the Soviet Union ceased to exist, and with it the Cold War. At the same time, China was amid its rapid expansion. Now, Russia is again a principal adversary and China is a much stronger competitor. Nick Schifrin discussed the challenge presented by both nations with David Sanger, author of "New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West."

Cartier mishap helps man snag $28,000 earrings for $28

2m 11s

The words Cartier and deal are rarely said in the same breath. But the legendary French jeweler has been forced to extend an enormous discount to a Mexican man after he claimed an error allowed him to buy two pairs of earrings for $28 that were supposed to sell for nearly $28,000. Leyla Hayes of Independent Television News reports.

Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on Gaza protests hurting Biden

9m 2s

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including protests of the war in Gaza spread to more college campuses and the impact on the 2024 presidential race could be growing and Republicans previously critical of Donald Trump express support for his 2024 campaign.

Israeli barrage continues as cease-fire negotiations resume

5m 4s

Fraught negotiations continue nearly seven months into the war in Gaza. A Hamas delegation left Cairo and is expected to return with a response to the latest cease-fire proposal. Secretary of State Blinken pressed not just for a cease-fire and hostage release, but for much more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Meantime, the Israeli bombardment continues with Rafah in its sights. Amna Nawaz reports.

A look at NASA’s new images of Io, Jupiter’s ‘tortured moon’

1m 31s

New research is revealing the secrets of Io, the mysterious volcanic moon of Jupiter. Four centuries after Galileo discovered Io in 1610, NASA sent a spacecraft called Juno on a five-year mission to Jupiter and its moons. Last week, NASA released animated artists’ conceptions of Io based on data Juno collected during two flybys. John Yang reports.

How to tell fact from fiction with gut health advice

5m 8s

Data shows that cases of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer are on the rise. At the same time, social media is inundated with ads and influencers touting products that promise to boost what’s broadly called “gut health.” How do we separate the facts from the fads? Dr. Shazia Siddique, an assistant professor of gastroenterology at the University of Pennsylvania, joins John Yang to discuss.

Hard-hit cocoa harvests cause chocolate prices to soar

6m 45s

If you’ve shopped for chocolate recently, you may have noticed your favorite items are either smaller or more expensive, or sometimes both. The price of cocoa — the key ingredient in chocolate — is the highest it’s ever been after nearly doubling in the last four months. As Ali Rogin reports, this worldwide shortage has been years in the making.

How a super-active sun can affect electronics on Earth

6m 48s

To most people, the sun is a steady, never-changing source of heat and light. But to scientists, it’s a dynamic star, constantly in flux, sending energy out into space. Experts say the sun is now in its most active period in two decades, causing potential disruptions to radio and satellite communications. John Yang speaks with Bill Murtagh of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center to learn more.

‘H Is for Hope’ explores the landscape of climate change

6m 25s

Data shows that global levels of the three main heat-trapping greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — all reached record highs in 2023 for the second year in the row, and experts say there’s no end in sight. But a new book, ‘H Is for Hope,’ says there is reason for hope in the fight against climate change. William Brangham speaks with its author, Elizabeth Kolbert.

How Noboa’s fight against violence in Ecuador is playing out

7m 12s

Not long ago, Ecuador was a beacon of stability in a region known for political unrest and drug trafficking. But now, it’s become one of Latin America’s most violent countries amid a rise in organized crime. Many Ecuadorians are looking to President Daniel Noboa to turn things around. Carolina Jimenez Sandoval, president of the Washington Office on Latin America, joins Ali Rogin to discuss.

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