World roundup: January 24-25 2026

·23 min·2 clips

Derek Davison explains how the Roman Praetorian Guard assassinated Emperor Caligula in 41 AD, setting the stage for Claudius's unexpected rise.

The episode opens with host Derek Davison introducing the news roundup format and noting historical anniversaries for January 24th and 25th. He discusses the assassination of Roman Emperor Caligula in 41 AD and the subsequent rise of Claudius, the 1984 launch of Apple's Macintosh, the 750 Battle of the Great Zab River that established the Abbasid Caliphate, and the 1971 Ugandan coup led by Idi Amin. The news coverage begins in Syria, where a ceasefire between the government and Syrian Democratic Forces has been extended for 15 days, with ongoing troop movements and humanitarian concerns in Kobani. In Israel-Palestine, reports detail IDF killings in Gaza, a drone strike that killed two children, and operations to recover the remains of captive Ron Gvili. U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss ceasefire phases and regional issues. The episode covers Saudi Arabia's Neom project being significantly downscaled due to costs, with mention of human rights violations during its development. In Iraq, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is positioned to return to power amid political negotiations. Iranian protest death tolls are reported as potentially reaching 30,000 according to Time magazine sources. Pakistan's border closure with Afghanistan is impacting fruit traders in Peshawar. Myanmar held stage three of its controlled election. In Central African Republic, President Faustin Archange Tuadera's re-election is analyzed with security improvements attributed to Russian Wagner Group support. Democratic Republic of Congo faced an ADF jihadist attack in Ituri province. Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi concluded without breakthroughs. Albanian protesters clashed with police in Tirana. The Trump administration pressured Bolivia on Iranian spies. Donald Trump threatened tariffs on Canada. Analysis of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's World Economic Forum speech critiques the rules-based international order. The U.S. Pentagon's 2026 National Defense Strategy prioritizes the Western Hemisphere over China, with Davison correcting its interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine.

As heard by us

A brisk world roundup that moves from Caligula to Peshawar with Derek's steady hand.

Foreign Exchanges braids January 24 anniversaries, from Caligula's assassination in 41 to Apple's Macintosh going on sale in 1984, while also moving through reporting from Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and Myanmar.

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Why you'd press play

If you want Caligula, the Macintosh, and Peshawar in one tidy run, this is your stop.

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