The World: Latest Stories

Despite Jakarta facing existential climate risk, the city continues to attract residents, causing it to expand. The UN has named the Indonesian capital and its satellite cities the biggest megacity in the world. But the region struggles with chronic flooding, heavy commuter congestion, and parts of the city are sinking by up to 10 inches a year. Naina Rao reports from Jakarta on how residents are adapting.

There are just three left in Europe, not counting Kevin. Kevin "Dola" de la Torre is Spain's last human cannonball. The reason for the daredevils' declining numbers: mainly the danger involved in being sling-shotted out of a cannon several times a day. There's also waning interest among the younger generations within human cannonball families. The World's Gerry Hadden caught up with Kevin the Human Cannonball in northeast Spain, and brought us his story.This story originally aired on Sept. 20, 2024.

The World Meteorological Organization is out with its annual state of the climate report. The analysis found this past decade to be the hottest on record; it also found that the Earth's energy balance is out of whack, retaining more solar energy than it releases. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with scientist Twila Moon about what this means.

The biggest box office hit in Russia is a 2023 film called "Cheburashka," and its sequel - released this year - is already the second biggest film. It's the modern revamp of a beloved character from the days of the Soviet Union. But if pro-Putin ideologues are to be believed, he's too soft for a time of war. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learned more from Anna Narinskaya, a Russian journalist and literary critic in exile. She's been researching Cheburashka at the University of Michigan's Frankel Center for Judaic Studies.

In this fourth week of the war in Iran, we speak with The World's Shirin Jaafari about how people are getting along in different countries. The uncertainty of bombing, and even just finding food and shelter, has taken a toll on millions across the region.

It's a story of dark Cambodian caves and bat guano (poop). This very unique environment created by the bat poop seems to spawn new species, including geckos and micro-snails. The World's Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman tell a tale that's not for the faint of heart.

Roughly half of China's imported oil comes from the Middle East. Still, it has managed to insulate itself from just the sort of energy crisis the war in Iran has set in motion. Council on Foreign Relations fellow Zongyuan Zoe Liu talks with The World's Host Marco Werman about how exposed China's economy is to the worldwide economic disruption the war has caused.

As Sudan's civil war rages on, the United Nations is warning that a roiling political feud in neighboring South Sudan could escalate into another fractious conflict. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks to Yashovardhan, the head of mission for the humanitarian aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) [Doctors Without Borders]. He joined the show from the South Sudanese capital Juba.

In Denmark, citizens will head to the polls for snap elections on March 24. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called for the elections just last month, hoping to maintain her popularity boost from when she stood up to defend Greenland against US President Donald Trump's designs to take over the island. Voters there are juggling this issue, as well domestic and economic concerns. From our partners at Deutsche Welle, DW, Inside Europe's Adrienne Murray reports from Copenhagen.

Immigrants in Spain without papers, 90% of whom are Spanish-speaking Latinos, have been celebrating an amnesty program that will legalize their status and allow them to work in the country. But some say that to land a job, Spanish employers demand that they lose their native accents. Call it linguistic racism. It stands alongside general racism in Spain, many Latinos say - at work, on the streets, you name it. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

In Kenya, a recent law has given women the right to request two days off per month for menstrual pain. So far, time off is only being granted to government workers in Nairobi county - an area that includes the country's capital city. But advocates say this is a breakthrough for the country and taboos around the topic of menstruation. Audrey Mugeni is a women's rights activist based in Nairobi, and speaks with Host Carolyn Beeler about the law and what inspired it.

After Tehran blocked all access to the internet during nationwide protests in 2022, Iranians started preparing a workaround: Starlink. Smugglers brought thousands of satellite terminals into the country. So, when war began this February, and the regime tried to cut its residents off from the rest of the world, some people still found a signal. Dina Temple-Raston, host of the Click Here podcast, has more.

Argentines are preparing to mark the 50th anniversary of the coup d'etat that began seven years of brutal military dictatorship in their country. Today, that very history is being contested, with President Javier Milei stirring debate over how the dictatorship should be remembered. Journalist Natalio Cosoy discusses the implications with The World's Host Marco Werman.

Danes are not too happy with the US president's threats to take over their territory of Greenland. So, they're putting their money where their anger is by refusing to buy products made in the US or by Americans. But in this globalized world, it's hard to tell the origin every product. So, two separate companies have developed apps to tell where products actually come from. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more.

Shigeaki Mori spent much of his life trying to get recognition for 12 American airmen who died alongside tens of thousands of Japanese after the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. Mori died on Saturday, at the age of 88. In 2018, reporter Ibby Caputo filed this profile. His story is one of heartbreak and compassion, and it's a potent reminder of the savagery of war.This story originally aired on Aug. 6, 2018.

US President Donald Trump today said he wants to make a deal with Iran and end the war. He claims the US and Iran are in talks to make this happen. But the Iranians have denied this claim and say Trump is backing down from his threats to obliterate Iran's power plants. Meanwhile, the violence in the region continues. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the details.

On the 10th anniversary of former President Barack Obama's historic visit to Cuba, The World takes a look back at the history of the relationship between the US and Cuban governments over the past several decades. As President Donald Trump ramps up his rhetoric about US intervention in Cuba, Host Marco Werman speaks to Lillian Guerra, a professor of Caribbean history at the University of Florida, about how Washington and Havana arrived at the current moment.

The patent for semaglutide, the drug used in major weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Ozempic has expired. The end of the patent - held by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk - opens the door to affordable generic versions in the country. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learns more about the potential impact from Dr. Rahul Baxi, a diabetologist in Mumbai.

Much of the world's fertilizer, used heavily in agriculture, comes from the Middle East. And as Iran continues to block ships from moving through the Strait of Hormuz, farmers around the world see their fertilizer supplies coming up short. Additionally, as liquified natural gas is blocked, several countries that import LNG in order to make their own fertilizer are being forced to shut down some plants. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with food economist David Ortega about what this means for global food security.

The cost of housing is outpacing people's incomes worldwide. This week, The World has been looking at different cities around the globe to see how that problem presents itself, and how some places have tried to deal with it, with varying degrees of success. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks to Penny Gurstein, the founding director of the Housing Research Collaborative at the University of British Columbia, to hear more about how to tackle the rising cost of housing at its root.

As France heads into the second round of municipal elections this Sunday, thousands of small rural towns are scrambling to solve a big problem: No one wants to run for office. Long hours, low pay and a rise in belligerence toward public officials have made the gig a pretty hard sell. From our partners at Deutsche Welle, DW, Inside Europe's Lisa Bryant reports from a small village outside Paris.

The boys of BTS are back together after a long break to complete their military service. Their first album in four years came out today, to huge acclaim. And tomorrow night, they will hold a free concert in downtown Seoul. Approximately 250,000 people are expected to attend. Host Carolyn Beeler has the details.

Nowruz is a Persian celebration of the arrival of spring, and people hailing from Central Asian and Middle Eastern communities enjoy the festivities across the globe. Reporter Fariba Nawa has moved from continent to continent, celebrating Nowruz in different ways everywhere she goes. For this story, she takes us along as she prepares for a party she's hosted each year for the past decade, in Istanbul.

In most places, housing crises are driven by scarcity. But in Venezuela, years of economic collapse and mass migration left homes empty - and prices in free fall. Now, after a dramatic political shift, the market is heating up again. But this rebound is driven more by expectations than reality - and for most Venezuelans, homeownership remains out of reach. The World's Tibisay Zea takes a look at a housing market shaped by crisis, uncertainty and hope.

As Ramadan wraps up, Muslims across the globe are preparing for Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast." National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek has been walking around the world on foot for the past 13 years for his project, the Out of Eden Walk. He joins Host Marco Werman to talk about the year he spent Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr near the Prophet's Muhammad's mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Brazil has released a new national climate plan, the first update to the plan since it was first laid out in 2008. The new plan is seen as much more comprehensive and detailed than the previous one. It includes an ambitious goal of eliminating deforestation, as land use change and deforestation cause the biggest share of Brazil's carbon emissions. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with climate change sociologist Frederico Salmi.

On March 13, the Persian Gulf island of Kharg, which is roughly one-third the size of Manhattan, became the latest target of American jets. US President Donald Trump said that he didn't order the total destruction of the oil facilities there "for reasons of decency." The World's Shirin Jaafari reports that besides the critical oil infrastructure, this island is home to a small population, several cultural sites and wildlife.

EU leaders gathered in Brussels today for a two-day summit dominated by the war in the Middle East. Tensions between the US and Europe have escalated since the conflict began, with President Donald Trump urging European allies to send military support to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. So far, Europe's leaders have resisted those calls. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry has more.

Israel and the US are ideological allies in their conflict with Iran. But their goals in the war, and their long-term interests in the Middle East might not always be aligned. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Middle East analyst Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, about the US and Israel's different playbooks.

A civil trial against Gerry Adams, the former leader of the Irish political party Sinn Fein, wraps up today. Three men are seeking to hold him personally liable for injuries caused in a number of bombings by the Irish Republican Army, or IRA. The case hinges on the slippery question of whether Adams orchestrated and participated in violence or was a spectator like everyone else. Ilya Marritz reports from London.

House prices and rents have surged by up to 60% across the European Union over the past decade. But one capital is bucking the trend. In Vienna, around two-thirds of residents live in subsidised housing, with rents often less than half those in other major European cities. The Austrian capital's model has drawn global attention, with delegations visiting each year to study its success. But some experts warn that political shifts, including the rise of the far right, could threaten this long-standing system. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports from Vienna.

Cities across Denmark are using heat generated by crematoriums to warm nearby homes. As The World's Joshua Coe learned, it's part of a wider sustainability effort known as waste heat recovery.

Israeli forces are intensifying airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon, as well as hitting targets in Beirut neighborhoods. Israeli officials say they're targeting infrastructure and personnel of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese militant group. Nabih Bulos, the Middle East bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times, tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that Israel's decision to hit bridges in southern Lebanon is a marked escalation.

Public health officials are responding to a meningitis outbreak at the University of Kent in southeast England, where two people have died and at least a dozen more have confirmed infections. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, about how the health system is responding.

We catch you up on some sports stories flying just below the radar.

A new study shows that scientists at the University of Edinburgh have found a way to use bacteria to transform plastic bottles into drugs that can be used to treat Parkinson's disease.

On Tuesday, El Salvador's legislature approved an amendment to its constitution that would sentence "murderers, rapists and terrorists" to life in prison. It follows warnings by independent experts that the country's authoritarian President Nayib Bukele is strengthening his grip on the country. Host Marco Werman learned more from Jorge Cuellar, assistant professor of Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies at Dartmouth College.

Growing up near Sao Paulo, Mariana Da Cruz knew there was more to Brazilian music than just singing Bossa Nova tunes. She wanted to branch out and combine numerous other styles like hip-hop and electronica and explore her African roots with the latest sounds heard in dance clubs. A move to Europe allowed Da Cruz the freedom to experiment. Based now in Bern, Switzerland, the singer has had quite a journey. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler tell us more about her new album, "Som Sistema."

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it has killed top Iranian official, Ali Larijani. Larijani was de-facto running the country after the death of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Larijani was reportedly killed along with the head of a powerful paramilitary force. The World's Shirin Jaafari speaks with Host Marco Werman about the latest.

At the dawn of democracy in South Africa over 30 years ago, the country had to right some big wrongs. The Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP) was one such tool, by offering government-subsidized, low-cost homes to those who could not afford or access them previously. In their neat little rows of near-identical design, RDP houses are for free to the poorest and most needy. But as Elna Schutz reports from Johannesburg, the RDP hasn't always worked out as hoped.

The war in Iran is jamming up global travel on several fronts. In the Middle East, the conflict continues to force the grounding of flights. A jump in oil prices is also beginning to hit travel, with some airlines adding surcharges to their flights. Prices at the pump are skyrocketing, too, especially in Asia, where several countries are putting in place measures aimed at restricting the use of gas. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel has the story.

For many, death is an unsettling thing to think about, but not for the Swedish artist Margareta Magnusson, who passed away last week at the age of 91. In her 80s, she wrote, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning," a book that made the concept of dostadning" an international buzz concept and brought many some inspiration for how to de-clutter as we age. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke to Magnusson's daughter, filmmaker Jane, who joined from Stockholm.

Muslims around the globe are getting ready to celebrate the end of Ramadan - those weeks in the Muslim calendar when many abstain from food and water during the day and use that time for prayer and reflection instead. Chef Ilhan Mohamed Abdi has written a cookbook for Ramadan called "The Ramadan Kitchen: Nourishing Recipes from Fast to Feast." She spoke to The World's Host Carolyn Beeler.

Israelis maintain that the two men they killed this morning - Ali Larijani and Gholam Reza Soleimani - "are terrorists," and so, are fair game for assassination. But some historians say just because Israel could kill the men doesn't mean they should have. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

Cuba's entire electric grid collapsed for several hours yesterday. Gas stations on the island have had little fuel to sell since the US choked off access to foreign oil about two months ago. Cuban leaders say they're in talks with US officials and are ready to open their economy to foreign investors. From Havana, journalist Ed Augustin tells The World's Host Marco Werman a forced transition of leadership in Cuba would involve major risks.

Praveen Sahay is originally from India - where he was a police officer. Sahay was sent to Mozambique in 1994 as part of the UN peacekeeping force overseeing the country's first multi-party elections. He told GBH's Stories From The Stage why he was forced to put down his gun.

Composer Christopher Tin's music uplifts, while the words quietly remind us of the power of a birdsong, with lines borrowed from Emily Dickinson. The musicians who played on "The Lost Birds" are part of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.This story originally aired on Nov. 8, 2022.

Two proposals for giant statues in Madrid are stirring up controversy. Bigger is better, organizers argue. But a tiny, life-size statue of a stray dog, in downtown Madrid, proves the opposite for some. Paco the Dog sits quietly, keeping a city legend alive. Or is it a true story? The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

Paul Ehrlich, famed co-author of "The Population Bomb," died last week at the age of 93. The book argued that rapid global population growth would outstrip food supplies, leading to famine and environmental collapse. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Michael Geruso, co-author of After the Spike, about Ehrlich's legacy.

South Korea's rental market operates on what's known as the Jeonse system. You put down a deposit equal to about 50% of the value of the home you're renting. So, no small investment. But then, you pay no monthly rent, and get the Jeonse back when you move out. Traditionally, middle and upper class families gave newlyweds money for their first Jeonse as a wedding gift. But with skyrocketing real estate costs, the system is out of reach for more and more people. Now, concerns about South Korea's declining birthrate have prompted a new government intervention. Reporter Jason Strother reports from Seoul.