The World: Latest Stories

Important global stories sometimes fly under the radar. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman review a few things you might have missed.

Fires are raging in Spain, Portugal and Greece, but have proven most deadly in western Turkey this summer. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports from the countryside outside the city of Bursa on how climate change is making wildfire season a new reality in a region known for ample rainfall.

In recent years, Brazil has become the world's top consumer of shark meat. That's because of a law that requires fishermen who catch sharks to bring the entire animal to port - not just the fins, like they used to. The government has been buying the extra shark meat and serving it in schools and at hospitals nationwide. And that's a problem, because shark meat contains high levels of mercury, a potent neurotoxin. Mongabay reporter Karla Mendes has been investigating this, and tells Host Marco Werman how shark ended up on the menu - and what some people are doing to have it removed.

Shinrin-yoku is a Shinto spiritual practice of nature-immersive meditation, also known as forest bathing. It's an ancient practice from Japan that's been gaining new traction around the world. This year, it was part of the course at the Aspen Ideas Festival, a meeting of global health and crisis management leaders. Heidi Shin reports from Aspen, Colorado.

Military leaders from Thailand and Cambodia say they're stepping back from the brink. A border conflict erupted last week. It quickly displaced tens of thousands of civilians and killed at least three dozen people. The two countries agreed to a ceasefire on Monday, but it wasn't clear if the truce would hold. Today, senior commanders from both countries emerged from meetings and said they would stop fighting immediately. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

The operator of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan said today that another 12 to 15 years of prep work is needed before they can start removing debris from the Number 3 reactor. At least 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel has mixed with broken structural components inside the three reactors that melted down. But TEPCO, the plant's operator, says it will stick to the goal of decommissioning Fukushima by 2051. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more.

The Dutch city of Rotterdam is home to some of the lowest lying areas in the country, with some neighborhoods more than 20 feet below sea level. As climate change raises the risks of increased storms and flooding, The World's Joshua Coe found that one local dairy farm's solution is to actually float - keeping its cows and dairy products above water.

On Monday, a court in Colombia convicted former President Alvaro Uribe on witness tampering charges. To some Colombians, Uribe is a national hero who walked the country back from the edge of collapse, while others view him as a ruthless strongman who undermined their democracy, enabling human rights violations along the way. Sergio Guzman is director of Colombia Risk Analysis. He spoke to Host Marco Werman from Bogota about the trial.

Russia's largest airline is beginning to recover from a major cyberattack that forced dozens of flight cancellations on Monday. With Ukrainian and pro-Ukrainian hackers taking credit for the attack, experts say the incident reveals key vulnerabilities in Russian security systems. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel has the story.

The civil war raging between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces took a turn this week, when the RSF and its allies announced the formation of a parallel government in Darfur. Cameron Hudson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies explains the implications to Host Carolyn Beeler.

Since Spain became a democracy in 1978, governments of all stripes have gotten themselves mired in high-level corruption scandals. But this year has been a doozy, with Spain's two main political parties caught up in kick-back schemes to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, involving current and former cabinet ministers. The scandals are shaking voters' faith in mainstream politics and fueling support for extremist parties. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler spotlight several global headlines flying under the radar.

New research from Heriot-Watt University finds that shifting weather patterns driven by climate change can alter the taste of juniper berries. That, in turn, could potentially change the taste of gin. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with researcher Matthew Pauley to better understand how exactly the taste could change, and how the industry will need to respond if it does.

Two musicians with huge followings in their respective countries and diasporas have just died. Cohosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman remember Daddy Lumba from Ghana and Lebanon's Ziad Rahbani, their music and their significance to communities across the globe.

Mexico City is marking 700 years since the founding of Tenochtitlan, the ancient Aztec capital buried beneath the modern metropolis. The government staged a massive celebration to honor its Indigenous roots, and communities within the city held their own ceremonies to reclaim space and identity. But even as Mexico embraces its pre-Hispanic past more visibly than ever, some Indigenous groups say these are symbolic gestures, and substantial action to support their communities is still needed. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Mexico City.

Chalk it up to an experiment gone wrong. But now, members of the so-called "bad luck generation" in the Netherlands owe the government tens of thousands of dollars for their college education - and they're calling on the their elected leaders to pay them back. The World's Joshua Coe has the story.

A water shortage in Iran. A direct commercial flight - between Moscow and Pyongyang. And a Silicon Valley mistake, during Turkey's 2023 earthquake. The World's Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman sum it all up.

For months, mainstream Israeli media largely dismissed reports of starvation in Gaza as lies or exaggerations. Now, however, amid protests in Tel Aviv and under international pressure, Israel is making a major pivot in Gaza - airdropping aid and establishing safe corridors for assistance. Jerusalem-based journalist Noga Tarnopolsky explains to The World's Host Marco Werman how Israeli media is framing this dramatic shift in policy, and what the information and public opinion landscape looks like within the country overall.

If you've ever had to race to catch a flight, gotten lost in a foreign train station or struggled to order a meal in another language, congratulations, you're ready to play "Jet Lag: The Game." The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel reports that a group of streamers turned the nerve-racking logistics of world travel into friendly competition.

The Shaolin Temple has multiple claims to fame: Buddhist monastery, martial arts training ground, and major pop culture reference. Now, it's getting a new kind of attention: Its leader has just come under investigation for alleged embezzlement. We look at what Shi Yongxin is accused of, and why it matters given the global brand of this iconic temple. James Robson, a Harvard University professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, joins host Carolyn Beeler to discuss.

South African musician Bakithi Kumalo is known for his bass playing, which is all over Paul Simon's seminal album "Graceland." You very likely know Kumalo's famous riff on the hit tune "You Can Call Me Al." Host Marco Werman recently caught up with Kumalo during a break from the road.

Critics of El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele are facing growing risks. Just last week, Cristosal, the country's leading human rights organization, sent its staff abroad due to what it described as persistent harassment and legal challenges. Cristosal's executive director, Noah Bullock tells The World's Host Marco Werman why he and his staffers decided they can no longer work inside El Salvador.

Under the guise of military readiness, China routinely holds war games around the island of Taiwan with warships and fighter jets. Beijing insists that, some day, the small, democratic island will come under its control - by force if necessary. But China has already infiltrated Taiwan from within, as The World's Patrick Winn reports.

Young people in Togo - led by musicians, artists and bloggers - are protesting against a recent government move to consolidate power for the country's leader, Faure Gnassingbe. He had been president since 2005, but a constitutional change - without a public referendum - has changed his position to prime minister, which does not have term limits. The World's Host Marco Werman spoke with Togolese activist Farida Nabourema about the protests and how this differs from past opposition moves.

The megacity of Lagos, Nigeria, has one of the fastest growing populations in the world. But its infrastructure can't keep up. Roads flood. Public transport is scant. Officials hoped to fix that with the construction of an entirely new city on reclaimed coastal land. Pegged as a city of the future, Eko Atlantic features new roads, trains and housing. But so far, even with much of its construction complete, Eko Atlantic has been a bust, sitting almost completely empty and cut off from the rest of Lagos.

Turkish firms are on track to sell more than $8 billion dollars in military hardware this year, a new record for the country. Amid a decades-long national push to expand its domestic defense industry, Turkey has become the world's 11th largest arms exporter. But as The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports, the real question might be who they're selling to.

Yesterday, Ukraine and Russia exchanged drone strikes after peace talks failed in Turkey. Drones have taken on a pivotal role in the war and forced both sides to adapt. The World's Host Marco Werman talks with Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute who regularly visits the frontlines in Ukraine. He joined the show from Kyiv. He said that countries like the US and China are watching closely and updating their own tactics and technology in response.

This week saw two instances of humans impersonating animals to help with different situations in different parts of the world. The World's Host Marco Werman has the details from Japan and the Czech Republic.

Famed World Wrestling Federation superstar Hulk Hogan died today. He was 71. Hogan was known for his outsized ego, his oversized "pythons," as he called his arms and his incredible bluster. One thing few realize is that he got his start in Tokyo. As Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman explain, Hogan was initially trained by a famed Japanese wrestler.

After four months of near-total siege by Israel, people in Gaza are starving. According to the United Nations, at least 1 in 3 people are going multiple days without eating. Death from hunger is rising as The World's Shirin Jaafari has been finding out.

What if you could make transportation carbon-neutral without getting rid of the internal combustion engine? That's the idea behind Synhelion, a Swiss startup that's developed a new synthetic gas powered by the sun. The so-called "solar fuel" is drop-in ready and can be used in place of traditional fossil fuels. As The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel reports, experts say the product could play a major role in reducing the carbon footprint of air travel.

All eyes have been on a Canadian courtroom today, as the public awaited the verdicts in a high-profile sexual assault case. Five former NHL players have been on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman back in 2018. Today, the judge delivered her decisions. The World's Bianca Hillier shares the latest with Host Carolyn Beeler.

Private intelligence companies in the UK are operating largely without regulation. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with Politico's Mason Boycott-Owen, who reported on this issue, about how it works and who these companies are targeting.

Imagine growing up in the US, going to high school, starting a career and having a family - only learn that you're not an American citizen. KPBS reporter Gustavo Solis says that's exactly what happened to thousands of children born in other countries and adopted by American parents in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.

When the North Vietnamese triumphed over the South in 1975, ending the war there, the new Communist regime banned Western pop music, replacing it with what's known as "red music" or Nhac Do, songs that espoused the revolutionary path the country was taking. Since 2016, however, a band from Ho Chi Minh City known as Saigon Soul Revival has been bringing back the pop sounds pre-1975, and has recently been getting global attention. Co-hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler give it a listen.

Antisemitism is being amplified globally by the war in Gaza and the rise of political movements with antisemitic platforms. So, it's challenging and painful for many Jewish people to discuss what truly constitutes antisemitism, especially when it intersects with criticism of Israel. The World's Host Marco Werman broaches the complex debate and the potential for productive conversation with commentator Peter Beinart.

Exposure to extreme heat can cause significant health problems. Responding to those problems comes with a financial cost - for patients and for medical systems. In this excerpt from the Living Planet series of Deutsche Welle, or DW, The World's Host Carolyn Beeler and DW producer Sam Baker unpack how much climate-driven heat waves are costing us - especially in places that weren't designed to handle the change.

Five former NHL players have been on trial in London, Ontario, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in 2018. The verdict is expected to come down tomorrow. The World's Bianca Hillier reports on the high-profile case and the impact it's having on Canadians outside of the courtroom.

In Mexico, up to a third of all fuel sold may come from illegal sources - smuggled, stolen or adulterated. This black market fuels organized crime, drains billions from public coffers and puts ordinary people at risk. From Mexico City, The World's Tibisay Zea looks at how oil theft has evolved into one of Mexico's largest underground economies - and why it's so hard to stop.

Protesters are taking to the streets of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in the first anti-government protests since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of the country. Ukraine has long struggled with corruption and it's been a major barrier to joining the European Union. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke to Andrii Borovyk, head of the corruption watchdog Transparency International Ukraine. He joins us from Kyiv.

In 2024, a schoolboy was out for a jog on the Scottish island of Sanday when he found the remains of a centuries-old shipwreck. After 18 months of investigation by archeologists and local historians, that shipwreck has been identified as that of the Earl of Chatham, a British navy vessel-turned-Arctic whaling ship. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the story of that ship, and why uncovering its history was so important to the residents of Sanday.

A number of scholars and experts say they have never been more concerned about the state of international law. Powerful states like the US have threatened and imposed sanctions on institutions like the International Criminal Court. The United Nations Security Council has been paralyzed by veto power of its members for more than a decade. Meanwhile, atrocities like the ones in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan continue unabated. Still, The World's Shirin Jaafari has been speaking to lawyers and scholars who say a bleak as this moment seems, all hope is not lost. She brings us the second part of this story that looks at solutions moving forward.

The International Court of Justice ruled today that countries have a responsibility to address climate change - and that failing to do so could violate international law. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with international climate law expert Maria Tigre about the significance of this decision and what comes next.

Organist John Medeski of the trio Medeski, Martin and Wood has been collaborating with a young up-and-coming band from Senegal, Aba Diop and the Yermande Family. Co-hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler listen to the first single off their forthcoming album, a compelling and unusual call-and-response of percussion and keyboard.

Climate change is altering ecosystems around the world. Those changes also come with a financial cost. In this excerpt from our partner Deutshe Welle, or DW's, Living Planet series, The World's Host Marco Werman spoke with DW producer Charli Shield about the financial contributions of nature and the idea of ecosystem services, from the scene of a giant kelp forest in Australia.

The UK is planning to ban public institutions and private companies from immediately paying hackers over ransomware attacks. They must first consult with the government. These attacks cost companies worldwide billions of dollars in ransoms and business disruptions. The World's Host Marco Werman learned more from Alan Woodward, a professor at the University of Surrey's Centre for Cyber Security in the UK. He's advised investigators in the US and Europe on cybercrime.

Lead singer of Black Sabbath known as the godfather of heavy metal Ozzy Osbourne died today at the age of 76. Either clad in black or bare-chested, the singer was often the target of parents' groups for his imagery.

In many parts of Latin America, evangelical churches have grown at a feverish pace. In tiny Ecuador, for one, evangelical churches are booming. Not only are parishioners flocking to services, but these churches are helping to preserve a culture, as Michael Fox reports from Quito, Ecuador.

A number of scholars and experts say they have never been more concerned about the state of international law. Powerful countries like the US have threatened and imposed sanctions on institutions like the International Criminal Court. The United Nations Security Council has been paralyzed by veto power of its members for more than a decade. Meanwhile, atrocities like the ones in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan continue unabated. The World's Shirin Jaafari has been speaking to lawyers and scholars who say as bleak as this moment seems, all hope is not lost.

When cybercafes first came around in the 1990s, they were places full of computers for accessing the internet in an era before smartphones. But in Japan, they've evolved into third spaces where customers can watch movies, read or just enjoy some solitude. They even have tiny beds that can be rented by the hour or overnight. National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek stayed in one, and tells Host Carolyn Beeler all about it.