The World: Latest Stories

A group of scientists in Europe are arguing for the restoration of forests and wetlands as a natural defense system against military incursion. In Poland, military leadership is interested - so much so that director of the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Micha mihorski, presented a series of recommendations to government officials. mihorski spoke with The World's Host Marco Werman about those recommendations and why scientists are linking climate solutions with military strategy.

Cases of the recently identified COVD-19 variant NB 1.8.1. are rising. Some have dubbed the variant "razor blade throat" for one of its notably painful symptoms. The World Health Organization says it's monitoring the variant. The World's Marco Werman spoke to Michael Mina, an epidemiologist and immunologist based in Boston.

In order to prevent Russian troops from advancing toward Kyiv, Ukrainian forces destroyed a dam on the Irpin River early on in the war. The flooding, as it turned out, created new wetland areas. Some conservationists hope to see the wetlands stay. Even residents whose cellars remain flooded are glad the water came and the Russian troops did not. Carolyn Beeler's report for The World from 2023 highlights what appears to be an unexpected silver lining of the war.This story originally aired on Sept. 18, 2023.

World-class athletes typically go through rigorous anti-doping tests to prove they're eligible for competitions like the Olympic Games. Now, a competition called the Enhanced Games isn't just getting rid of the anti-doping tests - they're allowing, and even helping, athletes to take performance enhancing drugs, if they want to. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Following the death of Sir Geoff Palmer at the age of 85, tributes poured in - from the worlds of brewing, academia and human rights advocacy. Born in Jamaica, Palmer arrived in the UK as a child - part of the so-called Windrush generation of immigrants from Caribbean countries after World War II. While known in the spheres of grain science and brewing for his innovations to the malting process, Palmer was a groundbreaker in more than one way - becoming Scotland's first Black professor in 1989 at Heriot-Watt University. He was also a leading activist in the country's Black community. The World's Host Marco Werman heard from Palmer's colleague and friend, Professor Richard Williams, principal and vice-chancellor of Heriot-Watt University.

El Salvador's government is encouraging citizens abroad to return, citing improved safety and economic incentives. Some are responding - tired of US immigration policy and drawn by new opportunities. But others remain wary, pointing to democratic backsliding and their strong roots in the US. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from San Salvador.

Two animal stories from Europe give us examples of charismatic critters encroaching on city life, and how people are dealing with them. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman explain.

Hurricane Erick hit the western Mexican state of Oaxaca this morning as a Category 3 storm with winds of up to 125 miles per hour. It missed the busy resort areas of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido, instead hitting land in the sparsely populated agricultural areas and low-lying fishing villages. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the details.

Like its European neighbors, Germany is big on bicycles. The total number of bikes in the country is about equal the entire population of around 85 million people. Learning to ride a bicycle is actually part of the school curriculum for German kids. But the goal of teaching them and getting them out there to ride more often is facing some real challenges. The World's Carolyn Beeler speaks with German transportation writer and podcaster Katja Diehl.

Diplomats from Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have been in Washington brokering a peace agreement. It would stop fighting between DRC government forces and the M23 rebel group, which is supported by thousands of Rwandan troops. The Trump administration helped facilitate peace talks in exchange for a minerals deal in the region. Critics are skeptical that the peace will last. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have more.

A week into Israel's military operation in Iran, the capital, Tehran, has more or less emptied out. Those who could, have fled to other areas of the country, but some have had no choice but to stay. Under these conditions, Iranians have come together to help those in need. The World's Shirin Jaafari speaks with one woman who's set up a group to help the elderly and sick with groceries, medicine and sometimes just moral support.

Thailand's economy isn't doing so hot this year. To give it some zest, the prime minister wants to approve a giant casino - one of the biggest in the region. There's a hitch, though. Gambling is illegal in Thailand and condemned by many of the country's Buddhists. The World's Patrick Winn reports on a controversial proposal to have it all: a casino that will not spread gambling addiction to everyday people.

Barcelona goal-machine Claudia Pina carried her FC Barca women's team to victory in the final tournament of the season, with two stellar goals. Pina came off the bench earlier in the season to become the team's highest scorer this year, with 27 goals. Pina was a rising star in her teens but slumped for a while. Now 23 years old, she's inspiring other young women facing the same frustrations. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

In downtown Nairobi, protestors are battling with police and condemning the death of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and blogger who died more than a week ago in police custody. Kenyan authorities said he took his own life. But an independent autopsy says Ojwang died after being assaulted. Journalist Odanga Madung tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler the demonstrations are part of a larger struggle to hold Kenyan authorities to account for injustice.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took some time to chat at the G7 Summit. They want to mend ties and have announced they will restore diplomatic staff necessary to supporting a normalized relationship. Both sides withdrew diplomatic staff when a Sikh activist was assassinated on Canadian soil and the Canadian government claimed it had clear evidence that Indian intelligence was behind the killing. The World's Host Marco Werman talks with Sumit Ganguly, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution who is an expert on Indian national security, about how this rapprochement between the two countries came to be.

The Economist Intelligence Unit releases a list every year, of 173 cities worldwide ranked by livability. That ranking is subdivided into categories of health care, environment, infrastructure, stability and education. This year, Copenhagen takes home the top spot, ending the three-year run of Vienna. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler check out how other cities stack up.

E-scooters are exploding in popularity in Finland. But accidents involving them are also on the rise. This week, Finnish authorities instituted new regulations, including a ban on drunk riding, in an effort to fix the problem. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel has the story.

Less than a week into what is looking more and more like all-out war between Israel and Iran, the Iranian supreme leader sent a message of defiance. In a televised address, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected US President Donald Trump's call for Iran's "unconditional surrender." Trump was asked if the US would join Israel's bombing campaign in Iran. I may do it, I may not do it," was Trump's response. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do." It's not clear what comes next. But as The World's Matthew Bell reports, Israel has already demonstrated extensive intelligence capabilities inside Iran.

Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan are longtime respected Russian journalists. However, since 2020, they've been based in London, and not by choice. For years now, the Kremlin has clamped down on press freedom, and has ratcheted up the pressure on journalists, with threats, arrests and even violence. In Borogan and Soldatov's latest book, Our Dear Friends in Moscow," they document their journey as journalists in Russia over the past two decades. It's also a portrait of how their friends changed as Russian President Vladimir Putin solidified his grasp on power. The World's Daniel Ofman spoke with them earlier this month.

The first Jewish anti-Zionist congress was held last weekend in Vienna, Austria -the city where Theodor Herzl came up with the idea of political Zionism, and proposed a Jewish state in Palestine. The organizers, mostly Jews with a connection to the city, say Judaism is not Zionism." As Rebecca Collard explains, this reflects a growing debate in Jewish communities around the globe about religion, nationalism and belonging.

The leaders of Iran and Israel are confronting their limited options, as the fighting between their two countries has entered a fifth day. Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, discuss what lies ahead for the region with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler.

There's an impasse between the Malian military government and the Canadian gold mining company Barrick Gold. The Malian government wants greater gold revenues and wants to renegotiate contracts, and has gone so far as to arrest, release, then re-arrest Barrick senior employees in Mali. Barrick has not resumed mining operations, and now a court in Mali has provisionally taken oversight of the operations. The World's Host Marco Werman talks with Aanu Adeoye, a correspondent for the Financial Times, about the roots of the disagreement and how it escalated.

The Irish rap trio Kneecap is once again at the center of controversy. Known for its provocative blend of Irish and English lyrics tackling everything from drug culture to the legacy of British rule in Ireland, the group has built a reputation for pushing boundaries. But recent comments have sparked fresh backlash - with several UK lawmakers saying the band has crossed a line. Now, one member is due in a London court tomorrow, facing a terrorism-related charge. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry has the story.

Are you anxious about what's happening in the world? Are you in need of a safe space? Never fear - we know a place with 370,000 of them. That's the number of bunkers in the small, peaceful and mountainous country of Switzerland - and it's enough to shelter all 9 million residents for up to two weeks during a national emergency. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

The Spanish government released a long-awaited report today that blames just about everyone for April's massive power outage. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

Israelis and Iranians spent the day today fleeing or hiding from the back-and-forth bombing between their two countries. Israel has said it could finish its operation within the next week or two. Iran has said it will not surrender, despite a demand from US President Donald Trump. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the latest.

Devi Mambouka records under the name Masma Dream World. Her most recent collection of ambient recordings can be heard on her new album "Please Come to Me." Mambouka tells The World how a dream and her roots in Gabon, Singapore and India, inspire her music.

Yesterday in Paris, the world's most popular museum, the Louvre, had to shut down due to a work stoppage by employees. The museum's staff said they were protesting work conditions at the museum. The main complaint: They're overwhelmed by the number of visitors. The closure followed a weekend of protests across Portugal, Spain and Italy against "overtourism." The World's Host Marco Werman heard from Elaine Sciolino, author of "Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World's Greatest Museum."

It's not always easy to say I'm overwhelmed" or "I need help." That's especially true in places where therapy isn't commonplace or might even be taboo. A scientist in Thailand says he's got a novel way to identify people quietly struggling with anxiety. All he needs is a little sample of their sweat. The World's Patrick Winn went to check it out.

In 2020, a massive explosion rocked the port of Beirut in Lebanon. It killed more than 200 people and destroyed homes as far as six miles away. It also damaged a historic piece of art: a previously unknown Italian painting of Hercules and Omphale, painted by the female artist Artemisia Gentileschi in the 1600s. The World's Host Marco Werman talks about what it's taken to restore the painting with Ulrich Birkmaier, the senior conservator of paintings at The J-Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, where it's now finally on display.

Gjert Ingebrigtsen has been acquitted of multiple charges of abuse against three of his children who he coached to Olympic careers. Three of his sons, including two-time gold medalist Jacob Ingebrigtsen, accused their father of physical and emotional abuse. Ingebrigtsen was convicted of one minor charge for hitting his daughter in the face with a towel. Norwegian journalist Jan Peter Saltvedt spoke with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about the case.

Leaders from the world's top industrialized democracies are gathering in Canada today for the G7 summit - and there's a lot to discuss between rising geopolitical instability and a looming deadline to make a trade deal with US President Donald Trump. The World's Host Marco Werman heard from Josh Lipsky, chair of International Economics at the Atlantic Council.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently battling the Indiana Pacers for the NBA championship. But there's another story to be told, as some of the athletes have known each other since long before going pro. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

The Israeli military expanded its attacks against Iran on Monday, telling the residents in parts of Tehran to evacuate their homes. Israeli officials say they have been destroying Iranian missile launching sites and that Israeli warplanes have "full aerial superiority" over Iran's skies. But Iran has fired hundreds of missiles at Israel. Most have been intercepted, but some have made it through Israel's defenses and caused some major damage, killing, so far, around two dozen Israelis. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Lithium batteries are in everything: smartphones, laptops, headphones, electric cars. But they're difficult to mine and bad for the environment. Sodium, on the other hand, is abundant and could provide an alternative. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel looks at how China is bringing sodium-powered e-scooters to the market.

Israel has ordered Iranians living in the capital, Tehran, to evacuate as it plans to escalate its attacks. The city is home to roughly 10 million people and the rush to get out has led to gridlocks along major highways. But as The World's Shirin's Jaafari reports, leaving is not an option for some residents.

Knife crime in Britain has almost doubled over the past decade. On Friday, experts, survivors and policymakers gathered in London for a conference aimed at tackling the root causes and consequences of knife crime. Among the voices calling for change is a survivor of one of England's most-devastating knife attacks from last year. She's campaigning for sharp-pointed kitchen knives to be replaced with blunt-tipped alternatives in homes across the country. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry has more.

In Colombia, religious leaders are calling on politicians to tone down their rhetoric as incidents of political violence have people on edge. Earlier this week, seven people were killed as rebels bombed police stations around the city of Cali. Last week, a would-be assassin shot presidential candidate Miguel Uribe who's still recovering in the hospital. From Colombia's capital Bogota, Manuel Rueda reports.

Authorities in India say as many as 300 people were killed when an Air India plane crashed into a medical college shortly after takeoff in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. The World's transportation correspondent Jeremy Siegel reports on how recovery efforts are progressing and what's next in the investigation of the tragedy.

To mark Democracy Day in Nigeria on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu posthumously pardoned human activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other members of the Ogoni Nine, a group of activists from the oil-rich Niger Delta executed by the military junta in 1995. The World's Carol Hill heard from Noo Saro-Wiwa, a writer and the daughter of the Ken Saro-Wiwa. She says the pardon is a step in the right direction, but falls short of the exoneration her family has long sought.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is bigger than ever before, with more teams and a much-bigger prize pot on the table. But the upcoming matches will kick off in the shadow of intense immigration fears with US federal agents expected to be on-site. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Mexican singer and songwriter Vivir Quintana is reshaping one of Mexico's most-sexist musical genres - the corrido - by using it to tell real stories of women imprisoned for defending themselves against violent partners. The World's Tibisay Zea caught up with Quintana to talk about her new album.

In the early hours of Friday morning, Israel's military carried out a major military operation against Iran. Israel struck numerous military and nuclear facilities, targeting top military figures and nuclear scientists. Israeli strikes also hit civilian areas in Iran with the latter reporting up to 75 people killed in the attack. Iran has responded to the attack by launching a fleet of drones with the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamanei, promising further attacks in retaliation. Host Carol Hills speaks with Sina Azodi, an assistant professer of Middle East politics at George Washington University, about the significance of the attack and how Iran carries forward from here.

Some 2 1/2 years after a massive earthquake destroyed parts of southern Turkey and northern Syria, both countries are still working to rebuild. From the Turkish city of Hatay, Deutsche Welle's Ylenia Gostoli reports.

Ellie Wilson is a classically trained violinist who has previously performed in rock and folk bands. But her latest work involves a new collaborator: the humble moth. The World's Bianca Hillier has the story.

Britain's energy secretary, Ed Miliband, says his country is poised to lead the world into a new nuclear golden age. The British government has just signed on to fund a $19 billion new nuclear power plant. It says embracing nuclear energy will help protect Britain's energy security and meet the demands of the climate crisis. Carolyn Beeler speaks with Simon Evans, deputy editor and senior policy editor at Carbon Brief, a UK-based website covering the latest developments in climate science and energy policy.

The government of Bashar al-Assad made the media in Syria a tool of its propaganda. It arrested and intimidated writers and journalists who opposed the official line. Books were censored and newspapers were shut down. Now, with Assad gone, journalists and writers are shaping a new, more open media and literary landscape. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports from Damascus.

For the last three nights running, rioters have clashed with police in Northern Ireland, burning cars, homes and businesses. UK officials have described it as "racist thuggery." The justice minister from Northern Ireland said the,"three-day festival of hate and destruction" needs to stop before someone is killed. More than 40 police officers have been injured. The violence was sparked by reports of a sexual assault in the town of Ballymena. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

The United States is withdrawing diplomatic personnel in Iraq after warnings that Israel appears ready to launch an attack on Iran as it's only a step away from nuclear weapon capabilities. But there's still a meeting for nuclear talks between the United States and Iran in Oman on Sunday. The World's Marco Werman talks with Ali Vaez, who teaches at Georgetown University, about the prospects for conflict and what diplomatic runway still remains.

Of the 240 passengers who boarded an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London -- just one survived Thursday morning's plane crash. The aircraft, a Boeing Dreamliner, went down five minutes after takeoff. The World's transportation correspondent Jeremy Siegel has the latest.