The World: Latest Stories

Ahead of a global meeting to negotiate the final steps of an international plastics treaty, The Lancet medical journal has published a comprehensive analysis of the impact plastic has on our health - at every step from production to disposal. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with study author Dr. Philip Landrigan about the findings.

Hong Kong authorities on Monday intensified a crackdown on 16 overseas-based activists. They're suspected of endangering national security, and the government has implemented measures that include banning financial support to them and canceling passports for most of them. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

An alpaca by the name of Hawthornden Wainui has just been recognized as the oldest living alpaca in captivity. He's 27 years old; alpacas typically live 15 to 20 years. So, this fellow is quite elderly. As Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain, the farmer who's raised him has a theory about the key to the animal's remarkable longevity.

Wacken Open Air is the biggest heavy metal festival in the world. It attracts more than 80,000 attendees each year - that's 40 times the population of the village of Wacken in Germany, where the festival takes place. Metalheads of all stripes descend upon the village every year for a long weekend of headbanging and debauchery. Host Carolyn Beeler tells us all about it.

With a few strokes of a big black marker, Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to start up new tariffs on dozens of countries. While the move follows last-minute deals with a handful of partners, economist Niclas Poitiers told The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that those agreements are unlikely to last and tariffs have only sowed more uncertainty in the global economy. Poitiers is a research fellow at Bruegel, an economics think tank based in Brussels.

Landslides triggered by heavy rains are a recurring nightmare in India's hilly areas. In terms of lives lost, India is the worst-affected in the world. And scientists say that extreme rainfall linked to climate change is making them more intense. Scientists are developing an early warning system that would use real-time weather data, ground sensors and satellite imagery to issue alerts and bulletins. Sushmita Pathak has our report.

When President Donald Trump dismantled USAID this year, relief materials got stranded around the world. In Belgium, nearly $10 million worth of contraceptives to prevent unintended pregnancies in Africa have been languishing in a warehouse. Aid groups have offered to deliver the material for free. But the US says it prefers to incinerate the supplies. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

It came as a big surprise when Catholic cardinals picked an American to be the successor of Pope Francis back in early May. But as Leo XIV begins his papacy, he's offered few - if any - real surprises as the new head of the Catholic Church. In many ways, Pope Leo has picked up where Francis left off. He's talked about ending wars, protecting the environment, helping migrants and refugees. That's been reassuring for progressive Catholics. But Leo has also impressed Catholic conservatives. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

The Florida Panthers won the NHL's coveted Stanley Cup this year. Now, the trophy is on its annual 100-day summer tour to visit the winning players and staff members' hometowns. The World's Bianca Hillier has the story.

The president of Peru is considering signing a bill that would grant amnesty to people accused of crimes during a period of violence in the 1980s and '90s. More than 70,000 people were killed during a government campaign against two rebel groups. Human rights activists are concerned the bill will stop the progress Peru has made in seeking accountability. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with historian Charles Walker in Peru about what this all means.

A new study has found surprisingly high rates of long-COVID in Ethiopia and Uganda. Of about 2,000 participants, more than two-thirds were found to struggle with long-term complications from an initial COVID-19 infection. Additionally, the study found that many of these people thought they had malaria, not long-COVID, because the symptoms are similar. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with Dr. Jane Achan in Uganda, who led the study.

In recent days, three US allies - France, the UK and Canada - have said they're prepared to recognize a Palestinian state. The announcements have revived talk of a two-state solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Host Marco Werman discusses the implications with two scholars from divergent backgrounds: Mira Sucharov of Carleton University in Ottawa and Omar Dajani, a Palestinian American professor of law at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

Near the picturesque, mountainous region of Cappadocia in Turkey, an Alevi community is experiencing a profound rebirth. After a hiatus of 60 years, an Alevi village has reopened its "cemevi" - a vital place of worship for a community that is an offshoot of Islam in Turkey and the Balkans. Ozge Sebzeci reports from Turkey.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler take a look at some stories in the news that you might have missed.

Lithuania's Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas stepped down today after less than a year in the job. He's denied any wrongdoing but said that scandals are hindering the government's work. Several media outlets published investigations this month about Paluckas' past and present ventures, as Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

Digital services are fundamental to smooth-running modern societies, but some countries are utilizing them better than others. Estonia is a digital pioneer, with 100% of its government services available online. Germany, not so much. Ben Bathke from our partners at DW, Deutsche Welle, reports on what Germany and the rest of Europe could learn from Baltics Best Practice.

Australia is known for really big things, and really unusual wildlife, and a newly discovered stick insect ticks both boxes. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler describe acrophylla alta, now thought to be the heaviest insect in Australia.

The 2025 World Aquatics Championships will wrap up on Sunday in Singapore. The event has already seen multiple historic moments, including a new record set in the men's 200-meter individual medley, and a 12-year-old becoming the youngest swimmer to win a medal at the World Championships. Summer McIntosh is currently on track to win five gold medals for individual events. If she achieves that goal, she'll be the first swimmer since Michael Phelps to do so. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the details.

Climate change is making the Indian monsoon more and more unpredictable, with longer dry spells interrupted by intense bursts of rainfall. This shift toward short, heavy downpours rather than steady rain over several days, is causing frequent flooding and waterlogging in cities. Rapid urbanization, inadequate infrastructure and the loss of natural drainage, like wetlands and open spaces, have worsened the problem. Sushmita Pathak reports from New Delhi on efforts to manage the impacts of changing monsoons.

A massive earthquake near Russia has triggered tsunami alerts across the Pacific and as far south as Chile. Host Marco Werman speaks with expert Harold Tobin at the University of Washington about the science of earthquakes, tsunamis and what caused this particular event.

The Royal Albert Hall, one of London's most prestigious concert venues, has been sued by three of its members. Members are people who privately own seats in the auditorium. They automatically get tickets to most performances there, but a 1966 law allows the hall to exclude them from a third of them. Some members say they've been excluded from more performances than the rules allow. A judge denied their original request for financial compensation and ruled that the dispute should go to trial. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have more.

Early Wednesday morning, one of the biggest earthquakes ever recorded hit Russia's east coast, sparking tsunami warnings as far away as Alaska and Hawaii. Close by in Japan, the 8.8-magnitude quake triggered emergency sirens and memories of the devastating 2011 tsunami. Host Marco Werman speaks with Moe Miyake, a 22-year-old studying environment and information studies at Keio University. She lives with her parents in Chigasaki on Japan's Pacific coast.

Hospitals across Europe are increasingly under siege from cybercriminals, and experts say the threat is only growing. A surge in ransomware attacks is disrupting healthcare services, locking staff out of critical systems and delaying potentially life-saving treatments. Aging technology and underfunded cybersecurity are part of the problem, but experts warn that private healthcare providers in the US may unwittingly be making the situation worse for everyone. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier was struck by falling rocks while scaling a mountain in northern Pakistan. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the details.

The market for skin lightening products continues to expand, particularly across sub-Saharan Africa. Now, dermatologists on the continent are issuing a new warning: Beyond previously identified health concerns, individuals using these bleaching products may be increasing their risk of skin cancer. Dr. Ncoza Dlova, head of dermatology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, discusses her study exploring this critical link with Host Marco Werman.

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.