The World: Latest Stories

The groundbreaking Latin pianist, bandleader and composer Eddie Palmieri died yesterday. Born in New York City in 1936, he, perhaps more than any other musician, marshalled the sounds coming out of Cuba, Puerto Rico and Colombia into a recognizable style that Americans generically refer to as salsa. And, he was one of the first musical guests we welcomed into our studios at The World. Host Marco Werman takes us back.

More than 4,000 athletes from across the globe have traveled to Chengdu, China, to take part in the 2025 World Games. The World's Bianca Hillier reports on some of the obscure sports you can watch during the competition.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is talking about ordering the Israeli military to escalate its campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. When asked in an interview with Fox News today if Israel will take control of the territory, Netanyahu said, "We intend to, in order to ensure our security." Far-right politicians in Israel have been calling for an occupation of Gaza. But the political opposition, much of the Israeli public and top military commanders are all calling for an end to the war. The World's Matthew Bell has the latest.

Sea stars on the west coast of North America have been decimated by a wasting disease. For more than a decade, scientists did not know what was causing it. But new research published this week in the journal Nature has identified the culprit. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with scientist Alyssa Gehman about the findings and what it means for the species' recovery.

Readers in the disputed Kashmir region could now face prison time for owning or distributing books the Indian government says promote "false narratives" and "secessionism." The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke to Nitasha Kaul, a professor at the University of Westminster in the UK.

France's "wine lake" is fanning the largest wildfire in decades. The "wine" in the so-called wine lake is a nod to an excess of wine in France. To reduce it, the government began a program in the 1980s to pay vintners to tear out their grapes and plant something else. But in the Aude region, in France's southwest, vintners can't change crops, so they've abandoned their fields to grasses, bushes and brambles. And all of that is making today's massive blaze bigger and faster. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

Driverless taxis are coming to Europe. American ride-hailing company Lyft has announced a partnership with Chinese tech giant Baidu to begin offering robotaxis in Germany and the UK starting in 2026. The deal, subject to regulatory approval, could upend the global race for robotaxi domination. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel has the story.

An international team of archaeologists has found what they believe to be remains of a rebel city in Mexico, where Mayans resisted Spanish conquest for more than a century. The World's Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have more.

Under the Trump Administration, the US is sharply reducing its military presence in Africa, shifting to a leaner footprint, focused on remote support and partner-led security. Critics warn the move is fueling extremist threats and allowing China and Russia to expand their influence. Lt. Gen. John Brennan, deputy commander of US Africa Command, and Amb. Robert Scott, deputy commander for civil-military engagement, discuss the implications with The World's Host Marco Werman.

Construction is set to begin at the beginning of 2025 on a suspension bridge across the Strait of Messina, connecting mainland Italy to Sicily. It's an idea that's been centuries in the making, dating back to Roman times. The project has been proposed and abandoned a few times in recent years. Transportation correspondent Jeremy Siegel looks at how the bridge is once again on the cusp of reality with the backing of the leader of Italy's right-wing Lega party.This story originally aired on Nov. 26, 2024.

It's dark, it's icy and there's no margin for error. That's what a crew from New Zealand's air force was up against when it evacuated three people from a US research base in Antarctica overnight. The World's Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have more.

In the 1970s and '80s, Teresa Teng was the big pop star in Asia. The Taiwanese singer released hit after hit, recording in several languages including Mandarin and Japanese. But her untimely death in 1995 at the age of 42, hasn't stopped her fan base from wanting more of her music. Now, Teresa Teng fans are excited, because a previously unreleased recording has come out recently. It's called "Love Songs are Best in the Foggy Night." Host Carolyn Beeler speaks to superfan Xianda Huang. He's also a PhD student at UCLA who studies Chinese pop culture.

The political parties in Israel who represent the Ultra-Orthodox, known as Haredim, are threatening to bring down the prime minister's government. They're incensed over a piece of legislation forcing Haredi men to join the Israeli army, which they have been exempt from since the country's creation. Robby Berman in Tel Aviv explains.

During Wednesday's commemorations in Hiroshima, Japan, marking 80 years since the first atomic bomb strike in history, the city's mayor Kazumi Matsui called on the Japanese government to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Tokyo has previously refused, saying it would send the "wrong message." Even as it officially opposes nuclear weapons, Japan depends on nuclear deterrence, as afforded by the United States. Host Carolyn Beeler learned more about the country's tricky balancing act on nuclear policies from Masako Toki. She's with the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute in Monterrey, California.

When Hiroshima became the site of the first-ever use of a nuclear weapon in war, two-thirds of the city was destroyed. Today, it's a lively city of over a million people. And scattered throughout are 159 trees that were nearly destroyed in the blast, but have since grown back to stand as living reminders of an apocalyptic day. Host Marco Werman speaks to National Geographic explorer Paul Salopek about these trees, and how the legacy of the atomic bomb lives on, in the memories of survivors and younger generations of Japanese people.

Today marks 80 years since the first use of a nuclear weapon during wartime - the American atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. Co-hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman encapsulate the history that led up to Aug. 6, 1945, and the second bombing three days later of Nagasaki.

Lack of rain and soaring temperatures have stressed Tehran's infrastructure to the breaking point. Authorities shuttered government offices in the capital and in about half of Iran's provinces today to address the water shortage. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with one Tehran resident about the toll the crisis is taking on citizens.

The cost of sick leave in France has risen 40% over the last decade, to around $17 billion a year. As the country struggles with a fiscal deficit, it wants to reduce payouts to the ill, and to get people working more. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Embrun, France.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is under house arrest on charges of masterminding a coup to overturn the country's presidential election in 2022. The turning point comes at a tense moment, with Brazil tied up in a trade war with the US under President Donald Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro. Trump has indicated that his administration's plans to hit Brazil with hefty tariffs is connected to Bolsonaro's legal troubles. Rafael Ioris is a professor of Latin American History and Politics at the University of Denver. He joins The World's Host Carolyn Beeler to discuss this recent development and its significance.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid from food distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Near-daily casualties since the joint US-Israeli operation launched in May have prompted international horror and concern about how aid distribution is being handled. Retired Lt. Col. Anthony Aguilar has firsthand experience. He's a former US Green Beret who served 25 years in the Army, including deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. Aguilar signed on to work security for one of several GHF sites in the Gaza Strip. He has since parted ways with the organization. Aguilar joined Host Marco Werman to offer insights into the chaotic scenes around GHF sites, and to address controversy over his departure.

Last month, the Sao Paulo police arrested a man responsible for the country's largest cyberattack against financial institutions. At least $140 million was stolen from six banks. That's just the latest episode in a country that has become one of the world leaders in cybercrimes and scams big and small. Gisele Regatao reports from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

A lot is happening internally in Israel, as the cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ponders what to do next in Gaza. At the same time, aid organizations have resumed dropping aid into the enclave, because the land routes are too perilous. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more.

In 2013, the film "Raanjhanaa" ended with a devastating death scene. That same movie was rereleased in theaters this past weekend with a different ending - provided by AI, without the director's knowledge or consent. Many audiences are responding to what's being presented as a happier ending with enthusiasm. Some, however, take issue with not just the use of artificial intelligence, but also the larger implications of the new plot twist. Reporter Namrata Kolachalam brings us the story from Mumbai.

Musician Yosefe Kalekeni was walking with his guitar on the bustling streets of Malawi's capital Lilongwe, when another musician stopped him. Yobu Maligwa asked if he wanted to start a band. Three albums later and an appearance at Glastonbury, Madalitso Band has released a new album "Ma Gitala."

Thailand takes pride in its wildlife: Elephants, primates and wild tigers are beloved. But one native species is not loved: the water monitor, a dog-sized lizard with snake-like fangs. Now, a group has formed to convince Thai society to embrace this maligned creature. The World's Patrick Winn originally brought us this report last summer.This story originally aired on Aug. 2, 2024.

The Pentagon signed an agreement in April to deploy American troops to former US military bases in Panama. Panama bans foreign countries' bases on its soil and the decision has helped to fuel months of protests. This, along with US President Donald Trump's threats to take the canal back by force, has many Panamanians concerned. Nate Halverson, with the PRX program Reveal, reports from Panama.

Philippines National Police officers have been told to shape up or be shipped off the force. The country's top cop announced he's giving overweight officers a one-year deadline to meet physical standards - or else. Many precincts are starting group workouts several days a week along with occasional lessons on proper dieting. Dave Grunebaum reports from a neighborhood just outside Manilla.

Ex-Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is facing a landmark trial in absentia over alleged crimes against humanity. The charges are linked to the 2024 student protests that toppled her government. The trial, unfolding while she remains in a secure safe house in India, is reshaping Bangladesh's political landscape and raising questions about justice, accountability and regional diplomacy. From Dhaka, Zafar Sobhan, the editor of Bangladeshi news site Counterpoint, discusses the implications with The World's Host Marco Werman.

In Augsburg, Germany, the world's oldest affordable housing project may have the world's lowest rent: just 88 euro cents a year, or $1. The Fuggerei is a 500-year-old complex of gabled brick apartments and garden squares, built by 16th-century copper baron Jakob Fugger at a time when families in need of housing were usually left to fend for themselves. Valerie Hamilton reports.

The textile industry generates an estimated 92 million tons of waste every year - equivalent to a garbage truck full of clothing every second. But in the backstreets of Istanbul's garment districts, "deadstock" wholesalers give surplus fabric a second life. The World's Durrie Bouscaren meets the creators of OhSevenDays.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler run down a few stories in the news that you might have missed.

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.