The World: Latest Stories

Vladimir Putin has dismissed his longtime Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu and reappointed him as a national security adviser. In his place, Putin has appointed Andrei R. Belousov, an economist, to run the Ministry of Defense. The World's Marco Werman talks with Sam Greene, a professor in Russian politics and director of the Russia Institute at King's College London, about what the shake-up means for Russia's war effort and Kremlin intrigue.

Israel's national security adviser says the top Hamas leader in Gaza, whose name is Yahya Sinwar is "living on borrowed time." Sinwar is believed to be the mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attack on Israelis. He would also have to sign off on any ceasefire deal to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

For more than 500 years, Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa has generated a lot of questions. What's she smiling about, for one. There's also the question of what's going on behind her - where is that? Well, geologist and art historian Ann Pizzorusso thinks she's finally solved a mystery of one of the world's most-famous paintings.

The World's Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler bring you three stories you may not have heard.

People lined up all day in huge numbers to vote in Indian-administered Kashmir on Monday with more than 36% turnout. This was the highest number of voters since 1996 in the region that's been plagued by terrorism and violence for decades. This is also the first election since the federal government in Delhi revoked the state's constitutional special status and autonomy. We report from Srinagar on what issues are at stake in the valley.

Many of the searching mothers of the 116,000 still missing have been looking for their sons and daughters for years, even decades. But, in a rare exception, officials managed to find the bodies of three missing foreigners from Australia and the US in less than a week. It was an unusually quick resolution to a case that made international headlines. From Mexico City, The World's Tibisay Zea reports.

Over the weekend, millions got to see the Northern Lights as they made an appearance over the US and Europe. That was largely thanks to solar activity coming from the sun. Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with Daniel Welling, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, about seeing the Northern Lights and what the solar flare that caused them can mean for humans and infrastructure on Earth.

When the Refugee Olympic Team was first created in 2016, the UN estimated there to be 65 million displaced people around the world. Now, the UN says there will be 130 million refugees across the globe by the end of the year. And there's a new team of athletes set to represent them at the Paris Games. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Israeli troops are positioning themselves to enter Rafah, as the country wages war on Hamas. The humanitarian situation in the southern city was already dire. Host Carol Hills talks with Imad Gammoh from the Norwegian Refugee Council. He was on the ground there recently, and speaks about the new humanitarian low in Rafah.

The rapper Freek was an unemployed Somali immigrant living in Dubai. He was undocumented and could only stay in the United Arab Emirates if he got a job. Then, a song he wrote mocking his situation went viral online. And within a short span of time, he had a job. This episode of "Movement with Meklit Hadero" about music and migration features Freek's story.

The tall peaks of Tajikistan are home to the only place in the world that scientists have found glaciers that are growing - you read that correctly, growing - not receding because of climate change. Levi Bridges went up one mountain to learn more from researchers about why this might be happening.

The release of a new Apple advertisement, which shows a giant iPad crushing the symbols of human creativity (art and books), is angering users. Iza Kavedija, an anthropologist at the University of Cambridge, explains why the ad is especially offensive to Japanese viewers.

The price of doner kebabs has increased rapidly in Germany in the past few years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. It's a favorite food introduced by Turkish guest workers in the 1970s. The Left Party has proposed to cap the price at $5.30 before the kebabs become a luxury item. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks to Joshua Coe in Munich.

Two major powers in the Middle East - Saudi Arabia and Israel - have been in indirect negotiations to end decades of disengagement. As part of reestablishing ties with Israel, Saudi Arabia wants the US to help it with a civilian nuclear program. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports on why the Kingdom wants a nuclear program and where the negotiations stand today.

In Rome, Pope Francis has delivered the official declaration for the Catholic Church's upcoming 2025 Jubilee. This is a once-in-25-year event for Catholics that goes back to the 14th century. The theme, highlighted by Francis for the upcoming Catholic Holy Year, is "hope." Host Carol Hills speaks with The World's Matthew Bell about what to expect.

Christine Sun Kim, a deaf American artist living in Berlin, has produced a short film highlighting the shortcomings of closed captioning. And she offers some solutions. Though her suggestions may be just a little too poetic for the average viewer.

In March, Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani's longtime interpreter and close friend Ippei Mizhura was accused of massive theft from the Japanese star. Prosecutors claim Mizhura stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani to pay off gambling debts and purchase personal items. Now, Mizuhara has agreed to plead guilty. The World's host Carolyn Beeler has the details.

African art served as an inspiration in the 19th century for some of the greatest European artists, like Picasso, Gaugin and Matisse. But artists from Africa have played a small part in the international art world. Until now. This week, a gallery in New York City is holding one of the largest showings of African contemporary art in the world. The World's Halima Gikandi reports that it's selling.

Houthis - members of a rebel group in charge of much of Yemen - continue to target shipping in the Red Sea. US military operations have failed to prevent the attacks, and the group is signaling it will continue as long as the war in Gaza continues. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime, about the impacts these attacks are having on global shipping and supply chains.

When international students arrive to study in the US, life can be harder than expected. Some universities have found that religious chaplains can help students make the transition. While mental health is stigmatized in some countries, spiritual care is not. So, student chaplains have become de facto frontline mental health care providers, who then triage those in need of professional care to campus counseling offices.

Just two years ago, Nigeria had the largest economy in Africa. But it has slipped to fourth due to currency devaluations. A sharp price jump in oil prices then added to the inflation rate, which disproportionately burdens the poor. Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman reports from Lagos that many Nigerians are calling on the country's president to bring back fuel subsidies, even though it threatens to undo recent economic reforms.

The vessel known as the Energy Observer recently docked at Boston's Rowes Wharf. The experimental ship, powered by renewable sources, was outfitted to show that there are workable alternatives to fossil fuel. GBH's Craig LeMoult spoke with the crew before they returned to France.

Kim Ki-nam, the propaganda chief who served all three generations of North Korean leaders and established their political legitimacy, has died. The World's host Marco Werman speaks with Sung-Yoon Lee, a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, about Kim's six-decade career, during which he was not only the Communist nation's chief propagandist, but also its chief censor.

The May 9 Victory Day celebration is one of Russia's most important holidays. It marks the USSR's win over Nazi Germany. But for President Vladimir Putin, it's an occasion to show off the nation's power and strength. Today's message was that the heroes of the past share their legacy with Russia's military today, which includes the war in Ukraine. From Riga, Latvia, The World's Daniel Ofman reviews the celebrations with host Carolyn Beeler.

A teacher in Coventry, England, dug a stone out of his garden that was inscribed with ancient Ogham writing from Ireland. It's one of thousands of written languages that have been largely lost to time. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Tim Brookes, founder of The Endangered Alphabets Project, about the value of written language, and how handwritten or carved scripts connect people with their cultural heritage.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner, and former leader of Myanmar, has been missing for three weeks. That's when the 78-year-old was relocated for health reasons, according to prison officials. But her supporters and family have not heard from her since. The World's Patrick Winn speaks to host Carolyn Beeler about Suu Kyi and the heat wave affecting hundreds of millions of people.

President Biden paused a shipment of 3,500 bombs destined for Israel last week, citing concerns that the weapons might be used in a major assault on Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians in Gaza have sought safety. The World's host Marco Werman speaks with Brian Finucane, a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group.

Salvador Dali is often known as much for his aggressive mustache as he is for his avant garde, surrealist art, photos and films. Dali was born 120 years ago this week. In 1955, he sat down for a television interview with the BBC's Panorama program and talked about the dates fruit.

British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca says its ceasing sales of its COVID-19 vaccines. The company says its vaccine saved millions of lives globally but demand is now low. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Adam Finn, a pediatrician and professor at the University of Bristol in the UK, who helped develop the vaccine.

The semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest kicked off in Malmo, Sweden, last night. Thirty-seven countries are taking part this year and, as always with the contest, there were plenty of theatrics on stage from cows being milked to screaming witches. But behind the scenes, security is tight. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry reports on the political tensions organizers have been hoping to avoid.

The long-awaited torch of the Olympic Games arrived by ship in the southern French port city of Marseille today. As The World's Gerry Hadden reports, it was greeted by throngs of excited onlookers, and extremely heavy security. He shares the details from Marseille with host Marco Werman.

An appeals court has granted the government's request to ban "Glory to Hong Kong." Demonstrators once sang it during the anti-government marches in 2019. It's the latest crackdown on pro-democracy movements by China.

Jackson DuBois is one of two Americans involved in the rebuilding of the spire of the Notre Dame cathedral which was ravaged by a fire in 2019. DuBois is part of an international group of volunteer timber framers who specialize in restoring historical monuments using centuries-old methods. Host Carolyn Beeler talks to DuBois about the specific skills needed to rebuild the Notre Dame cathedral which is scheduled to reopen later this year.

ACL tears are an ugly constant in the beautiful game of soccer. The anterior cruciate ligament is located in the knee, and can be torn during stops and starts and sudden changes in direction. The injury plagues teams everywhere, but women are 2-6 times more likely to tear their ACLs than men. A new project seeks to find out why. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Water supplies in Mexico City are at a historic low because of a combination of low rainfall, rising temperatures and outdated infrastructure. The World's Tibisay Zea reports on the paradox of a sinking, thirsty city that was once surrounded by lakes.

Eleven Americans, who had been stranded in desert camps in northeastern Syria for years, arrived back in the US on Tuesday. The group included a child who is not a US citizen but was repatriated in order to keep the family together. The World's Shirin Jaafari speaks with host Carolyn Beeler about their return.

Whale researchers have turned to computer scientists to analyze the clicks made by sperm whales in the Caribbean. As a result, they believe that sperm whales may have a more sophisticated form of communication than previously understood. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Canadian marine biologist Shane Gero, co-author of a new study on decoding the language of sperm whales.

The Israel Defense Forces carried out air strikes in Rafah last night and now control the main border crossing with Egypt. The military operation commenced as Hamas offered a counterproposal for a ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner exchange. The international community - including the Biden administration - has been warning Israel against attacking Rafah, where 1.4 million people are sheltering. The World's Matthew Bell reports that it's not clear yet if the negotiations aimed at getting a ceasefire in place are dead.

On the eve of the Olympics torch arrival, the city of Marseille is dogged by violence, drug dealing and police brutality. It's not exactly the image France wants to project as host of the 2024 Games. The World's Gerry Hadden looks at problems the government vowed to address ahead of the 2024 summer Olympics.

Two hundred years ago today, Beethoven debuted his "Symphony No. 9" at a theater in Vienna. The composer was nearly deaf, so no one is quite sure of how much of the audience's thunderous ovations following the piece he heard. The piece was viewed as revolutionary in its time and remains much-beloved to this day - across the political spectrum.

Authoritarian leaders in China and Russia are increasingly effective at using propaganda online in surprising ways. And these days, they have new allies in the US. Author and historian Anne Applebaum talks with The World's host Marco Werman about her latest piece in The Atlantic, "The New Propaganda War."

Kalush Orchestra has a unique sound that blends rap with traditional Ukrainian folk music. In 2022, the band representing Ukraine, won Eurovision. The victory was a huge boost for a country at war, and propelled the band to massive success. From Kyiv, The World's Daniel Ofman profiles the group's flute player, who went from being a folk music aficionado to an arena rockstar.

A phenomenon known as the Great Gender Divergence is showing up in multiple research studies. It concludes that men and women born after 1996, the so-called Gen Z, are politically divided along gender lines in ways that previous generations were not. This will be especially important in an election year in big democracies such as Brazil, South Africa, India and the US. Earlier this year, The World's host Marco Werman spoke with social scientist Alice Evans, senior lecturer at King's College London, about how social media may have a role in amplifying this gender divide around the world.

Salil Patel was used to racism in the white, working-class town in England that his family was forced to flee to. This was after Uganda fell under the control of a dictator, and wanted all Indians gone. But after an especially threatening incident, he set his sights on a way out. He shares what he learned on GBH's Stories from the Stage.

It's been raining for more than a week across Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul. The Guaiba River reached a record level of 17.5 feet, washing away roads and bridges. More than 75 people have died, and more than 130,000 have been displaced. Reporter Michael Fox looks at the devastation.

Indian law requires that no voter should travel more than 1.25 miles to be able to cast their vote. Election officials fan across the large and geographically diverse country, setting up booths in some of its most remote corners. They haul their precious cargo - electronic voting machines - on rickey boats and on treks, braving extreme weather and difficult terrain. Sushmita Pathak meets election workers in Darjeeling, India's tea-growing region.

The Queen of Pop gave a free concert this past weekend in Brazil. People packed Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro, and watched from nearby apartments, hotels and boats anchored offshore. It was the biggest concert of Madonna's 40-year career. Rio authorities estimated that the concert would bring in millions for the city and fill nearly every hotel room.

Hamas on Monday says it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The details of the deal aren't clear, but a Hamas spokesman says in addition to a ceasefire, it includes the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced Gaza residents and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli officials say this is not the same proposal for a deal they agreed to with negotiators 10 days ago. Host Marco Werman talks with The World's Matthew Bell on the latest on the ceasefire.

Cleaning up the Seine River so it's safe enough to swim in has been the big question going into the Paris Olympics. The Games are now less than three months away and the water is still dirty by many standards. The World's Bianca Hillier reports on how the Herculean feat is going.

COVID-19 is still with us. Long COVID-19, where people suffer symptoms for months and years after the infection, affects 400 million people across the globe. Host Marco Werman speaks with Dr. Ziyad al-Aly, chief of research and development at the V.A. St. Louis Health Care System, about what patients experience, how patients endure the virus and what treatments are available.