The World: Latest Stories

Mount Everest has a lot of claims to fame. Among them: the vast quantity of trash left behind by climbers. For years, local Sherpas and volunteers have been clearing trash from the mountain, which is arduous and exhausting - at best - and even deadly, at worst. Come autumn, Nepal will deploy drones to help carry the load. The World's Sarah Birnbaum has more.

China is increasingly front and center on the world stage, challenging Western dominance and critiquing liberal democracies. At the same time, the nation is struggling to address the demands of its citizens. Marco Werman looks back on the past six transformative years for China with David Rennie, The Economist's outgoing Beijing bureau chief.

The sporting world is once again setting its sights on Paris. This time, it's the 2024 Summer Paralympics kicking off with an opening ceremony along the Champs-Elysees. The World's Bianca Hillier speaks with host Carolyn Beeler about some of the top athletes to watch.

Israel's military carried out raids in the occupied West Bank Tuesday night, into Wednesday morning, targeting militants in the Palestinian cities of Jenin and Tulkaram. Nine people reportedly died. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Palestinian journalist Fatima AbdulKarim about the specifics of the raids, and the situation on the ground in the West Bank.

A new analysis of Canada's 2023 wildfires shows that the amount of carbon released during that devastating season approached the total annual carbon emissions of the world's most populous nation, India. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman explain the sobering data, which suggest that the forests' important role as "carbon sinks" might be in peril.

The globe is digitally connected through 750,000 miles of undersea fiber-optic cables. They are vulnerable to accidental disruption like natural disasters or the anchors of ships. But they are also increasingly an arena of competition and sabotage among big powers. Marco Werman discusses those power dynamics with Erin Murphy, a senior fellow for the Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the co-author of a new CSIS report called "Safeguarding Subsea Cables: Protecting Cyber Infrastructure Amid Great Power Competition."

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler deliver a lightning-quick roundup of lesser-known stories from across the globe. In this edition: knee surgery for the Dalai Lama, dinosaur prints, what happens when a child breaks a museum object, and more.

"The Great Elephant Migration" is a traveling art exhibition with one main message: "Human race, share space," says project co-founder Ruth Ganesh. The World's Bianca Hillier visited the elephants as they passed through Newport, Rhode Island.

American weapons are used in numerous war zones, for combat against military forces. In the past two weeks alone, the US has reported selling billions of dollars' worth of new weapons to Israel and Saudi Arabia. It has also sent arms to Ukraine. In some cases, however, the weapons harm and even kill civilians. The World reports on concerns about how these weapons are used.

Although Africa is the only place where mpox is endemic, the continent currently relies on vaccines shipped in from abroad to stop the spread. Carolyn Beeler speaks to Helen Rees, a global health expert and the co-chair of the National Department Mpox Incident Management Team overseeing South Africa's mpox response about what the COVID-19 pandemic taught us about making vaccines available where they're needed - and why those lessons aren't consistently being implemented now.

Green tea is a major industry in Shizuoka prefecture on Japan's Pacific coast. Over a third of the tea leaves produced in Japan come from Shizuoka. Google Shizuoka" and you'll find images of hillsides covered in neat rows of bright-green tea bushes, with Mt. Fuji in the background. But that scenery is changing. Reporter Hannah Kirshner headed to Shizuoka to find out why some tea farmers are innovating, and others are calling it quits.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler deliver a lightning-quick roundup of lesser-known stories from across the globe. On this edition: a fond farewell to the world's oldest sloth, a trend of drinking less in Ireland and more.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's recent comment that there was "no barrier" for engaging enemies in talks is being taken as a tacit opening for possible negotiations with the US and the West. That's revived hope for a nuclear deal akin to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that checked Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Ali Vaez, director for the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, discusses the meaning behind Khamenei's remarks with The World's Carolyn Beeler.

People living in tropical regions have long lived with the threat of mosquito-borne illness. They've also developed ways of dealing with the health risks associated with them. As warming temperatures bring both the mosquitos and the diseases they carry to the Northern Hemisphere, host Marco Werman speaks with Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, for a crash course in best practices for protecting oneself from mosquitoes in the midst of malaria, West Nile virus, and other dangerous diseases.

The Arbaat Dam in northern Sudan collapsed over the weekend following a surge in floodwaters. The infrastructure failure wiped out entire villages and left 30 people dead. More than 150 people are also missing in the aftermath of the disaster. Host Marco Werman speaks with Mathilde Vu, Sudan advocacy manager with NRC, about how people in the affected regions are coping with deadly flooding amid an already dire humanitarian crisis.

Fondly known as "Svennis," soccer coach Sven-Goran Eriksson spent five years as England's first ever, foreign-born coach after making his name winning trophies in Italy, Portugal and Sweden. Eight months ago, he revealed that he'd been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had at most one year to live. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman share highlights from Eriksson's coaching legacy following his death on Monday.

Lana Sator is a young Russian urban explorer who routinely traveled to different countries in search of defunct and abandoned military sites. They were often hidden in plain view in cities and stunning country landscapes. But she ran into trouble when police grabbed her in Albania and accused her of being a spy. As Jamie Fullerton reports, since they took her passport and won't let her leave the country, she's been supporting herself by giving unofficial tours to tourists.

Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder and CEO of Telegram, has been arrested in France, while Telegram itself faces allegations that it serves at a platform for money laundering and drug trafficking. Host Marco Werman speaks with Natalia Krapiva, a senior lawyer with Access Now, to discuss the implications of the case for free speech.

Learning English is integral to finding work and housing, helping children with school, navigating the health care system, and routine tasks like getting groceries and using public transportation. But across Massachusetts, immigrants are waiting to get into ESOL classes. Or, English for Speakers of Other Languages. Many say that wait has hampered their ability to move forward with their lives. Sarah Betancourt of GBH reports from Boston.

It is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Arbaeen remembers the death of Imam Hussein back in the 7th century. He was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. There are more than 21 million people estimated to be in Iraq right now, walking toward the city of Karbala. The World's Sara Hassan reported on the event from Iraq during last year's Arbaeen.

In what's being called Russia's biggest attack on Ukraine in weeks, 15 different regions were hit with a barrage of missiles and drones. As people gather for shelter in metro stations, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy vowed to restore energy to areas suffering outages, and called on Ukraine's Western allies for support.

A recent analysis of UN Data by Save the Children shows that on average, five children are killed a week on the island, indicating that despite the arrival of Kenyan law enforcement to help restore order, deadly violence continues amid political upheaval.

In southern Brazil, one small town, Prudentopolis, was founded by immigrants from Ukraine in the late 1800s. They've clung to their culture, and in recent years, they've also welcomed Ukrainians displaced by war. Michael Fox has the story, from Prudentopolis.

A year ago today, the head of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group died in a plane crash. This was just a couple of months after Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of President Vladimir Putin, led his forces in a mutiny against Russian military leaders. Data published this week by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) found that the Wagner Group's activity in Africa has doubled since his death. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler hears more about the group's rebranding work from ACLED's Ladd Serwat.

Athletes dedicate years, and possibly their whole lives, to make an Olympic team. That often leads to a period called the "post-Olympic blues," no matter how well they performed at the Games. The World's Bianca Hillier hears how some athletes manage those feelings.

Tens of thousands of court workers across Mexico are on an indefinite strike in response to a controversial judicial reform law that is advancing through Congress. Critics say if it gets approved, it would remove the independence of the judiciary. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Mexico City.

Cambodia lost more than a third of its primary forests to private development in the last two decades. But a movement of young activists has challenged the government to improve its record on the environment. Now, the government is cracking down and arresting activists. Leila Goldstein has the story from Cambodia.

Grocery stores in Iceland may have been among the beneficiaries - or victims - of a sudden demand for fresh cucumbers. Host Carolyn Beeler tells how salad-making videos by Canadian TikTok influencer Logan Moffitt have inspired people to try his cucumber recipes, on camera, to share with the world.

Many parts of the world are debating what people should be allowed to say in online forums. And whether those forums, like the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, are responsible for policing hate speech and misinformation. Billionaire Elon Musk, who owns X, is not happy with the way this discussion is going in Brazil, so he's pulled his operations out of South America's largest country. Michael Fox reports from southern Brazil.

Mohammad Shabani was an Iranian poet and dissident living in exile in Turkey when he fell to his death from his apartment balcony in 2021. Reporter Fariba Nawa got a copy of a suicide note the police recovered from Shabani's apartment. Nawa get's the note analyzed by a handwriting expert. This is the final excerpt from the podcast "Lethal Dissent."

Several countries are hosting studies of an mRNA vaccine treatment for lung cancer, which kills 1.8 million people every year. Scientists hope that the principles used to develop a COVID-19 vaccine could also be applied to various cancers. Tony de Fougerolles explains the concept and the promise offered by the treatment that's being studied.

KOKOKO!'s new album is called BUTU, which means "the night", in the Lingala language. An appropriate title, as the band captures the chaotic, partying buzz in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital city. But listen closely and the band isn't just capturing the joyous atmosphere. In a country where violence and government crackdowns keep citizens on edge, KOKOKO!'s frenetic, punk-like energy helps mask their political activism. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler tells us more.

In January 2023, the US rolled out an app for migrants in Mexico to book an appointment for an asylum hearing before they got to the border. It's called CBP One and, until now, migrants could only access it once they got to central or northern Mexico. But the US has just expanded that access so that migrants can book an appointment as soon as they make it to Mexico. Host Carolyn Beeler has the details.

Sphen and Magic became famous six years ago when the two male penguins took up together at the Sydney Aquarium. The couple built a nest and would go on to nurture two penguin babies. The story of Sphen and Magic's relationship coincided with the legalization of gay marriage in Australia, and the pair were soon adopted as gay icons, inspiring a float at Sydney's Pride parade. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have their story.

For the first time, scientists have reported that they were able to "hear" low-frequency gravitational waves caused by the motion of massive black holes across the universe. It's big news in the world of science and Host Marco Werman gets a primer in terms that non-scientists can understand. He speaks with Jason Hessels, chief astronomer at the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) in Amsterdam.This interview first aired in June 2023.

A labor dispute between two of Canada's largest railroad operators and unionized workers has mushroomed into a full lockout of union workers. Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City control the vast majority of Canada's railroad networks. Scott Steiner, the former chair of the Canadian Transportation Authority, explains what this means for supply chains and goods in both Canada and the United States.

Munich is Germany's beer town, a self-styled city of brewers and a mecca for the millions who descend yearly on the Oktoberfest to raise stein after stein of the city's famous lager. Beer is served there at breakfast, lunch and dinner, or as a meal in itself. But increasingly, as reporter Valerie Hamilton tells us, when Munich cracks open a cold one, it's non-alcoholic.

National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek tells Host Carolyn Beeler about his Out of Eden Walk experience in Myanmar, where he witnessed the February 1, 2021 coup that triggered the civil war that's still being fought there.

Storyteller Shweta Bhatt was just 13 when her mom took her to have her upper lip hair threaded. It's an experience many young Indian girls and others with dark hair have to deal with. Bhatt shared her experience to GBH's Stories From The Stage on World TV.

A Turkish nonprofit, Support to Life, visits tented encampments where Syrian refugee families follow the harvest. Often, children start working in the fields at the age of 11 or 12. Getting children and pre-teens back to school is a daunting task, but it starts out simple: giving the kids time to play. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports from southern Turkey.

A new art exhibit in Denver is showcasing the work of a Japanese-American prisoner incarcerated at a camp in southeastern Colorado during World War II, called "Amache." As Emma VandenEinde from member station KUNC reports, the paintings offer more than a history lesson - they underscore a complex human experience.

The relationship between the US and China is fraught with difficult and even dangerous problems. But there are also deep cultural ties that represent possibilities for peace. That's the perspective of world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In the final installment of our summer series, "Face Off: The US versus China," we hear how the Chinese-American musician convinces himself to be optimistic in the face of cruelty. "Face Off" is a podcast produced by veteran journalist Jane Perlez.

With roots in India and an upbringing in Singapore, singer Dhruv found fame on TikTok, hitting the charts in East Asia. He moved to the US to study at Yale University, but then realized music was really what he wanted to pursue. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler spin "Speed of Light," a single from Dhruv's debut album.

Israel wants control over two strategic corridors in Gaza: the Philadelphi and Netzarim. But Hamas says it will only agree to a deal if all Israeli troops leave the Gaza Strip. This is what seems to be the latest sticking point in the ceasefire negotiations. The World's Shirin Jaafari explains.

Businesses along the Jersey Shore have long depended on overseas students to serve the surge of customers during the busy summer tourist season. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, when the government suspended visa approvals. WHYY News's Kenneth Burns reports that the number of seasonal workers is finally returning to pre pandemic levels.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called Kyiv's overnight assault on Moscow one of the largest ever" drone attacks on the Russian capital. Russia said its forces shot down 45 Ukrainian drones in total overnight, including 11 targeting Moscow. At the same time, Kyiv is pressing ahead with its major incursion into Russia's Kursk region. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with the Carnegie Endowment's Michael Kofman about what Ukraine has achieved in recent weeks.

A Greek-flagged oil tanker traveling through the Red Sea came under repeated attack today in an assault suspected to have been carried out by Yemen's Houthi rebels. There were few details about the attack, and the Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility, but it appeared to be the latest in the group's months-long campaign targeting commercial and military ships in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Host Marco Werman speaks with Abdulghani Al-Iryani, senior researcher at the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies in Yemen, about the ongoing maritime attack campaign and how it is perceived inside Yemen.

Unlike many countries of its size and wealth, Canada doesn't have a federal disaster response agency. The provinces, rather, are largely in charge of leading response efforts to floods and wildfires. Some people say that needs to change. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Londeners might have done a double take this week. A German navy warship chugged up the River Thames, blasting the "Darth Vader Theme" from its loudspeakers. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman wonder whether there was a hidden meaning.

More than 40% of Venezuelans are considering leaving their country, according to a recent poll by a consulting firm in Caracas. That's after authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro proclaimed himself a winner, despite overwhelming evidence that he stole the election. The World's Tibisay Zea reports on the likelihood of another mass migration of Venezuelans, and the impact it could have on countries in the Western Hemisphere, including the US.