The World: Latest Stories

Swimming is set to wrap up this weekend in Paris, and Amandine Aftalion, author of "Be a Champion: 40 Facts You Didn't Know About Sports and Science," shares one reason why there have been fewer world records than in Olympics past. Plus, the track-and-field events are just getting started. The World's Bianca Hillier speaks with host Carolyn Beeler.

As the war in the region continues to escalate far beyond Gaza, the humanitarian situation for civilians there only gets worse by the day. Water, food and aid are hard to come by. And the threat of diseases like polio are getting much more serious. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with UNICEF spokesperson, Salim Oweis, about how children are handling the horror of the war.

Our reporters serve up samples of the food and drink people enjoy across the globe, when weather heats up. Reporter Sushmita Pathak shares a dish known as curd rice.

Thailand's wildlife is fantastically diverse. Its elephants, primates and wild tigers are a source of national pride. But one native species is not loved. The water monitor, a dog-sized creature with snakelike fangs, is widely despised. A group of young Thais wants to convince society to start loving this four-legged creature. The World's Patrick Winn reports.

Our reporters serve up samples of the food and drink people enjoy across the globe, when weather heats up. The World's Tibisay Zea shares a refreshing beverage from a street vendor in Caracas.

Our reporters serve up samples of the food and drink people enjoy across the globe, when weather heats up. The World's Shirin Jaafari makes a refreshing dip from Iran.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler bring you some updates on some stories that we have reported on including the funeral of the assassinated Hamas leader Haniyeh, rampaging wolves in the Netherlands and why you won't be able to order noodles anymore on Korean Airlines.

This week, South Sudan's national men's basketball team made their Olympic debut. Despite having zero indoor courts, the team managed to qualify for the Olympics after forming only a few years ago. Amid years of ethnic strife and civil war, basketball is proving to be a unifying force for all South Sudanese. The World's Africa correspondent Halima Gikandi reports from a watch party in Nairobi, Kenya.

The former president of Guinea, Mohamad Dadis Camara, was found guilty on Wednesday for his invovlement in a 2009 massacre committed by his forces. Camara was being tried in a Guinean court case along with other defendents for the past two years. Host Marco Werman speak with Daniel Eizenga, a research fellow at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, about the trial and what this conviction means for Guinea now.

In the predawn hours on Tuesday, landslides struck the southern Indian state of Kerala. Landslides are common in this hilly region known for tea cultivation, but even so, the destruction this week has been extreme. More than 200 people have been confirmed dead, and although the search for missing people continues, hope of finding survivors is running low. Reporter Sushmita Pathak, in Delhi, offers insight into the region, the high death toll, and how climate change may contribute to what's happening.

Devastating floods in North Korea has submerged thousands of homes and large areas of farmland. Leader Kim Jong-un has called for strict punishment of officials for not preventing the floods.

Australia, where 1 in 10 babies are affected by peanut allergies, is rolling out a free treatment program. This world's first nationwide effort to treat infants with peanut allergies, by giving them a daily dose of peanut powder, is providing families with hope of overcoming the potentially life-threatening condition. Host Marco Werman tells the story.

When the Dyke family moved from Jamaica to northern Vermont, they were worried about the cold. But they found the Green Mountains to be very familiar seeming.

After the horrors of Oct. 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza, it's become almost dangerous for Palestinians and Israelis to publicly express empathy and understanding for each other. Reporter Rebecca Rosman met with two men - one Palestinian, one Israeli - who are trying hard to maintain their own empathy for the pain the other side is experiencing. Both have been called a traitor.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and murder charges along with two of his accomplices. The plea deal allows the men to avoid a death penalty trial at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The World's Marco Werman talks with The New York Times correspondent Carol Rosenberg at the US base in Cuba about the implications of the deal.

A quarter century ago, a charismatic former military officer, Hugo Chavez, won Venezuela's presidency in a landslide, after promising to empower the poor through a more inclusive democracy. And he did, up to a certain point. But his revolution turned into an authoritarian and repressive regime that, as evidence show, just executed an electoral fraud. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Caracas, Venezuela, on the people who still back Chavez's handpick successor, Nicolas Maduro.

Rivers are the lifeblood of a landscape. And yet humans have altered them in disastrous ways. So, how realistic is it to think urban dwellers everywhere could once again swim in their waterways? Efforts to make the Seine "swimmable" for this year's Olympics draw on lessons from successful restoration projects in other parts of the world, as author and naturalist Sy Montgomery explains to The World's Carolyn Beeler.

For a major capital and one of the world's largest economies, Japan has a surprisingly small art market. But that's changing, with a new major international arts fair and new galleries cropping up. Reporter Gisele Regatao reports from Tokyo.

Following the assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah figures the past two days, there are fears about a wider conflict engulfing the Middle East. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Steven A. Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, about the prospects of an inflamed conflict in the region and whether or not the US has any leverage with Israel.

The Israeli army claimed responsibility for a missile strike that killed a Hezbollah commander in his Beirut apartment. At least three people were killed in that strike and some 70 wounded. Hours later, Hamas' leader-in-exile Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed as they slept in Tehran. Haniyeh was there for the swearing in of Iran's new president.

Singapore's Food Agency has approved 16 species of insects as safe for human consumption, including crickets, grubs, moth larvae and one species of honeybee. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Matthew Britt, associate professor and chef at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, about cooking with bugs.

Since June, young people in Kenya have been demonstrating on a weekly basis against taxes, corruption and police brutality. The protests are now inspiring young people in other African countries, like Uganda and Nigeria, to do the same. The wave of youth-led protests in Africa is stirring up memories of the Arab Spring in 2010. The World's Africa correspondent Halima Gikandi reports from Nairobi.

Today, some Brazilians along the southern coast of the country are celebrating the "day of the right whale." This is an endangered species of whale that has made a comeback in the region due to conservation efforts by the Brazilian government. Michael Fox reports from Florianopolis, Brazil, on the right whale comeback.

A hundred miles off the coast of China is the island of Taiwan: with ambiguous status in the global community, Taiwan sees China as its most important economic partner and its biggest military threat. Host Marco Werman talks with veteran journalist Jane Perlez about serious and alarming scenarios in which the US and China might go to war over Taiwan's sovereignty. Perlez is the host of the podcast "Face Off: US versus China."

Top US intelligence officials say Russia, China and Iran are targeting voters in the US, with disinformation and propaganda related to the upcoming presidential election. US officials who track disinformation campaigns say the number of warnings they have issued to political candidates, government leaders and others has spiked in recent months. Host Marco Werman speaks with McKenzie Sadeghi, the AI and foreign influence editor at NewsGuard, a company that tracks and rates the reliability of news sites.

Moving away from coal, oil and gas could leave countries liable for hundreds of billions of dollars in payouts to fossil fuel companies. Host Carolyn Beeler discusses the implications with reporter Katie Surma from Inside Climate News.

In a 2022 album, the musical duo Charlotte & Bolis tackled weighty subjects like colonialism, representation, xenophobia and political correctness - with playful dance tunes. Charlotte Adigery and Bolis Pupul spoke to The World's collaborator Meklit Hadero, host of the Movement series, for a story that originally aired last summer.

The detention of nine Israeli soldiers, under investigation for the alleged abuse of a Palestinian inmate, has laid bare the polarized state of Israeli society. The inquiry has angered far-right lawmakers and protesters who broke into a detention facility on Monday. Journalist Noga Tarnopolsky in Jerusalem speaks with The World's Carolyn Beeler about the political rift this exposes.

Olympian Beiwen Zhang went pro in badminton at age 13, leaving her home country of China for Singapore to pursue the sport. She struggled with the pressure of competitive athletics, though. The World's Bianca Hillier has the story of how she bounced back, not just from intense stress, but also from what many believed would be a career-ending injury.

Venezuelans are out in the streets on Tuesday in many parts of the country, disputing the results of Sunday's presidential election. Longtime leader Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner, but the opposition says it can prove its candidate actually got the most votes. The World's Tibisay Zea provides the latest updates from the ground in Caracas.

Across Europe, NATO countries are watching Ukraine closely. Their interest isn't just in the outcome of the war but in how the war is being fought, what tools are being used, and the role innovation is playing on the battlefield. The World's Daniel Ofman reports from Riga, Latvia.

The Israeli army has confirmed that it struck a building in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday, while targeting a Hezbollah commander. Israel's defense minister has said Hezbollah "crossed a red line" by killing children on a soccer field over the weekend. The World's Shirin Jaafari has more.

As the world was riveted by the sports at the Paris Olympics, French authorities arrested a left-wing activist for last week's arson attacks on the railways. On Monday, there were also reports of more sabotage - on telecommunications networks outside of Paris. Meanwhile, over the weekend, gymnastics, soccer and swimming were the top sports. The World's Bianca Hillier has been following the games.

Last month, Germany marked Veterans Day for the first time in decades. Once seen as unthinkable because of the country's military history during World War II, Germany is now launching a campaign to boost morale, acceptance and enlistment. Reporter Rebecca Collard gets into the complexity of Germany's relationship with its army, the Bundeswehr.

Venezuela's electoral authority, which is controlled by the government of Nicolas Maduro, declared the authoritarian socialist reelected for six more years, despite partial results and independent exit polling signaling the opposition had capturd twice as many votes. Venezuelan opposition leaders swiftly claimed the announced results are fraudulent, and promised to challenge them. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Caracas, Venezuela.

Authorities in Brazil will permit Amazon timber concessions to companies that follow strict rules. They cite studies showing illegal deforestation goes down when selective logging is permitted. Concessions would expand dramatically, allowing companies to harvest inside an area the size of Costa Rica over the next two years. The World's Marco Werman gets more from Brazilian scientist Carlos Nobre, an expert on deforestation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was recently in China, where he met with American college students in Shanghai and told them, I think what you're engaged in is so important to the future of both of our countries." But the numbers of US students studying in China is way down compared to previous years. The pandemic is one reason why. But there are other pressures, some of them related to the tense diplomatic relationship between the US and China. The World's Matthew Bell reports

Officially the death toll in last year's Derna Dam disaster in Libya is 4,500 people. But many thousands more have been considered lost ever since. Now, a Libyan court has sentenced lower-level officials to prison time for mismanagement and corruption. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, about whether or not justice and accountability can be attained while Libya endures political fragmentation.

In Kenya, anti-government demonstrations entered their seventh week. What began as protests against tax hikes has now grown into a call for the country's president to resign. Even as William Ruto attempted to compromise, reports surfaced of protesters being killed or abducted, which generated even more demonstrations. It's all stirring up dark memories of Kenya's authoritarian past. The World's Africa correspondent Halima Gikandi reports from Nairobi.

A rocket from Lebanon killed 12 children and teens on a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Saturday, drawing international attention to the region and also to the Druze people living there. The World's Shirin Jaafari explains how the Druze community fits into the fabric of Israel.

A Turkish family gang, the Salams, are in a police dragnet that exposes their kidnapping operation targeting Iranian dissidents. The ensuing police investigation reveals an entire network of conspirators behind the Salams. When one conspirator is arrested and interrogated, he confesses. Reporter Fariba Nawa uses the confession to tell the story of Iran's behind-the-scenes involvement.

Brothers Henrik, Filip and Jakob Ingebrigtsen are famous track stars in Norway. But now, the brothers are adding a new and unexpected line to their resumes. Host Marco Werman has the details.

Vietnam is in a state of mourning today with flags at half-mast. The ruling Communist Party is holding a funeral for Nguyen Phu Trong, the country's leader until he died last week at 80 years old. Foreign diplomats are in the capital Hanoi - including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken - both to pay respects and also to secure some face time with Vietnam's new leader, To Lam, a man known for ruthlessly neutralizing his rivals. The World's Patrick Winn reports.

This week, the International Olympic Committee created the Olympic Esports Games, to be held in Saudi Arabia next year. E-Games, or competitive video gaming, have become popular in Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom has hosted several tournaments in the past. Critics, meanwhile, question the IOC's decision to hand the games over to Saudi Arabia, which has been under international scrutiny for its human rights abuses. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

There's a lot of tension and uncertainty in Venezuela, ahead of a crucial presidential election this weekend. The country's authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, wants to secure another six years in power, but there's a chance he will be defeated. Host Marco Werman gets the latest from The World's Tibisay Zea, who has been covering this election from Caracas.

The Olympics will go on in Paris, despite a massive sabotage campaign against France's rail system. Hundreds of thousands of travelers are stranded, including in the capital, and the police are investigating the incidents as a crime. But the Olympics opening ceremony, held on boats floating down the Seine river, will not be interrupted. The World's host, Marco Werman, talks to correspondent Gerry Hadden, who has been covering the Olympics in Paris.

Scribes in ancient Egypt suffered from repetitive stress injuries, according to a new study by Czech scientists published in the peer-reviewed journal "Scientific Reports." Host Marco Werman tells us how researchers examined the skeletons of royal scribes and discovered evidence of damage to the workers' jaw, neck and shoulder regions, likely from the sitting and kneeling that came with the job.

Joaquin Guzman Lopez and Ismael Zambada, both leaders in the Sinaloa Cartel, were arrested by US authorities after they landed on a runaway in New Mexico. The story behind the arrest and why they flew to the United States is not clear, but the possibilities are intriguing. Steven Dudley, the co-founder and co-director of Insight Crime, gives the background on who these two men are, what is known about the arrests and why cartel drug trafficking is harder than ever for the authorities to disrupt.

Canada's wildfire season is well underway and it has already sparked evacuations, destroyed homes and burned forests across Canada's national parks. The fire in Jasper National Park ended up causing major damage to the nearby town of Jasper. Residents and tourists alike were forced to flee. Host Marco Werman speaks with Joe Urie, a resident and owner of the Jasper Tour Company, about evacuating his town and what made it special prior to the fires.

Hong Kong isn't just a city. It's a brand - one that's taken a beating in recent years. The old image of Hong Kong, as a vibrant part of China where people could say almost anything they liked, has been damaged by a crackdown on dissidents, journalists and even artists. Now Hong Kong's government is spending millions on a campaign to get the city's mojo back. The World's Patrick Winn reports.