The World: Latest Stories

A new study shows that scientists at the University of Edinburgh have found a way to use bacteria to transform plastic bottles into drugs that can be used to treat Parkinson's disease.

On Tuesday, El Salvador's legislature approved an amendment to its constitution that would sentence "murderers, rapists and terrorists" to life in prison. It follows warnings by independent experts that the country's authoritarian President Nayib Bukele is strengthening his grip on the country. Host Marco Werman learned more from Jorge Cuellar, assistant professor of Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies at Dartmouth College.

Growing up near Sao Paulo, Mariana Da Cruz knew there was more to Brazilian music than just singing Bossa Nova tunes. She wanted to branch out and combine numerous other styles like hip-hop and electronica and explore her African roots with the latest sounds heard in dance clubs. A move to Europe allowed Da Cruz the freedom to experiment. Based now in Bern, Switzerland, the singer has had quite a journey. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler tell us more about her new album, "Som Sistema."

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it has killed top Iranian official, Ali Larijani. Larijani was de-facto running the country after the death of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Larijani was reportedly killed along with the head of a powerful paramilitary force. The World's Shirin Jaafari speaks with Host Marco Werman about the latest.

At the dawn of democracy in South Africa over 30 years ago, the country had to right some big wrongs. The Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP) was one such tool, by offering government-subsidized, low-cost homes to those who could not afford or access them previously. In their neat little rows of near-identical design, RDP houses are for free to the poorest and most needy. But as Elna Schutz reports from Johannesburg, the RDP hasn't always worked out as hoped.

The war in Iran is jamming up global travel on several fronts. In the Middle East, the conflict continues to force the grounding of flights. A jump in oil prices is also beginning to hit travel, with some airlines adding surcharges to their flights. Prices at the pump are skyrocketing, too, especially in Asia, where several countries are putting in place measures aimed at restricting the use of gas. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel has the story.

For many, death is an unsettling thing to think about, but not for the Swedish artist Margareta Magnusson, who passed away last week at the age of 91. In her 80s, she wrote, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning," a book that made the concept of dostadning" an international buzz concept and brought many some inspiration for how to de-clutter as we age. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke to Magnusson's daughter, filmmaker Jane, who joined from Stockholm.

Muslims around the globe are getting ready to celebrate the end of Ramadan - those weeks in the Muslim calendar when many abstain from food and water during the day and use that time for prayer and reflection instead. Chef Ilhan Mohamed Abdi has written a cookbook for Ramadan called "The Ramadan Kitchen: Nourishing Recipes from Fast to Feast." She spoke to The World's Host Carolyn Beeler.

Israelis maintain that the two men they killed this morning - Ali Larijani and Gholam Reza Soleimani - "are terrorists," and so, are fair game for assassination. But some historians say just because Israel could kill the men doesn't mean they should have. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

Cuba's entire electric grid collapsed for several hours yesterday. Gas stations on the island have had little fuel to sell since the US choked off access to foreign oil about two months ago. Cuban leaders say they're in talks with US officials and are ready to open their economy to foreign investors. From Havana, journalist Ed Augustin tells The World's Host Marco Werman a forced transition of leadership in Cuba would involve major risks.

Praveen Sahay is originally from India - where he was a police officer. Sahay was sent to Mozambique in 1994 as part of the UN peacekeeping force overseeing the country's first multi-party elections. He told GBH's Stories From The Stage why he was forced to put down his gun.

Composer Christopher Tin's music uplifts, while the words quietly remind us of the power of a birdsong, with lines borrowed from Emily Dickinson. The musicians who played on "The Lost Birds" are part of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.This story originally aired on Nov. 8, 2022.

Two proposals for giant statues in Madrid are stirring up controversy. Bigger is better, organizers argue. But a tiny, life-size statue of a stray dog, in downtown Madrid, proves the opposite for some. Paco the Dog sits quietly, keeping a city legend alive. Or is it a true story? The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

Paul Ehrlich, famed co-author of "The Population Bomb," died last week at the age of 93. The book argued that rapid global population growth would outstrip food supplies, leading to famine and environmental collapse. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Michael Geruso, co-author of After the Spike, about Ehrlich's legacy.

South Korea's rental market operates on what's known as the Jeonse system. You put down a deposit equal to about 50% of the value of the home you're renting. So, no small investment. But then, you pay no monthly rent, and get the Jeonse back when you move out. Traditionally, middle and upper class families gave newlyweds money for their first Jeonse as a wedding gift. But with skyrocketing real estate costs, the system is out of reach for more and more people. Now, concerns about South Korea's declining birthrate have prompted a new government intervention. Reporter Jason Strother reports from Seoul.

Serbia has been having an uncomfortable winter - thanks to an energy crisis rooted in its struggle to balance East and West. Its national oil company has been under US sanctions because of its majority Russian-ownership. Now, it looks like a resolution to the ownership issue may come courtesy of neighboring Hungary. But the bigger question is whether there's been lasting damage to the relationship between Serbia and Russia. Deutsche Welle, DW's, Inside Europe's Balkans Correspondent Guy De Launey reports.

The war in Iran suggests many of the doctrines, rules and assumptions that shaped US military strategy for decades might no longer apply. Margaret MacMillan, an emeritus professor of history at the University of Oxford talks with The World's Host Marco Werman about the consequences of dispensing with the international rulesbased order that attempted to govern global conflict and constrain the use of force under law.

Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Falmouth, Massachusetts, have discovered a haunting whale song on decades-old audio equipment. This discovery could open up a new understanding of how the huge animals communicate, according to the scientists. Host Marco Werman has the details.

Not long ago, many predicted Myanmar's imminent collapse. But the country's regime isn't going anywhere soon. Next week, a new parliament under military control convenes. Almost no countries, except for China and Russia, have said they'll recognize it - this government is the fruit of a rigged election - but it does offer the regime a sense of staying power. Moving forward, Myanmar's army generals will keep pulling the strings, but from behind the curtain, offering the new government a very thin veneer of civilian rule. Reporter Patrick Winn has our story.

Canada has announced the details of a plan to modernize and expand its military operations in its Arctic region. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, about why the government is making this move.

Foreign films are not just getting more Oscar attention this year - nearly half of all the films nominated are international productions. That includes some top contenders for the Best Picture category like "Secret Agent" and "Sentimental Value." The World's Host Marco Werman speaks to film critic Sarah Vincent, who catches us up on Hollywood's growing affinity for foreign films.

The Winter Paralympics in Cortina, Italy, are coming to an end this weekend. It's been an especially treacherous one for the participants as higher-than-normal temperatures have seen melting snow and ice. The World's Host Marco Werman has the details.

If opinion polls are correct, then France is poised to swing to the right over the course of local elections taking place over two rounds starting this Sunday. Could Paris - which has been run by a Socialist party for a quarter of a century - buck the trend? The result is predicted to be tight. Deutsche Welle, DW's, Inside Europe Correspondent John Laurenson has been taking the pulse of the city.

Of the thousands of immigrants swept up in the Trump administration's deportation campaign, there's one group you may not have heard much about: Asians. That's in part because many of them, including South Asians, have not come forward with stories of being targeted by federal agents. WBEZ's Esther Yoon-Ji Kang hears why the community has been so hesitant - and what might be changing.

The most intense bombing of Iran by the US and Israel has been taking place in the capital, Tehran. It's a city of roughly 10 million people living in dense areas. In wars, the most vulnerable among the population bear the brunt of the conflict - children, the elderly, those with disabilities. The World's Shirin Jaafari speaks with Host Marco Werman about what she's hearing from people in Tehran.

A little-known part of US history is that our country once occupied Haiti. A new documentary looks at that occupation 100 years ago. It's framed as a letter to the director's grandfather, who grew up in Haiti under US rule. The director shows the brutality and terrible economic impact of the 19-year occupation, and how it's set Haiti up as a country continually on the brink of collapse. Amy Bracken reports.

Zig-Zag Band was a household name in Zimbabwe in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a band committed to the style of music its members helped to pioneer: chigiyo. It's a mix of reggae, mbira-inspired guitar, brass arrangements and dance rhythms. The group has long since disbanded, but a new compilation of its music has come out. It's called "Zig-Zag Band: Chigiyo Music Kings 1987-1998." Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the story.

Vienna's coffee houses are such a central part of life of the Austrian capital that UNESCO has added them to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list. But one Viennese cafe is doing things a little differently. More than half of its workers are well over the age of 65, and the cakes baked fresh each day come from their own family recipes. The idea is to create an intergenerational cafe where younger and older people can meet and talk. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry visited the cafe in Vienna.

A group of musicians in Minneapolis discovered that Celtic music and traditional sounds from Guinea were very much alike. So, they created a band. From Minnesota Public Radio, Jacob Aloi reports.

The 32 countries belonging to the International Energy Agency agreed Wednesday to release 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves. It's the largest emergency release of oil ever from those reserves. The sudden drop of oil supplies because of the war on Iran has disrupted life and commercial operations in many ways. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman zoom in on three different places with people who live there: India, Japan and South Africa.

A new law in China will promote "ethnic unity," making it compulsory to use Mandarin in schools, government and other public-facing activities. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Lhadon Tethong, director of the Tibetan Action Institute, about what this means for the ethnic minority groups in China.

Sudan's conflict has deep ties to Gulf nations. And it's one where drone warfare has dramatically altered the battlefield. Nabih Bulos, the Middle East bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times has just returned from Sudan. He tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that bringing an end to the crisis will require "true will" on the part of governments, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The Israeli strikes on several fuel depots in Iran over the weekend left residents struggling with their breathing. The fires engulfed parts of Tehran, releasing toxic fumes into the air. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports on the short and possible long-term health consequences of the fires.

Yesterday, we brought you a story about several members of Iran's national women's soccer team being granted asylum in Australia after refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem before a match in the AFC Women's Asian Cup. As of this morning, one of the seven players who had decided to stay has changed her mind and will instead return home to Iran. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more details.

Brasiliano is a combination of Portuguese and African and Indigenous languages. Many advocates says it's a truer reflection of the complex history and people of Brazil and that Brasiliano should replace Brazilian Portuguese as the official language. Musician Lucas Santtana agrees and even calls his new album "Brasiliano." Santtana recently spoke to Host Marco Werman.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been vocal about staying out of the war in Iran. But two recent missiles intercepted on their way to Turkish territory is making that harder. In Istanbul, residents hope that their government sticks to its guns. Eda Uzunlar reports from Istanbul.

Artificial intelligence is a game changer across many fields these days and mathematics is no exception. Yet, the rapid acceleration of its ability to solve some of arithmetic's most challenging proofs has left many a mathematician wondering how they fit into future equations. The World's Host Marco Werman spoke to one such human mathematician, Daniel Litt, at the University of Toronto.

After being pummeled for 12 days by airstrikes, Iran has stepped up its asymmetric naval warfare. It has reportedly begun planting an initial tranche of naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil chokepoint. Shashank Joshi, defense editor at The Economist, tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that a small number of mines are sufficient to scare off global shippers.

Amid the ICE raids in Minnesota's Twin Cities, one group that's been especially targeted is the Hmong community. It's been half a century since they came to the US as refugees for helping the US during the Vietnam War. Now, they're feeling a sense of betrayal from the US government. The World's Sara Hassan takes a look at what they've been experiencing.

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman take us through some headlines that might have flown below your radar.

After Mexican forces killed cartel leader "El Mencho," questions remain about the future of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Experts say the group's reach extends far beyond drug trafficking - into extortion, fuel theft, human trafficking and many parts of Mexico's economy. With the country preparing to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, analysts say cartel leaders may try to keep a low profile. But the long-term future of the organization remains uncertain. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Mexico City.

It's a troubling chapter of American history that is often overlooked: The incarceration of more than 120,000 US residents of Japanese descent during World War II, following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. Today, survivors of those internment camps worry that similar social and political conditions exist that could lead to internment camps popping up again. KQED's Keith Mizuguchi reports.

With the Academy Awards coming up this weekend, we turn our ears to a new interpretation of soundtrack music from the late Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson, performed by German-Japanese classical pianist Alice Sara Ott. As The World's Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain, she was inspired by the intimacy of Johannsson's work as a contrast to the dissonance of the modern world.

Several members of Iran's soccer team were given asylum by the Australian government. It follows the women's team refusing to sing the national anthem during one of their games at the Asian Women's Cup last week. The World's Host Marco Werman learns more from Nazanin Nour, an Iranian American actor and activist based in Los Angeles.

Since the Iran war began, Iran has been sending drone and missiles into its Gulf state neighbors' territories, targeting both Western military bases and civilian and infrastructure hubs. The Gulf countries insist this is not their war, but Iran doesn't see it that way. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

Nine out of 10 countries have goals for increasing the amount of exercise their populations get. But globally, the percentage of people who meet recommendations for physical activity has not increased. That's partly because, while being inactive has similar detrimental health impacts as smoking, it's not a political priority to reverse the problem. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Andrea Ramirez Varela. She's an epidemiologist at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, and has been looking into why this is the case.

A new report from Human Rights Watch finds that drone strikes targeting Haitian gangs have killed dozens of civilians and children. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Juanita Goebertus Estrada, director of the Human Rights Watch's Americas division, and Widlore Merancourt, the editor of the Haitian news outlet Ayibopost in Port-au-Prince.

A former Austrian intelligence officer is on trial in Vienna accused of spying for Russia. It has been described as Austria's biggest espionage scandal in years. The case has put a spotlight on Russian intelligence operations in the country and on Austria's unusually lax spy laws. From Vienna, The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco review news headlines from across the globe flying just under the radar.

Immigrant-owned businesses are a staple around the US. But in general, they have less access to loans and capital, and now they're also feeling the effects of Trump administration policies. That includes losing foot traffic and staffing due to immigration enforcement, plus the rising costs of goods. GBH's Sarah Betancourt reports from Chelsea, a neighborhood of Boston.