The World: Latest Stories

For almost two years, Palestinians in Gaza have been recording everything - some as trained journalists, others as citizen journalists. They're documenting what's happening all around them, recording as much as possible in case their version of events is called into question. But it's more than that, too: they're also making sure the world knows they existed. The World's Shirin Jaafari explains.

Today marks 80 year since Japan surrendered to allied forces - including China - at the end of World War II. Decades later, China-Japan relations are as complex as ever. Competition between the US and China has grown, and now Japan is caught in the middle. Daisuke Kawai offered a perspective on those dynamics, in conversation with Host Marco Werman. Kawai is Director of the Economic Security and Policy Innovation Program at the University of Tokyo.

It's the final day of talks in Geneva to to nail down a global treaty governing the lifecycle of plastic. But negotiations have hit an impasse. One of the main disagreements pertains to plastic production. Many countries want to set a universal target for reducing the amount of plastic being produced, but others worry about potential economic impacts. Chris Dixon, an observer with the Environment Investigations Agency, joined The World's Host Marco Werman from Geneva.

Fiona Hill advised US President Donald Trump on Russia during his first term and is now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. She's also one of the few people to have been in a room with Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. She's watched their dynamics up close. As the high-stakes Alaska summit approaches, she shares concerns and predictions with The World's Host Marco Werman.

Historically, for athletes, playing for the Canadian Hockey League has meant giving up a big opportunity: playing NCAA hockey in the US. This season, though, that all changes. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

A children's song both loved and reviled for its stuck-in-your-head catchiness has been at the center of a legal dispute since 2019, when an American composer filed a lawsuit in Seoul alleging that the Korean band Pinkfong copied his song. The World's Host Marco Werman has the latest on today's ruling.

Flight attendants for Canada's largest airline are planning to walk off the job at midnight Saturday. The move could ground all Air Canada flights for more than a week, leaving 130,000 travelers a day stranded, or scrambling for alternate routes. Wages are at the center of the dispute. But as The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel reports, one of the key sticking points is whether - and how much - flight attendants should be paid when planes aren't moving.

Experts say extremist groups are using artificial intelligence to produce propaganda and appeal to new audiences. Far-right groups as well as ISIS and others are relying on AI tools more and more. The World's Shirin Jaafari explains.

In Peru, an amnesty bill has been signed into law, protecting members of the military and law enforcement from being held accountable for alleged human rights abuses during the 1980s and 1990s. That's when civil war brought torture, forced disappearances and the killing of civilians to the country. Host Marco Werman has more.

Vanna Howard was just 11 years old when she came to the US from Cambodia. She didn't speak any English. Apart from fleeing the large-scale violence that plagued Cambodia, Howard also experienced violence in her personal life. But instead of hiding that part of her past, she decided to use her pain to advocate for change. Vanna Howard shared her experiences with GBH's Stories From The Stage.

A recent World Health Organization report finds that nearly a quarter of people across Africa are feeling lonely. That's the highest among the global regions covered in the findings. The World's Host Marco Werman learned more from Lateefat Odunuga, a clinical psychologist and advisor to the African Network of Youth Policy Experts.

A deadly heat wave is scorching southern Europe with record-breaking temperatures this month. In Italy, a 4-year-old boy died from heatstroke on Monday, while 16 Italian cities, including Rome and Milan, are now on a red heat alert. Environmentalists say lawmakers there are doing far too little to respond. In Milan, some residents are taking matters into their own hands. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports from the Italian city.

US President Donald Trump joined a summit online today, hosted by Germany's chancellor. Other European leaders took part and so did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump said the call went well and was "very friendly." Trump plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin face-to-face on Friday in Alaska. The US president also said today that Russia will face "severe consequences" if Putin doesn't agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine at this week's meeting.

A 2024 study by the University of Manchester found that more than two-thirds of women surveyed experienced harassment while running, including threats, verbal abuse and having objects thrown at them. Now, the Surrey Police Department is trying an unconventional plan to tackle the issue. The World's Host Marco Werman has the details.

US officials have unsealed an indictment against Haitian gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier and three Haiti-born naturalized US citizens for conspiring to violate US sanctions. The Miami Herald's Jacqueline Charles tells The World's Host Marco Werman that Haitians at home and abroad are skeptical the move will undercut the power of the criminal gangs.

The Spanish town of Jumilla has said that only sports are allowed at its municipal gyms, and no religious celebrations. For Muslims in Jumilla, that means there's nowhere to hold large events. Spain's far-right applauds the move but some locals see it as religious provocation in a place where people usually get along. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

North Korea has a secret army of workers applying for remote IT jobs around the world. They collect paychecks, sometimes steal company data and answer to a boss who isn't at company headquarters - he's sitting in Pyongyang. What happens when one of these workers makes it past the front door of a US company? Dina Temple-Raston, the host of the Click Here" podcast from Recorded Future News and PRX, has the story.

One of the largest power plants in France, located near the city of Calais, had four reactors shut down automatically on Sunday. The culprit? Lots of jellyfish. The World's Host Marco Werman explains.

Air carriers around the world are expanding premium seats and luxury cabins for big spenders. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt of the San Francisco-based Atmosphere Research Group about new offerings - like showers and double beds - for passengers willing to pay top dollar for seats on commercial flights.

Russian troops are advancing deeper into eastern Ukraine, just days ahead of a summit in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders are set to discuss Ukraine's fate. But Kyiv resident Maia Mikaluk tells The World's Host Marco Werman that her country's future shouldn't be decided without Ukrainians at the table.

Public toilets: at best, they're functional, at worst, dirty, dark and even unsafe. But in Shibuya, a busy ward in Tokyo, Japan, officials want public toilets to inspire wonder. Last year, they started a tour of 17 bathroom facilities designed by world-class artists and architects. One is housed inside a glowing cube, another resembles a fairy-like woodland dwelling and yet another toilet, operated by voice, will clean your backside on command. The World's Patrick Winn filed this report last summer.This story originally aired on June 21, 2024.

Amid the hunger and devastation in Gaza, donkeys and horses are vital for survival. Cars are few and fuel is scarce. So, people use animals for transportation. But after months of almost no aid entering, and with much of the infrastructure destroyed, the animals are suffering, too. Outside organizations are trying to help. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

Host Marco Werman introduces us to a duo from Estonia known as Puuluup, embracing a musical folk tradition in their country that elevates the sound of a lyre called the talharpa. Puuluup sits in an awkward space in which tradition is not always comfortable in the present day, and they make that work for them.

Far-right parties are surging in popularity in Europe and environmentalists say their influence could put the EU's climate agenda in jeopardy. Italy's populist prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has become one of the most outspoken critics of the EU's green policies. Activists warn her growing influence could ripple across the continent. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports from Milan.

From Chile's National Center for Artificial Intelligence to universities across the continent, researchers are training Latam-GPT, an artificial intelligence model built with the languages, cultures and histories of Latin America in mind. Advocates say it's about reclaiming digital sovereignty. Critics warn it could still mirror the same biases and inequalities as foreign models. The World's Tibisay Zea looks at the hopes, risks, and grassroots efforts to make AI work for the region.

Host Marco Werman shares a few thoughts about a pocket knife he's had for decades. It's an old memento from a time he worked on a farm in France - a French knife made by the company Opinel. But the company has stated that it intends to change the design of the knife's lock, a move that no doubt will upset Opinel purists.

The British government is giving China until Aug. 20 to clarify its plans for a new mega-embassy outside of central London. The blueprints submitted by Beijing for approval included areas in the new building that were left blank, apparently for "security reasons." But plenty of experts say that allowing China to build a new embassy complex in this part of London would be a security risk for the UK. The World's Matthew Bell has the story.

Milan is no stranger to sweltering heat in August, but this summer, high temperatures arrived early. A study from Imperial College London reported that, in June, the city suffered the highest number of heat-related deaths in all of Europe. Climate scientists say that should be a wake-up call. Yet on Milan's streets, frustration is growing as residents accuse city leaders of ignoring the crisis. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports from Milan, Italy.

An Israeli strike on a press tent outside a Gaza hospital Sunday killed five Al Jazeera journalists, including prominent reporter Anas al-Sharif. The Committee to Protect Journalists had previously warned about the danger to al-Sharif's life. From Jordan, Sara Qudah, the Middle East and North Africa regional director for the CPJ, tells The World's Host Marco Werman the deaths are part of a pattern of press intimidation.

China is experiencing its largest-ever outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease that causes fever, nausea and severe joint pain. More than 8,000 people have contracted the disease around the Guangdong province. Health authorities are enacting strict protocols to contain the spread. Host Marco Werman speaks with Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign relations, about the outbreak.

Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay has died at the hospital. That was confirmed by his wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona. Uribe had been shot three times at a campaign rally in a working class neighborhood in Bogota, a brazen act of political violence that recalls the cartel-driven violence of the 1990s. He was rushed to the hospital, where he remained in critical condition until his death on Monday. Host Marco Werman has the details.

This weekend in Tampere, Finland, fans of a chubby hippopotamus-like cartoon family flocked to the Moomin Museum for the characters' 80th birthday party. Host Marco Werman has more.

Plastic waste has a devastating impact on Ghanaian communities, but one innovator is transforming discarded plastic into desks for schools. His initiative addresses both environmental damage and the widespread problem of pupils sitting on bare floors in classrooms. Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman has the story from the capital, Accra.

If you're looking for something a little off the beaten track this summer, then may we suggest that you try out the village billing itself as Europe's first-ever bear smart community?" And no, we're not taking you to the forests of Finland or the mountains of Romania - but to the central Italian village of Pettorano sul Gizio, where brown bears really do regularly wander into gardens. How is the community dealing with these overly curious ursine visitors? Angelo Van Schaik has been finding out.

Crimea has come up time and again throughout the ceasefire negotiations between the US, Russia and Ukraine. In recent weeks, there have been media reports that the United States has been trying to pressure Ukraine to make territorial concessions, including Crimea, in exchange for a ceasefire. The World's Daniel Ofman reports on the history of Crimea, and it's status within ceasefire talks.

This week, the Trump administration announced funding cuts to mRNA vaccine development research in the US, but researchers have warned that the impacts will be felt internationally. To get a handle on those impacts we turned to Gaby Galvin, she's a Brussels-based health reporter with the broadcaster Euronews.

Ghana has approved the world's first malaria drug for newborns, marking a breakthrough in infant care. But as rollout nears, US funding cuts are hurting promotional campaigns for the drug. The lack of money is also freezing critical research - threatening long-term progress in the fight against the disease. Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman has the story.This story was produced with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

The tennis world has a new underdog to root for: Victoria Mboko. At just 18 years old, Mboko won her first Women's Tennis Association title last night at the Canadian Open in Montreal. She entered the tournament as a wildcard, but stunned fans by making it all the way to the finals. Host Marco Werman has the details.

Palestinians in Gaza reacted with dread to the announcement that Israel's security cabinet had approved a plan to take control of Gaza City. Salma Altaweel, a mother of four who lives in Gaza City and works for the Norwegian Refugee Council, says she and her family are "extremely exhausted" after nearly two years of war.

Amid war and political instability, one Lebanese man has thrown himself into creating a new hiking path in his home country. Gilbert Moukheiber started the project during the COVID-19 pandemic, when tourism dropped. He now leads hiking tours on trails in the north and east of the country. The World's Shirin Jaafari brings us the story.

From a song in "Les Miserables" to a hand gesture in "The Hunger Games," these are just a couple of examples from Western pop culture that activists in Asia have hooked onto when protesting authoritarian governments, especially China's. Jeffrey Wasserstrom has been looking closely at this phenomenon. His new book is "The Milk Tea Alliance: Inside Asia's Struggle against Autocracy and Beijing." Wasserstrom spoke recently to The World's Host Marco Werman.

Israel's cabinet is facing backlash following its announcement to expand military control in Gaza. Families of Israeli hostages, as well as those seeking the return of their loved ones' remains, have responded with deep frustration and a sense of betrayal. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Ruby Chen, the father of Chen, a 19-year-old American Israeli IDF soldier who was serving in a tank battalion on the Gaza border on Oct. 7, 2023.

Most European countries say they expect to close their coal power stations in the next five years. But what will that transition look like? How will it reshape communities, and people's lives? There is a model. The UK was the first-ever country to announce a full coal phase-out, and it was a bumpy transition. From Deutsche Welle, DW, Dan Ashby reports.

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.