The World: Latest Stories

Some of the most famous buildings in the world are made from earth and clay, and they date back thousands of years. Now earth homes are making a comeback, as engineers try to reduce carbon emissions. Manuel Rueda has the story from Colombia.This story originally aired on Feb. 18, 2025.

Please Don't Touch The Art" is sort of a golden rule at museums and exhibitions, but Berlin-based artist Joseph Marr has a to deal with a slightly different issue: People have been licking his sculptures. It doesn't help that, for over a decade, his medium has been sugar. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learned more from the artist himself.

The US and Israel carried out the most intense round of airstrikes on Iran on Friday. Residents in the capital, Tehran, report multiple explosions around the city. At least 1,000 people have been killed so far in those attacks, according to the country's Red Crescent Society. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

After a week of near-constant sirens and retaliatory attacks from Iran and now Hezbollah, life is still completely disrupted across Israel, especially in the northern region, where strikes are most frequent. New polling shows how the Israeli public is responding. Reporter Noga Tarnopolsky gives Host Carolyn Beeler a ground's-eye view from Israel.

The war in the Middle East is just under a week old, but the history of US intervention in Iran dates back to the 1950s. We take a step back to look at the history of relations between Iran and the United States with Naghmeh Sohrabi, a professor of Middle East history at Brandeis University. She joins Host Carolyn Beeler to explain.

In northern latitudes and high altitudes, the permafrost layer is a layer of earth that stays frozen year round. It's that layer of permafrost that holds many mountain summits together. As climate change drives up global temperatures, much of that permafrost is starting to thaw. That thawing in turn loosens the soil, which can collapse and turn into landslides. National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek is in Alaska, where he spent time with a man creating an early warning system for landslides to help communities there prepare. He tells Host Carolyn Beeler all about what he learned.

Thousands of Africans have fought in Ukraine over the past four years of war. Exact numbers are hazy, but Ukraine estimates that over 1,700 are actively serving Russia today, and Kenya's intelligence service says over a thousand of its citizens have fought. Last week, Ghana's foreign minister said at least 55 Ghanaians have died in the war. Kunle Adebajo is editor of the African Academy for Open Source Investigations. He's the lead researcher on a recent dossier looking into African casualties in the war in Ukraine. He joined the show from the Nigerian capital Abuja.

Catrin Finch is a world renowned harpist from Wales. She is known for her collaborations, but her newest recording is a solo project. It features recent works that Finch, now in her 40s, composed and dedicated to her 13-year-old self. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler offer some soothing sounds from Finch's latest recording, "Note to Self."

Earlier in the show, we heard about the rings of expansion in the fighting that began over the weekend. Now, Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler catch you up on some of the political developments we've been watching in this war over the last 24 hours.

In South Korea, food waste already gets recycled on trash day. That's the law - no food sent the way of the landfill. But that hasn't cut back on the amount of food waste coming out of people's kitchens in the first place. Jason Strother reports from Seoul on the latest attempt to change that.

An art exhibition in the Czech Republic's capital Prague is causing a good bit of consternation. It details the political struggle for cultural expression in neighboring Slovakia. The exhibition is called Free National Gallery - Description of a Struggle" and documents the dismissals, resignations, strikes and standoffs in Slovakia under the populist government of current Prime Minister Robert Fico. From Prague, Deutsche Welle, DW's, Rob Cameron reports.

What began as a US-Israeli campaign against Iran within the Middle East is spreading far beyond the region. It now includes Iranian drones striking an airport in Azerbaijan, NATO forces shooting down a missile headed toward Turkish airspace and a US submarine sinking an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean. Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group, speaks with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about how and why the conflict is expanding.

New Bedford, Massachusetts, is know for its whaling and fishing industry. It's also known for it's large and vibrant Portuguese community. A new podcast called "Catching the Codfather" looks at one man who left Portugal for New Bedford in 1968 and began working in the fishing industry. By the 1980s he was a multi-millionaire. Then the IRS came calling. Host Ian Coss offers this excerpt from the podcast.

As the war between the US, Israel and Iran unfolds, another battle is playing out online. Within minutes of the first strikes, misleading videos and images began spreading across social media - from recycled footage to AI-generated visuals. Experts say the early hours of a crisis create the perfect conditions for misinformation to thrive. Reporter Tibisay Zea examines how false narratives spread during conflicts, why they're hard to trace and what people can do to avoid amplifying them.

Police in the UK have arrested 3 men accused of spying for the Chinese government. The accused include the partner of a sitting member of Parliament. The World's Marco Werman spoke with Kerry Brown, director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London, about the arrests and the larger UK-China relationship.

The war waged by Israel and the US on Iran is fast-changing and fast-expanding. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman share some of the most recent developments we're keeping our eyes on.

Anti-government demonstrations last September in Nepal, largely driven by college students, saw 76 people dead and the government dissolved. Now, some six months later, the country is holding elections this weekend. One of the big winners is expected be a 35-year-old rapper and former mayor of Kathmandu. From the Nepalese capital, Danielle Preiss reports.

Israel has ordered people in dozens of border villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately." It has carried out airstrikes on the suburbs of Beirut. Israel says its attacks are in response to Hezbollah's firing of rockets and drones into northern Israel, killing more than 50 people. Hezbollah, which is a strong supporter of the Iranian government, carried out the attacks in retaliation for Israel's war in Iran, and the killing of the country's Supreme Leader over the weekend.

For decades, Washington has pressured Havana to open its economy to private investment. Those calls grew more urgent in recent weeks as the US oil blockade pushed Cuba's economy into a tailspin. Now, the Trump administration has begun easing certain trade restrictions, while officials on the island are making overtures to the nascent private sector. Ricardo Herrero of the Cuba Study Group discusses the implications with The World's Carolyn Beeler.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has forbidden the US from using its two American bases in Spain to support the Iran attacks. Trump has threatened to cut economic ties with Spain in retaliation. But as The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona, that's not very likely to happen.

Peru has seen significant rain and flooding for the past several weeks, resulting in damaged infrastructure and 68 confirmed deaths so far. Local authorities have linked these rains to the start of a coastal El Nino. The World's Carolyn Beeler speaks with scientist Pedro Rau about what's happening.

The Brazilian film "The Secret Agent" has been one of the buzziest and most awarded films at festivals and ceremonies around the globe this past year, and it's heading into the Oscars in under two weeks with four nominations including best picture and actor. Something that also stands out is its selection of music from the period of dictatorship in Brazil in which the film is set. We hear one particular track that was well known to Brazilian audiences in the 1970s.

They may not have seen it coming, but now that the US and Israel have taken out Iran's top leadership and continue to pound targets, the majority of European nations are lending their diplomatic support and, in some cases, military support to the cause. But the European Union wants this conflict resolved fast, as instability in the Middle East has a direct impact on its own stability. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

As the US-Israeli war with Iran carries on through its fourth day, some of the Trump administration's justifications for the war have shifted. But one objective has remained constant so far: Preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, despite Trump claiming that US airstrikes obliterated" Iran's nuclear program last June. To better understand this specific US objective, The World's Marco Werman spoke to Darya Dolzikova. She's a nuclear proliferation expert at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies in the United Kingdom.

In China, the city of Hefei has deployed a legion of robots to staff its local metro stations. Those robots help passengers find directions and assist the human workers with maintenance. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more details on what could be a glimpse at the future of rail travel in China.

The assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was a jolt for Iran. But its political system is built to sustain abrupt change. History shows the regime has been able to quickly find new leaders and avert crises. From Doha, Ali Hashem, a war correspondent affiliated with the University of London, tells The World's Carolyn Beeler that US President Donald Trump's call for Iranians to seize this moment" and topple the regime may be wishful thinking.

Last month, five European governments shared the results of an investigation into the death of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison. They said Russia's government was responsible. That's not surprising. But the means used to kill him were something new: a substance derived from South American frogs. From London, reporters Ilya Kolmanovsky and Ilya Marritz report it's a gruesome new entry in the long history of Russian chemical killings.

Purim in Israel is usually a festival, with street parades and games for kids who often dress up in costumes, much like Halloween in the US. This year, the celebration goes on, but underground in parking garages. The World's Aaron Schachter reports on one such party in Tel Aviv.

Thomas Gould, the Irish politician who recently captured global attention because of his distinctive accent, says he has been overwhelmed by the volume of messages received from social media users worldwide, particularly from Jamaica. Gould, a member of Sinn Fein, went viral after a speech he delivered in the Irish parliament in early January began circulating across social media platforms. The World's Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more.

The World's Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler catch us up on a few stories you may have missed.

The impact of the bombing of Iran is rippling outward, drawing in multiple Middle Eastern governments through direct attacks, defensive operations and diplomatic fallout. Shockwaves are reverberating into Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Lebanon. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Giorgio Cafiero, the head of Gulf State Analytics, a Washington DC-based geopolitical risk consultancy, about the spreading instability.

While Iran has not officially closed the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps this weekend reportedly told ships they were not allowed through the vital sea lane, sources told Reuters. The strait is vital for the oil trade and prices have already jumped as the conflict widens. Some countries are more reliant on Gulf oil than others - that includes China, which has about half of its oil imports passing through the strait. To help understand the implications, The World's Host Marco Werman spoke to Ahmed Aboudouh, an associate fellow at Chatham House in London.

Tens of thousands of travelers - and pieces of cargo - are stranded around the globe today. That's because several countries in the Middle East closed their airspace after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran over the weekend. It was followed by retaliatory airstrikes by Tehran on Israel and several Gulf Arab countries with US bases, causing the widespread cancellations and delays at some of the world's busiest airports. As The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel reports, the conflict has sparked one of the most significant disruptions to air travel in recent history.

Three medical totems" have just been installed at a public health clinic in Jordao, Acre, a remote area in the Amazon where the doctor-patient ratio is the lowest in Brazil. The machines are the first in a total of seven that will be placed in the area to measure vital signs and host virtual appointments. The totems, which also translate to the local Indigenous language, were developed by a doctor at the tech company Foxconn in Jundiai, almost 2,000 miles away, and funded by government subsidies. Gisele Regatao reports.

The southern Spanish region of Andalusia is embroiled in a struggle which is pitting the countryside's traditional olive farmers against mega solar park projects. Souwie Buis has been following the developments for our partners at the Deutsche Welle, DW, program, "Inside Europe."

As the US and Israel continue their attacks on Iran, the capital Tehran has turned into a war zone. Residents say they are fearful for their lives. The World's Shirin Jaafari has been in touch with some of them and brings us the latest on the ground.

Feb. 27 is Pokemon Day. That's the anniversary of the release date of the first two video games of the franchise, Pokemon Red and Pokemon Green. This year is the 30th anniversary of those first releases, and Pokemon is bigger than ever. Host Carolyn Beeler marks the occasion with a brief history of Pokemon's rise to global prominence.

Izmir, Turkey, is running out of water. In the past few months, the city's reservoir hit 1% full. But most Turks don't seem to be getting the message. Water bans are done overnight and are barely noticeable. And the government seems to be having trouble making it clear that people need to conserve. So, the city is using ever-more groundwater. Ben Delico reports from Izmir.

Mexico has some of the longest working hours in the industrialized world. Now, Congress has approved a plan to gradually cut the legal workweek from 48 to 40 hours by 2030. Supporters call it a historic step. Critics say it still leaves workers with just one guaranteed day off. From Mexico City, Tibisay Zea reports on the debate over time, productivity and labor rights.

Access to mental health care is out of reach for many Nigerians. That's because the country has fewer than 300 psychiatrists serving a population of over 240 million. And what few there are, are concentrated in urban areas, making them inaccessible to many rural Nigerians. So, some organizations have released AI-powered chatbots that can provide emotional support and help connect patients with other resources. But as Taiwo James Obindo from the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria tells Host Carolyn Beeler, those tools are not without flaws.

"Daughters of Donbas: Songs of Stolen Children," is a Ukrainian musical group that seeks to give voice to the roughly 20,000 children who Russia has abducted from occupied Ukrainian territories. The project is led by a Ukrainian-Canadian singer and a young flutist who was rescued from abduction. Deutsche Welle, DW's, Arts Journalist Breandain O'Shea reports.

This week, Cuban border patrol fired on a Florida-registered speedboat that entered Cuban territorial waters, killing four people and wounding others. Havana has blamed the US for allowing anti-government groups to operate on its soil. The incident comes at a time when tensions between the island and the US have increased. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

In southern Italy, in the shadow of Mt. Etna, volcanic ash is part of life, and for generations its been used as fertilizer for agriculture. Now, the rest of the world is catching on, and companies are popping up in the region to collect and sell that ash elsewhere. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Mario Pagliaro, research director at Italy's National Resource Council, about why volcanic ash works as a fertilizer.

On Thursday night, Pakistan's military fended off attacks by the Taliban along the border with Afghanistan. The country's air force retaliated Friday morning, with targeted airstrikes in Kabul and Kandahar. It's the latest outburst of tensions between the two neighbors. As the rhetoric ratchets up, The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learned more from Ibraheem Bahiss, a senior analyst with Crisis Group, who joined the show from Kabul.

Four years into the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukrainians are facing one of the harshest winters yet, with energy cuts shaping daily life in profound ways. Emily Cohen reports from outside Kyiv on how people are adapting and persevering in real time.

Istanbul, Turkey, is an opposition haven for Iranians, and in the last few years, more and more cafes, restaurants and cultural spaces have opened up in various parts of the city. Iranian business owners, especially of bookstores and event spaces, say they have more freedom of expression and access to foreigners with money. Reporter Fariba Nawa reports from Istanbul on what these cultural spaces offer Iranians at a critical moment in history.

An agreement between the US and Zimbabwe, where the US would send health aid directly to the country, has collapsed. The Zimbabwean government rejected the deal over concerns about data sharing and sovereignty issues. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Stephen Morrison, director of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Security and International Studies, about this strategy.

In Denmark today, the country's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced new elections.

Dozens of humanitarian aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam, face expulsion from Gaza and the West Bank as soon as this weekend, unless they hand over detailed personal information about their staff to Israeli authorities. Jerusalem-based journalist Noga Tarnopolsky tells The World's Host Marco Werman there's simply no alternative in place" to provide critically needed aid for Palestinians.

At a time when Indigenous people in the Brazilian rainforest face deforestation, land grabs and threats to survival, one group is finding international acclaim for its art. Members of MAHKU have had high profile showings, including at the Venice Biennale and Miami's Art Basel. Gisele Regatao traveled through the rainforest to capture the mystery behind their success.