The World: Latest Stories

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler catch us up on a few global headlines flying under the radar.

Vietnam's parliament has voted to abolish the death penalty for eight criminal offenses, including embezzlement and espionage. One high-profile beneficiary of the change is a billionaire property tycoon who is one of Vietnam's richest businesswomen. Qunh Vi Trn, who runs the nonprofit Legal Initiatives for Vietnam, speaks with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about the implications.

A leaked US Defense Intelligence Agency's assessment said the damage to Iran's nuclear program from American bombing pushed the program back by months. An Israeli intelligence assessment claimed it pushed it back years. The Trump administration insists it was "obliterated." The World's Host Marco Werman talks with Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, about the methods intelligence agencies use to determine what's going on.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the NATO summit at the Hague today, and notably was wearing a suit. It's a departure from the military-style clothing he's worn since Russia's full-scale invasion of his country more than three years ago. Host Marco Werman has more on why the leader's wardrobe gets so much attention.

As frustration grows with a lack of solutions coming from the COP29 summit, one city in India serves as an example of making change on a local level. In 2013, Ahmedabad became the first city in South Asia to adopt a heat action plan, and although other cities have followed, Ahmedabad stands out as an example of active implementation of new policies. Reporter Sushmita Pathak visited there last summer, as temperatures soared, to bring us the story.This story originally aired on Nov. 18, 2024.

Canada has implemented both countrywide and regional ad campaigns to lure Americans north. They play on Canada's beauty and the seemingly dicey relationship between our two countries. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more.

Demonstrations in Kenya mark the one-year anniversary of anti-tax protests that left 60 people dead; others remain missing. They come on the heels of last week's protests against police brutality in the country. Awino Okech told The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that the protesters have more than one grievance with the government. She's a professor at the University of London in the UK and has been following the events in Kenya.

In Qatar, life revolves around managing the summer heat - and that means even cooling outdoor public spaces. Opened in 2022, Umm Al Seneem Park has the world's longest air-conditioned outdoor walking track. Last summer, The World's Durrie Bouscaren took it for a spin.This story originally aired on June 14, 2024.

Civilians waiting for food at hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation are being shot and killed nearly every day. Now, a group of international legal experts has signed onto a letter warning that private military contractors and others working with the GHF may be criminally liable for the attacks and the displacement of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Philip Grant of the Geneva-based group TRIAL International describes the implications to Host Carolyn Beeler.

During World War II, citizens of London spent long stretches of time taking refuge in tunnels beneath the city when German bombing raids flew above. Those tunnels were later used by British Telecom, and then later sold to Angus Murray. In a venture backed by private equity, he plans to open them fully to the public. Host Marco Werman talks with Murray about what the tunnels are like and what people visiting them in the future can expect to see.

If everyone knows the attack-retaliate script of war, and the damage that it can do both physically and financially to a country, why do countries continue to act out the script? And given the predictability of this endless drama, what are the options now for Iran following Israeli and US strikes? Host Marco Werman speaks with Tufts Fletcher School political scientist Monica Toft.

The most popular foreign playwright in Russia, is London-born Irish playwright Martin McDonagh. He is known in the US as the award-winning Hollywood director and screenwriter behind films such as "In Bruges," " Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" and "The Banshees of Inisherin." In Russia though, McDonagh is known for his plays, which are staged frequently throughout the country. The World's Daniel Ofman reports.

The global construction industry is looking for ways to replace concrete, which is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions. One growing trend is using reinforced timber. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Robert Mendelsohn, a professor of forestry at the Yale School of the Environment, about his recent study assessing the market dynamics of "mass timber," its role in reducing carbon emissions and whether it could result in more forests being planted.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that a ceasefire was holding between Israel and Iran, though each side has claimed that the other has violated the agreement. Meanwhile, European Union officials are urging both sides to ratchet down the fighting - and the rhetoric. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the latest.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler highlight a few global headlines flying under the radar.

Some residents in a downtown Barcelona building are hoping to shut down illegal Airbnb flats in their building - not by denouncing the apartment owners, but by scaring off the renters with big orange signs warning them of steep fines for staying the night. Other Barcelona residents are protesting with loaded water pistols, hoping to send a clear message to tourists: "We don't want you here." The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

New emissions guidelines in the UK require the environmental review of fossil fuel projects to consider the emissions released when fossil fuels are burned, not just the pollution tied to the extraction process. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Paul de Leeuw, director of the Energy Transition Institute at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland, about the guidelines and the larger struggle of balancing emissions reductions with energy demand.

Donna Burke has the most famous voice heard in Japan. The Australian expat first moved to the country in the 1990s, hoping to make it as a singer. Now, she's the voice of the Tokaido Shinkansen, commonly known as the bullet train, and her announcements are heard by more than 400,000 people in Japan every day. The World's Jeremy Siegel first reported this story from Japan in January.This story originally aired on Jan. 15, 2025.

"El Eternauta," Argentina's legendary sci-fi comic, is now a Netflix sensation. But behind the alien invasion and apocalyptic snow lies a darker truth - its creator was disappeared by the dictatorship. The World's Latin America Correspondent Tibisay Zea reports on how this story became a tool of memory and resistance.

US strikes on three nuclear sites over the weekend have sparked fear among nearby residents. With communications down, people are scrambling for information amid concerns about radiation. Experts and the UN say there's no major contamination, but distrust of the Iranian government has fueled anxiety. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

While Iran denies having a nuclear weapons program, the US and Israel have justified their strikes on the country by saying it exists and the threat is urgent. Host Marco Werman speaks with Darya Dolzikova, a nuclear proliferation expert at The Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies in the UK.

Former Olympic fencer Thomas Bach has held sport's most powerful role for the past 13 years. Now, Kirsty Coventry - who won seven swimming medals at five Olympic Games - is taking over. The World's Bianca Hillier shares the details with Host Carolyn Beeler.

The Vera C. Rubin observatory in Chile harbors the world's most powerful digital camera, which is now being used to photograph space in unparalleled detail - and quickly. Andy Lawrence, the Regius Professor of Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh, explains what it's like to experience these images and what the camera's pictures mean for scientific progress.

Thailand's prime minister has angered the army. That's never a comfortable position in a country where the military has a history of seizing power from elected leaders. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is accused of betraying the army in the midst of a heated border dispute with Cambodia, its smaller neighbor. Many Thais are now wondering if her premiership will survive this ordeal. The World's Patrick Winn reports.

The Brooklyn Museum is opening a Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room. The immersive installation invites the audience to admire Buddhist art and reflect. But as Gisele Regatao reports from New York, it raises questions about ownership and whether sacred objects belong in museums.

On a long trip away from home, some of the most memorable moments come from the hospitality of strangers. National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek has come to rely on hospitality every day on his Out of Eden Walk, traversing the path of human migration. Host Marco Werman speaks to him about hospitality, starting in Japan, with a recent stay at a traditional roadside inn.

This Sunday in the UK is Windrush Day, celebrating the contributions of post-World War II migrants who came to Britain from the Caribbean. They arrived on the vessel HMT Windrush - and their descendants are recognized across the United Kingdom. The World's Host Marco Werman tells their story.

Four years ago in Spain, a news photo become an instant symbol of both despair and empathy.

Iran's foreign minister has traveled to Europe to meet with diplomats there but it's not clear what the talks have accomplished so far. Meanwhile, Israel continues its bombing campaign in Iran. And the Iranian military fired another salvo of rockets at Israel. Iran has also been cut off from the global internet for nearly two full days now. And, hundreds of Israelis are caught in Cyprus - the EU country closest to Israel - still trying to get home.

A group of scientists in Europe are arguing for the restoration of forests and wetlands as a natural defense system against military incursion. In Poland, military leadership is interested - so much so that director of the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Micha mihorski, presented a series of recommendations to government officials. mihorski spoke with The World's Host Marco Werman about those recommendations and why scientists are linking climate solutions with military strategy.

Cases of the recently identified COVD-19 variant NB 1.8.1. are rising. Some have dubbed the variant "razor blade throat" for one of its notably painful symptoms. The World Health Organization says it's monitoring the variant. The World's Marco Werman spoke to Michael Mina, an epidemiologist and immunologist based in Boston.

In order to prevent Russian troops from advancing toward Kyiv, Ukrainian forces destroyed a dam on the Irpin River early on in the war. The flooding, as it turned out, created new wetland areas. Some conservationists hope to see the wetlands stay. Even residents whose cellars remain flooded are glad the water came and the Russian troops did not. Carolyn Beeler's report for The World from 2023 highlights what appears to be an unexpected silver lining of the war.This story originally aired on Sept. 18, 2023.

World-class athletes typically go through rigorous anti-doping tests to prove they're eligible for competitions like the Olympic Games. Now, a competition called the Enhanced Games isn't just getting rid of the anti-doping tests - they're allowing, and even helping, athletes to take performance enhancing drugs, if they want to. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Following the death of Sir Geoff Palmer at the age of 85, tributes poured in - from the worlds of brewing, academia and human rights advocacy. Born in Jamaica, Palmer arrived in the UK as a child - part of the so-called Windrush generation of immigrants from Caribbean countries after World War II. While known in the spheres of grain science and brewing for his innovations to the malting process, Palmer was a groundbreaker in more than one way - becoming Scotland's first Black professor in 1989 at Heriot-Watt University. He was also a leading activist in the country's Black community. The World's Host Marco Werman heard from Palmer's colleague and friend, Professor Richard Williams, principal and vice-chancellor of Heriot-Watt University.

El Salvador's government is encouraging citizens abroad to return, citing improved safety and economic incentives. Some are responding - tired of US immigration policy and drawn by new opportunities. But others remain wary, pointing to democratic backsliding and their strong roots in the US. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from San Salvador.

Two animal stories from Europe give us examples of charismatic critters encroaching on city life, and how people are dealing with them. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman explain.

Hurricane Erick hit the western Mexican state of Oaxaca this morning as a Category 3 storm with winds of up to 125 miles per hour. It missed the busy resort areas of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido, instead hitting land in the sparsely populated agricultural areas and low-lying fishing villages. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the details.

Like its European neighbors, Germany is big on bicycles. The total number of bikes in the country is about equal the entire population of around 85 million people. Learning to ride a bicycle is actually part of the school curriculum for German kids. But the goal of teaching them and getting them out there to ride more often is facing some real challenges. The World's Carolyn Beeler speaks with German transportation writer and podcaster Katja Diehl.

Diplomats from Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have been in Washington brokering a peace agreement. It would stop fighting between DRC government forces and the M23 rebel group, which is supported by thousands of Rwandan troops. The Trump administration helped facilitate peace talks in exchange for a minerals deal in the region. Critics are skeptical that the peace will last. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have more.

A week into Israel's military operation in Iran, the capital, Tehran, has more or less emptied out. Those who could, have fled to other areas of the country, but some have had no choice but to stay. Under these conditions, Iranians have come together to help those in need. The World's Shirin Jaafari speaks with one woman who's set up a group to help the elderly and sick with groceries, medicine and sometimes just moral support.

Thailand's economy isn't doing so hot this year. To give it some zest, the prime minister wants to approve a giant casino - one of the biggest in the region. There's a hitch, though. Gambling is illegal in Thailand and condemned by many of the country's Buddhists. The World's Patrick Winn reports on a controversial proposal to have it all: a casino that will not spread gambling addiction to everyday people.

Barcelona goal-machine Claudia Pina carried her FC Barca women's team to victory in the final tournament of the season, with two stellar goals. Pina came off the bench earlier in the season to become the team's highest scorer this year, with 27 goals. Pina was a rising star in her teens but slumped for a while. Now 23 years old, she's inspiring other young women facing the same frustrations. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

In downtown Nairobi, protestors are battling with police and condemning the death of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and blogger who died more than a week ago in police custody. Kenyan authorities said he took his own life. But an independent autopsy says Ojwang died after being assaulted. Journalist Odanga Madung tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler the demonstrations are part of a larger struggle to hold Kenyan authorities to account for injustice.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took some time to chat at the G7 Summit. They want to mend ties and have announced they will restore diplomatic staff necessary to supporting a normalized relationship. Both sides withdrew diplomatic staff when a Sikh activist was assassinated on Canadian soil and the Canadian government claimed it had clear evidence that Indian intelligence was behind the killing. The World's Host Marco Werman talks with Sumit Ganguly, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution who is an expert on Indian national security, about how this rapprochement between the two countries came to be.

The Economist Intelligence Unit releases a list every year, of 173 cities worldwide ranked by livability. That ranking is subdivided into categories of health care, environment, infrastructure, stability and education. This year, Copenhagen takes home the top spot, ending the three-year run of Vienna. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler check out how other cities stack up.

E-scooters are exploding in popularity in Finland. But accidents involving them are also on the rise. This week, Finnish authorities instituted new regulations, including a ban on drunk riding, in an effort to fix the problem. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel has the story.

Less than a week into what is looking more and more like all-out war between Israel and Iran, the Iranian supreme leader sent a message of defiance. In a televised address, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected US President Donald Trump's call for Iran's "unconditional surrender." Trump was asked if the US would join Israel's bombing campaign in Iran. I may do it, I may not do it," was Trump's response. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do." It's not clear what comes next. But as The World's Matthew Bell reports, Israel has already demonstrated extensive intelligence capabilities inside Iran.

Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan are longtime respected Russian journalists. However, since 2020, they've been based in London, and not by choice. For years now, the Kremlin has clamped down on press freedom, and has ratcheted up the pressure on journalists, with threats, arrests and even violence. In Borogan and Soldatov's latest book, Our Dear Friends in Moscow," they document their journey as journalists in Russia over the past two decades. It's also a portrait of how their friends changed as Russian President Vladimir Putin solidified his grasp on power. The World's Daniel Ofman spoke with them earlier this month.

The first Jewish anti-Zionist congress was held last weekend in Vienna, Austria -the city where Theodor Herzl came up with the idea of political Zionism, and proposed a Jewish state in Palestine. The organizers, mostly Jews with a connection to the city, say Judaism is not Zionism." As Rebecca Collard explains, this reflects a growing debate in Jewish communities around the globe about religion, nationalism and belonging.

The leaders of Iran and Israel are confronting their limited options, as the fighting between their two countries has entered a fifth day. Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, discuss what lies ahead for the region with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler.