The World: Latest Stories

In its most comprehensive report on climate change and health to date, the Lancet Countdown study found that rising temperatures cause an average of one death per minute. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with Maria Walawender, Lancet Countdown Research Fellow, about the details of the report.

In the early 1900s, Lower Manhattan was home to Little Syria, then the epicenter of the Arabic-speaking community in the US. But today, most people have never heard of it. Syrian American rapper and poet Omar Offendum aims to change that with his hip-hop musical "Little Syria." Meklit Hadero, host of the "Movement podcast," talked with Offendum about the project.

Today in Jamaica, people are picking up the pieces after the strongest storm seen on Earth - and the strongest hurricane in Jamaica's history - thrashed the island. Hurricane Melissa has now moved over Cuba. The World's Marco Werman heard about the damage done from Evan Thompson, director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica in Kingston.

The border between Lithuania and Belarus will stay closed for a month, the government in Lithuania decided today. Host Marco Werman explains.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler bring you some stories that may not have caught your eye.

During the height of its heroin crisis in the 1980s, the Netherlands chose a third way" to respond to drug use - neither punishment nor abstinence, but harm reduction. Today, that approach has helped drive overdose deaths to some of the lowest in the world, including in the US, through policies like safe consumption rooms, drug checking and health-first policing. But in some parts of the US South there is opposition. The Gulf State Newsroom's Drew Hawkins went to the Netherlands to find out what their approach looks like.

A Canadian politician brags about a controversial tariff ad, the World Series is a doozy and a few Australian schools are learning the hard way about Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday with catastrophic winds and the potential for widespread flooding and landslides. The Category 5 storm is one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history, and the single strongest to hit Jamaica. The World's Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the details.

Atrocities continue as Sudan's military retreats from el-Fasher, a town in Darfur that has been under a grueling siege for more than 500 days. Nathaniel Raymond, the director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler how high-resolution satellite imagery is documenting crimes committed by the militia known as the Rapid Support Forces.

In a biological first, researchers in France have discovered a creature capable of giving birth to an entirely different species. It's more than just the sort of hybrid births that might happen between a donkey and a female horse - making mules. The Mediterranean Harvest Ant actually bears eggs that can develop into two different kinds of ant species: its own, and one of an ant called Messor Structor. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from a lab in Montpelier, France.

Critical minerals - especially the rare earth variety - have been crucial to trade talks since US President Donald Trump returned to office this year. The US has inked mineral deals with countries across the globe. Bolstering access to these minerals used in everything from smartphones to electric cars and military hardware is crucial as the US decouples from China, which has cornered the market on these raw resources. The World's Host Marco Werman learned more from Gracelin Baskaran, director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

In a classroom in western China, children once learned to sing and count in the language of their ancestors - Uyghur. Then, the doors were locked, and founder Abduweli Ayup went from teacher to enemy of the state, as a crackdown on his people kicked into overdrive. From the "Click Here" podcast, Dina Temple-Raston reports.

"This is a unique product that no one in the world has," Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday. He was talking about a nuclear-powered cruise missile called the Burevestnik that he says can't be intercepted by US technology. It's been in development for years, but now Putin says the missile has been tested successfully and is ready to be deployed. Experts say the weapon is a response to US plans for building a new missile defense shield to protect North America, something US President Donald Trump is calling the "Golden Dome." The World's Matthew Bell reports.

The community of Qoornoq, on a small island about an hour's boat ride from the capital of Nuuk, was shuttered decades ago as part of Danish government efforts to modernize and consolidate Greenland's population. But in recent decades, it's become a summer getaway for former residents and descendants of those who used to live there. The World's Carolyn Beeler visits the island to speak with people there, and learn about the legacy of forced relocation on Greenland.

In Japan, US President Donald Trump met with Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace. Trump also said he thinks Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will be "great." During the first stop in his nearly weeklong trip to Asia, the American president signed a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia. But the biggest moment for this trip will be on Thursday. That's when Trump is expected to meet with China's leader Xi Jinping. On Sunday, US officials said they succeeded in hammering out a framework trade arrangement that could prevent an all-out trade war from escalating between the world's two biggest economies. The World's Matthew Bell has more details.

Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Jamaican climate scientist Michael Taylor tells The World's Host Marco Werman that in the age of climate change, storms like Melissa are wetter, stronger, slower and more destructive than those of earlier decades, bringing greater human and economic impacts.

Half of the world's uncontacted peoples could be "wiped out" within a decade, according to a new report from the NGO Survival International. The World's Host Marco Werman spoke with the organization's executive director, Caroline Pearce, about the threats facing these people and what needs to be done to protect them.

A new memorial in the UK is modeled after a crumpled piece of paper, with words on it that were used as evidence to incriminate people. The LGBTQ community was banned from the UK's military for decades, ending in the year 2000. King Charles attended the unveiling of the memorial today, marking his first official engagement in support of the LGBTQ community. Host Marco Werman has the details.

Ireland has elected a new president, Catherine Connolly, a left-leaning lawmaker who swept to victory in a weekend landslide. Connolly, 68, is known for her outspoken views on everything from the war in Gaza to NATO to Irish unification. Her role as head of state is largely ceremonial, but opposition parties say her win sends a clear signal that Irish voters want change. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry has more.

The singer Jose Jimenez Fernandez was a child prodigy, singing his way across Spain for food during the country's post-war years of poverty. Before turning 10 years old, he was an international star, loved for his boyish face and his powerful child's voice, from Paris to New York. The World's Gerry Hadden caught up with Joselito, now elderly and out of the limelight, to bring us his story from Barcelona.

Cameroon has re-elected Paul Biya, the 92-year-old incumbent leader of the country. Only the country's second leader, Biya has led the country for over four decades. The elder statesman faces a number of continuing challenges including language divides, a separatist movement and growing opposition. Host Marco Werman learned more from Julius Amin, a Cameroonian scholar and professor of African history at the University of Dayton, Ohio.

Forty years ago this week, the album "Sun City" was released by a talented and diverse array of artists from the world of rock, hip-hop, soul, latin, funk, jazz, plus international artists from South African reggae. The mission of Artists United Against Apartheid was bringing attention to the plight of Black South Africans living under white minority rule and the apartheid system, focusing on the exclusive white segregated resort of Sun City, and shaming the long list of artists who played there. The World's Host Marco Werman revisits the "Sun City" album, the resort itself and the artists who loudly sang out that they "ain't gonna play Sun City."

Earlier this month, a unique challenge took place on a Slovenian mountainside.Thousands of brave volunteers - some might say crazy - attempted to race cycling legend Tadej Pogacar up the hill. It's known as the Poggi Challenge." Deutsche Welle, DW's, Guy Delauney felt up to the test and took on the challenge himself.

The case of the Guildford Four is considered one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British legal history. Fifty years ago this month, four young people were falsely accused of carrying out two pub bombings in Guildford, England, and sentenced to life in prison. It took 15 years for them to be released and their sentences quashed. Decades later, their families say the fight for accountability and justice is still not over. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

It's not that Alexander Boecker is happy about the heist at the Louvre. It's just that the video footage of the thieves' escape makes the construction vehicles his company manufactures look so good. Host Carolyn Beeler has more on the resulting ad campaign.

Cape Verde - an island nation off the coast of Senegal with about 500,000 people - has been recruiting talented soccer players from the diaspora for years, with the hopes of getting its men's national team to the World Cup. Now, the work is paying off and the country is celebrating qualifying for the tournament for the first time in history. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

One in three French university students skips a daily meal regularly, as they struggle with rising housing costs and inflation. Around 600,000 live below the poverty line. But volunteers are coming to help, with groceries and more. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Montpelier, France.

China's leadership has announced its five year-plan for the country, detailing ambitions to strengthen its domestic tech sector. This outline of the Chinese Communist Party's midterm policy goals was published Thursday, ahead of the upcoming meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learns more from Isabel Hilton, the London-based founder of China Dialogue.

There's no shortage of doomsday scenarios involving Artificial Intelligence. But the warnings boil down to this: AI is an existential threat to human life. Some have called the warnings alarmist. But this week, several Nobel laureates and big-name celebrities cautioned that the threat is real, particularly when it comes to what's known as Artificial Superintelligence. Max Tegmark is the head of The Future of Life Institute. He's also a professor doing AI research at MIT. He spoke to The World's Host Marco Werman about why experts - including him - are calling for urgent action.

This week marks 100 years since the birth of Celia Cruz - the Queen of Salsa. Her voice carried the sound of Cuba across the globe, even when she herself could not return home. As fans celebrate her centennial with concerts and tributes, her music doesn't get much play on the airwaves in Cuba. The World's Tibisay Zea explores Celia Cruz's enduring legacy - from her dazzling performances to the silent treatment she still gets on the island she loved.

It happens every year on Christmas Island. Ten million crabs travel en masse as part of an annual spawning ritual. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have details.

Sam Kissajukian's 300 Paintings" is an exhilarating one-man show and art exhibition. It's also a meditation on life as a creative person with bipolar disorder. The Australian former standup comic speaks with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about his diagnosis and the six-month manic episode that changed his life.

Singapore is imposing a levy on all departing flights in an effort to boost funding to develop sustainable aviation fuels. But as The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel reports, advocates are split on whether the measure will really help reduce emissions.

Colombia recalled its ambassador to the US this week as tensions mount between the two countries over aid cuts and US military strikes in the Caribbean. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has accused the US of killing a Colombian citizen in a recent US strike on an alleged drug boat. US President Donald Trump has called his Colombian counterpart an "illegal drug dealer" and a "lunatic." For a view on the situation from Colombia, The World's Host Carolyn Beeler turns to political analyst Sergio Guzman, the director of Colombia Risk Analysis in Bogota.

Nneka Ogwumike has been a big name in the WNBA for over a decade. The 6'2" forward still shines on the hardwood for the Seattle Storm, but her dream of playing in the Olympics is now over. The news follows years of being left off the roster for Team USA, and now being denied the chance the play for Nigeria, where she holds citizenship. The World's Bianca Hillier explains.

A British soldier on trial for killing two people on Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland in 1972 has been cleared of all charges. During the trial in Belfast, the former British paratrooper did not testify in his own defense. He sat hidden behind a blue curtain during the proceedings, to protect his identity. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the story, as well as reactions from survivors of the violence that day in Belfast.

Copenhagen's Human Library lends people who volunteer to be open books" in one-on-one conversations with "readers." These books share a wide range of personal perspectives - from being a trans woman or military veteran to being a police officer or sex worker. Since it opened 25 years ago, the nonprofit's mission to "unjudge" people has gained global traction with Human Library events hosted in over 85 countries. But, as the organization's founder told The World's Joshua Coe, these open-minded conversations seem increasingly unwelcome in today's climate of rising division.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled today that Israel must allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Since March of this year, Israel has prevented the United Nations from delivering aid to Gaza, including aid from the UN refugee agency, UNWRA, which still operates sanitation facilities, schools and health centers. The ICJ said Israel is obligated to allow that aid into the Palestinian Territory. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected today's opinion from The Hague, and said that the Israeli government fully upholds its obligations under International Law."

The rhythms, the style and lyricism are all a little tricky to define when it comes to Cuban pianist Harold Lopez-Nussa. Is it jazz, classical, traditional Cuban, or something else? As Lopez-Nussa tells Host Marco Werman, he's constantly exploring new directions. His latest album, Nueva Timba," is no exception.

Sleeper trains were most popular during the "Golden Age of Travel" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But then budget airlines emerged, and spending hours on a train lost its appeal. Now, something funny is happening across the world: From Europe to East Asia, sleeper trains are making a comeback. The World's Jeremy Siegel reports.

Before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Serhii Zenin was the host of one of the nation's most popular hard rock radio shows on Radio ROKS 103.6. Three years later, Serhii is a soldier, and Radio ROKS has taken on a whole new role as well. Radio Roks is trying to make millions of Ukrainians feel a little less alone - as they manage the changing landscape of war. From the CLICK HERE podcast, Dina Temple-Raston reports.

They're just like regular nighttime raves except totally different: they happen when other humans are having breakfast, and the drink in hand is hot. Sunshine, caffeine, afro-house music and people dancing as the day begins. It's fun and healthy, and the waiting list to get in now exceeds a thousand people. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from a coffee rave in Barcelona.

The International Chopin Piano Competition has been called the Olympics of the piano world, and on Tuesday, Eric Lu of Massachusetts became the first American to win it. The event takes place in Warsaw, Poland, every five years, and this year's competitors came from 20 different countries. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have more.

Today, the airport in Khartoum was scheduled to reopen for the first time since the start of the country's civil war two years ago. But a series of drone strikes near the airport put the kibosh on those plans. While the city has been back in the hands of the Sudanese military since March, the breakaway Rapid Support Forces are pressing the besieged city of El Fasher in the western region of Darfur. Kholood Khair is the head of Confluence Advisory, a think tank founded in Sudan. She speaks with host Marco Werman from Nairobi, Kenya.

Japan's parliament has named Sanae Takaichi as the country's first female prime minister. The 64-year-old heads the Liberal Democratic Party - a conservative party that has held on to power in Japan since the end of World War Two. Now she needs to navigate Japan through multiple domestic and international challenges. The World's Marco Werman learned more from Jeffrey Hall. He's a lecturer in Japanese politics at Kanda University of International Studies just outside Tokyo.

For more than three decades, the Mexican band Cafe Tacvba has redefined Latin rock with humor and experimentation. Now, founding member Emmanuel Meme" del Real steps into the spotlight with "La Montana Encendida" ("The Burning Mountain") - his first solo album. From the forests of central Mexico, Meme reflects on solitude, creativity, and community, as well as what touring the US for thirty years has taught him about belonging in a time of rising divisions. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Mexico City.

Pimpa, the beloved Italian children's comic character, is celebrating her 50th birthday this year. A white dog with red spots, long floppy ears and a penchant for adventure, Pimpa's been Italy's answer to Paddington Bear for more than two generations. Dany Mitzman, from our partners at Deutsche Welle, DW, shares a gloriously anarchic tribute.

A small group of local boosters and veterans is working to bring the 2029 Invictus Games to San Diego. The games - launched in 2014 by Prince Harry of Great Britain - feature disabled veterans from around the world competing in an array of adaptive sports. The five other finalists are Denmark, Nigeria, South Korea, Ukraine and Italy. From KPBS, Andrew Dyer reports.

At least 20 people have been arrested in Cameroon in connection with protests over the Oct. 12 presidential election, authorities said on Tuesday. That election put long-time incumbent Paul Biya, 92, against a field of opposition candidates. Results are expected to be announced this week, as Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy began serving a five-year prison sentence on Tuesday for conspiring to accept millions in campaign funds from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. From Paris, Jalel Harchaoui, a Libyan analyst, tells The World's Marco Werman why Libyan leaders were so eager to work closely with the former head of state.