The World: Latest Stories

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.

There's an impasse between the Malian military government and the Canadian gold mining company Barrick Gold. The Malian government wants greater gold revenues and wants to renegotiate contracts, and has gone so far as to arrest, release, then re-arrest Barrick senior employees in Mali. Barrick has not resumed mining operations, and now a court in Mali has provisionally taken oversight of the operations. The World's Host Marco Werman talks with Aanu Adeoye, a correspondent for the Financial Times, about the roots of the disagreement and how it escalated.

The Irish rap trio Kneecap is once again at the center of controversy. Known for its provocative blend of Irish and English lyrics tackling everything from drug culture to the legacy of British rule in Ireland, the group has built a reputation for pushing boundaries. But recent comments have sparked fresh backlash - with several UK lawmakers saying the band has crossed a line. Now, one member is due in a London court tomorrow, facing a terrorism-related charge. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry has the story.

Are you anxious about what's happening in the world? Are you in need of a safe space? Never fear - we know a place with 370,000 of them. That's the number of bunkers in the small, peaceful and mountainous country of Switzerland - and it's enough to shelter all 9 million residents for up to two weeks during a national emergency. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

The Spanish government released a long-awaited report today that blames just about everyone for April's massive power outage. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

Israelis and Iranians spent the day today fleeing or hiding from the back-and-forth bombing between their two countries. Israel has said it could finish its operation within the next week or two. Iran has said it will not surrender, despite a demand from US President Donald Trump. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the latest.

Devi Mambouka records under the name Masma Dream World. Her most recent collection of ambient recordings can be heard on her new album "Please Come to Me." Mambouka tells The World how a dream and her roots in Gabon, Singapore and India, inspire her music.

Yesterday in Paris, the world's most popular museum, the Louvre, had to shut down due to a work stoppage by employees. The museum's staff said they were protesting work conditions at the museum. The main complaint: They're overwhelmed by the number of visitors. The closure followed a weekend of protests across Portugal, Spain and Italy against "overtourism." The World's Host Marco Werman heard from Elaine Sciolino, author of "Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World's Greatest Museum."

It's not always easy to say I'm overwhelmed" or "I need help." That's especially true in places where therapy isn't commonplace or might even be taboo. A scientist in Thailand says he's got a novel way to identify people quietly struggling with anxiety. All he needs is a little sample of their sweat. The World's Patrick Winn went to check it out.

In 2020, a massive explosion rocked the port of Beirut in Lebanon. It killed more than 200 people and destroyed homes as far as six miles away. It also damaged a historic piece of art: a previously unknown Italian painting of Hercules and Omphale, painted by the female artist Artemisia Gentileschi in the 1600s. The World's Host Marco Werman talks about what it's taken to restore the painting with Ulrich Birkmaier, the senior conservator of paintings at The J-Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, where it's now finally on display.

Gjert Ingebrigtsen has been acquitted of multiple charges of abuse against three of his children who he coached to Olympic careers. Three of his sons, including two-time gold medalist Jacob Ingebrigtsen, accused their father of physical and emotional abuse. Ingebrigtsen was convicted of one minor charge for hitting his daughter in the face with a towel. Norwegian journalist Jan Peter Saltvedt spoke with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about the case.

Leaders from the world's top industrialized democracies are gathering in Canada today for the G7 summit - and there's a lot to discuss between rising geopolitical instability and a looming deadline to make a trade deal with US President Donald Trump. The World's Host Marco Werman heard from Josh Lipsky, chair of International Economics at the Atlantic Council.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently battling the Indiana Pacers for the NBA championship. But there's another story to be told, as some of the athletes have known each other since long before going pro. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

The Israeli military expanded its attacks against Iran on Monday, telling the residents in parts of Tehran to evacuate their homes. Israeli officials say they have been destroying Iranian missile launching sites and that Israeli warplanes have "full aerial superiority" over Iran's skies. But Iran has fired hundreds of missiles at Israel. Most have been intercepted, but some have made it through Israel's defenses and caused some major damage, killing, so far, around two dozen Israelis. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Lithium batteries are in everything: smartphones, laptops, headphones, electric cars. But they're difficult to mine and bad for the environment. Sodium, on the other hand, is abundant and could provide an alternative. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel looks at how China is bringing sodium-powered e-scooters to the market.

Israel has ordered Iranians living in the capital, Tehran, to evacuate as it plans to escalate its attacks. The city is home to roughly 10 million people and the rush to get out has led to gridlocks along major highways. But as The World's Shirin's Jaafari reports, leaving is not an option for some residents.

Knife crime in Britain has almost doubled over the past decade. On Friday, experts, survivors and policymakers gathered in London for a conference aimed at tackling the root causes and consequences of knife crime. Among the voices calling for change is a survivor of one of England's most-devastating knife attacks from last year. She's campaigning for sharp-pointed kitchen knives to be replaced with blunt-tipped alternatives in homes across the country. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry has more.

In Colombia, religious leaders are calling on politicians to tone down their rhetoric as incidents of political violence have people on edge. Earlier this week, seven people were killed as rebels bombed police stations around the city of Cali. Last week, a would-be assassin shot presidential candidate Miguel Uribe who's still recovering in the hospital. From Colombia's capital Bogota, Manuel Rueda reports.

Authorities in India say as many as 300 people were killed when an Air India plane crashed into a medical college shortly after takeoff in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. The World's transportation correspondent Jeremy Siegel reports on how recovery efforts are progressing and what's next in the investigation of the tragedy.

To mark Democracy Day in Nigeria on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu posthumously pardoned human activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other members of the Ogoni Nine, a group of activists from the oil-rich Niger Delta executed by the military junta in 1995. The World's Carol Hill heard from Noo Saro-Wiwa, a writer and the daughter of the Ken Saro-Wiwa. She says the pardon is a step in the right direction, but falls short of the exoneration her family has long sought.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is bigger than ever before, with more teams and a much-bigger prize pot on the table. But the upcoming matches will kick off in the shadow of intense immigration fears with US federal agents expected to be on-site. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Mexican singer and songwriter Vivir Quintana is reshaping one of Mexico's most-sexist musical genres - the corrido - by using it to tell real stories of women imprisoned for defending themselves against violent partners. The World's Tibisay Zea caught up with Quintana to talk about her new album.

In the early hours of Friday morning, Israel's military carried out a major military operation against Iran. Israel struck numerous military and nuclear facilities, targeting top military figures and nuclear scientists. Israeli strikes also hit civilian areas in Iran with the latter reporting up to 75 people killed in the attack. Iran has responded to the attack by launching a fleet of drones with the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamanei, promising further attacks in retaliation. Host Carol Hills speaks with Sina Azodi, an assistant professer of Middle East politics at George Washington University, about the significance of the attack and how Iran carries forward from here.

Some 2 1/2 years after a massive earthquake destroyed parts of southern Turkey and northern Syria, both countries are still working to rebuild. From the Turkish city of Hatay, Deutsche Welle's Ylenia Gostoli reports.

Ellie Wilson is a classically trained violinist who has previously performed in rock and folk bands. But her latest work involves a new collaborator: the humble moth. The World's Bianca Hillier has the story.

Britain's energy secretary, Ed Miliband, says his country is poised to lead the world into a new nuclear golden age. The British government has just signed on to fund a $19 billion new nuclear power plant. It says embracing nuclear energy will help protect Britain's energy security and meet the demands of the climate crisis. Carolyn Beeler speaks with Simon Evans, deputy editor and senior policy editor at Carbon Brief, a UK-based website covering the latest developments in climate science and energy policy.

The government of Bashar al-Assad made the media in Syria a tool of its propaganda. It arrested and intimidated writers and journalists who opposed the official line. Books were censored and newspapers were shut down. Now, with Assad gone, journalists and writers are shaping a new, more open media and literary landscape. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports from Damascus.

For the last three nights running, rioters have clashed with police in Northern Ireland, burning cars, homes and businesses. UK officials have described it as "racist thuggery." The justice minister from Northern Ireland said the,"three-day festival of hate and destruction" needs to stop before someone is killed. More than 40 police officers have been injured. The violence was sparked by reports of a sexual assault in the town of Ballymena. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

The United States is withdrawing diplomatic personnel in Iraq after warnings that Israel appears ready to launch an attack on Iran as it's only a step away from nuclear weapon capabilities. But there's still a meeting for nuclear talks between the United States and Iran in Oman on Sunday. The World's Marco Werman talks with Ali Vaez, who teaches at Georgetown University, about the prospects for conflict and what diplomatic runway still remains.

Of the 240 passengers who boarded an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London -- just one survived Thursday morning's plane crash. The aircraft, a Boeing Dreamliner, went down five minutes after takeoff. The World's transportation correspondent Jeremy Siegel has the latest.

The tragic crash of the Air India flight earlier Thursday has renewed concerns around the safety record of planes produced by Boeing. But as retired aircraft accident investigator Jeff Guzzetti told The World's Carolyn Beeler, Boeing's 787 Dreamliners have had good track record - this is the first to experience a deadly crash. Guzzetti worked for both the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board. He joined the show from Oklahoma City.

Recently, 25 people - including six minors - were charged in Paris over a series of kidnappings and attempted abductions targeting Frances's top crypto entrepreneurs and their families. From our partners at Deutsche Welle, DW, John Laurenson investigates this bizarre and brutal crime wave.

The Palestinian national football team was seconds away from defeating Oman, stamping their first ever ticket to the FIFA World Cup. But a last-minute penalty awarded a free kick to Oman, who then tied the game. The Palestinian team needed a win to advance to the World Cup next year. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the details.

Members of the boy-band BTS, the K-pop sensation, are boys no more. With all the members due to be discharged from Korean military service by the end of the month, a reunion is imminent. The World's Sarah Birnbaum reports.

One of Southeast Asia's most bombastic political dynasties faces judgment day. An impeachment court convenes on Wednesday against Sara Duterte, vice president of the Philippines. Her father is Rodrigo Duterte, the ex-president now detained by the International Criminal Court for overseeing a violent war on drugs. That leaves Sara Duterte as the family's great hope. But if she is impeached by the Philippines Senate, for a range of charges, their future in politics could be over. The World's Patrick Winn reports.

Gang violence has driven more than a million people in Haiti to flee their homes and settle in other parts of their own country. That's the most internal displacement due to violence recorded in Haiti, according to a new report from the International Organization of Migration. In one small town in northern Haiti, reporter Amy Bracken met a pastor who's helping displaced people get back on their feet.

In a new analysis released on Wednesday, scientists said climate change boosted Iceland and Greenland's temperatures by several degrees during a record-setting May heat wave. That's raising concerns about the far-reaching implications melting Arctic ice has for weather around the world. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Nicholas Foukal, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia's Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, about what's happening in the North Atlantic and what impacts this could have elsewhere.

UK Foreign Minister David Lammy says he's troubled by Israel's behavior in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian towns and homes there are routinely attacked by Israeli settlers, and the Israeli army does little if anything to stop them. Now, the UK has slapped sanctions on two Israeli Cabinet ministers. Canada, Norway, Australia and New Zealand are joining in the sanctions. The World's Marco Werman speaks with Aaron David Miller, senior fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman take a look at the big stories of the day.

Jair Bolsonaro and seven allies face charges of attempting to stage a coup after losing the 2022 elections. Rafael Ioris, a professor of Latin American history and politics at the University of Denver, talks with The World's Marco Werman about what's at stake in the historic proceedings.

British fathers made history on Tuesday with the world's first "Dad Strike" - and their message was simple: two weeks isn't enough. Pushing prams and holding protest signs, fathers gathered in London and Edinburgh to demand better paternity leave. While other European nations provide months of paid leave, British fathers get just 14 days - a policy campaigners say is decades behind the times. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry reports.

Italy has long been on the front lines of the European border crisis and - under Giorgia Meloni's far-right government - is pursuing a hard-line approach to immigration. But there is one institution that is going out of its way to help. The SaMiFo Medical Center in Rome now specializes in treating PTSD among migrants and refugees. From DW, Deutsche Welle, Angelo van Shaik reports.

The past two days in Ukraine have seen heavy bombardment in Kyiv and other cities. On Tuesday, Russia launched one of its largest airstrikes on the capital in over three years of war. And on Monday, Russia carried out the biggest drone assault of the war on Ukraine in what Moscow said is retaliation for attacks by Ukrainian forces on Russia. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Ukrainian political analyst Oleksandr Kraiev about life in Kyiv with air raid sirens constantly going off.

Athletes dedicate years and possibly their whole lives to make an Olympic team. Once the competition is over, they often enter a period called the "post-Olympic blues," no matter how well they performed at the Games. Some athletes who won medals at last summer's Paris Olympics say they had those same experiences. The World's Bianca Hillier hears how some athletes manage those feelings. This story originally aired in August 2024.

For two days in a row last week, some 2,600 undocumented immigrants were arrested in the US. That's up from 600 similar arrests per day in the Biden administration, Homeland Security statistics show. Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute, tells The World's Carolyn Beeler why those arrests don't mean the Trump administration will necessarily meet its goal of deporting a million unauthorized immigrants per year.