The World: Latest Stories

Eleven months after the National Zoo in Washington sent three pandas back to China, a new pair of bears - Bao Li and Qing Bao - arrived to fill the panda-shaped hole in zoo visitors' hearts. But they won't make their public debut until January.

Canada announced on Monday that it was expelling India's top diplomat in the country along with five others. India responded in kind, expelling six Canadian diplomats. Host Marco Werman spoke to researcher Xavier Delgado with the Wilson Center's Canada Institute. Delgado said relations between the two countries have hit rock bottom.

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman give us a lightning round of news updates that might have flown under listeners' radar: blobs on the beach in Canada, a food festival in Mexico and a soccer boycott in Nigeria.

North Korea took drastic measures over the weekend, destroying rail lines and roads connecting it to South Korea. The move was seen as symolic, at a moment when tensions between the two countries are high. Host Marco Werman speaks with Rachel Minyoung Lee, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, about what's driving these actions.

As Japan struggles with a shrinking population, the number of abandoned homes in the country has surged to 9 million. These homes are largely seen as a nuisance and eyesore, but in recent years, start-ups, realtors and home renovators have attempted to create a market for older homes. The World's Carolyn Beeler reports.

The first people to be intercepted at sea by the Italian navy under a controversial migration deal are on their way to Albania to have their asylum claims processed. Host Marco Werman speaks with Camille Le Coz, associate director at the Migration Policy Institute Europe, about the program.

Dave Fromm, an author in Massachusetts, decided he wanted to play basketball in the Czech Republic after graduating. But he wasn't very good at basketball. Fromm shared his dream - and how he achieved it - on GBH's World Channel Stories From The Stage.

Another valuable reason for Americans to study abroad is to improve global diplomacy. The numbers of US students studying in China is way down compared to previous years. The pandemic is one reason. But there are other pressures, some of them related to the tense diplomatic relationship between the U-S and China. The World's Matthew Bell report first aired earlier this year.

Jay Nikolewski knew from an early age where he wanted to live. Nikolewski never felt comfortable growing up in America and felt like he didn't fit it. In high school he decided Japan was the country for him. In 2023, he fulfilled that dream by moving to Japan and working toward a degree in Asian Studies at Temple University. The World's Carolyn Beeler met with Jay Nikolewski in Tokyo and asked him why Japan.

There are many paths for American student to take if they want to live and work abroad after graduating. Various courses, learning the language, getting internships are just a few. The World's Sara Hassan spoke with some Americans to find out what countries they'd like to go to and how that shapes their plans leading up to graduation.

The United States has the highest number of international students in the world. Last year, the number of students who came to America were almost back to prepandemic levels at over 1 million. Many come in the hope of staying and living the American dream. But that's not so easy. Reporter Lindsey Seavert brings us the stories of two of those students, who both say that one of the most-challenging parts of being an international student here comes after graduation.

In the US, immigration is a heated topic. A part of that conversation is the thousands of degree-seeking international students who move to the US every year, many with hopes to stay after completion. But what about those US students who decide to study abroad and then want to stay abroad? The World's Carolyn Beeler asks Amine Mechaal, director of global engagement at Columbia University's Teachers College in New York, to break down the hurdles students face to stay in their host countries.

In the two decades since Texas A&M opened a campus in Doha, there have been plenty of challenges. The school faced criticisms because it operated under the autocratic Qatari government; women are not treated equally; and censorship is common. But the partnership brought in millions and the campus flourished. So, Qataris were stunned when the Texas A&M board in February voted to close the school, in part because of "instability" in the region. Ari Daniel's report first aired in February.

A Ukrainian missile strike in Russian-controlled territory last week killed several North Korean military officers, according to officials in Ukraine and South Korea. The Kremlin says this is "fake news." But it sounds credible to those who've been following events in Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Haitian and Kenyan police forces that were deployed over the summer are struggling to control the gangs that have taken over most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and attacked new regions in the country. The gangs are said to have committed large-scale killings of civilians and are recruiting children. Harold Isaac, a journalist in Haiti, explains where the the fight stands.

Since the 16th century, people have interpreted fortunes in the dregs of Turkish coffee. But a new generation is making the practice their own. From Istanbul, The World's Durrie Bouscaren investigates.

The Poetry Pharmacy opened this summer on London's famed Oxford Street. It's a small space packed with poems for every occasion. Founder Deborah Alma says her goal is to introduce poetry to people who don't normally encounter it. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Gustavo Alarcon, a doctor, is the new mayor of Chilpancingo, Mexico, where last week his predecessor was murdered just days after taking office. Hosts Carol Hills and Carolyn Beeler have the details.

Friday is the UN-designated International Day of Girl, intended to address the unique challenges many face. A new report from UNICEF says that over 370 million girls and women alive today have experienced some form of sexual violence by the age of 18. The World's Lex Weaver reports on the story of "Maya: Birth of a Superhero," a coming-of-age virtual reality film designed to empower young women who face isolation upon the arrival of menstruation.

A decades-old Japanese anti-nuclear activist group, Nihon Hidonkyo, has won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. The announcement was made in Oslo and was praised in Japan. Nihon Hidonkyo was established in 1956 by survivors of the nuclear attacks on Japan during World War II. They advocate for greater support of victims as well as for stopping nuclear proliferation across the globe. Host Carol Hill speaks with journalist Patrick Cox, who has interviewed many survivors, about the significance of this win and what it means to the survivors.

Despite a global outcry and growing unpopularity, Japan's whaling industry continues to thrive. Although whale meat sales have declined sharply over the years, most Japanese people continue to believe in their right to the delicacy. Rebecca Rosman reports from Tokyo.

When geologists from De Beers discovered diamonds in Botswana, it transformed the country for the better. De Beers says it has the strictest standards in the industry, and diamonds from Botswana are among the most ethically sourced in the world. Louise Donovan, a reporter for the Fuller Project, talks about her story for New Lines Magazine, where she discovered that women in the industry in Botswana suffer from exploitation and abuse.

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the sports headlines for you as Rafael Nadal announces he'll bid adieu to tennis, the NFL is halfway through a three-week stretch in London, and runners are lacing up for the steep routes at the Mountain Running World Cup in Italy.

Co-host Marco Werman tells us about Yannis Philippakis, the frontman for British band Foals, and his recording project with the iconic Nigerian percussionist Tony Allen. Allen died in the middle of the work, and now Yannis is releasing the album they made together without him.

Free market economist Javier Milei was voted into office in Argentina last year to fix the high inflation rate and failing economy. But according to a recent report, since he came to power, 5 million more people have fallen into poverty. Milei says this is a rough patch the country must endure to come out on top. Many aren't so sure. Michael Fox reports from Mendoza, Argentina.

Ratan Tata, the former head of the Tata conglomerate in India, has passed away this week at the age of 86. He was famous globally for the success of the Tata Group, which fell under his leadership for decades. Host Marco Werman speaks with Sundeep Khanna, a business columnist with the Hindustan Times, to learn more about the life and legacy of Tata and his efforts to boost India's industries through the decades.

The Swedish Academy praised Han for her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life." Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the details.

This week, Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard told a business forum that when it comes to trade battles between the US and China, Mexico will "mobilize all legitimate interests in favor of North America." Host Carolyn Beeler has more.

Ever since Tehran attacked Israel with waves of ballistic missiles on Oct. 1, Iranian officials and civilians have been waiting for the response. Officials in Israel have hinted they might target Iran's gas or oil infrastructure. Or they might go even further and target Iran's nuclear sites. Hamed Mousavi, an associate professor of international relations at the University of Tehran, speaks with The World's Marco Werman to describe Iran's perspective on the standoff.

The Netflix series "Emily in Paris" has led to an uptick in tourism to the French capital, according to a study this year by France's National Centre for Cinema and Animation. But the latest plotline has the titular character spending time in Italy, and French President Emmanuel Macron isn't happy about it. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the details.

Assisted dying is illegal in Britain. But next week, a bill proposing that terminally ill adults with less than six months to live have the option to end their lives early with medical assistance, is to be considered in the UK Parliament. Polls indicate that more than two-thirds of people in Britain support such a law. But some doctors and disability rights campaigners strongly disagree. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry reports.

Gabriela Ortiz is one of Mexico's best-known classical composers, and she's becoming better known in the United States, as the Los Angeles Philharmonic has premiered many of her rhythmic, colorful compositions. As Jeff Lunden reports, this week she begins a season-long residency at Carnegie Hall in New York that promises many groundbreaking new pieces.

The FBI arrested an Afghan national named Ahmad Tawhedi on Monday, alleging that he planned to carry out an Election Day terror attack in or near Oklahoma City. Tawhedi has indicated an allegiance to ISIS. Christopher O'Leary, a senior vice president for global operations at The Soufan Group, explains what the case tells us about the current capabilities of ISIS.

Some Israeli leaders see this as a rare moment of opportunity. They want the Israeli military to destroy Iranian nuclear sites, critical to the program that Israel has long seen as an existential threat. But President Joe Biden has publicly told the Israeli leadership not to attack Iran's nuclear sites. One week after the Iranian missile attack on Israel, what could come next? The World's Matthew Bell reports.

According to new research, there is a cap on human life expectancy. As The World's Sarah Birnbaum explains, advances in life-prolonging medicine and technology are not yielding a significant increase in how many years a human can survive.

Internationally popular chat app, Discord, has been banned in Turkey. The ban followed public outrage after comments were made on the app in support of the murder of two teenage girls in Turkey. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Yaman Akdeniz, a Turkish law professor, about what's behind the ban.

In the aftermath of the 2006 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, photographer Rania Matar captured images of families whose homes were destroyed. Among her photos was one of a little girl she named Barbie Girl. Matar never saw her again, until earlier this month, when Israel prepared to invade Lebanon once again, and she posted the image on her Instagram page. The World's Shirin Jaafari brings us the story.

Officials in Cameroon say there's no need to worry over the whereabouts or health of President Paul Biya. But the 91-year-old leader was last seen in public a month ago, and has missed high-level meetings since then, as host Carolyn Beeler explains.

Brazil has lifted the ban on Elon Musk's social media platform X. It was banned by the country's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Aug. 30 after a long dispute over free speech and misinformation. Musk finally complied with all the court's demands. Host Carolyn Beeler has the details.

Israel is expanding its ground incursion into southern Lebanon and Israeli airstrikes continue to target Beirut's southern suburbs. About a million Lebanese have been displaced in recent weeks, and many in Lebanon are feeling abandoned by the international community. Host Marco Werman speaks with reporter Leila Molana-Allen in Beirut about the deadly quandary Lebanon finds itself in.

In India, results are in from Kashmir's election - a vote that was seen as a referendum against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the details.

When Kolkata celebrated the 150-year-old tram system's anniversary last year, it was limping along. Last month, the city announced it would end tram service, aside from a very small heritage loop. The tram does have a small but loyal band of supporters that want to keep it alive. They're making a last-ditch effort to get the city to reconsider. We're bringing back this story from reporter Sandip Roy who hopped aboard a Kolkata tram last year.

Tae Chong's family migrated from South Korea to Portland, Maine, in 1976, when the city was overwhelmingly white. Music helped Chong fit in, but there were some hurdles along the way. Tae Chong shared his experience with GBH's "Stories From The Stage."

President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced details about her administration's security plan. From Mexico City, The World's Tibisay Zea reports.

An innocent mistake by a museum worker in Lisse, Netherlands, landed a piece of art in the trash. Fastidiously hand-painted and slightly crushed beer cans were meant to sit on the floor of the exhibit, but host Carolyn Beeler explains it left a temporary worker at the museum thinking it was litter that needed tidying up.

Kais Saied has steadily cleared institutional checks on his power and detained opposition politicians on the road to his victory in Tunisia's presidential election. The latest results mark a cynical milestone in the decline of Tunisia's once-promising democracy that emerged from the Arab Spring. Host Marco Werman speaks with Ines Jaibi, a lawyer and activist in Tunisia, about what the results signal about Kais Saied's rule and the years ahead.

British Canadian scientist Geoffrey Hinton and his US colleague have received the 2024 Nobel Prize in physics for their work laying the foundation for machine learning. Hinton is optimistic about AI's possible contributions to medicine. But he tells host Carolyn Beeler artificial intelligence could also cause serious harm to humanity.

Twenty-one year old computer engineering student Shayma Ahmed used to live in a house with concrete walls. She'd drive to campus each day in a car. Now, home is a tent. Her only means of transport is a donkey cart that winds through streets of rubble in the central Gaza city of Deir al Balah. She tells host Marco Werman about the immeasurable sorrow the past year has brought her family and friends.

In Russia, interest rates for home mortgages are way up. But the Russian government has created a workaround. The catch is, you have to be willing to move out of the city, and into the hinterlands. And once you opt in, you have a vested interest in preserving the status quo of an authoritarian government. Levi Bridges reports on how Russians are navigating their economy in the shadow of ongoing war.

Israelis took part in somber ceremonies on Monday. They marked one year since the Hamas led attack killed around 1,200 people, most of them civilians. The war that began in the Gaza Strip on that same day is still not over. And the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is escalating, with Israeli air strikes and an expanding ground invasion. People across the region are also waiting anxiously as Israel is expected to retaliate for the Iranian missile attack on Oct. 1. The World's Matthew Bell reports.