The World: Latest Stories

Following the assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah figures the past two days, there are fears about a wider conflict engulfing the Middle East. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Steven A. Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, about the prospects of an inflamed conflict in the region and whether or not the US has any leverage with Israel.

The Israeli army claimed responsibility for a missile strike that killed a Hezbollah commander in his Beirut apartment. At least three people were killed in that strike and some 70 wounded. Hours later, Hamas' leader-in-exile Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed as they slept in Tehran. Haniyeh was there for the swearing in of Iran's new president.

Singapore's Food Agency has approved 16 species of insects as safe for human consumption, including crickets, grubs, moth larvae and one species of honeybee. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Matthew Britt, associate professor and chef at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, about cooking with bugs.

Since June, young people in Kenya have been demonstrating on a weekly basis against taxes, corruption and police brutality. The protests are now inspiring young people in other African countries, like Uganda and Nigeria, to do the same. The wave of youth-led protests in Africa is stirring up memories of the Arab Spring in 2010. The World's Africa correspondent Halima Gikandi reports from Nairobi.

Today, some Brazilians along the southern coast of the country are celebrating the "day of the right whale." This is an endangered species of whale that has made a comeback in the region due to conservation efforts by the Brazilian government. Michael Fox reports from Florianopolis, Brazil, on the right whale comeback.

A hundred miles off the coast of China is the island of Taiwan: with ambiguous status in the global community, Taiwan sees China as its most important economic partner and its biggest military threat. Host Marco Werman talks with veteran journalist Jane Perlez about serious and alarming scenarios in which the US and China might go to war over Taiwan's sovereignty. Perlez is the host of the podcast "Face Off: US versus China."

Top US intelligence officials say Russia, China and Iran are targeting voters in the US, with disinformation and propaganda related to the upcoming presidential election. US officials who track disinformation campaigns say the number of warnings they have issued to political candidates, government leaders and others has spiked in recent months. Host Marco Werman speaks with McKenzie Sadeghi, the AI and foreign influence editor at NewsGuard, a company that tracks and rates the reliability of news sites.

Moving away from coal, oil and gas could leave countries liable for hundreds of billions of dollars in payouts to fossil fuel companies. Host Carolyn Beeler discusses the implications with reporter Katie Surma from Inside Climate News.

In a 2022 album, the musical duo Charlotte & Bolis tackled weighty subjects like colonialism, representation, xenophobia and political correctness - with playful dance tunes. Charlotte Adigery and Bolis Pupul spoke to The World's collaborator Meklit Hadero, host of the Movement series, for a story that originally aired last summer.

The detention of nine Israeli soldiers, under investigation for the alleged abuse of a Palestinian inmate, has laid bare the polarized state of Israeli society. The inquiry has angered far-right lawmakers and protesters who broke into a detention facility on Monday. Journalist Noga Tarnopolsky in Jerusalem speaks with The World's Carolyn Beeler about the political rift this exposes.

Olympian Beiwen Zhang went pro in badminton at age 13, leaving her home country of China for Singapore to pursue the sport. She struggled with the pressure of competitive athletics, though. The World's Bianca Hillier has the story of how she bounced back, not just from intense stress, but also from what many believed would be a career-ending injury.

Venezuelans are out in the streets on Tuesday in many parts of the country, disputing the results of Sunday's presidential election. Longtime leader Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner, but the opposition says it can prove its candidate actually got the most votes. The World's Tibisay Zea provides the latest updates from the ground in Caracas.

Across Europe, NATO countries are watching Ukraine closely. Their interest isn't just in the outcome of the war but in how the war is being fought, what tools are being used, and the role innovation is playing on the battlefield. The World's Daniel Ofman reports from Riga, Latvia.

The Israeli army has confirmed that it struck a building in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday, while targeting a Hezbollah commander. Israel's defense minister has said Hezbollah "crossed a red line" by killing children on a soccer field over the weekend. The World's Shirin Jaafari has more.

As the world was riveted by the sports at the Paris Olympics, French authorities arrested a left-wing activist for last week's arson attacks on the railways. On Monday, there were also reports of more sabotage - on telecommunications networks outside of Paris. Meanwhile, over the weekend, gymnastics, soccer and swimming were the top sports. The World's Bianca Hillier has been following the games.

Last month, Germany marked Veterans Day for the first time in decades. Once seen as unthinkable because of the country's military history during World War II, Germany is now launching a campaign to boost morale, acceptance and enlistment. Reporter Rebecca Collard gets into the complexity of Germany's relationship with its army, the Bundeswehr.

Venezuela's electoral authority, which is controlled by the government of Nicolas Maduro, declared the authoritarian socialist reelected for six more years, despite partial results and independent exit polling signaling the opposition had capturd twice as many votes. Venezuelan opposition leaders swiftly claimed the announced results are fraudulent, and promised to challenge them. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Caracas, Venezuela.

Authorities in Brazil will permit Amazon timber concessions to companies that follow strict rules. They cite studies showing illegal deforestation goes down when selective logging is permitted. Concessions would expand dramatically, allowing companies to harvest inside an area the size of Costa Rica over the next two years. The World's Marco Werman gets more from Brazilian scientist Carlos Nobre, an expert on deforestation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was recently in China, where he met with American college students in Shanghai and told them, I think what you're engaged in is so important to the future of both of our countries." But the numbers of US students studying in China is way down compared to previous years. The pandemic is one reason why. But there are other pressures, some of them related to the tense diplomatic relationship between the US and China. The World's Matthew Bell reports

Officially the death toll in last year's Derna Dam disaster in Libya is 4,500 people. But many thousands more have been considered lost ever since. Now, a Libyan court has sentenced lower-level officials to prison time for mismanagement and corruption. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, about whether or not justice and accountability can be attained while Libya endures political fragmentation.

In Kenya, anti-government demonstrations entered their seventh week. What began as protests against tax hikes has now grown into a call for the country's president to resign. Even as William Ruto attempted to compromise, reports surfaced of protesters being killed or abducted, which generated even more demonstrations. It's all stirring up dark memories of Kenya's authoritarian past. The World's Africa correspondent Halima Gikandi reports from Nairobi.

A rocket from Lebanon killed 12 children and teens on a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Saturday, drawing international attention to the region and also to the Druze people living there. The World's Shirin Jaafari explains how the Druze community fits into the fabric of Israel.

A Turkish family gang, the Salams, are in a police dragnet that exposes their kidnapping operation targeting Iranian dissidents. The ensuing police investigation reveals an entire network of conspirators behind the Salams. When one conspirator is arrested and interrogated, he confesses. Reporter Fariba Nawa uses the confession to tell the story of Iran's behind-the-scenes involvement.

Brothers Henrik, Filip and Jakob Ingebrigtsen are famous track stars in Norway. But now, the brothers are adding a new and unexpected line to their resumes. Host Marco Werman has the details.

Vietnam is in a state of mourning today with flags at half-mast. The ruling Communist Party is holding a funeral for Nguyen Phu Trong, the country's leader until he died last week at 80 years old. Foreign diplomats are in the capital Hanoi - including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken - both to pay respects and also to secure some face time with Vietnam's new leader, To Lam, a man known for ruthlessly neutralizing his rivals. The World's Patrick Winn reports.

This week, the International Olympic Committee created the Olympic Esports Games, to be held in Saudi Arabia next year. E-Games, or competitive video gaming, have become popular in Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom has hosted several tournaments in the past. Critics, meanwhile, question the IOC's decision to hand the games over to Saudi Arabia, which has been under international scrutiny for its human rights abuses. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

There's a lot of tension and uncertainty in Venezuela, ahead of a crucial presidential election this weekend. The country's authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, wants to secure another six years in power, but there's a chance he will be defeated. Host Marco Werman gets the latest from The World's Tibisay Zea, who has been covering this election from Caracas.

The Olympics will go on in Paris, despite a massive sabotage campaign against France's rail system. Hundreds of thousands of travelers are stranded, including in the capital, and the police are investigating the incidents as a crime. But the Olympics opening ceremony, held on boats floating down the Seine river, will not be interrupted. The World's host, Marco Werman, talks to correspondent Gerry Hadden, who has been covering the Olympics in Paris.

Scribes in ancient Egypt suffered from repetitive stress injuries, according to a new study by Czech scientists published in the peer-reviewed journal "Scientific Reports." Host Marco Werman tells us how researchers examined the skeletons of royal scribes and discovered evidence of damage to the workers' jaw, neck and shoulder regions, likely from the sitting and kneeling that came with the job.

Joaquin Guzman Lopez and Ismael Zambada, both leaders in the Sinaloa Cartel, were arrested by US authorities after they landed on a runaway in New Mexico. The story behind the arrest and why they flew to the United States is not clear, but the possibilities are intriguing. Steven Dudley, the co-founder and co-director of Insight Crime, gives the background on who these two men are, what is known about the arrests and why cartel drug trafficking is harder than ever for the authorities to disrupt.

Canada's wildfire season is well underway and it has already sparked evacuations, destroyed homes and burned forests across Canada's national parks. The fire in Jasper National Park ended up causing major damage to the nearby town of Jasper. Residents and tourists alike were forced to flee. Host Marco Werman speaks with Joe Urie, a resident and owner of the Jasper Tour Company, about evacuating his town and what made it special prior to the fires.

Hong Kong isn't just a city. It's a brand - one that's taken a beating in recent years. The old image of Hong Kong, as a vibrant part of China where people could say almost anything they liked, has been damaged by a crackdown on dissidents, journalists and even artists. Now Hong Kong's government is spending millions on a campaign to get the city's mojo back. The World's Patrick Winn reports.

Brazil is sending 277 athletes to the Paris Olympics this week. It's one of the largest delegations from Latin America. One of the biggest stars from Brazil is Rebeca Andrade, an athlete who has helped build enthusiasm for women's gymnastics across the country and the globe. Michael Fox has the story from southern Brazil.

During his speech to a joint session of the US Congress on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called protesters gathered outside "useful idiots." The World's host, Marco Werman, explains where the term came from.

National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek talks about his walk through northern India, where modern farming with high-yield seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, tractors and motorized well pumps have made India self-sufficient in food. But as he tells The World's host, Carolyn Beeler, it has come at a cost to the environment, to the country's water supplies and to some traditional ways of life.

James C. Scott, who died on July 19 at the age of 87, has been called one of the most original and radical political theorists of the past century. He started by studying Southeast Asia, and then expanded to other disciplines and to the rest of the globe. Host Marco Werman speaks with Todd Holmes, who made the documentary, "In A Field All His Own: The Life and Career of James C. Scott."

Venezuelans will head to the polls this weekend for a crucial presidential election. The country is governed by authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro, who is seeking re-election. But he's not very popular. Under his 11-year rule, Venezuela's economy collapsed, repression escalated and millions of people left. The displacement has contributed to a migrant surge in the US. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Caracas, Venezuela.

Typhoon Gaemi is one of the strongest typhoons to affect the Asia-Pacific region in nearly a decade. The storm sparked massive evacuations in the Philippines, and left flooding and landslides in its wake. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Deutsche Welle East Asia Correspondent James Chater about the storm, how the Philippines and Taiwan have been affected so far and where the typhoon is headed next.

Cricket is, objectively, not massively popular in Mexico, where soccer and baseball rule. The country's national governing body - the Mexico Cricket Federation - wants to change that and enact social change along the way. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Changing weather patterns mean that dangerous mosquitos native to Asia are now flourishing in Africa. Anopheles stephensi have recently been detected in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. Cristina Rafferty, a molecular biologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells The World's host, Carolyn Beeler, about a new test she's developed to help communities identify the invader.

South Africa calls itself a non-aligned nation. Yet in recent years, it's edged so close to both Russia and China, and it's risked losing its duty-free access to US markets via the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Members of South Africa's new government of national unity are visiting Washington, DC, this week and hoping to reset relations and renew their eligibility in AGOA, as The Africa Report's Julian Pecquet explains to The World's host, Marco Werman.

Japan has the oldest population in the world, and the small village of Nanmoku, in the mountains northwest of Tokyo, has the oldest population on the planet. The World's Carolyn Beeler visits Nanmoku to see how demographic change is changing life there, and how the village is trying to attract new residents to keep itself alive.

Throughout Mexico, agave plants are used to make distillates like tequila, mezcal and bacanora, a similar liquor made in the state of Sonora. But much of the plant goes to waste when agave leaves are stripped and distilled. Kendal Blust reports from Matape, Sonora, on a group that is making new products from the fiber from agave leaves to reduce waste and bring new income to rural communities.This story originally aired on Aug. 11, 2023.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, on Wednesday becomes the world leader with a record number of appearances in the US Congress. He'll be giving his fourth speech to a joint session of the House of Representatives, but his primary audience might be the one back home in Israel. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Though the Olympics are a global event, host France wants the games' organizers to stick to the French language. They say it's because English has encroached too much already. Case in point: The Paris 2024 slogan, "Made for Sharing" - in English. But holding English at bay won't be easy, as The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Paris.

An independent inquiry in New Zealand issued a report that found 200,000 people were abused in care over the past seven decades. Children, women and members of the Maori community were found to have been subjects of sexual, physical and psychological abuse. The abuse also continued to occur even after authorities at state and religious institutions were notified. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler report.

Wild sharks off the coast of Brazil have tested positive for cocaine, according to new study by Brazilian scientists, in the latest research to demonstrate how illegal drug consumption by humans is harming marine life. Host Marco Werman speaks with Chris Reddy, a senior scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, about the problem of drugs, medicines and other contaminants in harming marine life.

China has the second largest economy on the planet, but the growth of that economy is not on target with goals set by Beijing. Host Marco Werman and veteran journalist Jane Perlez explore economic issues like real estate, unemployment and tech. Perlez is the host of the podcast "Face Off: US versus China."

New rules are coming to the US border on Aug. 1, and some dog owners are concerned. The World's hosts, Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler, have the latest.

Hong Kong is more than one of the busiest shipping hubs in the world. It also plays a key role in sanctions busting for Russia. Host Marco Werman speaks with Hong Kong human rights lawyer, researcher and advocate Samuel Bickett, author of "Beneath the Harbor: Hong Kong's Leading Role in Sanctions Evasion," about Hong Kong's inadequate efforts to halt the flow of prohibited Western high-tech products to Russia.