The World: Latest Stories

For the government, it poses a threat to "family unity." But for an increasing number of women, Japan's law banning married couples from having different last names has them forgoing marriage altogether. Rebecca Rosman reports from Tokyo about the growing opposition to this law, and the traditions keeping it.

In 1937, the Nazi party organized one of the most notorious art exhibits of all time. Works by the best and the brightest - Paul Klee, Marc Chagal, Vassily Kandinsky - were hung up, ridiculed and called degenerate." Now, a new show at the Picasso Museum in Paris brings some of these works back together, in an exhibition called Degenerate Art. Modern Art on Trial under the Nazis." The World's Sarah Birnbaum reports.

Tatsuya Shindo was a member of the Yakuza, a transnational organized crime syndicate originating in Japan. His arm-length tattoos give him away as someone who once belonged to an organized criminal gang. Shindo also did time in prison. But now he's a 53-year-old Christian pastor, who spends time with other former prisoners in a society where redemption and getting a second chance is not easy. The World's Matthew Bell reports from Tokyo.

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman catch you up on some headlines in the news you might have missed.

According to the FBI, the hackers behind the Bybit hack of $1.5 billion in the Ethereum software token are linked to North Korea. Crypto sleuths have been following the money ever since it was taken, which is a complicated, but enlightening, process of analysis. Andrew Fierman, who is Chainalysis's Head of National Security Intelligence explains how the detective work is done and what such an enormous theft means.

In a letter passed to Kurdish lawmakers permitted to visit him, Abdullah Ocalan, the founder and leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, called on the group to lay down its arms - potentially ending a 40-year insurgency. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports.

On Feb. 27, 1980, Colombian militants called the M-19 stormed the Dominican Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. They took nearly 60 people hostage, including diplomats and country ambassadors. The crisis would last 61 days before it was resolved and the militants left for Cuba. To find out more about the events from the crisis and why they remain significant, Host Marco Wermans speaks with Alex Fattal, a professor at the University of Calfornia, San Diego.

In just the past couple of weeks, the Trump administration has shaken up the conversation about the war in Ukraine. The US has initiated talks to normalize relations with Russia, and tomorrow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit the White House to sign a rare earth minerals deal with the US. Still, questions remain about security guarantees for Ukraine, and whether Russia truly intends to stop the hostilities. The World's Daniel Ofman reports.

The first phase of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will expire on Saturday. While Israeli leaders have stated they're sending a negotiating team to Cairo, the future of a second phase of the deal remains uncertain. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Amir Tibon, an Israeli journalist working for the newspaper Haaretz, about the forces driving the talks to continue and the factors pushing for them to end.

Next week will mark 11 years since Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished over the Indian Ocean. Malaysian officials say the plane could be found before the next anniversary. A new search starts this week, and as The World's Patrick Winn reports, it's led by a start-up from Austin, Texas.

The first mummies in the world were created by the Chinchorro people along the coast of what is today northern Chile. In 2021, UNESCO listed the mummies and the Chinchorro settlement as a World Heritage site. Many of these remains are still out there, and are increasingly becoming uncovered by development and the elements. Michael Fox reports from the Chilean province of Arica.

In Japan, nearly a quarter of women in their 20s - and 40% of men - say they've never been on a date. These figures are worrying policymakers in a country already grappling with a shrinking population, low birth rates and a loneliness crisis. But while traditional dating is on the decline, some young people are looking for love and companionship in unconventional places. From Tokyo, Rebecca Rosman reports.

Cinema goers frequently complain about the ads run by theaters before feature films begin. One patron in India took it a step further. He sued the cinema chain - and won - over its misuse of his personal time. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Simon McDonald, a marketing researcher for the Dutch firm DVJ, about pre-film ads, and how they are accepted, or reviled, around the globe.

On Tuesday, a critical power transmission line failed in Chile, causing 90% of the country's residents to lose power for the rest of the day. Everything from lights to cell phones to trains were rendered useless until about midnight, by which time most affected areas had their power restored. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have more.

BP, a big name in the oil industry, announced that it will slash investment in renewables and step up oil and gas production. While this isn't the first time BP has walked back its climate goals, the announcement marks the latest example of an oil company ditching green energy. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks to Ellen Wald, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center.

The Vatican said Wednesday that Pope Francis has shown further slight improvement as he battles double pneumonia, but doctors still say his prognosis is still guarded. Host Carolyn Beeler has more.

Some terms of the deal are still not clear, but the broad contours are the US and Ukraine will work together to develop Ukraine's mineral, oil and gas resources. The US is no longer asking for $500 billion in revenue. There are no security guarantees in the deal so far. Gracelin Baskaran, director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explains to Host Marco Werman what's known about the deal, what minerals the US most wants, where they are and how this fits into a broader strategy the US is mapping out.

Venezuela has seen millions of its citizens flee the country in recent years, because of political and economic turmoil. Even so, this South American country continues to produce top-notch classical musicians, who are playing in renowned orchestras all over the world. And for many of them, their musical journey began with a pioneering music education program. The World's Tibisay Zea first reported this story from Venezuela in 2023.

For three years, the US has consistently condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations General Assembly. But in a dramatic change of course, under a new administration, the US voted yesterday against a UNGA resolution blaming Russia for its incursion. It also filed a separate resolution that called for an end to the war without explicitly blaming Russia. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Brae discusses the implications with Host Marco Werman.

The daily work grind is a routine that can be traced back centuries. People in ancient Rome got up, went to work and did it all over again the next day. But this routine is not the only thing workers from today and ancient Rome share. They also share concerns about new technology and a work-from-home lifestyle. Del Maticic teaches at Vassar College in New York and co-edited the book "Working Lives in Ancient Rome." Maticic speaks to Host Marco Werman.

Some undocumented parents and students at schools in California and around the US worry that filling out the federal financial aid form, known as FAFSA, will tip off the government to their immigration status. That information isn't supposed to be shared with other government agencies, including immigration and customs enforcement. But some say the new Trump administration puts them in uncharted waters. Caroline Feraday reports from Camario, California.

"Anora", the new movie by Sean Baker, is tipped as one of the favorites to win Best Picture at the Oscars this year. The film follows a young sex worker in New York who gets romantically involved with the son of a Russian oligarch. It has chalked up several Oscar nominations, including a best supporting actor nod for Russian actor Yura Borisov. Not everyone in Russia is celebrating, though, as The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry explains.

Nearly 975,000 Syrians, most of whom fled the civil war in their country, are now residents of Germany. Two of them, a virtuoso violinist/composer and an accordionist teamed up with a German guitarist to form a trio called Tawabil, which means "spicy mixture" in Arabic. The name fits: They play an intriguing blend of jazz, flamenco and Middle Eastern music. Alexa Dvorson reports from Berlin.

They go by a few different names, but Japan's "listening lounges" are going through something of a revival. They're music bars where simply sitting and listening to records is the main attraction. In fact, some of these establishments have strict rules against conversation and other distractions like cell phone photos. It's all to maximize the listening experience, which often relies on extraordinarily expensive vintage stereo equipment that almost nobody can afford at home. The World's Matthew Bell reports from Tokyo.

The US Treasury announced new sanctions designed to crack down on the so-called "shadow fleet" or oil tankers and the companies that facilitate the sale of Iran's oil. The Trump administration is ratcheting up the pressure with its sights on Iran's nuclear program, insisting that any plans or operations to develop a nuclear weapon must stop. Ali Vaez is the Crisis Group's project director for Iran. He speaks with Host Carolyn Beeler about which entities the sanctions target and what direction US and Iranian relations are taking.

Hundreds of Syrians gathered this week in Damascus for the first Syrian national dialogue conference since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December. Attendees came from Syria's diverse ethnic and minority communities with the goal of charting Syria's political transition. In a speech addressing the conference, the country's interim president, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, appealed for unity amid tensions between his administration in Damascus and the minority regions of Syria.

Germany is about to get a new chancellor. Friedrich Merz, who leads the conservative Christian Democratic party, won the most votes in yesterday's election. But the far right also made big wins. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry explains all the results.

Russia launched the largest drone strike of the war in Ukraine over the weekend. This come as the country marks three years since its full-scale invasion by Russia. Political leaders from across the globe visited Kyiv today to mark the occasion. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Ukrainian journalist Volodymyr Solohub about how the country is marking three years of war amid tensions between the US and Ukraine over how to end the fight with Russia.

Rebel groups - notably the one known as M23 - have been taking territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with help from Rwanda. The European Union says the DRC's borders are non-negotiable. And now, the EU's top diplomat has announced the bloc is suspending defense cooperation with Rwanda. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the details.

Roughly 6 million Venezuelans have fled their country over the past 10 years, some of them comedians and satirists. A 2018 anti-hate law passed by the government of Nicolas Maduro clamped down on all sorts of speech and made it impossible for them to ply their trade. The World's Tibisay Zea reports on whether there's a distinct Venezuelan sense of humor, and the challenge of punching up at a dictator.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has sent tanks into West Bank cities and towns prompting international concern. This caps weeks of Palestinians fleeing their homes across the West Bank under shelling and other violence in search of safety. Ubai Aboudi is a human rights activist from the Bisan Center for Research and Development and describes what he's seeing on the ground from Ramallah.

A US shut down of foreign aid is starting to have devastating impacts around the world, with health programs and even military assistance now paused in many countries. In Latin America, some fear that the aid freeze could hurt economic programs, and push more people to try migrating to the United States. Manuel Rueda reports from Bogota, Colombia.

Temperatures reaching 107 degrees Fahrenheit are wreaking havoc across South Sudan, and causing some students to faint in crowded classrooms. That's led the government to close schools for at least two weeks. Roba Bante, director of Humanitarian Operations for Save The Children in Juba, discusses the implications with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler.

As egg prices in the US skyrocket, it is looking across the ocean for help. Turkey, a major egg exporter, is stepping in to help alleviate a massive shortage in the US caused by the spread of bird flu. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports from Istanbul.

Germany's stagnant economy and heated rows over immigration policy have dominated this month's election campaign. Germany heads to the polls on Sunday with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's (SPD) party trailing in third place. Many eyes will be on how the far-right fares on Sunday while voters in Berlin say they just want a government that can get the economy back on track. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry reports

Origami is the art of folding paper into basically any design you can imagine, from cranes and paper planes to fiery dragons. The ancient art can be traced back to Japan from thousands of years ago and has since spread across the globe. Origami's evolution continues, though, as STEM experts see how it can be used to solve real-life problems.

Next week will mark three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It led to the deadliest war in Europe since World War II, and the ramifications of it go far beyond the front lines. Over the past three years, millions of Ukrainians have been displaced - forced to live elsewhere in Ukraine, or outside the country. For many, that path to safety was a treacherous one. The World's Daniel Ofman reports on how a young Ukrainian man escaped Russia's invasion.

A court in Argentina has ruled that ex-President Alberto Fernandez must stand trial for allegedly beating his ex-girlfriend, former first lady Fabiola Yanez. While investigating a separate fraud investigation against him, the government found text messages and photographic evidence that supported the charges. Carolyn Beeler explores the case against the former Argentine President with Karen Naundorf, a journalist based in Buenos Aires.

Meta - the company behind Facebook - just announced an ambitious plan to link five of the world's continents to the internet with a data cable stretching over 30,000 miles along the ocean floor. Known as Project Waterworth, Meta says the cable will link the US, Brazil, South Africa, India and other countries along the way. Elisabeth Braw, who looks into the security concerns around undersea data cables, told The World's Carol Hills that risks of damage run along the circumnavigating cable route. Braw is a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council's Transatlantic Security Initiative.

At a time when Japan's declining birth rate is attracting international headlines, the pet industry is booming. While the country has just 14 million children under the age of 15 - it has almost 16 million cats and dogs. From Tokyo, reporter Rebecca Rosman explores why more young people are choosing pets over parenthood.

The band Dowdelin calls their style of music Creole Afrofuturism, a brew of creole soul, jazz, electronica and dance. The four-piece band first got together in Lyon, France, with producer David Kiledjian and Olivya Victorin at the helm. And it was Victorin who helps bring those Afro Carribbean vibes to forefront, having been born on the island of Martinique and growing up in France.

Canada's overtime win in the 4 Nations Face Off final in Boston on Thursday night gave Canadians a moment of national pride amid tensions between Ottawa and Washington. Host Carol Hills tells how hockey fans from both nations responded to Canada's victory on the ice.

Hamas and Israel continued their prisoner-for-hostage exchanges as part of the ceasefire deal in Gaza, but on Thursday, the hostages released to Israel were already dead. Hamas claims they were killed by Israeli airstrikes while they were in captivity, which Israeli officials have not denied. The occasion was a somber shift in tone for the hostage releases, which are usually days of relief and celebration in Israel. Shira Kadari-Ovadia is a reporter for Haaretz, who was in a plaza in Tel Aviv that's been renamed Hostage Square, where families and supporters of the hostages gather. She explains what it was like there and the impact of this day on Israeli society.

On Wednesday in Paris, European leaders held another round of emergency talks focused on how to bolster the continent's defense capabilities and support Ukraine's fight against Russia. The continent is worried about how to defend itself in a world with fewer security guarantees from NATO ally the US. Host Marco Werman spoke to Camille Grand, a distinguished policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, who joined the show from Brussels. From 2016 to 2022, Grand worked as assistant secretary general for defense investment at NATO.

"Flow" is an animated film from Latvia, with no dialogue, about a cat. Despite its modest budget, and coming from a small independent studio, it's already won a Golden Globe and is generating serious Oscar buzz. The World's Daniel Ofman reports that this passion project is finding a worldwide audience, and is resonating because of its universal message.

Luis Rubiales was on trial for an infamous kiss - one he gave to Spanish soccer star Jennifer Hermoso - on the lips and without her consent after Spain won the women's World Cup in Australia in 2023. But he's avoided the jail time prosecutors sought, angering some women. Others feel the guilty verdict alone was enough. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

A federal court in Germany has ruled that Birkenstock sandals cannot be considered copyrighted works of applied art." The court added: For copyright protection to apply, there must be such a degree of design that the product displays some individuality." Ouch! Host Marco Werman speaks to Philipe Kutschke about the rise and fall and rise of Birkenstocks.

The president of South Korean was shuttled in a prison transport van between two courthouses in Seoul on Thursday, making appearances in two cases against him. President Yoon Suk-yeol faces a criminal case on rebellion charges, and an impeachment trial, which could remove him from office. As host Marco Werman explains, both both cases stem from the day in December when he imposed martial law.

On Thursday, North Korea let Western tourists visit for the first time since 2020. Reporter Jamie Fullerton looks at the ethical issues around taking a vacation in the autocratic nation.

Propaganda art can be jarring and crude or beautiful and persuasive. It is a visual tool used by both repressive and democratic nations to convey a message or hammer home a point. A new book offers a collection of propaganda posters from the last century created by governments, rebel groups, nongovernmental organizations and the UN. The World's co-host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Bradley Davies, the author of "Propagandopolis: A Century of Propaganda from Around the World."