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The World: Latest Stories

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Updated 2025-07-18 22:16
Taiwan wants weapons fast but are they the right ones?
The year 2027. That's how soon China will be ready to invade Taiwan, according to US intelligence. There's a new push in US Congress to get American weapons to the island as fast as possible so that Taiwan will be ready to fight if need be. But some also wonder: Is America even sending the right weapons to Taiwan? The World's Patrick Winn reports.
A new exhibit on sexuality features a 200-year-old condom
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has just begun an exhibit focusing on 19th-century sexuality and prostitution, a subject they say is underrepresented in their collection. A centerpiece of the exhibit is a 200-year-old condom, with an etching on it that would make many blush. The World's Aaron Schachter has more.
Daughter hopes mom can 'travel' in death the way she never did in life
A woman from Leeds, in the UK, is trying to help her mother fulfill a lifelong dream - to travel the world. Cara Melia's mom died young, at 51, without getting to travel the world as she had always hoped. So, Cara put her mother's ashes in a bottle and threw it out to sea. Hosts Carol Hills and Carolyn Beeler explain what happened next.
What does the rise in adult baptisms in France mean?
Very secular France saw a 46% jump in adult baptisms this past Easter. It's the largest increase in the 20 years that baptism numbers have been recorded. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler puts the numbers into historical perspective and the discusses the reasons younger people in France may be joining the Catholic Church with Charles Collins, managing editor of the Catholic news site CruxNow.com.
Canadian wildfires continue to burn
Wildfires are continuing to burn across western and central Canada as the number of people who've been evacuated climbs to more than 30,000. The conditions are hot and dry, similar to what was experienced in 2023, Canada's worst fire season on record. John Vaillant is a journalist and author of the book "Fire Weather." He spoke with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about how climate change is exacerbating Canada's fire season.
Xi and Trump hold phone call, agree to meet in-person
US President Donald Trump described his 90-minute conversation today with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping as "very good." The call comes as Washington and Beijing have been accusing one another of violating a 90-day trade truce both nations had agreed to three weeks ago. Former US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns discusses the implications with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler.
NGOs warn EU funds linked to human rights violations
More than a billion euros in EU funding (around $1.1 billion) meant to support inclusion is instead being used to segregate and isolate vulnerable communities across Europe, according to a new report. Eight NGOs across six EU countries have documented dozens of projects they say violate basic human rights - from Roma children being separated in EU-funded schools, to migrants placed in remote detention centers far from essential services. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.
D-Day marked in a French town grateful for US war fighters
This year, the annual June 6 celebrations of D-Day, which marked the beginning of the end of WWII, are taking place against a backdrop of transatlantic uncertainty. Nevertheless, when Deutsche Welle's Lisa Bryant visited the village of Baupte in Normandy, US flags were hanging from buildings in a region that hasn't forgotten the day the Americans landed.
Stanley Cup Final gets underway in Edmonton
The 2025 Stanley Cup Final is a rematch of last year, with the Edmonton Oilers going head-to-head with the Florida Panthers. The latter are the reigning champions, while the Canadians are looking to win their first trophy since 1993. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.
Recycled whirligigs remain fixture in Japanese countryside
A constant fixture of National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek's journey through rural Japan was the whirligig, or as he called them, "seismic scarecrows." Gardeners he spoke to use these contraptions to scare away crop pests like mice and foxes. Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with Salopek about the whirligigs, rural Japanese architectural aesthetics and how he managed to get aboard a cargo ship to cross to North America.
Farmers are concerned as Kenyan courts consider import of genetically modified seeds
Developers of genetically modified seeds hope to boost production and prevent crop diseases in countries hit the hardest by climate change. But farmers on the ground in Kenya have big concerns. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports.
Boston Consulting Group, designer of Israel-backed Gaza relief effort, quits initiative
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a US-based firm that helped design and manage an aid initiative to deliver food to Palestinians in Gaza in areas controlled by the Israeli military, has withdrawn its team from the operation. The Washington Post's Karen DeYoung speaks with host Carolyn Beeler about the role BCG and US security contractors have played in the relief effort.
German city sees largest evacuation since World War II
The city of Cologne, Germany, evacuated more than 20,000 people from its city center, after three unexploded bombs from World War II were found. That's the largest evacuation the city has seen since that war. The city went quiet as emergency services moved in to defuse the bombs. Host Carolyn Beeler has the story.
White House anti-DEI measures target library in Barcelona
The Trump administration has banned DEI policies across the US and wants the same for anyone, anywhere, who does business with the country. That includes overseas companies that offer services to US missions or to the US government. But the White House may have gone a step too far in trying to get a public library in Barcelona to change its inclusion policies. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from the Spanish city.
All seats will be up for grabs after far-right politician blows up the coalition
The Dutch Election Commission has to schedule new elections, after far-right politician Geert Wilders pulled his ministers from the four-party governing coalition. Opposition leaders in parliament today condemned the choice to bring Wilders into the coalition in the first place, and said he should never be allowed into government again. Host Carolyn Beeler explains.
The semicolon is an endangered species
According to recent research, the semicolon has declined in use in British books by 50%. The World's Sarah Birnbaum explores why the misunderstood punctuation mark is under threat.
Today's anniversary in China will be censored online
Images of candles, flowers or a single banana in front of four apples in a line. These are among the images that are being erased from the internet in China today. That's because it's June 4, and also the 36th anniversary of the bloody crackdown in Beijing against the massive student-led protests at Tiananmen Square. The Chinese government has never come clean about what happened that day. And after all these years, China goes to extraordinary lengths to suppress just about any online reference to those events. The World's Matthew Bell reports.
Vietnam ditches two-child policy
Vietnam is scrapping a long-standing rule that families can only have two children. The National Assembly passed amendments on Tuesday to make that change. Host Carolyn Beeler has more details.
'Explosive' seaweed growth washes up on Caribbean shores
Seaweed plays a key role in the world's oceans. But too much of it disrupted ecosystems in the Caribbean this May. Brian Barnes has written about it in a new report published this week by the University of South Florida's Optical Oceanography Lab. Barnes tells Host Carolyn Beeler that there's no single scientific explanation for the explosive growth.
South Korea elects new liberal president
South Korea appears to have a new president. Polls and early results show Lee Jae-Myung winning a snap election today by a wide margin. Lee is a center-left politician promising to end a chaotic period for South Korea. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with The World's Patrick Winn, who's been following the election.
Preserving stone wall architecture in Japan's rice paddies
Japan's iconic terraced rice paddies are held in place by traditional stone walls. But the craft of building these walls is a dying art. Reporter Hannah Kirshner recently traveled to Fukuoka prefecture, in southern Japan, where she met a group dedicated to preserving agricultural practices, including stone wall building.
Survivors of Assad's chemical attacks speak out
During the 13-year civil war in Syria, the forces under former President Bashar al-Assad carried out some of the most horrific chemical attacks in recent history. One of them was in April 2018, on the outskirts of Damascus, where at least 43 people were killed. The World's Shirin Jaafari visits the site and speaks with survivors, who say they need psychological support.
Digital addresses in Japan
Japan is about a week into a new postal program that assigns a digital code to individuals that can stand in for physical addresses. The program is designed to do away with errors in labeling or addressing packages. Host Carolyn Beeler explains that, so far, the seven-digit code can only be used for package delivery.
J-Pop girl group to solo artist
Shima's days of being in a manufactured J-Pop band in Tokyo are over. Now, she's doing things her way, with total creative control. Shima's real name is Tina Johnson. As a Japanese American musician, she's made the move to Los Angeles as an electronic solo artist. Host Carolyn
Latin American students consider options as visas are on hold
US officials have suspended visa interviews for all international students looking to study in the United States. They say they're revamping policies to include the vetting of applicants' social media accounts. The US has long been the top destination for students from Latin America; many Latin American leaders have been educated in the United States. But as Michael Fox reports from Quito, Ecuador, that trajectory could be shifting suddenly.
Mount Etna puts on another show
The images of Monday's eruption of Mount Etna in Sicily were eye-popping. Towering plumes of charcoal-colored ash rose miles into the air. But scientists say what made this new eruption interesting was material that gushed across the land from the crater: pyroclastic flow. Host Carolyn Beeler explains.
Pressure grows for Hezbollah to disarm after military losses to Israel
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is facing growing calls to disarm following its battle with Israel last year. The group is now faced with major losses to its infrastructure and top leadership. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Sami Halabi from the Alternative Policy Institute about the complexities of disarmament for the group.
Octopus population booms off England's South Coast
The octopus population in the waters south of England is booming. Typically a rare species, fishermen in one town pulled in more than 70,500 pounds of octopus on a single day - compared to the usual average of about 400 pounds. This population boom comes as those same waters are experiencing a marine heat wave that has lasted for several months. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with marine ecologist Lissa Batey about the increased population, the response from the fisheries and how the overall marine environment is shifting due to climate change.
South Koreans head to the polls after months of turmoil
A declaration of martial law. Impeachment. Months of protest and deep political divisions. That's what South Korea has been through over the last six months. Tomorrow, the country will vote for a new president. There's one clear frontrunner. But the political divide - along with big economic and security challenges - will remain, no matter who wins this election. The World's Matthew Bell has the story.
Amid backdrop of airstrikes, Russia and Ukraine pursue peace talks in Istanbul
Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia met today in Istanbul, Turkey, for peace talks on the heels of a spike in airstrikes between the two sides. As The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports from Istanbul, the delegations agreed to a major prisoner exchange, but no ceasefire.
Tibetan children subject to abuse in Chinese government schools
A new report from Tibet Action Institute documents a pattern of physical abuse and neglect in Chinese-run boarding schools that many are forced to attend. The report alleges that the schools are designed to separate Tibetan children from their parents and away from their language and culture. Host Carolyn Beeler gets the details from the director of the institute, Lhadon Tethong, who is based in Boston.
New Massachusetts law for undocumented migrants sees spike in licensed drivers
After Massachusetts approved a law allowing undocumented immigrants to drive legally in 2023, the numbers of licensed drivers doubled in a year. Despite growing fears of a nationwide crackdown on immigrants, people in the state are still seeking licenses in higher numbers than before the law was passed. A big reason for that is the state's attorney general, who has promised not to share license data with federal authorities. GBH Radio's Chris Burrell reports from Boston.
Moscow's plan to build 500 Orthodox churches sparks rare revolt
In a Moscow suburb, locals have been battling against city officials and the Russian Orthodox Church to stop construction of a new church in a city park. This construction project is part of a plan to build at least 500 new churches in Moscow - a city of roughly 12 million people. And over the past 15 years, thousands of new churches have gone up across the country. Levi Bridges reports that these construction projects represent a tightening relationship in Russia between the church and state.
In Mexico City, moths find a home at the museum
The butterfly sanctuary in Mexico City's Natural History Museum is now the host of thousands of Orizaba silkmoths. Those moths have been steadily decreasing in number in the city due to urbanization. But 2,600 cocoons of the silkmoth were rescued from an empty lot, cleaned and hung up from clothing lines by biologists at the museum. Host Carolyn Beeler has the details.
One of the best examples of soft power is on the chopping block
For 80 years, the Fulbright program has enabled a research exchange between the US and the rest of the world, welcoming foreign scholars and scientists to the US and enabling US citizens to tap into research networks abroad. Not only has it strengthened US research prowess, but it's also become a major geopolitical soft power tool. The World's Joshua Coe reports.
Ukraine strikes military and psychological blow to Russia
Ukraine attacked targets deep inside Russia yesterday, in what Kyiv called "Operation Spiderweb." The Security Service of Ukraine claimed responsibility for the attack using drones smuggled into Russia, which they say knocked out some 41 Russian planes, though Russia disputes that figure. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Samuel Bendett, an advisor at the Center for Naval Analyses.
Gaza ceasefire hopes and West Bank settlements expanded
The White House says it's working on a ceasefire deal for Gaza, and that Israel has agreed to the proposal. Hamas is reportedly reviewing the offer, which would include a temporary truce and the release of Israeli hostages. Also this week, Israel announced an expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the biggest expansion of settlements in decades. They're considered illegal under international law. Noga Tarnopolsky is an Israeli reporter based in Jerusalem.
Shakira global record-breaking tour comes to the US
Colombian pop star Shakira returns to US stages for the first time in seven years with her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour - Women Don't Cry Anymore. Following sold-out shows across Latin America, the tour includes nearly 20 US dates and blends personal storytelling, bilingual performances and global rhythms. It's projected to earn over $200 million worldwide. The World's Tibisay Zea reports.
France bans smoking in most public places
Beginning July 1, the French will no longer be able to smoke in places where children might be, including on beaches and at parks, sports venues or bus stops. If you're asking "what could be more French than smoking," well the truth is that smoking is on the decline in France. Though, as hosts Carol Hills and Carolyn Beeler explain, you can still smoke at outdoor cafes.
Get ready for a world without physical passports
Under new UN-backed plans to streamline air travel, physical passports could become a thing of the past. The proposal from the The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) could lead to the most-dramatic shift in international air travel policy in decades, moving from a paper-based system to just facial recognition. The World's transportation correspondent Jeremy Siegel has the story.
Canadian wildfires force widespread evacuations
Growing wildfires in Canada have forced widespread evacuations, with 17,000 people moved in Manitoba. Many of these people are from Canada's First Nations, in remote communities accessible only by single roads, boat or air. Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation is helping coordinate his community's evacuation. He tells The World's Carol Hills there is not enough accommodation, and resources are scarce as many communities need help.
The ideology behind the Rapid Support Forces' campaign of ethnic killing in Sudan
Ethnic killings in Sudan, documented to have been committed overwhelmingly by the RSF, have been called genocide by the US government. The World's Carolyn Beeler talks with reporter Nicholas Niarchos, who went to Sudan, and whose story about Sudanese fleeing the Rapid Support Forces reveals the ideology that drives the RSF's violent campaign against various ethnic groups throughout the country.
The deep friendship behind Van Gogh's portraits
A current exhibit at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts puts Vincent Van Gogh's portraits of the Roulin family into important context. The French family made the Dutchman feel like he belonged, and their relationship lives on in touching letters. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.
RT on the rise as VOA fades
The clash between the Trump administration and Voice of America continues. In March, an executive order was issued to eliminate VOA's supervising agency. Since then, VOA has been slashed and has cut down operations while also challenging the executive order in court. The World's Daniel Ofman reports that as VOA shrinks, Russian news agencies targeting international audiences are growing.
Hyperrealistic baby dolls become a fad in Brazil
Reborn dolls that are hyperrealistic, handcrafted baby dolls have gone viral in Brazil, sparking both fascination and controversy. Co-hosts Carolyn Beeler and Carol Hills explain.
Beatboxing nun goes viral
A Brazilian nun's spontaneous performance beatboxing on national TV went viral. Co-hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have this appreciation.
Poland votes this weekend in election seen as a test for democracy
Poland's presidential election this weekend is more than just a vote - it's a pivotal moment for the country's democracy. At stake is the future direction of Poland, with voters choosing between two starkly different candidates: a right-wing populist opposing abortion and LGBTQ rights, and a pro-European liberal who has marched in Warsaw's pride parade. The World's Europe correspondent, Orla Barry, reports on what's shaping up to be a defining political showdown.
Rush to buy metal detectors in Syria as search for gold heats up
Syrians are rushing to buy metal detectors in the aftermath of the Assad regime's collapse late last year. Many are on the hunt for gold left behind by previous civilizations and empires from Syria's history. Amr al-Azm, a professor of Middle East history and anthropology at Shawnee State University, joined host Carolyn Beeler from Damascus to discuss the gold rush in Syria and how decades of family lore are driving this trend.
Mongolia politics
Mongolia's prime minister was seen as a force for reliable government in a country that has mineral-wealth oligarchies. But now, his son's unexplained lavish gifts and lifestyle have caused questions, protests and a confidence vote. The Mercedes Benz and Dior purse for his girlfriend looks to many Mongolians like corruption. Marco Werman speaks with Julian Dierkes, a Mongolia specialist at the University of Mannheim.
Harvard's sports teams could face massive losses if international students are banned
Harvard is known for being one of the top academic institutions in the world. But the university's sports teams also draw top talent from across the globe. About 20% of all Harvard athletes come from abroad. The World's Bianca Hillier reports on which sports are at risk if the Trump administration's ban on international students takes effect.
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