The World: Latest Stories

On the third day of talks, as members attend dinners and press briefings at the NATO summit in Washington, The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry updates us on key moments so far, as well as the prevailing focus on how US presidential elections this November might impact the alliance going forward.

Panama has started to build a barbed wire fence in the Darien jungle between South and Central America. The goal is to stop migrants from reaching the US. But by blocking the trails most frequently used by the migrants, the fence has instead just re-routed people on their journeys, pushing them to take dangerous detours. Manuel Rueda has the story from Bogota, Colombia.

Church membership is down across the US, and some churches in Maine have even had to close their doors. But a very different trend is playing out in some of the state's African immigrant communities, where recent arrivals are fueling a proliferation of new congregations.

Rare elephants known as "supertuskers" live along the border of Tanzania and Kenya, and the two countries are at odds over whether to allow hunters to kill the elephants. "Supertuskers" are known for their massive tusks, weighing upwards of 100 pounds each - tusks so long they scrape the ground as the elephants walk. Host Carolyn Beeler discusses growing disputes over how to protect the iconic "supertusker" with conservationist Amy Dickman.

It's been more than nine months since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, and there's no end in sight to the fighting in Gaza. Israeli soldiers are increasingly returning to areas they previously cleared of Hamas, because the militants have reappeared. The World's host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Miri Eisin, a former colonel in the Israel Defense Forces, about Israel's military strategy.

In a 1995 episode of The Simpsons, the US hip-hop band Cypress Hill plays a set with the London Symphony Orchestra. Ever since, fans have lobbied for the groups to get together in real life. Last night, it finally happened. The World's Bianca Hillier has the details.

Fentanyl made in Mexico kills nearly 75,000 people in the US annually, according to the CDC. Yet a report just issued by the US Defense Department shows that Mexican seizures of US-bound fentanyl have dropped dramatically. What has gone up are Mexican seizures of meth. Host Marco Werman explores why with Chris Dalby, the director of World of Crime, a think that investigates transnational organized crime. He's also the author of "CJNG: A Quick Guide to Mexico's Deadliest Cartel."

According to the United Nations, aid deliveries into Gaza have decreased by two-thirds since the Israeli military began its operation in Rafah in May. The UN and Palestinians blame Israel for the problem. Israel says it's aid agencies and the chaos in Gaza that's to blame. Reporter Rebecca Rosman looks at the logistics of getting aid and commerce into the territory. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has urged Palestinians remaining in Gaza City to leave, warning that the city would remain a dangerous combat zone.

An unexpected moment during a childhood visit to the Great Wall of China prompts Alexis Chen Johnson to consider the complexity of trying to answer to the question, "Where are you from?" She shares her experience on GBH's storytelling project, "Stories from the Stage."

AntiBot4Navalny is a small but mighty group of researchers who are battling Russia's disinformation campaigns in cyberspace. They've been revealing Russia's disinformation efforts to the world and punching way above their weight. Dina Temple-Raston from the "Click Here" podcast reports.

European cities are struggling to manage the number of tourists. It's sparked protests in cities like Barcelona and Venice - which have added tourist taxes and entry fees. Copenhagen is trying to get ahead of the pack with a sustainable tourism program that rewards tourists for good behavior. Host Marco Werman speaks with Alexander Josiassen, a professor at the Copenhagen Business School, about the benefits and perks of the program.

To English speakers, the word, "peanut" isn't especially funny. But saying "peanut" in Serbian, "kikiriki", puts a smile on your face; Serbs consider it the funniest word in their language. But why is that the case? Psycholinguists have discovered some clues, as Patrick Cox reports.

As the global order shifts, Washington has shown decreasing interest in continuing to be Europe's "first responder in perpetuity" when it comes to military defense. So says Stephen Walt, professor of International Affairs of Harvard University's Kennedy School. Walt joins The World's host Carolyn Beeler to discuss what it would look like for Europe to assume responsibility for its own defense.

Hilbe is a legendary condiment, believed to have been mentioned in the Talmud, the ancient Jewish book of laws. It's considered a folk medicine, a cure all, a source of strength and also just really tasty. Reporter Sarah Ventre has the story of how Yemenite Jews proliferated hilbe, and why it's nearly impossible to find outside of Israel.

The Machangara River runs through the Ecuadorian capital of Quito. And the river has rights, eligible for litigation, under the Ecuadorian constitution. In a recent case, the court ruled in favor of the river, and now, the government must clean it up. The World's host Carolyn Beeler talks with Natalia Greene, a longtime environmental activist in Ecuador, about the ruling.

Increasingly, West Africans leaving their home countries are turning, not to Europe, but to the US, to make new homes. KQED's Katherine Monahan reports on the long, dangerous route to the border, where new challenges still await them.

One of the sports included in the 12-day Paralymics this summer is blind football. That's soccer, played by athletes with visual impairment or blindness. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry joins players at a training session in Paris.

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic was offended by what sounded like booing during his match against Denmark's Holger Rune. But it turns out, the crowd was chanting his opponent's name - Rune. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the story.

Some trace the roots of Russia-NATO antagonism to the 1990s, when the Soviet Union and the West were negotiating the terms of German reunification. That's when Western nations discussed NATO's expansion eastward with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Historian Mary Sarotte talks with The World's host Carolyn Beeler about pledges made in that era.

Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist, has won Iran's presidential election. Host Marco Werman speaks with Sina Toossi, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, about what this means for politics in Iran, as well as predictions for how the new president will govern alongside Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei.

The Colombian ensemble Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, or the Pipers of San Jacinto, was founded in the 1950s with the aim of raising up Colombian culture. And through several generations of musicians, they keep finding popularity among new audiences. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler share a taste of their music, and what cumbia would have sounded like when it was first innovated.

Andrii Shadrin is a 28-year-old Ukrainian corporal who serves in a unit that repairs and replaces equipment damaged on Ukraine's eastern front. He tells host Carolyn Beeler how he was caught in an ambush this weekend, and why new Western military aid hasn't halted the Russian offensive west of Donetsk.

Turkey's relationship with NATO is alternately described as "thorny," "a headache" and sometimes even "a marriage of convenience." The World's Durrie Bouscaren takes a deeper look at how early enthusiasm for Turkey's membership when it joined in 1952 gave way to turmoil, leaving Turkish officials with the sense that the US does not always act in Turkey's best interest - and vice versa.

Innoss'B is on a quest to not only play music, but also to combat malnutrition in Democratic Republic of Congo. In recent months, he's partnered with The United Nations World Food Programme and released new music, too. Innoss'B speaks to The World's host Marco Werman about both.

Cape Verde is an island nation off the west coast of Africa, but most of its citizens live off-island. As his country celebrates its 49th year of independence, Cape Verde's Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva says the most important responsibility of Cape Verdeans, wherever they live, is to vote.

The city of East London, South Africa, is trying to change its name to something less colonial. But the name the city really wants is already taken. The World's hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

A week ago, France's far-right National Rally party looked poised to win the country's snap parliamentary election, called by centrist President Emmanuel Macron in June. That victory was thwarted by a coalition of center and left parties unifying at the last minute to defeat the far-right. The World's Gerry Hadden gets reactions in rural villages, where the National Rally party draws much of its support, to better understand the concerns of ordinary French people outside of big cities.

Boeing plans to plead guilty and accept a major fine of a half billion dollars. This comes in the case of the Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. Boeing also plans on strengthening its safety program and its executives will meet with the families of the victims. Host Marco Werman speaks with Nadia Milleron, a parent of one of the victims from the 2019 crash, about the deal and whether or not the families will accept it.

Thirteen years since Syria's civil war broke out, Lebanon remains home to the largest Syrian refugee population per capita in the world: roughly 1.5 million people. Now Lebanese politicians say they must be sent home. Many employers have stopped hiring Syrians for menial jobs. Municipalities have issued new restrictions and even evicted Syrian tenants, according to news reports. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports from Lebanon.

Oud player Sheikh Imam and poet Ahmed Negm were the most-famous musical duo in Egypt in the 1960s and 1970s. Then in 2011, their music became a rallying cry for protesters trying to topple Egypt's autocratic leaders. The story comes to us from the Kerning Cultures Network.

Beginning Sunday, all new cars sold in the EU and in Northern Ireland must have a range of technical safety features fitted as standard. This includes "intelligent speed assistance," or colloquially, a speed limiter. Host Carol Hills explains.

Biniam Girmay says his win in the Tour de France's sprint run - the mostly flat third leg of the race - is for all Africans." Host Carol Hills discusses what this exceptional performance means for Girmay, as well as for cycling on the African continent.

As Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, its force appears to be diminishing, but forecasters say it could pick up steam again.

Swahili - or Kiswahili, as its known locally - started as a trade language in East Africa hundreds of years ago, but it has since emerged as one of the most-spoken languages on Earth. With World Kiswahili Day coming up on July 7. The World's Halima Gikandi reports from Mombasa on how attitudes toward the language have changed in Kenya and beyond.

This week, foreign diplomats met with Taliban officials in Doha, Qatar. The meeting is part of the Doha Process," which aims to address challenges in Afghanistan. Markedly absent: Afghan women, who were not invited to participate. Women's rights activists wonder what a meeting, under these conditions, can really achieve. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

Keir Starmer, of Britain's Labour Party, has defeated former prime minister, conservative Rishi Sunak. The country's far- right won a number of parliamentary seats in the same election. The World's Orla Barry explains.

Amid widespread voter apathy, Iranians go to the polls on Friday to select the successor to the late president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a May helicopter crash. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports.

At the annual European gull screeching championships in Belgium, 9-year-old Cooper Wallace stole the show and won the juniors competition. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain how the costumed kid stole the show. (Originally aired April 24, 2024)

Gazoz is an old-school, hyperlocal style soda that's been ubiquitous in Turkish beach towns since the drink was invented more than a century ago. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports from southern Turkey on a beloved drink that is having a moment. (Originally aired April 19, 2024.)

What is often referred to as "lab-grown meat" has been slow to catch on. But in Singapore, they're embracing the technology, especially for seafood. The World's Patrick Winn reports that Singaporean companies are devising ways to grow shrimp and crab for a hungry continent. (Originally aired Oct. 24, 2023.)

Whale researchers have turned to computer scientists to analyze the clicks made by sperm whales in the Caribbean. As a result, they believe that sperm whales may have a more sophisticated form of communication than previously understood. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Canadian marine biologist Shane Gero. (Originally aired May 7, 2024.)

Iraq's date palms have taken a huge toll after years of war, drought and climate change. The World reports on one group's efforts to save them. (Originally aired June 1, 2023.)

One of the biggest music festivals in Europe, Primavera Sound, is part of a trend of music festivals expanding to more dates and more venues. Alan Ruiz Terol reports from Barcelona on how changes in the music industry are driving the expansion of these megaconcerts. (Original aired June 9, 2023.)

A Sudanese American woman in Sacramento is digitizing cassettes recorded with classic Sudanese songs going all the way back to the 1960s. In the process, she's created a music archive called Sudan Tapes Archive that more and more people are accessing. Reporter Hana Baba, of station KALW explains the work has taken on new urgency as war rages in Sudan. (Originally aired April 2, 2024.)

In Medillin, Colombia, visitors who use wheelchairs have a new option - electric hand bikes that pull wheelchairs and can reach speeds of about 30 miles per hour. They're offered by a tour company as part of a broader effort to make the city more accessible. Manuel Rueda reports from Medellin. (Originally aired Feb. 5, 2023.)

Georgia's beloved Borjomi mineral water, a ubiquitous drink available throughout the post-Soviet world that you could once find at most restaurants anywhere from Kyiv to Kyrgyzstan, has run into trouble. Borjomi's problems began during the war because a majority share of the company was owned by a Russian billionaire who was sanctioned. The sanctions made it difficult for Borjomi to do business internationally and the company's factory in Georgia temporarily halted operations. Reporter Levi Bridges has more on the Borjomi woes. (First aired June 13, 2024.)

The tensions between the US and China are at an all-time high over the South China Sea. Meanwhile, both countries are examining their nuclear posture toward each other. Host Marco Werman is joined by veteran journalist Jane Perlez to examine China's nuclear weapons program and evolving policy on using those weapons. It's part of our summerlong series with Perlez's podcast, "Face Off: the US versus China."

Leading up to the Paris summer Olympic games, and International Olympic Committee review panel will decide which Russian and Belarusian athletes are eligible to compete. Russian and Belarusian athletes have been sanctioned due to Russian's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Some countries have called for compete ban of the two countries from the Olympics. The World's Daniel Ofman reports on how one Russian athlete feels about competing in the Olympics as a neutral.

Following an alleged an assault on a minor in the Turkish city of Kayseri, anti-Syrian protests and riots erupted in a number of other cities. Syrian shops and businesses were destroyed in the anti-refugee violence. That also sparked a reaction in northern Syria against Turkish soldiers stationed there. Host Marco Werman speaks with Nigar Goksel, with the International Crisis Group, about the factors behind the violence and what consequences it could have for the region.

Hurricane season has started early and strong in the Caribbean. Jamaica's three international airports shut down Wednesday as residents braced for the arrival of Hurricane Beryl. Meteorologists fear torrential rainfall could trigger flash flooding and landslides across the island. The World's Marco Werman speaks with Evan Thompson, director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica in Kingston.