The World: Latest Stories

After President Joe Biden's announcement of a ceasefire at 4 a.m. in Lebanon, the ceasefire began. Alia Ibrahim, a reporter and the co-founder of the Lebanese online news outlet, Daraj paints a picture of what the day was like for Lebanese people and what the country's troubled political institutions may need to contend with next.

A little over a year ago, the leader of Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald, looked like a shoe-in to become Ireland's next prime minister (taoiseach). As the country heads to the polls on Friday, her chances look increasingly remote. Sinn Fein is now neck-and-neck with the two governing parties in the polls. And in her own constituency, McDonald is competing for a seat against one of the country's most-unexpected candidates - a notorious crime boss. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry reports.

Across Europe, a lot of the plastic people drop in the emblematic "yellow containers" doesn't end up recycled. Some plastics slip through the cracks, others are contaminated. How to deal with plastic waste is on the agenda at the UN-led negotiations for a global plastics treaty underway in South Korea. Limiting plastic production is another idea, but oil-producing countries are against it. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona. TKTK

After performing a Fernando Valenzuela tribute at the Dodgers World Series Game 1, Mariachi singer Deyra Barrera caught the eye of Kendrick Lamar who happened to be in the stands as a spectator. Next thing you know, she's featured on his latest album which has just dropped. No mariachi rap. Just Deyra's exquisite voice was what Lamar wanted, and he got it plenty.

US President Joe Biden is expected to visit Angola next week. It will be the first presidential visit to sub-Saharan Africa since 2015. The World's Sarah Birnbaum reports the visit was meant to underscore American interest in a vital infrastructure project there.

US negotiators have brokered the release from Chinese prisons of three Americans: Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung. Swidan faced a death sentence on drug charges. Li and Leung had been charged with espionage. The World's Marco Werman talks with Sophie Richardson, a visiting scholar at Stanford University about the swap.

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman list a few headlines in the news you might have missed.

Every year since 1970, groups of Native Americans have been gathering in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving Day to mark a National Day of Mourning. They honor their ancestors and march to remember the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands and the erasure of Native cultures." Over the years, the event has also stood in solidarity with other Indigenous struggles around the world. The World's Sara Hassan observed the gathering last year and recently spoke with some of the organizers.

Oil from Azerbaijan accounts for less than 1% of global reserves today, but the Central Asian country once played a major role in fueling the Soviet Union. The symbol of this production might was the world's first, and likely only, floating oil city: Neft Dalar - a network of 2,000 oil rigs connected by almost 200 miles of drivable causeways - rising out of the Caspian Sea. Host Marco Werman spoke to documentary filmmaker Marc Wolfensberger about the oil city which is being reclaimed by the sea around it.

Breyten Breytenbach was a towering South African intellectual, poet, painter and anti-apartheid activist who died in Paris on Monday at the age of 85. Breytenbach spent seven years in a South African prison for his activism against apartheid. He was also one of the foremost poets in his native tongue, the Afrikaans language, but managed to delineate between his love of the language and its association with apartheid. Marco Werman speaks with Max du Preez, a South African author and journalist who knew Breytenbach for more than 50 years.

Pakistan's capital Islamabad is witnessing major protests today as thousands of supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan flood the city demanding his release. The capital also witnessed major road closures and communications cuts as police clashed with the supporters. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Pakistani journalist Aamir Saeed Abbasi about the latest from Islamabad and what could potentially come next.

Interpol's affiliate, Afripol - which is a union of African law enforcement agencies - has arrested more than a thousand suspected cybercriminals of various stripes in a continent-wide dragnet. Nate Allen, an associate professor at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies and former foreign service officer for the State Department, explains what happened and what this means for online security.

US President-elect Donald Trump's pledge on Monday night to slap big tariffs on the United States' three largest trading partners - Mexico, Canada and China - was a jolt to the global economy. Mexico's president has warned the tariffs could backfire for Washington, sparking inflation and job losses. Former Mexican Ambassador to the US Arturo Sarukhan talks with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about the potential repercussions.

Swimming superstar Emma McKeon has retired from the sport at age 30. Host Carolyn Beeler tells the story of this remarkable athlete who owns Australian records of 14 Olympic medals and six Olympic gold medals.

In Ukraine, nearly three years after Russia's full-scale invasion, there are signs of a significant societal mood shift. According to a recent poll, support for continuing to fight has declined across every region in the country. And more than half the population wants to negotiate an end to the conflict. The World's Daniel Ofman reports.

A new track named "+57," Colombia's country telephone code, has provoked huge controversy among fans, music critics, politicians and government agencies. It was supposed to be an ode to the country, but instead critics say it's promoting the sexualization of minors and feeding into negative stereotypes about Colombia. The World's Tibisay Zea reports.

After more than a year of fighting, Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon appear to be on the cusp of a ceasefire. The US and France helped shape the ceasefire plan that's expected to go into effect on Wednesday morning local time. Meanwhile, Israel carried out intense air strikes throughout the day today in and around Beirut.

Climate change poses an existential threat to Tuvalu, a small island nation in the Pacific. By the end of the century, scientists say it could sink under the rising seas. That's why Tuvalu's leaders are trying to figure out how to save the country, even if its physical territory disappears. The World's Sarah Birnbaum first reported this story from Sydney.

Israel's ambassador to the US says that a ceasefire with Hezbollah could be implemented "within days." The US has been pushing for a pause in the fighting. And much of Lebanon never wanted this war in the first place. The World's Matthew Bell reports on where the ceasefire negotiations stand now.

Nicaragua's legislature appears set to approve a constitutional amendment that would elevate the wife of the country's leader to a new role as co-president." Opposition leader Felix Maradiaga, now in exile in Miami, speaks with The World's Host Marco Werman about the deterioration of democracy in Nicaragua.

One of US President-elect Donald Trump's talking points is a vow to impose tariffs on goods manufactured in other countries. And people in India are watching closely, to see what that will mean for relations with its biggest trading partner. Some observers see a likely fallout with China working to India's benefit, but it's a complicated relationship. Sushmita Pathak reports from New Delhi.

Spain is offering working papers to nearly a million immigrants. The new measure will apply only to people already in Spain, and who came or have stayed in the country illegally. The amnesty goes against recent anti-immigrant trends and policies across Europe, and against sentiments of at least a third of Spaniards who, according to polls, see immigration negatively. But Spain needs workers, and it needs them paying taxes. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

The South Korean Indie rock group HOA may sound like a Beatles knock-off band, but since 2015 its members have generated their own unique sound in a country where K-pop rules. Fans have taken notice. We'll hear two of the group's most recent tunes.

A study by the UN agency, UN Women, examined data from around the world in 2023 and found that levels of violence against women have remained high and largely unchanged. It also re-affirmed that violence against women is most likely to occur at home, from either a partner or family member. Raphaelle Rafin, a policy specialist on ending violence against women for UN Women, talks to The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about the results of the study.

This weekend in Azerbaijan's capital Baku, officials at the COP29 climate summit penned a new climate finance deal. Richer countries agreed to pay $300 billion per year to help countries in the Global South cope with climate change. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler heard from Malini Mehra, who was at the summit last week. She's chief executive of GLOBE Legislators and joined the show from London.

As the world's largest religion, Christianity is undergoing a tectonic shift. It is booming in Africa, now the continent with the most followers, and waning in Europe. Countries like Spain, which for centuries sent their missionaries to evangelise the world, now rely on priests from abroad to come preach at home - a trend some call "reverse missions." Alan Ruiz Terol reports on how this phenomenon has translated to the Catholic parish in his own hometown.

Legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz turned 90 late last week. She remains wildly popular in Lebanon and the broader Middle East after more than seven decades in music. Host Marco Werman speaks with Lebanese music writer Danny Hajjar about Fairuz's significance in Lebanon today and beyond.

The Colorado River used to flow all the way to the Pacific Ocean. But climate change and steady demand mean that it dries up before it ever gets there. In the part of Mexico where the river once turned into the sea, environmentalists are hoping there's political will to make things a little greener. KUNC's Alex Hager has the story.

The Albanian prime minister took his country, and most delegates at a UN General Assembly by surprise in September when he announced plans for a brand new state. The state would be similar to the Vatican but would be dedicated to an Islamic sect known as the Bektashi order. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry reports from the capital, Tirana.

Six tourists have died in a suspected alcohol poisoning in Laos. Police are looking into whether the alcoholic drinks contained methanol, a highly poisonous substance for humans. This is a recurring issue across Southeast Asia. Host Carol Hills speaks with Dr. Wayne Carter, a leading toxicologist at the University of Nottingham in the UK, about why methanol is so harmful in alcoholic drinks.

Brazil's federal police have passed a sealed indictment against former President Jair Bolsonaro and various aides and allies of his to the country's Supreme Court. The charges are directed at Bolsonaro's alleged attempt to retain control of the presidency after losing the country's general election in 2022. It's being charged as a coup attempt. Leticia Duarte is "Report for the World's" Latin America Manager, and she explains the indictment and what it means for Brazil.

Middle East Airlines is the only carrier currently flying in and out of Lebanon. All the others stopped their operations since the war intensified. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports on the challenges of operating flights in the middle of a war zone, and why for many Lebanese it's vital that the service continues.

Recently, the Cambridge English Dictionary chose "manifest" as its 2024 English word of the year. Other languages also have words of the year. In Germany there's the word of the year and also the "Youth Word of the Year," which was recently announced. Each year since 2020, this German youth word of the year has appeared to be an English word. Host Carol Hills speaks with German journalist Annabell Burkhardt to understand why.

Indian businessman Gautam Adani is one of the world's richest people. But how he amassed his enormous wealth and close ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi have long come under scrutiny. Now, a US indictment charging the Adani Group with bribery and corruption have once again brought those questions to the forefront. Sushmita Pathak reported in 2023 on the story of the multibilloinaire's success - as well as the suspicions around it.

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Carol Hills list a few headlines in the news you might have missed.

The International Criminal Court has just issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. It also issued a warrant for the arrest of a top Hamas official. The World's Marco Werman discusses the implications with David Scheffer, former US ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues.

The Danish military confirmed on Thursday it is monitoring a Chinese ship off the country's coast. The vessel was reportedly in the Baltic Sea where two undersea data cables were severed in recent days. Finnish, Swedish and German authorities have launched investigations into the event. The World's Joshua Coe happened to be on the shore where the two ships, Chinese and Danish, passed by.

Over the past two days, Iraq held its first census in nearly four decades. The government has ordered a nationwide curfew in order to carry out the count. Iraq's population is expected to rise to 44 million people. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Hamzeh Hadad, a visiting fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, about the census and the ethnic and sectarian tensions surrounding it.

Toward the end of September, India achieved a historic victory in chess - winning the gold medal in both men's and women's Chess Olympiad in Budapest - considered the Olympics of chess. This double victory, plus four individual goal medals, has captured the nation's imagination. As Namrata Kolachalam reports, Chennai has become a global hot spot for chess, and professional-level schools and training programs have exploded in towns and cities.

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman give updates on a few food stories you might have missed.

Olga Benario was a German woman who worked as a Soviet agent in the 1920s and 1930s. She ended up in Brazil as part of a plot to assassinate the president of that country. Eventually, Benario was killed in a concentration camp in the Holocaust. But as Zoe Sullivan reports, her extraordinary story lives on through her daughter in Brazil.

Whiskey may not be the first drink you associate with the South Coast of California, but as KCLU's Caroline Feraday reports, a master distiller from Scotland is putting Oxnard on the map when it comes to making the spirit.

Doctors say that right now, breathing Delhi's air is like smoking dozens of cigarettes each day as pollution levels have reached 50 times the safe limit, according to the World Health Organization. The dense smog that shrouds the city this time of year takes a toll on residents, both physically and mentally. Reporter Sushmita Pathak is there now; she explains what causes the annual air quality crisis, and what stands in the way of solutions.

San Marino, officially the world's lowest-ranked soccer team, etched their name in history by securing their first-ever away win ... and put themselves within striking distance of entering qualifying playoffs for the 2026 World Cup in North America. The European Minnows have won just three games in the last 20 years. Host Marco Werman has more.

Since 2017, Jehovah's Witnesses have been designated an extremist organization in Russia - it's unclear why, but the religious group does not believe in war, which observers think may be at least part of the reason. Reporter Levi Bridges explains how a law meant to fight terrorism has been used to jail people for their religious affiliation.

The Biden Administration has agreed to supply Ukraine with anti-personnel landmines, in an effort to slow the steady advance of Russia's troops, especially in the eastern Donbas region. Officials say the new mines are "non-persistent", battery-detonated and don't function after a pre-set period of time. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler discusses the repercussions with Patrick Thompson, Amnesty International's Ukraine researcher.

This month, a university student in Iran stripped to her underwear in public as a way to protest the country's strict dress codes. The details of the incident are still not clear, but the authorities promptly arrested her and accused her of suffering from mental illness. They have reportedly admitted her to a psychiatric hospital. This label, however, is not new. Iran has a history of using it against dissidents.

A year ago this month, the Italian government signed a controversial deal with Albania. It would see asylum seekers rescued off the coast of Italy be taken to a detention facility in Albania - not an EU country - to have their asylum claims processed. But as The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports, not a single asylum seeker is staying at the detention facility.

Pope Francis today said he will canonize Carlo Acutis next April, making the late teenager the Catholic Church's first millennial and digital saint. Acutis was a British-born Italian website designer who documented Eucharistic miracles on a website he designed before his death from leukemia in 2006 when he was 15.

Arthur Frommer passed away this week at the age of 95. He gained fame through his seminal work, Europe on $5 a Day", which sold millions of copies and inspired a series of similar titles. Frommer's success eventually helped to popularize international travel for ordinary Americans. Host Marco Werman reports.