The World: Latest Stories

After more than a year of damning revelations of alleged financial crimes, Riad Salameh, the head of Lebanon's central bank, has been arrested. Alia Ibrahim, the co-founder of the online news site Daraj, speaks to The World's Host Marco Werman about what transpired.

The UK is about to close its last coal-fired power plant, at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottingham, making Britain the first G7 country to stop using coal to generate electricity. Host Carolyn Beeler marks the occasion with a brief history of the UK's efforts to end its reliance on coal.

Three German states held elections this past weekend, and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party made big gains. In the state of Thuringia, Bjorn Hocke, the AfD's top candidate, has been on the campaign trail while also being in court on charges of using Nazi slogans. Even so, the AfD got more than 30% of the vote - and could take its first state government. Rebecca Collard reports from Erfurt, Germany.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and especially since the Kremlin's mobilization announcement in September 2022, hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens have left the country. According to some estimates, more than 100,000 Russian citizens fled to Armenia alone. This reality has led to some changes within Yerevan, the Armenian capital. The World's Daniel Ofman reports from Yerevan about the experience of Russians now living in exile.

Both major US presidential candidates now say they oppose the proposed takeover of US Steel by Nippon Steel of Japan. But the CEO of US Steel and a majority of the company's shareholders are in favor of the sale. Host Carolyn Beeler gets beyond the political rhetoric and into the heart of the issue with professor Willy Shih of the Harvard Business School.

A military partnership between Egypt and Somalia has Ethiopia alarmed. That's because the partnership calls for thousands of Egyptian troops in Ethiopia to join an African Union force stationed there. It also comes as there are renewed tensions in response to Ethiopia damming a tributary of the Nile. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with William Davison, owner of the website Ethiopia Insight, about the new military partnership and why it's causing alarm in Ethiopia.

Unrest has been spreading across Israel since six hostages were found dead in a Gaza tunnel last weekend. A one-day general strike on Monday was unevenly observed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to yield to pressure on his conditions for a ceasefire. Yossi Klein Halevi, the author of "Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor," talks with The World's Host Marco Werman about what this moment means for Israelis.

The United States seized a private plane in the Dominican Republic that was purchased from the US. The plane belonged to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. It was the latest move to put pressure on Maduro after exit polling showed that he lost the latest presidential election, which he insists he won, continuing to cling to power.

With the summer winding down, European airlines are ramping up efforts to encourage passengers to keep taking to the skies. The Hungarian airline Wizz Air, for example, has just launched an All You Can Fly scheme, offering unlimited flights for a yearly subscription. Other flight carriers are holding flash winter sales. But climate activists say promotions like these are irresponsible and governments need to put an end to them. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry has more.

An online story about a hot new singles scene in a Spanish supermarket chain has exploded into a flirting frenzy in grocery stores across the country. Each chain allegedly has its designated hour for making the moves, and it depends a lot on which items are in your cart. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona on this online rumor that's become very real.

London is set to have its first memorial to the role of the transatlantic slave trade in building the wealth, power and prestige of Britain. The mayor's office recently announced the design of a long-awaited monument, which will take the form of a giant bronze cowrie shell. The World's Sarah Birnbaum has the story of the new monument's significance.

Thor Pedersen, a former UN soldier originally from Denmark, went on a decadelong adventure that took him to every country in the world. The trick - he never took an airplane. By train, bus, boat and other forms of transport, he covered over 220,000 miles. He spoke with host Carol Hills this summer when he returned home to Copenhagen. (Originally aired Aug. 4, 2023.)

Research shows that flight turbulence has increased as climate change has warmed the planet. Host Marco Werman speaks with Paul Williams, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading, UK, about the findings, based on more than four decades of data, that suggest the increase in bumpy flights could be caused by changes in wind speed at high altitudes due to warmer air from carbon emissions. (Originally aired June 14, 2023.)

It's not unusual to wait two or three hours to cross the border from Tijuana to San Diego. But drivers usually didn't have to wait long to go the other way, easing the commute. Gustavo Solis of KPBS in San Diego reports that the growth in border towns now means rush hours in both directions. (Originally aired Jan. 3, 2024.)

Tires are a major source of pollution. The tiny particulates left behind when the rubber meets the road create a fine dust of microplastics. And with more electric vehicles on the roadway, weighted down by heavy batteries, tires will leave behind even more toxic residue. Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, the CEO of UK-based tire startup Enso, talks with host Marco Werman about what the tire industry can do about it. (Originally aired May 18. 2023.)

Prada and the company Axiom Space are teaming up to design the spacesuits for NASA's Artemis 3's moon mission in 2025. It might sound like a weird partnership. But as The World's Sarah Birnbaum reports, the back-and-forth between fashion and aerospace goes back years. (Originally aired October 23, 2023.)

US consumers have plenty of reasons to snap up electric vehicles. They are helping the US meet its climate goals, and new owners may qualify for a tax credit. But some of those old cars end up on Africa's roads. From Accra, the capital of Ghana, Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman reports that these vehicles provide vital transportation in poor countries, but they are polluting and unsafe. (Originally aired May 11, 2023.)

On New Year's Day, 2024, a collision on a runway in Japan was described as nothing short of a miracle when all 379 passengers aboard a commercial jet in flames were evacuated. The World's Carolyn Beeler speaks with Ed Galea, director of the fire safety group at the University of Greenwich in the UK, about how crew - and passenger - preparedness allowed for the speedy evacuation. (Originally aired Jan. 3, 2024)

Lithium is in soaring global demand, because it's used in electric car batteries. This is good news for the economy of Chile, that meets a third of the world's lithium needs. Experts say there's a big financial opportunity for the region, but it comes at an environmental cost. The World's Tibisay Zea brings us this story from the Atacama Desert, Chile. (Originally aired Nov.14, 2022.)

NASA's Artemis program aims to bring the first woman and first person of color to the moon in 2024, and it's the prelude to a much bigger ambition: sending humans to Mars. The World's Carol Hills talked with Nujoud Mercy, chief of NASA's Exploration and Planning Office, about the goals for Artemis. (Originally aired Sept. 2, 2202.)

Kenya is hosting the second US-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit in partnership with the US Department of Energy. This comes as Kenya prepares to build its first ever Nuclear power plant. The World's Halima Gikandi reports that the plans have conservationists and tour operators worried that the power plant will degrade the environment and deter travelers. Supporters, meanwhile, say it's the best way for Kenya to meet its clean energy goals.

Big Ocean, a K-pop band out of Seoul, South Korea, has the coordinated dance moves and high energy beats the K-pop genre is known for. One detail that sets the trio apart, though: all three musicians are deaf. Reporter Jason Strother has the story of how the trio came together, how the musicians perform, and what their music means to audiences.

Australia's annual Garage Sale Trail is the Godzilla of all garage sales. Once a year, more than 15,000 garage sales pop up across the country. Last fall, The World's Sarah Birnbaum hit the trail in Sydney to see what she could score.

The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God was constructed over a natural spring that is sacred for Istanbul's Greek Orthodox community. On the first day of every month, hundreds of visitors of all faiths come to make a wish. When a wish comes true, the faithful bring sweets to share. The World's Durrie Bouscaren paid a visit.

Jamal Hill is a Paralympic bronze medalist in swimming. Now in Paris, he hopes to add another medal to his resume. But he has another goal, too: teaching one million people across the globe to swim. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

A white nationalist group in the US known as the Groypers has inspired similar groups in Canada, Ireland, the UK and Portugal. Heidi Beirich at the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism has written about the Groypers and other right-wing extremist groups. She joins host Carol Hills for a conversation about how and why these movements are spreading worldwide.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF are scrambling to administer a vaccination campaign in Gaza during a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas. Host Carol Hills speaks with Ricardo Pires, a spokesperson with UNICEF, about the urgency of vaccinating children there for polio, as well as the logistics required to pull it off.

Scientists have discovered 1,705 viruses frozen in the depths of a glacier in Tibet. They go back as far as 41,000 years. And they carry long-held secrets about the planet. Ohio State University microbiology professor Matt Sullivan was a lead researcher on the study and discusses the findings with host Carol Hills.

One third of the world has no internet connection, but researchers are proposing - and testing - airborne communications stations that may someday play a role in providing access to people in rural areas or disaster zones. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Mariette DiChristina, dean of the College of Communication at Boston University, about high altitude telecommunications platforms.

A cruise ship full of passengers has been stuck in Belfast, Ireland, for three months. A vessel called the Odyssey was meant to leave port in Belfast in May for a three-year voyage, but mechanical problems and delays have piled up. Host Carolyn Beeler has more on how the passengers are handling this unexpected turn of events.

A court in Hong Kong on Thursday found two local journalists from the shuttered Stand News guilty of conspiring to publish seditious materials. That's a first for Hong Kong since it came back under Chinese control. Eleven articles published by the former Stand News were found to be seditious by the court. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks to Tom Grundy, director of the Hong Kong Free Press, about the case and its implications.

The Black Axe is an organized crime group that originated in Nigeria and has opened overseas operations built around financial fraud and money laundering. Interpol has been raiding and arresting the group's members abroad in an apparent effort to break up its illegal activity. Host Marco Werman discusses the situation with Oluwole Ojewale, an expert on organized crime at the Institute for Security Studies.

This time last year, Thailand emerged from a decadelong stretch of military-installed rulers. Many hoped for a new era of democracy. They're no longer so optimistic. In recent weeks, the country's most-popular political party was dissolved - and the prime minister was forced to quit - because unelected judges declared them unfit to govern. Less than two weeks in, the new prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is already facing a complaint that would dissolve her party. As The World's Patrick Winn reports, many Thais are now asking: what's the point of voting?

In Turkey and much of the Middle East, buffalo milk is used for yogurt, cheese and a thick, clotted cream known as kaymak. Many buffalo herds are raised in the verdant rural outskirts of Istanbul, which are increasingly under threat by urban sprawl and government projects. The World's Durrie Bouscaren visited the buffalo herding village of Aacli to find out more.

A form of public dancing that is very popular among retirees in China has become an Instagram and TikTok sensation, particularly for Westerners surprised to see "uncles and aunties" getting down to Nikki Minaj. Lauren Tran-Muchowski went to some of the dance sessions at a park, and what she witnessed stood out to her as a reaction to the consumerism, urbanism and isolation of Chinese cities.

This week marks 500 days of civil war in Sudan. The fighting has killed countless civilians and created the worst internal displacement crisis in the world. There have been several international attempts at brokering peace, most recently in Geneva. The World's Africa correspondent Halima Gikandi brings us this update.

When the Taliban took control Afghanistan three years ago, one of the first policy changes was to ban public education for girls and women beyond sixth grade. In the years since, those laws have become more restrictive, and they're enforced more stringently. Reporter Khwaga Ghani brings us the story of a woman who continues to secretly educate girls in defiance of the law, despite mounting risks and obstacles.

Mount Everest has a lot of claims to fame. Among them: the vast quantity of trash left behind by climbers. For years, local Sherpas and volunteers have been clearing trash from the mountain, which is arduous and exhausting - at best - and even deadly, at worst. Come autumn, Nepal will deploy drones to help carry the load. The World's Sarah Birnbaum has more.

China is increasingly front and center on the world stage, challenging Western dominance and critiquing liberal democracies. At the same time, the nation is struggling to address the demands of its citizens. Marco Werman looks back on the past six transformative years for China with David Rennie, The Economist's outgoing Beijing bureau chief.

The sporting world is once again setting its sights on Paris. This time, it's the 2024 Summer Paralympics kicking off with an opening ceremony along the Champs-Elysees. The World's Bianca Hillier speaks with host Carolyn Beeler about some of the top athletes to watch.

Israel's military carried out raids in the occupied West Bank Tuesday night, into Wednesday morning, targeting militants in the Palestinian cities of Jenin and Tulkaram. Nine people reportedly died. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Palestinian journalist Fatima AbdulKarim about the specifics of the raids, and the situation on the ground in the West Bank.

A new analysis of Canada's 2023 wildfires shows that the amount of carbon released during that devastating season approached the total annual carbon emissions of the world's most populous nation, India. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman explain the sobering data, which suggest that the forests' important role as "carbon sinks" might be in peril.

The globe is digitally connected through 750,000 miles of undersea fiber-optic cables. They are vulnerable to accidental disruption like natural disasters or the anchors of ships. But they are also increasingly an arena of competition and sabotage among big powers. Marco Werman discusses those power dynamics with Erin Murphy, a senior fellow for the Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the co-author of a new CSIS report called "Safeguarding Subsea Cables: Protecting Cyber Infrastructure Amid Great Power Competition."

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler deliver a lightning-quick roundup of lesser-known stories from across the globe. In this edition: knee surgery for the Dalai Lama, dinosaur prints, what happens when a child breaks a museum object, and more.

"The Great Elephant Migration" is a traveling art exhibition with one main message: "Human race, share space," says project co-founder Ruth Ganesh. The World's Bianca Hillier visited the elephants as they passed through Newport, Rhode Island.

American weapons are used in numerous war zones, for combat against military forces. In the past two weeks alone, the US has reported selling billions of dollars' worth of new weapons to Israel and Saudi Arabia. It has also sent arms to Ukraine. In some cases, however, the weapons harm and even kill civilians. The World reports on concerns about how these weapons are used.

Although Africa is the only place where mpox is endemic, the continent currently relies on vaccines shipped in from abroad to stop the spread. Carolyn Beeler speaks to Helen Rees, a global health expert and the co-chair of the National Department Mpox Incident Management Team overseeing South Africa's mpox response about what the COVID-19 pandemic taught us about making vaccines available where they're needed - and why those lessons aren't consistently being implemented now.

Green tea is a major industry in Shizuoka prefecture on Japan's Pacific coast. Over a third of the tea leaves produced in Japan come from Shizuoka. Google Shizuoka" and you'll find images of hillsides covered in neat rows of bright-green tea bushes, with Mt. Fuji in the background. But that scenery is changing. Reporter Hannah Kirshner headed to Shizuoka to find out why some tea farmers are innovating, and others are calling it quits.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler deliver a lightning-quick roundup of lesser-known stories from across the globe. On this edition: a fond farewell to the world's oldest sloth, a trend of drinking less in Ireland and more.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's recent comment that there was "no barrier" for engaging enemies in talks is being taken as a tacit opening for possible negotiations with the US and the West. That's revived hope for a nuclear deal akin to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that checked Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Ali Vaez, director for the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, discusses the meaning behind Khamenei's remarks with The World's Carolyn Beeler.