The World: Latest Stories

Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively lowered the threshold for what would prompt a nuclear response. In a strongly worded warning to the West on Wednesday, Putin said that any attack on Russia that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country. Host Marco Werman gets the story from Pavel Podvig, director of the Russian Nuclear Forces Project in Geneva, Switzerland.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been charged with bribery, fraud - and using his position to help Turkey. Host Marco Werman speaks with Steve A. Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, about Turkey's influence operations in the US.

The world is getting stormier, and the UN blames the increase in weather-related disasters on climate change. Bangladesh has been hit especially hard, but these days, cyclones there result in very few casualties. That's thanks to a homegrown warning system. Have Bangladeshis cracked the code to preventing storm deaths, and if so, is the strategy replicable elsewhere? The World's Patrick Winn reports.

Nitazenes are synthetic opioids 500 times more potent than heroin. The drug is increasingly showing up on the streets of the UK, the Netherlands, Australia and the US. Since 2019, nitazines have been implicated in more than 200 deaths in Europe and North America. Host Marco Werman discusses the origins and dangers of the drug with Caroline Copeland, director of the UK's National Programme on Substance Use Mortality.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous region at the heart of a multi-decade conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. It's historically been inhabited by a majority Armenian population, but now it's fully under Azerbaijan's control. The World's Daniel Ofman reports from Yerevan, Armenia, on the more than 100,000 Armenians displaced by an Azerbaijani military operation one year ago, as they continue adjusting to life away from home.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. In his remarks, the reform-oriented leader was critical of Israel and the US, but signaled a willingness to negotiate. Host Marco Werman speaks with Sanam Vakil, director of the MENA program at the Chatham House think tank, about Iran's position in the region.

Until recently, the version of the past on display at the Revere History Museum placed a distinct emphasis on European heritage. Now, the collection has expanded to include things like Chinese scripts, Cambodian poems, Brazilian soccer memorabilia and Moroccan dolls. James Bennett II has this story from GBH in Boston.

US Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are both claiming that they are "tough on China." At the same time, each presidential candidate accuses the other of being "soft on China." This has a lot to do with the prevailing consensus in Washington that holds the US rivalry with China above all other foreign policy challenges. The World's Matthew Bell reports on how China-related issues figure into this presidential contest.

An NGO established in Warsaw, Poland, to help refugees from the war in Ukraine provides up to 500 people a day with food and clothing. It's recently added another bit of aid to its portfolio: supplying frontline Ukrainian troops with kamikaze drones. Jamie Fullerton reports from Warsaw.

Fierce winds, driving rain, severe thunderstorms - hurricanes have always been cataclysmic weather events. But climate change appears to be supercharging them. Researchers are racing to pin down the forces driving these changes and what the future holds. Science reporter Ari Daniel has the story, as Florida braces for hurricane Helene to make landfall.

A year ago, two dams collapsed amid record rainfall from Storm Daniel, sending a massive wave of water into the coastal city of Derna, in Libya. Thousands of people died in the flood. Government negligence and aging infrastructure were partially to blame, but the Derna disaster also illustrates what's at stake as weather events worsen due to climate change. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports.

The Belarus Free Theatre has been banned by its country's government, so the company is making plays in exile. The troupe's newest creation is an experimental play opening this week in New York City, to be live-streamed for their countrymen and women. Reporter Jeff Lunden previews the production, which tells the story of an Olympic basketball star from Belarus who comes out as gay.

Israel has evacuated more than 67,000 people from communities near the Lebanon border since the start of the war in Gaza last fall. But many thousands have chosen to stay. Under recent strikes, daily existence in the region has grown more precarious. Host Marco Werman speaks with lifelong kibbutz resident Lior Shlef about what life is currently like there.

Under continued attack, thousands of people living in southern Lebanon have uprooted and fled their homes in search of safety. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Ivo Freijsen, the UNHCR's representative to Lebanon, about the current situation on the ground, and fears around what comes next.

In the Indian tech hub of Bengaluru, water has become a precious commodity. One initiative leverages an age-old well-digging technique to help residents tap into a forgotten source. More than 200,000 wells have been restored, but the goal is to get a million wells pumping water.

Two major weather systems are bringing rain and wind to Mexico and the Caribbean. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have more.

Asthma rates have soared in Imperial County, California, in recent decades, but the availability of specialists has dwindled. Investigative reporter Philip Salata tells the story of patients seeking care in Mexico.

Thirty years ago, the all-female group Obini Bata started breaking social conventions and fighting stereotypes in Cuba by teaching generations of Cuban women how to play Afro-Cuban drums. The World's Tibisay Zea brings us the story of the group.

In Brazil, the cumulative total estimated carbon emissions so far in 2024 have been higher than average. This is largely due to the wildfire emissions from the Amazon region, and notably the states of Amazonas and Mato Grosso do Sul - where most of the Pantanal wetlands are located. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman bring us an update.

X - the social media platform formally known as Twitter - has backed down from its legal fight in Brazil. Now, the company is agreeing to comply with the country's Supreme Court orders. This follows a months-long fight with the court after X refused to ban users for spreading misinformation. Host Marco Werman spoke to Sao Paolo-based journalist Lais Martins, who writes for The Intercept.

Sri Lanka has a new leader today. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who won the presidential election with a Marxist platform, rode a wave of anger against the former president's handling of the island nation's economy. Dayan Jayatilleka spoke to The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about the significance of that victory from Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo.

Host Marco Werman spins music from BoyWithUke's final performance. The super-low-profile Korean American, whose real name is Charley Yang, is retiring the persona and moving on from catchy one-minute viral TikTok songs in hopes of taking on bigger venues.

Germany's far-right party, the AfD, lost state elections in Brangenburg over the weekend. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

A new study out of the University of Toronto and St. Michael's Hospital found that using an AI-based tool called ChartWatch led to a 26% drop in the number of unexpected deaths in the hospital unit where it was tested. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

The new Libyan government has put around $2 billion into the recovery of the city of Derna after major floods last year. To the surprise of many, downtown Derna has been cleaned up and renewed, and many people have moved into newly built homes. But some people have been left out. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports.

Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon today killed more than 356 people and injured at least 1,200 others. It marks a major escalation of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which have continuously traded fire for months. The US also announced it was increasing troop levels in the region in response to the attack. Host Marco Werman speaks with Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East Correspondent at the Economist, about what the latest attack on Lebanon means for the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Black mambas, spitting cobras and puff adders. These are some of the venomous deadly snakes that call Kenya home. For years, people in rural areas have lost their lives or limbs due to bites from these snakes. After years of overlooking the problem, Kenya's government is now taking it seriously. The World's Africa Correspondent Halima Gikandi has the story.

Two new studies add to the research that has found microplastics in tissues throughout the human body. Meanwhile, scientists are calling for global action to limit the long-term harm that all plastics - including microplastics - can cause. Richard Thompson of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University of Plymouth is one of the leading voices behind that effort, and he tells Host Carolyn Beeler that although there is still time to make a difference, the time to act is now.

After a painstaking count, Mediazona and the BBC found that 70,112 Russian soldiers have died in the war in Ukraine. Mika Golibovsky, a journalist for Mediazona who worked on the count, explains what went into it and what it means.

Germans are voting again this weekend in local elections, and the far-right is again expected to top the polls. But there is another anti-establishment party competing and, despite being just eight months old, has managed to put itself in the position of political kingmaker as Germany's established political parties try to build governing coalitions without the AfD. Rebecca Collard reports from Potsdam.

Israel's military says it killed a top military commander from Hezbollah, alongside other "senior operatives", in an air strike today in Beirut. The attack followed around 200 rockets fired from Lebanon at northern Israel earlier, and a series of strikes by the Israeli air force overnight. The two sides appear to be on a path toward war. But when asked about it today, President Joe Biden said, his administration is not giving up on efforts to get a comprehensive peace deal in place. "We have to keep at it," Biden said. Hosts Carol Hills and Carolyn Beeler have an update on a story we'll continue to follow.

Ugandan singer-songwriter Jon Muq was in Kampala, when he first heard the charity single, "We Are the World" from his cousin's CD collection. This song opened Muq's world to pop music and inspired him to learn English and start writing his own songs. Earlier this year, Jon Muq released his debut album, "Flying Away."

There are just three left in Europe, not counting Kevin. Kevin "Dola" de la Torre is Spain's last human cannonball. The reason for the daredevils' declining numbers: mainly the danger involved in being sling-shotted out of a cannon several times a day. There's also waning interest among the younger generations within human cannonball families. The World's Gerry Hadden catches up with Kevin the Human Cannonball in northeast Spain, and brings us his story.

Margrethe Vestager is one of Europe's leading voices on regulating Big Tech. She is executive vice president of the European Commission, the primary executive arm of the European Union. She speaks with Host Carol Hills about EU regulatory actions involving platforms like X and Meta, and companies such as Apple and Google.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger - all led by military juntas - have announced plans to introduce a new biometric passport. It's the latest step in their withdrawal from the regions' main bloc of nations: ECOWAS. One year after the three countries signed the Alliance of Sahel States, The World's Sarah Birnbaum has this check in on the region.

In August, a female doctor was raped and murdered in the Kolkata hospital where she worked, while resting after her night shift. There's been massive public outcry, and healthcare workers have been demanding the implementation of safety regulations. But the incident has also brought attention to sexual violence in India, as Sushmita Pathak reports from Delhi.

In a rare expression of consensus, most of the UN General Assembly supports the establishment of an intergovernmental panel to help keep track of AI and guide policy discussions and recommendations. Ian Bremmer is the rapporteur who wrote the proposal on behalf of the secretary-general's AI advisory board and explains what the panel would do and why it could be important.

Contrary to election-year rhetoric, Mexican drug cartels don't rely on migrants crossing the border illegally to bring fentanyl into the country.

In Lebanon today, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech, acknowledging the deadly attacks this week that caused pagers and walkie-talkies to explode across the country. He called it a "severe blow." But Nasrallah also promised that Hezbollah will continue attacking Israel until the war in Gaza ends. Host Marco Werman speaks with The World's Matthew Bell about the escalating conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

A year ago, Azerbaijan's military took control of Nagorno-Karabakh. Some 100,000 Armenians fled the enclave - a region within Azerbaijan made up largely of Armenian residents. As The World's Daniel Ofman reports from southern Armenia, many families who fled Nagorno-Karabakh are still struggling to adjust to life in their new home.

The US and Chinese militaries seldom see eye to eye, but at least they are talking again. A top Chinese military commander is in Hawaii today to meet the head of US Indo-Pacific Command. It's the latest high-level sit-down between the two nuclear-armed superpowers - drawing down a period of nearly two years when China cut communication. Can more face time avert a dangerous conflict? The World's Patrick Winn reports.

Israel's planting of explosives in everyday low-tech items like pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon raises new security concerns. Will these kinds of things be added to lists of suspicious objects? And why were these very simple forms of technology used as explosive devices? Host Carolyn Beeler explores these questions with Richard Forno, assistant director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County's Center for Cybersecurity.

Singer-songwriter Susan O'Neill is an award-winning artist from Ireland. She's hoping to break through to a wider audience with her new album 'Now in a Minute.' Susan O'Neill describes the inspiration behind it and plays a few tracks.

Over the past 30 years, hundreds of thousands of people have fled political instability and civil war in Somalia. Over that time, there's been something of a trend of displaced Somalis returning home to seek public office. As Maine Public Radio's Ari Snider reports, a man who's lived in Maine for over a decade is hoping he can make a difference by becoming president of Jubaland state in Somalia.

The Restoration Ecology team at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, has recently published new research that uses super-sensitive microphones to listen to and analyze the health of soil. The researchers say this new method could replace traditional ones, which are expensive, disruptive, and laborious. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Peace talks between the warring parties in Switzerland have led to small improvements in access for humanitarian workers to move food into food-insecure areas. But as Leni Kinzli, a spokesperson for the UN's World Food Program in Sudan, explains, the crisis spans the entire country and things are getting worse.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler share a roundup of stories that may not have caught your attention.

Lebanon is in crisis. On Tuesday, a coordinated attack targeted members of the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, that were carrying electronic pagers. The attack killed 12 people and injured more than 2,800 others. On Wednesday, a similar attack was carried out via walkie-talkie radios. It's left three people dead and more than 1,000 injured so far. Host Marco Werman speaks with Nizar Ghanem, research director at the Alternative Policy Institute in Lebanon, about how these repeated attacks have left residents feeling.

More than 100 wildfires are stretching thousands of firefighters to their limits in northern Portugal this week. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro declared a state of calamity for the hardest-hit areas late on Tuesday. Host Marco Werman explains that European Union officials are calling this an example of the continent's "climate breakdown."

A recent shortage of high-quality, low-cost rice in Japan has been pinned on the large number of tourists visiting the country, as well as hot weather exacerbated by climate change. But farmers and agricultural analysts say there's something else at play - a decades-old government program that pays farmers not to plant their rice. Hannah Kirshner reports on some rice farms in Kaga, a town in the Hokuriku region along the Japan sea.