The World: Latest Stories

A new trend in Mexico is transforming flower deliveries into viral social media performances -complete with music, confetti and dramatic flair. What began as one man's creative response to the pandemic has grown into a booming business, blending romance, showmanship and echoes of narco-inspired aesthetics. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Mexico City.

Last month, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized a new saint: Olga Michael, who lived in the small ton of Kwethluk, Alaska, until her death in 1979. St. Olga is the first Yup'ik to be canonized in the Orthodox Church, whose missionaries brought the religion to Alaska in the 1700s when Alaska was a Russian colony. The World's Host Marco Werman learned more about the past and present of the faith in Alaska from the Very Reverend Father John Jillions, a priest in the Orthodox Church in America.

Israeli jets have stopped flying over Iran's skies - at least for now. Residents of Tehran, who'd fled the city during the war, have returned. Some are burying the dead and assessing the damage to their homes. They tell The World's Shirin Jaafari that nothing feels the same.

After decades of an insurgency against the Turkish government, members of the Kurdistan Worker's Party, known as the PKK, ceremonially laid down their arms at a ceremony in northern Iraq. The group's jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, recently decided to disarm and seek a political solution to the PKK's grievances. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler explains.

The village of Taybeh describes itself as the last entirely Christian town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. But three priests from Taybeh just put out a statement saying that centuries of Christian history "is now at serious risk of erosion due to the systematic targeting of its land, holy sites and people." The clergymen say Jewish settlers are carrying out the attacks. The statement accuses Israeli settlers of lighting fires near a Christian church and a cemetery, grazing their animals on Palestinian land and building illegal settlement outposts in the vicinity. The World's Matthew Bell has our story.

A quick look at our top story today: ice -- specifically, Arctic sea ice and the efforts to build more icebreaking ships. Russia has the largest fleet of around 40 icebreakers. The US goal is to build a fleet of eight or nine of the heavy-duty ships. We hear from Malte Humpert, a fellow at The Arctic Institute Center for Circumpolar Security Studies.

Houthi rebels used small boats and bomb-laden drones to strike a Greek-owned cargo ship passing through the Red Sea on Monday. Just a day earlier, they sank another bulk carrier there. Fatima al Asrar of the Washington Center for Yemeni Studies tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that the strikes are designed to send an unmistakable message to global shipping companies.

Europe's first major heat wave of the summer began in late June, and caused an estimated 2,300 heat-related deaths. A new rapid study has concluded that almost two-thirds of those deaths would not have occurred were it not for climate change. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the details about how that study reached those findings, and who is most susceptible to heat-related health complications.

They're shiny metals, can be hard to find and they're essential to building high-tech equipment - from electric cars to fighter jets. Rare earth metals" are dominated by one country: China. Once obscure, rare earth metals shot to prominence when China cut exports to the outside world - a strategy to hurt the US amid the ongoing trade war. What many people overlook is that many so-called Chinese" rare earths aren't from China at all. The World's Patrick Winn reports.

A coalition of farmers, environmentalists and volunteers are coming together to restore the UK's hedgerows. The UK lost about 50% of these historic boundary lines following WWII. There is also national support; the UK government wants to add 45,000 miles of hedgerows by 2050. Will Fitzpatrick, a community engagement officer with The Tree Council, told The World's Hannah Chanatry about why hedgerows play an important role in both climate resilience and cultural heritage.

The EU has awarded Finland more than 90 million euros (around $105 million), in large part to cover the purchase of a new icebreaker ship. It's part of a global race to expand fleets with the capacity to safely move through the Arctic as climate change opens up new pathways through the ice. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with Malte Humpert, a fellow at The Arctic Institute, about the significance of the funding and shifting geopolitical landscape in the high north.

The Olavide Museum, founded in the late 19th century, contains hundreds of life-sized models of people infected with cutaneous diseases, from ringworm to syphilis. The graphic models helped medical students diagnose illnesses. The wax figures are no longer used as a teaching tool. But the museum still teaches visitors history, and contains the stories of the real patients at a time before modern medicine. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Madrid.

Almost every country on Earth has signed it - the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, widely known as the "NPT." It became effective on March 5, 1970. At the time, US President Richard Nixon called it "a historic occasion" and a "first milestone" on the road toward lasting world peace. The NPT has held for all these years, and today, only nine countries have nuclear weapons. But after Israeli and US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, there's speculation that Iran might quit the NPT and other nations could follow suit, by pursuing nuclear weapons technology themselves. The World's Matthew Bell reports on where the NPT stands now.

At the AI for Good Summit underway this week in Geneva, innovators are showcasing tools that promise hyper-productivity and unlimited creativity harnessed for human advancement. Journalist Karen Hao, author of the new book "Empire of AI" is at the conference and says she's skeptical of these lofty claims. She tells Host Marco Werman why she thinks AI represents a new form of empire that must be challenged if democracy is to survive.

In the 1960s, France had around 200,000 cafes nationwide. It's down to 36,000 today. Most of the bistros that disappeared were in small, rural towns. Up until now, it's been virtually impossible to bring them back, mainly because of restrictive French liquor laws. But a bill in parliament hopes to change that, and breathe some life back into thousands of small towns. The World's Gerry Hadden first filed this report from Jujols, France in March.This story originally aired on March 14, 2025.

Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug in the United States. But at the US-Mexico border, something unexpected is happening. Seizures of the synthetic opioid have fallen sharply - more than 50% compared to last year. But what's behind the drop? The World's Tibisay Zea looks at what the numbers can - and can't - tell us about the state of the fentanyl crisis.

The TSA has announced that it's dropping the longstanding "shoes off" policy for security checks at airports around the US. As the World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel reports, the move falls in line with international efforts to increase efficiency for travelers.

Across Kenya, thousands have taken to the streets to protest the government of President William Ruto. The protests are driven by young people in the country who are frustrated with a host of government policies and they are demanding change. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Maxie Daniel, a 28-year-old human rights activist in Kenya, and Irng Houghton, executive director for Amnesty International in the country.

Russia launched more than 740 drones overnight at the northwestern part of Ukraine, hitting the city of Lutsk among other targets. Ukraine's air force says it faced a mix of drones and decoys. The attack came in the wake of President Donald Trump's announcement that the US would send more weapons and aid to the war-torn country. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more.

Countries such as Austria, Denmark, Mexico, Panama and the US consistently do well at global flag football championships. But more athletes are now coming to the sport than ever before. And they're coming from a wide range of places, including the NFL and new, smaller flag football leagues. The World's Bianca Hillier reports on how athletes around the world are getting ready for flag football's debut at the 2028 Olympics.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for attacking a merchant ship in the Red Sea on Sunday, forcing its crew to evacuate. Sunday's attack was followed by a similar attack on another ship late yesterday. The Yemeni government and the EU have said that attack was also carried about by the Houthis, although the rebel group has not claimed responsibility for it.

A Spanish proposal would ban all advertising for traditional fossil fuels and products that use them, including cars. The prohibition would be the first of its kind in Europe. The goal is to stop petrol companies from green-washing" their images. In this two-part Big Fix sequence, The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona on the proposal. Host Carolyn Beeler then speaks with Ben Franta, a professor of climate litigation at the University of Oxford, about efforts to fight the exaggerated environmental claims of fossil fuel companies and their contribution to climate change.

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman highlight several global headlines that might have flown under the radar.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler return to the historic significance of Hotel Oloffson and the meaning behind its destruction.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Britain today for a rare state visit - the first by a French leader in 17 years. He was welcomed with full royal honors at Windsor Castle, in a display of diplomatic warmth aimed at resetting ties between two nations that have clashed in recent years over Brexit, migration and defense. With both sides now keen to move on from the political turbulence, Macron's visit marks a symbolic moment of rapprochement between London and Paris. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry brings host Marco Werman the latest.

As part of its recent war on Iran, Israel has killed around 14 Iranian scientists who worked on the country's nuclear program. In some cases, the scientists were killed along with their families. This is part of Israel's longstanding effort to delay Iran's nuclear development. But some experts have raised concerns about the legal and ethical implications of these assassinations. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

The Hotel Oloffson in Port-au-Prince had stood for generations, surviving political upheaval, weather events and the devastating 2010 earthquakes that are believed to have killed more than 200,000 people. But over the weekend, the iconic, gingerbread-style building burned to the ground. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with independent reporter Harold Isaac about what happened and the legacy of the Hotel Oloffson.

Water levels in two of Europe's biggest rivers, the Danube in Hungary and the Vistula in Poland, have hit historic lows amid an intense heat wave. The issue has forced shipping authorities to limit the amount of cargo that ships can carry, which could have major economic implications.

The Seine reopened for public swimming on Saturday, after being closed for more than a century. That comes a year after swimming events were held in the river for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, and is the result of billions of dollars' worth of investment into revamping the city's sewers. Authorities say it's safe to swim on most days, but some would-be swimmers remain skeptical. Host Marco Werman has more.

US President Donald Trump says there's a "good chance" a Gaza ceasefire could be reached this week, as he sits down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But while an agreement for a ceasefire would be an immense relief for Palestinian civilians, it would leave them with few options, says Fawaz Gerges of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Gerges discusses what's next for Palestinians with Host Marco Werman.

The 14th Dalai Lama, who's lived outside of Tibet since 1959 and just turned 90 years old, announced last week that he will be reincarnated. In other words, the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism says he will have a successor. He also said that Tibetan religious authorities living outside of China will have the responsibility of locating that successor. For its part, the Chinese government insists that it, alone, can choose the next Dalai Lama. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Twenty years ago today, four coordinated bombings tore through London's transport network, killing 52 people and injuring hundreds. The four perpetrators who died in the blasts were all raised in the UK, and were later revealed to have been motivated by Islamist extremism. In the years since, British security services say they've become far better equipped to detect and prevent such attacks. But as The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports, the nature of the threat is more complex than ever.

Flood disasters around the world are growing as climate change makes intense and erratic rainfall more likely. Early warning systems are a critical tool for people to know if they are in harm's way. Host Marco Werman speaks with Dr. Bayes Ahmed from University College London about how effective early warning systems are, what hurdles still exist to ensure those warnings are communicated and what disparities exist for those who are and are not warned.

When wrestlers are doused with olive oil, a wrestling match is elevated to a battle of technique, speed and willpower, fans say. The World's Durrie Bouscaren went to the Turkish city of Edirne to witness the 664-year-old oil wrestling festival and follow the athletes' journey to win the Golden Belt.

Recently in Norway, there was yet another clash between indigenous Sami reindeer herders and a mining company. It's the latest such incident to act as a reminder of the ongoing threats to traditional Sami life and culture. Lars Bevanger, from our partners at Deutsche Welle, DW, sent us this report from Tromso.

A new documentary from Frontline explores the quest for stability in Syria in the months since opposition forces caused former President Bashar al-Assad's government to fall. Ahmed al-Sharaa was the rebel leader who led the toppling of the Assad regime, and is now the country's transitional president. The documentary is called "Syria After Assad," and filmmaker Martin Smith discusses it with Host Carolyn Beeler.

With former President Bashar al-Assad ousted from power, comedians in Syria see a new moment for their art form. They have been putting together shows at cafes and clubs across Damascus. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports on how these comedians are telling jokes that were unthinkable under the former regime.This story originally aired on May 30, 2025.

Ukrainian comic Anton Tymoshenko is based in Kyiv, and since the start of the war in Ukraine, he's begun performing in both Ukrainian and English. Amid a groundswell of comedy in his country, Tymoshenko has managed to cross over to reach a global, English-speaking audience. He says that, for him, comedy is a way to process the war - it's also a defense mechanism, and sometimes a distraction. The World's Daniel Ofman reports.This story originally aired on March 11, 2025.

Romesh Ranganathan took a circuitous route to comedy. The son of Sri Lankan immigrants in the UK, he taught high school math for about a decade before abandoning it for a full-time career in entertainment. He does standup, radio shows, podcasts and TV specials. As he started the North American leg of his current Hustle tour, Ranganathan stopped in at The World's studio in Boston for a conversation with Host Carol Hills.This story originally aired on Jan. 17, 2025.

Learnmore Jonasi, from a small village in Zimbabwe, is making a name for himself on the US comedy scene. And yes, his first name really is Learnmore. Carol Hills speaks with the comedian.This story originally aired on Dec. 6, 2024.

More than 8 million Venezuelans have fled their country in the past 10 years, and some of them have become comedians and satirists. A 2018 anti-hate law passed by the government of President Nicolas Maduro clamped down on all sorts of speech and made it impossible for them to ply their trade. The World's Tibisay Zea reports on whether there's a distinct Venezuelan sense of humor, and the challenge of punching up at a dictator.This story originally aired on February 24, 2025.

Meet Daisy, a British AI conversationalist made to sound like an older woman who's not very tech savy. She's been deployed to take up phone scammers' time - and collect information about new scams. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the story.This story originally aired on Nov. 14, 2024.

There are plenty of jokes. And lots of laughs. But the regular Chinese-language open mic events in New York city called "Nvzizhuyi" - which translates to "feminism" from Mandarin - are not just about stand-up comedy. These get-togethers also serve as a place for activists, students and young professionals to meet, engage in group therapy and share pointed views on life back home in China and here in the United States. The World's Matthew Bell reported the story with Vickie Wang.

A series of videos brings together climate scientists and comedians from the UK. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Nick Oldridge and Ben Carey, two of the producers of "Climate Science Translated," a project that uses snark, whimsy and irreverence to communicate the serious issues around climate change.This story originally aired on Nov. 3, 2023.

On Tuesday the European Space Agency (ESA) launched a small bioreactor carrying genetically engineered yeast into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It's part of a larger plan to develop in-space food production systems to serve the International Space Station and future missions to the Moon and Mars. Host Marco Werman speaks with Aqeel Shamsul, CEO of Frontier Space, a UK biotech company that is developing the platform for biotech and biopharma in space.This story originally aired on April 22, 2025.

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.This story originally aired on Aug. 27, 2024.

The cuisine of Nigeria packs in all kinds of global influences and ingredients: curries from India, sauces from China, spices from Lebanon. They all co-mingle with a particular repertoire of staple ingredients from Nigeria. Food anthropologist and Nigerian native Ozoz Sokoh is out with a cookbook that's being hailed as the first comprehensive guide to home cooking in all six regions of the country. She joins Host Carol Hills for a conversation about the flavors, ingredients and recipes in her book - as well as the culture around eating in Nigeria.This story originally aired on April 11, 2025.

Italians looking to avoid "egg-flation" have been flocking to a farm in northern Italy for classes in how to raise hens. Reporter Dany Mitzman from our partner Deutsche Welle, DW, reports from Flori, Italy.This story originally aired on March 26, 2025.

Styles may vary when it comes to barbecuing, but the basic idea is cooking meat, over fire - low and slow. It's also a culinary tradition with an global history, obviously infused with flavor from around the world. A new cookbook called "Barbecue: Smoked and Grilled Recipes from Across the Globe" explores these traditions. It was compiled by Chef Hugh Mangum with contributions from May Chow, a chef in Hong Kong. Both chefs speak to Host Marco Werman.

Cold beet soup is a culinary staple in Latvia and Lithuania, and across Eastern Europe. This year, Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, hosted a "Pink Soup Festival" celebrating the dish. But the city's tourism agency also started a public beef with Latvia, claiming that the Lithuanian version of the soup is better. The World's Daniel Ofman reports from Latvia's capital, Riga.This story originally aired on June 4, 2024.