The World: Latest Stories

"A punch in the jaw that hurts the drug lords." That's how a German state justice minister described a massive cocaine bust on Monday in Duesseldorf. Investigators there said they seized 39 tons of cocaine worth $2.78 billion, making it the biggest-ever cocaine find in the country. Host Marco Werman has more.

Nearly 100 countries and organizations, half from Europe, attended the Swiss-hosted Ukraine peace summit over the weekend. Not surprisingly, Russia did not attend. Host Marco Werman, speaks to The World's Daniel Ofman, who joins him from Riga, Latvia.

Classic American folk tunes meet beloved ragas from India. Turns out, there's a lot in common between these two music traditions as Falguni Shah, lead vocalist for the band American Patchwork Quartet, tells host Marco Werman.

An Indian man accused in a murder-for-hire plot pleaded not guilty in New York City on Monday. US prosecutors announced in November that a sting operation had thwarted a plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Pannun is a Sikh separatist, and is considered a terrorist by the Indian government. Host Marco Werman has more details.

The death of poet Mohammad Shabani, an Iranian dissident living in Turkey, catches his friends, family and supporters by surprise. Reporter Fariba Nawa finds one of Shabani's confidantes and learns new details about his life in exile before he died. This is the third episode of "Lethal Dissent," an investigative series from The World and the "On Spec Podcast."

For the last month, parts of the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul have remained underwater. Many residents have been in constant contact with the flood waters, from the intense days of rescue following the torrential rains, until today. But those waters, mixed with sewage, contaminants and the wreckage of the cities, have also carried a more invisible danger: leptospirosis. Michael Fox reports from the city of Porto Alegre on how that and other diseases remain a threat to people in the region.

The US Navy has sent at least one anti-submarine aircraft to the Caribbean and has three destroyers patrolling in the waters around Cuba following the arrival of Russian military ships there. But there's no cause for alarm. Host Carol Hills speaks with Dara Massicot at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about what is being seen as a routine Russian training exercise.

A country where the Holocaust killed three-quarters of its Jewish population reflects on that dark chapter from the past with a National Holocaust Museum. But a prominent speaker at the public launch of the memorial site in the Netherlands sparked protests. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry reports from Amsterdam.

The Celtics are in the NBA finals, and one of the team's most impactful players is Latvian center Kristaps Porzingis. Fans in Latvia are rooting for him to become the first Latvian NBA champion. The World's Daniel Ofman reports from Riga, Latvia.

While in Italy to meet with leaders of the G7, Pope Francis convened a meeting with an unexpected audience: comedians. More than 100 of them, from 15 different countries, validated the importance of their craft in tumultuous times. Host Carol Hills discusses the papal take on comedy with James Geary, a scholar of humor, as well as Debra DiGiovanni, a Canadian comedian based in Los Angeles.

One pervasive idea about gamers is that they never leave their basements to touch grass" outdoors. But many people say that's simply not true, while a new project in the UK seeks to prove it. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

In Qatar, life revolves around managing the summer heat - and the country has even begun to cool outdoor public spaces. Opened in 2022, Umm al-Seneem Park has the world's longest air-conditioned outdoor walking track. The World's Durrie Bouscaren takes it for a spin.

Three foreign judges in Hong Kong's top court have have resigned. One to spend more time with her family, and the other two because they believe Hong Kong's judiciary can no longer operate independently. The problem, they say, is China's national security law it passed in Hong Kong which allows the Chinese mainland government to intervene in cases of "secession" and "subversion," among other violations. In practice, it's been used to crack down on free speech and dissent, according to human rights experts. The World's host Carol Hills talks with Tom Grundy, editor-in-chief of the Hong Kong Free Press, about the judges who have resigned.

In South Korea, private education designed to prepare students for college in the US is in high demand. It's also expensive. That's on top of a booming study abroad consultancy industry that helps students shine in college application materials. For The World, Jason Strother talks to a family near Seoul about pressure to participate in that system and escalating price tags.

Russian authorities announced today that a US reporter detained there will stand trial on espionage charges. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained in March 2023. As host Marco Werman explains, Gershkovich, his employer and the US State Department all defend him as wrongly accused.

Haiti's new government selected cabinet ministers this week, as it awaits the arrival of a long-delayed Kenyan security force designed to assist its embattled police. Journalist Widlore Merancourt in Port-au-Prince tells The World's host Marco Werman that he fears Haiti's new leaders lack coherent plans to restore order.

Hezbollah, the Shia militant group based in southern Lebanon, says Israel has killed about 340 of its fighters since Oct. 7. The World's Shirin Jaafari attends a funeral for a Hezbollah fighter who was killed this week and speaks with mourners about the goals of what some see as a "resistance movement."

A growing number of governments in Latin America are aligning themselves with Palestinians, and distancing themselves from Israel. In Colombia, President Gustavo Petro cut off diplomatic ties with Israel earlier this month. But there's a price to pay for cutting ties with Israel, as reporter Manuel Rueda reports.

Taylor Swift concerts in Edinburgh this week shook the ground so much that seismic activity was recorded at nearby monitoring stations. Swift isn't the only celebrity to generate earthquake-level excitement in fans. When soccer star Lionel Messi scores goals, his fans also erupt into seismic cheers. Host Marco Werman has more on celebrities whose popularity sets the earth aquiver.

A new law in Japan will see refugees deported if they re-apply for asylum and get turned down. It's an interesting move for a country already known for its exceptionally restrictive immigration and asylum policies. Host Marco Werman speaks with Jefferson R. Plantilla, a lawyer and researcher in Japan, about the country's approach to this issue.

An accused murderer, a serial rapist and a drug smuggler are among the criminals who were granted visas to remain in Australia, a result of a new immigration policy drafted to appease New Zealand. The World's Sarah Birnbaum reports from Sydney.

The educational pipeline from India to the US isn't new, but efforts to recruit Indian students have ramped up significantly in recent years. Sushmita Pathak takes a closer look at what those recruitment efforts look like, what's driving them and the risks they've introduced.

Once again, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas are deteriorating. Aaron David Miller is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment. He advised six American presidents on the Middle East. He talks with The World's host Marco Werman about what's standing in the way of an agreement.

Malawi has been in the headlines this week following a plane crash that killed its vice president. This comes at a tough time for the African country, ranked as one of the poorest globally. Malawi is now enduring a severe cost of living crisis. The cause? Soaring fertilizer prices. Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman reports from Malawi on how people are responding to the crisis, as well as hopes for economic recovery.

The Danish government has ordered a recall of three types of Buldak, which translates as "fire chicken," manufactured by South Korea's Samyang Foods. The packaged noodles were deemed so hot they might pose a physical danger for Danish consumers. Host Marco Werman speaks with Mary-Jon Ludy, an associate dean and a food and nutrition professor at the Bowling Green State University Graduate College, about how spiciness is perceived across cultures.

Team USA shocked the world by beating Pakistan at the T20 Cricket World Cup last week, pushing the US into second place overall. Today, they took on the first place team: India. Host Marco Werman has details from the big match.

A jury in South Florida has ruled that banana giant Chiquita must pay $38.3 million to relatives of people killed by a right-wing paramilitary group that received funding from the fruit company. The verdict is a rare case of a private US company being held liable for human rights abuses that take place in other countries. Marco Werman speaks with Michael Evans of the National Security Archive and head of The Chiquita Papers, which documents the company's ties to paramilitary groups in Colombia's civil war.

Sumo wrestling from Japan is among the world's oldest sports, dating back at least 1,500 years. The rules are simple: Square off with an opponent, in a ring lined with sand, then try to push the other person out. Another rule: Japanese professional sumo is also off limits to women. As The World's Patrick Winn reports, Japanese women wrestlers who achieve champion status at international sumo events are frustrated to face prejudice back home.

An iconic French singer and model who catapulted to fame in the 1960s, Francoise Hardy, has died at the age of 80. The World's host Marco Werman remembers highlights of her life and career, as well as her enduring influence on pop music and French culture.

Alvise Perez's "The Party's Over" party surprised election watchers by taking three seats in European parliamentary elections Sunday. Alvise and the Chipmunks, as his supporters call themselves, say they're fed up with corruption and the European project. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

A US-based cybersecurity expert gets hacked by North Korea. He then hacks back. Takes out the entire country's limited internet for nine years. As you do. We get the story from Dina Temple-Raston, of the podcast Click Here.

Vietnamese authorities say they have arrested journalist and historian Truong Huy San, known by his pen name Huy Duc. According to government reports, the journalist was charged with a Facebook post being in violation of national security laws. That's against a backdrop of diminishing freedom for the press in Vietnam. The World's host Marco Werman gets the story and its implications.

Scientists have detected a sizable drop in a harmful substance that depletes the ozone layer. That's a layer of the Earth's stratosphere that protects the planet from ultraviolet sunlight. Host Marco Werman speaks with Luke Western of the University of Bristol in the UK about the international efforts that seem to have worked.

Last week's elections in Mexico produced about 25,000 tons of trash. As authorities begin to clear campaign materials from the streets, environmentalists express concerns that improper disposal of plastic waste could cause serious pollution. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Mexico City.

The BTS army is celebrating, as a member of the K-pop megaband is being released from the actual army in South Korea. Kim Seok-jin - or just Jin to fans - is the oldest member of BTS. His mandatory 18 months of military service are done as of Wednesday, Seoul time. Host Marco Werman has more.

After falling in love with an American student, a doctor in Moscow leaves her life behind to start anew in the US. But being a foreigner in a foreign land is not quite what she expected, nor is the marriage she staked her new life on. Elena Yureneva shares her experience with the storytelling project, Stories from the Stage.

Following the UN Security Council vote for a ceasefire in Gaza, momentum may be building to finally end the war. The World's host Marco Werman discusses the likelihood of a breakthrough with Fawaz Gerges of the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Queensland, Australia, just committed to government-funded testing of illegal drugs. The harm reduction strategy is popular in Western Europe, where lab technicians have set up a tent at music festivals or clubs and run basic tests on party drugs. As The World's Sarah Birnbaum reports, the idea is to give partiers a chance to reject drugs with questionable contents.

Iran's slate of presidential candidates is now set for the country's election at the end of the month. That leaves just two weeks of campaigning to replace Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash last month. Host Marco Werman has details.

Over the weekend, a daylight raid on Gaza secured the release of four Israeli hostages. Palestinians will remember the operation for intense bombardments that killed hundreds of civilians. In Israel, reactions have ranged from elation over loved ones returning home to their families to anger and impatience prompting growing calls for change, as thousands gather in Tel Aviv to demand a ceasefire and government resignations. Meanwhile, Benny Gantz, a key member of Israel's war cabinet, has resigned. Journalist Noga Tarnopolsky in Jerusalem unpacks all of this and more for The World's host Marco Werman.

As the results came in from the EU elections, France's President Emmanuel Macron challenged French voters to take a clear stance on the rise of the far-right throughout Europe. He's called for immediate elections for his own country's parliament. The World's Orla Barry explains.

The Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets just played a Major League Baseball game series - in London. The two teams split the two-game series, and they drew a good crowd of British baseball fans, although not enough to fill the stadium. Michael Clair, a writer for MLB.com, spoke with The World's host Marco Werman about baseball's trip across the Atlantic and the sport's growing global reach.

Ferhad Feyssal remembers when villagers gathered around the campfire every winter in the Kurdish region in Syria while a danuk, or big pot, cooked bulgur wheat. The memories are so vivid to Feyssal that he decided to name his band Danuk. The World's April Peavey brings us their story.

Three US citizens appeared in a Congolese military court on Friday. They are accused of taking part in a failed coup attempt last month, and they could end up facing the death penalty. Host Marco Werman discusses the situation with Jason Stearns, founder of the Congo Research Group at New York University.

Mexico has a long history of mushroom cultivation and consumption, since pre-hispanic times. But for a long time, those traditions were dismissed and forgotten. Now, the country is rediscovering recipes and methods to cultivate, eat and preserve wild mushrooms. The World's Mexico Correspondent Tibisay Zea takes us to an all-fungi restaurant in Mexico City.

In an exclusive interview in Beirut by The World's Shirin Jaafari, Lebanon's foreign minister tells her that his country cannot afford an all-out war with Israel. His comments come at a time when Hezbollah, the powerful Shia militia group in Lebanon, has been sending rockets and drones into Israel, raising concerns about another war in the Middle East.

On Canada's east coast, a region known as "Iceberg Alley" has begun its annual spring watch for icebergs drifting south from the Arctic. Host Carolyn Beeler has more on Newfoundland and Labrador's Iceberg Festival.

Hot summers are nothing new for India, but daytime temperatures are breaking records in the central and northern regions, and cities aren't cooling down enough at night for the human body to recover. Hospitals have set up special units to deal with acute heat stress, which has already claimed at least 56 lives. Sushmita Pathak reports from New Delhi.

Dementia has become a catch-all term for certain diseases affecting the memory of tens of millions of people. The World Health Organization says over 55 million people have dementia worldwide, and it's a leading cause of death among the elderly. A study published yesterday in the online journal Nature Mental Health found that it might be possible to detect dementia early and within minutes using a brain scan and machine learning. The World's host Carolyn Beeler spoke to Charles Marshall, the lead researcher of the new study. He's a neurologist at the Queen Mary University of London.

Ash is a multi-instrumentalist and deejay who blends his French and Egyptian musical influences into electronic music. Host Carolyn Beeler tells us more, and plays a song off his new album 'Self-Discovery.'