Oceania

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walks free

Global Politics

The World’s host Marco Werman speaks with author and investigative journalist Michael Isikoff about the implications of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s case.

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's plane makes its landing approach on Pohnpei International Airport in Kolonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Monday, Aug. 5, 2019.

The US is building a military base in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Micronesian residents have questions.

Military
Feri Yadi, a resident of Muara Baru in North Jakarta, stands atop the seawall recently built to protect his neighborhood. He has little confidence that the wall will work as expected. "Like in the past, this will be broken somehow" he says.

Need the latest news on flooding? In Jakarta, there’s an app for that.

Environment
An abandoned mosque outside the seawall in Muara Baru, Jakarta. The city is sinking as a result of massive groundwater extraction, and the problem is especially bad in Muara Barus, which is already below sea level.

Trying to confront a massive flood risk, Jakarta faces ‘problem on top of problem’

Environment
Kiribati beach

Former Kiribati president eyes massive infrastructure projects to save his island nation

Environment
An Islamic State fighter gestures from a vehicle in the countryside of the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani, after the Islamic State fighters took control of the area in October.

The so-called Islamic State looks bleak to outsiders, but supporters see it as ‘liberating’

Conflict

One of ISIS’ most influential recruiters describes why life in a medieval caliphate might be more liberating than the modern societies we live in.

Tim Adams (center, in glasses) suffered a stroke several years ago that affected his ability to speak. But he's been singing with the Stroke a Chord choir outside of Melbourne, Australia.

These stroke victims can’t speak, but they’re still singing

Music

The Stroke a Chord choir in Melbourne, Australia, is made of people who have lost their abilities to speak normally because of strokes. But thanks to a quirk of the brain, they’re still able to express themselves in song.

Australia's Phil Hughes celebrates a high score during an international match in 2009. Hughes died on November 27, 2014, after being struck in the neck by a bowled ball during a match in Australia's domestic Sheffield Shield competition.

Cricket fans worldwide pay tribute to young star who died tragically from on-field injuries

Sports

The genteel world of cricket was rocked this week by the death of Phillip Hughes, an Australian star who was seemingly on his way to greatness. Hughes was hit in the neck by a bowled ball, highlighting the dangers of a sport many think of as an easygoing pastime.

A pig-nosed turtle, which is becoming a favorite as an exotic pet.

Pig-nosed turtles are adorable — and that’s made them the target of traffickers

Environment

Pig-nosed turtles are so cute that thousands of them are being smuggled by animal traffickers to be sold as exotic pets. But while they’re adorable as babies, they grow up to become big, feisty animals that many people abandon  — a problem for a species that’s considered threatened.

Bluefin trevally at Palmyra Atoll, Pacific Ocean.

One scientist calls the largest marine sanctuary in the world a volcano of fish

Environment

In the Pacific Ocean, west and south of Hawaii, is what was until recently one of the largest marine sanctuaries on earth. Now, however, it has been expanded — to nearly six times its original size. And scientists are thrilled.