Rising crime and insecurity on Ecuadorian voters' minds

Hamas and Israel continued their prisoner-for-hostage exchanges as part of the ceasefire deal in Gaza, but on Thursday, the hostages released to Israel were already dead. Hamas claims they were killed by Israeli airstrikes while they were in captivity, which Israeli officials have not denied. The occasion was a somber shift in tone for the hostage releases, which are usually days of relief and celebration in Israel. Also, on Wednesday, in Paris, European leaders held another round of emergency talks focused on how to bolster the continent’s defense capabilities and support Ukraine’s fight against Russia. The continent is worried about how to defend itself in a world with fewer security guarantees from NATO ally the US. Also, a German court rules that Birkenstocks are not art that can be copyrighted. Hear about the history and aesthetic of the beloved, ugly, centuries-old German footwear. And, the story of the Latvian film "Flow," about animals banding together to survive a flood, which is up for an Oscar.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been charged for alleged involvement in a coup plot following his 2022 election defeat. The allegations include plans to murder his opponent Lula da Silva, the current president. These are the first criminal charges faced by Bolsonaro, who is already banned from running in the country's upcoming presidential election. Also, authorities in the Philippines have come up with a creative way to combat the mosquito-borne illness dengue. They’ve put a bounty on the heads of mosquitos to encourage locals to collect the insects and their larvae. And, in most so-called megacities with populations over 10 million people, traffic is a megaproblem. And so is the air population. But Tokyo, with a population of 37 million, bucks that trend, thanks to a massive web of public transit that keeps cars off the road. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The US and Russia met on Tuesday for the first time in Saudi Arabia to begin negotiations on the future of Ukraine. The two sides agreed to set up teams that will hammer out an agreement. Ukrainian and European leaders are not happy about being left out. Also, in the wake of yet another airline disaster, many are wondering whether air travel is more dangerous than in the past or if we're just hearing about crashes more often than we used to. A Delta flight flipped over on Monday after landing in Toronto. And, after World War II, center-right parties in Germany formed a solid buffer against extremist parties, refusing to cooperate with them. Up until now, that buffer seemed to hold. But a gamble from Friedrich Merz, Germany’s likely next chancellor, to accept the votes of far-right lawmakers to try and pass his hard-line immigration laws, has led many to say he has broken the firewall.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

European leaders and Trump administration officials are attending the Munich Security Summit over the weekend. We'll have the latest on what was discussed, and how it might effect the war in Ukraine." Also, as we continue a deep dive into Ukraine news, we reflect on the "Maidan Revolution," as it's been called, which was a protest against a Russia-installed leader of Ukraine. Many people, especially younger Ukrainians, wanted the country to lean toward the West, not Russia. And, in Ukraine, musician Svyatoslav Vakarchuk is a living legend. But few of his songs have had as much meaning or poignancy as "Chovan," which describes the country on both sides of the Dnipro River. As The World's hosts explain, while the bridge over that river has been destroyed, the spiritual bridge that connects all Ukrainians remains firmly intact.   Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Rafik Hariri was a charismatic Lebanese prime minister who oversaw an era of relative economic and political stability until his assassination. Amal Mudallali was Rafik Hariri’s foreign policy adviser and more recently a permanent representative to the UN for Lebanon, who spoke about Hariri's legacy and the opportunity Lebanon is now confronted with. Also,  Australia has passed tough anti-hate laws, with mandatory jail time for giving the Nazi salute in public. It's part of an effort to combat a wave of anti-semitism in the country.Also, as controversy continues around South Korea's impeached president, a look at the anti-feminist platform that brought him to power, and the state of feminism in South Korea today. And, Chile’s biggest carnival is kicking off at full speed on Friday. As many as 150,000 people have traveled to the northern Chilean town of Arica to participate. Our reporter takes us there.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have signaled a dramatic shift in the US approach to Russia, Ukraine, and the NATO alliance. Where does that leave Europe? Also, the latest craze in cryptocurrency is using memes to bring attention to specific coins. They're called meme coins, and they're risky, because they're backed by nothing but internet attention. Now, one of the world's poorest countries has become the first to launch a national meme coin. The Central African Republic's president launched it on X, and it's been a wild ride ever since.  And, in Spain, the trial of former women's national team coach Luis Rubiales comes to an end; Rubiales is accused of sexual aggression for a victory kiss that player Jennifer Hermoso says was not consensual.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The civil war in Sudan has been raging for nearly two years and has displaced an estimated 12 million people. Now, there are reports that the breakaway military faction, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has stormed the Zamzam Refugee Camp in North Darfur, Sudan's largest displacement camp. We hear from an expert who has been monitoring the situation on the ground. Denmark is dismantling immigrant neighborhoods where the government says residents — mostly people from the Middle East — don’t share “Danish values.” A law that came into effect six years ago paved the way for the government to kick folks out of public housing, and then entice people who do have Danish values to move in. That is to say: white Danes. The project is sparking vocal criticism throughout Europe. Also, a balancing act in the city of Kyoto: how to preserve the city's spiritual heritage while still benefiting from the heavy tourism it draws. And, Ukrainian journalist and Wall Street Journal correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov stops by The World to discuss his recent novel, as well as the current situation in Ukraine.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

US President Donald Trump meets with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House as Trump's plan to forcibly remove Palestinians in Gaza to Jordan and Egypt is met with regional and global condemnation. Also, the “Vote-o-Mat” helps German voters navigate candidates ahead of parliamentary elections. And, the movie “Emilia Pérez”, which has received 13 Oscar nominations has been mired in controversy and has become unpopular in Mexico. Plus, scientists say the shape of the Earth’s core may be changing shape.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

An AI summit in Paris brings together world leaders, scientists and tech executives to discuss the groundbreaking impact of artificial intelligence, with EU nations and India playing “catch-up” to the US and China. Also, Senegal renames its streets that were named after French colonial figures to those of prominent Senegalese. And, Israeli police arrest two Palestinian bookstore owners in occupied East Jerusalem, with Arab and Jewish supporters protesting their detention in front of a Jerusalem court. Plus, conservationists build "sloth bridges" in Costa Rica to keep the animals safe.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Voters in Ecuador will head to the polls for general elections this weekend. The next president will face the enormous task of dismantling well-funded and powerful organized crime groups in the country as well as restoring trust in government and fix an economy in crisis. Also, the Trump administration is using military planes to deport migrants to Latin America, and regional leaders are expressing concerns about how they're being treated. And, a close relative of one of the recently-released Israeli hostages tells us her family's story. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices