News of the World: What you missed this week internationally
TURKEY
Istanbul International Airport (IST) was crowned the world’s best in 2025 for its performance and reliability by the aviation analytics firm Cirium, which ranked 12 airports and airlines that excelled at being punctual. IST is one of the busiest and best-connected airports in the world, welcoming more than 84 million passengers a year traveling to 330 destinations. Its on-time performance, which is calculated by the percentage of flights leaving or arriving within 15 minutes of their scheduled time, was 80.72%.
AUSTRALIA
An influencer who spreads awareness on Australian wildlife, dubbed the “Aboriginal Steve Irwin,” shocked his followers when they learned he is not a real person, but an AI character created by South African content creator Keagan John Mason. The Bush Legend account, which has nearly 200,000 followers on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, is sparking concerns and ethical questions about “AI Blackface” and cultural appropriation.
ITALY
The village of Pagliara dei Marsi welcomed its first baby in nearly 30 years. Lara Bussi Trabucco’s highly anticipated birth in March has been driving tourists to the village, located in the central Italian region of Abruzzo. Pagliara dei Marsi boasts a population of around 20, and is home to more cats than people, peaking the newfound interest of visitors. “People who didn’t even know Pagliara dei Marsi existed have come, only because they had heard about Lara,” her mother, Cinzia Trabucco, told The Guardian. “At just 9 months old, she’s famous.”
UKRAINE
A 9-year-old girl who escaped the war in the Ukraine is slated to be the next tennis superstar. Vlada Hranchar and her mother left their home in Odessa with news of Russian troops making their way there. They reunited with her father and brother in New York, and with the assistance of tennis coaches impressed with Hranchar’s ability, settled in Vermont. Now, she is being coached by the legendary Rick Macci, who is known for training Serena and Venus Williams, Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati, and Maria Sharapova. “I have no doubt this little girl is going to be number one in the world,” Macci told CNN Sports. “I can see how she is wired and put together, and has a work ethic unsurpassed. All the other qualities as well, just the cardio and all these things wrapped in one. This little kid has every box checked.”
MEXICO
A street sweeper-turned-TikTok star, who went viral for a video he filmed in his work uniform which featured a song he penned, will play his first major solo concert. Macario Martínez will perform at the León State Fair 2026, one of the largest cultural events in Mexico, on Jan. 28. The 24-year-old — whose video of his song “Sueña lindo, corazón” racked up more than 14 million views — is part of a lineup that includes Latin Grammy winner Paloma Morphy and Dutch DJ Tiësto.
With Wires
