The World: Latest Stories

We listen to a track from Marlon Williams. She's New Zealand's hottest Mori singer right now, and she's accompanied on the track by Lorde, New Zealand's best-known artist globally. The World's Marco Werman has more.

Reading Lolita in Tehran, the best-selling memoir by Azar Nafisi, came out in 2003. It told the story of how Nafisi and seven other women read the Western canon together in defiance of the law, even as the Iranian regime banned those materials. Now it's a movie directed by Eran Riklis. The two join Host Marco Werman for a conversation about their collaboration.

In Uganda, scientists have found a new use for catnip: mosquito repellent. A new study presented at the Society for Experimental Biology's annual conference shows that lotion made with nepetalactone, the chemical in catnip that drives cats wild, is just as effective at preventing mosquito bites as DEET-based bug spray. That's welcome news in rural Uganda, where commercial bug sprays are hard to find and catnip-based lotions can be produced

Health workers on the frontline of the Ebola outbreak are on strike. Complaints include a lack of protective equipment and delayed payment. Some in the hardest-hit province say they have not been paid since May. The World's Carolyn Beeler speaks with Christian Happi, a molecular biologist, about the strike and how it might affect efforts to contain the outbreak.

For the past four years, Matariki, the Mori New Year, has been an official holiday in New Zealand. Mori poet Tayi Tibble speaks with The World's Carolyn Beeler about the day's importance to her and why some in the Pacific nation are uncomfortable with the increasing visibility of Mori culture.

If you're a parent of young children who get screen time, then you might be surprised to learn there's a decent chance your kids have watched content from the small Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan. A group of Kyrgyz content creators who call themselves D Billions has produced a series of viral, English-language kids' music videos on YouTube that teach basics like the ABCs, which have received more than 49 billion views - that's more than Taylor Swift's videos. Reporter Levi Bridges takes a look at how they do it.

After Venezuela's deadly earthquakes, many international rescue teams have left as the window for finding survivors narrows. But Los Topos Aztecas - a Mexican legendary volunteer rescue brigade - says it is staying until no longer needed. Born after Mexico City's 1985 earthquake, the group is known for crawling into collapsed buildings by hand. The World's Tibisay Zea meets its 80-year-old leader in La Guaira, Venezuela.

As the World Cup enters the quarter-finals, more and more losing teams are heading home. But across the US, fans of those teams are still feeling the love. There are Cape Verdeans in Boston, the Blue Wave of Curacao in Houston. And then there are the Bosnians in St. Louis. The Bosnia and Herzegovina men's soccer team went further in the FIFA World Cup this year than it ever had. And for many in St. Louis' large Bosnian community, all the hubbub has resulted in a deepened sense of connection to each other and their ancestral home. St. Louis Public Radio's Jeremy Goodwin reports.

The International Olympic Committee has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee that's been in effect since October of 2023. The move paves the way for Russia to send a team to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Jules Boykoff is the author of several books on the Olympic Games and teaches political science at Pacific University in Oregon. He tells The World's Marco Werman the decision opens a Pandora's Box.

Only an estimated 100,000 people speak Ladino, once common among Jews throughout the Mediterranean. One millennial songwriter is on a quest to save Ladino to honor her Moroccan grandmother. Nani Vazana first told us her story in March 2025.

The meeting of 32 world leaders comes as the future of the military alliance has never looked more uncertain. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he believed the US remains fully committed to the alliance. But, as expected, President Trump had some choice words for some of his NATO allies. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry has more.

President Trump says the temporary deal with Iran is over". His comments follow a series of US strikes on Iran last night. Iran had reportedly attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz because they hadn't coordinated their passage through the waterway. The World's Shirin Jaafari speaks with Host Marco Werman about the latest.

The tiny German village of Feldheim is world famous. Why? Because it is generating its own electricity, heating its homes with farm waste, and paying a fraction of the energy prices most Europeans face. So how did just 130 people manage to break free from the energy system and build something most countries are still struggling to achieve? Reporter Kathleen Thompson went to Feldheim to find out.

From the Iran war to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, events this year have highlighted the way nations use the global energy trade as another weapon of war. To learn more, The World's Marco Werman speaks with Edward Fishman, an expert on economic statecraft at The Council on Foreign Relations.

Shortly after moving to the United States from the Dominican Republic, Claritza Abreu struggled to find work before finally landing a job as an administrative assistant. But she soon realized she was in over her head; taking phone calls meant understanding people saying their names and numbers quickly and being able to write it all down. She wasn't keeping up. She had to do something, so she hit the books. Specifically, the phone book. This story comes to us from GBH's live event series, Stories from the Stage.

As major heat waves hit the US and Europe, a growing body of research suggests periods of extreme heat are linked to worsening mental health. A new Australian study found young people were significantly more likely to be hospitalized for mental health conditions during periods of extreme heat. It also projects heat-related mental health admissions could increase by six percent by the end of the century as extreme temperatures become more common. The World's Carolyn Beeler learned more from Amruta Nori-Sarma, assistant professor of Environmental Health and Population Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Otofu Ayaku joined thousands of other graduates this spring to walk across a stage and accept a diploma from the University of Texas at Austin. A few months ago, life couldn't have looked more different. Ayaku recently returned to Austin after spending about a month in two detention facilities in the Houston area. Here she tells her own story.

The strategic central Sudanese city of el-Obeid is now the focal point in the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The three-year civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, has taken hundreds of thousands of lives. Nathaniel Raymond, of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, tells The World's Marco Werman that the fight for the city is an existential battle" for both sides.

Marine Le Pen, the French far-right leader and a frontrunner to win next year's presidential election, has lost her appeal of an embezzlement conviction. But a court today cleared the way for her to run for office, although she'd be required to wear an electronic bracelet that limits her movements. The Financial Times' Victor Mallet, author of "Far-Right France, Le Pen, Bardella and the Future of Europe," talks with The World's Carolyn Beeler about Le Pen's next moves.

The success of Cape Verde's run at the World Cup gave people around the globe an appreciation of the hidden talents in this small nation of islands. Music fans have also been treated to new discoveries in Cape Verdean sounds over the past two weeks. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

Canada is facing its Brexit moment - and it's largely around oil. The secessionists in Alberta don't want Federal environmental regulations holding back oil industry expansion, nor do they want to send oil revenues into central government coffers in Ontario. The Albertan premier just announced a referendum in October on whether the province should remain in Canada or move ahead with a second binding vote on separation. Leana Hosea reports.

This year's opening stages of the Tour de France wrapped up today - in Spain. In other years, Germany has hosted, as has the Netherlands, Monaco, and Italy, among others, for a total of 28 non-French "Grand Departs." The Tour does this for two reasons: To make the sport more international, and to make more money by charging host cities for the honor. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Granollers, Spain.

Nobody knows how long the women in the village of Bayl have been making rugs. For centuries, at least. But with growing access to cheap factory-made rugs in the post-Soviet era, fewer people in Kyrgyzstan are practicing the art form. Now that artisans' patterns are finding their way onto clothing by big-name designers, though, some see a commercial future for traditional rug-making skills. Reporter Levi Bridges has the story.

Dozens of people have died, and hundreds have been displaced in flooding across West Africa. The World's Marco Werman speaks with Victor Ojeh, professor at Taraba State University in Nigeria, about how communities are adapting to what has become a cyclical event.

Mourners dressed in black flooded into Iran's capital today for a procession that was part of the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The massive turnout, encouraged by Iran's theocracy as a sign of strength, came as officials negotiate with the US over a permanent end to the war. Syed Shahriyar reports from Tehran.

This week, the Turkish capital Ankara plays host to NATO's 36th summit. And the run-up has been tense. Not just because of the ongoing war in Ukraine, but because of a sweeping security crackdown which has targeted not only alleged members of the terror group ISIS, but civil society groups, journalists, LGBTQ+ activists and environmentalists as well. Dorian Jones sent us this report from Istanbul.

As round of sixteen play continues in the World Cup, controversy is building. FIFA lifted a suspension for Folarin Balogun, who was given a red card last week. He's eligible to take the field against Belgium today. And hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler recap the latest eliminations.

Venezuela is still reeling from twin earthquakes that rocked the country's north on June 24th. The official death toll has surpassed 2-thousand 500, with tens of thousands of people still displaced from their homes. Our reporter Tibisay Zea grew up in Venezuela and knows that area well. She's been on the ground reporting for the past week and spoke with The World's Marco Werman about what she's been seeing in the capital and the nearby city of La Guaira.

Recent events have placed Iran's theocratic republic under unprecedented strain. Widespread protests, economic pressures, and a devastating war with the US have exposed deep divisions within the regime. The World's Carolyn Beeler speaks with Bouzou Daragahi, the founder of the Badlands podcast and newsletter about whether the Islamic Republic can remain unified and survive the onslaught.

South Africa's Soweto Gospel Choir and Australian DJ Groove Terminator teamed up for an album in 2024 that connected House beats with African music. The album's called "History of House." Grammy-winning producer Latroit and Shimmy, co-music director and conductor of the Soweto Gospel Choir, spoke to Host Marco Werman.This story originally aired on Aug. 5, 2024.

Vietnamese Canadian country singer Nicolette Hoang fronts the band Nicolette and the Nobodies. She never thought she'd go into country music when she thought about being a singer. But there was something about the "natural cry" in Tammy Wynette's voice that drew her in. Host Marco Werman spoke to Hoang back in 2024.This story originally aired on April 4, 2024.

Mickey Hart, the drummer for the Grateful Dead, is one musician who's been at that global cutting edge practically since the beginning. His passion for the beat was first fostered in his childhood home in New York City, explored with the Grateful Dead and coalesced in his album "Planet Drum." Host Marco Werman spoke to Hart back in 2017.This story originally aired on Feb. 27, 2017.

Back in 2023, the iconic East Los Angeles band Los Lobos celebrated its 50th anniversary of creating its blend of rock 'n' roll and traditional Mexican music. At the time, members of the band reflected on their staying power with The World's Host Marco Werman.This story originally aired on Aug. 8, 2023.

Host Marco Weman first spoke to Gloria Estefan in 2023 when she was about to become the first Hispanic woman to join the Songwriters Hall of Fame.This story originally aired on March 14, 2023.

Listen carefully to the Talking Heads band's 1980 album Remain in Light" and you can hear the music of West Africa, specifically the work of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. In 2018, musician Angelique Kidjo recorded her take on the album. Host Marco Werman spoke to Kidjo when her version was released.This story originally aired on June 8, 2018.

It only took one listen for musician Serge Grin to hear blues music and know that's what he was meant to play. Originally from St. Petersburg, he now travels around Serbia with his guitar, singing American country music and blues. Gerry Hadden reports from a small village in northern Serbia about "Gringo's" unique sound.This story originally aired on June 1, 2023.

As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, we celebrate by listening to the music that's woven into the fabric of this country's story. Host Marco Werman leads the festivities.

As Mexico hosts the World Cup, authorities have intensified raids on fake merchandise, especially in Tepito, the Mexico City barrio famous for cartel activity, but also for knockoff goods. For many fans, though, these unofficial jerseys are the only realistic way to participate, because the original ones cost $100+ , more than a week's wages for some workers, while a near-identical copy sells for a fraction of the price. The World's Tibisay Zea has more from Mexico.

Russian civilians are feeling the pinch of Ukraine's long-range drone campaign targeting Russian infrastructure, from long lines at gas stations to disruptions at airports. Scholar Nina Khrushcheva tells Host Marco Werman that she's seeing disruptions in daily life throughout Russia, but little willingness to compromise from the Kremlin.

The 4th of July is right around the corner. That's historically been Independence Day, not just in the US, but also in the Philippines. As people in the US celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence from Britain, people in the Philippines will mark 80 years of independence from the United States. So, in honor of that independence day, we're bringing back a favorite story from the archives. It's about Gen Z kids in the Filipino diaspora, whose parents raised them on a certain kind of music. Julio Canimo explains.This story originally aired on Jan. 24, 2025.

The cross-border flow of fresh produce from Mexico to the United States is a multibillion-dollar endeavor. It has changed the way Americans' refrigerator shelves look over the past three decades, experts say, helping ensure US consumers can buy fresh fruits and vegetables year-round. From the KJZZ Fronteras Desk, Nina Kravinsky reports.

New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific, is once again at a political crossroads after recent local elections delivered no clear majority. After years of contested referendums and following deadly unrest in 2024, the archipelago remains sharply polarized over its future, between one major bloc supporting independence and another loyal to France. The World's Host Marco Werman learned more from David Small, a senior lecturer at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

Russian forces launched missile strikes on Kyiv last night, destroying several residential buildings in the Ukrainian capital. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with resident Maia Mikhaluk about the toll the war has taken on the city.

This week, Spanish police conducted a simultaneous raid across 15 cities, detaining some 64,000 suspects - yes, in the form of allegedly falsified soccer shirts. They also arrested a few humans. The market for rip-off jerseys is booming. So much so, that Spanish police have run out of space to store the thousands of tons of evidence. They've now resorted to renting out huge warehouses in industrial areas so that they don't have to step over bundles of the stuff just to reach their squad cars. From Spain, The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

The US federal government says that since President Donald Trump returned to office, it has gotten 2.2 million immigrants to self-deport. GBH's Sarah Betancourt took a closer look at what a forced self-deportation looks like, shadowing one family in Boston with less than 72 hours to leave the country.

The War Museum in Ukraine's capital Kyiv has a new, unlikely exhibit: birds nests. Ukraine is seeing an interesting - museum-worthy - phenomenon. Some species of birds have begun repurposing discarded fiber optic cables to weave into their nests. The cables, used by Ukrainian and Russian troops, are littered all over the battlefield. Host Marco Werman has more.

For nearly three decades, Venezuela's military has been at the center of civilian life. Under former Presidents Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro, soldiers ran ministries, food distribution, infrastructure projects and security operations - and were often visible in crackdowns on protests and public opposition. But in the aftermath of Venezuela's earthquakes, many survivors and local responders say the military's role has been uneven, limited or hard to see. Reporter Tibisay Zea reports from La Guaira, Venezuela, about how many are hoping US forces will fill the gaps.

A rift in the Catholic Church is coming to a head today after a breakaway group of ultra-conservative clergy, called the Society of St. Pius X, consecrated bishops without Vatican approval. Host Marco Werman learned more from Massimo Faggioli, a scholar of the Catholic Church at Villanova University. He joined the show from Dublin.

The British Empire wasn't the only colonial power in what is now the United States. Several competing colonization projects led by the Spanish, Dutch, French and others laid the foundations of American history. Their distinct patterns of settlement help explain many of the political divides that continue to shape the US today, according to historian Colin Woodward. He tells The World's Host Marco Werman that over the centuries, these rival visions also influenced how American democracy evolved.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Celeste Amidon and her sister went from living their best lives as young professionals in New York City to moving back in with their parents in central Massachusetts. They felt like the world had failed them, and they were depressed - until they turned their time under one roof together into an extended cooking competition. They tried to one-up each other with dishes from Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Russia and beyond. But the biggest discovery was probably their father's; he made his Greek mother's spanakopita recipe for the first time. Amidon shared the experience at Stories From the Stage from GBH in Boston.