The World: Latest Stories

In southern Italy, in the shadow of Mt. Etna, volcanic ash is part of life, and for generations its been used as fertilizer for agriculture. Now, the rest of the world is catching on, and companies are popping up in the region to collect and sell that ash elsewhere. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Mario Pagliaro, research director at Italy's National Resource Council, about why volcanic ash works as a fertilizer.

On Thursday night, Pakistan's military fended off attacks by the Taliban along the border with Afghanistan. The country's air force retaliated Friday morning, with targeted airstrikes in Kabul and Kandahar. It's the latest outburst of tensions between the two neighbors. As the rhetoric ratchets up, The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learned more from Ibraheem Bahiss, a senior analyst with Crisis Group, who joined the show from Kabul.

Four years into the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukrainians are facing one of the harshest winters yet, with energy cuts shaping daily life in profound ways. Emily Cohen reports from outside Kyiv on how people are adapting and persevering in real time.

Istanbul, Turkey, is an opposition haven for Iranians, and in the last few years, more and more cafes, restaurants and cultural spaces have opened up in various parts of the city. Iranian business owners, especially of bookstores and event spaces, say they have more freedom of expression and access to foreigners with money. Reporter Fariba Nawa reports from Istanbul on what these cultural spaces offer Iranians at a critical moment in history.

An agreement between the US and Zimbabwe, where the US would send health aid directly to the country, has collapsed. The Zimbabwean government rejected the deal over concerns about data sharing and sovereignty issues. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Stephen Morrison, director of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Security and International Studies, about this strategy.

In Denmark today, the country's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced new elections.

Dozens of humanitarian aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam, face expulsion from Gaza and the West Bank as soon as this weekend, unless they hand over detailed personal information about their staff to Israeli authorities. Jerusalem-based journalist Noga Tarnopolsky tells The World's Host Marco Werman there's simply no alternative in place" to provide critically needed aid for Palestinians.

At a time when Indigenous people in the Brazilian rainforest face deforestation, land grabs and threats to survival, one group is finding international acclaim for its art. Members of MAHKU have had high profile showings, including at the Venice Biennale and Miami's Art Basel. Gisele Regatao traveled through the rainforest to capture the mystery behind their success.

Fima Chupakhin is a jazz pianist from Ukraine. For the past 10 years though, he's been living in New York City. Chupakhin hasn't been back to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion, however he's been a staunch advocate for his home country. In fact, just about every Ukrainian musician visiting New York for a fundraising concert or any other advocacy event has probably met or even performed with Fima Chupakhin. Daniel Ofman first reported this story last summer.This story originally aired on Aug. 19, 2025.

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has been in a standoff with the Pentagon over maintaining safeguards" on the use of AI by the US military, according to unnamed sources speaking to news outlets, including Axios. The sources say the Pentagon has given Anthropic until Friday to give full access to its AI model or risk losing its defense contract. The company says that the government wants Anthropic's restrictions on AI-controlled weapons and surveillance use lifted. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learned more from Michael Horowitz, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Venezuela's acting President Delcey Rodriguez signed an amnesty law last week that freed political prisoners. But dozens of imprisoned soldiers and exiled political leaders have been excluded from the deal. Critics say the new law is window dressing designed to appease US President Donald Trump. Manuel Rueda reports from Caracas.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler take a look at a few news stories that haven't been getting a lot of attention.

The US has significantly ratcheted up its military presence in the Middle East in recent weeks. It has sent two aircraft carriers, as well as ships, jets and other assets, as a show of force toward the Iranian government. The two sides are set to meet for nuclear talks tomorrow, but as the escalations continue, The World's Shirin Jaafari looks at what Iran could do to retaliate.

The small South American country of Uruguay is an energy transition success story. Once importing most of its fuel, the country now generates almost all of it's electricity from renewable resources. The transformation is thanks to one man, Ramon Mendez Galain, who served as the country's National Director of Energy from 2008 to 2015. He spoke with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about how this happened, and what he learned.

Australia is debating whether or not to allow 34 Australian women and children suspected of links to ISIS fighters to return home. The group recently obtained Australian passports, so officials are legally required to repatriate them. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese adamantly opposes the group's return, saying, If you make your bed, you lie in it." Host Marco Werman speaks with Daniel Lo Surdo, a reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald.

Luc Moindranze Karioudja celebrates the rhythms and storytelling of maloya music on his debut solo album "Mon Balo." It's a style now celebrated on the Reunion Island, but back in the 1960s and '70s, the French government banned this music. Host Marco Werman tell us more.

Doreen Rothe is part of an animal welfare volunteer group that regularly throws grain around Berlin, to feed some of the hundreds of thousands of pigeons in the city. In 2024, Berlin city's animal welfare budget was cut by 96%, and all pigeon support was removed, with these volunteers now stepping up to fill some of the bird welfare gap. Reporter Jamie Fullerton journeyed with Rothe to some pigeon corners of Berlin.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine sparked the largest forced migration Europe has seen since World War II. Up to a third of Ukraine's population has been displaced. Millions have fled to safety across Europe, including countries like Germany, Poland and Ireland. Most European Union countries welcomed Ukrainian refugees, offering housing and welfare support. But in the past year, that support has started to fade. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

An international team of scientists has discovered a new dinosaur species. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with team leader Paul Sereno about what they found.

The raw numbers after four years of fighting between Ukraine and Russia have left scars that can't be counted. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler comb through some of the grim statistics.

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Ongoing peace talks brokered by the US haven't led to anything concrete. While the last year, Russia has made steady gains on the battlefield. Levi Bridges reports the heavy toll this war has taken on the soldiers - and their families - fighting Russia's war. Levi Bridges reports.

Today marks four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian Parliament Member and former Education Minister Inna Sovsun discusses the toll of the war with The World's Host Marco Werman, and warns that people shouldn't be getting used to the fact that bombs are flying over their heads."

Pub owners in Newcastle say they are seeing more and more artwork they believe to be designed using artificial intelligence (AI) - and have refused to display it. The art is coming from breweries that want to advertise their brands. As Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain, the goal is to try to protect local artists from losing out on work.

Videos of children in Sudan are going viral on social media sites, but the TikTok stars appear to be child soldiers caught up in the country's civil war. The videos show adolescent boys wearing camouflage fatigues, holding assault rifles, all while surrounded by uniformed soldiers - all documented in a recent expose by investigative journalism group Bellingcat and Radio Dabanga, an independent Sudanese news organization. The World's Host Marco Werman spoke to one of the authors, Sebastian Vandermeersch, a researcher with Bellingcat.

February 24 marks sixty years since Ghana's first president, Kwame Nkrumah, was overthrown in a military coup. Nkrumah had been a vocal campaigner for Pan-Africanism, a United States of Africa that would work together as a political and economic bloc. Howard French, author of the new book, "The Second Emancipation: Nkrumah, Pan-Africanism and Global Blackness at High Tide," discusses Nkrumah's legacy with The World's Host Marco Werman.

Legendary trombonist and composer Willie Colon died over the weekend at the age of 75. Host Marco Werman selects a tune that captures both his stylings on the horn and his iconic salsa lyrics "Que Lio," or "What a Mess."

Criminal gangs have torched buses and cars and set up roadblocks in several Mexican states after security forces shot the leader of the cartel Jalisco New Generation yesterday. Parker Asmann, with the investigative outlet Insight Crime, tells The World's Host Marco Werman why the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho," is unlikely to bring down the cartel he headed.

In a blow to Europe's green-energy transition, France is set to pass an emergency decree slashing renewable energy targets. Instead, it is turning to its tried and true - and already built-out - nuclear energy sector. Spain's state energy company, EDF, stands to benefit from the shift as it was struggling to remain competitive in the green market; competition from better-positioned renewable companies within the EU have been winning market share in France. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

Giant tortoises have been reintroduced on Floreana Island in the Galapagos. The tortoises were thought to be extinct on the island since the 1800s, but 20 years ago scientists discovered descendants on another island. Thanks to that discovery, conservationists were able to breed and reintroduce the tortoises. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with James Gibbs from Galapagos Conservancy about the project.

The national dish of Iraq is legendary: a butterflied river fish, grilled over a wood fire - in a recipe that dates back to Sumerian times. It's called Masgouf. But Iraq's multi-year drought has put the future of this fish in question, as authorities dismantle thousands of fish farms in a bid to conserve water. Reporter Durrie Bouscaren followed the masgouf trail, and brings us this story.

From NHL players appearing for the first time in 12 years to France's first appearance with a women's team, this year's Olympic hockey tournaments are making history. Host Marco Werman runs through a few key moments as the world's top hockey players face off for a spot on the podium.

The International Energy Agency has removed climate change from its list of priorities for the next two years, following threats from the US to withdraw from the advisory body. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Kate Guy, managing director of the Geopolitics of Climate Change and the Energy Transition at Columbia's Center on Global Energy Policy, about what this means.

On Friday, the US Supreme Court struck down much of the Trump administration's tariffs on foreign goods, which have been a cornerstone of its trade and foreign policies. The World's Host Marco Werman learns more from Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, an international consulting firm.

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan began this week. It's a month of fasting, prayers and reflection for millions of Muslims around the world, and it's a special month for Ekhlas Ahmed and her family. They fled their home in Darfur, Sudan, when she was just 12 years old and were resettled in Portland, Maine. One Ramadan back home was particularly special and Ahmed shared the memory with GBH's Stories From The Stage.

US President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that he is considering a limited military strike on Iran in the coming days. He said the goal of the strikes would be to pressure the country into a nuclear deal. The threats of war come as many Iranians are marking the customary forty days of mourning for their loved ones who were killed during the anti-government protests. As The World's Shirin Jaafari reports, they are preparing for the worst, but also hopeful for change.

Yesterday in Austria, a judge handed down a guilty verdict in the trial of a mountaineer, whose girlfriend froze to death near the summit of Grossglockner, the alpine country's highest peak. The court found 37-year-old Thomas P. [they don't disclose full names of those facing conviction] responsible for her death due to gross negligence. The case has sparked debate in Austria and the wider mountaineering community about what we owe our climbing partners. The World's Host Marco Werman learns more from Antonia Rauth, a journalist at the Austrian newspaper Der Standard.

In recent months, analysts have noticed something odd happening in the middle of the East China Sea: Satellite images and ship tracking data show thousands of Chinese fishing boats arrayed in a perfectly straight line. William Yang, a Taipei-based senior analyst with Crisis Group, tells Host Marco Werman that this is an attempt by Beijing to build up its capabilities to assert control over disputed and critical waters.

At this year's Super Bowl celebrations, the NFL gave a considerable amount of attention to the gentler version of tackle football, flag football. This move highlights the growing popularity of the sport worldwide. KQED'S Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman has the story.

Military confrontations seem to be happening across the globe these days. One especially fraught area is the Persian Gulf, where a conflict between Iran and the US may be closer than ever. Sending warships to force concessions from a country is not new. The US, as well as other countries, have done this in the past. It's called "gunboat diplomacy," and as The World's Shirin Jaafari reports, it can be extremely risky.

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, hundreds of thousands of people cover themselves in glitter for the biggest party in the world, Carnival. But most of that glitter is made of plastic, and it pollutes the environment. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with researcher Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco about the problem with glitter and the alternatives available.

A court in Seoul today sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison. In December of 2024 the conservative leader had declared martial law and sent military forces to the national assembly. His decree lasted only about six hours and soon after Yoon was impeached and arrested. Prosecutors had been seeking the death penalty. Reporter Jason Strother was outside the courthouse in Seoul when the verdict was handed down and shares details of the case with Host Marco Werman.

National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek is walking around the globe on foot. His project, called the Out of Eden Walk, started in January 2013. Paul marks 13 years on the road with Host Marco Werman, by looking back at the project's early days.

France is in turmoil on the eve of key legislative elections. A 23-year-old far-right activist was brutally beaten to death by far-left counterparts at a leftist political rally in Lyon last week. Police have arrested a bunch of suspects, including an aide to a member of parliament from the far-left France Unbowed party. The tragedy has stirred up France's surging National Assembly party, which is closer than ever to winning national elections next year, according to polls. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

In a development that's gripping the British public, not to mention other parts of the globe, police in the UK have arrested the former Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, for alleged misconduct in public office. His arrest follows the latest release of the Epstein files, which have prompted investigations into several senior figures in Europe in the last few weeks. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry shares details and analysis with Host Marco Werman.

Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca and French cellist Vincent Segal had known about each other for years, traveling in similar music circles and concert halls. But they never really had the chance to forge their own connection. Fonseca made the first move, suggesting they start playing music together. The result is both a friendship and an album: "Nuit Parisienne a la Havane." Host Marco Werman has more.

Less than two months before Hungary's national elections, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's political future hangs in the balance. For the first time since he took power, the rightwing populist faces a serious challenge: from a centerright candidate. Most independent polls show Orban's party trailing, though analysts warn that unseating Europe's longestserving prime minister will be no easy task. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

A deep underwater camera has shown, for the first time, that sharks are swimming in the Antarctic Ocean. The 13-foot "sleeper shark" was seen briefly on the camera, located 1,600 feet below the ocean's surface. Host Marco Werman has the details.

President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One yesterday that the US is in talks with Cuba. Meanwhile, Cuban officials say there are no high-level negotiations underway, but acknowledge that some messages have been exchanged. Peter Kornbluh, co-author of "Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations Between Washington and Havana," tells The World's Host Marco Werman that diplomacy and negotiations are possible, and even preferable, in ending the current crisis between the two countries.

With high-stakes diplomatic talks in Geneva this week, the city is a destination for human rights activists. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is among the leading pro-democracy figures attending the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. For more than five years, she's headed the Belarusian opposition in exile. Tsikhanouskaya spoke with Host Marco Werman about the goals and direction of that movement.

A new bridge between the US and Canada is on the verge of a long-awaited opening. The Gordie Howe International Bridge crosses the Detroit River, connecting Michigan and Windsor-Ontario. The opening doesn't yet have an official date, but is expected in early 2026 - despite the US president's recent threats to keep it closed. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel explains.