The World: Latest Stories

US President Donald Trump today said he wants to make a deal with Iran and end the war. He claims the US and Iran are in talks to make this happen. But the Iranians have denied this claim and say Trump is backing down from his threats to obliterate Iran's power plants. Meanwhile, the violence in the region continues. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the details.

On the 10th anniversary of former President Barack Obama's historic visit to Cuba, The World takes a look back at the history of the relationship between the US and Cuban governments over the past several decades. As President Donald Trump ramps up his rhetoric about US intervention in Cuba, Host Marco Werman speaks to Lillian Guerra, a professor of Caribbean history at the University of Florida, about how Washington and Havana arrived at the current moment.

The patent for semaglutide, the drug used in major weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Ozempic has expired. The end of the patent - held by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk - opens the door to affordable generic versions in the country. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learns more about the potential impact from Dr. Rahul Baxi, a diabetologist in Mumbai.

Much of the world's fertilizer, used heavily in agriculture, comes from the Middle East. And as Iran continues to block ships from moving through the Strait of Hormuz, farmers around the world see their fertilizer supplies coming up short. Additionally, as liquified natural gas is blocked, several countries that import LNG in order to make their own fertilizer are being forced to shut down some plants. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with food economist David Ortega about what this means for global food security.

The cost of housing is outpacing people's incomes worldwide. This week, The World has been looking at different cities around the globe to see how that problem presents itself, and how some places have tried to deal with it, with varying degrees of success. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks to Penny Gurstein, the founding director of the Housing Research Collaborative at the University of British Columbia, to hear more about how to tackle the rising cost of housing at its root.

As France heads into the second round of municipal elections this Sunday, thousands of small rural towns are scrambling to solve a big problem: No one wants to run for office. Long hours, low pay and a rise in belligerence toward public officials have made the gig a pretty hard sell. From our partners at Deutsche Welle, DW, Inside Europe's Lisa Bryant reports from a small village outside Paris.

The boys of BTS are back together after a long break to complete their military service. Their first album in four years came out today, to huge acclaim. And tomorrow night, they will hold a free concert in downtown Seoul. Approximately 250,000 people are expected to attend. Host Carolyn Beeler has the details.

Nowruz is a Persian celebration of the arrival of spring, and people hailing from Central Asian and Middle Eastern communities enjoy the festivities across the globe. Reporter Fariba Nawa has moved from continent to continent, celebrating Nowruz in different ways everywhere she goes. For this story, she takes us along as she prepares for a party she's hosted each year for the past decade, in Istanbul.

In most places, housing crises are driven by scarcity. But in Venezuela, years of economic collapse and mass migration left homes empty - and prices in free fall. Now, after a dramatic political shift, the market is heating up again. But this rebound is driven more by expectations than reality - and for most Venezuelans, homeownership remains out of reach. The World's Tibisay Zea takes a look at a housing market shaped by crisis, uncertainty and hope.

As Ramadan wraps up, Muslims across the globe are preparing for Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast." National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek has been walking around the world on foot for the past 13 years for his project, the Out of Eden Walk. He joins Host Marco Werman to talk about the year he spent Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr near the Prophet's Muhammad's mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Brazil has released a new national climate plan, the first update to the plan since it was first laid out in 2008. The new plan is seen as much more comprehensive and detailed than the previous one. It includes an ambitious goal of eliminating deforestation, as land use change and deforestation cause the biggest share of Brazil's carbon emissions. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with climate change sociologist Frederico Salmi.

On March 13, the Persian Gulf island of Kharg, which is roughly one-third the size of Manhattan, became the latest target of American jets. US President Donald Trump said that he didn't order the total destruction of the oil facilities there "for reasons of decency." The World's Shirin Jaafari reports that besides the critical oil infrastructure, this island is home to a small population, several cultural sites and wildlife.

EU leaders gathered in Brussels today for a two-day summit dominated by the war in the Middle East. Tensions between the US and Europe have escalated since the conflict began, with President Donald Trump urging European allies to send military support to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. So far, Europe's leaders have resisted those calls. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry has more.

Israel and the US are ideological allies in their conflict with Iran. But their goals in the war, and their long-term interests in the Middle East might not always be aligned. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Middle East analyst Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, about the US and Israel's different playbooks.

A civil trial against Gerry Adams, the former leader of the Irish political party Sinn Fein, wraps up today. Three men are seeking to hold him personally liable for injuries caused in a number of bombings by the Irish Republican Army, or IRA. The case hinges on the slippery question of whether Adams orchestrated and participated in violence or was a spectator like everyone else. Ilya Marritz reports from London.

House prices and rents have surged by up to 60% across the European Union over the past decade. But one capital is bucking the trend. In Vienna, around two-thirds of residents live in subsidised housing, with rents often less than half those in other major European cities. The Austrian capital's model has drawn global attention, with delegations visiting each year to study its success. But some experts warn that political shifts, including the rise of the far right, could threaten this long-standing system. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports from Vienna.

Cities across Denmark are using heat generated by crematoriums to warm nearby homes. As The World's Joshua Coe learned, it's part of a wider sustainability effort known as waste heat recovery.

Israeli forces are intensifying airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon, as well as hitting targets in Beirut neighborhoods. Israeli officials say they're targeting infrastructure and personnel of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese militant group. Nabih Bulos, the Middle East bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times, tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that Israel's decision to hit bridges in southern Lebanon is a marked escalation.

Public health officials are responding to a meningitis outbreak at the University of Kent in southeast England, where two people have died and at least a dozen more have confirmed infections. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, about how the health system is responding.

We catch you up on some sports stories flying just below the radar.

A new study shows that scientists at the University of Edinburgh have found a way to use bacteria to transform plastic bottles into drugs that can be used to treat Parkinson's disease.

On Tuesday, El Salvador's legislature approved an amendment to its constitution that would sentence "murderers, rapists and terrorists" to life in prison. It follows warnings by independent experts that the country's authoritarian President Nayib Bukele is strengthening his grip on the country. Host Marco Werman learned more from Jorge Cuellar, assistant professor of Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies at Dartmouth College.

Growing up near Sao Paulo, Mariana Da Cruz knew there was more to Brazilian music than just singing Bossa Nova tunes. She wanted to branch out and combine numerous other styles like hip-hop and electronica and explore her African roots with the latest sounds heard in dance clubs. A move to Europe allowed Da Cruz the freedom to experiment. Based now in Bern, Switzerland, the singer has had quite a journey. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler tell us more about her new album, "Som Sistema."

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it has killed top Iranian official, Ali Larijani. Larijani was de-facto running the country after the death of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Larijani was reportedly killed along with the head of a powerful paramilitary force. The World's Shirin Jaafari speaks with Host Marco Werman about the latest.

At the dawn of democracy in South Africa over 30 years ago, the country had to right some big wrongs. The Reconstruction and Development Program (RDP) was one such tool, by offering government-subsidized, low-cost homes to those who could not afford or access them previously. In their neat little rows of near-identical design, RDP houses are for free to the poorest and most needy. But as Elna Schutz reports from Johannesburg, the RDP hasn't always worked out as hoped.

The war in Iran is jamming up global travel on several fronts. In the Middle East, the conflict continues to force the grounding of flights. A jump in oil prices is also beginning to hit travel, with some airlines adding surcharges to their flights. Prices at the pump are skyrocketing, too, especially in Asia, where several countries are putting in place measures aimed at restricting the use of gas. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel has the story.

For many, death is an unsettling thing to think about, but not for the Swedish artist Margareta Magnusson, who passed away last week at the age of 91. In her 80s, she wrote, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning," a book that made the concept of dostadning" an international buzz concept and brought many some inspiration for how to de-clutter as we age. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke to Magnusson's daughter, filmmaker Jane, who joined from Stockholm.

Muslims around the globe are getting ready to celebrate the end of Ramadan - those weeks in the Muslim calendar when many abstain from food and water during the day and use that time for prayer and reflection instead. Chef Ilhan Mohamed Abdi has written a cookbook for Ramadan called "The Ramadan Kitchen: Nourishing Recipes from Fast to Feast." She spoke to The World's Host Carolyn Beeler.

Israelis maintain that the two men they killed this morning - Ali Larijani and Gholam Reza Soleimani - "are terrorists," and so, are fair game for assassination. But some historians say just because Israel could kill the men doesn't mean they should have. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

Cuba's entire electric grid collapsed for several hours yesterday. Gas stations on the island have had little fuel to sell since the US choked off access to foreign oil about two months ago. Cuban leaders say they're in talks with US officials and are ready to open their economy to foreign investors. From Havana, journalist Ed Augustin tells The World's Host Marco Werman a forced transition of leadership in Cuba would involve major risks.

Praveen Sahay is originally from India - where he was a police officer. Sahay was sent to Mozambique in 1994 as part of the UN peacekeeping force overseeing the country's first multi-party elections. He told GBH's Stories From The Stage why he was forced to put down his gun.

Composer Christopher Tin's music uplifts, while the words quietly remind us of the power of a birdsong, with lines borrowed from Emily Dickinson. The musicians who played on "The Lost Birds" are part of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.This story originally aired on Nov. 8, 2022.

Two proposals for giant statues in Madrid are stirring up controversy. Bigger is better, organizers argue. But a tiny, life-size statue of a stray dog, in downtown Madrid, proves the opposite for some. Paco the Dog sits quietly, keeping a city legend alive. Or is it a true story? The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

Paul Ehrlich, famed co-author of "The Population Bomb," died last week at the age of 93. The book argued that rapid global population growth would outstrip food supplies, leading to famine and environmental collapse. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Michael Geruso, co-author of After the Spike, about Ehrlich's legacy.

South Korea's rental market operates on what's known as the Jeonse system. You put down a deposit equal to about 50% of the value of the home you're renting. So, no small investment. But then, you pay no monthly rent, and get the Jeonse back when you move out. Traditionally, middle and upper class families gave newlyweds money for their first Jeonse as a wedding gift. But with skyrocketing real estate costs, the system is out of reach for more and more people. Now, concerns about South Korea's declining birthrate have prompted a new government intervention. Reporter Jason Strother reports from Seoul.

Serbia has been having an uncomfortable winter - thanks to an energy crisis rooted in its struggle to balance East and West. Its national oil company has been under US sanctions because of its majority Russian-ownership. Now, it looks like a resolution to the ownership issue may come courtesy of neighboring Hungary. But the bigger question is whether there's been lasting damage to the relationship between Serbia and Russia. Deutsche Welle, DW's, Inside Europe's Balkans Correspondent Guy De Launey reports.

The war in Iran suggests many of the doctrines, rules and assumptions that shaped US military strategy for decades might no longer apply. Margaret MacMillan, an emeritus professor of history at the University of Oxford talks with The World's Host Marco Werman about the consequences of dispensing with the international rulesbased order that attempted to govern global conflict and constrain the use of force under law.

Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Falmouth, Massachusetts, have discovered a haunting whale song on decades-old audio equipment. This discovery could open up a new understanding of how the huge animals communicate, according to the scientists. Host Marco Werman has the details.

Not long ago, many predicted Myanmar's imminent collapse. But the country's regime isn't going anywhere soon. Next week, a new parliament under military control convenes. Almost no countries, except for China and Russia, have said they'll recognize it - this government is the fruit of a rigged election - but it does offer the regime a sense of staying power. Moving forward, Myanmar's army generals will keep pulling the strings, but from behind the curtain, offering the new government a very thin veneer of civilian rule. Reporter Patrick Winn has our story.

Canada has announced the details of a plan to modernize and expand its military operations in its Arctic region. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, about why the government is making this move.

Foreign films are not just getting more Oscar attention this year - nearly half of all the films nominated are international productions. That includes some top contenders for the Best Picture category like "Secret Agent" and "Sentimental Value." The World's Host Marco Werman speaks to film critic Sarah Vincent, who catches us up on Hollywood's growing affinity for foreign films.

The Winter Paralympics in Cortina, Italy, are coming to an end this weekend. It's been an especially treacherous one for the participants as higher-than-normal temperatures have seen melting snow and ice. The World's Host Marco Werman has the details.

If opinion polls are correct, then France is poised to swing to the right over the course of local elections taking place over two rounds starting this Sunday. Could Paris - which has been run by a Socialist party for a quarter of a century - buck the trend? The result is predicted to be tight. Deutsche Welle, DW's, Inside Europe Correspondent John Laurenson has been taking the pulse of the city.

Of the thousands of immigrants swept up in the Trump administration's deportation campaign, there's one group you may not have heard much about: Asians. That's in part because many of them, including South Asians, have not come forward with stories of being targeted by federal agents. WBEZ's Esther Yoon-Ji Kang hears why the community has been so hesitant - and what might be changing.

The most intense bombing of Iran by the US and Israel has been taking place in the capital, Tehran. It's a city of roughly 10 million people living in dense areas. In wars, the most vulnerable among the population bear the brunt of the conflict - children, the elderly, those with disabilities. The World's Shirin Jaafari speaks with Host Marco Werman about what she's hearing from people in Tehran.

A little-known part of US history is that our country once occupied Haiti. A new documentary looks at that occupation 100 years ago. It's framed as a letter to the director's grandfather, who grew up in Haiti under US rule. The director shows the brutality and terrible economic impact of the 19-year occupation, and how it's set Haiti up as a country continually on the brink of collapse. Amy Bracken reports.

Zig-Zag Band was a household name in Zimbabwe in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a band committed to the style of music its members helped to pioneer: chigiyo. It's a mix of reggae, mbira-inspired guitar, brass arrangements and dance rhythms. The group has long since disbanded, but a new compilation of its music has come out. It's called "Zig-Zag Band: Chigiyo Music Kings 1987-1998." Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the story.

Vienna's coffee houses are such a central part of life of the Austrian capital that UNESCO has added them to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list. But one Viennese cafe is doing things a little differently. More than half of its workers are well over the age of 65, and the cakes baked fresh each day come from their own family recipes. The idea is to create an intergenerational cafe where younger and older people can meet and talk. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry visited the cafe in Vienna.

A group of musicians in Minneapolis discovered that Celtic music and traditional sounds from Guinea were very much alike. So, they created a band. From Minnesota Public Radio, Jacob Aloi reports.

The 32 countries belonging to the International Energy Agency agreed Wednesday to release 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves. It's the largest emergency release of oil ever from those reserves. The sudden drop of oil supplies because of the war on Iran has disrupted life and commercial operations in many ways. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman zoom in on three different places with people who live there: India, Japan and South Africa.