The World: Latest Stories

This year marks the centennial celebration of Route 66. Arizona's 385-mile stretch of "America's Main Street, has odd origins. Long before all the neon, diners, gas stations and motels dotted the humming highway, the US Army first charted a course along the modern-day path of Route 66, surveying Arizona's high desert terrain for a wagon trail - with unlikely companions. Camels. From KJZZ, Gabriel Pietrorazio reports.

The famous annual Chelsea Flower Show kicked off this week. And for the first time, there's an exhibit devoted to the Greek goddess Aphrodite. There are racy flower displays - and sex toys. Host Marco Werman explains.

Meteorologists expect not only that an El Nino warming pattern will emerge this year, but also that it will be one of the strongest on record. The World's Marco Werman speaks with Kim Cobb, director of Brown University's Institute of Environment and Society, about what that means for people around the world.

Two current artists have taken Cumbia, one of the oldest and most popular rhythms in Latin America, and have given it a modern twist. Instead of playing traditional instruments like the accordion and maracas, they've turned to synthesizers. These sounds can be heard on the new album "Ruido Tovar." It's by Meridian Brothers and Mexican Institute of Sound. Camilo Lara is the brainchild behind M.I.S and speaks to host Marco Werman.

During a legislative session in Jamaica last week, a lawmaker used Jamaican Patois - also known as Jamaican - and caused a stir. Only English is permitted to be spoken in parliament, despite Patois being the native language spoken by most in the country. The World's Marco Werman heard from Joseph Farquharson, a senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. He joins us from the capital, Kingston.

In mountain communities dependent on glaciers for water, the ongoing disappearance of glaciers due to shorter, warmer winters is an urgent problem. But what if you could make new glaciers every winter, to melt into water every spring? Some villages in Central Asia are doing just that. Researchers are optimistic, but the approach does have limits. Reporter Levi Bridges takes us to Kyrgyzstan for this installment of the Big Fix, profiling ambitious efforts to tackle the climate crisis across the globe.

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spain's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2011, has been charged with influence peddling in the controversial rescue of an airline partly owned by government officials in Venezuela. Investigators say Zapatero received millions of dollars for securing the $62 million bailout for Plus Ultra Airlines. The World's Gerry Hadden reports on the implications of the case.

Hiring professional mourners for a funeral is a common practice in parts of Kenya. Those left behind take great comfort in the professional mourners who bolster attendance at funerals, which are already loud and busy community social affairs in western Kenya. Some have said that the mourners help fill the emptiness and provide comfort. The World's Marco Werman has more.

Taiwan is something of a "David" in its struggle to stay independent from "Goliath" that is mainland China. Support from the US has helped the island maintain that independence - though its commitments are "strategically ambiguous." Yesterday, the US president said he would be open to talking to Taiwan's president - which would be a major departure from the norms of that ambiguity. To learn more about the peculiarities of US-Taiwan relations, Host Marco Werman speaks to Isaac Stone Fish, a visiting fellow with the Atlantic Council and former Beijing correspondent.

The Ebola outbreak centered in the eastern regions of Democratic Republic of Congo is expanding at an alarming rate. The new, rare Ebola variant has spread from DRC's Ituri Province into North Kivu and the capital of neighboring Uganda. The result is more than 600 suspected cases and at least 139 suspected deaths. Armand Sprecher, an epidemiologist with Doctors Without Borders discusses the implications with The World's Host Marco Werman.

With fighting in Iran and Lebanon taking over public consciousness, the crisis in Gaza has fallen somewhat out of focus for much of the world. At a moment of political upheaval in Israel, journalist Noga Tarnopolsky speaks with Host Carolyn Beeler about how Gaza factors into the current political landscape there, and how that relates to the escalating conflict on the border with Lebanon.

The US-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted much of the world's economy, and impacted the region and beyond. Art Dubai, a 20-year-old festival set in a Middle Eastern economic and cultural hub, was almost derailed after missile and drone strikes hit the city. But in an act of resilience, organizers scrambled to put on the show. Reporter Shirin Jaafari spoke to members of the art world about why it mattered for the show to go on.

Timmy - the famous stranded whale, stuck in the Baltic Sea and controversially rescued - has died. The carcass is stuck in the shallows off Denmark, and the Danish government is planning to remove it. But what actually happens to a whale when it dies? If it's in the deep, it's called a "whale fall," and an entirely new ecosystem springs up around it. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with scientist Kirstin Meyer-Kaiser to learn more.

It was a stunning victory. The Montreal Victoire shut out the Ottawa Charge 4-0 to secure the Professional Women's Hockey League's top prize, the Walter Cup. That's the first time in the league's three-year history that a Canadian team has taken home the trophy. Host Marco Werman has the highlights.

Forget about the sky-high cost of tickets to the actual matches. A lot of soccer lovers have balked at the price of flights, hotels, food, transportation and the obligatory jersey. Just traveling to the Americas adds up to several thousand dollars. For some, it's a sign that soccer's international governing body, FIFA, has lost touch with the global fanbase. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

The US government has indicted former Cuban leader Raul Castro for his alleged role in shooting down two civilian planes 30 years ago. The mid-air attack by Cuba killed four Cuban Americans. Peter Kornbluh helped uncover classified documents revealing what happened just before that attack. He joined Host Marco Werman to discuss the significance of today's decision.

Patrice Lumumba, the first elected leader of independent Congo (today Democratic Republic of Congo) was assassinated in 1961. His family has spent years trying to bring the perpetrators of his killing to justice. In March, a judge in Belgium ruled that the sole surviving diplomat implicated in his murder had to stand trial. Ninety-three-year-old Etienne Davignon was scheduled to appear in court later this year, but he too has now died. Host Marco Werman spoke with Lumumba's only daughter, Juliana Lumumba, about the closure she had hoped for and her memories of her father.

For many in the Indian diaspora, visiting the motherland is usually an annual pilgrimage for the whole family. So, when New York resident Sonya Vai got the chance to travel to her parent's home country as an adult - alone - she jumped on it. But the experience, as Vai tells GBH's Stories From The Stage, was not what she expected.

As the Trump administration expands sanctions on Cuba to pressure regime change, one target is GAESA, the military-run business empire behind hotels, dollar stores, banks and other key sources of hard currency. US officials say it funnels wealth to regime insiders. But Cuban economists say GAESA is only part of the equation, as The World's Tibisay Zea reports.

Afghans are among the largest group of people seeking asylum in Europe. Now, the European Commission says it plans to hold talks with the Taliban in Brussels about deporting some Afghans back home. The EU does not officially recognize the Taliban leadership after its sudden return to power amid the NATO withdrawal in early 2021. Human rights groups warn the meeting could legitimize the Taliban regime and put deported Afghans at risk. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

The musical style known as cumbia had at its root a single powerful ambassador: Toto la Momposina. The Colombian artist has died at the age of 85. As we hear from Co-hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler, she was more than a singer. She was a global champion of Andean culture.

New Zealand's government wants to change its landmark climate law. The proposal would prohibit liability for damages caused by climate change, such as from floods, fires or sea level rise. To understand more, The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Maria Antonia Tigre, director of global climate litigation at Columbia University's Sabin Center.

Nine-year-old Marc Barcelo already has a bunch of medals hanging in his bedroom. There's a gold one from an international competition last year. That helped propel the boy into the top 10 in the world, as ranked by the International Chess Federation. But he only discovered chess a couple of years ago - when his parents needed something for him to do over the summer. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Tarragona, Spain on the prodigy.

Researchers from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, just unearthed what is believed to be the first poem written in the English language and hence the first piece of English literature. Caedmon's Hymn, was tucked away among pages of English history written in a Latin manuscript. It was believed to be written over 1,200 years ago by a farm laborer at a North Yorkshire abbey. And it was only discovered, when over a thousand years later, librarians in Rome digitized the book and shared the images with scholars in Ireland. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the story.

A parade of world leaders has been touching down in Beijing for meetings with Xi Jinping. Last week, the leaders of the US and Tajikistan visited, and today, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived for a two-day trip. Simon Rabinovitch, The Economist's Beijing bureau chief, tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that to ordinary Chinese citizens, it increasingly looks like Beijing is at the center of the geopolitical universe.

Much of Beirut's renowned waterfront promenade is covered in tents, where people displaced from their homes in southern Lebanon by Israeli airstrikes are living out the war. They're getting donated food and clothing as winter wanes. Reporters Scott Carrier and Jenny Ament spent a day and night with a family now camping out along Beirut's waterfront.

Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan's latest movie, "The Odyssey," is due to hit theaters in July. But Nolan's interpretation of the Greek classic has already been stirring up controversy for various reasons. Last year, he took flak for filming some scenes in Western Sahara, a disputed territory between Morocco and Algeria. The World's Host Marco Werman got insight into the issue late last year with Maria Carrion, the executive director of FiSahara, an annual film festival that spotlights the work of the Sahrawi people of Western Sahara. She's based in Madrid.

Gymnasts from Russia and Belarus will now return to full participation in international competitions, according to the sport's global governing body. Athletes from the two countries had previously been banned in 2022 due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more details.

A strike by transport workers brought Kenya to a near standstill yesterday, forcing many Kenyans to walk or squeeze onto one of the few available public buses. Known as "Matatu protests" - after the privately-owned minibuses that strikers represented - the demonstrations were halted earlier today to allow for negotiations with the government over the rising price of fuel. Host Marco Werman learned more from Karuti Kanyinga, a political scientist at the University of Nairobi.

US President Donald Trump says he has halted a very major attack" on Iran for now because he wants to allow more time for diplomacy. Iran and the US have been negotiating indirectly about Iran's nuclear program, with talks mediated by Pakistan. The World's Shirin Jaafari speaks with Host Carolyn Beeler about the latest.

The current outbreak of Ebola is just one recent example of a disease spilling over from animals to humans. Zoonotic diseases like this are not new. There are the cases of hantavirus on the Dutch cruise ship, as well as COVID-19 and Zika. To find out why they're on the risem The World's Host Marco Werman spoke with Anne Rimoin, who is a professor of epidemiology at University College of London.

Cairo's historic downtown was on the decline for years, with office towers crowding out long-term residents. But now, the area is experiencing a renaissance. Gen Z creators are re-discovering it. But some worry that developers are creating a cartoon version of what used to be called "the Paris of the East." Nadine El Shiaty reports from the Egyptian capital.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an emergency in response to an Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo. More than 300 cases are suspected and nearly 100 people have died. The particular strain, Bundibugyo, has no approved treatment or vaccines. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Heather Kerr, country director for DRC with the International Rescue Committee, about the picture on the ground.

Every four years, there are those in the US who joke about leaving the country if their pick for president loses. Last year, it seems that record numbers of Americans did leave the land of opportunity" to take their chances overseas. Reporter Joshua Coe spoke with some politically-minded American emigres," who put their money where their mouths are. But, as he learned, not everyone is leaving because of politics.

Norway stands to make $78 billion this year from its oil and gas sales. This surge is way beyond previous estimates, as the cost of oil and gas continue to rise due to the US-Israeli war with Iran. With Norway now aiming to increase production, The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learns more from Bard Lahn, a Norwegian environmentalist and associate professor at the University of Oslo.

For several days last week, Senator Ronald dela Rosa took refuge inside the Philippines Senate after barely outrunning government agents. They wanted to serve him with an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, and bring him into custody. Dela Rosa is suspected of crimes against humanity for his role in the country's bloody drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte. The case is raising prickly questions of a political rivalry between two powerful families. Dave Grunebaum reports.

Dubbed the "Cuban James Brown," musician Cimafunk refuses to choose between tradition and innovation. After breakout success in Havana, Cimafunk relocated to New Orleans where his unique blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms and American funk found an even broader audience. Cimafunk spoke with Meklit Hadero, of the Movement podcast, about his transformation.

The Eurovision Song Contest is celebrating its 70th anniversary this weekend in Vienna but the event is once again being overshadowed by political controversy. Five countries are boycotting the contest over Israel's participation, citing its military offensive in Gaza. Meanwhile, organizers have introduced new voting rules following allegations of voter manipulation by Israel at last year's contest. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

Gucci may call it "Italian leather," but much of the raw materials they use originate in the northern Nigerian city of Kano, where 11 tanneries operate and craftsmen continue their ancient profession. In another part of the city, men sit hunched over 600-year-old dye pits where they mix lavish indigo color into intricately designed fabrics. The leather and dye makers are at the heart of the local economy - but globalization is hurting both crafts. From Kano, reporter Ricci Shryock has the story.

It's not often we get to hear music written and recorded in Antarctica. But that's what musician Kyra Sims was able to do on her French horn, while on an expedition with Antarctic scientists and researchers. She is one of only two musicians in the world who have performed on all seven continents and she speaks with Host Carolyn Beeler about the music inspired by her latest adventure.

Cape Verde is an archipelago 350 miles from the nearest country on the African continent and it's distinct from the rest of Africa in many ways. For one thing, it has a functional democracy, which places it in a minority in Africa. Cape Verde will hold elections on Sunday with two candidates for prime minister who offer the classic choice between change or continuity. GBH's Paris Alston reported from Cape Verde recently and tells Host Carolyn Beeler what's at stake.

Shweta Bhatt's parents were worried. Their daughter, pushing 30, hadn't found a partner. So, they tried to do for her what worked for them. When she rejected their involvement, the relationship she ended up pursuing without their help surprised her. This story comes to us from the GBH program Stories from the Stage, in Boston.

Cuba's oil reserves have run dry. It's fueling blackouts lasting more than 20 hours in Havana, and widespread protests, where people are demanding electricity. It's the result of the ongoing US blockade of the island. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with journalist Ed Augustin, who's in Havana, about the latest.

If you can prove you have a Canadian ancestor -.even several generations back - you may now be eligible for Canadian citizenship. That's thanks to a new law passed in Ottawa that removes the one-generation limit on citizenship based on descent. As Maine Public's Ari Snider reports, this has set off a scramble among people seeking a potential exit strategy from the US, especially from New England, where many families have roots north of the border.

Overspending, misspending, favoritism and left-wing political bias: These are the charges leveled against France's public radio and television by a parliamentary report published this week. Critics of the report describe it as a foretaste of the extreme right in power." The head of the committee of lawmakers that produced it is a member of a party allied to Jordan Bardella's far-right National Rally party. From our partners at Deutsche Welle, DW, Inside Europe's John Laurenson reports from Paris.

This summer is expected to be a scorcher in North America - and right around the time the World Cup gets underway. New analysis has determined a quarter of the games could experience temperatures beyond the global players' union safety standards. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with sports ecologist and author Madeleine Orr about how climate change is affecting sports.

Last year, Russia made slow but steady gains on the front line in eastern Ukraine. But now, effective deployment of Ukrainian drones, along with a host of other factors, have slowed the progress of Russian troops. Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst with the Finnish think tank Black Bird Group discusses the implications with The World's Host Marco Werman.

Senior citizens in Asia have long been known for their fitness routines. Taiwan is no different. The government there has been extolling the health benefits of exercise for the elderly. Two grandmothers in Taipei have taken the suggestion to heart. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

Chris Martin, of Coldplay, made a big announcement today along with Elmo and some of the other muppets. For the first time ever, there will be a half-time show at the World Cup final in New Jersey. The big event will feature Martin, along with Madonna, Shakira and the K-Pop sensation BTS.

Spanish pistachio production was already way up - by about 73% in the last decade. It's because they're trendy, hawked on social media as healthy and competitors like those in California have seen yields fall. But now, Spanish farmers are really gaining ground because the world's second-largest producer - Iran - can't get its nuts to market. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.