The World: Latest Stories

The fracking boom has transformed large swaths of rural America, turning towns from idyllic to industrial and threatening the physical and mental health of many inhabitants.

When it comes to democracy, less may be more.

Canada's Supreme Court has ruled 7-2 in favor of Rick Desautel, a man from Washington state who was charged with illegally hunting an elk in British Columbia in 2010.

This Oscar contender mixes fantastical folktales and Irish history to tell a story that feels fresh.

Shifting attitudes about narcotics in Thailand have reached restaurants. From stir-fries and rich curries to tempura-fried leaves, chefs are experimenting with cannabis flavors.

Social and environmental concerns are now being embraced by corporate America. Here’s why.

Law enforcement agencies across the US and in Minneapolis ramped up their forces in anticipation of the Derek Chauvin verdict. Advocates say that decision, in and of itself, shows that the US can’t solve its police brutality problems on its own, and needs international oversight.

“What will our future sound like?” That's the question hundreds of artists like Dilo have answered in a new musical project that celebrates nature.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first African and female director-general of the World Trade Organization, talks to The World about her work priorities and her recent book, "Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons."

Unlike smartphones, our mental hardware is tremendously changeable. Here’s how our remarkably nimble brains rewire themselves.

Alfreda Daniels Juasemai, a community organizer and co-founder of Black Immigrant Collective in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, says the Chauvin verdict doesn't offer much hope.

Idriss Déby's death has spurred a dizzying, 360-degree change of course for Chad, which was nearing the end of an election that was projected to give the president a sixth term in office.

For Earth Day this year, President Biden is convening leaders from around the world for a virtual conference on the climate emergency.

In France, an antique collector has buried two halves of a key that will unlock a golden casket worth nearly $1 million. Find out how the “The Golden Treasure of the Entente Cordiale" treasure hunt hails back to the days of King Edward VII.

The World's Marco Werman spoke with former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul about recent events between the United States and Russia.

High-stakes peace talks are planned in Turkey — though the timing is unclear — and many Afghans in the country are filled with a mix of emotions about their homeland's future.

A German court has ruled that a rent freeze introduced by the Berlin state government in 2019 was unconstitutional. Tenants’ organizations in Berlin say they are taking their campaign for a rent cap nationwide.

Millions of farmworkers across the US work under inhumane climate conditions, and are now pushing for more protections.

Vladimir Milov tells The World that after the third week of Navalny's hunger strike in prison, "there is a grave danger to his health."

Mayor Mike Elliott talks to Marco Werman about how his childhood in Liberia prepared him for this leadership moment — as his city grapples with the killing of Daunte Wright, and braces for the verdict in the case of George Floyd's death.

The discovery of a fossilized tree in New Zealand is providing scientists with insight on how magnetic pole reversals could affect life on Earth.

The 1971 Table Tennis World Championship featuring US and Chinese teams has never been forgotten. Now, original players are calling for renewed diplomacy as tensions continue to mount between the two countries.

​​​​I.A. Rehman opposed dictators and supported minorities, despite threats and constant danger.

The two will go head-to-head in a second round of voting on June 6, with a majority of voters disappointed in their options.

A popular program for reuniting Cuban families in the US has been on pause since 2017. Now, many families are asking the Biden administration to restart it.

The pandemic hit retirement homes hard. “Fridays with Edison,” a newsletter written in the voice of a 2-year-old, has kept residents at one Toronto retirement home inspired and connected.

A year ago, the pandemic hit suddenly — stopping transportation, closing borders and stranding many people outside their own countries. A year later, many Australians remain stranded. They’re struggling to get people back home and to bring attention to their plight.

Most Syrian children have missed years — if not decades — of schooling due to war and displacement. The conditions in Lebanon mean they could miss even more.

Some African American soldiers of the segregated 92nd Infantry Division remain unknown. But new technology could now help to identify them.

Greek authorities have strongly denied those claims. Evidence and pressure, though, are mounting.

With online news outlets and streaming platforms now under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, content creators may face new layers of bureaucracy, regulation and censorship.

Many refugees have already been vetted and approved for entry, but President Joe Biden has yet to make an official commitment to rebuilding the US refugee program.

A growing number of researchers are working to develop a variant-proof vaccine that would provide lasting immunity against different strains of the coronavirus, as well as other types of coronaviruses.

There are still a lot of misunderstandings about COVID-19 vaccines in France, said Brigitte Abel, who manages a call center for vaccine appointments.

Across southern Brazil, thousands of tunnels dug by prehistoric animals have been discovered in recent years. It’s opening up a whole new branch of paleontology. But researchers face plenty of challenges in trying to study and preserve the paleoburrows.

The roots of Afrobeat — not to be confused with the more pop-oriented Afrobeats, which has exploded in popularity in recent years — is socially conscious music, according to Made Kuti, Fela Kuti's grandson.

In the last year, 86 countries have taken out $110 billion in emergency loans from the IMF, and many are struggling with the debt.

Author Stephen Walker discusses his biography on Yuri Gagarin with The World's host Marco Werman.

England’s potential COVID-19 certificate scheme would require customers to show proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test or immunity status to gain entry into shops, pubs and theaters.

In the last four months, a wave of violence has taken over much of the city, as two criminal groups, Los Chotas and Los Espartanos, vie for control.

Reports of suicide attempts within the refugee population are up, as are other symptoms related to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Meanwhile, virtually all mental services on the island are at capacity.

The Biden administration faces pushback from Republicans as it tries to pass legislation to further regulate "ghost guns" assembled with homemade parts.

Wood used to rule much of the building world, and now, it’s poised for a comeback, as engineered wooden buildings start to become an eco-friendly alternative to concrete and steel.

Chinese families are also thinking twice about sending their children to the US to study amid growing concerns about safety and security.

From hiding, a parliament-in-exile takes shape and seeks to build a new armed resistance force.

The new US-Mexico-Canada agreement paves a clear pathway for some workers in Mexico to unionize and also file labor complaints directly with governments. In March, two women petitioned Mexico and the US on gender and pay discrimination allegations.

When drinking bubble tea — the straw is essential. How else can you suck up all those chewy tapioca balls? Complaints from bubble-tea drinkers have sparked a national conversation about straws.

The company that built and operates the Belo Monte Dam on the Xingu River in Brazil has begun drawing down some 85% of the river, an amount scientists and Indigenous peoples believe will have catastrophic effects.

The European Union has announced a quarter-billion euros in funding for five new refugee camps on Greek islands, including on Lesbos. Some are worried the new site will not improve conditions for migrants on the island.

A recent survey by a UK recruitment company indicates that over two-thirds of transgender people nationwide continue to conceal their identity at work, and the numbers are increasing.