The World: Latest Stories

Fueled by a cost-of-living crisis and weakening currency, Iranians are taking to the streets. While the government says it's offering dialogue, the demonstrations follow a year of growing challenges for the regime and everyday people in the country. To learn more, The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran.

Lithium is a vital resource for modern technology, and sourcing it close to home is a security priority for Europe. Serbia's Jadar Valley holds Europe's largest lithium reserves, but accessing them in the face of local opposition is proving tricky. Guy De Launey reports for our partners at DW, Deutsche Welle's, "Inside Europe."

Geraldine Buckley's mom always pushed her to put down her books, stop studying and go party - a mom who went against the grain of other parents. One of the adventures this led to for Buckley back in 1976 was to hitchhike in Canada. Buckley, who's from England, shared the adventure with GBH's Stories From The Stage.

Air pollution in Germany's once-industrial Ruhr River Valley has come way down in recent decades. But to meet Europe's new air quality standards - which go into effect in 2030 - there's still a long way to go. Reporter Katie Burke went to see the greener, cleaner Ruhr to see for herself.

Fort Ticonderoga in New York state is leaning big into the US' 250th anniversary. It's the site of the largest collection of "American artillery" in the Western Hemisphere. But there's a long-hidden story about Ticonderoga's cannons that involves an outlandish expedition to the Caribbean. Reporter Amy Bracken brings us the tale.

New Year's may seem like a universal party that everyone celebrates in more or less the same way, but many cultures have their own traditions meant to bring about good luck in the coming year. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler share a fun collection of New Year's Eve traditions from around the world.

The US fired Tomahawk missiles into Nigeria's Sokoto State late last week, claiming to target members of ISIS who have been going after Christians in the country. But the region hit by the strikes - and facing the brunt of ISIS attacks - is majority Muslim, underscoring the more complex realities on the ground. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with University of Aberdeen analyst Onyedikachi Madueke about what's happening.

At the start of the new year, the world's first carbon tariff will take effect. The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will charge fees on certain imported products - and those fees will be based on the emissions tied to the manufacturing of those products. Host Marco Werman speaks with Aaron Cosbey of the International Institute for Sustainable Development about how the tariff is supposed to work, and what other countries will be watching.

Host Marco Werman is always intrigued by cool sounds he hears around him. He shares with us the enduring legacy of an artist he just discovered on the sound system at his local bodega: the late Colombian singer, accordionist and composer Lisandro Meza.

Emergency dental care can be so hard to come by in the UK's National Health Service that some patients have resorted to pulling out their own teeth. Healthwatch, an independent patient watchdog in the United Kingdom, recently published a report saying people are traveling more than 100 miles, going private or simply going abroad because they cannot get a dental appointment. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

A growing number of chefs from former Portuguese colonies are taking Lisbon by storm. Chef Tony Fox calls himself the "King of Cachupa," a hearty chorizo and hominy stew topped with a fried egg - the signature dish of Cape Verde. Reporter Durrie Bouscaren stepped into the kitchen to learn more.This story originally aired on March 20, 2024.

This year marks a half-century since the end of the Vietnam War. A well-known memorial in Washington DC pays tribute to the US service members who lost their lives in that war, but few memorials honor the Vietnamese who fought alongside them, or the hundreds of thousands who came to the US in subsequent years. A new memorial project in the "Little Saigon" neighborhood of Boston aims to do just that. Reporter Heidi Shin has the story.This story originally aired on May 26, 2025.

Naabil Khan is a medical student from the UK. At just 22 years old, she's the founder of the nonprofit Skin For All, a website making information on skin conditions across diverse skin tones more accessible. Khan recounted her story about the website's creation on the Deutsche Welle, DW, program called Inside Europe.

In the US, the sales of nicotine pouches are soaring. These are like traditional tobacco pouches - or dip - but contain nicotine with different flavors. They're being promoted like crazy by young people on TikTok - especially one particular brand from Sweden called Zyn. As the World's Joshua Coe learned, Sweden is finding these pouches, also known there as snus, to be a hard habit to kick.

Yaroslav Simkiv has played the trumpet for over 50 years. But these days, Simkiv has taken on a serious role - bidding a musical farewell to Ukraine's fallen soldiers. From Lviv, Emily Johnson reports.This story originally aired on Feb. 10, 2025.

A leading voice in the world of contemporary art, Koyo Kouoh's death in May shocked the art world. The Cameroon-born curator was set to lead the 2026 Venice Biennale, one of the premier art exhibitions anywhere. Alex Greenberger, a senior editor of ArtNews, spoke about her legacy.This story originally aired on May 12, 2025.

The 49th Aga Khan, Karim Al-Husseini, died in February in Portugal. Host Marco Werman spoke with Daryoush Mohammad Pour, an associate professor at the Institute for Ismaili Studies in the UK, about the Aga Khan's life and legacy.This story originally aired on Feb. 5, 2025.

Revered Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga died in October at the age of 80. He played a pivotal role in institutionalizing multiparty democracy and shaping Kenya's constitution. But he was also known as a ruthless politician who formed alliances with rivals. Kenyan journalist Ramah Nyang explores Odinga's legacy in an interview with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler.This story originally aired on Oct. 15, 2025.

For nearly six decades, Ngg wa Thiong'o's writings chronicled the story of Kenya, from colonial rule to troubled democracy. The giant of African literature died in May at age 87. He spent time in jail and exile, writing the first modern novel in the Gikuyu language on prison toilet paper. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learns more from Kenyan author and editor Dennis Mugaa.This story originally aired on May 29, 2025.

An artistic force in Lebanon, Ziad Rahbani was a composer and musician first and foremost. But he was also a playwright, whose critiques and satires earned him a reputation as the "voice of the voiceless." Rahbani was 69 when he died last July.This story originally aired on July 28, 2025.

The widely celebrated Argentine American film score composer Lalo Schifrin died in June at the age of 93. Schifrin was best known for penning the "Mission: Impossible" theme music, but his career spanned seven decades and many styles of music.This story originally aired on June 27, 2025.

A plane crash in Honduras in March claimed the life of Aurelio Martinez, a popular Honduran musician and politician. Host Marco Werman memorializes Martinez as a singer and songwriter who was one of the best-known champions of Garifuna music.This story originally aired on March 20, 2025.

The community of Qoornoq, on a small island off the coast of Greenland, was shuttered decades ago as part of the Danish government's efforts to consolidate Greenland's population. But in recent decades, it's become a summer getaway for former residents. The World's Carolyn Beeler takes us on a visit to Qoornoq.This story originally aired on Oct. 27, 2025.

Indigenous Greenlanders once wore bold face tattoos that carried deep spiritual and cultural significance. But during the centuries of Denmark's colonial rule, the Inuit tradition of getting face and hand tattoos disappeared. The World's Joshua Coe met an Inuk tattoo artist who is now reviving that Inuit heritage for community members living in Denmark.This story originally aired on Jan. 8, 2024.

The Arctic Circle Race in Greenland has been called the toughest race in the world. It's a three-day, cross-country skiing competition through the mountains above Sisimiut. Reporter Emily Schwing skied the 62-mile race course herself, and has this story.This story originally aired on April 23, 2025.

Maaliaaraq Engell grew up in Greenland and is a member of its Indigenous Inuit community. But she never learned about Greenland's Indigenous history or reasons for Danish control of the territory in Greenlandic schools. Now, as a student at the University of Copenhagen, she explains what she missed out on.This story originally aired on Jan. 17, 2025.

Greenland's former Prime Minister Mute B. Egede emphatically stated this year, We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic." The World's Carolyn Beeler reports from Greenland's capital Nuuk about the independence, and the divided opinions of Greenlandic people.This story originally aired on Sept. 11, 2025.

President Trump was insistent last winter that US would take over Greenland, one way or another. But Denmark has controlled the island territory for more than a century - an arrangement the US agreed to in a treaty in 1916. Danish journalist Steen Jorgenseen explains that history to The World's Host Marco Werman.This story originally aired on March 25, 2025.

Denmark announced plans last winter to re-assess a parental competency test that had earned heavy criticism. The test is based on Danish cultural norms, and when it was given to Greenlandic Inuit parents the result was removing a disproportionate number of kids from their families. Inuit rights campaigner Tina Naamansen told Host Marco Werman last winter about the impact those foster care placements had on Inuit families.This story originally aired on Jan. 21, 2025.

Greenland's capital of Nuuk opened a new international airport a year ago as part of a larger effort to increase tourism. But with more tourists, there come more headaches. The World's Carolyn Beeler brings us this story from Nuuk.This story originally aired on Aug. 28, 2025.

To English speakers, the word, "peanut" isn't especially funny. But saying "peanut" in Serbian, "kikiriki," puts a smile on your face; Serbs consider it the funniest word in their language. But why is that the case? Psycholinguists have discovered some clues, as Patrick Cox reports.This story originally aired on June 30, 2023.

Ukrainian comic Anton Tymoshenko is based in Kyiv, and since the start of the war, he's begun performing in both Ukrainian and English. Amid a groundswell of comedy in Ukraine, Tymoshenko has managed to cross over to reach a global, English-speaking audience. He says that for him, comedy is a way to process the war - it's also a defense mechanism, and sometimes a distraction. Reporter Daniel Ofman has the story. (This story originally aired March 11th.)This story originally aired on March 11, 2025.

Sam Kissajukian's 300 Paintings" is an exhilarating one-man show and art exhibition. It's also a humorous meditation on life as a creative person with bipolar disorder. The Australian former standup comic speaks with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about his diagnosis and the six-month manic episode that changed his life.This story originally aired on Oct. 23, 2025.

Learnmore Jonasi, from a small village in Zimbabwe, is making a name for himself on the US comedy scene. And yes, his first name really is Learnmore. Host Carol Hills speaks with the comedian.This story originally aired on Dec. 6, 2024.

With the former dictator, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, gone, comedians in Syria see new opportunities for social critique, served with laughs. They have been putting together shows at cafes and clubs across Damascus. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports on how these comedians are telling jokes that were unthinkable under the former regime.This story originally aired on May 30, 2025.

The Riyadh Comedy Festival this fall attracted top talent from the West. But it was no laughing matter for critics of the Saudi regime, who argued the festival helped Saudi Arabia whitewash its notorious human rights abuses. Host Marco Werman spoke with Abdullah Alaoudh, senior director on Countering Authoritarianism at the Middle Democracy East Center in Washington, about the event.This story originally aired on Oct. 2, 2025.

There are plenty of jokes. And lots of laughs. But these Chinese-language open mic events are not just about stand-up comedy. The get-togethers are also place for activists to meet, get some group therapy and share pointed views on life back home in China. The World's Matthew Bell has our story.This story originally aired on July 4, 2025.

Vir Das is incredibly popular in India. Now, he's making a bigger and bigger name for himself outside the country, too. Reporter Sushmita Pathak was in the audience this fall when he performed during a residency at the Lincoln Center in New York City.This story originally aired on Nov. 5, 2025.

Irish politicians have afforded Santa Claus extra special powers. Parliament, last week, ensured that the country's airspace will be officially opened for St. Nick's flight to distribute toys to the boys and girls of Ireland. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more.

You've got to try the local cuisine - that's the advice given to any traveler headed beyond their own borders. Food can be one of the most visceral and memorable aspects of any trip away from home. National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek has been on a continuous trip away from home for almost 13 years. That means a lot of different types of eating. He tells Host Marco Werman about some of his most memorable meals.

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman catch you up on global headlines you may have missed.

As the world's largest companies are pouring billions of dollars into AI, they are also scouring the planet to find spots where they can set up supercomputing data centers. One of the latest projects from chip-making titan NVIDIA is a proposed $500 million AI factory in Armenia. Shant Shahrigian has the story.

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has drawn, not only opinions and attempted interventions from around the world, but thousands of fighters from other countries have been sent over to fight - some against their will. Seventeen South African men say they were lured overseas under false promises and are now heading to a front line they never signed up for. From Johannesburg, Elna Schutz explains.

In Ukraine, the season of hope and light is being observed, even amid the war. Maia Mihaluk, a Christian ministry leader and Kyiv resident speaks with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about last night's massive attack on Ukraine and how her family is coming together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Muslim Kashmiri artisans who create hand-painted papier-mache Christmas ornaments exported to markets across the world are suffering. These workshops rely heavily on the holiday season, but this season, the US has levied a nearly 50% tax on goods from India and Indian-administered Kashmir. From Srinagar, Syed Shahriyar reports.

The Trump Administration has recalled nearly 30 ambassadors and senior embassy officials from their posts. The recalls mostly affected people serving in countries in Africa and Asia. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with former US Ambassador Nick Burns about what this means for US foreign policy.

Journalist Julia Ioffe didn't think the long line of women doctors and scientists in her family was unusual. In Soviet Russia, educated, accomplished women were the norm. But also normal were the burdens of running the home, caring for children and healing a broken country - generation after generation. Ioffe explores how the promise of the Russian revolution failed women in her new book, Motherland: A Feminist History of Russia from Revolution to Autocracy." She spoke with Host Marco Werman.

Tensions are mounting off Venezuela's coast, as US warships and aircraft continue to shadow and seize more oil tankers in the Caribbean. This weekend, the US Coast Guard pursued a third vessel, the Panamanian-flagged Bella 1. Jorge Pinon, a fellow at the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin speaks with The World's Host Marco Werman about why the US oil blockade on Venezuela is sending shockwaves through Havana.

The Iranian capital of Tehran is one of the worst cities in the world for air quality. The World's host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, about the factors contributing to air pollution in Iran.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry to be the envoy to the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland. Landry reiterated the president's claim that control of Greenland is a national security priority for the US. Greenland is a territory of Denmark, which is a NATO ally of the US. The World's Host Marco Werman has more.