The World: Latest Stories

Globally, religious believers face censorship, harassment and imprisonment under the banner of combating extremism or maintaining public order. Many legal tools and political systems are used to control religious life. How do these religious leaders remain resilient in the face of oppression and is the problem on the rise? The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports from the Oslo Freedom Forum.

Anti-immigration groups in South Africa are stepping up vigilante-style actions aimed at pressuring migrants to leave the country. Some activists have issued a June 30 ultimatum for undocumented migrants to depart, a deadline that has no legal standing. Sharon Ekambaram, the head of the Refugee and Migrant Rights Program at Lawyers for Human Rights in Pretoria describes the implications to The World's Host Carolyn Beeler.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is predicting that following an agreement to end the US-Israeli war in Iran, oil supply will rise throughout the year. But demand is expected to recover much more slowly, leading to an expected oil glut in 2027. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Gregory Brew, senior analyst on Iran and energy at the Eurasia Group, about what this means for the global energy market.

Leaders from the US and Iran will meet in Geneva on Friday to sign an agreement to the war between their two countries. Meanwhile, a major hang-up to the deal is Israel's campaign in Lebanon and the slim likelihood of Tehran agreeing to end its nuclear program. Host Carolyn Beeler looks at what's in the document, and what the problems might be, with Alan Eyre, a former US diplomat who was involved in the negotiations for the JCPOA, the nuclear deal adopted with Iran during the Obama administration.

Colombia opens its World Cup campaign today against Uzbekistan in Mexico City. Fans are pulling out the team's yellow jersey - a symbol of national pride. But this year, that same shirt has become part of a bitter presidential runoff. The World's Tibisay Zea reports on how Colombia's national soccer jersey got caught up in politics.

Jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding was a student in college when she first heard the voice of Milton Nascimento. Now, many years later, Spalding has gotten the chance to produce an album - and sing on it - with her hero. Their latest album is "Milton + Esperanza."This story originally aired on March 7, 2025.

The US Southern Command airstrike on a compound in Venezuela last week killed Tren de Aragua leader Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias Nino Guerrero." Guerrero was hiding for many years in a vast strip of land in southern Venezuela, rich with gold and cobalt. Phil Gunson, Caracas-based analyst for the International Crisis Group, tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that eliminating Guerrero may be one first, small step" to opening up the mining region to US interests.

Most songs that reach the top of the charts have a few traits in common: They are a few minutes long, they're played on familiar instruments, and you can dance to them. But what if a composer doesn't care about popularity or dancing? That's when they get into mischief. That's the theme of a new book, "The Madman's Orchestra: The Greatest Curiosities from the History of Music." Author Edward Brooke-Hitching joins Host Marco Werman to take us on a tour through some of history's musical oddities.

Most of the way through the opening round of the World Cup, a slew of ties is injecting hope into teams not expected to get terribly far in the tournament. From Iran to Qatar to Japan to Cape Verde, underdogs aren't winning - but they aren't losing either. And some historically dominant teams are feeling stunned. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

Greenland's melting glaciers are contributing to rising sea levels. And, they're also reshaping deep-sea ecosystems on the ocean floor, according to a new study in the journal Nature. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler has more.

This year, Haiti's national team will be in the World Cup for only the second time ever, having last participated in 1974. However, the country's World Cup history is more interesting than that. In 1950, as the US vied for the World Cup, it was led by Haitian Joe Gaetjens. Gaetjens scored the only goal of the game, leading the US to a miraculous 1-0 over the powerhouse team from England. Reporter Amy Bracken has the story.

Earlier this year, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged countries caught between the world's superpowers to work together and forge a "third path." Now, as leaders gather for the G7 summit in France, questions remain about whether Carney can translate that vision into real influence. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, about whether this so-called "middle power moment" has momentum.

"AWAY" is a three-minute audio piece created by Tanzanian audio visual storyteller Edgar Hudson for the Audio Flux audio contest. It's a delightful musing on how one man's trash is another's treasure, and nothing really gets thrown "away." Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Hudson about his inspirations for the piece.

More than a thousand supporters of Scotland's national soccer team packed into a fleet of school buses for a 45-minute trip from Providence, Rhode Island, to "Boston Stadium" to watch their squad compete in the FIFA World Cup for the first time in nearly three decades. The unlikely transportation method began as a novel way to save money as local officials and FIFA organizers have come under mounting criticism over steep prices for trains and buses to the international sporting event. The World's Jeremy Siegel joined the Scots onboard.

Two-hundred and fifty years ago, the American revolution sent shockwaves around the globe. At the same time, events taking place outside the US impacted how democracy grew in America. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with historian Heather Cox Richardson about how the contradictions inherent in the American experiment have played out on the global stage.

For the first time, scientists have mapped the vast networks of fungi that run beneath the Earth's surface. If you stretched them out, they would run more than a billion times longer than the distance from the Earth to the sun. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Professor Katie Field, who worked on the study, about why these networks are so important to plant and ecosystem health.

During the initial phase of the war between Iran and the US, some Iranians hoped that the attacks would lead to regime change in Iran. After decades of protesting the government of the Islamic Republic without success, they thought that a foreign military intervention could pave the way to freedom. Now, with a potential deal between the two sides in the works, Iranians reflect on what the war achieved. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

We bring you updates on some of the news stories that we've been covering over the past week.

Many people assume Iran's nuclear program began after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. But in his new book, "Iran and the Bomb," author Sina Azodi traces the country's nuclear program to the early days of the Cold War. Azodi joins The World's Host Carolyn Beeler to discuss the long complex history of Iran's nuclear ambitions, and argues that knowledge of how to build a nuclear weapon can't be bombed away."

During citrus harvest season in southern Turkey, reporter Durrie Bouscaren found herself with 10 pounds of lemons. After running out of sweet dessert recipes, a colleague suggested making pickled lemons - sending her on a quest to learn about the art and history of Turkish pickling.This story originally aired on Oct. 20, 2023.

D4RYL is a small humanoid robot that assists magician David Penn on stage. But while audiences are impressed with the robot's tricks, London's famous Magic Circle magicians' club says D4RYL is not eligible for membership.

Mexico opened the World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa. But for many fans in Mexico City, the celebration unfolded far from the stadium. At the the city's main public squares, one of the biggest in the world, thousands gathered for a giant public watch party - braving heat, confusing access, nearby protests and even a heavy downpour. The result was a messy, joyful, rain-soaked version of the opener, where fans without tickets turned the capital's main square into their own stadium. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Mexico City.

Friday marks one year since an Air India flight bound for London crashed just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people. Only one passenger survived. A much-anticipated report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau did not arrive on the anniversary, with investigators saying the probe remains ongoing. No timeline has been set for a final report. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks to Hassan Shahidi, president of the Flight Safety Foundation.

Switzerland could become the first country in the world to put a legal cap on its population. In a referendum this weekend, voters will decide whether to limit the country's population to 10 million people. It currently stands at 9.1 million. Supporters say the move would ease housing shortages and reduce pressure on public transport but critics warn it could be disastrous for the Swiss economy. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

Over 15 million people around the world live with a spinal cord injury, according to the World Health Organization. It's a lifelong diagnosis that can permanently affect a patient's mobility. In Brazil, an experimental treatment has yielded promising results, high hopes and legal challenges to get access to clinical trials. The World's Julia Franca reports on the treatment, and the patients caught between hope for recovery and uncertainty over when, or whether, they will be able to access it.

About 20 years ago, farmers living near the Mount Merapi volcano in Indonesia built a radio station to keep their neighbors informed about impending eruptions. That station has now shut down as listeners instead turn to their phones. But not everyone has - or wants - a smartphone. Naina Rao reports on how locals are staying informed.

British painter David Hockney was one of the most famous living painters of the past half century. Known for his colorful, sun-soaked depictions of Los Angeles, he was 88 when he died. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Mark Rozzo, writer with Vanity Fair, about his life and legacy.

A new report out this week shows conflicts between states have now surged to their highest level since World War II. Meanwhile, protracted conflict in the Middle East suggests the world may be entering into an era in which states increasingly remain in perpetual confrontation without crossing into all-out war. The World's Host Marco Werman talks with Monica Duffy Toft, director of the Center for Strategic Studies at Tufts University's Fletcher School, about the current state of global conflict.

Australia is now about six months into a social media ban that prohibits children under 16 from using certain platforms. But whether or not that ban is working is still up for debate, as kids have resisted, found work arounds or not been kicked off at all. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with author and psychology professor Angela Duckworth about why bans may not be the best way to get kids off of social media.

FIFA World Cup Host Mexico will play in the first match, going toe-to-toe - or cleat to cleat - with South Africa. The visiting squad is making its first appearance at the men's World Cup in 16 years. Host Marco Werman hears from Kamogelo Ndlovu, a soccer fan and sports journalist in Johannesburg who says there's not as much hype in South Africa as he had hoped.

National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek has been walking around the globe on foot for over 13 years. One facet of life that he encounters everywhere he goes is gender. He joins Carolyn Beeler to talk about the importance of walking alongside women in his travels, and what's missing from his project when social barriers make speaking to women difficult.

Summertime in Japan means festivals to deities, and each individual shrine hosts its own. A highlight of the season is happening now: a 10-day festival in Tokyo, which will culminate in a parade on Friday, featuring the god of fortune riding a shrimp. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have more.

Global conflict is increasing - more than at any time since World War II, according to some estimates. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are driving the surge. But there are exceptions to the grim headlines. Last year, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in Central Asia signed a deal that ended a decades-old border conflict. From southern Kyrgyzstan, Levi Bridges has this story of two countries making peace.

Local officials in southern Iran say the US has struck a water reservoir there, leaving thousands of people without clean drinking water. This comes with the two countries engaged in fraught negotiations to end the fighting between them. The World's Shirin Jaafari joins Host Marco Werman with more.

The FIFA Men's World Cup, which begins tomorrow, is a big deal for fans around the world, especially in host countries. GBH reporter Sarah Betancourt went to one community in East Boston that is especially excited.

Renowned author and war correspondent Anna Badkhen has seen humanity under pressure. In her new collection of essays, "To See Beyond," she explores how humans have managed to survive catastrophic change by employing what she calls radical hope." Badkhen speaks with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler about how to approach climate change through that lens, arguing that hope can serve as a powerful tool for addressing the crisis without succumbing to wishful thinking.

It's not uncommon for people in Sardinia to live to be 100 years old, and some have attributed their famous longevity to the foods commonly eaten on the island. Italian chef Francesco Mattana is out with a new cookbook, "Eat Like a Sardinian: Live to 100." Mattana grew up in Sardinia, but now lives most of the time in London. He came on The World to talk about his book with Host Marco Werman.

As part of The World's Chasing Democracy series, about American democracy on the world stage 250 years after the country was founded, we look at how the colonies' fight for independence is taught elsewhere, namely, in the countries whose authority was defeated: England, France and Spain. Reporter Gerry Hadden has our story.

The Fijian government this month rejected a proposed waste incinerator plant that would, in their view, risk increasing "waste colonialism." That is, the pattern of trash from the Global North being dumped in developing nations. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler discusses this global garbage network with Ernesto Estrada, a research professor at the Institute of Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complexity in Spain.

Violent anti-immigrant riots erupted in Belfast last night in Northern Ireland, in response to a viral video showing a stabbing attack perpetrated by a Sudanese national. Masked protesters burnt down houses and torched cars overnight, sending some families fleeing, and others into hiding. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry joins Host Marco Werman with the latest.

The US has imposed visa restrictions on dozens of soccer players and other related personnel trying to get into the country for the World Cup. It includes referees, team staff members and soccer officials from different countries. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman explain.

When his mother was catfished on a dating app, journalist Carlos Barragan got curious about who was on the other side of the screen. In his new book, The Yahoo Boys: Real Life with the Love Scammers of Lagos," Barragan takes readers to Lagos, Nigeria, to meet face-to-face with the love scammers exploiting lonely victims and costing them thousands of dollars. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with the author.

Host Marco Werman offers us a calming track called "Ocean Blue" from Austin-based, Mumbai-born singer Nagavalli.This story originally aired on Feb. 7, 2023.

As the World Cup approaches, one tradition is taking over schoolyards and city plazas across Latin America: the Panini sticker album. The albums started in 1970, and now bring people from different walks of life together, while generating a profitable trade for street vendors, who will re-sell rare stickers of star players like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo for up to $200. From Bogota, Colombia, Manuel Rueda reports.

Women in Afghanistan are increasingly facing arrest and detention for leaving their homes without wearing a full face and body covering. Rights monitors say they have verified at least 16 arrests and detentions, including that of a pregnant woman, in the western city of Herat. Rina Amiri, the former US special envoy for Afghan women, girls and human rights, tells The World's Host Marco Werman that Taliban forces have opened fire on civilians protesting the restrictions.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un played host to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping this week. It's the Chinese leader's first visit to North Korea in seven years and follows two high-profile meetings in Beijing between Xi and the leaders of the US and Russia. Host Marco Werman speaks with Isabel Hilton, the London-based founder of China Dialogue.

Pope Leo XlV will be in Barcelona this week, to offer blessings at two Catholic churches that couldn't be more different. First, he'll hold mass at the Sagrada Familia, the spectacular brain-child of Antonio Gaudi, and then at a humble church referred to as "The Cathedral of the Poor," in a densely packed, largely immigrant neighborhood. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

Germany has dozens of German American friendship clubs around the country. They came into being after WWII, and are part of a decades-long effort by the US and German governments to cement people-to-people ties between their citizens. But now, with US-German relations on the ropes and Germans' trust in the US at a historic low, does anyone still want to be a member? Valerie Hamilton takes a look from Munich.

Don Broussard grew up in Louisiana, moving from neighborhood to neighborhood, school to school. He struggled to make friends. On the GBH live television series Stories from the Stage, he remembered one person who made a difference, and unwittingly sent him down paths neither of them expected.

It has been six months since the 20,000 acre Collersola natural park was declared off limits to humans - so that authorities could cull it of wild boar infected with the African Swine Flu. But they keep finding sick boar, and extending the park's closure. The World's Gerry Hadden went to a protest where hundreds of hikers slipped around blockades to demand access again to their beloved green space.