The World: Latest Stories

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.

National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek is a man on a mission: traveling across the world in the way the earliest humans out of Africa did. Lately, he's been hiking and paddling along Alaska's southern coast. He joins Host Marco Werman to share what he's learned about how coastal ecosystems helped our ancestors thrive as they populated the planet.

More than 250 years ago, Britain saw New England's white pine trees much like we see rare earth minerals today: Control of natural resources shapes global power. The trees were a strategic resource for Britain's Royal Navy. GBH's Hannah Loss went to the forests of Massachusetts to learn more.

Sudan's civil war has triggered what many describe as the world's largest humanitarian disaster. It's a crisis that remains dramatically underreported, according to journalist Ann Curry. She won an Emmy for her coverage of the Darfur genocide in 2007 and recently talked with refugees fleeing into South Sudan. She tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that while Western audiences closely followed the violence in Darfur nearly two decades ago, far fewer people today understand and appreciate the scale of the suffering engulfing Sudan.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing Wednesday for talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The two leaders are expected to talk over their countries' tech rivalry, the current Iran war and the future of Taiwan. The World's Host Marco Werman learned more from Simon Cox, The Economist's China Economics Editor. He joined the show from Hong Kong.

Today, the world celebrates one of the most popular - and arguably most delicious - of foods: hummus. The World's Aaron Schachter takes a brief look at what makes the creamy - or not so creamy - dip a worldwide favorite.

Tunisian singer, Emel Mathlouthi, was called the "voice of the Tunisian revolution" 15 years ago. She took to the streets to protest like many of her peers during the Arab Spring. Emel recently spoke with Meklit Hadero, on the Movement podcast, about what that was like and how she sees the whole experience.

Each year, hundreds of endangered baby sea turtles will get stuck on the beaches of Cape Town. But thanks to a network of around 2,000 volunteers, many of them get rescued and safely brought to an aquarium. As Elna Schutz reports from Cape Town, with only one or two hatchlings out of every thousand likely to survive into adulthood, this work can make a significant difference.

The UK has had four prime ministers in just four years, and now, Keir Starmer is fighting to avoid becoming the next political casualty. In the past 24 hours, more than 80 Labour MPs have turned on their own leader calling for his resignation after a string of damaging local election results last week. Despite the mounting pressure, the British prime minister is refusing to go, insisting to his cabinet that the public expects them to get on with governing and that he intends to do exactly that. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

French President Emmanuel Macron is in Africa today, co-hosting a summit of some 30 African heads of state in Nairobi, Kenya. France used to organize events like this in its former French-speaking colonies in West Africa. But as the country courts new alliances on the continent, some see hints of France's colonial past on display. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

There have been dramatic cuts to science research grants within the past year. Particularly hard hit: rare disease research, which has always been difficult to fund. But global research collaborations are forging ahead, led by some of the most impacted people. Reporter Deepa Fernandes, whose own daughter has a rare genetic disorder, takes us into the world of Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome.

According to the World Health Organization, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - or PCOS - impacts a huge number of women, but the C" in its name - for cystic" - has caused serious misunderstandings. Experts say the new name - polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, PMOS - represents a major advancement for diagnosis and treatment. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks to Helena Teede, who spearheaded the change, about why it matters. She's director of the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, and joined the show from Prague.

Professional rakugo storytellers all over Japan practice an art form dating back to the 14th century. One such performer is Katsura Sunshine, a white man from Canada, who fell in love with it, and who is now bringing rakugo to new audiences in the US and Canada. Jacob Aloi of Minnesota Public Radio has the story.

A new Israeli investigation finds that the use of sexual violence on Oct. 7 and against hostages in captivity was a calculated strategy by Hamas." In another separate report released today, Israel's State Comptroller accused the government of neglecting military procurements and jeopardizing soldiers' lives. Journalist Noga Tarnopolsky tells The World's Host Marco Werman the reports were released as the government gears up to establish a special military tribunal to try an elite group of Hamas fighters.

Togolese writer and activist Farida Bemba Nabourema, shared a post on X explaining that not enough credit has been given to francophone musicians "in the political awakening in French dominated Africa." She and her followers offer some examples. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman give it a listen.

They're Sara and Edi, and their musical laboratory is on the top floor of a 17th Century Spanish farmhouse - one that nearly collapsed around them from age and their sonic tinkerings. The house is now patched up and Los Sara Fontan's music is louder and more cutting edge than ever. The World's Gerry Hadden reports on the dynamic duo from Calonge, Spain.

Relatives of Mexico's disappeared took to the streets yesterday for a Mother's Day march, calling on authorities to do more to deter kidnappings, abductions and murders. A new report finds many of the disappearances are the result of deep collusions" between officials and organized crime. Viri Rios, of the news outlet "Mexico Decoded," speaks with The World's Host Marco Werman about the implications.