The World: Latest Stories

For the first time in history, the World Bank has completely rejected the findings of its internal watchdog, prompting the head of the monitor to resign. The watchdog found that the bank had violated its own policies and failed to do proper due diligence before investing $400 million into Cambodian microfinance firms. Those firms harmed impoverished borrowers, pushing them to sell land and make their children work to repay loans, the watchdog determined. Leila Goldstein reports from Ratanakiri, Cambodia.

Nine months after former President Nicolas Maduro was captured by US forces, protests are surging across Venezuela. People are taking to the streets over blackouts, low wages, political prisoners and demands for new elections. Even some longtime "Chavistas" are protesting the government for its closer relationship with Washington. The World's Tibisay Zea looks at why Venezuelans are taking to the streets again - and what that says about the country's uneasy political transition.

Kibbutz Be'eri was one of the first-ever communities created in Israel, in 1946, before the state itself. It was also one of the worst-hit kibbutzim on Oct. 7, 2023. One hundred thirty homes were burned down or reduced to rubble. More than 100 of its 1,100 residents were killed and another 30 abducted to Gaza. Some survivors of the attack have called it one of the starkest symbols of Hamas' brutality on that day. Reporter Stephanie Freid was at Be'eri in the days after the attack, and she revisits to see how things are now.

Last year, inspired by musician Brian Eno, London's Heathrow airport produced a four-minute ambient music track titled "Music for Heathrow." Host Carolyn Beeler gives us a listen.This story originally aired on July 10, 2025.

Germany's former top spy appeared in federal court yesterday, suspected of spying and treason. Authorities say that retired spy chief August Hanning and an accomplice inside the Bundesnachrichtendienst, the country's foreign intelligence agency, stole an estimated 2,000 documents, and may have used some that classified information to compile a report for a foreign country's intelligence services. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learned more from Hans-Jakob Schindler, a German security analyst and director of the Counter-Extremism Project, who joined from New York.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Lebanon has been through repeated waves of war, displacement and uncertainty. From a woman seeking solace by the Mediterranean to residents divided over Hezbollah's role, The World's Shirin Jaafari reports from Lebanon on a country struggling to rebuild while uncertainty over another round of fighting lingers.

Hamas' attack on Israel three years ago today transformed the Middle East, setting in motion events that would have been implausible before the incursion. Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for The Economist, and The World's Host Carolyn Beeler discuss how the balance of power has shifted, and what new regional order is emerging.

Sometimes the biggest events in our lives can be triggered by a moment of serendipity. That was the case for National Geographic photographer Amy Toensing. A chance meeting when she was on assignment leads to a whole new chapter in her life. She shares her experience on GBH's Stories from the Stage.

Gaza City resident Mohammed Aklouk has difficulty navigating through his hometown because landmarks are still not recognizable after three years of war. The father of three young children works as a Shelter Cluster Information Management Coordinator with the Norwegian Refugee Council. Although his children are back in school, Aklouk tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler his family still lives in constant fear of Israeli attacks.

Today, protesters marched across France for better public school funding, including more teachers, better facilities and shorter days. The demonstrations have often turned violent, and police have reacted in kind, injuring hundreds of mostly minors, while arresting thousands. The government of President Emmanuel Macron says the students' complaints are legitimate. But France is buckling under trillions of dollars of debt and its unclear how it might fix public schools. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Beziers, France.

In India, there is a strong, almost frenzied emphasis put on engineering and medical degrees. After 10th grade, students on track for one of those degrees often attend "dummy schools." They're schools in name only, where the only "teaching" is hours of coaching for the high-stakes exam student will take after completing 12th grade. Ashrita Achar reports from Bengaluru.

Plans by city authorities in Cape Town, South Africa, to permanently cage round 60 chacma, or Cape baboons, have triggered a bitter dispute over whether wildlife that has adapted to city life should be confined, culled or allowed to coexist with residents. The move, presented as an alternative to culling, has drawn fierce opposition from some residents and conservationists. Host Carolyn Beeler explains.

Francis Halzen, a Belgian-born scientist, has won this year's Nobel Prize in Physics for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin." Halzen's research has pioneered the use of ice in Antarctica to observe neutrinos, also known as ghost particles." The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learned more from Juanan Aguilar, a physicist and researcher with the observatory.

Malaysia recently returned 1,500 Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar, despite concerns for their safety. The persecuted Muslim minority is essentially stateless" in its own country. Myanmar does not recognize them as citizens, even though many lived there for generations, before being violently expelled. Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim, the international president of the group Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, describes the dangers that returning Rohingya will face, as well as international efforts to assist them.

Meklit Hadero speaks with US based artist Lalin St. Juste about how music connects her to Haiti and her Haitian grandmother. Meklit's conversation is part of our series "Movement" about music and migration.

Valerio Tuveri, aka Mr. Tuvs, has become a viral sensation known for videos of him removing graffiti in Rome. He's launched a one-man crusade against the street art which plagues Italy's ancient capital. From our partners at Deutsche Welle, DW, reporter Angelo van Schaik spent a morning walking around the city with him.

In Denmark, there seems to be a porridge for every occasion, and soon it will be time for a rice porridge called risengrod. The dish hearkens back to a time when rice was a luxury in the Scandinavian country, according to restaurateur Lasse Andersen. Andersen takes The World's Joshua Coe behind the counter at one of his porridge bars in Copenhagen to learn how to cook this Danish classic.

Earlier this year, the US moved 5,700 men and boys suspected of involvement with ISIS out of Syria to Iraq. A new report by Human Rights Watch today warned that these prisoners risk abuse, unfair trials and possible execution. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke to Letta Tayler, senior counterterrorism advisor at Human Rights Watch, who joined the show from Savannah, Georgia.

Mexico has embraced Korean culture in a big way - from K-pop and skincare to food and TV dramas. That enthusiasm is now spilling into a broader relationship between Mexico and South Korea, as trade, investment and diplomacy deepen. In Mexico City, fans, business owners and members of the Korean community show how a cultural connection that started with music and entertainment is reshaping everyday life - and even reaching the presidential level. The World's Latin America Correspondent Tibisay Zea reports.

When the Taliban reclaimed power in Afghanistan five years ago, the impact on girls' education was instantaneous: No schooling past the age of 12. No exceptions. That's why one activist, Shabana Basij-Rasikh started Afghanistan's only boarding school for girls: the School of Leadership, Afghanistan, or SOLA. But since the return of the Taliban, SOLA has relocated to Rwanda. Basij-Rasikh recently spoke with The World Host Marco Werman.

Researchers call it the Morocco Paradox. It's a society where family, friends and community are tight-knit and ever-present, yet people can feel unseen and misunderstood. But talking about loneliness is still considered taboo. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from the city of Tangier.

Spain is headed for early general elections. It comes after the Spanish Parliament narrowly rejected two emergency measures on Friday meant to address the country's high housing costs. The measures were championed by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. In announcing snap elections, he called on Spaniards to give him a broader left-wing coalition. Host Carolyn Beeler has more.

A young woman who worked at a plague research institute in Siberia has died, fueling concerns of a lab leak. Local authorities are monitoring other workers in the area. But much of what happened is unknown, and the reports coming out of Siberia are conflicting. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Nahid Bhadelia, director of Boston University's Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases, to clear up what we know and what we don't.

The first round of Brazilian elections over the weekend produced two leading presidential contenders. A runoff will be held later this month between the incumbent, leftist President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva - known simply as Lula - and Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally of US President Donald Trump. The Trump administration's open backing of Bolsonaro has soured US relations with Brazil, and spurred Lula to warn against US interference in the upcoming elections. Rose Gilbert reports from Florianopolis, Brazil.

The Culture Train ran between Berlin, Germany, and Wroclaw, Poland, for 10 years, before halting in 2025. Live bands, DJs, poets and performance art "witches" entertained and educated passengers on Europe's quirkiest train journey. Running at a time of rising nationalism, organizers billed the train partly as a way to address prejudices held by many Germans against Polish people. On a train somewhere between the two cities, Jamie Fullerton reports.

The 2026 Brazilian election will be one of the first major elections since the introduction of widely-accessible generative AI. In preparation, Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) created a framework aimed at preventing the use of AI to spread election misinformation, and it's already faced a major test. From Florianopolis, Brazil, Rose Gilbert reports.

Egyptian authorities this week arrested the entire newsroom of the independent investigative outlet Matsaddash. It's part of a wider, years-long crackdown against journalists and a restriction of press freedoms. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Timothy Kaldas, deputy director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, about what this means.

Spain's progressive government was dealt a costly legislative defeat on Friday when lawmakers rejected a package of emergency measures aimed at tackling the nation's housing affordability crisis, as protesters gathered outside Parliament demanding help for renters. Host Carolyn Beeler has more.

An independent panel found the Premier League club Manchester City was guilty on 114 out of 115 charges related to, among other things, widespread financial misconduct. The UAE-owned British soccer team continues to deny all charges and lodged an appeal on Friday. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learned more from Joey D'Urso, a sports journalist and author of the book More Than A Shirt: How Football Shirts Explain Global Politics, Money and Power."

In Haiti, violent gangs have taken over most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and are pushing northward. In the chaos, about a million and a half people have been displaced. Hospitals are crowded and there is a shortage of basic supplies, from food to medication. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks to the International Rescue Committee's Deputy Director for Programs, Allie Pasieka, who is in Port-au-Prince.

Residents living near a chemical factory in Lancashire, in the north of England, have high levels of PFAS forever chemicals" in their blood, including the highest result ever recorded in the UK, most of it the banned carcinogen PFOA, according to an investigation by Manchester Metropolitan University and Watershed Investigations. Leana Hosea, with Watershed Investigations, reports.

This year's super El Nino is supercharging marine heat waves. That has scientists concerned about the risk to coral reefs already stressed from rising temperatures. But past research has shown that the sounds of healthy reefs can actually encourage coral to grow in degraded locations. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with bioacoustician Aran Mooney about whether this research could be applied to El Nino conditions.

Hoonah, Alaska, is a small fishing village with a population or 862 members who make up the local Tlingit community. But each year, more than half a million cruise ship passengers step ashore for a few hours of recreation. National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek made his own stop there, as part of the Out of Eden Walk. As he explains to Host Carolyn Beeler, the village's residents have spent decades trying to strike a balance between economic sustainability and preserving their own identity.

Russia's war in Ukraine is prompting a new debate across Western Europe about how far the conflict's security risks could spread. Drone incursions, suspected sabotage and increasingly stark warnings from European governments have put the threat from Russia back at the center of the continent's security concerns. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

Egyptian authorities today rounded up six members of the editorial board of Matsaddash, one of two remaining independent news sites in Egypt. The government accused them of being members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, and of producing fabricated news. Host Carolyn Beeler has more.

At Istanbul's quayside, despite all the bustle, all is not well. Russia's war in Ukraine is hitting Black Sea grain transports hard, both financially and physically. As warnings of soaring global food prices grow, Turkey is stepping up its diplomatic efforts to protect ships, cargo and sailors alike. From our partners at Deutsche Welle, DW, Inside Europe's Istanbul Correspondent Dorian Jones visited a local ship yard to speak to those at the sharp end of Russia's maritime hunger games.

The FBI is reeling from a massive data breach by a cybercrime collective known as "ShinyHunters" that claims to have a trove of personal information about thousands of FBI employees and their family members. Dutch police arrested a suspected member of the group a week before the FBI's security breach. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learned more from investigative reporter Joseph Cox, who broke the story about the ShinyHunters hack for 404 Media, and investigative news site.

India is the world's most populous country, yet many people - especially seniors - report feeling lonely. Namrata Kolachalam visits rural communities in central India to learn how public health workers are reducing loneliness for seniors.

According to Israeli authorities, a plane traveling into Tel Aviv from the United Arab Emirates nearly crashed after a pilot stabbed another pilot and appeared to have tried to crash the aircraft. In a press conference today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said passengers and crew managed to subdue the alleged attacker, and the plane landed safely after being diverted to Saudi Arabia. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel has been tracking the story.

Livestock is the livelihood of northern Kenya's rural communities. For herders who tend to sheep, goats, cattle or camels there in drought conditions, it is getting more difficult to find adequate pastures with enough water; and that means having to travel further from home, in rising temperatures. That is not unlike what herders experience in the United States. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Penn State University anthropologist and researcher Anne Pisor, about the impact rising temperatures have on herders, from Kenya to the United States.

Students in more than 400 high schools across France are protesting funding cutbacks, overcrowded classes and teacher shortages. In some cities, the demonstrations have turned violent, with teens throwing paving stones and setting fires. Vincent Latour, a professor of British studies at Toulouse Jean University tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that this summer's heat waves helped expose chronic government under-funding of education.

In Spain, an octogenarian is shaking up the housing market. Her name is Maricarmen. The 87-year-old has been a headline all week after an investment fund bought her apartment building, tripled her rent, then evicted her for not being able to pay. She'd lived in her Madrid flat for 70 years. The outrage has led to street protests and, just maybe, to changes in government housing policies. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

Cuba is under intense economic pressure from Washington, as Havana opens more space for private business and foreign investment. At the same time, Cuban American investors in Florida are already positioning themselves for potential opportunities on the island. The World's Tibisay Zea looks at whether this opening could mark a real shift for Cuba's economy - which may benefit first, and how much say ordinary Cubans will have in what comes next.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has laid out a broad range of changes that he says should help reduce the world's highest rate of homicide and violence against women. Advocacy groups are not impressed. Host Carolyn Beeler has the details.

In Ghana, getting into university is largely about one thing: results on the annual WASSCE test. Students compete for places based primarily on that test, and their grades. There is little to no consideration of personal essays, extracurricular activities, leadership or other aspects of their background. From Accra, reports.

Several thousand US troops are pulling up stakes in Iraq, leaving their remaining bases by the end of the day tomorrow. US soldiers have been stationed in Iraq for more than two decades. Victoria Taylor, director of the Iraq Initiative at the Atlantic Council and a former US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran during the Biden administration tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that Baghdad and Washington will have to hammer out a new relationship.

Jin Hi Kim finds links between traditional music from South Korea and European classical music. Kim was born in South Korea and moved to the US in 1980. For the past 40+ years, she's been composing and playing the komungo, a traditional Korean stringed instrument, to audiences around the globe. Now, the expansive Jin Hi Kim Collection is out: 52 tracks recorded over the course of her career. She recently stopped by The World's studio to speak to Host Carolyn Beeler.

Four years ago, the Restoration Ecology team at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, published new research that uses super-sensitive microphones to listen to and analyze the health of soil. The researchers say this new method could replace traditional ones, which are expensive, disruptive and laborious. Reporter Bianca Hillier has more.

The Moscow Times and TV Rain are two of the most prominent independent Russian newsrooms in exile. After being forced to leave Russia, they've both now headquartered in the Netherlands, and continue to cover Russia from abroad. But even from the relative safety of the Netherlands, they face security threats from Russia. The World's Joshua Coe caught up with journalists at the two organizations, who continue to connect audiences.

What appears to be a copper shark has gotten stuck in a South Korean canal. Experts say the shark probably chased prey into the canal and couldn't find it's way out. Officials have tried to push it back to the open ocean, but so far two different efforts have failed. They say they'll try again on Friday. Host Carolyn Beeler has more.