The World: Latest Stories

Coaches, players and fans see a parallel to the rise of youth soccer in the United States a few decades ago. There's now Major League Cricket in six US cities, and youth leagues are on the rise. Liz Neisloss reports from GBH in Boston.

The tiny landlocked South American country of Paraguay is one of the top soy producers on the planet. Soy is the country's top export, and it accounts for a major chunk of the country's gross domestic product. But the soy explosion has wreaked havoc on Paraguay's ecosystem and been a disaster for many small farmers, whose farms have been inundated with pesticides from neighboring soy plantations. Mike Fox reports from the Paraguyan state of Alto Parana.

Several regions of the world are experiencing severe flooding. The African countries of Nigeria, Mali and Chad are coping with massive displacement as a result of flooding there. And in Europe, the current downpours are being called historic" and unprecedented." Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler check in with people on the ground in each region to get the latest on shared struggles, as well as how the crises are playing out differently. Olasunkanmi Okunola is a Nigerian scientist who focuses on flood risks and climate adaptation; he explains the flooding and displacement in Africa. And Andreas von Weissenberg is The International Federation of Red Cross's Head of Health, Disasters, Climate and Crises in Europe. He's been monitoring the situation there from Budapest.

Across Lebanon and reportedly in Syria, Hezbollah operatives have been gravely injured and killed when their pagers exploded. It bears the hallmarks of a coordinated attack and is a major strike against Hezbollah. Hannah McCarthy is a foreign correspondent in Beirut, who explains the latest on what's happened as tensions in the Middle East climb to a new level.

The Pantanal region in Brazil is the world's largest tropical wetlands and one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world. It's home to more than 4,700 species of plants and animals, including jaguars, capybaras - the world's largest rodent - striking cobalt-blue Hyacinth Macaws and anteaters. Many of these iconic species burned or had their habitat destroyed in this year's record-setting wildfires. The World's Carolyn Beeler speaks with wildlife biologist Jorge Gallo about the impact the fires are having on wildlife, and visits an animal clinic in Campo Grande, Brazil, to see how veterinarians are treating an injured anteater.

More details are emerging about the background of the man allegedly involved in the second attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump. One particular aspect of the would-be shooter's history that stands out: His obsession with Ukraine's fight against Russia. Host Marco Werman speaks with Ken Gray, a retired FBI agent. He is a distinguished lecturer at the University of New Haven.

A top Venezuelan official claims that the CIA has been plotting to overthrow the government. Six people, including three Americans, have been arrested. The US State Department denies the accusations. Host Marco Werman has the details.

Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, better known as Mafer Bandola, is a master musician from Venezuela who arrived in New York City in 2017. Just a few years later, many other migrants from Venezuela followed, as part of a massive migration from the country to the United States, and cities in the US like New York. As part of our series from the podcast Movement, about migration and music, Meklit Hadero talks to Bandola about how she developed community and has helped her fellow Venezuelans.

Women, activists and human rights advocates in Iraq say they are worried about a set of changes that the parliament is considering to family law. The new proposal would give religious authorities more power over marriage, divorce, inheritance and child custody. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

The series Shogun" has been a shocking success. The show, already popular with audiences, has now won a record-breaking number of Emmy's. It's also unique as the main characters speak in Japanese the majority of the time, depicting feudal Japan at the turn of the 17th century. Host Marco Werman speaks with Morgan Pitelka about the authenticity of the history presented in the series.

The results of New Zealand's annual poll to crown its bird of the year are in. The winner is a rare penguin called the hoiho, Maori for "noise shouter." Host Marco Werman explains why conservationists are glad the bird is getting the spotlight.

Record-setting wildfires are raging in Brazil's Pantanal region. In a densely vegetated rural area the size of England, it can be hard for firefighters to find and reach the blazes to combat them. That's why one nonprofit is training local fighters to use drones to pinpoint the exact location and size of fires, and scope out roads to reach them. The World's Carolyn Beeler reports from the area.

Brazil's wetlands region called the Pantanal cover an area roughly the size of England. Although this region is typically flooded for much of the year, historic droughts have led to historic wildfires, destroying large swaths of vegetation and wildlife. Scientists say these kinds of fires in this region will now be four to five times more likely because of climate change. The World's host Carolyn Beeler is in Brazil's Pantanal, and reports on the impacts of the wildfires on people in this region.

Indigenous leaders in Brazil are celebrating after a Danish museum returned a sacred cloak. It has been on display in Denmark for more than 300 years. The nearly 6-foot-long cloak is made of 4,000 red feathers from the scarlet ibis bird. Host Carol Hills has the details.

The list of the world's wonders is always getting revised. But the team at Atlas Obscura has come up with a new list, cataloged in the new book "Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to The World's Living Wonders." The World's Carol Hills talks to the book's authors Cara Giaimo and Joshua Foer.

The EU-Tunisia migration deal was signed last year but could potentially be at risk. The deal provided financial support to Tunisia's government in exchange for keeping migrants from reaching the EU. Now, a newly leaked report by the EU says there are major concerns about the human rights situation in Tunisia. Host Carol Hill speaks with Mohamed-Diaa Hamammi, a Tunisian PhD student at Syracuse University, about the democratic backsliding under President Kais Saied's government in Tunisia.

On Sept. 10, 2023, Storm Daniel hit Derna, a small coastal city in eastern Libya. The deluge led to the collapse of two aging upstream dams, unleashing a 65-foot wall of water on the city. At least 6,000 people died, and thousands remain missing. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports.

Across Spain's Barcelona province, children are getting to school in organized convoys of bikes, dubbed bicibus or "bicycle-bus." As with traditional bus lines, each bicibus route has stops where other cycling students can join along the way. Parents, teachers and other volunteer adults ride, too, to ensure the kids' safety. Gerry Hadden reported from Barcelona on the joys of this climate-friendly trend in 2022.

On Friday in South Africa, an education bill to improve aspects of the country's schools was signed into law - but not without controversy. Under pressure from coalition partners, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa promised to suspend two particular clauses at the center of contention. But as Johannesburg-based journalist Nomsa Maseko tells The World's Carol Hills, the divides run along racial and linguistic lines that have roots in South Africa's apartheid past.

The North Korean government released photos from inside a uranium enrichment facility that shows a much more sophisticated nuclear program than experts might have expected. The photo offers clues about the program's current state. Jenny Town, the director of the Stimson Center's North Korea project, called 38 North, tells The World's Carol Hills what she sees in the photos.

Lael Wilcox left downtown Chicago in May with one goal: to become the fastest woman to ever circumnavigate the world on a bike. Now, 108 days later, she's not only accomplished her goal but she smashed the previous record. Host Marco Werman has the details.

An influential pastor in the Philippines was just arrested after a two-week standoff between police and his supporters. Apollo Quiboloy is the founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in the southern Philippines. He also describes himself as the "Appointed Son of God." Quiboloy faces charges of child sex trafficking in both the Philippines and the US. The World's Matthew Bell has the story.

Alberto Fujimori was the son of Japanese immigrants and went on to lead Peru though an economic crisis and bloody leftist uprisings against the government. The World's Marco Werman talks about Fujimori's legacy with Jose Ragas, an assistant professor at the history department at Universidad Catolica de Chile, who wrote a book called, "The Fujimori Years."

Nurses in Iran have gone on strike, protesting at hospitals across the country since early August. Low pay, forced overtime and delayed wages have left many nurses to seek employment abroad. Demonstrations began after the death of a 32-year-old nurse from overwork. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports.

Edmundo Gonzalez's exile, and Spain recognizing him as the legitimate president of Venezuela, has set off a diplomatic storm. But Spain is an enticing choice for Venezuelans, beyond international politics. It's now home to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who've fled hardship or persecution, in part because of the historic ties between the countries, and all they share in common. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

The human-horse relationship goes back a very very long time. But how far back exactly and why it happened remain a big mystery. Host Marco Werman speaks with William Taylor, assistant professor and curator of archaeology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, to find out what the latest research says about this historic relationship.

On Thursday, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced that the the United States supports creating two permanent United Nations Security Council seats for African states and one seat to be rotated among small island developing states. Updating the Security Council is something that critics say is badly needed as just five countries (US, UK, France, China, Russia) have dominated the UN decision-making body for nearly 80 years. Marco Werman speaks with Daniel Forti, senior analyst for UN Advocacy and Research at the Crisis Group.

"Mountains" is new independent film by Miami-based director Monica Sorelle, that's currently playing in selected theaters across the United States. The story revolves around a Haitian demolition worker who begins to realize that his job knocking down homes is aiding in the dismantling of his rapidly gentrifying Miami neighborhood of Little Haiti. Marco Werman speaks with the star of the film: Atibon Nazaire.

Apple has lost a long-running court battle with the European Union and now must pay the Irish government 13 billion euros ($14.4 billion) in back taxes. It's part of a larger EU effort to crack down on tax incentives it deems as so-called "sweetheart deals." But Ireland isn't pleased with the court ruling. The World's Marco Werman finds out why in a conversation with Aidan Regan, a professor of political economy at the School of Politics and International Relations at University College Dublin.

The widely recognized winner of Venezuela's July 28 presidential election, Edmundo Gonzalez, was forced to flee into exile, and is now seeking asylum in Spain. Experts say his decision to leave makes it even more challenging for the opposition to reverse President Nicolas Maduro's fraudulent victory. The World's Tibisay Zea reports.

President Joe Biden issued a statement on Wednesday saying he is outraged and deeply saddened by the death of Aysenur Eygi." The 26-year-old Turkish American activist was shot and killed by an Israeli soldier during a protest last Friday in the West Bank. Palestinians and anti-occupation activists held a funeral procession for Eygi in the West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday. Biden said Israel needs to take "full accountability" for the incident. The World's Marco Werman has the latest.

Adani Group, an enormous multinational corporation run by Gautam Adani, has been negotiating management deals with ports and airports all over the world. Some see it as an extension of India's state influence, especially to counter China's influence via the Belt and Road Initiative. Sumit Ganguly, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of "The Sino-Indian Rivalry," explains how competition works between the two states.

A bill making its way through the California state Legislature would commemorate a little-known chapter of US history: a large-scale deportation of Mexicans - and Mexican Americans - nearly a century ago. And the bill's backers say it's all the more relevant in this election year when mass deportation is again a political topic. From KQED in San Francisco, Tyche Hendricks reports.

Who needs a baby when you can have a dog? Politicians say that seems to be the attitude of many South Koreans, who last year, for the first time, bought more dog strollers than baby strollers. The World's Sarah Birnbaum reports.

The US is alleging that Iran is sending Russia long-range missiles to help in its battle against Ukraine. Iran's government, however, is denying the allegations. Host Marco Werman speaks with Mark N Katz, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, about the growing relationship between Russia and Iran and the factors behind that.

Thousands of homeless people die every year in Spain, often on the streets, and usually by themselves. But one small hospice program is trying to make a difference by connecting with homeless people and spending time with them, even at the very end of their lives. Gerry Hadden first reported this story from Barcelona in the spring of 2023.

Ukraine launched its biggest-ever assault on Russia on Monday, firing 144 drones, including dozens that landed around Moscow, killing at least one person. Nina Khrushcheva, co-author of "In Putin's Footsteps: Searching for the Soul of an Empire Across Russia's Eleven Time Zones," tells The World's Marco Werman that the attacks have done little to dent the status of leader Vladimir Putin inside Russia.

B-Girl Raygun, an Australian whose full name is Rachael Gunn, failed to wow the judges or the audience when she competed in the first-ever Olympic breaking competition this summer. Her performance was widely mocked online. But now, according to new rankings from the sport's international governing body, Raygun is the top breaker in the world. Host Marco Werman explains.

The government plans to set a minimum age of between 14 and 16 for using social media platforms without parental consent. Some critics warn restrictions will drive children to other platforms that are less regulated and less safe. The World's Sarah Birnbaum reports.

The feds call them ATP 45, a hacker collective so dangerous that the FBI put a bounty on the group's mastermind for $10 million. This cybercrime cell belongs to the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea's answer to the CIA, and it's out to steal classified files. Only recently has the FBI released details about this group's data heists, targeting US military installations, defense companies and even NASA. The World's Patrick Winn has the inside story of investigators trying to stop these hackers - and North Korea's infiltration of Fortune 500 companies.

Germany's migration policy at the border is hardening in the wake of the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) winning elections in a provincial race. They have capitalized over growing uneasiness in Germany over migration, especially after ISIS claimed responsibility for a knife attack that killed three people in August. The World's Marco Werman speaks with Marcus Engler, a German migration policy analyst, about the reasons behind the policy shift, and what it will mean on the ground at the borders.

The Bambir is a rock band from Gyumri, the Armenian "city of artists." The Bambir was founded during the Soviet Union in the late 1970s, and it's now in its second generation. Some of the current band members are the children of those who started the band. They remain one of the most-popular bands in Armenia. Their sound is a mix of Armenian traditional folk music, mixed with rock and other genres. The World's Daniel Ofman has this profile of the band.

The Darien Gap, the heavily forested jungle which half a million migrants cross each year, has become heavily polluted. Host Marco Werman speaks with Max Villalobos of the group Global Conservation about the environmental devastation to this area of Panama at the Colombian border, and the impact on the Indigenous people who call it home.

An Israeli strike on a humanitarian zone in southern Gaza left a giant crater in the ground where several Palestinian families had been living in tents. Nineteen people have been confirmed dead, with many more missing as emergency workers continue the search for survivors in the rubble. The World's Matthew Bell has an update on the latest news, as well as perspectives on the growing loss of civilian life in Gaza, even in so-called "safe zones."

Nearly 70 people are dead in Vietnam after Typhoon Yagi hit the Southeast Asian country over the weekend. The storm destroyed roads and bridges. Host Marco Werman speaks with Gabriel Vecchi, climate scientist at Princeton University, about what's behind the strength of the storms in Asia while this side of the planet experiences an unusually quiet hurricane season.

Ukrainian civilians, under relentless Russian bombing, are fleeing the key logistics and transit hub of Pokrovsk. Ukrainian journalist Volodymyr Solohub just returned from the town. He explains to The World's Marco Werman why the fall of Pokrovsk might jeopardize Ukrainian control of the entire Donetsk region.

Ireland's housing crisis is on a level far beyond that of many other developed countries, including that of neighboring Britain, the US or Canada. That's the conclusion of a recent study comparing the housing situation in Ireland with seven other nations. Two-thirds of Irish people are still living with their parents into their mid-30s because they cannot afford to buy or to rent. And yet the Irish economy is considered one of the strongest in the European Union. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry has more.

Deteriorating infrastructure in Cuba has led to major losses of freshwater through leaking pipes, and the state is struggling to compensate for the problems. Citizens are taking to the streets to demand basic access to fresh water. Farah Nibbs, an assistant professor of emergency and disaster health systems at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, explains the many layers behind this problem.

On Monday, a report by South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission found evidence of forced adoptions to foreign families in Western countries including the US and Denmark. The report found human rights abuses including enslavement, rape and deaths inside facilities from which children were adopted. The World's Marco Werman speaks with Boon Young-han, a South Korean adoptee who is co-founder of the Danish Korean Rights Group and is now based in Seoul, South Korea.

Riots targeted Syrian homes and businesses in the central Turkish town of Kayseri this summer, leaving the city's refugee community fearful and isolated. In the aftermath, a quiet wave of deportations went almost unnoticed. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports