The World

Cuba’s entire national power grid collapsed yesterday — for the third time in less than 10 days. Also, Egypt announces the discovery of an entire city in the Western Desert. And, after years of negotiations between the EU and the UK, the border wall between the British territory of Gibraltar and Spain has come down. Plus, French singer Camille releases her first album in 15 years.

Portugal is hoping to shift more emphasis from fire suppression to prevention — namely, improving how forests are managed so that they'll burn less. Also, a new music video released by two Iranian artists remembers the stories of the schoolchildren killed by a US strike on the southern Iranian city of Minab. And, fans worldwide are decrying the refereeing at this year’s World Cup. Plus, a look at how AI chatbots shift their values depending on which language they’re speaking.

The US has once again imposed a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, designed to prevent any ships from leaving or entering Iranian ports. Also, following two powerful earthquakes that devastated Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, anger is growing in some of the hardest-hit communities over unsafe public housing. And, a look at how India’s caste system persists even in diaspora communities across the globe. Plus, a conversation with Cambodian singer Chhom Nimol on how she developed her unique voice.

A massive wildfire is raging in southern Spain. Authorities in the region of Almería say at least twelve people have been killed, and many more are still missing. Also, as the World Cup reaches its final week, the spotlight is not only on the teams chasing a place in the semifinals but also on FIFA president Gianni Infantino. And, the death of a newlywed woman in Delhi last weekend is among a string of cases this year rekindling public discussion in India about dowry deaths. Plus, Egypt has announced the discovery of an entire city.

After Venezuela’s deadly earthquakes, many international rescue teams have left as the window for finding survivors narrows. But Los Topos Aztecas — a legendary Mexican volunteer rescue brigade — says it is staying until no longer needed. Also, health workers on the frontline of the Ebola outbreak are on strike. And, Māori New Year has been an official holiday in New Zealand for the past four years, but some may be uncomfortable embracing the culture. Plus, in Uganda, scientists have found a new use for catnip: mosquito repellent.

President Trump says the temporary deal with Iran “is over.” His comments follow a series of US strikes on Iran last night. Also, the International Olympic Committee has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee that’s been in effect since October of 2023. And, the tiny German village of Feldheim is generating its own electricity, heating its homes with farm waste and paying a fraction of the energy prices most Europeans face. Plus, find out why the tiny German village of Feldheim is world-famous. 

The strategic central Sudanese city of el-Obeid is now the focal point in the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The three-year civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has taken hundreds of thousands of lives. And, Canada is facing its Brexit moment – and it's largely around oil. Also, Marine Le Pen, the French far-right leader and a frontrunner to win next year’s presidential election, has lost her appeal of an embezzlement conviction. But a court today cleared the way for her to run for office. Plus, how the World Cup has Cape Verdea...

Venezuela is still reeling from twin earthquakes that rocked the country's north on June 24. The official death toll has surpassed 2,500, with tens of thousands of people still displaced from their homes. And, widespread protests, economic pressures and a devastating war with the US have exposed deep divisions within the regime. Also, this week, the Turkish capital Ankara plays host to NATO’s 36th summit. And the run-up has been tense. Plus, a World Cup weekend recap.

As the United States marks its 250th birthday, The World celebrates by listening to the music that’s been woven into the fabric of this country's story. Russian-born Serge Grin sings American country music and blues across Serbia. Also, Cuban American Gloria Estefan looks back at her successful career as a bilingual musician, singer and songwriter. And, a look at how the band Los Lobos celebrated its 50th anniversary of blending rock ’n’ roll and traditional Mexican music. Plus, how a gospel choir from South Africa's Soweto connected House beats with African music.

Russian forces launched missile strikes on Kyiv overnight, destroying several residential buildings in the Ukrainian capital. Also, from Mexico to Spain, a crackdown on fake soccer jerseys. And, the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia is once again at a political crossroads after recent local elections delivered no clear majority. Plus, a look at Filipino Americans embracing the the music their parents brought stateside with them.

A rift in the Catholic Church is coming to a head today after a breakaway group of ultra-conservative clergy, called the Society of St. Pius X, consecrated bishops without Vatican approval. Also, an update from Syria, where people are still waiting for justice and a better economy. And, UN plastics talks resume a year after negotiations collapsed. Plus, a listen to the best soccer song from Brazil.

In the absence of help from officials, volunteers across Venezuela are turning their skills into disaster relief. Also, a conversation about how global odor pollution may be affecting plants, pollinators and entire ecosystems. And, after a stunning World Cup defeat of the German team, we break down what penalty shootouts actually are. Plus, immigration courtroom “angels” who help people understand what’s happening as they make their way through the court system.

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The new Bundibugyo strain is the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak ever, with over a thousand cases detected and more than 300 deaths in just one month in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Also, protests in Albania against plans for a multi-million-dollar luxury tourism development backed by Jared Kushner have expanded to include other grievances. And, a look at how Chinese immigrants from San Francisco helped establish birthright citizenship in the US. Plus, a rundown of the latest updates in the knockout phase of the World Cup.

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The official death toll from Venezuela’s back-to-back earthquakes has climbed to around 600, with thousands injured and more than 50,000 reported still missing. Also, we take a look at what motivates countries to become mediators. And, the overlooked role of Indigenous people during the American Revolution. Plus, a vacation offer for healthcare workers in Canada that turned out to be a phishing test.

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The government of Venezuela has declared a national emergency as the death toll climbs from two earthquakes and rescuers attempt to dig people out of the rubble. The quakes hit a country already weakened by years of economic collapse, strained healthcare and political disruption. Also, the 2026-2027 Census in India is being conducted mainly by women. And, new analysis finds an increase in lawsuits around the world targeting data centers. Plus, National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek talks about how art has shaped his multi-year Out of Eden Walk.

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Activists and human rights groups abroad say the Iranian government is going after their loved ones inside Iran, arresting and intimidating them. They say it also goes after their assets, properties and bank accounts. Also, a new UN report charges Israel with deliberately targeting and killing Palestinian youth. And, a rare peek at an endangered flower in southern Kyrgyzstan. Plus, archaeologists discover the first shipwrecks tied to the Golden Age of Piracy in the Bahamas.

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Western Europe is in the midst of a severe heat wave, with the temperature in Paris hovering close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. An estimated 45 people have already died in France as a result, many from drowning while trying to cool off. Also, a look at how Brexit continues to shape British politics a decade later. And, US funding cuts to South Africa could risk an HIV/AIDS rebound. Plus, a new type of shoe that keeps your feet cool and comfortable.

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Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer has resigned, less than two years after taking office. His resignation makes him the latest in a series of short-lived UK leaders, with the country now set to see its seventh prime minister in 10 years. Also, in Colombia, a conservative pro-Trump lawyer won the country’s presidential election on Sunday, as expected, but by only 1%. And, officials in the Crimean Peninsula have suspended its sale of fuel to the public indefinitely. Plus, a round-up of the latest in World Cup excitement.

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June 19, now recognized as the federal holiday Juneteenth, commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned of their freedom. In The World’s Juneteenth special, we examine racial inequalities in higher education in India and South Africa, and consider who benefits from a college education. We also visit Louisiana to explore how the history and legacy of slavery are taught in the United States today. Plus, we speak with Rhiannon Giddens, known as the “banjo auntie,” about her efforts to teach others about the banjo's African origins.

The US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding aims to end regional fighting, but Israel and Lebanon remain key wild cards. Any renewed violence along their shared border could quickly put the agreement at risk. Also, the EU is rolling out the biggest overhaul of its asylum system in years, with reforms designed to speed up asylum decisions and tighten controls at the bloc's external borders. And, nitazenes are an up-and-coming class of synthetic opioids that can be 40 times more potent than fentanyl and far more difficult to track. Plus, the history behind the traditional red drinks that commemorate Juneteenth.

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Leaders from the US and Iran will meet in Geneva Friday to sign an agreement ending months of fighting. Also, a major hang-up to the Iran deal is Israel's military campaign in Lebanon. And, anti-immigration groups in South Africa are stepping up vigilante-style actions aimed at pressuring migrants to leave their country. Plus, Colombia’s national soccer jersey turns political.

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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. Also, a US airstrike on a compound in Venezuela that killed the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang last week could open the door to the country’s mineral wealth. And, Greenland's melting glaciers are contributing to rising sea levels. Plus, underdog teams are undermining some of the best at this year’s Worl...

During the initial phase of the current US-Israeli war with Iran, some Iranians hoped that the attacks would lead to regime change in their country. Now, with a potential deal between Tehran and Washington, Iranians reflect on what the war actually achieved. Also, for the first time, scientists have mapped the vast networks of fungi that run beneath the Earth's surface. And, a discussion about how the contradictions inherent in the American experiment, 250 years on, have played out on the global stage. Plus, we join Scottish soccer fans as they make their way to the World Cup in school...

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 — which currently stands at 9.1 million. Also, today marks one year since an Air India flight bound for London crashed, killing all but one of the 260 people onboard, but a much-anticipated report from an investigation did not arrive on the anniversary, leaving victims’ families without answers. Also, Mexico opened the World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa, but for many fans in Mexico City, the...

A new report out this week shows conflicts between nations 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.  Also, FIFA World Cup host Mexico will play in its first match, going toe-to-toe with South Africa, a team that is making its first appearance at the men's World Cup in 16 years. And, Australia is about six months into a social media ban that prohibits kids under 16 from using c...

Violent anti-immigrant riots erupted in Belfast in Northern Ireland last night, in response to a viral video showing a stabbing attack perpetrated by a Sudanese national. Masked protesters burned down houses and torched cars, sending some families fleeing, and others into hiding. Also, local officials in southern Iran say the US has struck a water reservoir there, leaving thousands of people without clean drinking water, as the two countries continue with fraught negotiations. And, the government of Fiji has rejected a proposed waste incinerator plant that would risk, what they call, growing "waste colonialism." Plus, what it means to “Ea...

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. Also, Taliban forces in Afghanistan have fired on protesters as women face increasing arrests and detention for leaving their homes without wearing a full face and body covering. And, a look into the world of the Yahoo Boys, young Nigerian hustlers who con lonely Westerners out of their money through online scams. Plus, st...

Armenia’s pro-Western prime minister secured an election victory today, despite a pressure campaign from Russia. Also, Mexico’s World Cup has become a platform for many protests, including teachers, mothers searching for their disappeared children, anti-gentrification groups and others. And, shipping groups are issuing new safety guidance to their vessels as the Strait of Hormuz remains tightly controlled. Plus, a Japanese band plays a traditional folk song in a bouncy Ghanaian-style highlife melody.

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Voters in Peru head to the polls this weekend for a runoff presidential election, with one key issue stemming from a wave of extortion that has surged in recent years. Also, a look at why Iran has conditioned a ceasefire with the US with an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. And, some criminal groups in Mexico are eyeing profits from the World Cup games. Plus, a German tradition of combining heat from a sauna with aromatherapy sees a new competitive twist.

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Today marks 37 years since Chinese troops opened fire on peaceful protestors in Tiananmen Square. But in Hong Kong, even symbolic acts have caught police attention. Also, a look at the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. And, Marjane Satrapi, the Iranian author famous for her graphic novel “Persepolis,” has died at the age of 56. Plus, Kenya is a powerhouse when it comes to geothermal energy, and it’s now helping its neighbors to pursue the same.

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Kenyan protesters are demonstrating against plans to build a quarantine center in Kenya for Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola. Critics say it exposes Kenyans to risk, without offering them the same protections provided to US citizens. Also, a new study has found multiple types of microbes preserved in the body of Otzi, the iceman mummified in a glacier from the Copper Age, which could potentially offer new insights for future medical research. And, the civil war in Sudan is complicating research into an ancient civilization in the country known for millennia as the Kingdom of Kush...