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US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, given his “very good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.” Also, campaigns for this year's presidential election in Brazil have begun, with incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva running against Flavio Bolsonaro, son of his former rival. And, Swiss rivers and lakes are reaching near-record temperatures, risking disruptions to the electricity supply by making hydropower less efficient and by making it impossible to cool nuclear plants. Plus, the Olympic stadium in Athens gets its first deep cleaning in over a century.Photo credit: Ahn Young-joon/AP

An Afghan activist who ran the last remaining safe house and shelter for abused women in Kabul until it was forced to shutter last December is still doing her best to voice the aspirations of Afghan girls and women; but she’s wondering if it’s now time to leave. Also, a group of female bird guides in Uganda set a global example for the business. And, a city in Thailand that’s taken over by monkeys. Plus, what do the wrinkles on an elephant’s trunk mean?Photo credit: Nava Jamshidi/AP

Israeli settlers have increased their attacks in the occupied West Bank sparking fears of violence spiraling out of control. Also, Europeans gathered in Spain to watch a solar eclipse — the first there in over a century. And, a cafe in Japan that helps procrastinators to get their work done. Plus, a book all about the history of rope.Photo credit: Majdi Mohammed/AP

Cali, Colombia, was hit hard by this week's earthquake, and now, a mix of local and regional rescue teams are on the ground trying to find people in the rubble. Also, a look at the origin and uncertain future of Temporary Protected Status in the US. And, a conversation about immigrants dealing with hyphenated identities. Plus, a secret language created by Chinese women hundreds of years ago to share their struggles and dreams with each other.Photo credit: Santiago Saldarriaga/AP

Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his younger brother were sentenced to death in absentia by a Damascus court today, nearly two years after rebels forced them to seek exile in Russia. Also, at least 179 people have been killed and thousands more remain missing after a massive earthquake in Colombia. And, Europe’s new biometric border system has been causing chaos at some airports across the continent this summer. Plus, a roundup of food stories to celebrate summertime.Photo credit: Remy de la Mauviniere/AP/File

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bluntly rejected a US-backed 15-point peace plan for Gaza this weekend. Also, how Shenzhen, China, became the electric car capital of the world. And, a look at why the Czech capital has voted to reinstate the statue of a 19th century military commander. Plus, cars resembling quirky objects are part of a public health intervention in India.Photo credit: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP

The Indian government has declared heat waves to be official natural disasters. Also, with more than 4,000 cases reported in Democratic Republic of Congo, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say responders need to shift their focus to door-to-door disease tracking. And, just over a week since around 72,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, roughly 2,000 minors, most of them Moroccan children, remain there, exposed and unprotected. Plus, this week marked a chord change in one of the world's longest concerts — lasting hundreds of years.Photo credit: Rajesh Kumar Singh

Iran's deputy foreign minister said today that his country and Oman are close to finalizing an agreement with the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Also, an ongoing NATO study tries to figure out why operators of high-speed rescue boats are at risk of chronic brain injuries. And, on the 81st anniversary of the US dropping a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, we discuss a recently unearthed memoir that offers a firsthand account of what one man witnessed that day. Plus, capybaras become frequent visitors at a state legislature in Brazil.Photo credit: Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP

Hundreds of people have been arrested across the Amazon this month in a sweeping five-country law enforcement operation going after a host of crimes in the world’s largest rainforest. Also, the Indian capital finds a creative way to beat the heat. And, France's first “House of Diversity” opens in Lyon. Plus, a century of Persian music in Iran.Photo credit: Edmar Barros/AP/File

The EU is scrambling to contain the political fallout after more than 70,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish territory of Ceuta from Morocco last Friday. Most have since returned home, but the critical response from several EU countries has laid bare divisions over the bloc's migration policy. Also, in India’s capital, public health experts are scrambling to offer protection for citizens against the deadly impact of severe heat. And, cadmium, a heavy metal linked to cancers and other diseases, is worrying French consumers — who, on average show, show levels in their bodies three to four times higher than the European average. Plus, a conversation with pioneering marine scientist Sylvia Earle as she reflects on decades spent under the sea.Photo credit: Marius Burgelman/AP

Ukrainian drones have been striking warehouses belonging to Russia’s online retailer Wildberries. Ukrainian officials say the company provides Russian forces with drone components and navigation equipment; but the Wildberries’ CEO rejects the claim. Also, Ireland has introduced a public register of people convicted of serious domestic violence offenses, following a four-year campaign by the family of a murdered Dublin woman. And, climbers mourn the death of the first Omani woman to summit Mount Everest. Plus, the Slovakian town that wants to get rid of its UNESCO designation.Photo credit: UGC via AP

The UN’s Human Rights office has warned that Israeli settler violence in the West Bank is at an “all-time high.” Also, the US now controls much of Venezuela’s oil revenue, estimated at $13 billion in the first half of this year, but neither Washington nor Caracas have provided a full account of where the money has gone. And, Asia's soccer federation joined its European and North American counterparts in opposing FIFA's proposed privatization of the World Cup. Plus, a look at how AI is hijacking the identities of real musicians.Photo credit: Oded Balilty/AP

UEFA — the European soccer governing body — says its 55 teams will sit out all FIFA competitions for as long as a plan to allow investors to buy 20% of the organization remains in place. Also, lab-grown diamonds have exploded in popularity — thanks to their high quality, low cost and ethical considerations — upending the market for natural, mined diamonds. And, China begins mass producing electric vehicles with sodium-ion batteries, widely considered more sustainable and accessible than the standard lithium-ion batteries. Plus, we take a listen to an era of Egyptian disco music.Photo credit: Fernando Calistro/File 

Members of a group known as the “Justice-Seeking Mothers” all have loved ones who were killed by the Iranian security forces during anti-government protests. They hold regular meetings and are united by the goal of keeping their children's stories alive. Also, Venezuela announces its plans to withdraw from the ICC. And, an investigation finds that an AI program in Canada that claims it can predict prisoners’ behaviors is meting out harsher conditions for Black inmates. Plus, a look at the fate of the beloved moped in Italy.Photo credit: UGC via AP/File photo

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington for talks today with US President Donald Trump, facing growing differences with the US over the war with Iran and Mideast strategy. Also, tigers have rebounded, especially in Nepal, but as the government prepares to release the latest tiger numbers, the challenge is figuring out how people and predators can share the same landscape. And, the French army’s 8th Signal Regiment is breeding the continent’s last military carrier pigeons. Plus, scientists have reported more frequent sighting of "supergroups" of humpback whales off the coast of South Africa.Photo credit: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

For the first time, Spain has issued a state of emergency and tens of thousands of people have been evacuated in France as wildfires rage across western Europe. Also, Britain's National Crime Agency says one of the country's biggest cybersecurity threats is the rise of teenage hackers. And, a look at former Nepalese aid workers who have had to turn to sex work amid the fallout from US aid cuts. Plus, we take a listen to the music of young Algerian guitarist Fati Tiniri Tam.Photo credit: Baz Ratner/AP

India is seeing a new wave of anti-government protests inspired by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party. Award-winning Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy discusses what the movement reveals about the country's political moment. Also, member states of the ICC have voted to remove its chief prosecutor Karim Khan. And, the US moves a considerable amount of military assets near the Middle East. Plus, an update on the “Mackerel Wars.”Photo credit: Bikas Das/AP

Houthi rebel attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and their blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are hiking oil prices. Also, two of OpenAI's agents teamed up in a surprise move to hack into a different company's digital library during a test when the AI models were supposed to be cut off from the internet. And, a look at the role of salmon in human migration to North America. Plus, a new establishment in Tokyo aims to teach foreigners about Japanese bar culture.Photo credit: Kamran Jebreili/AP/File

US President Donald Trump has approved a civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that would expand cooperation on nuclear energy, despite its leader suggesting it would build nuclear weapons if necessary. Also, residents of southern Iran say they're living in constant fear of further attacks while struggling to access basic necessities. And, Germany is set to ban alcohol from its national railway platforms and stations. Plus, a new UN report finds the number of people globally experiencing hunger dropped in 2025 compared to the year before.Photo credit: Dmitri Lovetsky/AP

To mark the 47th anniversary of the toppling of Nicaragua’s dictatorship, President Daniel Ortega announced the country will no longer hold elections. Also, days after an ICE agent shot and killed 25-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Maine, his death is reverberating across the US and his native Colombia. And, a British amateur genealogist is tracking down and publishing into an online archive the stories of people who were enslaved on the former British colony of Grenada. Plus, digging for vinyl in Tijuana.Photo credit: Matias Delacroix/AP/File

While Iran and the US continued to trade attacks for an eighth consecutive night, Gulf states have had to defend themselves from Iranian drones and missiles in recent days. Also, views from Spain and Argentina as Spain celebrates its second World Cup championship title. And, protests continue in the Indian capital as the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party marches on Parliament to demand the education minister’s resignation. Plus, the new “Freedom Needs a Soundtrack” podcast tells the story of how the Tibetan Freedom Concerts began, what they achieved and what their legacy is.Photo credit: Eric Lee/Pool via AP/File 

Massive wildfires in Canada are continuing to spread in Ontario, with intense fires in the north of the province prompting evacuations. Also, an anti-government activist enters 20 days of hunger strike in support of India’s “Cockroach Janta Party,” calling for the country's education minister to resign. And, the US has announced that it wants to dismantle the International Criminal Court. Plus, a correctional facility in Pennsylvania is trying to adopt the "Scandinavian Prison Project,” prioritizing the well-being of everyone in the prison system.Photo credit: Paul Sancya/AP

We take a look at how the wildfires in Ontario are affecting the province's largest city. Also, Ukrainians take to the streets of Kyiv to protest the removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov by the president And, France becomes the latest country to legalize assisted dying. Plus, an update on the World Cup as the final two games take place this weekend.Photo credit: Nam Y. Huh/AP

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.Photo credit: Ramon Espinosa/AP

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.Photo credit: Bruno Fonseca/AP/File

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.Photo credit: Razieh Poudat/AP

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, we look into how extreme heat impacts mental health.

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.

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.Photo credit: Baz Ratner/AP

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.Photo credit: Ariana Cubillos/APWe made our goal of $30,000! Thank you. 💙 If you haven’t given yet, there’s still time! Our 2:1 match is live until midnight tonight. Your support and generosity mean so much and help power our small, but mighty newsroom. Give now.

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.Photo credit: Moses Sawasawa/APWe made our goal of $30,000! Thank you. 💙 If you haven’t given yet, there’s still time! Our 2:1 match is live until midnight June 30. Your support and generosity mean so much and help power our small, but mighty newsroom. Give now.

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.Photo credit: Pedro Mattey/APTime is running out and we need your help to reach our goal before our 2:1 match ends! Give now.

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.Photo credit: Ariana Cubillos/APTime is running out and we need your help to reach our goal before our 2:1 match ends! Give now.

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.Time is running out and we need your help to reach our goal before our 2:1 match ends! Give now.

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.Photo credit: Christophe Ena/APTime is running out and we need your help to reach our goal before our 2:1 match ends! Give now.

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.Photo credit: Kin Cheung/APTime is running out and we need your help to reach our goal before our 2:1 match ends! Give now.

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. 

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.Photo credit: Hassan Ammar/APOur reporting is independent, inclusive and in-depth. Best of all, it’s listener-supported. Give today to support The World!

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.Photo credit: J. Scott Applewhite/APOur reporting is independent, inclusive and in-depth. Best of all, it’s listener-supported. Give today to support The World!

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 World Cup.Photo credit: Ludovic Marin/Pool via APOur reporting is independent, inclusive and in-depth. Best of all, it’s listener-supported. Give today to support The World!

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 buses.Photo credit: Vahid Salemi/APOur reporting is independent, inclusive and in-depth. Best of all, it’s listener-supported. Give today to support The World!

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 celebrations have unfolded far from the stadium. Plus, a new treatment in Brazil could offer a path to recovery for millions of people with spinal cord injuries around the world.Photo credit: Markus Schreiber/AP/FileYour support is critical in sustaining our nonprofit newsroom. Donate today and your gift will be matched 2:1!

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 certain platforms, but whether or not it’s working is up for debate. Plus, summertime in Japan kicks off a season of shrine festivals.Photo credit: Mohammed Zaatari/APYour support is critical in sustaining our nonprofit newsroom. Donate today and your gift will be matched 2:1!

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 “Eat Like a Sardinian” on an island known for its population’s longevity.Photo credit: Peter Morrison/APYour support is critical in sustaining our nonprofit newsroom. Donate today and your gift will be matched 2:1!

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un played host to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping this week. It's the Chinese premier’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, sticker album fever is sweeping Latin America ahead of the World Cup.Photo credit: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via APYour support is critical in sustaining our nonprofit newsroom. Donate today and your gift will be matched 2:1!

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.Photo credit: Anthony Pizzoferrato/APYour support is critical in sustaining our nonprofit newsroom. Donate today and your gift will be matched 2:1!