The World: Latest Stories

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and pro-democracy icon María Corina Machado has returned to Venezuela to a rapturous welcome from supporters. But her homecoming comes with enormous risks, as she navigates a precarious political landscape. Phil Gunson, Caracas-based senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, tells The World’s Host Marco Werman that, given her widespread backing, it will be difficult for the government to curtail Machado’s activities.

If you're making the long walk to a soccer stadium, or you're just on your feet for hours a day, you might want to consider a pair of "cool shoes." Not as in trendy — but actually cool, and comfortable. They were created by a young Kenyan inventor who wanted to soothe his mother's aching feet. They're made entirely from trash and bits and pieces of old electronics. Reporter Jonathan Miller has the story.This story originally aired on June 23, 2026.

You'd be excused for thinking the Japanese folk trio Kekko Seikatsu hails from Appalachia. Their sound is built around the slower environment of the Japanese countryside that they relocated to from Tokyo a few years ago. We can also hear their embrace of acoustic styles from Ireland, as well as the American back porch.

Last night in Brazil's second-round presidential election, Incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pulled off a victory the likes of which the country has never seen. This was the first time in Brazilian history that a candidate lost the first round, and won in the second. His win also bucked the trend of the far-right wave that has been gripping Latin America in recent years. Reporter Michael Fox was in the streets to gauge reaction.

It seems every Scandinavian country has its favorite in the "slow TV" genre. Sweden has the seasonal hit "The Great Moose Migration," Norway has an hours-long train journey and Finland has its own blockbuster of nonstop boredom: a 24/7 livestream of puppies doing puppy things. The World's Joshua Coe has our unbearably cute puppy story.