North America

Haitian Musician and Voudo priest Erol Josué has a new album titled Pèlerinaj, which includes songs like “Rén Sobo,” “Ati Sole” and “Palave Maria" that invoke Voudo goddesses and saints.

Erol Josué’s new album Pèlerinaj highlights Haiti’s Vodou tradition and the artist’s own pilgrimage

The 18 tracks on "Pèlerinaj," or “pilgrimage” in Haitian Creole, are a mix of sacred Vodou chants and traditional Haitian rhythms with funk, jazz, rock and electronic music.

Erol Josué’s new album Pèlerinaj highlights Haiti’s Vodou tradition and the artist’s own pilgrimage
Smoke rises from the Trade Ministry in Baghdad after it was hit by a missile during US-led attacks, March 20, 2003.

An Iraq vet grapples with lingering toll of war

An Iraq vet grapples with lingering toll of war
Aïda Muluneh's "To pursue the ceaseless way," is exhibited on a bus stop in the Boston area. The photograph is part of "This is where I am," presented by New York-based Public Art Fund.

Aïda Muluneh's public art photo exhibit is 'a love letter to Ethiopia'

Aïda Muluneh's public art photo exhibit is 'a love letter to Ethiopia'
people at building entrance

The risk of banking 'contagion' 

The risk of banking 'contagion' 
highway

A Cuban filmmaker returns home to see his family during the island nation’s worst economic crisis in decades

A Cuban filmmaker returns home to see his family during the island nation’s worst economic crisis in decades
a person at the exhibit

Artist Yun-Fei Ji grew up during China's Cultural Revolution. He ponders art as 'global citizenship.'

Ji produces paintings using traditional Chinese methods, such as calligraphy and ink painting, to address serious contemporary topics such as migration, the environment and social issues. 

Artist Yun-Fei Ji grew up during China's Cultural Revolution. He ponders art as 'global citizenship.'
a young man in a mask

Three years into the pandemic, mask usage varies from country to country

Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, and masks became a primary tool to combat the disease's spread, their usage has dropped off dramatically around the world. But many Mexicans are holding on to their facial coverings, and cultural differences are impacting mask use around the globe.

Three years into the pandemic, mask usage varies from country to country
Casual photo of middle-aged Bachrach leaning forward

Burt Bacharach mastered the art of the perfect pop song — and that ain’t easy

Pop composer Burt Bacharach, who died on Feb. 8, 2023, at the age of 94, left a legacy of classic songs beloved by generations. Although often belittled as writing "easy listening,"his songs were deep and complex.

Burt Bacharach mastered the art of the perfect pop song — and that ain’t easy
The new reception center at a cruise terminal on the Brooklyn waterfront will house 1,000 migrant men until May 1, when cruise ships will be back.

New York City struggles to accommodate new migrants

A controversial housing dispute this week reveals a deep strain on the intake system for migrants. 

New York City struggles to accommodate new migrants
US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet smiles ahead of a meeting in Serbia, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. 

America’s top priority is to help Ukraine ‘defend itself’ as a sovereign nation, Blinken adviser says

What are Washington's current strategic goals and limitations in Ukraine? And how do they align with Kyiv? Derek Chollet, a counselor at the US State Department who advises Secretary of State Antony Blinken, joined The World's host Marco Werman to shed some light.

America’s top priority is to help Ukraine ‘defend itself’ as a sovereign nation, Blinken adviser says
woman with letter

Court orders Canada to take back its citizens from camps in Syria

A court in Canada has ordered the government to repatriate 23 of its citizens who have been detained in camps for suspected ISIS members and their families in northeastern Syria. If not challenged, this would be the largest repatriation of Canadians from Syria so far.

Court orders Canada to take back its citizens from camps in Syria
Yuxin Wu plays the Chinese gehu string instrument.

Chinese musician works to revive the gehu instrument

Yuxin Wu, a second-generation gehu player at the Berklee College of Music, is on a mission to revive the Chinese string instrument with its unique vibrational sound.

Chinese musician works to revive the gehu instrument
Paula’s garden is filled with trees and plants that he considers sacred. 

‘Art is the answer to all this’: This Brazilian artist went from fighting fires to uplifting Black portraiture

Growing up in Brazil as a Black man, Dalton Paula said he missed seeing people who looked like him on movies and TV. At 40, he now creates paintings, photos and installations about Black communities. In 2021, he and his partner also turned their home into an art school called Sertão Negro, or Black Hinterland.

‘Art is the answer to all this’: This Brazilian artist went from fighting fires to uplifting Black portraiture
man and woman by border

What's behind the exodus of Cubans?

It’s the largest single wave of Cuban migrants since Fidel Castro’s revolution in the 1950s.

What's behind the exodus of Cubans?
The beach at the popular tourist resort of Puerto Peñasco in the state of Sonora, Mexico, September 2018.

Mexico’s clean energy plan could run into trouble at leaders’ summit

The North American leaders will be discussing immigration and the recapture of the son of drug cartel kingpin “El Chapo.” But also high on the agenda: a dispute over energy.

Mexico’s clean energy plan could run into trouble at leaders’ summit