Orla Barry

Europe correspondent

The World

Orla Barry is the Europe correspondent for The World. She has been a producer with the BBC World Service for six years, working on Outside Source, World Have Your Say and Newsday. Orla has been a national broadcaster on the Irish radio station Newstalk, where she presented the daily morning show and a weekend arts and culture show.

Orla has produced a series of documentaries from East Africa, including Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. She also presented a BBC Radio 4 documentary on the Irish women who built Britain. She previously worked as an independent producer for NBC and Arte.  Orla has been a columnist with two Irish national newspapers, the Irish Examiner and the Irish Independent. She has a Master’s degree in politics and development studies.

bedroom

Arrest of online influencer Andrew Tate puts Romania’s webcam industry in the spotlight

Webcam studio owners say the business is legal. Anti-sex-trafficking groups say the Andrew Tate case tells a different story.

Arrest of online influencer Andrew Tate puts Romania’s webcam industry in the spotlight
woman and man near loom

Romania's traditional blouse industry under threat by mass production of fake replicas

Romania's traditional blouse industry under threat by mass production of fake replicas
boy at chalkboard

Ukrainian refugees create their own school in Romania

Ukrainian refugees create their own school in Romania
The downturn in  Ionuț Spiță’s profits was driven by the glut of cheaper Ukrainian grain and oilseeds, intended for Africa and the Middle East that flooded the Central and Eastern European markets. 

‘Trade is trade and war is war’: Romanian farmers say helping Ukraine is hurting their bottom line

‘Trade is trade and war is war’: Romanian farmers say helping Ukraine is hurting their bottom line
movie trailer

Filmmakers hope that Oscar nomination for 'The Quiet Girl' renews interest in the Irish language

Filmmakers hope that Oscar nomination for 'The Quiet Girl' renews interest in the Irish language
PTAK Expo Center in Warsaw, Poland.

Ukrainian refugees in Poland will now be charged to stay in state-funded housing

Poland has taken in more Ukrainian refugees than any other European nation. But from March 1, the Polish government has ruled that Ukrainians living in state-funded accommodation will have to start contributing toward their housing and food costs. 

Ukrainian refugees in Poland will now be charged to stay in state-funded housing
woman in auditorium

New Cate Blanchett film 'Tár' divides opinion among female conductors 

“Tár,” about a virtuoso female conductor, has shone a spotlight on the continuing dearth of women leading major orchestras worldwide.

New Cate Blanchett film 'Tár' divides opinion among female conductors 
grassy mountain

An unseasonably warm winter in Europe threatens ski resorts, tourism

​​​​​​​Countries across Europe are experiencing unseasonably warm weather this January, causing a headache for ski resorts and broader concern for what it might mean for the year ahead.

An unseasonably warm winter in Europe threatens ski resorts, tourism
Pastor Gábor Iványi, one of Hungary’s best-known religious leaders, stands in his office near a photograph.

This pastor officiated Orbán’s wedding. Now he’s one of his fiercest critics.

Pastor Gábor Iványi is one of Hungary’s best-known religious leaders. He officiated over Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s wedding and baptized two of his children. Today, he is one of Orbán’s fiercest critics.

This pastor officiated Orbán’s wedding. Now he’s one of his fiercest critics.
The Great Synagogue of Dohány Street in Budapest, Hungary.

'Nothing Orbán says is by accident': Jewish leaders in Hungary grapple with anti-Semitic tropes in politics

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been accused of using anti-Semitic tropes to promote his vision of Hungarian nationalism. Some members of the Jewish community say this makes them uncomfortable, but Jewish leaders have been slow to speak out about it.

'Nothing Orbán says is by accident': Jewish leaders in Hungary grapple with anti-Semitic tropes in politics
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks during a panel discussion with a white blurry background.

Orbán portrays himself as a ‘defender of Christianity.’ Critics aren’t so sure.

Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s prime minister, portrays himself as a defender of Christianity, a religion which he says is under threat as a result of immigration, globalism and liberalism. Orbán’s critics question the sincerity of the Hungarian leader’s faith and wonder if his pro-Christian rhetoric is simply all about staying in power.

Orbán portrays himself as a ‘defender of Christianity.’ Critics aren’t so sure.
Roma radio presenter Szandi Minzari and co-host Melanie Nagy are both divorced, single mothers who speak about taboo issues in Hungary's Roma community.

A new Roma radio station gets people talking about taboo issues in Hungary

The Roma are Hungary’s largest ethnic minority, making up close to 10% of the population. Radio Dikh, a new radio station, aims to change perceptions of the Roma community in Hungary, where they have faced decades of stigma and discrimination.

A new Roma radio station gets people talking about taboo issues in Hungary
travelers tagging bags

'The summer of stress': Amid airline staffing shortages, lost luggage rates have soared

Thousands of passengers are arriving at their destinations without their luggage and little idea if they will ever see it again.

'The summer of stress': Amid airline staffing shortages, lost luggage rates have soared
A group of women's rights activists with a sign reading "Abortion Without Borders" protesting Poland's strict anti-abortion law, outside the top constitutional court, in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022.

Poland’s ‘pregnancy registry’ will further restrict abortion access, activists say

The Polish government says it is establishing a national medical database, following a directive from the EU Commission, promising to ensure the protection of people's privacy. But in a country with a near-total abortion ban, rights activists are not so convinced.

Poland’s ‘pregnancy registry’ will further restrict abortion access, activists say
A woman walks past painted letter Z's, which has become a symbol of the Russian military, on bridge piers in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, April 15, 2022. 

No Z allowed: Some European countries move to ban the symbol used to promote Russia’s war in Ukraine

The letter Z has been used to glorify Russia's war in Ukraine. Now, countries like Lithuania and Latvia are moving to ban the letter as one step toward stemming Russia’s pro-war propaganda. 

No Z allowed: Some European countries move to ban the symbol used to promote Russia’s war in Ukraine