Human Interest
In Canada, university and college officials hope for an end to upheaval for international students
Canada has long been an attractive option for international students. It’s seen as a safe and generally non-discriminatory place to study, with impressive schools and post-graduation work rights. But 2024 brought a year of significant changes to the sector. Prospective international students fear an unknown future. The World’s Bianca Hillier reports from Toronto.
Out of Eden Walk: Among the tea pickers and plantations in Sichuan, China
National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek’s walk through China led him to encounters with tea pickers and unique stays at tea plantations. His consumption of tea was already high following his walk through India, but in China, Salopek experienced tea like no other. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with him about the history, culture, and traditions of tea in China.
Students in Bangladesh call for leadership change as protests against quota system turn violent
Protests against a job quota system in Bangladesh have turned violent. The World’s host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Samina Luthfa, who teaches sociology at the University of Dhaka, about why people are upset.
Closing the Darién Gap with a barbed-wire fence
Panama has started to build a barbed-wire fence in the Darien jungle between South and Central America. The goal is to stop migrants from reaching the US. But by blocking the trails most frequently used by the migrants, the fence could reroute people on their journeys, pushing them to take dangerous detours.
Japanese dads struggle to reform fatherhood
Statistically speaking, for every baby born in Japan, two people pass away. The country’s rapidly shrinking population is, according to Japanese officials, a “national emergency” threatening its future prosperity and entire way of life. They’re struggling to reverse this trend but some believe fixing this problem calls for a revolution in Japanese fatherhood. The World’s Patrick Winn reports with Aya Asakura in Tokyo.