The World: Latest Stories

Adults-only venues - particularly hotels and restaurants - are on the rise in France, where more than half of adults like the idea of a buffer from child's play. But some experts, and government officials, see banning kids from certain spaces as not just cruel, but detrimental to society. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Perpignan on a new government campaign to bring kids back into the fold.

Lithuania's capital city, Vilnius, unveiled what it's calling the first-ever electric passenger riverboats. The catamaran-style boats can hold 32 people, and they do a 30-50 minute loop. The city's mayor is trumpeting the new service as an environmental and economic boon, but as Host Carolyn Beeler explains, some see it as a boondoggle.

This week is supposed to be all laughs in Saudi Arabia's capital, where the Riyadh Comedy Festival is entering its second week. It's billing itself as the world's biggest comedy festival" - and big names are headlining. But Abdullah Alaoudh told The World's Host Marco Werman that the event sits uncomfortably alongside the Saudi government's notorious human rights abuses. The senior director on Countering Authoritarianism at the Middle East Democracy Center in Washington explains that the event is a state-funded distraction from the government's human rights abuses.

The Israeli military has stopped a large aid flotilla - with dozens of boats and more than 400 activists. It had been heading toward the shores of the Gaza Strip. Live-streamed videos showed Israeli forces boarding boats and detaining passengers and crew. The government there says it will now deport them. The multinational Sumud Flotilla left from Barcelona, Spain, over a month ago with a goal of breaking Israel's naval blockade and delivering food and medicine to Palestinians in Gaza. From Barcelona, The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

Brazilians are the largest immigrant community in Massachusetts. They are also being arrested in larger numbers by federal agents across the state since US President Donald Trump returned to office. GBH's Phillip Martin says fear is ricocheting through the community - even among those who once supported Trump during his election.

Japan's Asahi beer manufacturer recently announced plans to expand its European distribution. But the company has also been battling a cyberattack that halted operations in Japan. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more.

Two people died and four others were seriously injured after an attack at a synagogue in Manchester in the UK. British police shot and killed the attacker and said they are treating the incident as a terrorist attack. The assault took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to step up security at synagogues across Britain. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry joined host Marco Werman with the latest.

Citizens of Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines can now live and work in any of the four countries without requirements for visas, residency permits or other extensive paperwork. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with Rosalea Hamilton, founding director of Jamaica's Institute of Law and Economics in Kingston, about the plan.

The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth, which means communities living there are already adapting to changing climate conditions. In Tasiilaq, a town of about 2,000 people in remote East Greenland, subsistence hunting and fishing are still major sources of food and livelihood, and shrinking seal hunting seasons due to smaller ice floes coming down the fjord in the summer are changing what - and how - locals hunt, fish and get around. The World's Carolyn Beeler brings us the story.

Scientist and global activist Jane Goodall, who turned her childhood love of primates into a lifelong quest for protecting the environment, died on Wednesday at the age of 91. Goodall died of natural causes, the Jane Goodall Institute said in a social media post. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have more.

A new musical in London is revisiting the history of Britain's Black Power movement and the secret police unit that worked to undermine it. "Black Power Desk," which takes its name from a covert Scotland Yard operation launched in the 1960s, explores how authorities attempted to infiltrate and destabilize the movement's leaders. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry has more.

Pope Leo XIV delivered his most extensive comments yet on climate change and the environment today. He spoke at a three-day Catholic conference outside of Rome, 10 years after the ground-breaking papal teaching on the environment from Pope Francis. Leo called on Catholics and "people of good faith" around the world to build on that legacy. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Rangers, firefighters and members of Namibia's military have successfully contained a wildfire in Etosha National Park. The fire burned nearly a third of the park and lasted a week. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Pauline Lindeque, the World Wildlife Fund's Namibia Director of Wildlife and Landscape, about the impact this has had on biodiversity in the nature reserve.

People in Afghanistan say the internet has been partially restored. This comes after two days of a complete shutdown of the internet across the country. The Taliban restricted access, saying that it can lead to immoral behavior. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

A series of ocean currents in the Atlantic drive heat northward and control much of the world's weather. Scientists believe the current - called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC for short - will slow down this century due to global warming, and some fear the circulation might collapse entirely. The melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet could be a major factor in the future health of the AMOC. The World's Carolyn Beeler traveled into a fjord in Greenland with scientists studying glacial meltwater to better understand what it could do to the AMOC.

EU leaders gathered in Copenhagen today, just days after airspace intrusions by unidentified aircraft closed Danish airports. As the drones menaced NATO's eastern flank, Washington was gathering top US military brass in Quantico, Virginia - focused not on external threats, but on what the White House calls the enemy within." Shashank Joshi, defense editor at The Economist, tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler how European allies view that juxtaposition.

In less than five years, Pix - Brazil's free, instant payment platform - has reshaped the country's financial landscape. More than 150 million Brazilians now use it daily, from big-city retailers to street vendors and homeless people. Its explosive growth has sidelined credit cards and cash, making Brazil one of the world's leaders in digital payments. But this homegrown fintech experiment is making waves far beyond Brazil: US officials and banking lobbyists see Pix as a potential threat to American-controlled payment systems like Visa and Mastercard. The World's Tibisay Zea brings us this report from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Darien Gap is a treacherous stretch of jungle in Central America that for years saw hundreds of thousands of migrants making the risky trek north to the US border. But what was once one of the world's more dangerous and heavily used migration routes is now nearly empty of people. Reporter Manuel Rueda tells host Marco Werman that the dramatic change is due to the Trump administration's changes to the the US asylum process.

The Mohawk Institute was the longest-running and largest residential school in Canada. Over some 140 years, an estimated 15,000 children attended the school in southern Ontario before it closed its doors in 1970. Today, on the country's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the former school building is reopening as a historic site and museum to share the stories of survivors. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman highlight a few global headlines that might have flown under the radar.

Author Tim Queeney has a new book out, "Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization," that delves into the ways rope has been used - for good and ill - through human history. He tells Host Carolyn Beeler that this global story is both magnificent and very dark.

US President Donald Trump said today that he'll give Hamas "about three or four days" to respond to his ceasefire proposal for Gaza. "It's going to be a very sad end," Trump said, if the Palestinian militant group rejects the deal. It was announced yesterday at the White House during a joint appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Governments across the Middle East say all parties should agree to the Trump plan. But it's hard to find much enthusiasm among Israelis and Palestinians for the sort of broader "Middle East peace" that Trump is talking about. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

The United Nations mission in Kabul is urging the Taliban to reverse its shutdown of the internet and other telecommunications across the country. It says the government imposed the blackout and has cut off Afghanistan from the outside world. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler has more.

Canadian authorities now consider an Indian crime organization known as the Bishnoi gang a "terrorist entity." The gang was linked by Canada to the assassination of a Sikh activist in the country. The World's Host Marco Werman learned more from Canadian journalist Stewart Bell. He's an investigative journalist with Global News, where he covers national security issues in Canada.

Inspired by Gen Z protests in Kenya, Nepal and Peru, youth in Madagascar have taken to the streets - and after facing government violence, they've secured major concessions. Today the country's president dissolved the government, agreeing to replace cabinet ministers with new officials. Gyude Moore, a non-resident fellow at the Center for Global Development, describes the implications to The World's Host Marco Werman.

An American private contractor arrested in Havana. Cuban intelligence agents serving long prison sentences in the United States. And a spy swap that sets the stage for a historic rapprochement between the US and Cuba. It sounds like a Hollywood thriller but it's all true. The story unfolds in a new eight-part podcast from Audible and Foreign Policy magazine called "I Spy: The US, Cuba and the Secret Deal That Ended the Cold War." Host Marco Werman learns more from the series creator, Dan Ephron, who is the executive editor of Foreign Policy magazine.

Italy and Austria just finished digging a massive tunnel through the Alps. It's nearly 4,600 feet deep, and when the project is complete it will be the longest underground railway in the world. European authorities say the link - known as the Brenner Base Tunnel - will transform travel through the area, cutting travel times in half, and significantly reducing carbon emissions. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel reports.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump met with Israel's prime minister in Washington for the fourth time in eight months. Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News over the weekend that he's "working on" a Gaza ceasefire deal outlined by the Trump administration, but that the deal was not yet finalized. News reports describe a three-page, 21-point peace plan from the Trump administration that includes an immediate truce, release of all hostages by Hamas and an increase in humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. It remains to be seen whether or not Netanyahu's far-right government can get behind the plan. The response from Hamas to the proposal is another unknown. The World's Matthew Bell has the latest.

Around 300,000 years ago, at least seven different species of humans roamed the Earth. But now, Homo sapiens are the only humans left. And a new television documentary series from The World's colleagues at NOVA digs into why that is. It's called "Human." British paleo-anthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi, hosts the "Human" series. She speaks to Host Carolyn Beeler.

The driest non-polar place on earth, the Atacama Desert, is currently covered with carpets of colorful blossoms. This natural spectacle only happens once or twice every 10 years, and three years ago it prompted the Chilean government to name this region a national park. Here, researchers are finding clues to deal with climate change and extremely dry conditions. The World's Tibisay Zea first reported on this phenomenon in 2022, from the Atacama Desert.This story originally aired on Oct. 17, 2022.

Mexico and the US have launched a new bilateral initiative aimed at disrupting the stream of illicit weapons across their shared border. The announcement came during the first meeting of the new US-Mexico Security Implementation Group. Leon Castellanos-Jankiewicz, a senior researcher at the Asser Institute at The Hague, tells The World's Host Marco Werman why the initiative will be difficult to implement.

Hotly contested, scandal-ridden and mayhem. That's how the joyous, sometimes raucous, annual vote to select New Zealand's bird of the year is described. This year's winner is the New Zealand falcon. Host Marco Werman explains how a small conservation awareness project turned into an annual national event.

Moldova's pro-European party has secured a resounding victory in the country's parliamentary elections. Backed by President Maia Sandu, the party won nearly half the vote, while a bloc of pro-Russia parties managed just 24%. The result is being hailed in Brussels as a major pushback against Russian influence in the region. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry joins Host Marco Werman for more.

Moldova heads to the polls this weekend in what its president, Maia Sandu, calls the most consequential election in the country's history. The pro-EU leader has accused Russia of mounting an unprecedented" campaign to influence the result. With just 2.5 million people and borders with both Romania and Ukraine, the result of Sunday's vote could send ripples far beyond Moldova's frontiers. The World's Europe correspondent Orla Barry reports.

In Denmark, authorities are investigating a series of drone sightings near major airports and airbases in the country this week. In an address to the nation on social media, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that the country was in the midst of a hybrid war." The World's Joshua Coe lives in Denmark and has been following the news closely. He joined the show from Aarhus in Jutland, where most of the drones have been spotted.

With Korea's pop music scene eclipsing other musicians and styles found in Seoul, we offer one example of an artist who does not perform K-pop. Yeore Kim is a virtuoso harmonica player with a diverse repertoire, from jazz to Radiohead. Host Carolyn Beeler will give us a taste of her music.This story originally aired on June 6, 2024.

If you are one of those super-organized people who plan their holidays well in advance, then you may already be looking for travel tips for next year - or even the year after. If that's you, we have a tip for 2027 to share with you! The Spanish town of Jerez de la Frontera is set to hold the next edition of its Copa de Jerez competition then. It's a sherry competition - the fortified wine being the other thing the town is famous for producing. DW reporter Ashish Sharma was in attendance at this year's event, which featured eight international tasting teams pairing a three-course meal with the finest Jerez sherries...

A long list of players have made a name for themselves during the last five weeks, as 16 teams from across the globe have faced off at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup. Now it's down to the final two teams to see who will earn the title of world champion. The World's Bianca Hillier has the details.

The Bayeux Tapestry is now in storage. More than 100 people worked to carefully prepare the nearly 1,000-year-old embroidery ahead of its loan to the British Museum next year. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with historian Cheryl White about how a piece of art this old can be moved - and why some people don't think it should be.

Rapper Liam O'Hanna has been cleared of terror charges in a London Court. The charge came after O'Hanna allegedly waved a flag in support of Hezbollah - deemed a terrorist group by some nations - at a concert back in November. Host Carolyn Beeler has the details.

Iran will end its participation in international weapons inspections if United Nations sanctions are reimposed, said the man now in charge of Iran's nuclear negotiations. Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was responding to what are called snapback' mechanisms scheduled to take effect this weekend. Carolyn Beeler speaks with FRONTLINE reporter Sebastian Walker about his exclusive interview with Larijani.

Denmark issued a formal apology yesterday for forcing Indigenous women and girls from Greenland to use contraceptive devices. Beginning in the 1960s, Danish doctors inserted IUDs into thousands of Inuit women and school-age girls, often without their or their parents' knowledge or consent. Host Carolyn Beeler learns more about the controversial program from Victoria Pihl Sorensen, a Danish historian who has studied Denmark's IUD program in Greenland. She's now a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Climate change has exacerbated drought and extreme weather in northern Ghana, leaving many in the agricultural region struggling to grow enough food. Chef Fatmata Binta sees a solution in fonio, a grain similar to couscous, indigenous to West Africa, and most importantly, one that is able to thrive in dry conditions. As part of our "The Big Fix" series, Chef Binta speaks with The World's Marco Werman about her efforts to encourage more women in the region to grow fonio.

The world heard from Syria's new interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa this week at the United Nations General Assembly. His message? Syria is back after being isolated for about six decades. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports from the UN on how his message is being received.

The Oxford English Dictionary announced its new entries on Wednesday. Twelve words and phrases come from the Caribbean, and several of those are all about food. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler dive in for a vocabulary lesson.

An HIV prevention drug will be made available at a new, low cost in 120 low- and middle-income countries starting in 2027, according to an announcement yesterday. The move is being called a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to bend the trajectory of the HIV epidemic. The World's Bianca Hillier reports.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly today. His speech focused on what he called Israel's "war of genocide" in Gaza, and the future governance of the Strip. He said emphatically that Hamas will have no role in a post-war Gaza and that they will be forced to disarm. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the details.

At the UN Climate Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the country's first national emissions reduction targets. It marks a shift in China's approach to climate policy, which, until now, allowed emissions to grow in tandem with economic growth. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Georgetown professor Joanna Lewis about how economics have driven China into a leadership position within the globe's energy transition.

The NFL and college football seasons are in full swing - and that means sports betting is too. It's a booming industry, and worldwide gambling losses could top $700 billion by 2028. States around the US are looking to see how they can keep gambling legal while reducing the consequences for problem gamblers. New England Public Media's Karen Brown takes us to the United Kingdom, which some consider a model for gambling regulators. Others consider it a cautionary tale.

Researchers in the UK have discovered how to successfully treat Huntington's, a devastating disease that runs in families and tends to hit people in their 30s and 40s. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the details.