The World: Latest Stories

French President Emmanuel Macron is in Africa today, co-hosting a summit of some 30 African heads of state in Nairobi, Kenya. France used to organize events like this in its former French-speaking colonies in West Africa. But as the country courts new alliances on the continent, some see hints of France's colonial past on display. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

There have been dramatic cuts to science research grants within the past year. Particularly hard hit: rare disease research, which has always been difficult to fund. But global research collaborations are forging ahead, led by some of the most impacted people. Reporter Deepa Fernandes, whose own daughter has a rare genetic disorder, takes us into the world of Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome.

According to the World Health Organization, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - or PCOS - impacts a huge number of women, but the C" in its name - for cystic" - has caused serious misunderstandings. Experts say the new name - polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, PMOS - represents a major advancement for diagnosis and treatment. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks to Helena Teede, who spearheaded the change, about why it matters. She's director of the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, and joined the show from Prague.

Professional rakugo storytellers all over Japan practice an art form dating back to the 14th century. One such performer is Katsura Sunshine, a white man from Canada, who fell in love with it, and who is now bringing rakugo to new audiences in the US and Canada. Jacob Aloi of Minnesota Public Radio has the story.

A new Israeli investigation finds that the use of sexual violence on Oct. 7 and against hostages in captivity was a calculated strategy by Hamas." In another separate report released today, Israel's State Comptroller accused the government of neglecting military procurements and jeopardizing soldiers' lives. Journalist Noga Tarnopolsky tells The World's Host Marco Werman the reports were released as the government gears up to establish a special military tribunal to try an elite group of Hamas fighters.

Togolese writer and activist Farida Bemba Nabourema, shared a post on X explaining that not enough credit has been given to francophone musicians "in the political awakening in French dominated Africa." She and her followers offer some examples. Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman give it a listen.

They're Sara and Edi, and their musical laboratory is on the top floor of a 17th Century Spanish farmhouse - one that nearly collapsed around them from age and their sonic tinkerings. The house is now patched up and Los Sara Fontan's music is louder and more cutting edge than ever. The World's Gerry Hadden reports on the dynamic duo from Calonge, Spain.

Relatives of Mexico's disappeared took to the streets yesterday for a Mother's Day march, calling on authorities to do more to deter kidnappings, abductions and murders. A new report finds many of the disappearances are the result of deep collusions" between officials and organized crime. Viri Rios, of the news outlet "Mexico Decoded," speaks with The World's Host Marco Werman about the implications.

In a fit of excitement, Hungary's incoming health minister danced wildly at the victory party for the country's new Prime Minister Peter Magyar. As Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain, he was at it again over the weekend.

After the US capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the socialist movement founded by Hugo Chavez is entering a dramatic new phase. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez is opening talks with Washington and reshaping a revolution built on anti-American rhetoric. Reporter Tibisay Zea returns to the Caracas neighborhoods where she met Maduro supporters in 2024, and finds longtime believers struggling to reconcile Chavez's ideals with the movement's new direction - and questioning what "Chavismo" now stands for.

The US-Israeli war against Iran has triggered a plastic shortage in Asia. The region gets most of its oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and as a result of the effective blockade, countries cannot access the supply of oil that is the feedstock for plastic products, covering everything from food packaging and cosmetic products to medical syringes and prescription labels. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Barnaby Pace, senior researcher at the Center for International Environmental Law, about why Asia is so exposed to the plastic problem.

The Siberian region known as the Kuzbass is right in the heart of Russia's coal country, and pollution from open mines there has gone ignored by authorities, despite a high rate of respiratory illness and lung cancer. Now, the war seems to be posing a greater threat to coal than years of demands from environmentalists. Reporter Levi Bridges explains.

Some 25 million Americans live with rare genetic diseases - that's nearly 1 in 13. More than half are children. The path to discovering what the condition is, and finding treatments, can take years. But for children who are medical mysteries, getting a diagnosis can be life changing. Today, we meet a Cypriot pediatric neurologist behind the discovery of an ultra-rare genetic syndrome. Dr. Paola Nicolaides was early in her career when she encountered a very unusual patient. That encounter would change the lives of 333 individuals who, today, have a diagnosis of a syndrome bearing her name - including reporter Deepa Fernandes' daughter.Funding to report this story was provided by the Pulitzer Center.

It can all go horribly wrong. Or the translation can be spot-on - or even better than the original! It all depends on the film, the culture, the actual words themselves, the complexity of meaning and the nuance. The World's Gerry Hadden takes a global look at funny, brilliant and sometimes terrible film translations, and why it can be so hard to get it right.

Freshly cut flowers are pretty to look at, but getting them to your local flower shop requires more than just picking them. Growing flowers requires a lot of time, water and energy. And the flower business employs millions of people worldwide. Reporter Kathleen Schuster set out to learn more about the global flower market trade for the DW podcast, "Living Planet."This story originally aired on April 21, 2025.

Sir David Attenborough has documented the natural world and the creatures in it for more than 70 years, shifting from awe and wonder to advocacy around the climate crisis. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Alastair Fothergill, founder of Silverback Films and Attenborough's producer for 40 years, about his legacy.

Only 4% of Gaza's farmlands remain accessible to its residents for farming, according to a new report by the NGO Mercy Corps. The rest have either been damaged in war or are under Israeli control. That means people in Gaza are not able to grow their own crops, leaving them even more reliant on outside aid. The World's Shirin Jaafari tells Host Carolyn Beeler that if current conditions continue, it will take years, maybe decades, to rehabilitate the destroyed croplands.

Russia's annual Victory Day Parade is typically about pomp, circumstance and military might. But the event being held in Moscow on Saturday will lack the usual show of ballistic missiles and tanks. Meanwhile, a leaked security brief from a European intelligence agency claims that President Vladimir Putin has tightened his personal security and faces increased threats of assassination and coup attempts. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler learns more from Sam Greene, a professor of Russian politics at King's College London.

The World's Host Carolyn Beeler shares an update on major news stories from across the globe.

A Mexico City meetup for therians - or people who identify strongly with non-human animals, and sometimes dress up like them and emulate their behaviors - became a media spectacle after it was announced. Reporters expected to find a growing online community coming together in real life. But only one participant showed up. The larger crowd was made up of journalists, influencers and live-streamers, revealing a deeper story about online identity, and how social media can make small communities look larger than they are. The World's Tibisay Zea reports from Mexico City.

This week, the International Court of Justice is hearing arguments in a territorial dispute between Venezuela and its neighbor Guyana. Venezuela claims two-thirds of neighboring Guyana, on the basis of Spanish colonial history. Phil Gunson is a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group based in Caracas. He tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that tensions over this territory have a lot to do with oil.

Pope Leo XIV will mark one year in the papacy on Friday. His recent tenure has been marked by a forceful tone, especially in denouncing global conflict and defending migrants. Massimo Faggioli, a professor in ecclesiology at the Loyola Institute at Trinity College Dublin, speaks with The World's Host Marco Werman about the the pontiff's evolving presence on the world stage.

Since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, the government in Tehran has executed 25 political prisoners - the highest number in such a short span of time over the last three decades. Human rights activists worry the trend will continue unless the international community puts pressure on the Iranian government. The World's Shirin Jaafari has the story.

Sometimes overlooked in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the proverbial elephant in the room: religious doctrine driving politics, and also conflict. There's one belief that factors into how multiple religions approach the issue: that is, belief in Armageddon followed by a Messianic era. Reporter Stephanie Freid, in Jerusalem, explains how that keeps the fighting going.

Sand is in high demand, because it's needed to manufacture cement; that's led to a problem, in many countries, with illegal sand mining. That is, digging up sand illegally from beaches and river banks, and harming ecosystems in the process. As of April, India's Supreme Court is cracking down on the practice, with an ultimatum to three states: Stop illegal sand mining in your borders, or the military will stop it by force. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler checks in with Siddharth Agarwal, founder of India Sand Watch, for the details.

In a ceremony at a temple in Seoul, a humanoid robot named Gabi took monastic vows for ordination in South Korea's largest Buddhist order. The World's Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have more.

The fate of over a million people in the US with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is now in the hands of the US Supreme Court. The case comes after the Department of Homeland Security announced in September that it would end TPS for Haiti. Sarah Betancourt of GBH in Boston reports on what's at stake for those currently living legally in Massachusetts, knowing their days in the US could be numbered.

The UN warns that there's an "unprecedented" crisis in the Persian Gulf with 20,000 sailors trapped there since the beginning of the Iran war in March. Vessels there have come under attack and crew members have complained that they're running low on food. Now, as the US waffles on attempting to open the Strait of Hormuz, The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with John Canias, maritime operations coordinator for the International Transport Workers' Federation, on how the seafarers are doing.

The World Health Organization says the strain of hantavirus identified on the cruise ship heading toward Spain may have passed through human-to-human transmission. But thanks to a robust public health response and the high bar for that transmission, many medical experts believe the risk of the virus spreading among the general public is low. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with epidemiologist Syra Madad about what we know so far.

The town of Fenglin, in Taiwan, puts on annual snail races as a way to bring in tourists - and to showcase the town's focus on a slower, community-centered lifestyle. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

Hundreds of ferries, oil tankers, cargo ships and fishing boats ply the Bosphorus Strait every day. They take hundreds of thousands of passengers and millions of pounds of cargo each year. But they are a world onto themselves. Eda Uzunlar was given the opportunity to work on a ferry for a day this winter, and we'll get a small glimpse of what life is like on the water.

Some local officials and FIFA organizers are coming under fire over the high cost of transportation to World Cup matches this summer. One group of Scottish fans has come up with a creative way to bypass public transportation gridlock and save some cash - hiring every available yellow school bus they can find in the Boston area to cart them to the tournament. The World's Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel has the story.

Eight people are now suspected to have been affected by hantavirus, a rare but severe disease, onboard a cruise ship that's currently moored off the West African island nation of Cape Verde. Three people who were aboard the ship have already died. More than 140 people are still onboard the vessel, including 23 different nationalities. The vessel now looks set to dock off Tenerife in Spain on Saturday morning. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry has the latest.

Once dismissed as working-class entertainment, outdoor parties known as sonideros are gaining widespread popularity in Mexico City. The World's Tibisay Zea joined the fun for this report.This story originally aired on May 20, 2025.

The band Ireke is based in France and its joyous, musical roots come from funk, Afro-soul and reggae. The group's new album "Ayo Dele" means "joy comes to me" in the Yoruba language. Joy did come to the band when guest female artists said yes to singing on the album. Host Marco Werman has more.

The Surrey County Cricket Club in the UK is actively wooing hybrid workers. The venue - known as The Oval - upgraded its WiFi this year and has created special work areas, boasting desks with lots of outlets and a view of the game. They're calling the space, the "best home office in the country." Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

US military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Pacific Ocean are intensifying. But the public is short on details about the operation. US Southern Command reported two hits this week, bringing the total to 57 strikes and 191 people killed. Steven Dudley, co-director of InSight Crime, tells The World's Host Marco Werman that while the attacks have disrupted some smuggling routes, the overall flow of drugs from the region continues.

Mawlynnong, a village of 600 people in far northeast India, has captured the nation's imagination, including the country's prime minister. Dubbed Asia's cleanest village" by the media in a country known for chronic littering and sanitation problems, the leafy village is held up as an example of good civic cleaning practice. Up to 1,000 tourists visit Mawlynnong each day, marveling at shrubbery and the lack of trash. But as Jamie Fullerton reports, the villagers have had enough and are banning visitors on Sundays.

Norway is the world's largest producer of farmed salmon. But all those fish farms also come with nutrient pollution. A new report finds that pollution has reached a scale comparable to the raw sewage generated by a country the size of Australia. But not all experts agree that the pollution poses a risk. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Aleksander Nordahl, an editor at the Sunstone Institute that produced the report.

French President Emmanuel Macron has a musical side - especially when he's able to channel a French Armenian legend during a state visit. Macron joined Armenia's president in a rendition of the late Charles Aznavour's classic number, "La Boheme," with Macron singing and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on drums.

Migrants in Spain recently began applying to legalize their status. The government passed an amnesty measure that offers undocumented immigrants a one-year, renewable residence permit if they have spent five months living in the country and have a clean criminal record. It's a radical move, and one that once again sets Spain on a very different course to its European neighbors. So, what's been going on in Spain to make such daring policies possible? Well, one answer is grassroots organizing. Reporter Souwie Buis has been taking a closer look - and concluded that women are a major part of the story.

Senegal has recently passed a law that increased the maximum prison sentence for homosexual acts, and criminalizes what it calls the "promotion" of homosexuality. Patients with HIV are becoming more reluctant to seek treatment over fear of discrimination, just as HIV and AIDS cases are rising again due to dwindling humanitarian aid. Richard Powis, a US-based medical anthropologist who has conducted research in Senegal since 2012, speaks with Host Carolyn Beeler.

Relations between the United States and Europe are once again under strain, with President Donald Trump threatening to pull thousands of American troops from the continent. More than 80,000 US military personnel are currently stationed across Europe, many of them in Germany. Trump says he plans to withdraw around 5,000 troops from bases there, and has warned the number could rise significantly. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry reports.

The Hindu nationalist party of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is celebrating big electoral wins. That includes inroads in West Bengal, India's most populous state and a bastion of the opposition. Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, tells Host Marco Werman the vote was not without controversy.

One fan describes the music from Hiromi Uehara as "smile music." With titles like "Balloon Pop" and "Yes! Ramen!!" Hiromi and her band Sonicwonder are a joy to watch. Hiromi, herself, had the joy of working with some of the most revered jazz pianists in the world, including Ahmad Jamal and Chick Corea. Host Marco Werman speaks with Hiromi about her music and her love for ramen.This story originally aired on April 28, 2025.

The US Navy says it is now providing guidance" to commercial shipping vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. But retired Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, now senior director of The Foundation for Defense of Democracies Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler that because of the strait's geographical constraints, protecting vessels from threats like fast boats, drones and mines will be far from easy.

The United States has be a nation for 250 years. But it's democratic roots go back much further, to ancient Greece. The new documentary "Athens: Birth of Democracy" looks at the time when democracy first emerged. The documentary is from our colleagues at NOVA. Historian Paul Cartledge is one of the contributors to the show. He teaches at the University of Cambridge in England and recently spoke to Host Marco Werman.

The World's Hosts catch us up on a few things we might have missed in the news.

The capital of Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, has its own classical orchestra, known best as the Kinshasa Orchestra, or the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste. Sometimes, all it takes is a little pop power to give a classical ensemble a boost for greater recognition. That's what the Cameroonian singer, who goes simply as Irma, has done with her viral cover of Henry Mancini's "Moon River," accompanied by the Kinshasa Orchestra. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler take a listen.

Anti-immigrant sentiment has surged in South Africa, leading to harassment, threats against businesses and sporadic attacks, particularly against Ghanaians and Nigerians in the country. The Nigerian government now plans to repatriate its citizens from South Africa. The World's Host Marco Werman speaks with Sethulego Matebesi, a professor of sociology at the University of the Free State in South Africa, about what is happening and why.