England

Cover art for albums of multiple artists included on The World's 2021 music playlist. Clockwise, starting from the top left image: 'Suba' by Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita; 'El Alimento' by Cimafunk; 'Deja' by Bomba Estereo; 'Seeking New Gods' by Gruff Rhys;

Dance with The World, 2021 edition: A playlist

Forget political crises, breakthroughs in space exploration and crypto: Here is The World’s 2021 music recommendations to get you dancing into the new year.

Dance with The World, 2021 edition: A playlist
Benin Bronzes on exhibit at the British Museum.

Germany plans to return looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. Will other countries follow suit?

Germany plans to return looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. Will other countries follow suit?
A pair of travelers are shown walking in the International Arrivals section of London's Heathrow Airport with one person pushing a cart carrying several bags.

For holiday travel, England uses COVID tests to reduce quarantines

For holiday travel, England uses COVID tests to reduce quarantines
A woman wearing a dark jacket and sunglasses is shown standing in front of a statue of her with her hand raised.

Statue of Black protester replaces toppled UK slave trader

Statue of Black protester replaces toppled UK slave trader
A stenciled rat appears to be sneezing.

Banksy unveils new pandemic-inspired art featuring rats in face masks

Banksy unveils new pandemic-inspired art featuring rats in face masks
A group of four people sit in red chairs in an elegant room with green and gold-starred walls

UK sanctions on Russians, Saudis are a 'milestone' for human rights, advocate says

Bill Browder is a British American financier who has been seeking justice for Sergei Magnitsky, his former attorney, for years. He spoke to The World's host Carol Hills on the UK's rollout of sanctions that mirror the US' 2013 Magnitsky Act.

UK sanctions on Russians, Saudis are a 'milestone' for human rights, advocate says
A sign reads "no sex" in the red-light district in Amsterdam.

Sex workers in Europe struggle to survive as clubs slowly reopen

As sex clubs reopen across Europe, sex workers worry about their earnings and also whether they can stay safe. Niki Adams, a spokesperson with English Collective of Prostitutes, says the pandemic and lack of state support shows how far the industry still has to go to gain legal recognition.

Sex workers in Europe struggle to survive as clubs slowly reopen
People gather around a coffin on a boat

Mourning in the midst of a pandemic

The coronavirus has fundamentally changed how we live our lives, but perhaps most heartbreakingly, how we deal with death. Around the world, centuries-old burial rituals are being stopped. Gatherings to mourn someone’s death are limited. Even something as simple as a hug for a grieving friend is now essentially out of bounds.

Mourning in the midst of a pandemic
A man raises his hand while walking through a crowd.

82-year-old British cyclist completes 1 million miles

Russ Mantle has achieved a milestone by riding 1 million miles in 68 years.

82-year-old British cyclist completes 1 million miles
two parakeets in a london park

A colony of feral parakeets has invaded London

Tens of thousands of tropical parakeets roost in London's trees. How did they get there?

A colony of feral parakeets has invaded London
A couple of signs

'Transgender women are women,' organizers say after controversy over women-only pond in London

The Hampstead Heath Ladies’ Pond has been a place where women having been taking a dip for over a century. But earlier this year, there were complaints when transgender women used the pond

'Transgender women are women,' organizers say after controversy over women-only pond in London
South London musician Cosmo Pyke

Cosmo Pyke and Frank Ulwenya capture the sound of travel with soul and surf rock

What does it sound like to travel? In this A-side B-side, we find it in two tracks.

Cosmo Pyke and Frank Ulwenya capture the sound of travel with soul and surf rock
UK soul singer and guitarist James Hunter just released his second album for Daptone Records. It's called "Whatever it Takes."

Soul captured James Hunter's heart at a young age

James Hunter loves soul and he's been a fan of the genre for a long time. He admits a lot of musicians in the UK try to emulate it, but the "results are mixed at best, I suppose." Hunter tells us who his favorite soul artists and picks a couple of tracks from his new album.

Soul captured James Hunter's heart at a young age
The small size of the blue halite crystals found in two meteorites is shown next to a pair of tweezers.

Blue salt crystals on meteorites stoke conversation about extraterrestrial life

The blue salt crystals, which resemble blue sapphires, may have come from Ceres, a dwarf planet located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Blue salt crystals on meteorites stoke conversation about extraterrestrial life
A copy of "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" at a book store in New York

'Fire and Fury' in Europe: 'Everyone at the school gate was talking about it this morning'

Michael Wolff's book, "Fire and Fury," about life inside Team Trump, is a top story and conversation point outside of the United States. The World gets the view from London.

'Fire and Fury' in Europe: 'Everyone at the school gate was talking about it this morning'