The World is public radio’s longest-running daily global news program. Our goal is to engage domestic US audiences with international affairs through human-centered journalism that consistently connects the global to the local and builds empathy for people around the world.
The World is a co-production of PRX and WGBH that broadcasts from the Nan and Bill Harris Studios at WGBH in Boston, Massachusetts. Launched in 1996 in response to a lack of international news in commercial media, The World has remained one of public radio’s most essential programs by providing its listeners with daily access to voices and stories not heard anywhere else. Our loyal broadcast listenership in the US measures 2.5 million each week, and our reach to global audiences — via broadcast, podcast and the web — is possible because of our strong editorial partnerships and digital distribution agreements.
Over the years, The World has carved out a niche by offering a unique perspective on daily news: covering American issues and events through the eyes of foreign observers, and contextualizing foreign affairs for American listeners. We maintain a steady focus on global events and issues, reminding listeners that the US is not isolated and that powers centered in Moscow, Kyiv, Beijing, Pyongyang, Riyadh, Istanbul, and elsewhere are reframing the global order every day. Our team does this by consistently working to get direct access to original sources: people on the ground who participate in the events we describe.
Our key areas of focus are global security, women & gender, the environment, migration and public health. From frontline diplomats to refugees in crisis, from environmental scientists in the field to protesters putting their lives on the line and individuals grappling with the impact of global cyberculture, The World starts with individuals at the core of a story and expands from there.
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Since late August, a plane has flown once a week from Louisiana, carrying Haitians — who had been living in the US under Temporary Protected Status, or TPS — across the sea to the city of Cap-Haïtien, after the US Department of Homeland Security ended TPS for Haitians in late July. Also, global foreign aid is shrinking at a historic rate. And, Beijing’s view of the Xi-Trump meeting in Washington. Plus, how to eat the world’s “worst-smelling food” … the Swedish way Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Forces in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region seized three airports this week, only a few days after seven armed and political groups formed an alliance against the government. Also, climate control for art and artifacts accounts for a large share of museum carbon emissions, so museums are introducing new protocols to cut emissions while still protecting their collections. And, a new free database now holds nearly 4 million records of people enslaved in British colonies from the Caribbean to South Africa in the early 1800s. Plus, what’s next for Nepal? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping lands in Washington today for his first state visit since 2015. He will meet US President Trump to discuss safety, artificial intelligence, Taiwan's future and the possible extension of a trade truce. Also, an American Expressive Arts therapist has created an international network of mental health practitioners to support colleagues in Ukraine. And, a new report from the University of Chicago’s Climate Impact Lab estimates that unusually high temperatures could cause more than 451,000 deaths between June 2026 and February 2027. Plus, Scottish DJ Calvin Harris sets a Guinness World Record. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Since returning to power, the Trump administration has sent around 25,000 migrants to 28 unfamiliar countries. Also, who will step into the role of the next UN chief? The answer awaits at this year's General Assembly. And, drones are reshaping the battlefield and the injuries doctors encounter. Plus, learn which Slovakian city has earned the title of capital of culture. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Saudi Arabia weighs its options as Houthi rebels launch repeated missile and drone attacks on its cities, military sites and energy infrastructure. And, scientists experiment with a new Ebola vaccine. Also, the US, Denmark and Greenland sign a new deal that could ease months of tensions. Plus, researchers name a new cat species. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Many people in Europe think the Moroccan government was involved in the large border crossing in July, when almost 80,000 people entered Ceuta, Spain's North African enclave. Morocco denies this. Also, in Turkey, the prime minister has ordered police to crack down on LGBTQ+ communities in Istanbul, leading to many raids and arrests under obscenity laws to “protect families.” Syria once had one of the biggest bee populations in the Middle East, but only a small number survived the civil war that started in 2011. Now, local farmers are working to bring them back. Plus, an Australian company is producing fire-resistant bras and menstrual briefs. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Canada and the European Union want to strengthen their alliance and broader trade ties. This week, the president of the European Parliament proposed making Canada an "associate member" of the bloc. Also, Mexican authorities are investigating a string of clandestine cryptocurrency mines after discovering more than 1,000 mining machines in a remote part of Puebla, apparently powered with stolen electricity. And, fuel prices are skyrocketing again, prompting protests, rationing and blackouts in several countries. Plus, ahead of the centennial of tenor saxophonist John Coltrane's birth on Sunday, we listen to a modern exponent of his sound. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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In Gaza today, rescue teams comb through rubble, searching desperately for survivors after a war-damaged building gave way. The death toll has climbed to at least 21, a Gaza Health Ministry official reports. Also, Israel's prime minister has vowed to introduce a law stripping citizenship from those accused of defaming the nation's army. And, in Nepal, flood survivors with disabilities struggle to find sign language interpreters, transportation, and even basic information. Plus, a Brazilian cellist who performs in conflict zones. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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The Kremlin’s history of election meddling is entering a new era, as artificial intelligence arms Russia with sharper, more elusive tools for interference in the US midterm elections. Also, global measles cases have surged by 8% since 2019. And, the Trump administration is tightening the rules for international students, shortening the time they can stay before needing to reapply for a visa or leave the country. Plus, a Singapore university has revealed the world’s second biological data center, where living human neurons and silicon hardware join forces to process information. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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In Yemen, the Houthis, a rebel group supported by Iran, have taken more strategic territory along the Red Sea. This now includes islands in the middle of the narrowest part of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key route for over a tenth of global trade. Also, in Germany, police arrested a man last week suspected of planning and carrying out sabotage against the country’s electricity network, apparently to highlight the climate crisis. And, when Beijing and Washington discuss AI safety rules, they often have very different ideas. In the US, the debate focuses on threats to humanity, while China is more concerned about risks to its ruling party. Plus, Senegal is getting ready to host the Youth Olympic Games. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices