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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The new Bundibugyo strain is the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak ever, with over a thousand cases detected and more than 300 deaths in just one month in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Also, protests in Albania against plans for a multi-million-dollar luxury tourism development backed by Jared Kushner have expanded to include other grievances. And, a look at how Chinese immigrants from San Francisco helped establish birthright citizenship in the US. Plus, a rundown of the latest updates in the knockout phase of the World Cup.We made our goal of $30,000! Thank you. 💙 If you haven’t given yet, there’s still time! Our 2:1 match is live until midnight June 30. Your support and generosity mean so much and help power our small, but mighty newsroom. Give now. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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The official death toll from Venezuela’s back-to-back earthquakes has climbed to around 600, with thousands injured and more than 50,000 reported still missing. Also, we take a look at what motivates countries to become mediators. And, the overlooked role of Indigenous people during the American Revolution. Plus, a vacation offer for healthcare workers in Canada that turned out to be a phishing test.Time is running out and we need your help to reach our goal before our 2:1 match ends! Give now. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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The government of Venezuela has declared a national emergency as the death toll climbs from two earthquakes and rescuers attempt to dig people out of the rubble. The quakes hit a country already weakened by years of economic collapse, strained healthcare and political disruption. Also, the 2026-2027 Census in India is being conducted mainly by women. And, new analysis finds an increase in lawsuits around the world targeting data centers. Plus, National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek talks about how art has shaped his multi-year Out of Eden Walk.Time is running out and we need your help to reach our goal before our 2:1 match ends! Give now. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Activists and human rights groups abroad say the Iranian government is going after their loved ones inside Iran, arresting and intimidating them. They say it also goes after their assets, properties and bank accounts. Also, a new UN report charges Israel with deliberately targeting and killing Palestinian youth. And, a rare peek at an endangered flower in southern Kyrgyzstan. Plus, archaeologists discover the first shipwrecks tied to the Golden Age of Piracy in the Bahamas.Time is running out and we need your help to reach our goal before our 2:1 match ends! Give now. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Western Europe is in the midst of a severe heat wave, with the temperature in Paris hovering close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. An estimated 45 people have already died in France as a result, many from drowning while trying to cool off. Also, a look at how Brexit continues to shape British politics a decade later. And, US funding cuts to South Africa could risk an HIV/AIDS rebound. Plus, a new type of shoe that keeps your feet cool and comfortable.Time is running out and we need your help to reach our goal before our 2:1 match ends! Give now. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer has resigned, less than two years after taking office. His resignation makes him the latest in a series of short-lived UK leaders, with the country now set to see its seventh prime minister in 10 years. Also, in Colombia, a conservative pro-Trump lawyer won the country’s presidential election on Sunday, as expected, but by only 1%. And, officials in the Crimean Peninsula have suspended its sale of fuel to the public indefinitely. Plus, a round-up of the latest in World Cup excitement.Time is running out and we need your help to reach our goal before our 2:1 match ends! Give now. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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June 19, now recognized as the federal holiday Juneteenth, commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned of their freedom. In The World’s Juneteenth special, we examine racial inequalities in higher education in India and South Africa, and consider who benefits from a college education. We also visit Louisiana to explore how the history and legacy of slavery are taught in the United States today. Plus, we speak with Rhiannon Giddens, known as the “banjo auntie,” about her efforts to teach others about the banjo's African origins. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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The US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding aims to end regional fighting, but Israel and Lebanon remain key wild cards. Any renewed violence along their shared border could quickly put the agreement at risk. Also, the EU is rolling out the biggest overhaul of its asylum system in years, with reforms designed to speed up asylum decisions and tighten controls at the bloc's external borders. And, nitazenes are an up-and-coming class of synthetic opioids that can be 40 times more potent than fentanyl and far more difficult to track. Plus, the history behind the traditional red drinks that commemorate Juneteenth.Our reporting is independent, inclusive and in-depth. Best of all, it’s listener-supported. Give today to support The World! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Leaders from the US and Iran will meet in Geneva Friday to sign an agreement ending months of fighting. Also, a major hang-up to the Iran deal is Israel's military campaign in Lebanon. And, anti-immigration groups in South Africa are stepping up vigilante-style actions aimed at pressuring migrants to leave their country. Plus, Colombia’s national soccer jersey turns political.Our reporting is independent, inclusive and in-depth. Best of all, it’s listener-supported. Give today to support The World! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Earlier this year, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged countries caught between the world's superpowers to work together and forge a "third path." Now, as leaders gather for the G7 summit in France, questions remain about whether Carney can translate that vision into real influence. Also, a US airstrike on a compound in Venezuela that killed the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang last week could open the door to the country’s mineral wealth. And, Greenland's melting glaciers are contributing to rising sea levels. Plus, underdog teams are undermining some of the best at this year’s World Cup.Our reporting is independent, inclusive and in-depth. Best of all, it’s listener-supported. Give today to support The World! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices