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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A Russian oil tanker has reached Cuba, offering brief relief after months of severe fuel shortages; but for many Cubans, the crisis runs much deeper. Also, Israeli settler violence, raids and demolitions are forcing West Bank residents from their homes in unprecedented numbers. At the same time, a new Israeli law imposes the death penalty as the default sentence for Palestinians convicted in fatal attacks. And, The World’s Transportation Correspondent Jeremy Siegel gains exclusive access to information about allegations of forced labor violations at a factory for global EV giant BYD in Hungary. Plus, as Jewish people across the globe prepare for Passover, Kat Romanow discusses her cooking classes and the global influences that shape Jewish cuisine in Montreal, including variations on seder staples like homemade matzo. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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This weekend, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, arrived in the waters off of Split, Croatia, after being pulled from combat operations in the Red Sea. Also, in a blunt Palm Sunday sermon, Pope Leo XIV implicitly criticized the world powers behind the war in Iran, arguing that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them.” And, recovery in Jamaica from Hurricane Melissa is a slow and ongoing process five months on. Plus, Composer Sami Yusuf’s musical journey continues with his newest album, “Ecstasy: Voices of the Earth.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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On the first day of US and Israeli attacks in Iran, a school bombing in the village of Minab that killed many children triggered global outrage. The World investigates another similar attack that also resulted in the death of children in the city of Lamerd that went mostly unnoticed. Also, a new amendment to the national security law in Hong Kong allows police to demand the password to a person's phone in order to search it. And, the British colonial-era diamond giant De Beers is now up for sale, and former African colonies, like Botswana, are looking to buy the company that long profited from their diamond mines. Plus, a new swing set celebrates a wacky border shared by two towns between the Netherlands and Belgium. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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The International Olympic Committee has announced that transgender women will be banned from competing in women’s events at the Olympic Games, under new rules coming into force from 2028. Also, ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was abducted early this year in a US military raid, is in court today. And, a look at financial scams targeting women in Yemen. Also, the UN votes to name the trans-Atlantic slave trade “the gravest crime against humanity.” Plus, composer and trumpet player John Vanore releases a new composition inspired by the ancient statues on Easter Island. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Ukraine’s president recently said he had a "very bad feeling" about the impact of the Middle East conflict on the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin is reaping windfall profits as the price of oil rises, and the air defense weaponry Kyiv needs is in increasingly short supply. Also, Europe sees a rise in antisemitic attacks. And, it’s been 10 years since The Rolling Stones performed in Cuba. Plus, a look at the relationship between K-Pop and Black music. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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In this fourth week of the war in Iran, the uncertainty of bombing, and even just finding food and shelter, has taken a toll on millions across the region. Also, the UN is warning that a roiling political feud in South Sudan could escalate into another fractious conflict. And, a new climate report finds this past decade to be the hottest on record — and that the Earth's energy balance is off. Plus, a modern revamp of a beloved character from the days of the Soviet Union, and its sequel, are huge box office hits in Russia. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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As Argentines prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of the coup that began years of brutal military dictatorship in their country, that very history is now being contested, with President Javier Milei stirring debate over how it should be remembered. Also, many immigrants in Spain have been celebrating an amnesty program that will legalize their status and allow them to work in the country, but some say that to land a job, Spanish employers are demanding they lose their native accents, which people are referring to as “linguistic racism.” And, Denmark releases apps to help Danes boycott US products. Plus, a new law in Kenya gives women the right to request two days off per month for menstrual pain. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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As Iran continues to block ships from moving through the Strait of Hormuz, farmers around the world are seeing their fertilizer supplies coming up short, and some countries are having to shut down down their LNG plants. Also, we wrap up our weeklong housing affordability coverage with a wider discussion about tackling the rising cost of housing at its root. And, a look at the history of US-Cuba relations. Also, the K-pop megastars of BTS are back together after a long break to complete their military service. Plus, a look at a family tradition for Nowruz. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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EU leaders are meeting in Brussels for a two-day summit that's been dominated by the war in the Middle East as tensions between the US and Europe continue to escalate. Also, a look at how US and Israeli ambitions overlap and diverge in the war with Iran. And, the housing market in Venezuela is rebounding following the country’s dramatic political shift. Plus, a look at Iran’s Kharg Island, which, in addition to oil installations, is home to a small population, several cultural sites and wildlife. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Israeli forces are intensifying airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon, as well as hitting targets in Beirut neighborhoods. Also, a meningitis outbreak has public health officials scrambling in the UK. And, Denmark is using heat generated by crematoriums to warm nearby homes. Plus, a look at how Vienna has bucked the trend in dealing with Europe’s rent crisis. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices