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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Nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record. Also, Turkey sees two school shootings in one week. And, India launches a new generation of night trains. Plus, Mehmet Ali Sanlikol brings us the sounds of the electric oud. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Today the Trump administration announced a temporary 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. Also, long-time foes in Libya took part in joint US-led military exercises this week in an attempt by Washington to unite rival factions. And, leaders in northern Nigeria react to US accusations of “Christian genocide.” Plus, dating companies in Japan are finding ways to work around a law requiring couples to officially have the same last name. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Today marks three years since the start of Sudan’s civil war in which thousands are believed to have died and as many as 14 million have been forced to flee. Also, a new video game that’s designed to help people get on H-1B visas to work in the US. And, Ukraine showcases its rapid advances in high-tech warfare, complete with unmanned robots. Plus, Turkey thanks Spain for its opposition to the Israeli-US war in Iran — with hair transplants. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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For the first time in more than 30 years, delegations from Israel and Lebanon are meeting for direct talks in Washington, DC. Also, a new documentary by PBS’s FRONTLINE looks at a deportation deal between the presidents of the US and El Salvador. And, Pope Leo XIV, who is in Algeria as part of his Africa tour, has condemned those who wage war and brushed off criticism from US President Donald Trump. Plus, the induction of Fela Kuti and Sade Adu to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame marks the first time Nigerians have been honored by the Hall’s voters. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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The election results in Hungary are seismic. After four consecutive terms under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, people voted overwhelmingly on Sunday for opposition leader Péter Magyar to take the country in a new direction. Also, as negotiations between the US and Iran fail, a discussion about how the dismantling of diplomatic expertise in the US has hindered current efforts to end the war. And, the largest international group representing commercial pilots is calling for pilots to have "final and non-negotiable" authority to refuse flights over conflict zones. Plus, a tribute to Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle, whose music has been a soundtrack for people's lives for multiple generations. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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The Trump administration has deported as many as 15,000 people to countries they are not from, ranging from Mexico to South Sudan. Also, whale sightings in the Gulf of California have dropped in recent years, telling us something about the health of a vital ecosystem. And, the US and Israel saw groups of ethnic Kurds based in Iraq as potential forces to arm Iranian protesters and help bring regime change, but such an intervention never materialized. Plus, how our brains’ process for making memories seems to be vulnerable to generative AI. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Waves of deadly Israeli airstrikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon are threatening to derail the US-Iran truce. Also, concerns are growing that authoritarian tactics to squash basic rights are returning to Indonesia, given increasing threats made against activists, influencers and journalists. And, the UK and Norway are tracking Russian submarines in the North Sea. Plus, the jar of Nutella that appeared across the screen during a livestream of the Artemis II mission around the moon. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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The two‑week ceasefire between the US and Iran, brokered by Pakistan just hours before US President Donald Trump’s threat of “total annihilation,” remains highly tentative. Also, countries in Africa react to the economic shocks triggered by the war in Iran. And, a high-profile visit by US Vice President JD Vance to Budapest is drawing attention to crucial elections in Hungary this Sunday. Plus, a nonprofit in Bangladesh is studying how heat waves are impacting mental health, and offering counseling to alleviate the burden. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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As US President Donald Trump threatens to destroy Iran’s “whole civilization” we take a look back at Iran’s heritage over the centuries. Also, opposition politician Cheng Li-wun visits China to bolster Taiwan’s ties to the mainland as the war in Iran raises concerns about the US’s military bandwidth. And, people in South India are creating mechanical elephants to replace real ones during Hindu religious services. Plus, a visit to Akira Comics in Spain, which attributes its success to immersive fantasy. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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A look at the tensions currently on display between diplomacy and escalation in the Iran war. Also, scientists in Southeast Asia are bio-hacking mosquitoes to curb the spread of disease. And, the editor-in-chief of an independent newspaper in Afghanistan tells the story of trying to protect his paper from the Taliban. Plus, Pakistani American doctor Seema Jilani defines what it means to find home while working in war zones. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices