Host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories that remind us just how small our planet really is. The World, the radio program, is heard each weekday on over 300 public stations across North America.

Journalist Julia Ioffe didn't think the long line of women doctors and scientists in her family was unusual. In Soviet Russia, educated, accomplished women were the norm. But also normal were the burdens of running the home, caring for children and healing a broken country — generation after generation. Ioffe explores how the promise of the Russian revolution failed women in her new book, “Motherland: A Feminist History of Russia from Revolution to Autocracy.” She spoke with Host Marco Werman.

Journalist Julia Ioffe didn't think the long line of women doctors and scientists in her family was unusual. In Soviet Russia, educated, accomplished women were the norm. But also normal were the burdens of running the home, caring for children and healing a broken country — generation after generation. Ioffe explores how the promise of the Russian revolution failed women in her new book, “Motherland: A Feminist History of Russia from Revolution to Autocracy.” She spoke with Host Marco Werman.

Failed promise of equality for Soviet women

From lollipops and fois gras containing toxic additives to deceitful labelling and packaging, food companies are out to make a buck off harried Christmas shoppers. In France, an NGO called FoodWatch calls out some of those producers each year, and gets more than a few to change their ways. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

From lollipops and fois gras containing toxic additives to deceitful labelling and packaging, food companies are out to make a buck off harried Christmas shoppers. In France, an NGO called FoodWatch calls out some of those producers each year, and gets more than a few to change their ways. The World's Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona.

Holiday food scams in France exposed in time for Christmas

Tensions are mounting off Venezuela’s coast, as US warships and aircraft continue to shadow and seize more oil tankers in the Caribbean. This weekend, the US Coast Guard pursued a third vessel, the Panamanian-flagged Bella 1. Jorge Piñón, a fellow at the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin speaks with The World’s Host Marco Werman about why the US oil blockade on Venezuela is sending shockwaves through Havana.

Tensions are mounting off Venezuela’s coast, as US warships and aircraft continue to shadow and seize more oil tankers in the Caribbean. This weekend, the US Coast Guard pursued a third vessel, the Panamanian-flagged Bella 1. Jorge Piñón, a fellow at the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin speaks with The World’s Host Marco Werman about why the US oil blockade on Venezuela is sending shockwaves through Havana.

Cubans brace for fuel shock as US tightens oil blockade on Venezuela

The Iranian capital of Tehran is one of the worst cities in the world for air quality. The World's host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, about the factors contributing to air pollution in Iran.

The Iranian capital of Tehran is one of the worst cities in the world for air quality. The World's host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, about the factors contributing to air pollution in Iran.

Amid catastrophic drought, Iran also faces worsening air pollution

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry to be the envoy to the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland. Landry reiterated the president's claim that control of Greenland is a national security priority for the US. Greenland is a territory of Denmark, which is a NATO ally of the US. The World's Host Marco Werman has more.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry to be the envoy to the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland. Landry reiterated the president's claim that control of Greenland is a national security priority for the US. Greenland is a territory of Denmark, which is a NATO ally of the US. The World's Host Marco Werman has more.

Trump appoints Greenland envoy who believes US should own the island

The sport of darts got a major boost a few years ago when one player — 16 year old Luke Littler — made headlines for being the youngest person to make it to the finals of the World Championships. But this year, all eyes are on David Munyua, a full-time veterinarian who is the first player from Kenya to make it to the tournament. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the story.

The sport of darts got a major boost a few years ago when one player — 16 year old Luke Littler — made headlines for being the youngest person to make it to the finals of the World Championships. But this year, all eyes are on David Munyua, a full-time veterinarian who is the first player from Kenya to make it to the tournament. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler have the story.

Kenyan darts player becomes the 'people's champion' in his World Championship debut

Rock climbing became an Olympic sport in 2020. And since then, it’s seen a surge of interest all around the world. Last month, Colombia held the Panamerican Cup: a championship for South, Central and North America. Reporter Stan Alcorn went to the Colombian city of Armenia to see it happen.

Rock climbing became an Olympic sport in 2020. And since then, it’s seen a surge of interest all around the world. Last month, Colombia held the Panamerican Cup: a championship for South, Central and North America. Reporter Stan Alcorn went to the Colombian city of Armenia to see it happen.

Rock climbing on the rise in Colombia

Tonight is the sixth night of Hanukkah, and for lots of American Jews, that means latkes, or potato pancakes fried in oil. The World’s Sarah Birnbaum (and her toddler son) look into where this culinary tradition comes from.This story originally aired on Dec. 15, 2020.

Tonight is the sixth night of Hanukkah, and for lots of American Jews, that means latkes, or potato pancakes fried in oil. The World’s Sarah Birnbaum (and her toddler son) look into where this culinary tradition comes from.
This story originally aired on Dec. 15, 2020.

Why Jewish people eat latkes on Hanukkah

Thousands of marines stationed at bases from California to Arizona recently gathered at Camp Pendleton in southern California for the annual Steel Knight exercise. Instead of just military maneuvers, the troops used scenarios from past military mistakes, like the evacuation of Kabul in 2021. The drills took place in what the Marines call K-2 Combat Town, a simulated urban area. Andrew Dyer of KPBS reports.

Thousands of marines stationed at bases from California to Arizona recently gathered at Camp Pendleton in southern California for the annual Steel Knight exercise. Instead of just military maneuvers, the troops used scenarios from past military mistakes, like the evacuation of Kabul in 2021. The drills took place in what the Marines call K-2 Combat Town, a simulated urban area. Andrew Dyer of KPBS reports.

Military drills in San Diego address mistakes of the past

Just a decade ago, the population of the Lesser Antillean iguana on the small, private island of Prickly Pear East Cay was zero. But scientists from nearby Anguilla wanted to save the species from extinction. Now, they're seeing the effort pay off, as Host Carolyn Beeler explains.

Just a decade ago, the population of the Lesser Antillean iguana on the small, private island of Prickly Pear East Cay was zero. But scientists from nearby Anguilla wanted to save the species from extinction. Now, they're seeing the effort pay off, as Host Carolyn Beeler explains.

Rare iguana makes a comeback

Opposition from farmers in Europe has caused a last-minute delay to a major free trade agreement 25 years in the making. The deal between the EU and Mercosur countries in South America was due to be signed this weekend, but will now be postponed to mid-January. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Nicolás Saldías, an analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Opposition from farmers in Europe has caused a last-minute delay to a major free trade agreement 25 years in the making. The deal between the EU and Mercosur countries in South America was due to be signed this weekend, but will now be postponed to mid-January. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Nicolás Saldías, an analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

World's largest free trade agreement delayed

For the first time in decades, foreigners in Saudi Arabia can legally buy alcohol at certain stores. High-end hotels are advertising job openings for bartenders and drink specialists, in a move that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. This comes as the Kingdom is set to host the men's World Cup in 2034 and it tries to entice tourists to visit. It also wants to shift its economy away from oil. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

For the first time in decades, foreigners in Saudi Arabia can legally buy alcohol at certain stores. High-end hotels are advertising job openings for bartenders and drink specialists, in a move that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. This comes as the Kingdom is set to host the men's World Cup in 2034 and it tries to entice tourists to visit. It also wants to shift its economy away from oil. The World's Shirin Jaafari reports.

Saudi Arabia loosens its alcohol ban as it tries to diversify its economy

"The Odyssey — From Vietnam to America" is a tribute to the refugees who fled Vietnam in the aftermath of that war. The refugees became known as "boat people," as they risked everything to sail in small, overcrowded boats in search of freedom. Musician Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ  spoke to many survivors and included their voices in her work. Vanessa Võ recently spoke to Host Carolyn Beeler.

"The Odyssey — From Vietnam to America" is a tribute to the refugees who fled Vietnam in the aftermath of that war. The refugees became known as "boat people," as they risked everything to sail in small, overcrowded boats in search of freedom. Musician Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ  spoke to many survivors and included their voices in her work. Vanessa Võ recently spoke to Host Carolyn Beeler.

A musical tribute to the 'boat people' of Vietnam

A century-old archive of klezmer tunes was retrieved by Ukrainian and Japanese graduate students from the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, brought to New York and is now being digitized and notated. These tunes — about 1,400 of them — enlarge the klezmer repertoire four-fold. They haven’t been heard in 100 years, and in the last couple of years have been recorded by klezmer artists from around the world. Jon Kalish reports.

A century-old archive of klezmer tunes was retrieved by Ukrainian and Japanese graduate students from the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, brought to New York and is now being digitized and notated. These tunes — about 1,400 of them — enlarge the klezmer repertoire four-fold. They haven’t been heard in 100 years, and in the last couple of years have been recorded by klezmer artists from around the world. Jon Kalish reports.

Old klezmer tunes saved from library in Ukraine

The European Union agreed this morning to provide Ukraine with a $105 billion interest-free loan to cover vital economic and military needs. European leaders had hoped to use frozen Russian assets, but that was cancelled at the last minute due to pushback from Belgium. Host Carolyn Beeler has more.

The European Union agreed this morning to provide Ukraine with a $105 billion interest-free loan to cover vital economic and military needs. European leaders had hoped to use frozen Russian assets, but that was cancelled at the last minute due to pushback from Belgium. Host Carolyn Beeler has more.

European leaders agree on $105 billion loan to Ukraine

Australia’s government has vowed to tighten firearms laws, toughen hate-speech measures and curtail immigration in the wake of Sunday’s massacre at a Jewish Hanukkah festival. Daniel Lo Surdo, a reporter at the Sydney Morning Herald speaks with The World’s Host Carolyn Beeler about the simmering anger among victims’ families.

Australia’s government has vowed to tighten firearms laws, toughen hate-speech measures and curtail immigration in the wake of Sunday’s massacre at a Jewish Hanukkah festival. Daniel Lo Surdo, a reporter at the Sydney Morning Herald speaks with The World’s Host Carolyn Beeler about the simmering anger among victims’ families.

Australia announces sweeping gun buyback after Bondi killings

This week saw two shootings in the US that made national and international headlines. The first was at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Two days later, Nuno Loureiro, a Portuguese immigrant and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was found shot dead at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. A suspect in both shootings was found dead in a New Hampshire storage facility. He was a former student at Brown and also a Portuguese citizen. It's a developing story and being watched closely in Portugal, as journalist Sofia Neves, a reporter at the Portuguese daily paper PÚBLICO, tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler.

This week saw two shootings in the US that made national and international headlines. The first was at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Two days later, Nuno Loureiro, a Portuguese immigrant and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was found shot dead at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. A suspect in both shootings was found dead in a New Hampshire storage facility. He was a former student at Brown and also a Portuguese citizen. It's a developing story and being watched closely in Portugal, as journalist Sofia Neves, a reporter at the Portuguese daily paper PÚBLICO, tells The World's Host Carolyn Beeler.

Portugal reacts to citizens' connections to shootings in US

European leaders are locked in talks in Brussels over how the EU will fund future support for Ukraine, with the outcome of the summit seen as critical to Kyiv’s ability to sustain its war effort. One of the most divisive issues is whether to use billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to help finance Ukraine’s military and economic needs. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry joins Host Marco Werman with the latest.

European leaders are locked in talks in Brussels over how the EU will fund future support for Ukraine, with the outcome of the summit seen as critical to Kyiv’s ability to sustain its war effort. One of the most divisive issues is whether to use billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to help finance Ukraine’s military and economic needs. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry joins Host Marco Werman with the latest.

Europe debates tapping Russian assets as Ukraine aid hangs in balance

From the Great Lakes in the US to the glacial-melt waters of Switzerland, quagga mussels have wreaked havoc on local ecosystems. Now, they've been reported in Northern Ireland. Bastiaan Ibelings is a microbial ecologist at the University of Geneva. He tells The World's Host Marco Werman that the pesky mollusks have transformed Lake Geneva over the past decade. He joins Marco from a small village near Martigny, Switzerland.

From the Great Lakes in the US to the glacial-melt waters of Switzerland, quagga mussels have wreaked havoc on local ecosystems. Now, they've been reported in Northern Ireland. Bastiaan Ibelings is a microbial ecologist at the University of Geneva. He tells The World's Host Marco Werman that the pesky mollusks have transformed Lake Geneva over the past decade. He joins Marco from a small village near Martigny, Switzerland.

Invasive quagga clams found in Northern Ireland already wreaking havoc in Swiss lake

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a $35 billion natural gas deal with Egypt. American company Chevron is part of the deal and it is the largest in Israel's history. It comes at a time when there's a tenuous ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. Long before the current conflict in Gaza, Israeli strikes on infrastructure, control over fuel and precarious grid access made electricity a flashpoint. From the podcast Lawless Planet, Zach Goldbaum reports on how energy became another weapon of war and what it means when power can be switched off at a moment's notice.You can hear the full episode at <a href="https://wondery.com/links/lawless-planet">wondery.com/links/lawless-planet</a>.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a $35 billion natural gas deal with Egypt. American company Chevron is part of the deal and it is the largest in Israel's history. It comes at a time when there's a tenuous ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. Long before the current conflict in Gaza, Israeli strikes on infrastructure, control over fuel and precarious grid access made electricity a flashpoint. From the podcast Lawless Planet, Zach Goldbaum reports on how energy became another weapon of war and what it means when power can be switched off at a moment's notice.
You can hear the full episode at wondery.com/links/lawless-planet.

The history of getting power to Palestinians in Gaza

Eleven members of the Nigerian Air Force were released from detention yesterday in Burkina Faso, in West Africa. Their aircraft made an emergency landing there more than a week ago, and a Nigerian delegation had to negotiate with Burkina Faso's military junta to get the personnel released. Host Marco Werman has more.

Eleven members of the Nigerian Air Force were released from detention yesterday in Burkina Faso, in West Africa. Their aircraft made an emergency landing there more than a week ago, and a Nigerian delegation had to negotiate with Burkina Faso's military junta to get the personnel released. Host Marco Werman has more.

Nigerian Air Force crew released from detention in Burkina Faso

Residents of the Malian capital, Bamako, have seen more gas reaching the pumps recently, after a weeks-long blockade by an al Qaeda-affiliated group called JNIM had brought the city to a near stand-still. But the threat to Mali's military junta continues, as The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

Residents of the Malian capital, Bamako, have seen more gas reaching the pumps recently, after a weeks-long blockade by an al Qaeda-affiliated group called JNIM had brought the city to a near stand-still. But the threat to Mali's military junta continues, as The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

Unease in Mali even as fuel blockade of capital loosens

In Denmark, there seems to be a porridge for every occasion. A quintessential part of the local Christmas diet is a rice porridge called risengrød. The dish hearkens back to a time when rice was a luxury in the Scandinavian country, says restaurateur Lasse Andersen. Last Christmas, Andersen took The World's Joshua Coe behind the counter at one of his porridge bars in Copenhagen to show him how to cook this Danish classic.This story originally aired on Dec. 23, 2024.

In Denmark, there seems to be a porridge for every occasion. A quintessential part of the local Christmas diet is a rice porridge called risengrød. The dish hearkens back to a time when rice was a luxury in the Scandinavian country, says restaurateur Lasse Andersen. Last Christmas, Andersen took The World's Joshua Coe behind the counter at one of his porridge bars in Copenhagen to show him how to cook this Danish classic.
This story originally aired on Dec. 23, 2024.

December is rice porridge and hygge season in Denmark

Heng Guan is a Chinese citizen from central China. In 2020, he read about mass detentions and other human rights abuses against Uyghurs in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, and he decided to go see for himself. The video he put on social media in 2021 provided valuable confirmation of widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang, which the US government said amounted to genocide that very same year. Now, Guan is in ICE detention, facing the possibility of being deported to Uganda. Human rights advocates say this would put Guan in grave danger and that his case for asylum is a textbook example of why the US created this pathway to citizenship in the first place. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Heng Guan is a Chinese citizen from central China. In 2020, he read about mass detentions and other human rights abuses against Uyghurs in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, and he decided to go see for himself. The video he put on social media in 2021 provided valuable confirmation of widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang, which the US government said amounted to genocide that very same year. Now, Guan is in ICE detention, facing the possibility of being deported to Uganda. Human rights advocates say this would put Guan in grave danger and that his case for asylum is a textbook example of why the US created this pathway to citizenship in the first place. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Chinese man documenting rights abuses in China detained by ICE, may be deported to Uganda

December is all about celebrations in much of the world, but in Ghana, it’s on a whole different level. Welcome to Detty December. It’s back-to-back parties, beach raves and unforgettable moments. Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman reported from the beaches of Ghana’s capital Accra last December.

December is all about celebrations in much of the world, but in Ghana, it’s on a whole different level. Welcome to Detty December. It’s back-to-back parties, beach raves and unforgettable moments. Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman reported from the beaches of Ghana’s capital Accra last December.

Detty December is Ghana's global party

After more than a year of street protests against the Guggenheim’s plan to “bring art into nature,” the museum’s board of trustees voted last night to kill the project. “Guggenheim Urdaibai” would have seen buildings, walkways and installations go up inside one of northern Spain’s most important migratory bird stopover points. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

After more than a year of street protests against the Guggenheim’s plan to “bring art into nature,” the museum’s board of trustees voted last night to kill the project. “Guggenheim Urdaibai” would have seen buildings, walkways and installations go up inside one of northern Spain’s most important migratory bird stopover points. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

Activists stop Spanish Guggenheim from building in bird sanctuary

In the last of a three-part series about a software tool used to secretly track people, reporter Michael Montgomery explains what the company First Wap has been up to over the past 10 years. Its software tool runs on a vast trove of data that includes information about lots of regular people, but that data drops off in 2015. His reporting stems from a collaboration between Reveal, Lighthouse Reports and 12 other newsrooms around the globe.

In the last of a three-part series about a software tool used to secretly track people, reporter Michael Montgomery explains what the company First Wap has been up to over the past 10 years. Its software tool runs on a vast trove of data that includes information about lots of regular people, but that data drops off in 2015. His reporting stems from a collaboration between Reveal, Lighthouse Reports and 12 other newsrooms around the globe.

Undercover investigation reveals little-known software tool used for tracking ordinary people

Pads and tampons are prohibitively expensive in Pakistan, where the taxes and duties on the products can be up to 40% of the cost. They are even excluded from the list of essential goods that are exempt from taxes, such as milk and cheese. Mahnoor Omer is a lawyer taking the government to court over the taxes. She speaks with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler from Islamabad.

Pads and tampons are prohibitively expensive in Pakistan, where the taxes and duties on the products can be up to 40% of the cost. They are even excluded from the list of essential goods that are exempt from taxes, such as milk and cheese. Mahnoor Omer is a lawyer taking the government to court over the taxes. She speaks with The World's Host Carolyn Beeler from Islamabad.

Lawyer takes Pakistan government to court over the price of pads and tampons

In Yemen, the forces of The Transitional Council said they were moving to take yet another southern province this week. In a civil war that has dragged on for over a decade, the separatist faction backed by the United Arab Emirates has seized much of Yemen's south, and has defied Saudi Arabia-led efforts to deescalate. Host Marco Werman learns more from Abdulghani Al-Iryani. He's a senior researcher with the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies.

In Yemen, the forces of The Transitional Council said they were moving to take yet another southern province this week. In a civil war that has dragged on for over a decade, the separatist faction backed by the United Arab Emirates has seized much of Yemen's south, and has defied Saudi Arabia-led efforts to deescalate. Host Marco Werman learns more from Abdulghani Al-Iryani. He's a senior researcher with the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies.

UAE-backed separatists control more and more of Yemen's south

Some people go to thrift stores primarily to find a good deal. Other people go to find older, vintage items they wouldn’t find anywhere else. But there’s no way anyone expected to find something quite this old at Thrifty Boutique in Chilliwack, British Columbia, about 60 miles outside of Vancouver in Canada. The World's Bianca Hillier reports on the possibly ancient artifacts.

Some people go to thrift stores primarily to find a good deal. Other people go to find older, vintage items they wouldn’t find anywhere else. But there’s no way anyone expected to find something quite this old at Thrifty Boutique in Chilliwack, British Columbia, about 60 miles outside of Vancouver in Canada. The World's Bianca Hillier reports on the possibly ancient artifacts.