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.

India has a long tradition of stories involving well-known ghosts and monsters. In this favorite Halloween interview from Halloweens past, Kolkata-based reporter Sandip Roy talked to Rakesh Khanna about the illustrated guide he'd just written — back in 2021— to help people understand the cast of ghostly, ghoulish and monstrous characters.

India has a long tradition of stories involving well-known ghosts and monsters. In this favorite Halloween interview from Halloweens past, Kolkata-based reporter Sandip Roy talked to Rakesh Khanna about the illustrated guide he'd just written — back in 2021— to help people understand the cast of ghostly, ghoulish and monstrous characters.

A modern guide to India's ghosts, demons and monsters

Before it was destroyed in 2018, the Yarmouk camp near Damascus was home to Palestinians displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. During the Syrian civil war that started in 2011, government forces laid siege to the camp, creating dire humanitarian conditions inside. Today, the camp is slowly starting to come back to life, as residents return and rebuild. The World’s Shirin Jaafari reports.

Before it was destroyed in 2018, the Yarmouk camp near Damascus was home to Palestinians displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. During the Syrian civil war that started in 2011, government forces laid siege to the camp, creating dire humanitarian conditions inside. Today, the camp is slowly starting to come back to life, as residents return and rebuild. The World’s Shirin Jaafari reports.

Life slowly returns to a Palestinian camp in Syria

Letters written on Aug. 15, 1916, by two Australian soldiers serving in France during World War I have been discovered more than a century later. One of the letter-writers survived the war; the other died a year later. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler has the story.

Letters written on Aug. 15, 1916, by two Australian soldiers serving in France during World War I have been discovered more than a century later. One of the letter-writers survived the war; the other died a year later. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler has the story.

Messages in a bottle carry World War I history

The West African nation of Mali, one of the countries comprising the Sahel region to the south of the Sahara Desert, has been fighting extremists for years. But a coalition of al-Qaeda and ISIS fighters, known as JNIM, have begun blowing up oil-tankers en route by road from Senegal, the Ivory Coast and other countries. This could spell disaster for landlocked Mali, which depends on such imports. Similar fighting, political instability and a rejection of Western military assistance across the Sahel has people worried for the region. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

The West African nation of Mali, one of the countries comprising the Sahel region to the south of the Sahara Desert, has been fighting extremists for years. But a coalition of al-Qaeda and ISIS fighters, known as JNIM, have begun blowing up oil-tankers en route by road from Senegal, the Ivory Coast and other countries. This could spell disaster for landlocked Mali, which depends on such imports. Similar fighting, political instability and a rejection of Western military assistance across the Sahel has people worried for the region. The World's Gerry Hadden reports.

Insurgents cut off Mali's fuel supply

Mexicans are celebrating "Día de Muertos," an annual holiday where families honor deceased ancestors. One popular character always shows up: La Catrina, a fancy skeleton lady wearing an elegant dress and a flowered hat. Last year, The World’s Tibisay Zea went to a big parade in Mexico City, to get the story behind La Catrina's starring role in the seasonal festivities.

Mexicans are celebrating "Día de Muertos," an annual holiday where families honor deceased ancestors. One popular character always shows up: La Catrina, a fancy skeleton lady wearing an elegant dress and a flowered hat. Last year, The World’s Tibisay Zea went to a big parade in Mexico City, to get the story behind La Catrina's starring role in the seasonal festivities.

How 'La Catrina' became a symbol for Mexico's Day of the Dead

In many ways, Koichi Kitabatake is just like any other runner preparing for Sunday's New York City Marathon: He's nervous for the big race but plans to draw energy from crowds of spectators to keep pace. At 91 years old, though, the Japanese runner is the oldest of all 55,000 runners registered for this year's race. The World's Bianca Hillier has his story.

In many ways, Koichi Kitabatake is just like any other runner preparing for Sunday's New York City Marathon: He's nervous for the big race but plans to draw energy from crowds of spectators to keep pace. At 91 years old, though, the Japanese runner is the oldest of all 55,000 runners registered for this year's race. The World's Bianca Hillier has his story.

Oldest runner at New York City Marathon says his life started after retirement

Some Halloween costumes transform ordinary people into fantasy characters. But a social media trend in Japan has people trying instead to capture mundane situations from everyday life. So, instead of "princess" or "two-headed monster" you could be "person standing in line at the security checkpoint of an airport" or "man who keeps getting mistaken for a store employee." The World's Host Carolyn Beeler has more.

Some Halloween costumes transform ordinary people into fantasy characters. But a social media trend in Japan has people trying instead to capture mundane situations from everyday life. So, instead of "princess" or "two-headed monster" you could be "person standing in line at the security checkpoint of an airport" or "man who keeps getting mistaken for a store employee." The World's Host Carolyn Beeler has more.

Japanese Halloween tradition finds horror — and humor — in daily life

The announcement came yesterday: Prince Andrew will no longer be "prince." He's now Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The decision came in response to mounting allegations of sexual predation, and ties to American sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry speaks with Host Carolyn Beeler about the significance of this moment, for the Royal family, as well as for survivors and their families.

The announcement came yesterday: Prince Andrew will no longer be "prince." He's now Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The decision came in response to mounting allegations of sexual predation, and ties to American sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The World's Europe Correspondent Orla Barry speaks with Host Carolyn Beeler about the significance of this moment, for the Royal family, as well as for survivors and their families.

Buckingham Palace strips Andrew of royal titles

Timor-Leste, once a UN-administered post-conflict state, has been accepted into ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It's a diplomatic coming-of-age moment for the tiny nation. It means the country will help shape consensus on trade, security and diplomacy in the region. Naina Rao explains what took so long, and why it matters.

Timor-Leste, once a UN-administered post-conflict state, has been accepted into ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It's a diplomatic coming-of-age moment for the tiny nation. It means the country will help shape consensus on trade, security and diplomacy in the region. Naina Rao explains what took so long, and why it matters.

Timor-Leste finally joins ASEAN

A few thousand people have arrived at the Tawila refugee camp in Sudan, after escaping harrowing violence in the RSF-controlled city of el-Fasher. Many of those reaching the camp are unaccompanied children. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler gets the latest from Shashwat Saraf. He's the country lead on Sudan for the Norwegian Refugee Council.

A few thousand people have arrived at the Tawila refugee camp in Sudan, after escaping harrowing violence in the RSF-controlled city of el-Fasher. Many of those reaching the camp are unaccompanied children. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler gets the latest from Shashwat Saraf. He's the country lead on Sudan for the Norwegian Refugee Council.

The view from the ground: Civilians escaping Sudan's el-Fasher

The Blue Jays lead the LA Dodgers 3-2 in this year's World Series. The baseball games themselves are spectacular, but they also gain momentum from world politics, as the Jays play against the backdrop of rising tensions between Canada and the US. Lee-Anne Goodman is an editor at The Conversation, and also a Blue Jays fan. She joined The World's Host Marco Werman to talk about the significance of the series for Canadians.

The Blue Jays lead the LA Dodgers 3-2 in this year's World Series. The baseball games themselves are spectacular, but they also gain momentum from world politics, as the Jays play against the backdrop of rising tensions between Canada and the US. Lee-Anne Goodman is an editor at The Conversation, and also a Blue Jays fan. She joined The World's Host Marco Werman to talk about the significance of the series for Canadians.

In a true 'World' Series, the Blue Jays represent Canadian Unity

The independent news network Radio Free Asia will begin closing down its operations on Friday. It's one of several US government-funded international broadcasters that the Trump administration wants to dismantle. The winners in this scenario are authoritarian leaders in Asia who don't tolerate a free press or freedom of expression.

The independent news network Radio Free Asia will begin closing down its operations on Friday. It's one of several US government-funded international broadcasters that the Trump administration wants to dismantle. The winners in this scenario are authoritarian leaders in Asia who don't tolerate a free press or freedom of expression.

Radio Free Asia is shutting down

US President Donald Trump met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, today. Both leaders sounded optimistic about cooling trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. Trump called the meeting a "12 out of 10." Nothing has been set in stone, but Trump said tariffs will go down, and China will sell the US rare earth minerals and buy US soybeans. The World's Jeremy Siegel reports from Hong Kong.

US President Donald Trump met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, today. Both leaders sounded optimistic about cooling trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. Trump called the meeting a "12 out of 10." Nothing has been set in stone, but Trump said tariffs will go down, and China will sell the US rare earth minerals and buy US soybeans. The World's Jeremy Siegel reports from Hong Kong.

US President Trump and Chinese leader Xi hash out differences

In Rio de Janeiro, residents of the favelas of Penha and Alemão are reeling after Brazil’s deadliest police raid in decades left more than 130 people dead. The operation, aimed at leaders of the Red Command gang, turned the neighborhoods into a war zone. Governor Cláudio Castro defended the raid as a “hard blow against crime,” but human rights groups call it a massacre — and residents say it shows how little has changed in Rio’s security policy. The World's Tibisay Zea reports.

In Rio de Janeiro, residents of the favelas of Penha and Alemão are reeling after Brazil’s deadliest police raid in decades left more than 130 people dead. The operation, aimed at leaders of the Red Command gang, turned the neighborhoods into a war zone. Governor Cláudio Castro defended the raid as a “hard blow against crime,” but human rights groups call it a massacre — and residents say it shows how little has changed in Rio’s security policy. The World's Tibisay Zea reports.

Deadly police raid in Rio sparks outrage and calls for justice

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler catch you up on news headlines you might have missed.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler catch you up on news headlines you might have missed.

Things you might have missed

US military forces operating in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have carried out more than a dozen strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats. The strikes, which began in September, have killed nearly 60 people so far. Trump administration officials have offered scant legal justification for these attacks. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

US military forces operating in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have carried out more than a dozen strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats. The strikes, which began in September, have killed nearly 60 people so far. Trump administration officials have offered scant legal justification for these attacks. The World's Matthew Bell reports.

Trump administration ramps up deadly strikes in waters off Latin America

Weather balloons carrying boxes of smuggled cigarettes have been disrupting flights in Lithuania. The situation has escalated dramatically over the past week, and the government in Vilnius has announced plans to close Lithuania's border with Belarus. The World’s Europe Correspondent Orla Barry has more.

Weather balloons carrying boxes of smuggled cigarettes have been disrupting flights in Lithuania. The situation has escalated dramatically over the past week, and the government in Vilnius has announced plans to close Lithuania's border with Belarus. The World’s Europe Correspondent Orla Barry has more.

Lithuania taking action to prevent smuggler balloons from Belarus

The nation currently known as Turkey sits where Europe meets Asia. That land was once known to Europeans as part of the Levant. National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek walked across Turkey on foot in 2014. He looks back on the experience of traversing that ground, in conversation with Host Carolyn Beeler.

The nation currently known as Turkey sits where Europe meets Asia. That land was once known to Europeans as part of the Levant. National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek walked across Turkey on foot in 2014. He looks back on the experience of traversing that ground, in conversation with Host Carolyn Beeler.

Walking through Turkey between conflicts

Exit polls show a center-left party gaining ground in the Netherlands' national elections. That's a setback for the far-right party of Geert Wilders, who expected a decisive win. But Sarah de Lange, a professor of Dutch politics at the Institute of Political Science at Leiden University, tells The World’s Host Carolyn Beeler that Dutch voters who support the extreme right have not returned to the mainstream.

Exit polls show a center-left party gaining ground in the Netherlands' national elections. That's a setback for the far-right party of Geert Wilders, who expected a decisive win. But Sarah de Lange, a professor of Dutch politics at the Institute of Political Science at Leiden University, tells The World’s Host Carolyn Beeler that Dutch voters who support the extreme right have not returned to the mainstream.

Far-right vote splinters in the Netherlands

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler bring you some stories that may not have caught your eye.

Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler bring you some stories that may not have caught your eye.

News you may not have seen

Today in Jamaica, people are picking up the pieces after the strongest storm seen on Earth — and the strongest hurricane in Jamaica's history — thrashed the island. Hurricane Melissa has now moved over Cuba. The World's Marco Werman heard about the damage done from Evan Thompson, director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica in Kingston.

Today in Jamaica, people are picking up the pieces after the strongest storm seen on Earth — and the strongest hurricane in Jamaica's history — thrashed the island. Hurricane Melissa has now moved over Cuba. The World's Marco Werman heard about the damage done from Evan Thompson, director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica in Kingston.

Jamaicans without power in wake of Hurricane Melissa

The border between Lithuania and Belarus will stay closed for a month, the government in Lithuania decided today. Host Marco Werman explains.

The border between Lithuania and Belarus will stay closed for a month, the government in Lithuania decided today. Host Marco Werman explains.

Lithuania closes border with Belarus

In the early 1900s, Lower Manhattan was home to Little Syria, then the epicenter of the Arabic-speaking community in the US. But today, most people have never heard of it. Syrian American rapper and poet Omar Offendum aims to change that with his hip-hop musical "Little Syria." Meklit Hadero, host of the "Movement podcast," talked with Offendum about the project.

In the early 1900s, Lower Manhattan was home to Little Syria, then the epicenter of the Arabic-speaking community in the US. But today, most people have never heard of it. Syrian American rapper and poet Omar Offendum aims to change that with his hip-hop musical "Little Syria." Meklit Hadero, host of the "Movement podcast," talked with Offendum about the project.

'Movement': New York's 'Little Syria' hip-hop musical

In its most comprehensive report on climate change and health to date, the Lancet Countdown study found that rising temperatures cause an average of one death per minute. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with Maria Walawender, Lancet Countdown Research Fellow, about the details of the report.

In its most comprehensive report on climate change and health to date, the Lancet Countdown study found that rising temperatures cause an average of one death per minute. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with Maria Walawender, Lancet Countdown Research Fellow, about the details of the report.

New report details rising cost of climate change to human health

Israeli forces carried out attacks inside Gaza on Tuesday night, killing at least a hundred people, according to Gaza health officials. The strikes came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a “powerful response” to what he called a breach of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas. Netanyahu said the group killed an Israeli soldier and is deliberately delaying handing over the remains of Israeli hostages. Hamas denied the accusations, saying that the attackers are not under its control and that the remains are difficult and time consuming to collect given the conditions on the ground in Gaza. The World’s Shirin Jaafari reports.EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct details about the prayer recited at the top of the report.

Israeli forces carried out attacks inside Gaza on Tuesday night, killing at least a hundred people, according to Gaza health officials. The strikes came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a “powerful response” to what he called a breach of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas. Netanyahu said the group killed an Israeli soldier and is deliberately delaying handing over the remains of Israeli hostages. Hamas denied the accusations, saying that the attackers are not under its control and that the remains are difficult and time consuming to collect given the conditions on the ground in Gaza. The World’s Shirin Jaafari reports.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct details about the prayer recited at the top of the report.

Israel strikes Gaza, killing a hundred people

During the height of its heroin crisis in the 1980s, the Netherlands chose a “third way” to respond to drug use — neither punishment nor abstinence, but harm reduction. Today, that approach has helped drive overdose deaths to some of the lowest in the world, including in the US, through policies like safe consumption rooms, drug checking and health-first policing. But in some parts of the US South there is opposition. The Gulf State Newsroom’s Drew Hawkins went to the Netherlands to find out what their approach looks like.

During the height of its heroin crisis in the 1980s, the Netherlands chose a “third way” to respond to drug use — neither punishment nor abstinence, but harm reduction. Today, that approach has helped drive overdose deaths to some of the lowest in the world, including in the US, through policies like safe consumption rooms, drug checking and health-first policing. But in some parts of the US South there is opposition. The Gulf State Newsroom’s Drew Hawkins went to the Netherlands to find out what their approach looks like.

Dutch use 'harm reduction' instead of jail to solve drug crisis

Sea monsters like the Kraken, serpents or the Loch Ness monster may be just in our imagination, but across history, these stories have roots in reality. Today, we still like to exaggerate and tell stories about the very real creatures that live in the deep sea, beyond the reach of sunlight. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler toured an exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History with marine scientist Peter Girguis, to understand this spectrum of imagination and reality.

Sea monsters like the Kraken, serpents or the Loch Ness monster may be just in our imagination, but across history, these stories have roots in reality. Today, we still like to exaggerate and tell stories about the very real creatures that live in the deep sea, beyond the reach of sunlight. The World's Host Carolyn Beeler toured an exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History with marine scientist Peter Girguis, to understand this spectrum of imagination and reality.

New exhibit explores sea monsters across countries, cultures and deep beneath the sea

A Canadian politician brags about a controversial tariff ad, the World Series is a doozy and a few Australian schools are learning the hard way about Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

A Canadian politician brags about a controversial tariff ad, the World Series is a doozy and a few Australian schools are learning the hard way about Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar. Hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler explain.

Headlines that caught our attention

In a classroom in western China, children once learned to sing and count in the language of their ancestors — Uyghur. Then, the doors were locked, and founder Abduweli Ayup went from teacher to enemy of the state, as a crackdown on his people kicked into overdrive. From the "Click Here" podcast, Dina Temple-Raston reports.An <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/erased-silencing-a-kindergarten/id1225077306?i=1000721618781">earlier version of this story appeared</a> on the “<a href="https://therecord.media/podcast">CLICK HERE</a>” podcast from Recorded Future News and PRX. Additional reporting by Sean Powers.

In a classroom in western China, children once learned to sing and count in the language of their ancestors — Uyghur. Then, the doors were locked, and founder Abduweli Ayup went from teacher to enemy of the state, as a crackdown on his people kicked into overdrive. From the "Click Here" podcast, Dina Temple-Raston reports.
An earlier version of this story appeared on the “CLICK HERE” podcast from Recorded Future News and PRX. Additional reporting by Sean Powers.

Uyghurs weren't always oppressed in China

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday with catastrophic winds and the potential for widespread flooding and landslides. The Category 5 storm is one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history, and the single strongest to hit Jamaica. The World's Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the details.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday with catastrophic winds and the potential for widespread flooding and landslides. The Category 5 storm is one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history, and the single strongest to hit Jamaica. The World's Hosts Carolyn Beeler and Marco Werman have the details.