The World

The World takes a look at what people consider sacred spaces around the globe in this holiday special. On the tropical island of Bougainville, locals discover an icon of Saint Mary believed to have supernatural powers. Also, some Mapuche communities in Chile use an ancestral sport to help protect and revive their culture, customs and language. And, a Buddhist nun and surfer hits the waves, discovering a higher sense of purpose that can come from being in the natural world. Plus, Argentine Jewish musicologists embark on a mission to revive their community's musical heritage. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Time is running out to support The World before our fundraising drive ends on Dec. 31. Donate today to power The World for another year!

Japan’s second- and third-largest automakers are pursuing a $50 billion deal that could dramatically shake up the global auto industry. Also, Palestinians discuss death as the war in Gaza drags on. And, The Guardian publishes the first known photos of an uncontacted community living in the Amazon. Plus, a rice porridge keeping people in Denmark warm and cozy through the winter season. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Time is running out to support The World before our fundraising drive ends on Dec. 31. Donate today to power The World for another year!

The US State Department's top Middle East envoy, Barbara Leaf, arrived in Damascus today for meetings with Syria's new interim government. Also, a Belgian train conductor is under investigation for violating the country's language laws after greeting passengers bilingually. And, why the conditions for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are improving, and what incentives are pushing the talks forward between Israel and Hamas. Plus, why Hong Kong's claw machines may need to be regulated by the government. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Donate today to help The World unlock a $67,000 challenge match!

US officials say Russia has deployed some 8,000 North Koreans in the Kursk region, the border area where Ukrainian forces seized Russian territory in a surprise attack over the summer. But there may be far fewer troops returning home than Pyongyang expected. Also, journalists use fake Tinder profiles to identify and follow the movements of hundreds of soldiers in Europe, including many Americans. And, a look into the growing phenomenon of countries repressing dissidents beyond their own borders, including a NATO ally of the US: Turkey. Plus, Host Marco Werman puts his knowledge of Africa to the test in a trivia game. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Donate today to help The World unlock a $67,000 challenge match!

As Syria goes through historic changes, minority groups remain on edge. The commander of the US-backed Kurdish SDF discusses the situation in an exclusive interview with The World. Also, the tiny island nation of Vanuatu struggles to recover from a powerful earthquake. And, a controversial anti-LGBTQ bill in Ghana is one step closer to becoming law. Also, Thailand is offering a path to citizenship for nearly half a million stateless people in its borders in what its government is calling a “New Year’s gift.” Plus, a worldwide competition to find the coolest stick. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Donate today to help The World unlock a $67,000 challenge match!

A bomb went off early this morning in Moscow, killing a Russian General Igor Kirillov. He was the head of the Russian military’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces. Also, a mass grave has been found in Al-Qutayfah, Syria, bringing clarity to the fate of many political prisoners under the Assad regime. And, this year brought significant changes to Canada’s education sector, creating upheaval for international students. Plus, a new high-speed bullet train between Paris and Berlin is being hailed as a symbol of French-German friendship. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Donate today to help The World unlock a $67,000 challenge match!

Israel's prime minister says his government plans to double the Israeli population in the Golan Heights, an area considered a "strategic plateau" since Israel captured it from Syria in 1967. Also, South Korea's constitutional court is deciding whether or not to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. And, legendary tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain dies at the age of 73. Plus, a spicy Thai soup with a twist. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Donate today to help The World unlock a $67,000 challenge match!

The Sednaya Prison complex in Damascus was synonymous with the Syrian government's reputation for brutality. Once inside, prisoners had little chance of coming out alive. Over the past week, thousands of families rushed to the prison in the hopes of finding their missing loved ones. Also, Ukraine needs more troops to fend off Russian invaders. The draft age in Ukraine was already lowered from 27 to 25. Now, they're talking about drafting men who are 18 to 25. And, why the changing climate in places like Brazil and Vietnam will soon have you paying more for that morning cup of Joe. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We want to hear from you! Donate today and let us know why you listen to The World!

South Korea's president says he'll "fight to the end." But he's facing calls from all sides to resign. And the opposition says it plans to move on a second impeachment measure. We have the latest from the South Korean capital, Seoul. Also, why Syria's new leaders are working to get punishing economic sanctions lifted as soon as possible. And, we meet a man who was trafficked by an organized crime operation in Southeast Asia and forced to work as an internet scammer. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We want to hear from you! Donate today and let us know why you listen to The World!

Many Syrians who have lived in Turkey for years are eager to return home to Syria. But others say an evolving security situation and financial concerns are giving them pause. Meanwhile, governments across Europe have paused asylum applications submitted by Syrians. Also, a new report by the OECD finds that reading and math scores for adults in most of the world’s high-income countries have declined during the past decade. And, the Arctic tundra is now releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than it stores. Plus, a man from New Zealand who doesn’t speak Spanish has won the Spanish Scrabble championships. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We want to hear from you! Donate today and let us know why you listen to The World!

As many Syrians rejoice at the downfall of the former dictatorship in their country, Israel has been conducting numerous strikes on targets across Syria, reportedly destroying chemical weapons stores belonging to the former Assad regime. Also, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes the stand in his long-running corruption trial, facing charges of fraud, breach of trust and taking bribes. And, the Dominican Republic has deported more than 71,000 Haitians back to Haiti since October, and hoping to continue to deport thousands more each week. Plus, the universe is expanding at a rate faster than previously believed. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We want to hear from you! Donate today and let us know why you listen to The World!

For the first time in two decades, Syrians say they are experiencing a taste of freedom after President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. Also, a motion to impeach South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol failed over the weekend but many are still calling on him to resign. And, Ghana’s former President John Dramani Mahama has clinched a comeback election victory and will return to power seven years after stepping down. Plus, singer-guitarist Olguita Acuña carries on her activism after fleeing to Costa Rica from Nicaragua. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We want to hear from you! Donate today and let us know why you listen to The World!

A top Romanian court has annulled results from the first round of the country's vote for president. The unprecedented ruling comes after the declassification of intelligence alleging that a Russian campaign had promoted the far-right winner. Our Europe correspondent has the latest. Also, a new directive from the Taliban bans women in Afghanistan from studying dentistry, nursing, and midwifery. And, a standup comic from Zimbabwe on how jokes land differently in the US. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We’re thankful for listeners like you who power our newsroom! Donate today to keep The World fully powered all year long.

As a successful no-confidence vote topples the French government, a look at the political career of President Emmanuel Macron, whose presidency once signaled hope for change. Also, this week marks 40 years since the world's deadliest industrial disaster. The Bhopal gas leak originating at a pesticide plant in 1984 exposed 500,000 people in India to toxic vapors, killing thousands that night and leaving many more with serious health issues that persist to this day. How the Bhopal disaster changed India. And, Google's new AI weather forecasting tool, in the context of a global need for longer-term weather predictions. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We’re thankful for listeners like you who power our newsroom! Donate today to keep The World fully powered all year long.

In South Korea on Wednesday, the streets were relatively calm after a night that many saw as the beginning of a coup d'état. That followed the president's controversial declaration of martial law. With the president now facing an impeachment effort by parliament, many Koreans are calm but concerned. Also, new research out of Canada shows that the company Amazon restricts access to books in Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. And, a new law in Belgium makes sex workers eligible for labor rights and protections. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We’re thankful for listeners like you who power our newsroom! Donate today to keep The World fully powered all year long.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a surprise televised announcement overnight imposing martial law, saying "North Korean forces" needed to be eradicated. Lawmakers quickly acted to cancel the emergency declaration, but the bitter political divide in the country remains unresolved. Also, a coalition of rebel forces in Syria is continuing its advance after capturing Aleppo, making its way through towns and villages toward the central city of Hama. And, a court in Vietnam upholds the death penalty for property tycoon Truong My Lan following her April conviction for embezzlement and bribery amounting to $12.5 billion. Plus, an aging population across Japan is redefining what it means to work. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We’re thankful for listeners like you who power our newsroom! Donate today to keep The World fully powered all year long.

Syria's anti-government rebels launched a massive offensive last week, taking most observers by surprise and gaining control over the largest city, Aleppo. The regime of President Bashar al-Assad has responded by conducting aerial attacks on Aleppo city and Idlib province. Also, the president of the International Criminal Court lashed out at the US and Russia for interfering with its investigations as the institution’s annual meeting opened on today. And, a gathering of more than 200 nations convened in Busan, South Korea, to reach a landmark agreement on ending plastic pollution, but left without achieving its goal after pressure from oil-rich nations. Plus, Hong Kong launches its “PANDA GO! FEST HK” festival with 2,500 panda statues made of recycled rubber barrels to be put on display this month. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We’re thankful for listeners like you who power our newsroom! Donate today to keep The World fully powered all year long.

National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek began an epic walk in early 2013, tracing the first steps of human migration out of Africa some 60,000 years ago. The World brings you some of his stories and experiences in this Out of Eden Walk special — starting in Ethiopia and walking through the Holy Lands, Uzbekistan and India, to mention a few. He even shares some of the foods he's eaten along the way to power his walk. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We are able to bring you human-centered journalism because listeners like you support our independent newsroom. Keep The World going strong and donate today!

As families and friends gather for meals together on US Thanksgiving Day, The World brings you a show packed with a variety of food stories. From brewing banana beer to a cookbook filled with African dishes; from the battle over döner kebabs to a lawsuit over butter chicken and from a mushroom restaurant in Mexico to savory ice cream flavors in 18th century England, this special show will pique your culinary interests. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We are able to bring you human-centered journalism because listeners like you support our independent newsroom. Keep The World going strong and donate today!

In the first day of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, we'll hear how people in Lebanon are feeling, as well as what analysts are seeing from military and diplomatic standpoints. Also, what's at stake for the Philippines in the wake of the vice president's public threat to assassinate the country's president? And, how mariachi singer Deyra Barrera ended up on the Kendrick Lamar album that just dropped. Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. We are able to bring you human-centered journalism because listeners like you support our independent newsroom. Keep The World going strong and donate today!