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The World

PRI

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.

Location:

Boston, MA

Networks:

PRI

Description:

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.

Twitter:

@pritheworld

Language:

English

Contact:

617-300-5750


Episodes

Putin claims landslide election win

3/18/2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed a landslide victory in the country's elections held over the weekend, which means another 6 years in the Kremlin. According to the Russian election commission, Putin won 87% of the vote, but most Western countries have said that the elections were neither free nor fair. And, US troops are being asked to leave Niger after the government there revoked a security accord with the United States. There are about 1,000 American troops in Niger working to stabilize the West African nation and fight militants operating in the region. Also, the Sunflower Movement in Taiwan was a student-led grassroots movement that, 10 years ago, stopped the rushed passage of a bill that would have tied the island closer to China. It is credited with changing Taiwan's political direction. Plus, 90-year-old jazz legend Abdullah Ibrahim heads out on a world tour.

Duration:00:48:39

Pandemic trauma and recovery 4 years on

3/15/2024
The pandemic has been a global trauma with a silver lining of immense scientific and medical development. Michael Mina, a physician-scientist who spent the pandemic focused on immunology and epidemiology at Harvard University, tells us where the world is now and how prepared we are for the future. And, Russian American director Michael Lockshin began his film adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s classic novel, "Master and Margarita," before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Moscow. Now that it’s finally been released, Russians are crowding theaters to watch the cinematic send-up of state tyranny and it's hitting even closer to home. Also, Since Oct. 7, there has been an increase in violent settler activity across the West Bank, with more 260 Palestinians killed. There are also accusations of an increasingly blurred line between settlers and military forces. Plus, Berlin's techno scene is now on UNESCO's cultural heritage list.

Duration:00:48:50

Jordanian aid to Gaza

3/14/2024
As part of the effort to get more food and water into Gaza, the Jordanian Air Force is conducting air drops into the beleaguered territory. The World's Shirin Jaafari travels along on one of the flights to see what the logistics are like and what the air force thinks about delivering aid. And, French far-right groups say superstar Aya Nakamura is not the right performer for the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics this summer. Also, Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking to secure his fifth term in office; he's been in power as president or prime minister since 1999. Yet, some Russians are still trying to monitor the elections to point out irregularities and falsifications. Plus, Britain expands its definition of extremism.

Duration:00:47:16

Oil refineries in northeastern Syria are making people sick

3/13/2024
Across northeastern Syria, makeshift refineries are a major source of income for local residents who have endured more than a decade of conflict. But this critical resource is also making people sick and destroying the environment. And, US and Caribbean officials have reportedly told Haitian leaders they have 24 hours to name a transitional council that will appoint a new Haitian prime minister. US State Department deputy spokesperson, Vedant Patel, talks about US policy options in Haiti and Gaza. Also, in Germany on Wednesday, a court is weighing whether to remove the far-right party Alternative for Germany's designation as a suspected far-right extremist organization by the country's spy agency, the BfV, or the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Plus, a remembrance of Egyptian musician Zakaria Ibrahim.

Duration:00:48:37

Haiti's leader steps down as gang violence surges

3/12/2024
Ariel Henry, Haiti’s besieged prime minister, has agreed to resign once a transitional presidential council is installed. We hear how gang violence in the capital has made Port-au-Prince increasingly unsafe. And, the US House of Representatives is set to vote on a bill that would force Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a US ban. Also, Since Oct. 7, 2023, Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank have been barred from working in Israel. Tens of thousands in the West Bank who were doing building or agricultural jobs are out of work, and it's drastically impacting their daily lives and the lives of many shopkeepers as people tighten their belts. Plus, can endangered languages be saved? A new book has the answer.

Duration:00:47:30

Gaza paracycling team pivots to aid distribution amid war

3/11/2024
Cyclists on the Gaza Sunbirds team have always dreamed of competing on the global stage at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. But amid the Israel-Hamas war, the athletes have pivoted to delivering food to community members in need. And, a new study says salmon populations produced in countries such as Norway, the UK and Canada are dying in large numbers. Warming waters and disease are seen as the main culprits for the depletion of farmed salmon. Also, in northwest Nigeria's Kaduna state, gunmen recently stormed into a rural town, rounded up 287 children and kidnapped them to a nearby forest. The circumstances differ from four day ago when Islamist militants kidnapped about 200 women and children elsewhere in Nigeria's rural north. We hear what's behind the most recent kidnapping and what it means for state security. Plus, the sound of "The Society of Snow."

Duration:00:48:29

Malaysia: The search for MH370 will go on

3/8/2024
Ten years ago Friday, flight MH370 took off from Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, carrying 239 people headed to Beijing. During the flight, the plane changed course, turning south toward the Indian Ocean. Its transponder was turned off midflight and was never heard from again. But their families never stopped searching. And, celebrated Japanese manga creator, Akira Toriyama, has died at the age of 68 in Japan. He's best known as the creator of the "Dragon Ball Z" series, which was adapted for TV in the 1990s. Also, the International Criminal Court has been using an old resolution from the UN Security Council on the Darfur region in Sudan in 2005, to investigate ongoing atrocities in the current conflict there. US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack confirms that the United States is supporting the ICC investigation. Plus, Saudi Arabia on foot.

Duration:00:48:34

Ireland votes to ditch 'sexist' wording from constitution

3/7/2024
On March 8, International Women's Day, voters in Ireland will decide if they want to replace a clause in the constitution that deems a "woman's place is in the home." The Irish government has proposed new wording that recognizes the value of the provision of care in the home "by members of a family." And, military regimes in the West African nations of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso recently severed ties from the regional alliance known as the Economic Community of West African States or ECOWAS. Now, their militaries are uniting in an effort to jointly fight Islamist militants. Also, in part four of a yearlong investigative report on children's homes in Uganda by The World's Halima Gikandi, we hear about the tale of two different homes. Foodstep Uganda operates without approval using funds from many American donors; Ekisa Ministries has a different approach. Plus, would you relocate to a Scottish island for the princely sum of $190,000 a year?

Duration:00:48:26

Civilians flee front-line villages as Russia pushes deeper into Ukraine

3/6/2024
Ukrainian American pastor Alex Zaytsev helped his parishioners evacuate from the strategic town of Avdiivka before it fell to Russian forces last month. They sought safety 40 miles east in Pokrovsk, but he says their new home is no longer safe. And, a United Nations team this week said it found convincing evidence that some hostages taken into Gaza on Oct. 7 were subjected to sexual violence, as well as hostages in captivity. Israelis are preparing for the worst, including the possibility that some of the female hostages may be pregnant. Also, Noah's Ark Children's Ministry Uganda was founded by a Dutch missionary couple 20 years ago. Reporter Halima Gikandi's yearlong investigation into children's homes in Uganda found several allegations of abuse and misconduct going back a decade. Plus, Colin Firth's shirt is sold at auction.

Duration:00:47:18

Haiti gangs wreak havoc in Port-au-Prince

3/5/2024
Gangs are taking over Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. Police and the military have been ineffective in stopping the gangs from attacking the country's main airport last night and breaking out of thousands of inmates from prison over the weekend. And, a UN report finds credible the allegations of sexual assault by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, and against hostages held in Gaza. UN Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten went to Israel and the West Bank with a team to examine and gather information about allegations of sexual violence. Also, AidChild is an organization founded by American missionary Nathaniel Dunigan in 2000 to support children with HIV. The World's Halima Gikandi conducted a yearlong investigation on children's orphanages in Uganda and found several allegations of abuse and neglect at the organization, going back a decade. Plus, a satellite to help fight climate change by detecting methane.

Duration:00:48:52

War in Gaza puts US forces in Syria at risk

3/4/2024
According to the Pentagon, since the start of Israel's war in Gaza, there have been about 200 attacks on US forces stationed in Iraq and Syria. These attacks have been carried out by militia groups supported by Iran. And, on Monday, the European Union sent a message to Apple and other tech giants: "We will ensure compliance with our regulations." It followed a massive $2 billion antitrust fine for Apple. Also, research has shown that the vast majority of children in orphanages actually have families. Still, many Americans are giving their money to these institutions. In Uganda, those well-intentioned funds have created a whole industry around orphans. Plus, Mexico's lawsuit against US gunmakers could be a game-changer.

Duration:00:48:35

Alexei Navalny's funeral in Moscow

3/1/2024
People around the world are mourning the death of Alexei Navalny, Russia’s leading opposition politician. Thousands of people came to his funeral in Moscow on Friday. Navalny died last month while being held in a remote Russian prison in the Arctic Circle. And, a team of scientists sought to find out how violence between rebel groups in Central African Republic has affected the country's mortality rate. They found that it's shaken the foundations of the country. Also, Iran is holding parliamentary elections this week but voter turnout is a major concern to its political leaders. Discontent is rampant in the country following years of protests and a struggling economy. Plus, the godfather of Tuareg desert blues.

Duration:00:48:23

Dueling border visits spotlight clashing immigration narratives

2/29/2024
US President Joe Biden touched down at one key Texas crossing point on the US-Mexico border today. His rival for the oval office, former President Donald Trump, visited another, showcasing a very different border environment. And, a new survey from the Pew Research Center says that representative democracy remains popular globally, but its appeal is also waning. Also, for the first time, the Cuban government has asked the UN's World Food Program for help providing powdered milk to children under 7 years old amid a crushing economic crisis in Cuba. Plus, the Disney merger with an Indian media giant is all about cricket.

Duration:00:48:08

Food aid reaches northern Gaza for first time in weeks

2/28/2024
As the Israel-Hamas war continues, food aid reaches northern Gaza for first time in weeks. Israeli hostages' families continue to push for their release. This conflict has stirred up strong emotions in Lod, a mixed Jewish and Arab town in central Israel. And, the northeast African nation of Sudan is rich in natural resources. Various international actors are fueling its civil war there with an eye on the bottom line. Also, thousands of junior doctors in South Korea are striking against a government plan to train more physicians, saying they want better pay and working conditions for themselves. The government says if the doctors don't return to work by Feb. 29, they will face arrest and risk losing their licenses. Plus, the latest Disney animated series depicts a futuristic Lagos.

Duration:00:48:45

China's foreign minister has resigned

2/27/2024
China's foreign minister has resigned. In recent months, other high level officials have been purged from power in China, including the defense minister and several army generals. But why? Plus, Greenland is imposing a "green tax" on the cruise ship industry. Tourism is important for Greenland's economy. But there are concerns about the impact of the tourist business on the island's environment. And camel racing on the Arabian Peninsula goes back to the 7th century. These days, it's still hugely popular, with robot jockeys and cash prizes. But a new team is taking camel racing back to its roots, with a twist.

Duration:00:47:46

Municipal elections take place this week in Jerusalem, amid war

2/26/2024
Voters in the city of Jerusalem go to the polls this week for municipal elections. The current mayor is expected to win another five-year term. But this is not a typical election, with the war in Gaza now well into its fifth month. Plus, every year the world uses up to 50 billion metric tons of sand, according to a United Nations Environment Program report. This is not sustainable and it's already having a negative environmental impact. And in Dubai, where temperatures regularly rise above 100 degrees, the city has set up destination night beaches. And they are thriving.

Duration:00:48:29

2 years on: How war has changed Ukraine's battlefield

2/23/2024
The United States has been Ukraine's single biggest provider of military aid. But crucial funding is being held up in Congress. Ukraine is now focusing on drone production in an effort to become more self-reliant. And, as the Israel-Hamas war grinds on, more and more desperate Palestinians are resorting to paying bribes to leave Gaza. Some are crowdsourcing thousands of dollars to pay a network of Egyptian agencies that promise to coordinate their departure. Also, a global scheme to scan as many human irises as possible in exchange for cryptocurrency is setting off alarms in Europe. Privacy advocates say poor people are being preyed upon without knowing what they're signing away. Plus, Out of Eden Walk: Djibouti and the Red Sea.

Duration:00:48:26

US weighs options for Russia after Navalny's death

2/22/2024
US President Joe Biden warned Russia in 2021 that it would face “devastating” consequences if opposition leader Alexei Navalny were to die in prison. The White House has vowed it will follow through on that pledge and is expected to announce new Russia sanctions on Friday. And, across Ukraine, many schools have switched to remote learning amid the ongoing war with Russia. In the eastern city of Kharkiv, one school is fully operating underground, within the city's subway system. Also, investors in China are completely abandoning massive property developments across the country. We hear from a reporter sent to explore one abandoned development. Plus, China will return two panda bears to the US.

Duration:00:48:30

The case of Julian Assange is back in British court

2/21/2024
The case of Julian Assange is back before Britain’s high court in what's likely to be the WikiLeaks founder's last-ditch attempt to avoid extradition to the US. Assange is wanted by US authorities for disclosing secret military files in 2010 and 2011. And, online shoppers around the world can’t seem to get enough cheap consumer goods from the China-based platforms Temu and Shein. The two companies are gobbling up so much air-cargo space that they’re causing soaring shipping costs and derailing supply chains. Also, for Ukrainian soldiers who have lost a limb in battle, adjusting to this new reality can be tough. But some have found their way back to sports with the country's first soccer team for amputees. Plus, 546 words in English for getting drunk.

Duration:00:48:14

Who will lead Russia's opposition now?

2/20/2024
Alexei Navalny was very much the face of the opposition in Russia. Now that he has died in prison, will the movement he helped build, survive? Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya, who lives in exile, has vowed to carry on his work. And, in Haiti, a judge responsible for investigating the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse has indicted his widow, Martine Moise, along with 50 others, accusing them of "complicity and criminal association." Also, on Tuesday at the United Nations, the United States used its veto power on the Security Council to block a draft resolution for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. This is the third time the US has used its veto to prevent a call for a cessation in the fighting since the war began on Oct. 7. Plus, 200 years of dinosaur science.

Duration:00:48:12