When it comes to global travel, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has four levels of COVID-19 risk advisories for countries, from low to very high. Omicron surges have put many more countries at level four, including Canada. And today marks 20 years since the first detainees filed into the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. US Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden vowed to shutter the facility, but more than three dozen men remain there in legal limbo. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought Bulgarians back home after thousands emigrated abroad. Many are now wondering if the new returnees will stay and help bolster the EU's poorest country.

Tianjin, a large city near Beijing with 14 million people, reported 41 COVID-19 cases over the weekend. With the Winter Olympics less than a month away, the city is carrying out round-the-clock, mandatory COVID-19 tests. And students and teachers in Uganda reunited today, after nearly two years of COVID-19 shutdowns. We hear why many Ugandan students still won’t be returning to their classrooms. Plus, tango is one of the most famous musical genres coming out of Argentina, but its history is steeped in sexism. Now, some tango musicians are part of a movement to write songs with a feminist lens.

In Kazakhstan, protests, turmoil and violence continue after liquified gas prices recently doubled. The country’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said today that he gave orders to security forces to open fire without warning at people he’s calling "terrorists." And airlines are required to fly up to 80% of their schedule to retain their assigned slots, but reduced demand for air travel has led some airlines to fly “ghost flights” to keep competitors from securing the coveted spots. Also, before you put your Christmas tree on the curb, consider repurposing it in the kitchen. The concept may be new to some, but people around the world have been cooking with pine, fir and spruce for centuries.

Imagery from the Jan. 6 insurrection on the US Capitol has made for powerful propaganda in the hands of extremists abroad. We hear from an expert about how US insurrectionists have inspired neo-fascist groups around the world. And with just one month until the Winter Olympics begin in Beijing, China’s zero-COVID-19 policy will impact how the games run. Plus, the King Cake culinary tradition unites many French families on Jan. 6, Christianity's Epiphany Day. Whoever finds a small baby Jesus figurine in their slice becomes king for the day.

Canada's government has pledged to award a $31.5 billion settlement to families in order to begin to repair the damages by a discriminatory system that has removed tens of thousands of children from their parents over the decades. And, scientists in South Africa have made major discoveries about the behavior of the omicron variant, but most of the continent continues to lack vaccine access. We hear from the director of Africa’s Center for Disease Control on lessons learned so far from Africa. Plus, Preet Chandi is the first woman of color to complete a solo, unaided trek to the South Pole. The British Sikh army officer said she braved extreme conditions, in part, to be a role model to other Asian women and people of color. 

In recent months, our lives have been dominated by the delta and omicron variants, but now there might be another one lurking — temporarily named IHU.  How do variants get classified as a “variant of concern”? And 24-year-old singer Silvana Estrada is one of Mexico’s most promising young talents. We hear about her upcoming debut album, “Marchita,” and her first headlining US tour. Plus, Canadian farmers on Prince Edward Island are stuck with enough potatoes to fill 25 hockey stadiums due to an outdated export ban. The crop has since been declared virus-free but the ban persists, leaving the island with a bit of a potato crisis.

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has stepped down just weeks after he was reinstated by Sudan’s military. The move comes amid street protests responding to the military-led coup in October. And the Daoist goddess Mazu is revered on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The devout make pilgrimages to Fujian province to pray for the return of Taiwan, which they consider a "renegade province," not a separate country. Plus, 30 years after a Chinese man was abducted, he had an emotional reunion with his biological mother after drawing a map of his childhood village from memory.

Happy New Year from The World! For this holiday show, we’ve pulled together a sampling of some of our favorite music features and interviews over the past year. Steeve Valcourt of the band Lakou Mizik talks about how they use music to shine a light on their country's culture and history, while Pakistani composer and musician Arooj Aftab discusses writing songs about transition and loss from her home in the US. And, how Radio Garden helped people tune into different stations around the globe during lockdown.

Earlier this year, the Biden administration discussed offering migrant families that had been separated under the Trump administration $450,000 in compensation per person. But those negotiations ended this week. Families will not be getting anything — at least for now. Plus, the Chinese city of Xi’an remains under COVID-19 lockdown protocols, restricting movement for some 13 million people. And the pandemic has hit Chinatowns in cities across the United States hard. Now, residents, business owners and activists in Los Angeles' Chinatown have conflicting visions for the neighborhood's future, as they address challenges that have become starker during the pandemic.

Hong Kong authorities have shut down pro-democracy news organization Stand News on Wednesday in another blow to press freedoms. At least 50 media organizations have ceased operations since the passing of the National Security law. And a decade of war has decimated Syria's health care system. Bombings continue in Idlib province, the last remaining opposition-held area, posing major challenges for doctors and health care workers as they battle COVID-19. Plus, food blogger Joanne Lee Molinaro has millions of followers on TikTok and not just for her delicious plant-based Korean recipes. The Korean Vegan joins us to talk about the deep connection between food and family. 

There is still time to support The World before our fundraising drive ends on Dec. 31. Your gift ensures that all our coverage on the air, on the web, and via the podcast remains free and accessible to everyone. With a donation of $130 (or $11/month), host Marco Werman will personally thank you on the podcast! Learn more and make your gift today.