The delta variant of COVID-19 has swept the globe. It’s now confirmed in at least 130 countries. It’s more transmissible, it's fitter, and with that, new outbreaks have prompted governments from Australia to Japan to reimpose restrictions. New data on transmission also has US health leaders reassessing guidelines, too, and ramping up vaccine incentives. This back and forth over developments with the virus may seem really confusing. Host Marco Werman speaks with Dr. Michael Marks, a researcher at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, about what scientists are learning about the variant.

What makes the delta variant so surprising, and not surprising

I talked with a Hong Kong protester today who goes by the name of Fish Cheng.

At the barricades

After my story on Monday about how legendary Brooklyn pizzeria Totonno's is trying to rebuild and come back after super-storm Sandy, a lot of people said how charmed they were by the grand-daughter of the late Anthony "Totonno" Pero, Antoinette Balzano.  So here is an extended mix of the time I spent with Balzano, going around Coney Island, starting in front of Totonno's, going to the boardwalk, and returning back to the restaurant. We began by speaking about her grandfather.

Touring Coney Island with Antoinette Balzano of Totonno's Pizzeria

[<a href="https://soundcloud.com/theworld/sets/embedded-journalism-in-iraq">This is part of a panel discussion on embedded journalism in Iraq and Afghanistan</a>] 

This is part of a panel discussion on embedded journalism in Iraq and Afghanistan</a>] "(During the 2003 lead up to the Iraq invasion) we were going to bring all of the journalists that were going to go with us, and read them into the entire plan, weeks prior to the invasion.  And the reason this is done is, number one, they're going to be right beside us and deserve to know; and two, it was an extension of trust that says "We are going to let you in, and let you see everything that we're getting ready to do.  And we trust that you're not going to compromise the mission." - US Army Col. Richard "Ross" Coffman

Sebastian Junger, Bob Woodruff, Rita Leistner and Col. Ross Coffman talk with The World's Aaron Schachter on March 15, 2013

How reporters got to the war zone

Reporter Anders Kelto of PRI's The World talks about his radio and multimedia series, "School Year." Kelto is spending a year documenting the lives of students at a public high school in Cape Town, South Africa. The Centre of Science and Technology is a magnet school that serves families in the low-income township of Khayelitsha. &#13;
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Visit http://www.pri.org/school-year for more.

School Year

Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is. The World is heard on over 300 stations across North America.

What makes the delta variant so surprising, and not surprising

The World

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