The World

In Gaza today, rescue teams comb through rubble, searching desperately for survivors after a war-damaged building gave way. The death toll has climbed to at least 21, a Gaza Health Ministry official reports. Also, Israel's prime minister has vowed to introduce a law stripping citizenship from those accused of defaming the nation's army. And, in Nepal, flood survivors with disabilities struggle to find sign language interpreters, transportation, and even basic information. Plus, a Brazilian cellist who performs in conflict zones.

The Kremlin’s history of election meddling is entering a new era, as artificial intelligence arms Russia with sharper, more elusive tools for interference in the US midterm elections. Also, global measles cases have surged by 8% since 2019. And, the Trump administration is tightening the rules for international students, shortening the time they can stay before needing to reapply for a visa or leave the country. Plus, a Singapore university has revealed the world’s second biological data center, where living human neurons and silicon hardware join forces to process information.

In Yemen, the Houthis, a rebel group supported by Iran, have taken more strategic territory along the Red Sea. This now includes islands in the middle of the narrowest part of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key route for over a tenth of global trade. Also, in Germany, police arrested a man last week suspected of planning and carrying out sabotage against the country’s electricity network, apparently to highlight the climate crisis. And, when Beijing and Washington discuss AI safety rules, they often have very different ideas. In the US, the debate focuses on threats to humanity, while China is more concerned about risks to its ruling party. Plus, Senegal is getting ready to host the Youth Olympic Games.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. We hear from a variety of voices remembering that day and its aftermath. A documentary photographer discusses one of her iconic photos. A former Guantanamo Bay prison detainee who was never charged talks about his experience. We highlight the profiles of victims who died at Ground Zero. Plus, a look at art and music that emerged in the years that followed.

A look at what could have been done better to prevent thousands of flooding deaths in Nepal. Also, a 9/11 widow helps Afghan widows. And, a former employee at the AI company Anthropic has warned on social media that the technology could “kill us all” by 2030, though others dispute the claim. Plus, the organic waste processing method that’s sparked a social movement in Colombia.

A coalition between Spain’s Populist, anti-immigrant Vox party with the center-right Popular Party could move the country closer to the far-right than ever before. Also, with the US military focused on its war with Iran, we look at how prepared Washington is to defend its Pacific allies. And, a delegation from Jamaica asks King Charles to seek guidance on whether Britain is obligated to pay reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. Plus, we take a listen to music that brings together different regions of Morocco.

Flooding is common in Nepal, but the avalanche that triggered water and debris to surge down the Trishuli River was of an entirely different magnitude. We take a look at the causes behind the disaster. Also, a small village in France that’s become a popular place for students to learn about Chinese history. And, an art detective talks about how "smash and grab"-style museum heists have become a growing trend across Europe. Plus, a song about Gaza that’s gone viral for touching on the themes of colonialism and Indigenous people.

As the United States honors its workers this Labor Day, it’s been 250 years since the nation was founded. We look at a defining ideal in the Declaration of Independence promoting “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” that was meant to resonate beyond the US. Also, a conversation about how the US’ current political fault lines have colonial roots. And, a discussion about the role North America's sovereign tribal nations played in the American Revolution, and the impact that it had on Indigenous people around the world. Plus, we commemorate the anniversary by listening to songs that arrived from overseas and became a part of early American history.

In Nepal today, some welcome but unexpected news as two survivors were rescued — alive — from the tunnel of a hydropower plant, some nine days after getting trapped by devastating floods. Also, the Spanish Women's Football League has announced it will subsidize the procedure for players on the national team to freeze their eggs. And, Giorgia Meloni becomes Italy’s longest continuously serving prime minister since Benito Mussolini. Plus, finding hospitality in an unknown part of the Indian Himalayas.

A new intelligence report alleges that the Moroccan government masterminded the recent migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Also, heat, drought and war have disrupted the global food supply, hiking food prices. And, after trade talks between the US and Canada fell apart, Canadians are fighting back with boycotts of American alcohol and other products. Plus, a look at Gloria Steinem’s impact on women’s rights around the world.

The World reports from on the ground in one of the hardest-hit districts of Nepal from recent flooding. Also, tributes honoring the former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladić, who died last week while serving a life sentence at The Hague for genocide and war crimes, have caused outrage across much of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And, Mexico pushes back against the FDA narrative that a major Cyclospora outbreak in the US originated in Mexico, as scientists say that the exact point of contamination is still unclear. Plus, national weather agencies across the globe are increasingly turning to AI to for more accurate forecasts.

Families of Colombian veterans, who traveled to Ukraine and Russia to fight in the war between the two countries, are now searching for their loved ones who have disappeared on the battlefield, or whose bodies remain thousands of miles away. Also, as the fighting in Sudan continues, the warring sides are seeking more foreign backing. And, boycotts of American alcohol are boosting Canadian wineries as the trade war between the US and Canada escalates. Plus, a new open-air machinery museum in the Australian outback.

Nearly a thousand of the people unaccounted for following the catastrophic flooding in Nepal and Tibet are Nepali hydropower workers. Hundreds of them are thought to be alive but trapped in tunnels and infrastructure buried by mud and debris. Also, Spain’s smallest island is seeking independence to slow the influx of tourism. And, key details of an oil deal between the US and Venezuela remain unclear. Plus, Denmark takes new steps to confront the use of AI in schools.

Iceland has long kept the EU at arm’s length. But Russia’s war in Ukraine and President Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland have prompted a rethink, with growing calls for Iceland to move closer to the bloc. Also, it’s been a tense week in Haiti after nearly 50 people were killed and over 50 more were kidnapped in a coordinated gang attack in a town outside the capital, Port-au-Prince. And, Gotham FC's openly gay star striker, Esther Gonzalez, has left the New York team and has now signed on to play for a Premier League team in Saudi Arabia, where her marriage is illegal. Plus, an update on Nepal victims and the continued search for the missing.

Devastating flash floods have killed more than 350 people near Nepal's border with Tibet. But the death toll remains fluid, with some 1,000 people still unaccounted for. Also, wildfires have raged for weeks in Indonesia, with smoke spreading into neighboring countries. And, former Serbian General Ratko Mladic, known as the "Butcher of Bosnia," has died at the age of 84 in a prison hospital at The Hague, where he was serving a life sentence. Plus, Paris opens its first shop devoted exclusively to French butter.

Venezuela’s government and opposition are negotiating again — and this time, analysts say the country may have its best chance in years at a democratic transition. Also, flash floods triggered by an ice avalanche have left hundreds of people missing in Nepal along its border with Tibet. And, 2,000 robots participated in a Humanoid Robotics competition this week in China. Plus, a global tribute to singer Dolly Parton.

The US has announced a new round of sanctions targeting Iran’s oil, shipping, weapons and financial networks. Also, Washington has removed Syria from its “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list, paving the way for more foreign investment. And, Colombia’s president is calling for a major immigration crackdown, one that would largely affect Venezuelan immigrants. Plus, a thousand Japanese people have together pulled a 400-year-old castle about three feet closer to where it originally stood.

Singapore has announced plans to offer parents $55,000 per child to encourage people to have more children. Also, the pope joins Spain in calling for a more humanitarian approach to migrants. And, physical activity hasn’t increased globally in two decades. Plus, what hospitals could sound like in the future.

The Spanish government has announced it will move 500 unaccompanied Moroccan girls from its North African enclave to shelters on the mainland, where they'll be safer, as extreme-right groups across Europe capitalize on the controversy. Also, the US war with Iran is testing one of the UAE’s most important economic propositions: a stable, globally connected hub even as conflict unfolds around it. And, a look at the 23-year-old who could be the face of Israel’s future. Plus, fictional vignettes that help tell the story of everyday life in Haiti.

Britain will hold its first "National Day Recognizing Victims and Survivors of Terrorism" on Friday. Also, a gas leak at a dockyard in southern Bangladesh that killed eight people while they were dismantling a ship highlights the dangers and costs of the ship breaking industry for both people and the local environment. And, a new documentary, “American Doctor,” looks at the harrowing journey of three doctors working in Gaza. Plus, we listen to the music of renowned harpist Catrín Finch, who composed an album for her younger self.

An anti-corruption investigation reaching into the highest ranks of Ukraine’s government and a former defense minister’s call for elections are adding to political tensions in Kyiv. Also, how AI is changing the way information about conflicts gets out, not just by creating fake images, but by making it harder to know what’s real. And, a restaurant 7,500 feet up in the Italian Dolomites is being overrun with tourists seeking a certain pastry. Plus, the UK creates a national strategy for combatting loneliness.

The US military has been conducting deadly strikes on boats it says are carrying drugs off the coast of Latin America. Now, the US Defense Department says it's expanding that maritime campaign to land. Also, the death of Jason Arday, a Black professor at the University of Cambridge, has sparked a debate in Britain over the media scrutiny he faced in the weeks leading up to his death. And, a new survey shows that some young people across Africa think USAID cuts could be a positive moment of change for the continent. Plus, Afghanistan could see its first woman in space.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, given his “very good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.” Also, campaigns for this year's presidential election in Brazil have begun, with incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva running against Flavio Bolsonaro, son of his former rival. And, Swiss rivers and lakes are reaching near-record temperatures, risking disruptions to the electricity supply by making hydropower less efficient and by making it impossible to cool nuclear plants. Plus, the Olympic stadium in Athens gets its first deep cleaning in over a century.

An Afghan activist who ran the last remaining safe house and shelter for abused women in Kabul until it was forced to shutter last December is still doing her best to voice the aspirations of Afghan girls and women; but she’s wondering if it’s now time to leave. Also, a group of female bird guides in Uganda set a global example for the business. And, a city in Thailand that’s taken over by monkeys. Plus, what do the wrinkles on an elephant’s trunk mean?

Israeli settlers have increased their attacks in the occupied West Bank sparking fears of violence spiraling out of control. Also, Europeans gathered in Spain to watch a solar eclipse — the first there in over a century. And, a cafe in Japan that helps procrastinators to get their work done. Plus, a book all about the history of rope.

Cali, Colombia, was hit hard by this week's earthquake, and now, a mix of local and regional rescue teams are on the ground trying to find people in the rubble. Also, a look at the origin and uncertain future of Temporary Protected Status in the US. And, a conversation about immigrants dealing with hyphenated identities. Plus, a secret language created by Chinese women hundreds of years ago to share their struggles and dreams with each other.

Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his younger brother were sentenced to death in absentia by a Damascus court today, nearly two years after rebels forced them to seek exile in Russia. Also, at least 179 people have been killed and thousands more remain missing after a massive earthquake in Colombia. And, Europe’s new biometric border system has been causing chaos at some airports across the continent this summer. Plus, a roundup of food stories to celebrate summertime.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bluntly rejected a US-backed 15-point peace plan for Gaza this weekend. Also, how Shenzhen, China, became the electric car capital of the world. And, a look at why the Czech capital has voted to reinstate the statue of a 19th century military commander. Plus, cars resembling quirky objects are part of a public health intervention in India.

The Indian government has declared heat waves to be official natural disasters. Also, with more than 4,000 cases reported in Democratic Republic of Congo, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say responders need to shift their focus to door-to-door disease tracking. And, just over a week since around 72,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, roughly 2,000 minors, most of them Moroccan children, remain there, exposed and unprotected. Plus, this week marked a chord change in one of the world's longest concerts — lasting hundreds of years.