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Author Interviews

Novel 'The Covenant of Water' tells of a family in India haunted by a medical mystery

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with the author Abraham Verghese about his new novel The Covenant of Water in which a family in India is haunted by a medical mystery.

Novel 'The Covenant of Water' tells of a family in India haunted by a medical mystery

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Russia is sending crude through the Arctic to China

This summer has seen a sharp increase in the number of Russian oil tankers shuttling crude to ports in China via Polar waters. Climate change means there's less ice for the vessels to navigate.

Russia is sending crude through the Arctic to China

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Technology

This French app aims to fight sexual harassment on beaches

Women who are subject to unwanted attention and harassment on the beaches of southern France this summer are experimenting with a new app which summons police.

This French app aims to fight sexual harassment on beaches

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Arkansas lawmaker describes going on the first congressional trip to Syria in 5 years

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with GOP Rep. French Hill of Arkansas about his trip that he took to Syria with two other Republican members of Congress.

Arkansas lawmaker describes going on the first congressional trip to Syria in 5 years

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Animals

Millions of bees fell off a truck in Ontario. Local beekeepers jumped in to help

Millions of bees spilled onto an Ontario highway Wednesday. Beekeepers sprung into action. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with one of the beekeepers, Mike Barber of Tri-City Bee Rescue, about the effort.

Millions of bees fell off a truck in Ontario. Local beekeepers jumped in to help

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Africa

Deadly Johannesburg building fire brings attention to housing operations run by gangs

A deadly fire in an apartment block in Johannesburg, South Africa, has raised questions about the grip of gangs who illegally occupy and sell off space in empty buildings with squalid conditions.

Deadly Johannesburg building fire brings attention to housing operations run by gangs

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What we know about the arson attacks in Russia

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Mika Golubovsky, the English language editor for Mediazona, about the arson attacks in which Russians have been trying to set recruitment offices on fire.

What we know about the arson attacks in Russia

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Chile will search for 1,000+ victims of forced disappearance by Pinochet dictatorship

A view of the images portraying victims of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship projected onto the La Moneda Presidential Palace to mark the commemoration of the International Day of the Disappeared in Santiago, Chile, on Wednesday. Lucas Aguayo Araos/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images hide caption

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Lucas Aguayo Araos/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Americas

Chile will search for 1,000+ victims of forced disappearance by Pinochet dictatorship

It is the first time the Chilean government will lead the search for victims, something which victims' relatives and advocates have long carried out themselves and have sought help from the army.

Saudi man sentenced to death for tweets in harshest verdict yet for online critics

In this photo illustration, the new logo for the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, now X, is seen displayed on a smartphone. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption

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SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Middle East

Saudi man sentenced to death for tweets in harshest verdict yet for online critics

A retired teacher in Saudi Arabia a death sentence for his tweets criticizing the country's leadership to just a handful of followers, according to rights advocates and his family.

Saudi man sentenced to death for tweets in harshest verdict yet for online critics

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Europe

Russia is trying to buy weapons from North Korea, the U.S. says

NPR's Michel Martin talks to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby about accusations Russia aims to do an arms deals with North Korea to support Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia is trying to buy weapons from North Korea, the U.S. says

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Music News

Italian rapper Ghali aims to save migrants from drowning in the Mediterranean

In his home country of Italy, Ghali is a major star. His parents are Tunisian, and he's working with Tunisian refugees trying to enter Italy. NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Ghali about his mission.

Italian rapper Ghali aims to save migrants from drowning in the Mediterranean

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Odesa beaches reopen, offering Ukrainians a respite from war

People swim and sunbathe on a reopened beach at the Black Sea on Aug. 22 in Odesa. When missiles and drone attacks first hit the city — and Russian naval vessels started laying explosive sea mines around the port — the beaches were closed. Warning signs urged people to keep their distance. Pierre Crom/Getty Images hide caption

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Pierre Crom/Getty Images

Ukraine invasion — explained

Odesa beaches reopen, offering Ukrainians a respite from war

Beaches on the Black Sea that closed after Russia's invasion have reopened. People say swimming and sunbathing are ways to find a taste of normal life, even while under threat from Moscow.

Odesa beaches reopen, offering Ukrainians a respite from war

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5 million bees fall off a truck near Toronto and drivers are asked to close windows

Beekeeper Mike Osborne uses his hand to look for the queen bee as he removes bees from a car after a truck carrying bee hives swerved, causing the hives to fall and release bees in Burlington, Ontario, on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Carlos Osorio/AP hide caption

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Carlos Osorio/AP

Animals

5 million bees fall off a truck near Toronto and drivers are asked to close windows

Police west of Toronto on Wednesday warned drivers to keep their car windows closed after a truck spilled crates carrying five million bees onto a road.

How Korean Culture Went Global (2022)
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Throughline

How Korean Culture Went Global (2022)

From BTS to Squid Game to high-end beauty standards, South Korea reigns as a global exporter of pop culture and entertainment. Just 70 years ago, it would have seemed impossible. For the next episode in our "Superpower" series, exploring U.S. connections to East Asia, we tell the story of South Korea's rise from a war-decimated state to a major driver of global soft power: a story of war, occupation, economic crisis, and national strategy that breaks around the world as the Korean Wave.

How Korean Culture Went Global (2022)

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