The World

Hundreds of captured Russian soldiers, conscripts and mercenaries are being held in 50 sites around Ukraine. Russia also has Ukrainian POWs captured from the war. Frequent prisoner exchanges are a sign of direct talks between the two countries. And, in Ukraine's southern region of Kherson, evacuations are underway to get residents out of areas affected by flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Also, hip-hop turns 50 this summer. The World launches "Planet Hip Hop" to celebrate its influence in all corners of the globe. Plus, scientists get a thrilling new look at the Earth's mantle.

The world of professional golf experienced a seismic shift on Tuesday when the US-based PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia-backed league LIV, announced a merger. For Saudi Arabia, it's only the latest in an ambitious plan to extend the kingdom's influence and participation in global sports. And, in Canada's eastern provinces from Quebec to Nova Scotia, wildfires have caused thousands to flee their homes and untold damage. Also, with large numbers of young Russian fighters dying on the Ukraine battlefield, the Wagner mercenary group must constantly recruit to replenish their fighters. They've gone online and are using the same tactics that the ISIS once used to lure young men to go to fight in Syria. Plus, female crocodiles can reproduce without males.

A major dam in southeastern Ukraine collapsed on Tuesday, flooding villages, endangering crops in the country's breadbasket region and threatening drinking water supplies, as both sides in the war scrambled to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction. And, the Department of Homeland Security has been allowing reporters to observe and report on deportation flights as part of a public diplomacy campaign aimed at discouraging migrants from coming to the US. Also, last year, an estimated 3,500 Rohingya Muslims boarded wooden boats and set off from Bangladesh in search of starting their lives over in Malaysia or Indonesia. Hundreds of them never made it. Plus, a driver in Finland gets a $130,000 speeding ticket.

A major dam in southeastern Ukraine collapsed on Tuesday, flooding villages, endangering crops in the country's breadbasket region and threatening drinking water supplies, as both sides in the war scrambled to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the destruction. And, the Department of Homeland Security has been allowing reporters to observe and report on deportation flights as part of a public diplomacy campaign aimed at discouraging migrants from coming to the US. Also, last year, an estimated 3,500 Rohingya Muslims boarded wooden boats and set off from Bangladesh in search of starting their lives over in Malaysia or Indonesia. Hundreds of them never made it. Plus, a driver in Finland gets a $130,000 speeding ticket.

On Sunday, rescue workers pulled the last survivor from the devastating crash in India's eastern Odisha state, that has left at least 275 dead and more than 1,000 injured. Relatives are now on the scene trying to locate their loved ones. And, there's been a push to add new members to BRICS — a group from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — in an effort to counterbalance the power of Western countries. Also, hundreds of thousands of people hit the streets yesterday in Poland, protesting what they see as growing authoritarianism in the country. Many were motivated in response to a new law that is supposed to target Russian propaganda in Poland. Plus, gang violence in Haiti loosens its grip.

On Sunday, rescue workers pulled the last survivor from the devastating crash in India's eastern Odisha state, that has left at least 275 dead and more than 1,000 injured. Relatives are now on the scene trying to locate their loved ones. And, there's been a push to add new members to BRICS — a group from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — in an effort to counterbalance the power of Western countries. Also, hundreds of thousands of people hit the streets yesterday in Poland, protesting what they see as growing authoritarianism in the country. Many were motivated in response to a new law that is supposed to target Russian propaganda in Poland. Plus, gang violence in Haiti loosens its grip.

On Sunday, rescue workers pulled the last survivor from the devastating crash in India's eastern Odisha state, that has left at least 275 dead and more than 1,000 injured. Relatives are now on the scene trying to locate their loved ones. And, there's been a push to add new members to BRICS — a group from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — in an effort to counterbalance the power of Western countries. Also, hundreds of thousands of people hit the streets yesterday in Poland, protesting what they see as growing authoritarianism in the country. Many were motivated in response to a new law that is supposed to target Russian propaganda in Poland. Plus, gang violence in Haiti loosens its grip.

A new investigation from Reuters found billions of dollars labeled as "climate finance" going to projects that only had a tangential relationship to climate solutions. And, it's pufferfish season in Southeast Asia. Most fisherfolk will throw pufferfish back, but some bring them to market, serving niche groups of customers who love eating them, despite the warnings. Also, Tunisia is the birthplace of the so-called Arab Spring, and Syria is where protesters witnessed some of the most brutal crackdowns. Today, both countries are "turning a new page," as one Syrian official recently put it. Plus, Ama Ata Aidoo, a giant in the African literary scene, died this week at the age of 81.

Ukrainian journalist Volodymyr Solohub has traveled to eastern Ukraine near the front lines in Donetsk this week. He talks about how Ukrainian troops are using new Western weaponry and low-tech homemade drones. And, in Europe, inflation is getting curbed, stocks are up, key sectors are rebounding and the US Congress seems to be on course to raise the debt ceiling and prevent the global markets from meltdown as a result. Will it last? Also, Iraq’s date palms were nearly decimated after decades of war. We hear about one group's efforts to save them. Plus, this blues musician fled Russia for Serbia.

Ukrainian journalist Volodymyr Solohub has traveled to eastern Ukraine near the front lines in Donetsk this week. He talks about how Ukrainian troops are using new Western weaponry and low-tech homemade drones. And, in Europe, inflation is getting curbed, stocks are up, key sectors are rebounding and the US Congress seems to be on course to raise the debt ceiling and prevent the global markets from meltdown as a result. Will it last? Also, Iraq’s date palms were nearly decimated after decades of war. We hear about one group's efforts to save them. Plus, this blues musician fled Russia for Serbia.

Ukrainian journalist Volodymyr Solohub has traveled to eastern Ukraine near the front lines in Donetsk this week. He talks about how Ukrainian troops are using new Western weaponry and low-tech homemade drones. And, in Europe, inflation is getting curbed, stocks are up, key sectors are rebounding and the US Congress seems to be on course to raise the debt ceiling and prevent the global markets from meltdown as a result. Will it last? Also, Iraq’s date palms were nearly decimated after decades of war. We hear about one group's efforts to save them. Plus, this blues musician fled Russia for Serbia.

The United Nations says more than 1 million people have been displaced by the conflict in Sudan. Despite on and off ceasefires, the fighting between the country's armed forces and paramilitary has shown no signs of ending soon. And, Nigeria has only about 1 doctor for every 5,000 residents. Members of Nigerian Parliament are backing a new bill that will medical graduates to work in the country for five years to limit the medical brain drain. Also, a spacecraft with an all-private astronaut team splashed down off Texas in the Gulf of Mexico late Tuesday. Two of the four astronauts on board are from Saudi Arabia including the first Arab woman to go into orbit. Plus, a the $70 billion deal that could impact the future of cloud gaming.

At least eight military drones appeared over the skies of the Russian capital and its suburbs early Tuesday. Russian Defense Ministry officials say all of the drones were intercepted and damage from falling debris was minimal. And, on Monday, Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu was sworn in as the country’s new president in the capital Abuja. He enters office amid ongoing court disputes against the election results, rising insecurity, and a struggling economy. Also, on the Serbian border with Hungary, 90 minutes from Belgrade, a group of five Russian game developers have found a new home after fleeing Russia under threat of arrest. Plus, in Hong Kong, public censorship of Tiananmen Square is underway.

In parts of northern Ukraine, near the border with Belarus, Russian troops were firmly in control for several weeks after Russia's full-scale invasion started in 2022. The World revisits a story from the Chernihiv region, about how residents there are putting their lives back together, even while the war rages on. We also go back to a school in Romania where Ukrainians are starting over. And, Ukrainians are finding ways to keep living their lives amid war. That includes searching for — and finding — love. School is out for the summer! But we have one more assignment for you. If you are a student or a recent graduate from an American university, we’d like to know why you chose to study in the US. Was it what you hoped for? What do you like, what do you not like? When you graduate will you return home? Record a voice memo with your story. Include your name and location and email the voice memo to myworld@theworld.org. We might feature your story on the program.

Last month, Elon Musk’s satellite internet, Starlink, went live in El Salvador. The government hopes this will revolutionize internet access in the region. But many worry that the cost of the service will keep it out of reach for many people. Also, being a doctor in Ukraine brings great risk. There have been more than 700 attacks on health care facilities since the war there began. And, a tattoo artist in Jerusalem is carrying on a 700-year-old Christian tradition. Plus, Turkish voters head to the polls again. We have a preview of the upcoming runoff presidential election. School is out for the summer! But we have one more assignment for you. If you are a student or a recent graduate from an American university, we’d like to know why you chose to study in the US. Was it what you hoped for? What do you like, what do you not like? When you graduate will you return home? Record a voice memo with your story. Include your name and location and email the voice memo to myworld@theworld.org. We might feature your story on the program.

The latest wave of COVID-19 infections to hit China could see as many as 65 million cases per week by the time the surge peaks at the end of June. It’s being fueled by omicron XBB, a subvariant that’s been found widely in the US. Plus, Greek authorities have made some 200 beaches water accessible to people with disabilities. And the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," Tina Turner, has died at the age of 83. The iconic musician spent the last few decades of her life in Europe. What prompted that choice?

Tunisia's democracy continues to deteriorate with the arrests of opposition politicians, including the main opposition leader. Now, the children of these politicians are mounting pressure on the government by filing a case against them in the African Court of Justice. Plus, women who once worked for NGOs in Afghanistan speak out against the Taliban's ban. And, the global impact on markets as the US hits its debt ceiling.

The US isn't the only country that's created a "debt ceiling." Denmark has one, too. But Danes don't play politics when it comes to paying their debt. Also, millions of Ukrainians fled their country after Russia's full-scale invasion last year. While many have returned, some can't or won't. We meet Ukrainians who are starting over in France. And, Filipinos have a message for Taylor Swift: "Come back!"

Beijing is not happy. As the G7 meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, wrapped up, the Chinese government is protesting what it sees as the "anti-China" tenor of the summit. Also, the Biden administration says it will support an effort to train Ukrainian pilots learning how to operate F-16 warplanes. Plus, Angelique Kidjo, the musician and activist from Benin, is one of three recipients at this year's Polar Prize for music in Stockholm. She takes her responsibility seriously "for our world to be a better place."

For more than a decade, Greece was seen as the "sick man of Europe." But in the last couple of years, its economy has performed better than many of its EU neighbours. So, the center-right government should be feeling pretty confident heading into a general election this Sunday. But it's not that clear-cut. Also, a shared religious site in Jerusalem is among the most contentious. A worst-cast scenario was avoided last month during overlapping religious holidays. Security is back to normal. But what does "normal" look like? And, China's population is on the decline. A lot of young people don't want to get married and have kids. But Beijing is rolling out a new initiative to try and reverse this trend. Plus, The World concludes its series looking at waste pickers across the globe. Today, it's off to Japan, where garbage picking has been turned into a choreographed performance.