Heat waves in the Mediterranean Sea have led to “massive mortality” of marine species. Also, the US spent nearly two decades trying to rebuild Afghanistan. We look at where the country has been and where it's going. And, Panama is seeing protests over the high cost of living and fuel this summer, but social unrest is something jazz musician Danilo Perez has seen before in his country. Plus, paleontologists in Argentina have discovered the remains of a previously unknown dinosaur, the size of a house cat.

Workers inside Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are living through days and nights of constant stress. Outgoing Russian fire from the plant and fears of a nuclear catastrophe are growing. Also, Sri Lanka used to be a country on the rise. Now, even families who were once financially secure are struggling. The World looks at the impacts on two families that are being forced to make some serious changes to their lives. And, William Ruto has won Kenya's presidential election. But legal battles are soon expected following his narrow victory. Plus, after thousands of years, bison have returned to the British Isles.

With the evacuation deadline looming, Afghans race to Kabul airport in hopes of getting on a flight and escaping the Taliban regime. With help from Jake, an ex-Marine Corps officer, Tariq and his family manage to get in and board their plane for evacuation, after spending a harrowing night outside in a desolate yard. Abdul and his family also make it out — just hours before a suicide bomber detonates his explosive belt, killing at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 members of the United States military. You’ll also hear from newlyweds Mohammed and Taara as they confront the possibility that they will be separated, as only Taara has the proper paperwork to flee Afghanistan and fly to the US.

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For a transcript of this episode and additional material, visit: https://www.kabulfalling.com.

It's been one year since the abrupt and chaotic fall of the Afghan capital, Kabul. The speed with which the Taliban took over shocked many people. And, author Salman Rushdie continues to recover after an attack on his life last week. Iran’s former Supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a decree in 1989 calling for Rushdie's death, following the publication of his book, “Satanic Verses.” How is Rushdie and this case viewed today in Iran? Also, conservationists fight back with artificial intelligence to save wild tigers from extinction.

Boris Johnson has less than a month to go as Britain’s prime minister. Two candidates are trying to convince Conservative voters in the UK that they’re the right ones to fill his shoes. Who are they and what do they stand for? Also, in today's show, The World concludes its series looking at how wars end. Plus, Serena Williams announced this week that she is stepping away from professional tennis. And, a global dance movement for people with physical disabilities is filling theaters, getting TV time and spawning international competitions.

Ukraine and Russia are trading blame for shelling and fighting around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russia currently occupies the site, while Ukraine is attempting to take back the territory. Also, tens of millions of tourists are overwhelming Venice, Italy. Authorities want to impose a fee on visitors who just come for the day. Plus, there’s a museum in Sweden dedicated to showing off some of the world's greatest product failures. And, the duo Afro Andean Funk. We hear about their debut album, “The Sacred Leaf.”

A Russian air base was attacked in Crimea on Tuesday. While it is not yet clear exactly who was behind the attack, it marks an escalation in the nearly six-month conflict between Russia and Ukraine. And the sudden death of author, playwright and filmmaker Biyi Bandele is a monumental loss to Nigeria's film industry. He is being mourned around the world. Also, rain is pummeling South Korea this week. At least nine are dead — and more are missing — in flooding that has put parts of the capital Seoul underwater. Plus, in the 1990s, artists like Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias and Shakira became crossover successes by releasing English-language albums. Now, a new crop of artists including Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Ozuna are changing the rules of the game.

In Cuba, a fire at a key oil terminal on the coast in Matanzas is out of control, causing explosions, injuring hundreds and killing a firefighter. The implications for Cuba's electric grid are also dire. And, millions of Kenyans take to the polls to vote for the country's new leader on Tuesday. For the first time, the election has largely been framed as a discussion about Kenya's haves and have-nots. Also, dozens of police officers in Colombia have been killed while on duty this year. The attacks intensified after the leader of the drug cartel the Gulf Clan was extradited to the US in May. The group is also attempting to demonstrate its strength as President Gustavo Petro takes office. Plus, rents are soaring in Istanbul.

On the heels of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Africa, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also heads to Africa. His itinerary takes him to South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. And the popular imagination about how wars end is often what the United States experienced with World War II, with cheering crowds and definitive winners and losers. But that's not typical. A five-part series explores various conflicts around the world to better understand how wars end. And fighting in Gaza between Palestinian militants and Israel over the weekend led to the killing of dozens of Palestinians, including 15 children. Israelis were also injured in the fighting. Plus, South African singer Moonchild Sanelly gets a boost from Beyoncé. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi on Friday. It comes after a Russian proposal, leaked by Ukrainian intelligence, suggests the Kremlin is seeking help from Turkey to evade Western sanctions. And Sri Lanka's financial crisis has led to shortages of essential drugs and medical equipment, such as catheters, morphine and common antibiotics. For the past few months, donations have been keeping the country's health system running, but doctors warn that they can't last forever. Also, ahead of Kenya’s presidential election, Sauti Sol, one of Kenya’s biggest bands, is trying to rally youth to get involved. Plus, classical music is not dead — it’s alive in Iceland, with wünderkind Gabríel Ólafs.