The World staff
The World
Lungs of stone: How Silica has sickened a generation of quartz cutters
Quartz is used for countertops in millions of homes around the world — the manmade stone is popular for its beauty and durability. But for workers who make, cut and install quartz counters, it can be deadly. The World reported from Turkey, Spain and Australia — three stops along the quartz countertop supply chain — to learn more about silicosis, an incurable and often fatal lung disease caused by inhaling dust laden with excessive amounts of a mineral called silica.
LISTEN: Voices from across the globe as the Israel-Hamas war continues to unfold
The Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7 with deadly attacks by Hamas militants who targeted towns, farming communities and a music festival near the Gaza border. The World has been in conversation with people on the ground, experts and other observers since the conflict began. Read and listen to their responses below.
A food writer celebrates the tastes of her hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
New York Times food writer Yewande Komolafe grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. When she moved to the US in her late teens, she recreated her favorite dishes by memory. Now she celebrates her home town’s cuisine in her new book: “My Everyday Lagos: Nigerian Cooking at Home and in the Diaspora.” Host Marco Werman speaks to Komolafe about what inspired her book.
A timeline of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Middle East has seen decades of unrest, much of it stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The current Israel-Hamas war is the latest outbreak of violence that threatens lasting peace across the region and the globe. The World has compiled a timeline of key events in the conflict.
What is behind the seizure of Venezuela’s most-notorious prison?
In Venezuela, security forces recently seized one of the country’s most-notorious prisons, with the mission of dismantling a transnational criminal gang that was ruled from inside. But the head of the gang was able to escape, and now, countries across South America are searching for him.
Student loans can be ‘simple’ and ‘automatic.’ Other countries offer lessons to the US.
In the US, interest on student loans started accruing again on Sept. 1. Soon, more than 40 million borrowers will have to resume their payments. The US is an outlier when it comes to high tuition and the debts that students take on.