Ben Restle News Today

In July 2020, German-Iranian businessman and US resident Jamshid Sharmahd boarded an Emirates flight bound for India. Sharmahd had a layover in Dubai, where he checked into a hotel for the night. He then disappeared for a few days – and resurfaced in a video where he was held captive by Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

This week's show is all about the power of books. We visit a bookstore in Istanbul where a Russian and Ukrainian have teamed up to bring people together. Book bans have rattled schools in the US. We hear from a Moroccan bookseller who knows his books inside out and we dive into a poetry competition in the UK.

A deep dive into family affairs: Children and grandchildren holding their relatives accountable for crimes during Argentina's dictatorship, a dedicated foster parent in Germany who's opened her home to children in need and how a café in Vienna is bringing together generations.

In Kashmir, young people are turning to rap music to make their voices heard – but as of late, have been moving away from political topics. Rapper Obaz in Niger wants to use modern technology to help preserve Tuareg culture. And hip hop artist Miss Raisa and Quechuan singer Renata Flores are shaking things up.

From 3D-printed houses, apartments entirely made from recycled materials and high-speed internet access in remote villages in Nepal's Himalayan region.

On this week’s show, Turkey is gearing up for a high stakes presidential election, and observers are warning displaced voters could get shut out. Then, why were these earthquakes so deadly? A researcher who helped with a reconnaissance mission shares his insights. We’ll also hear about how Syria is faring, and why a Turkish orchestra has been thrust into the spotlight because of the quake.

This week on World in Progress: A Moroccan woman changing the game in the male-dominated world of fishing, a gym that uses energy from working out to power corn mills and oil presses, and how Russian video gaming professionals who have fled to Serbia are shaking things up.

Although its another year in which travel will be subject to restrictions, there's no harm in making, or dreaming about, vacation plans. Here's where the DW travel editorial team would like go.