The World

The international community has been scrambling to confront the global threat of the coronavirus pandemic. So far, multilateral diplomacy hasn't been used to effectively beat back spread of the outbreak. And, across much of Asia, it's incredibly hard to find a hospital-grade face mask — so the black market has stepped in. Also, Coronavirus-related toilet paper shortages have raised an awkward truth: Americans are outliers globally when it comes to toilet paper usage.

The latest on the global impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, including a look at sick leave policies around the world, the reaction in Lebanon and the impact on businesses in India. And, thousands of migrants and refugees are trying to leave Turkey to get into Greece. The World’s Lydia Emmanouilidou reports on a group of migrants that landed in Lesbos, including one Syrian stuck on a beach...

From The World and PRX, this is The Number in the News. Today’s number: 22,000. A loggerhead sea turtle named Yoshi has been on an incredible journey. In December 2017, Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa, released Yoshi into the open water after 20 years in captivity. Since then she has swum more than 22,000 miles from Cape Town to the western shores of Australia. The aquarium writes that Yoshi has traveled the longest-ever recorded journey of a tracked animal...

US President Donald Trump announced sweeping restrictions preventing most foreign nationals coming from much of Europe from entering the US for 30 days in an effort to try and combat the spread of the coronavirus. The move sent travelers scrabbling at airports around the world. And, the federal government has taken a lot of flack for inadequate testing for the coronavirus. How does testing in the US compare to other nations? Also, our new series, The Big Fix, launches...

The World Health Organization has designated COVID-19 a pandemic. Today, we find out how epidemiologists predict the path of the coronavirus. And, as many US colleges cancel classes and boot students off-campus, they're creating logistical and financial nightmares that could leave some students in a bind. Also, scientists have discovered that lettuce grown in space is safe to eat and nutritional.

From the boot's top to its toe and heel, Italy is in lockdown to try to contain the coronavirus. And, on the Greek isle of Lesbos, residents are becoming increasingly frustrated with migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in camps there. Also, who knew that hand-washing could spur so much creativity online? Amid concerns about the new coronavirus, memes about how to wash your hands have been going viral.

Russia and Saudi Arabia have started an oil price war by pushing down prices amid a growing coronavirus outbreak, spooking financial markets worldwide. And, there has been chaos at the border fence between Greece and Turkey, with migrants and refugees trying to cross into Greece as police and security forces respond with tear gas and water cannons...

Turkey has deployed security forces to its border with Greece to keep migrants from being pushed back into its territory. Meanwhile, Greek authorities are at the border trying to prevent access to their country. The World's Lydia Emmanouilidou is at the border in Orestiada, Greece. And, how we use our hands to interact with others is different across cultures, and habits are changing because of the novel coronavirus...

There's been one confirmed case of coronavirus in Nigeria, but false information is quickly spreading. And, the International Criminal Court has ruled that the United States and Afghan government can be investigated for alleged war crimes dating back to 2003. Plus, pop star Mai Khôi, the Lady Gaga of Vietnam, sings about censorship and human rights. But her music is getting her in some hot water.

From The World and PRX, this is The Number in the News. Today’s number: 100,000. Swarms of locusts are devouring crops in Pakistan, raising the threat of famine. The infestation has prompted the country to declare a national emergency. Neighboring China has offered to help by sending 100,000 ducks to Pakistan’s most impacted areas.