European Central Bank raises interest rates again

The European Central Bank says inflation has been worse and more persistent than expected. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What The World is following European Central Bank raises interest rates again [Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank smiles during a press conference following a meeting of the governing council in Frankfurt, Germany, July 21, 2022.] Credit: Michael Probst/AP/File photo European Union The European Central Bank has imposed another large [interest-rate hike]( by three-quarters of a percentage point, similar to the one last month. The ECB says that inflation has been worse and more persistent than expected. Its first increase in more than a decade was this July. The hike affects the 19 countries that use the euro as their currency. And European governments have been in disagreement about how to respond to rising energy prices, caused mainly by the war in Ukraine. Concerns have been prompted by the [unpopular economic policy proposals]( last month of then-British Prime Minister Liz Truss. The ECB said that further rate hikes are also still likely. Iran Unrest continues in Iran. Clashes broke out throughout the country on Wednesday as thousands of people [visited the grave]( of Mahsa Amini in the city of Saqqez to mark 40 days since her death, an important day of mourning in Iranian and Muslim traditions. She had been detained by the country’s “morality police” for allegedly not following the nation’s dress code. Officials say that people were not prevented from visiting her burial site, and that clashes broke out after they left. Meanwhile, at least 15 people were killed and 10 others were injured in an [attack at an important shrine]( in the southern city of Shiraz. ISIS later claimed responsibility for it. France French President Emmanuel Macron says he plans to implement a pension reform that would gradually [push the retirement age up]( by three years to 65. Younger generations will have to work longer, but Macron said he’s willing to work with unions to consider amendments to the plan. Macron argued that not making this change would require pensions to decrease. Those who interrupted their careers — like women who took time to raise their children — do not qualify and must work until age 67. A similar proposal had [sparked nationwide strikes]( and protests in 2019 during Macron’s first term, prompting him to suspend the debate amid the COVID-19 pandemic. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [For labor-trafficked immigrants, T-visas are a lifesaving but flawed relief]( [Anabelle Masalon at the Boston Common in Boston, Oct. 21, 2022.]( Credit: Jenifer McKim/GBH News The GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting spoke to nearly a dozen people in Massachusetts who say they were victims of forced labor, having to sneak down the back stairs to escape or call 911 for help. An ongoing GBH series on labor trafficking has found that those victims are often overlooked and their abusers go unpunished. [Listen to the whole story.]( 🎧 [How Brazil’s first lady is playing a role in the fight for the evangelical vote in the presidential election]( [Hundreds of women turned out for a rally in support of incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro at the More of Christ church in Florianopolis, Brazil, ahead of the presidential this weekend.]( Credit: Michael Fox/The World Evangelicals now make up a third of the population of Brazil. And their votes could be decisive in this weekend's tight presidential election. [Michelle Bolsonaro](, wife of the incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, is doing her part to get out the vote — especially among women. --------------------------------------------------------------- Bright spot Refugees from Western Sahara have found a creative way to draw attention to their situation. They’ve hosted a film festival while in exile in Algeria. Director Tiba Chagaf kicked off this year’s FiSahara International Film Festival. 🎥 The festival screened films about the conflict and other human rights-related topics, while tents showcased Sahrawi nomadic culture, music and dance. [Listen to the story]( on The World. 🎧 [A cultural fair held in conjunction with the FiSahara film festival to showcase Sahrawi dance, music, and art, Algeria.] Credit: Scott Gurian/The World In case you missed it on The World --------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. 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