North America

people in a line

Dominican Republic closes border with Haiti over water rights dispute

​​​​​​​Tensions have escalated between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The neighboring countries are now in a serious dispute over water rights. The Dominican government sealed the border and stopped issuing visas to all Haitian citizens until the dispute is resolved. 

Dominican Republic closes border with Haiti over water rights dispute
college protestors with signs and banners

West Virginia University votes to ax foreign language degrees

West Virginia University votes to ax foreign language degrees
portrait photo of a woman

'She is the evolution of reggaeton': The rise of trans Puerto Rican artist Villano Antillano

'She is the evolution of reggaeton': The rise of trans Puerto Rican artist Villano Antillano
man holding weapon

In Haiti, pastor leads followers into gunfire

In Haiti, pastor leads followers into gunfire
protest

In Latin America, many single mothers struggle to get child support. Activists and public officials are trying to change that.

In Latin America, many single mothers struggle to get child support. Activists and public officials are trying to change that.
podium

World’s faith leaders convene to ‘fight against authoritarianism’

​​​​​​​People of faith gathered in Chicago this week to talk about something that doesn’t sound very religious. And that’s authoritarianism. It wasn’t a traditional political rally for a specific candidate. They’re taking part in the Parliament of the World’s Religions, an interfaith convening that first took place in the late 1800s. People from many different religious traditions took part. 

World’s faith leaders convene to ‘fight against authoritarianism’
A tree in Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve.

Climate change is rapidly shifting Costa Rica’s sensitive ecosystems

The tiny Central American country of Costa Rica is known as a green paradise. But climate change is hitting the country in a multitude of ways, including increasing its risk from storms and natural disasters. Nowhere is the shifting planet being felt more than in some of the country’s most iconic parks and reserves, where ecosystems are changing rapidly.

Climate change is rapidly shifting Costa Rica’s sensitive ecosystems
rally

San Diego doctor says height of the border wall is leading to more injuries from falls

​​​​​​​Dr. Alexander Tenorio is part of a network of doctors in the San Diego area who are on call to receive individuals who attempt to climb over the 18-foot border wall, then fall on the US side where they have to be treated in local hospitals. It's an urgent issue as the border wall is now being raised in many parts from 18 feet to 30 feet.

San Diego doctor says height of the border wall is leading to more injuries from falls
Migrants and asylum seekers attend the Sunday Spanish-language service at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Brooklyn, New York.

New York City urges migrants to find shelter elsewhere, but many don’t know where to turn

New York City has opened 188 shelters, including several humanitarian relief centers. But with 56,200 migrants currently living there, the shelter population is at an all-time high.

New York City urges migrants to find shelter elsewhere, but many don’t know where to turn
collections of Moomins things

Finnish Moomins book series finds new audiences in the US

​​​​​​​The Moomins are troll-like characters from a Finnish children's book series that became popular around the world starting in the 1950s. But they never really took off in the United States. The author Tove Jansson rejected Walt Disney's offer to buy the brand. Now, a bookstore chain in the US is trying to popularize the Moomins here.

Finnish Moomins book series finds new audiences in the US
soldiers in rehab center

Wounded Ukrainian soldiers start new journeys on prosthetics

​​​​​​​Many Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have lost limbs and need to be fitted with prosthetics. A group of soldiers in New York City is receiving treatment, and they’re already thinking about what their lives will look like when they return home.

Wounded Ukrainian soldiers start new journeys on prosthetics
screenshot of building

Threats prompt Tijuana mayor to move to military base

The mayor’s move renews focus on Tijuana’s security situation and the state of Mexican democracy.

Threats prompt Tijuana mayor to move to military base
sign for the University of Alberta on the university's campus

Why are some sounds funny?

To English speakers, the word, “peanut” isn’t especially funny. But “peanut” in Serbian, “kikiriki” is widely considered by Serbs to be the funniest word in their language. This raises the question of why people laugh at some words (“poop”) but not at others (“treadmill”). Does it come down to their meanings? Or are people responding to their sounds? Psycholinguist Chris Westbury set out to discover the answer.

Why are some sounds funny?
yearbook photo

This Brazilian immigrant to the US says the American dream still exists

Brazilian immigrant Jose Jube told The World about finding opportunities in the US.

This Brazilian immigrant to the US says the American dream still exists
man in front of banner

‘Courage is contagious’: The late Daniel Ellsberg’s decision to release the Pentagon Papers didn’t happen in a vacuum

Daniel Ellsberg died June 16, 2023, months after announcing that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. To millions of Americans who opposed the war, his whistleblowing was an act of patriotism — but millions of others regarded it as treason.

‘Courage is contagious’: The late Daniel Ellsberg’s decision to release the Pentagon Papers didn’t happen in a vacuum