In 1973, the last United States combat troops left South Vietnam, ending America’s direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.
In an effort to protect Indonesia’s thermal coal supply, the country imposed an export ban in early January. But after several countries in Asia that depend on the crucial commodity lamented the move, the country has indicated an imminent ease of the ban.
How far will the US go in making a darling of Vietnam’s military? The World's Southeast Asia correspondent Patrick Winn asked former Ambassador Ted Osius, who served in Hanoi from 2014 to 2017.
The Chinese Communist Party passes a resolution that will secure President Xi Jinping's political future. Also, South Africa's last apartheid-era president, F.W. de Klerk, dies at the age of 85. And, Germany registers its highest daily number of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.
Jeffrey Matthews has looked carefully at Powell's role on the world stage. He's the author of "Colin Powell: Imperfect Patriot." He joined The World's host Marco Werman to discuss Powell's life and military and career.
G-7 leaders agree on conditions to recognize and work with the Taliban, but fail to persuade President Joe Biden to extend the US troop withdrawal date from Afghanistan. Also, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will meet with President Biden for talks in Washington on Thursday. And Algeria has cut diplomatic ties with Morocco.
Yun Sun, a co-director of the East Asia Program at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC, discussed these issues with The World's host, Marco Werman.
Top of The World: Tens of thousands of people remain stuck in Afghanistan, desperate to be evacuated following the Taliban’s takeover. And, Vice President Kamala Harris’ once low-risk trip to Asia has taken on new importance as she will attempt to reassure allies of American credibility. Also, health officials in Australia are warning that major cities like Sydney and Melbourne may be losing control of a COVID-19 outbreak fueled by the more contagious delta variant.
Many Vietnamese Americans in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, say they got vaccinated because they wanted to feel safer at work, making them among the most vaccinated communities in the state.
Some African American soldiers of the segregated 92nd Infantry Division remain unknown. But new technology could now help to identify them.
Almost a year into the pandemic, societies are faced with immense contradictions: processing shocking death tolls while finding hope in promising vaccine rollouts. Surgeon, writer and researcher Dr. Atul Gawande speaks with The World’s Marco Werman about what it means to be human in this precarious moment.