The World

Taiwan becomes the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Switzerland faces the question of gun control in a national referendum on Sunday. And American Cheryl Porter has been teaching gospel, soul and R&B in Italy for the past 20 years. She's a sensation, especially with white Italian tweens, who seek her coaching so that they can learn to sing like Beyoncé.

The Trump administration announced plans to ban the use of Huawei's 5G technology in the US citing a threat to national security. Also, schools in Mexico City were shut down on Thursday because of the terrible air quality in the city this week. Plus, the US may be starting to harness off-shore wind for power — but, using ocean wind is already a booming business in Britain.

The nation's most restrictive abortion law passed the Alabama statehouse and awaits a signature by the governor. We explore how this compares to similar laws in different countries. Also, the Trump administration says Iran poses a growing threat to the US and the Middle East. But European allies are skeptical and are pushing back. Plus, we profile Lucia Lucas, an American opera singer who lives in Germany, who is a transgender woman singing baritone roles. Lukas just debuted in the title role of "Don Giovanni" at the Tulsa Opera in Oklahoma.

WhatsApp discovered a governmental spyware had been remotely installed on smartphones using their app. And, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a lot to discuss with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Tuesday— from Russian meddling in US election campaigns and arms control, to Iran and Venezuela. Also, a group of Indigenous people who live on the low-lying islands off Australia are suing the country for breaching their human rights by not doing enough to tackle climate change.

Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica has the potential to unleash radical changes in global sea levels. Reporter Carolyn Beeler shares the first of a series on the science and people of the Nathaniel B. Palmer’s 2019 voyage to Thwaites. Plus, what the trade war looks like from China's perspective, and what additional levers China can pull if the situation continues to escalate. And, the death of Silver King — the Mexican pro wrestler and star of the Hollywood comedy "Nacho Libre" died during a wrestling match in London on Sunday.

The US just raised new tariffs on Chinese imports overnight, extending a trade war that many thought was coming to an end. Also, this year's Eurovision Song Contest is in Tel Aviv, Israel, where there are calls for a boycott. And, forget tequila, forget mezcal — the bar scene these days is all about a different Mexican agave liquor: raicilla.

North Korea tested more weapons Thursday hours after a top US envoy arrived in Seoul, South Korea. Also, the Iran nuclear deal is on life support as European leaders say they will not give in to Iranian ultimatums. Plus, a cappella singers converge on Moscow for an international competition.

Are the US and Iran heading into a confrontation? We answer those questions on the one-year anniversary of the Trump administration's decision to pull out of the Iran deal. Also, Indigenous women in the US and Canada go missing or are murdered at alarming rates, much higher than the general population. And, a closer look at the global push to make plant-based burgers that mimic meat — as a way to help save the planet.

Approximately 6,000 prisoners were released on Tuesday in Myanmar, including two Reuters journalists who were arrested in 2017 after reporting on a massacre of ethnic Rohingya. Plus, the documentary "Surviving R. Kelly" has led many women in the Ethiopian diaspora to share their experiences of sexual abuse. And, we visit the town of Belleek on the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland border that suffered from years of sectarian fighting.

A new UN report says human activity has pushed one million species to the brink of extinction. Also, the rise and fall of Richard Holbrooke — one of the best known diplomats in recent decades. And, the IRS now counts the Satanic Temple as a religious organization.