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The Chenab, one of the three rivers allocated to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty, is seen from the river bank on June 5, 2025 in Punjab, Pakistan.

The Chenab, one of the three rivers allocated to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty, is seen from the river bank on June 5, 2025 in Punjab, Pakistan. Betsy Joles for NPR hide caption

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Betsy Joles for NPR

World

With the Indus Waters Treaty in the balance, Pakistan braces for more water woes

In an unprecedented move, India held the water treaty in abeyance after blaming Pakistan for a deadly attack in April. Pakistan denies involvement in the attack and accuses India of "weaponizing water."
Ben and Sarah Brewington, Lusely Martinez, Ryan Holley and Annie Platt are among people who are choosing to have fewer children or no children.

Ben and Sarah Brewington, Lusely Martinez, Ryan Holley and Annie Platt are among people who are choosing to have fewer children or no children. Grace Widyatmadja for NPR, Nickolai Hammar/NPR, Kayla Renie for NPR hide caption

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Grace Widyatmadja for NPR, Nickolai Hammar/NPR, Kayla Renie for NPR

National

As women have far fewer babies, the U.S. and the world face unprecedented challenges

Far more families are choosing to have fewer — or no — children. Many countries, including the U.S., now face a rapidly aging population that could begin to shrink.

A world with fewer children

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WATCH

Jimmy Eat World: Tiny Desk Concert

Jimmy Eat World showed up to the NPR Music office all smiles and no guitars, goofing off with toy instruments behind the Tiny Desk and cracking jokes.
President Trump is pictured at the NATO summit of heads of state and government on June 25 in The Hague, Netherlands. This year's NATO summit, which brings together heads of state and government from across the military alliance, is being held in the Netherlands for the first time. Among other matters, members are to approve a new defense investment plan that raises target for defense spending to 5% of GDP. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski - Pool/Getty Images)

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds up a copy of a letter to Japan, signed by President Trump, announcing 25% tariffs beginning on Aug. 1st, during the daily press briefing at the White House on July 7. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Politics

Trump sends letters with new tariff rates on goods to 14 countries, with more to come

The leaders of Japan and South Korea were the first to get letters on Monday that informed them of the new tariff rates.
Federal agents with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol ride on an armored vehicle driving slowly down Wilshire Boulevard near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on July 7, 2025.

Federal agents with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol ride on an armored vehicle driving slowly down Wilshire Boulevard near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on July 7, 2025. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Immigration enforcement agents descend on LA's MacArthur Park, causing uproar

 LAist 89.3

The intent of the operation, or whether anyone was detained during the operation, is unclear. A DHS spokesperson told LAist in an email the department doesn't comment on ongoing enforcement operations.
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Courtney Theophin/NPR

The Picture Show

Sea lions are released after recovering from a toxic algae bloom in California

Marine mammal researchers are investigating how sea lions were affected by the longest toxic algal bloom on record off the coast of Southern California. Some sea lions are being released back into the wild.

Sea lions return home after toxic algae exposure

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World leaders pose for a group photo at the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, July 6, 2025.

World leaders pose for a group photo at the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Silvia Izquierdo/AP hide caption

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Silvia Izquierdo/AP

The Americas

BRICS nations push back as Trump warns of tariffs

Leaders of the BRICS group of emerging economies meeting for their annual summit had hoped to downplay any differences with the U.S. But even a toned down group proclamation drew the ire of President Trump.

BRICS summit ends with Trump tariff threat

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Demonstrators march in Washington, D.C. to demand Temporary Protected Status for Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador back in May 1, 2023.

Demonstrators march in Washington, D.C. to demand Temporary Protected Status for Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador back in May 1, 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images hide caption

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Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Immigration

DHS ends Temporary Protected Status for thousands from Nicaragua and Honduras

Some 76,000 people from Nicaragua and Honduras were covered by TPS, which provides protection from deportation and grants work permits to people from certain nations affected by war or natural disasters.
The Park Slope Food Co-op, founded in 1973, is a Brooklyn institution. In recent months the cooperative grocery store has been torn apart by allegations of antisemitism and discrimination, as the collective debates a boycott of Israeli goods.

The Park Slope Food Co-op, founded in 1973, is a Brooklyn institution. In recent months the cooperative grocery store has been torn apart by allegations of antisemitism and discrimination, as the collective debates a boycott of Israeli goods. Vanessa Romo/NPR hide caption

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Vanessa Romo/NPR

National

The war in Gaza divided a historic Brooklyn co-op. Here's what happened next

Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, members of the Park Slope Food co-op have been debating whether to ban Israeli goods from the shelves.
A person looks at damage to the main building at Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River.

A person looks at damage to the main building at Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River. A flash flood swept through the area in the early hours of July 4, 2025. Climate change is making heavy rain more common, leading to more flood risk in much of the U.S. Julio Cortez/AP hide caption

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Julio Cortez/AP

Climate

Floods are getting more dangerous around the country, not just in Texas

The deadly floods in Central Texas were caused by extremely heavy rain. Climate change is causing even more rain to fall during the heaviest storms.

Floods are getting more dangerous around the country, not just in Texas

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A Texas Department of Public Safety official inspects debris on the waterfront at Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area Sunday, July 6, in Hunt, Texas.

A Texas Department of Public Safety official inspects debris on the waterfront at Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area Sunday, July 6, in Hunt, Texas. Julio Cortez/AP hide caption

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Julio Cortez/AP

Interview highlights

A Texas lawmaker wants an investigation into the weather alert system and storm preparedness

Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, says affected Texans are owed an investigation into what went wrong with evacuating flooded areas and how it can be prevented from happening again.

Rep. Joaquin Castro discusses the deadly floods in Texas

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Maureen Futtner

Maureen Futtner Maureen Futtner hide caption

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Maureen Futtner

My Unsung Hero

In the midst of grief, a woman is comforted by a stranger on the subway

A few days after her sister died, Maureen was on the subway when a stranger asked how she was doing. The conversation that followed is one that she will forever cherish.

UNSUNG HERO - Maureen Futtner

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Seed oils, commonly called vegetable oils, are extracted from the seeds of plants.

Seed oils, commonly called vegetable oils, are extracted from the seeds of plants. alaskla/iStockphoto/Getty Images hide caption

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alaskla/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Living Better

Are seed oils actually bad for your health? Here's the science behind the controversy

Health Secretary RFK Jr. has said vegetable oils, like canola and soybean, are "poisoning Americans." But many researchers say the evidence isn't there. So, what does the science say about seed oils?

Are seed oils good or bad for health? Here's what we know

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Donna Gail Shaw swaps a camera's memory card on June 21. It's one of nine she manages on the city of Anchorage's east side — within miles of a McDonald's and a movie theater. She said her cameras capture a ton of bear activity in July because of fish streaming into the nearby creek.

Donna Gail Shaw swaps a camera's memory card on June 21. It's one of nine she manages on the city of Anchorage's east side — within miles of a McDonald's and a movie theater. She said her cameras capture a ton of bear activity in July because of fish streaming into the nearby creek. Matt Faubion/Alaska Public Media hide caption

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Matt Faubion/Alaska Public Media

These Anchorage residents are capturing the secret lives of the city's wildlife on camera

 Alaska Public Media

As a growing number of people use some sort of camera to monitor outside of their homes, like security cameras or doorbell cameras, there's more and more footage of the animals that call the city home.
A photo collage of a stylish elderly woman roller skating down whimsical, colorful road against colorful abstract background, displaying the concept of fun and play. Contemporary art collage. Concept of active elderly lifestyle, health care, wellness. Pop art
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Life Kit

How to bring more play into your life

Play isn't just fun. Researchers argue it can help you adapt to difficult circumstances, collaborate better and problem-solve. We'll help you figure out your play personality and how to prioritize play in your life.

How to bring more play into your life

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Erin Patterson pictured outside her home in Leongatha, Australia, in 2023.

Erin Patterson pictured outside her home in Leongatha, Australia, in 2023. That year, four people became seriously ill — and three of them died — after eating a meal she cooked containing death cap mushrooms. Jason Edwards/Newspix via Getty Images hide caption

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Jason Edwards/Newspix via Getty Images

World

An Australian woman is found guilty of murdering her in-laws by toxic mushrooms

Erin Patterson hosted four of her estranged husband's relatives for lunch in July 2023. Three of them later died of death cap mushroom poisoning. Nearly two years later, a jury has found her guilty.

HOLD: Mushroom murder case in Australia

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