Recruiting Somalis in Kenya

Somalia has experienced almost constant conflict since the collapse of its central government in 1991. The long-running instability has created misery for its people. And it’s spilled over into its east African neighbor, Kenya, home to many ethnic Somalis. Heba Aly has the story of one Kenyan community that’s lost one of its young men to the insurgency.

Moon artist

It’s been almost 40 years since a human first walked on the moon. Neil Armstrong made that giant leap for mankind in July 1969. 11 other men walked on the lunar surface between 1969-1972. Of that intrepid dozen, only one is an artist. Lisa Mullins talked with Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean.

Robert McNamara dies

Robert S. McNamara, who served as US Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, has died at the age of 93. McNamara, who served Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson from 1961-1968, was also a key architect of the nuclear deterrence. (Photo: SSGT R. W. Savatt, Jr./AFP/Getty Images, 1965) Filmmaker Errol Morris talks about Robert McNamara

Kawk fighting in Kabul

With all the military action in Afghanistan, it’s easy to forget that many people in the country go about their business as they’ve always done. Here’s an example. Weekends in the capital, Kabul, begin on Fridays. That’s when people attend the mosque and spend time with their families. But there’s another favorite pastime – kawk fighting. The World’s Aaron Schachter took a closer look…

Remembering Michael Jackson around the world

Tributes from stars and fans have been pouring in for singer Michael Jackson, who has died aged 50 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home. The BBC has received a flood of comments on Michael Jackson’s death from around the world.

Clearing a Path for the Jaguar

National parks around the world provide important refuge for people and wildlife. They’re places where humans can reconnect with the natural world and where animals are protected from human encroachment. But parks rarely provide enough habitat to ensure the survival of an entire species. This is especially true of large predators like jaguars. Jaguars are the biggest cats in the all of the Americas. And in Central America, scientists are trying to protect Jaguars by finding and protecting the corridors that the cats use as they roam from park to park. Julia Kumari Drapkin reports from Panama.

Simon Winchester’s Atlantic World

British author and journalist Simon Winchester is currently researching a new book, which he calls a “biography of the Atlantic Ocean.” And as his research takes him to weird and wonderful parts of the globe, he’s been checking in with us. From the Purple Islands off the coast city of Essaouira in Morocco, to the Sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, you can revisit Simon’s Atlantic ports of call right here.

Mexico’s drug war continues

It was out of the headlines while Mexico struggled with the swine flu virus. But the war between the government and Mexico’s drug cartels continued without interruption during the outbreak. The World’s Lorne Matalon reports.

Immigration in times of recession

It’s always hard to be an immigrant. But it’s gotten harder during the recession. This four-part series looks at working conditions for immigrants in America’s stalled economy. The World’s Jason Margolis traveled to Southern California to speak with immigrant workers from the Philippines, Mexico and Central America.

• Watch the FRONTLINE/World video: “California: The Immigration Dilemma”

The Photographer

Turn back the clock to 1986. The Cold War is in full swing. The Soviet Union is seven years into its occupation of Afghanistan. And Afghan resistance fighters — the mujahedeen — are making life very difficult for Soviet troops. Afghanistan was as dangerous in 1986 as it is today. That didn’t stop the humanitarian group “Doctors without Borders” from going in. A new book portrays the journey one photographer took with the group into war-torn Afghanistan. Here’s The World’s Clark Boyd.

Zambia abortion

In the African nation of Zambia, abortion is legal, but few women realize it because abortion carries tremendous stigma and few medical clinics are prepared to offer the procedure. Rose Hoban visited a hospital in Lusaka. (contains graphic imagery)

Architects Share Green Building Ideas

In the fight to curb global warming, we’re often encouraged to drive less or use more fuel efficient cars. Well, it turns out that cars aren’t the biggest source of greenhouse gases. Buildings are responsible for roughly half of the total greenhouse gas emissions around the world. There’s a group of architects that’d like to change that. They call themselves ‘Architecture 2030′. Their goal is to make buildings that use no fossil fuels by the year 2030. The World’s Jason Margolis has our story.

Ukraine: building a nation

The World’s Jason Margolis spent 10 days in Ukraine and reports on the quest for Ukrainian identity, exploring the nation’s music, politics, history, and humor.

China urbanization series

China is building twenty new cities a year and has been, for two decades. But the massive urbanization is taking its toll on China’s environment – and on many of its people who have been pouring into the mega-cities from China’s countryside. The United States went through a similar transformation in the 19th century. But in China, it’s happening faster and on a much larger scale. It’s a massive migration which shows no signs of stopping as Mary Kay Magistad reports in her six-part series.
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Congo rape

The scope of tragedy in eastern Congo defies comprehension. A war in the African country killed four-million people between 1998 and 2003. And fighting has continued — among government forces, insurgents, militias, and Rwandan Hutu rebels. One of the most gruesome features of the conflicts is the widespread use of rape as a weapon. Armed groups use it to terrorize communities and control territories. Tens of thousands of women and girls have been attacked. In part I, The World’s Jeb Sharp reports from Bukavu in Congo’s South Kivu Province. In part II, Jeb reports on how aid groups and grassroots activists are responding to the crisis. – click on the links below to listen, read transcripts and view pictures.
Caution: the stories contain some disturbing descriptions of rapes.
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