Middle East
Syrian Violence Intensifies As Observers Arrive
[4 min 23 sec]
The crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station is seen through a bus window on Nov. 12. The four reactors that failed were stabilized this month.
After Fukushima: A Changing Climate For Nuclear
()Nuclear power had enjoyed 25 years of relative quiet, but the Fukushima accident reminded people that despite improvements in safety, things can still go horribly wrong. The accident is unlikely to affect U.S. nuclear policy, experts say, but countries like Germany and Japan are looking to alternatives.
Simon Says
How Much Is That Purple Heart In The Window?()
December 24, 2011 The story of the Purple Heart in a pawnshop window reminds us that to truly help people, you don't have to look very far.
Politics
As Caucus Nears, Iowa's Relevance Again Questioned()
December 24, 2011 WOIAn Atlantic article by a University of Iowa professor makes the state out to be less Field of Dreams and more Deliverance meets Children of the Corn. Stephen Bloom raises hard facts about how Iowa doesn't accurately represent America, but for many Iowans, the piece felt personal.
The Record
K-Pop Blows Up: Korean Music Finds Fans Worldwide()
December 24, 2011 Korean pop music groups turned a corner in 2011, expanding their audience worldwide, despite the language barrier. Two of the most popular bands are 21, whose music projects ideas of self-worth, and Girls' Generation, which has nine members.
Hard Times: A Journey Across America
In Camden, S.C., A Family Talks Race And Politics()
December 24, 2011 Like other black Americans — considered the political base for President Obama — members of the close-knit Gaither-James family say racism is holding the nation back.
Asia
In Japan, Radiation Fears Reshape Lives()
December 24, 2011 Japan says its damaged nuclear plant has been stabilized. But the threat of exposure to radioactivity, particularly in the food supply, remains a very real concern. And radioactive "hot spots" crop up in places far from the site of the accident.
Animals
To Flirt In Cities, Birds Adjust Their Pitch()
December 24, 2011 WAMUA big part of being a bird is singing, often to attract other birds. Sometimes it's hard to do that amid all the noise in a city, so urban birds are changing their tune.
