World

Jan Scannell, former accountant, has taken on a new identity as "Jan Braai," a South African TV show host and media personality promoting the idea of National Braai (barbecuing) Day, celebrated each year on Sept. 24.

'Braai Day' Aims To Bring S. Africans Together Over Barbecue

5:30pm August 27, 2013

by Gregory Warner

Jan Scannell is a 32-year-old former accountant with a dream: to establish a national holiday in South Africa like July 4 called Braai Day. Braai is a South African barbecue of meat or vegetables over wood embers.

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Marine biologist Stefano Piraino thinks overfishing is one of the reasons jellyfish populations are growing. He said if you take fish out of the oceans, it leaves more food for jellyfish. The jellyfish here are known as Pelagia noctiluca, the mauve stinge

Beachgoers In Spain Face Invasion Of Jellyfish

2:01pm August 27, 2013

by Lauren Frayer

Known for its sparkling turquoise waters and white sand, Spain's Mediterranean beaches are developing a new reputation — for a growing number of jellyfish. Scientists blame overfishing and, possibly, climate change for the spike in stinging invertebrates.

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Thousands Of Striking Teachers Disrupt Mexico City

5:17am August 27, 2013

by Carrie Kahn

The teachers are protesting education changes that would institute evaluations and reduce the power of unions in hiring educators. It's common practice for teachers in Mexico to buy and sell tenured positions. The protests in Mexico City have caused traffic mayhem, and at one point blocked access to the international airport.

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U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ty Michael Carter near Dahla Dam, Afghanistan in July 2012.

Pain, Loss And Tears Come With Medal Of Honor

4:04pm August 26, 2013

by Doreen McCallister

Staff Sergeant Ty Michael Carter received the nation's highest military honor. He feels privileged, but says "I would never tell any soldier or service member, 'Hey, go out and get the Medal of Honor', because of the amount of pain and loss and tears that has to be shed in order to receive it."

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Afghanistan and Pakistan, countries that have a history of tense relations, played their first soccer match in nearly 40 years when they met Aug. 20 in Kabul. Afghanistan (in red) won 3-0.

World News

For Pakistan And Afghanistan, Soccer As Reconciliation

5:03am August 26, 2013

by Sean Carberry

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been tense for years. A recent soccer game seemed to ease the friction, at least temporarily.

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A family in western Kenya received this cow as part of a Heifer International program.

Cash, Cows And The Rise Of Nerd Philanthropy

9:12pm August 23, 2013

Most charities get money from donors and spend it on things they think will help people — schools, medicine, farm animals. GiveDirectly just gives money away. And that poses a challenge to the more traditional charities.

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Kesennuma, in the Tohoku region of Japan, was devastated in a March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami. A researcher studying recent mega-quakes says this one, centered some 300 miles from Tokyo, could actually mean an increased risk of a quake hitting Japa

Can A Big Earthquake Trigger Another One?

3:58pm August 23, 2013

by Christopher Joyce

A new scientific report claims that a powerful quake can, in effect, be contagious. The finding could have important implications for hazard planning in earthquake zones.

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Bernard Omondi got $1,000 from GiveDirectly.

The Charity That Just Gives Money To Poor People

1:41pm August 23, 2013

There are no strings attached. People can spend the money on whatever they want, and they never have to pay it back.

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Coach Insists Soccer Can Unite Egyptians

7:25am August 23, 2013

American Bob Bradley says the only thing in Egypt that can unite all Egyptians is soccer. Bradley coaches Egypt's national soccer team. He talks to David Greene about the turmoil in the country, and about his team as it closes in on a spot in next year's World Cup.

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Regulators Monitor 'Serious Leaks' At Japanese Nuclear Plant

7:25am August 23, 2013

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is back in the news — more than two years after an earthquake and tsunami triggered a series of meltdowns. New leaks found this week prompted regulators to consider raising the alert level.

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