* Scientists say the melting of the West Antarctica ice sheet, now underway, will begin an "unstoppable" chain reaction of rising sea levels. * India, the world's largest democracy, goes to the polls. * Iran claims to have replicated an American drone. * Underwater explorer might have discovered Christopher Columbus&
The California Dream is made possible by old water and big water. Unfortunately, the former doesn’t care about us, and the latter’s running dry. A native reports from the wine country, where fires loom.
* With 104 billionaires in the UK, Britain now has more billionaires per capita than any other country. * Day in the life of a billionaire's butler. * London restaurant imposes fine on customers who don't finish what they picked up from the lunch buffet. * Putin suspiciously scores six
* Out of all US citizens, men in Portland are most likely to ride a bike to work. * In 39 states (but not New York), Brooklyn is now the most common female baby name beginning with B. * Iowa’s never elected a woman to Congress, but that may change, with many
After a death in the family, a precious musical instrument must be transported a thousand-plus miles. Should it break, a lot more is at stake than just music.
* Mexico's biggest financial institution thinks migration to the US is on the rise for the first time since the Great Recession hit. * New York's Chinese community mourns the loss of human smuggler—aka "snakehead"—Cheng Chui Ping. * Financial ignorance is widespread even as the
* Mexican farmers stop planting marijuana—thanks to decriminalization in the US—and turn to poppies for heroin. * Zuma and the ANC to win today's election in South Africa despite widely felt shame and disenchantment. * Somali Islamists blamed for two days of attacks in Kenya that killed at least
Even cable series must adapt to survive. Possible spinoffs of “Naked and Afraid” explore charted territory.
* National Climate Change Assessment says climate change has moved from the distant future to the immediate now. * Credit Suisse to pay a $1.6 billion penalty for helping wealthy Americans evade US taxes. * Central African Republic's bloody battleground makes the Darfur conflict look like "a model of
Cityscapes as you’ve never seen them before, built from luxury watches, sapphire pools, and other media prescriptions for the perfect life.
