2013 NOVEMBER
Nov. 30, 2013

Trouble in the East China Sea
The Wall Street Journal’s John Bussey gives us the context behind the ongoing dispute between China and Japan over a group of islands administered by Japan in the East China Sea. Under a treaty the U.S. is obligated to defend Japan against any attack on a territory the country administers.

  

Nov. 29, 2013

Can U.S., Pakistan move forward in building a 'reality-based relationship'?
Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's former ambassador to the United States, explores what he calls "an epic history of misunderstanding" between the U.S. and Pakistan in his new book, "Magnificent Delusions." Margaret Warner talks to Haqqani about how the lack of shared interests prevents the cultivation of a productive alliance.

  

Nov. 27, 2013

Did Warsaw conference put world on track towards 'new global climate regime'?
World leaders convened for the Warsaw Climate Change Conference this month, working towards an expanded commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Judy Woodruff talks to ActionAid USA's Brandon Wu and Harvard University's Robert Stavins about the political challenges ahead in order to curb climate change on a global scale.

  

Nov. 27, 2013

News Wrap: Hamid Karzai sets conditions for his signature on U.S. security deal
In the news Wednesday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he would sign a U.S. security deal if American troops stopped raids on Afghan homes and helped to restart peace talks with the Taliban. The pact governs the future of American troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

  

Nov. 26, 2013

How China's push into disputed territory is increasing tension in East Asia
The U.S. flew two B-52 bombers over disputed territory in the East China Sea, rejecting an air defense restriction from China for islands that are also claimed by Japan. Judy Woodruff talks to Julian Barnes of The Wall Street Journal about increased volatility in the region.

  

Nov. 25, 2013

News Wrap: Susan Rice urges Afghan President Karzai to sign security deal
In our news wrap Monday, National Security Advisor Susan Rice urged Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a security agreement. Karzai has insisted on letting his successor sign after elections next April. Also, the UN announced peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition forces will take place in Geneva in January.

  

Nov. 23, 2013

Is foreign journalism under threat in China?
Bob Dietz on the recent events that have raised questions about the freedom of the foreign press in China. A prominent journalist for Reuters who had been reporting there for years was denied a visa. Bloomberg News has denied a report that they withheld publication of an investigative story for fear they would be kicked out.

  

Nov. 23, 2013

Giant TV screens to broadcast Pacquiao fight across ravaged city
Bright spots in the typhoon-ravaged central Philippines: cable operators have set up giant TV screens to broadcast Filipino boxing phenom Manny Pacquiao's first fight in almost a year.

Nov. 22, 2013

News Wrap: U.S. steps up pressure for Afghan security deal
In our news wrap Friday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel argued that waiting to sign a security deal until the next Afghan president is in office won't give U.S. forces enough time to plan for keeping troops in the country. Also, the Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA track down Osama bin Laden was charged with murder.

  

Nov. 21, 2013

U.S. urges Karzai to sign Afghan pact before Afghan elections
New discord surfaced between the U.S. and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday, with Karzai saying he would prefer his successor sign a new security pact with the United States, and Washington saying that no signatures by the end of 2013 could be a deal breaker.

Nov. 21, 2013

How would delaying an Afghan deal complicate U.S. commitments in the region?
A day after the U.S. and Afghanistan announced a historic agreement, Afghan President Hamid Karzai suggested delaying the signing of the deal until next April. Judy Woodruff talks to James Dobbins, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, for insight on the need to resolve the deal.

  

Nov. 21, 2013

News Wrap: Drone strike kills key Haqqani militant leader in Pakistan
In our news wrap Thursday, an apparent U.S. drone strike in Pakistan killed three top militants, including a key leader of the Haqqani network, an Afghan group allied with the Taliban. Also, another series of bombings in Iraq killed nearly 50 people.

  

Nov. 20, 2013

New play looks beyond war headlines to tell story of 'Love in Afghanistan'
Making its stage debut in Washington, D.C., "Love in Afghanistan" offers a different take on how love finds a way despite clashing cultures. Jeffrey Brown talks to playwright Charles Randolph-Wright about his new work, writing about a foreign culture and his career as playwright, director and actor.

  

Nov. 20, 2013

Aid reaches remote parts of Philippines, but hardest challenge remains ahead
As an island nation, the Philippines presents a geographical challenge to typhoon relief efforts, but aid has finally started to arrive in some of the most remote regions. Gwen Ifill talks to Nancy Lindborg of the U.S. Agency for International Development about the challenge ahead in helping survivors rebuild their lives.

  

Nov. 18, 2013

Displaced typhoon survivors seek shelter among the dead while waiting for help
Despite strides for the recovery efforts in the typhoon-ravaged Philippines, relief workers have yet to reach some islands. Angus Walker of Independent Television News reports from an outlying village near hard-hit Tacloban, where some families have found shelter in crypts.

  

Nov. 15, 2013

Chinese reforms come in response to public discontent, economic necessity
China's changes to its one-child policy and labor camp enforcement show some responsiveness to domestic and international pressure, as well as to growing economic pressure. Jeffrey Brown talks to Kenneth Roth of Human Rights Watch and Susan Shirk of University of California to examine how far these reforms go.

  

Nov. 15, 2013

China plans to ease one-child policy, end forced labor camps
China's ruling Communist Party announced reforms to two unpopular policies. More couples in China will now be able to have two children, instead of one, provided that at least one parent was an only child. The government also announced it is abolishing the system of forced labor camps. Jeffrey Brown reports.

  

Nov. 15, 2013

News Wrap: Japan reduces goal for fighting climate change
In our news wrap Friday, Japan's ruling Cabinet voted to reduce their climate change goals in the wake of the Fukushima disaster as the nation won't be able to rely on nuclear power to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Also, armed militia fighters opened fire on thousands of protesters in Tripoli, Libya killing 27 and wounding 235.

  

Nov. 14, 2013

As aid begins to reach some typhoon survivors, doctors face grim supply shortage
There are signs of progress in organizing food and other aid for devastated Philippine communities, but logistical issues continue to complicate delivery. Meanwhile, doctors are unsure how much longer they can keep patients alive without supplies. John Sparks and Mark Austin of Independent Television News report from Tacloban.

  

Nov. 13, 2013

Storm debris continues to be obstacle to typhoon relief efforts
Relief supplies have been slow to reach typhoon victims due to physical obstacles slowing down delivery. The lack of aid and growing desperation have led to a "breakdown of peace and order" in the hardest hit regions. Gwen Ifill talks to Richard Gordon of the Philippine Red Cross about the challenges.

  

Nov. 13, 2013

Dwindling supplies add to despair and uncertainty in the Philippines
Lack of food, medicine and little access to water adds to the great sense of uncertainty among displaced and desperate typhoon survivors in the Philippines. John Irvine and John Sparks of Independent Television News file two reports from the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc about the destruction and how people are coping.

  

Nov. 12, 2013

Why the strongest storms are getting stronger
The sheer deadly power of the Philippines typhoon has cast a fresh spotlight on the question, are storms getting stronger as the planet gets warmer? To examine the science of super storms, Gwen Ifill talks to Kevin Trenberth of the National Center for Atmospheric Research and Jeff Masters of Weather Underground.

  

Nov. 12, 2013

Climate talks address role of global warming in strengthening storms
The intensity of Typhoon Haiyan, which sustained winds of up to 195 mph, is raising questions about the relationship between our warming planet and seemingly strengthening storms. Scientists hesitate to pin a single event to global warming, but the connection was the subject of UN climate talks in Poland. Gwen Ifill reports.

  

Nov. 12, 2013

Urgently needing aid, Typhoon Haiyan survivors 'fend for themselves'
Typhoon survivors in the hardest hit regions of the Philippines are desperate for relief, waiting in long lines for food and battling sickness while others scavenge or loot for supplies. Angus Walker and John Sparks of Independent Television News file two reports from the devastated cities of Tacloban and Cebu.

  

Nov. 12, 2013

Trying to contact loved ones in the Philippines?
In Tacloban, Philippines, authorities said they were able to evacuate about 800,000 people before the typhoon swept ashore on Friday. But many are now missing. For Filipino-Americans living in the United States, contacting relatives overseas has been difficult. PBS NewsHour rounds up the best ways to begin your search.

Nov. 11, 2013

Booker Prize winner Catton finds harmony in novel's mix of mystery and astrology
Eleanor Catton, 28, called her novel a "publisher's nightmare" for its length and complexity, but the fun she had writing it has paid off. "The Luminaries" won Catton the Man Booker Prize, making her that award's youngest winner ever. Jeffrey Brown talks to the writer about her "astrological dance" of a murder mystery.

  

Nov. 11, 2013

Philippines has faced 'one blow after another' in disaster relief efforts
Typhoon Haiyan is the Philippines' fifth natural disaster in a single year, only adding to the relief challenges facing that nation. For insight on why relief efforts appear to be delayed and how Americans can help, Judy Woodruff speaks to Andrew Natsios, former director at the U.S. Agency for International Development.

  

Nov. 11, 2013

Relief workers struggle to provide life-saving services to typhoon survivors
Relief workers are making efforts to deliver life-saving food and water to typhoon survivors, but there are people in cut-off communities who have not been reached. Alex Thompson of Independent Television News reports on the challenges to provide relief to some of the Philippines' most desperate victims.

  

Nov. 11, 2013

News Wrap: Leading figure of Haqqani militant group killed in Pakistan
In our news wrap Monday, Nasiruddin Haqqani, a senior leader of the militant Haqqani network, was shot and killed by gunmen in Islamabad. Also, Americans across the nation observed Veterans Day by paying tribute to those who served in the military.

  

Nov. 11, 2013

Typhoon survivors face desperate conditions as they await aid
In some of the Philippines' most devastated regions, survivors of Typhoon Haiyan are returning to flattened communities with no food, water or sanitation, as officials struggle to provide relief. Angus Walker of Independent Television News reports from the city of Tacloban. Lynnette Lim of Save The Children joins Gwen Ifill.

  

Nov. 11, 2013

In typhoon-ravaged Tacloban, 'no place to bury the dead'
After one of the most powerful typhoons in recorded history struck the Philippines over the weekend, aid organizations and the government scrambled to provide residents with their most basic needs of food and water on Monday.

Nov. 11, 2013

How to help the typhoon relief efforts
Here are some ways to help the recovery efforts in the Philippines from Typhoon Haiyan.

Nov. 11, 2013

Philippine city of Tacloban at the center of typhoon devastation
Typhoon Haiyan swept across the Philippines in November 2013, wiping away houses and leaving survivors in search of food and water. View photos of one of the hardest hit cities, Tacloban, on the eastern coast.

Nov. 10, 2013

Chinese party leaders consider major economic reforms
China is now the world’s second largest economy. So what happens there, naturally, has great implications for the rest of the world. There’s a very important meeting going on now in Beijing involving the top leaders of the ruling Communist Party that is expected to produce major economic reforms.

  

Nov. 8, 2013

Super Typhoon Haiyan pummels the Philippines leaving severe damage in its wake
Super Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines Friday bringing with it wind gusts up to 170 mph and killing at least four people. Angus Walker of Independent Television News shows us the wreckage. Then, Judy Woodruff talks to Rosemarie Francisco of Reuters who reports that damage could be very severe in city centers.

  

Nov. 7, 2013

Typhoon Haiyan hits the Philippines with near-200 mph winds
Typhoon Haiyan made landfall with the Philippines early Friday local time. The AP reports it is poised to be the "strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded at landfall," with wind damage expected to be the most extreme in the history of the country.

Nov. 2, 2013

Standing 23rd on the list of 136 countries: American women
In an extended interview Kathleen Gerson, a Sociology professor at New York University and the author The Unfinished Revolution sheds light on the findings of a new World Economic Report on the gender gap around the world.

Nov. 2, 2013

Where do American women stand in gender equality?
The World Economic Forum published a report recently that says the United States finishes far from the top of a list when it comes to gender equality. American women finished 23rd on the list of 136 countries. Kathleen Gerson, a Sociology professor at New York University sheds light on the findings.

  

OCTOBER
Oct. 29, 2013

News Wrap: Russia dumps illegal waste near Sochi, site of Winter Olympics
In our news wrap Tuesday, Russian contractors have been burying construction waste outside Sochi, despite a no waste pledge by the government for the Winter Olympics. The illegal dumping may taint the water supply for the games. Also, Beijing police are investigating a car crash that officials now think was a deliberate attack.

  

Oct. 25, 2013

An exclusive club: The five countries that don't spy on each other
It was born out of American and British intelligence collaboration in WWII: five English-speaking countries who share intelligence and pledge not to practice their craft on one another. This is the club that Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Francois Hollande say they want to join (or at least, win a similar pact).

Oct. 24, 2013

Why Chinese protesters have resorted to self-immolation over urban construction
To keep up with the huge boom in urban development, China has knocked down villages to make way for new cities, sometimes without consent. When one farmer's demands for compensation were not met, he resorted to setting himself on fire, and he's not the only one to do so. Hari Sreenivasan gets details from Frank Langfitt of NPR.

  

Oct. 24, 2013

OneVoice uses kid-powered music for social good
Robbie Schaefer, guitarist and songwriter for the U.S. folk-rock band Eddie from Ohio, founded OneVoice in 2010 to bring children from different continents together through music. He soon realized it was an ever-evolving process.

Oct. 22, 2013

Is U.S. being transparent enough about civilian deaths from drone strikes?
Two human rights groups claim that U.S. drone attacks targeting terrorists have killed dozens of innocent civilians abroad, despite promises from the president to limit strikes that cause unintended casualties. Mustafa Qadri of Amnesty International, the author of one report, and retired Maj. Gen. Charles Dunlap join Gwen Ifill.

  

Oct. 21, 2013

Chinese citizens losing patience with air pollution consequences
China's tremendous growth has transformed the lives of its citizens but it has also come with a cost: significant air pollution. The major industrial city of Harbin shut down when smog levels reached record levels. Jeffrey Brown talks to Evan Osnos of The New Yorker about the ramifications of China's air quality problems.

  

Oct. 21, 2013

The smog in this giant Chinese city is so bad, it shut everything down
Heavy smog blanketed the China's northern city of Harbin on Monday with air pollution measuring 40 times higher than the international safety standard. Home to 11 million people, Harbin suspended classes for primary and middle schools, and closed several bus routes and the Taiping International Airport.

Oct. 14, 2013

Trust issues, troop level commitment among roadblocks in Afghan security talks
Secretary of State John Kerry made progress with his trip to Afghanistan to work on a security deal, but both nations come to the table with concerns about trust and commitment. Gwen Ifill gets analysis from David Sedney, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense, and former Afghan Foreign Ministry official Omar Samad.

  

Oct. 14, 2013

Kerry, Karzai resolve parts of security deal but flounder on legal jurisdiction
State Secretary John Kerry's meeting with Afghan President Karzai was intended to come up with a way to let some U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan after the 2014 pullout deadline. When he left, Kerry had an agreement in principle on some key elements, but other issues remain unresolved. Gwen Ifill reports.

  

Oct. 12, 2013

Freed from Guantánamo, but stuck in limbo
After 9/11, six ethnic Chinese men known as Uighurs were rounded up in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They spent eight years in prison before being cleared of any wrongdoing by U.S. courts, and now find themselves stranded in a legal and political limbo on the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau.

  

Oct. 12, 2013

Art in exile: From Tehran to Brooklyn
.Nicky Nodjoumi’s artwork walks a fine line between art and politics. After the ousting of the Shah in 1979, the new Khomeini regime began strictly regulating artistic expression. Nodjoumi was exiled after a Tehrab exhibition in 1980."They saw the show and they labeled me as anti-revolution, anti-Khomeini, and anti-regime."

Oct. 11, 2013

Malala hopes to earn prize of seeing 'every child' go to school
Pakistani student Malala Yousafzai, 16, rose to international fame when she was shot in the head last October for speaking out against the Taliban's ban on girl's education.