Topic: Indian Ocean

Madagascar mayhem ousts president

Embattled President Marc Ravalomanana has resigned after his rival led what the African Union called an illegal coup.

Sri Lanka: If war ends, can a divided nation heal?

Many see the Army's all-out fight as the only way to defeat Tamil rebels. But ending a cycle of ethnic conflict in the country may prove harder than a military victory.

Why Japan joins anti-piracy mission off Somalia

Thailand accused of mistreating Muslim refugees

Nearly 1,000 refugees were detained on a remote island in December before being towed out to sea and abandoned with little food or water, rights group says.

One man’s quest to improve the lot of fishermen – and fish

Conservationist Crispen Wilson is helping local Indonesians recover after the tsunami, but in a way that doesn’t deplete local fish stocks.

China projects naval power in pirate fight

Its warships and special forces are due in the Gulf of Aden by Jan. 6.

Modern mariner phones home to Maine schoolhouse

From an oil rig in the Indian Ocean, a seafaring dad offers practical math and tales of pirates as lessons over a Web connection with his kids’ classroom back home.

Kid Spot Quiz: Weather forecast

See how many weather-related words you can guess.

India leads fight against Somali pirates

An Indian warship sank a Somali pirate 'mother ship.' At least 91 ships have been hijacked this year off the coast of Somalia.

Faced with rising sea levels, the Maldives seek new homeland

Many scientists believe that, given enough political will, humanity can still manage to avoid catastrophic climate change. But the president-elect of the Maldives isn't taking any chances.

Russian sub accident points to Navy's shortcomings

At least 20 people died on the sub, which media reports say was to be handed over to India.

South Africa's garden route

Beautiful scenery and charming gardens.

World

Sea of Poppies

An absorbing tale of the motley crew assembled aboard a British trading ship.

Japan's ruling party hopes Aso will restore its reputation

As a popular politician, Olympian, and fan of manga comics, Taro Aso contrasts sharply with the lackluster former prime minister, whose shoes he is likely to fill on Wednesday.

Equine refugees find a future in African tourism

Zimbabwean farm horses endangered by land takeovers were spirited away to safety in Mozambique by one determined couple.

Pakistan: Uproar grows over first ground assault by US troops

Pakistani military officials fear American intervention in the tribal areas could spark a rebellion, derailing counterterrorism operations.

Japan's unpopular prime minister resigns

Yasuo Fukuda's term was beset with political gridlock and economic problems.

Cloud-sniffing drones soar over Asia

Researchers track China’s plume of pollution. What effect did Olympic hiatus have?

World

What happens when you turn off Beijing's pollution?

It's not every day that a major urban center suddenly puts the brakes on its industrial emissions. As Beijing tries to clear the air for the Olympic Games, one researcher is jumping at the chance to observe how the atmosphere is responding to what's being called the "great shutdown."

Where cashew is king, it fails to rule the economy

Mozambique struggles to regain global reach for its nut.

World

Burma and the vocabulary of reluctance

That we don't want to do something doesn't mean that we won't eventually do it.

Global scrutiny follows reports of Chinese nuclear base

The naval buildup on Hainan appears to be part of Beijing's long-range plan to increase its military presence, but the new base has alarmed neighboring countries and the US.