In today’s show: Mona Lisa's hotter 'twin sister' is discovered 500 years on. But first, South Africa's best crime writer, Deon Meyer, talks to us about his latest novel "Trackers." Plus, astounding wildlife footage is given a child-friendly narrative hook in Disney's "African Cats."
After years of tense negotiations between China and France, two giant pandas landed in Paris on Sunday. The bears have been loaned to Beauval zoo in the Loire region for ten years as part of China's "panda diplomacy".
First, Afghanistan's holy day, Ashura, becomes a bloodbath as dozens are killed in the bombing of a Shia shrine. Also, we delve into a massive corruption scandal rocking Indian politics. Next, we investigate the tens of thousands of children being trafficked in China. Finally, we take a look at a very cute method of managing international relations - Chinese panda diplomacy to be exact!
This week Yoshihiko Noda is to succeed Naoto Kan as Japanese prime minister. North Korea's Kim Jong-il makes a rare and unusually high-profile trip to Russia before heading to China. And in Laos, endangered elephants are given a helping hand by a group of French doctors.
We look at how one of the richest country on the African continent is failing to take care of its new mothers. Also, a landmark UN report reveals that the government of Nigeria and oil giant Shell are behind an oil spill which may require the biggest clean-up the world has ever seen. Finally, police in Rwanda save a baby gorilla from poachers and becoming somebody's lunch.
France’s growing wolf population is good news for environmentalists – but the feeling is not shared by the country’s livestock farmers. This week they get a measure of revenge as a rare wolf-hunting license is issued.
Cameroon is one of the few countries fighting the scourge of poaching. It’s a dangerous battle, in a world where corruption and the promise of easy money often lead to conflict.
The warm season has arrived in France and the Asian hornet is awakening. Since its introduction in 2004, this aggressive insect has been devastating bee colonies in the southwest. Just a handful of them can wipe out a hive within hours.
Former French President Jacques Chirac has quipped he would rather vote for the socialist François Hollande in the next presidential election than for Nicolas Sarkozy. Also, the Bettencourt family battle reignites as France’s richest woman is once again fighting with her only daughter. Finally, is French football hooliganism on the rise?
British Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed a new resident into his living quarters: a cat named Larry, whose official duty is to catch the rats spotted around Downing Street – with a license to kill.
