Urban dwellers in China are three times more prosperous than their country cousins. Perhaps that's why 150 million farmers have moved to the cities. The Chinese leadership has now declared that it's essential to bring fast growth to the countryside however difficult. Since 2006, the BBC's Newsnight program has visited the village of White Horse charting its attempted transformation from rural outpost to city of opportunity. It's been a journey fraught with frustration and disappointment for both planners and residents.

China urbanization series

Today on The World: A look at what could be on President-elect Obama's homeland security agenda; We also examine the International Space Station's record 10 years after its creation; Plus we hear about a 16-year-old girl who's about to become Japan's first female professional baseball player.

Obama and Napolitano

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano appears to be the frontrunner for the job of secretary of homeland security in Barack Obama's administration. The World's Matthew Bell reports on what that might signal about the incoming administration's agenda.

A U.S. federal judge ordered the release of five Algerian suspects imprisoned at Guantánamo. The judge ruled that the five men could not be held indefinitely as enemy combatants. Anchor Lisa Mullins finds out more from Miami Herald correspondent Carol Rosenberg.

Katy Clark's Guantánamo stories

Britain's foreign minister David Milliband says 2009 could be a good year for progress in the Middle East. The World's Aaron Schachter reports on Miliband's stop in Beirut, Lebanon.

The Palestinian Authority today placed advertisements in Israeli newspapers promoting a peace plan for the Middle East. Anchor Lisa Mullins has details.

The International Space Station turns ten years old today. Some say it's a colossal waste of time and money. Others say its a symbol of what can be done in space when nations work together. The World's Clark Boyd reports.

Virtual Space Station

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of British broadcaster Alistair Cooke. Most Americans probably know him for his many years as the erudite host of Masterpiece Theatre on PBS. But Cooke was known internationally for his long-running BBC radio series "Letter From America." The weekly show ran for fifty-eight years. The World's Carol Zall looks back on Cooke's work and career.

Tibetans in exile are gathering at the home of the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India this week. They're meeting to talk about failed negotiations with China to gain genuine autonomy for Tibetans. The World's Mary Kay Magistad caught up with one of the main envoys in Dharamsala, to find out what direction exiled Tibetans will take now.

Tibet protests

Our daily geography quiz. We're looking for a Japanese city where a 16-year-old girl is about to become Japan's first female professional baseball player.