The World's Mary Kay Magistad reports on North Korea's efforts to exploit its oil and gas reserves. The country has cut an exploration deal with China. But some analysts believe North Korea would do better with a Western partner, like the United States.

Lisa Mullins speaks with The World's Aaron Schachter about former President Gerald Ford's legacy as seen through Israeli eyes. Ford is remembered by Israelis as the US president who respected their country's need to hold on to the Golan Heights.

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with French food expert Kate Hill about what Americans can learn from the French way of eating. Hill, an American, teaches professional and amateurs cooks in Southwest France.

Three prisoners in custody at the Kingston Immigration Holding Center in Canada are holding a hunger strike to protest the conditions of their detainment. The men are suspected to have been involved in "terrorist-related activities" but have not been told the charges against them. Correspondent Derek Stoffel has the story of what critics are calling Guantanamo North.

The decision to invade Iraq in 2003 followed a classic "hawks versus doves" debate in Washington. The doves argued for more time for diplomacy, while the hawks pushed for military intervention. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Jonathan Renshon who says hawks have an advantage in these debates. Renshon recently authored an article on the issue in the latest edition of Foreign Policy Magazine.

Refugees are fleeing Iraq daily by the thousands. While many are heading to Syria and Jordan, some with relatives in the United States are attempting to settle here. Quinn Klinefelter of WDET reports that those refugees face an array of obstacles.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced today an inquiry into who was responsible for the verbal taunting that marred the execution of Saddam Hussein. Sunni Muslims are continuing their protests in response to the spectacle. Anchor Lisa Mullins gets the latest from Sudarsan Raghavan, Baghdad bureau chief for the Washington Post.

The marimba is a percussion instrument used in folk bands, from South Africa to South America. But in its westernized form, it's been developing a role as a classical music instrument. For today's Global Hit, The World's Adeline Sire introduces us to a young musician who's making it his mission to play keyboard masterpieces on his marimba.

Today's answer is Haiti, where this first day of the new year is also the country's Independence Day and a good day for a bowl of pumpkin soup. Anchor Lisa Mullins explains.