Americans may grumble about the high cost of filling up their cars... But imagine paying more than $9 for a gallon. That's the latest price in France where Parisians are finding their standard of living is not what it used to be. Anita Elash reports from Paris.

Americans may grumble about the high cost of filling up their cars... But imagine paying more than $9 for a gallon. That's the latest price in France where Parisians are finding their standard of living is not what it used to be. Anita Elash reports from Paris.

Attacks in South Africa on foreign migrants have escalated. The violence has spread to at least four new areas around Johannesburg. Host Lisa Mullins speaks with Bishop Paul Verryn. His church has become a safe haven for over a thousand foreign migrants.

If you'd like to help the Central Methodist Mission in Johannesburg, South Africa--which is providing a home for refugees fleeing Zimbabwe and other migrants who fear attack in South Africa-- please contact

The Mission's sister church in the USA:

Minister Carleen Gerber
(S. Africa Partnership)
1st Congregational Church
2 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, Connecticut 06371

1-860-434-8686
email: FCCOL@SNET.NET

Please note: Bishop Paul Verryn in Johannesburg is appreciative of not only financial contributions, but books-- including books about the following subjects: politics, religion, global warming, geography, mathematics, economics. Children's books are also extremely welcome.

Lisa Mullins speaks with our book critic Christopher Merrill about "Khirbet Khizeh" an Israeli novel that came out in Hebrew in 1949 and has just been translated into English; and about a new Palestinian memoir called "Palestinian Walks: Forays into a Vanishing Landscape".

Rice paddies across Asia are being replaced by golf courses and luxury hotels. And workers are leaving the fields for factory jobs. Rebecca Henschke reports on an endangered species - the rice farmers of Indonesia.

The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, warned today that 6 million children are at risk from hunger in Ethiopia. More than 120,000 kids are in need of immediate medical care because of malnutrition. Drought, war and global food prices are the causes. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with UNICEF spokesman Patrick McCormick about the looming famine.

Homeowners' insurance is a rarity in China, and those hit by the recent earthquake are wondering how they'll recover financially. The World's Mary Kay Magistad has been talking to some Chinese earthquake survivors who still aren't convinced that insurance is such a good idea.

Today on The World: Chinese homeowners - most lacking insurance - fear they won't ever recover financially from last week's earthquake; A Bishop provides safe shelter for foreign migrants under attack in South Africa; Spain's defense minister gives birth to a 6lb baby boy.

Cuban keyboardist Omar Sosa asks what the nature of freedom is. He should have some idea. His latest album is called "AFREEcanos."

The island of Unst is the answer to today's Geo Quiz. It's the most northerly populated island off Scotland. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with homeowner Michael Ray who's built a zero-carbon house on the island.