Claudene Christian dreamed of living a seafaring life like the historic HMS Bounty naval officer who shared her name centuries ago. She'd secured a spot as a crew member on a replica of the Bounty and had announced it proudly on her Facebook page. But less than six months after joining the ship, her dream was cut short.

INTERNATIONAL

Damon-Syria-Amputee (with art)

It was around 6:30 in the morning. The air was crisp, the farmers had just watered their fields -- corn perhaps, Omar doesn't entirely recall -- and the ground was muddy, slippery and uneven. There was a pack on his back, a bag slung over each shoulder, and cradled in his arms, the frail body of his 11-year-old brother Abdulrahman. Abdulrahman, the baby of the family, couldn't walk on his own. His left leg was blown off in late July. The last words of the driver who dropped them off echoed in Omar's mind: "You're on your own now."

Sorious-Samura-African-Voices

As he strode on stage to accept the 1999 Rory Peck award for hard news journalism, Sorious Samura struggled to find the words that would fit the moment. He hadn't expected to win the prestigious prize and so hadn't prepared a speech. Looking out across audience, the pioneering video journalist made the snap decision to speak his mind rather than proffer faux gratification. "I stood there and thought of my people," he recalls, before asking, "Where were you when my people were killing, raping and maiming themselves?"

Hong-Kong-Swimming

Angel Lau adjusts her iridescent blue goggles over her cherubic face, steps to the edge of the pool and dives in head first. The 7-year-old is one of the lucky ones: Her mother enrolled her in private swim lessons since the age of 3. Many other young Hong Kongers are on lengthy wait lists as demand for public swimming lessons outstrips supply in a city that's surrounded by coastline -- yet a majority of residents can't swim, according to local water safety experts.

South-Korea-Talking-Elephant

Korean is considered one of the hardest languages in the world to master, but an elephant in a South Korean zoo is making a good start.

POLITICAL

POL-Ballot-Initiatives

President Barack Obama's second term is on the line in Tuesday's election, but so is a key component of his signature health care reform law.

POL-Gubernatorial-Races-2012

Washington gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna looks to help Republicans cross an important threshold while expanding their power at the top of state government nationally. McKenna is locked in a competitive race in a state that hasn't had a Republican governor in nearly 30 years. It's just one example of how the party is leveraging trends and strengthening its hand in a number of ways in state races across the country. If projections bear out and they grab four seats in addition to retaining the three they are defending, Republicans could hold the governorships of 30 states after Election Day, the most for them in nearly half a century.

POL-Senate-Races (with art)

Even before a second Republican Senate candidate tripped over incendiary comments about rape, GOP leaders in Washington knew that their once promising chances of winning control of the Senate had diminished.

POL-House-Preview

There may be little drama left in the outcome, but you wouldn't know that by watching the final days of campaigning in the battle for the U.S. House. Democratic and Republican congressional campaign committees and outside groups for both parties are ramping up spending and committing tens of millions of dollars to those races.

POL-Crowley-Sandy-Politics