The importance of the Strait of Hormuz
CNN's Tim Lister explains why the Strait of Hormuz is so strategically important and why tensions are rising there.
Religious Extremism in Israel
An ultra-Orthodox man has been arrested and charged with sexual harassment in Jerusalem. Moshe Fuchs allegedly called a 19-year-old female Israeli soldier a "prostitute" and a gentile when she refused to move to the back of a segregated bus earlier this week. The incident highlights the simmering debate over gender segregation playing out in Israel right now. We addressed the issue and the face-off between ultra-Orthodox Jews and more moderate religious Jews during Thursday's show.
Take A Look:
CNN's Kevin Flower reports on the situation playing out in Beit Shemesh:
Rabbi Dov Lipman leads a protest against religious extremism in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh:
Christmas in Pakistan
CNN's Reza Sayah talks to Pakistani locals about what Christmas means to them.
North Korea: Living in Fear
North Korean state media have broadcast images of a grief-stricken nation. But we wanted to find out how ordinary North Koreans feel about their nation's future. Senior International Correspondent Stan Grant found a North Korean living in the Chinese border city of Dandong who spoke frankly about what life is really like in the so-called Hermit Kingdom.
An inside look at technology in North Korea
North Korea's technological infrastructure is quite limited. Cell phones are only for the wealthy and you can't even call outside the country. We talked with technology researcher Martyn Williams about how tightly controlled communications are in North Korea.
The Death Toll from Tropical Storm Washi soars in the Philippines
The Philippines is burying its dead and struggling to recover. Tropical storm Washi (known locally as Sendong) hit the southern portion of the country over the weekend, killing more than a thousand people and leaving thousands more homeless. The storm triggered flash floods and sent massive logs down hillsides, which flattened everything in their path. There’s speculation that illegal logging contributed to the devastation.
Back|Story producers Chris and Nadia talked to Mari Ramos and Taylor at the CNN World Weather Center about the storm’s path and why it did so much damage.
You can get updates on these and other stories by "following" Back|Story on twitter and clicking "like" on our facebook page.
Images of Iraq and the stories behind them
Nine years after it began, the war in Iraq has come to a close. But the images from that conflict continue to tell a powerful and dramatic story of a country going through an enormous evolution.
Photographer Ben Lowy spent time working in Iraq during the war. He's put some of his iconic images together in a pair of books titled "Iraq Perspectives." Errol Barnett recently sat down to talk to Ben about his work and what it was like to be a witness to the conflict.
You can see more photographs by Ben Lowy on the CNN Photo Blog. For more on his career, check out his website: http://benlowy.com
Giving a Voice to Abused Women
Raped, beaten and abused. Afghan women have suffered in silence for years. But a television show called "The Mask" is finally giving them the opportunity to speak out. Producer Sami Mahdi first introduced "The Mask" last year. On the show, women wear masks to conceal their identity as they talk openly about the injustices they've suffered. CNN's Arwa Damon took us behind the scenes of the show earlier this year.
A few weeks ago, we touched base again with producer Sami Mahdi to find out what the show has achieved over the last year.
And now to another story of injustice that played out recently in Afghanistan. A woman named Gulnaz was imprisoned for adultery after a married relative raped her. She was recently pardoned by Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Gulnaz talked about her heartbreaking ordeal with our Nick Paton Walsh from a safe house in Afghanistan.
Inside the auction of Michael Jackson's belongings
Two years after his death, fans and collectors got their chance to own a piece of Michael Jackson history. More than 500 items from the home where the pop icon died went on the auction block this weekend in California. We're talking everything from furniture to paintings to rugs. Our Alan Duke got a closer look at the items before they went up for sale.
Home from the War Zone
At the height of the War in Iraq, there were 170,000 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq. As of today, there are 6,000 American troops and four U.S. military bases still operating inside the country. All of those bases are located south of Baghdad. Soon, they will be dismantled and the troops will return home. Kyra Phillips talked to some servicemen and women who's already returned to the United States. They told her about their experiences in Iraq, for better and for worse.
About The Revealer
A new Back|Story series that unearths fascinating new secrets about places and stories you thought you knew. Every other Thursday on Back|Story“The Revealer” Game
Join the action on our new series, “The Revealer.” Use the photo clues to figure out what the subject of this week’s episode will be. Click on the picture to the left for more.
