US-Latino-Political-Celebrity (with art)

Eva Longoria is considered one of the most politically involved celebrities in this election cycle. But it's not a new role for her. She has been politically active for 20 years now, and it all started in high school. "My government and economics teacher gave us a project where we all had to volunteer during the election. We could choose whatever party, but we had to volunteer and help register people to vote. It was part of our grade," Longoria said. "So I caught the political bug from there." That was when the "Desperate Housewives" star was a 17-year-old student at Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, during the first Clinton presidential campaign. Years later, she was quite vocal during President Barack Obama's 2008 bid, and this year she is co-chairwoman on his re-election campaign.

US-CNNHeroes-Connie-Siskowski-Interview (with art)

Connie Siskowski is helping young people who have to take care of an ill, disabled or aging family member. Through her nonprofit, the American Association of Caregiving Youth, Siskowski has provided assistance to more than 550 child caregivers in Palm Beach County, Florida. CNN asked Siskowski for her thoughts on being chosen as one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2012.

New-York-Central-Park-5

New York City is demanding that documentary filmmaker Ken Burns hand over footage of the movie he made about five men who were wrongfully imprisoned and later exonerated for the rape of a woman in Central Park. The demand is part of the city's attempt to defend itself against multi-million dollar federal lawsuits filed by some of the "The Central Park Five," as the exonerated men had come to be known.

INTERNATIONAL

Pakistan-Slimmer-Police (with art)

Police officer Muhammad Azad spends an hour a day running laps because he is running out of time. If he doesn't trim two inches off his 42-inch waist soon, the police department in the northern Pakistani state of Punjab could demote or even fire him.

Paula-Kahumbu-Kenya-Lions (with art)

Paula Kahumbu initially opted for a career in wildlife conservation so she wouldn't have to deal with people. But working with wild animals in her native Kenya has taught her that it is near impossible to prevent some vulnerable species coming into contact with human communities --- often with damaging consequences.

Syria-Television-Rants (with art)

As former friends turn against Syria for its brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters, the country's state television -- the government mouthpiece -- has taken to insulting and belittling those regional leaders in scathing editorials read to camera.

Syria-Turkey-Weapons-Explainer

Syria's shelling of a border town in Turkey has sparked fears that President Bashar al-Assad's attempt to snuff out a rebellion at home could turn into a damaging regional war between the two neighbors.

Nigeria-University-Shooting-Mubi In Nigeria, nobody speaks of terrible things. Where some unimaginable atrocity has been committed the news is often met with pursed lips, a double snap of the fingers and a swift motion over ones head to invoke a purge against evil. To speak of terror is to welcome it into one's life.

Tanzania-Witchcraft

It conjures images of cauldrons and pointed hats if you live in the western world or exotic masks and sacred objects if you're on the African continent. Around the world a sense of mystery and fear engulfs witchcraft and nowhere is this more evident than in the East African nation of Tanzania. Here, faith in this specific form of African tradition can turn deadly.

POLITICAL

POL-BTN-China

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama have made trade with China an issue in the November election. Romney says the president has not been tough enough over what he contends are Beijing's unfair trade practices, while Obama has pointed to Romney's record in business with Chinese companies and their labor practices. Here's a look at the U.S. relationship with China -- by the numbers.

POL-Debate-Undecided-Voters (with art)

A tale of two undecided voters: For Amy Alonso, Wednesday's presidential debate brought her a little closer to casting her ballot, but for Michael Fazio, the debate did nothing but cast doubt. Both are key voters in key swing states -- Florida and Nevada. And both were looking for the candidate they leaned toward to bring home the bacon. Today, only one of them is eating a BLT, albeit slowly.

POL-Debate-Next (with art)

Mitt Romney's solid debate performance Wednesday night gives him the type of energy and momentum that President Barack Obama now will have to work overtime to undo.