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Near the end of his 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela was taken to secret meetings with government officials and for drives around Cape Town. Here, he returned to his Robben Island prison cell for a visit in 1994, shortly before he became South Africa's first black president.

His 27 years behind bars were filled with hardship. But it wasn't all tedium. There were drives around Cape Town, negotiations in the homes of government ministers, and aborted escape plots.

An aerial tanker drops fire retardant on a wildfire threatening homes near Yarnell, Ariz., on July 1. An elite crew of firefighters was overtaken by the out-of-control blaze on June 30, killing 19 members as they tried to protect themselves from the flames under fire-resistant shields.

The New World Of Firefighting: Politics, Climate And Humans

Writer and photojournalist Michael Kodas says forest management, climate change and growing population complicate fire fighting.

Group houses are becoming popular — again — among some single baby boomers, and not just for financial reasons. Marianne Kilkenny (second from right) shares her home in Asheville, N.C, with four other people.

Boomer Housemates Have More Fun

Some single baby boomers are moving into group houses, a college-era solution to their modern needs. Housemates share costs, socialize, and cheer each other on through life's thick and thin.

At the center of Yangon, the city's colonial heritage, Buddhist faith and emerging modern face are visible in a single block.

As Myanmar Modernizes, Architectural Gems Are Endangered

Myanmar's biggest city Yangon has a distinct old-world feel: blocks of colonial buildings, untouched during decades of poverty and isolation. Now, development could bring them crashing down.

Obama On Limitations He Faces In A Complicated World

In his commencement address at West Point, President Obama laid out a range of goals. In an interview with Steve Inskeep, Obama discusses how he thinks he can use the time that he has left in office.

Bobby Patterson's 'Got More Soul,' Heart And Spirit

Soul singer Bobby Patterson got his start in the 1960s, and he's still singing. At 70 he's put out a new album, "I Got More Soul." NPR's Scott Simon talks to Patterson about the album.

Director Paul Greengrass says he thought the film would feel more authentic if it was all shot at sea. He had personal motivations, too: "My father was in the Merchant Marine and was at sea all his life so I wanted to explore his world," he says.

Tom Hanks Is 'Captain Phillips' In High-Seas Hostage Drama

The film tells the true story of Richard Phillips, whose container ship was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009. Navy SEAL sharpshooters eventually freed the captain from the small lifeboat where he was held hostage for five days. Tom Hanks stars in the film, which is directed by Paul Greengrass.

Abortion In Haiti: Dangerous And Illegal

In Haiti, abortion is illegal and women are turning to dangerous ways to end unwanted pregnancies. Host Michel Martin talks with Jacqueline Charles, of the Miami Herald, about the issue.

Younger Generation Poised To Lead Afghanistan's Future

Afghans under 35 make up about 75 percent of the country's population. Each one of them was born into war and endured their country's nearly unbroken string of conflicts. And they've come of age as Afghanistan struggles to establish itself as an autonomous country.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Twin Towers Correctional Facility is part of the largest municipal jail system in the United States. Many of its nearly 4,000 inmates are deemed mentally ill.

What Is The Role Of Jails In Treating The Mentally Ill?

The United States incarcerates hundreds of thousands of inmates with mental health needs. Prisons and jails are trying to provide support, but incarceration is far from therapeutic.

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