Hurricane Melissa intensifies as it approaches Jamaica

A few thousand people have arrived at the Tawila refugee camp in Sudan, after escaping harrowing violence in the RSF-controlled city of el-Fasher, many of them unaccompanied children. Also, Timor-Leste, Southeast Asia’s smallest economy, joins the ASEAN bloc. And, a 91-year-old Japanese man is the oldest runner at the New York City Marathon. Plus, a look at Halloween and other ghostly traditions around the world.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

US President Donald Trump met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, today. Both leaders sounded optimistic about cooling trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. Also, in Rio de Janeiro, residents of two favelas are reeling after Brazil’s deadliest police raid in decades left more than 130 people dead; the governor defended it as a “hard blow against crime” but rights groups are calling it a massacre. And, Radio Free Asia announces it will begin closing down its operations on Friday. Plus, National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek discusses his journey on foot across Turkey.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Today in Jamaica, people are picking up the pieces after the strongest storm seen on Earth — and the strongest hurricane in Jamaica's history — thrashed the island. Also, an attack by Israeli forces inside Gaza leaves at least a hundred Palestinians dead. And, Lithuania closes its border with Belarus for a month. Also, the Netherlands uses “harm reduction” instead of jail time to address its drug crisis. Plus, a new exhibit looks at creatures deep beneath the ocean’s surface.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Atrocities continue as Sudan’s military retreats from el-Fasher, a town in Darfur that has been under a grueling siege for more than 500 days. Also, Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica with catastrophic winds and the potential for widespread flooding and landslides. And, President Vladimir Putin says Russia has a nuclear-powered cruise missile that can't be intercepted by US technology, and that it’s been tested successfully and is ready to be deployed. Plus, an ant that can give birth to an entirely different species.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Hurricane Melissa intensifies into a Category 5 hurricane as it heads towards Jamaica. We look at how, in the age of climate change, storms are becoming wetter, stronger, slower and more destructive. Also, US President Donald Trump is on a weeklong trip to East Asia. And, Ireland elects left-leaning lawmaker Catherine Connolly as its new president, known for her outspoken views on the war in Gaza, NATO and Irish unification. Plus, a small abandoned village in Greenland is seeing a revival.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

China's leadership has announced its latest five-year plan for the future. A lot of details are still unknown, but one of government's big ambitions is to strengthen its domestic tech sector. Also, the case of the Guildford Four is considered one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British legal history; decades later, their families say the fight for accountability is still not over. And, 1 in 3 French university students skips a daily meal regularly, as they struggle with rising housing costs and inflation; now, volunteers are coming to help, with groceries and more. Plus, Cape Verde celebrates qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in history.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Colombia has recalled its ambassador to the US as tensions mount between the two countries over aid cuts and US military strikes in the Caribbean. Also, a British soldier on trial for killing two people on Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland in 1972 has been cleared of all charges; we hear reactions from survivors of the violence that day in Belfast. And, Singapore imposes a levy on all departing flights in an effort to boost funding to develop sustainable aviation fuels. Plus, 10 million crabs travel en masse on Christmas Island as part of an annual spawning ritual.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Today, the airport in Khartoum was scheduled to reopen for the first time since the start of the country’s civil war two years ago. But a series of drone strikes near the airport put the kibosh on those plans. Also, Copenhagen's Human Library lends people who volunteer to be “open books" in one-on-one conversations with "readers." These books share a wide range of personal perspectives — from being a trans woman or military veteran to being a police officer or sex worker. And, sleeper trains are making a comeback around the world. Plus, daytime coffee raves are on trend for twenty-something-year-olds in Barcelona.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Russian forces attacked an energy facility in the Chernihiv region overnight, leaving its northern part without power and in some cases without water. Power engineers are working to repair the damage and restore electricity. Also, Emmanuel “Meme” del Real, founding member of the Mexican band Café Tacvba, which redefined Latin rock with humor and experimentation, steps into the spotlight with "La Montaña Encendida" ("The Burning Mountain") — his first solo album. And, National Book Award winner Ha Jin is set to publish a new coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Plus, Italy is celebrating the 50th birthday of Pimpa, the beloved Italian children’s comic character with a penchant for adventure, this year.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Bolivians have elected a center-right candidate, Rodrigo Paz, as their new president, ending 20 years of leftist political leadership. Paz’s victory puts the 12-million-strong nation on a notably uncertain path as he attempts to implement significant changes for the first time since 2005. Also, authoritarian governments are increasingly using ‘foreign agent’ laws to intimidate and silence civil society groups and journalists. And, a new study reports that cancer rates in Lebanon are rising faster than anywhere else in the world. Plus,  Hindus worldwide are celebrating Diwali today. The festival of lights involves oil lamps, fireworks ... and a bit of friendly gambling.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices