Our World: The week of Nov. 2, 2026

Success story for the Seychelles’ giant tortoisesOnce hunted to near-extinction, giant tortoises now outnumber humans in the Seychelles, according to a recent survey reported by the Guardian. More than 180,000 Aldabra giant tortoises now make their home in the uninhabited Aldabra Atoll, up from 100,000 in the 1990s and just 1,000 in the late 19th century. Today, giant tortoises can be found in only one other place in the wild: the Galápagos Islands, which have a much smaller population. Despite the progress, “the tortoises face increasing pressures from climate change, drought, and invasive species,” says Dave Hudson, a co-author of the study. – Ryan Lenora Brown Some BBC broadcasts suspended in AfghanistanThe Taliban have halted BBC FM-radio broadcasts inside Afghanistan. The British broadcaster had been the only international news organization still transmitting inside Afghanistan after two U.S. outlets were banned in 2022. Its FM programs reached 20% of the country’s adult population each week, according to BBC News. The Taliban said the FM transmissions had been suspended because of “repeated violations.” The BBC said it was continuing to report “fairly and independently” on short and medium wave, satellite and online. – Tim Backshall Central African Republic schools teaching RussianAs its isolation from the West grows, Russia has been cultivating states in Africa. Since 2017, about 1,500 Russian mercenaries, known as the Africa Corps, have been sent to bolster the Central African Republic regime of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra against attacks by a coalition of rebel groups. Seeking to supplement hard power with the soft variety, Moscow recently signed a deal with CAR to begin teaching Russian in three local schools from the sixth grade, as well as providing textbooks and teaching support, the independent news outlet Meduza reports. – Fred Weir“A global benchmark for prison security”That’s how Costa Rican President Laura Fernández characterized the opening of a new maximum security prison on Oct. 14 near the capital, San José. The prison can hold 5,100 inmates, which amounts to about one-fifth of the country’s prison population. Ms. Fernández is promising to usher in a new tough-on-crime approach, modeled after the harsh crackdown on drug gangs in El Salvador under President Nayib Bukele. Costa Rica has long been known as one of the safest countries in Latin America but has seen violent-crime rates rise in recent years. – Matthew BellHAVE AN IDEA FOR OUR WORLD? Please email ourworld@csps.com if there is an important global story that the media missed, a trend that is driving the news where you live, or a story that uplifts. The Monitor will publish reader picks from time to time. Deepen your worldviewwith Monitor Highlights.Politics with respectGet political stories with respectful analysis.There‘s a world of new ideas in everyBooks newsletter.There‘s more to life, enrich yours withCulture & Learning weekly.Follow humanity‘s discoveries withScience & Nature stories in your inbox.Gain a spiritual perspectivefrom the stories in your inbox.Want to understand the deeper impact of critical events? Learn the Monitor‘s insight.Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads. ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LoginReal news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.The Christian Science Monitor was founded in 1908 to lift the standard of journalism and uplift humanity. We aim to “speak the truth in love.” Our goal is not to tell you what to think, but to give you the essential knowledge and understanding to come to your own intelligent conclusions. Join us in this mission by subscribing.