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Thanhha Lai's novel for young people, Inside Out & Back Again, conveys the wonders of being rescued in 1975 during an operation led by the USS Kirk. Last year, NPR shared other tales of that operation from refugees and U.S. sailors.

This year's 21st First Annual IgNobel Prize Ceremony featured the science of sighs, inquiries into the yawning habits of the red-footed tortoise, and songs about the chemistry of coffee. Ira Flatow and Ig master of ceremonies Marc Abrahams present some of the highlights from this year's festivities.

At this year's Toronto International Film Festival, the director of Apocalypse Nowand the iconic Godfather films shared memories and anecdotes with a sold-out crowd.

Across Latin America, movies and soap operas have glamorized the lives of drug lords and their gangs. A new Mexican movie, Miss Bala, takes a realistic look at the fear that grips many Mexicans today.

The latest round of Egyptian protests began when the military tried to strengthen its power in any future government. Vali Nasr of Tufts University talks to Steve Inskeep about other armies that tried to gain a bigger role in a supposedly democratic country. Nasr is also the author of The Rise of Islamic Capitalism, and is a former advisor to the Obama administration.

Healthpoint Services says it has a business model that will not only help the world's low-income populations — but also make a profit. Based in India, the company offers patients videoconferences with doctors, cheap diagnostic tests and clean water. And it hopes to spawn imitators as it proves it can be profitable.

As President Obama meets with world leaders on the Indonesian island of Bali, the U.S. is proclaiming a strategic "pivot" towards Asia. Asian nations appear split as to whether increased American involvement in the region will lead to more stability or conflict.

President Obama arrives in Indonesia on Thursday for a conference with Asian leaders. The event forms part of a long trip to the region by the president, who is using it to highlight his policy of switching America's focus to the Pacific, which he believes to be the best source of trade and jobs for the U.S. in the coming century. NPR's Anthony Kuhn talks with Melissa Block from Bali.

Increased military cooperation between the countries reflects a broader strategy of repositioning troops in northern Asia and a downgrade of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Specialists say it is also a response to wary U.S. allies in Asia concerned about China's military modernization.

A surge in demand for Tokay Geckos is leading to the "rapacious collection" of the animals in Southeast Asia," says a wildlife-protection group. Unsubstantiated claims of miracle cures from traditional medicines are helping fuel the demand.