Scenes from Haiti

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with reporter Amy Bracken in a suburb of Port au Prince about what she’s been seeing there.

Silver lining for Haiti?

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The World’s Katy Clark examines whether the Haiti earthquake could ultimately lead to a better life for Haitians overall.

Geo Quiz

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Where will our Geo Quiz take us today?

Geo answer

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Today’s Geo Quiz has at least two answers: the body of water between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula is called the Persian Gulf by Iran and the Arabian Gulf by the Saudis. Anchor Marco Werman learns more about this geographical dispute from geography professor William Rowe.

A waterway in southwest Asia

There are at least two answers to today’s Geo Quiz. We’re looking for the name of a waterway in southwest Asia. It’s the one that separates Iran from Saudi Arabia. Problem is there’s no perfect agreement on what to call it…

Kenge Kenge

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The band Kenge Kenge from Kenya is old school in a modern city. They play traditional music from the Luo ethnic group. But they perform it — and live — in the hustle and bustle of Nairobi. Does that alienate younger music fans in the Kenyan capital?

Music Heard on Air for January 19, 2010

Tunes Spun On The Word Between our reports for January 19, 2010. Artists featured are Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Toumani Diabate, Yo Yo Ma & the Silk Road Ensamble, Milan Kovacev, Kaki King, Jesse Cook, Radio Nomade.

Yemen

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On this week’s history podcast a look at the archaeology and history of Yemen. First we hear from University of Chicago archaeologist McGuire Gibson. He’s worked in Yemen since the 1970′s. Then Bernard Haykel, professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton, fills us in on Yemen’s recent history. Thomas Kuehn of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver tells us about Yemen under the Ottomans and how it might be relevant today. Among other things these folks emphasize Yemen’s strategic location and geography, its stunning beauty and its continuous and unbroken history going way back.

Entire program – January 18, 2010

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Today on The World: Does Haiti’s disaster provide an opportunity to re-build its infrastructure from scratch; Also, Chile elects its first conservative leader since Augusto Pinochet; And a deported Cambodian-American gang member learns to rap in Khmer.

Haiti aid still hampered by bottlenecks

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The leading American general in Haiti has said it is a “reasonable assumption” that up to 200,000 people may have died in last Tuesday’s earthquake. Lt-General Ken Keen said the disaster was of “epic proportions”, but it was “too early to know” the full human cost. Relief efforts are being slowed by bottlenecks, and many thousands of survivors are fending for themselves. We get the latest from the BBC’s Nick Davies. Download MP3 (Photo : Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

• BBC coverage
• Latest pictures from Haiti
• Friday’s coverage on The World

Rebuilding Haiti

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Haiti’s infrastructure for things like clean water and sewage disposal was primitive before last week’s earthquake. Now, out of tragedy arises the opportunity to rebuild it up to modern standards. But will the country be able to take advantage of the opportunity? Marina Giovannelli has our story. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• You can help through these aid organizations

Multiple Taliban attacks in Afghanistan

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Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers have attacked buildings in the heart of the Afghan capital, Kabul, setting off explosions and sparking gun battles. Fighting erupted near the Serena Hotel and the presidential palace, although Afghan President Karzai says security has now been restored. The Taliban said 20 of its fighters took part in the attack. The World’s Matthew Bell reports on the implications of the brazen Taliban attack. Download MP3

• BBC coverage

Habitat for Humanity

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Marco Werman talks with Kip Scheidler of Habitat for Humanity International about efforts to help in Haiti.

Cruise lines docking in Haiti

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The pristine vacation resort of Labadee is only 60 miles from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. We hear about a cruise liners controversial decision to dock there.

Chile’s new president

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The people of Chile voted for a right-wing president yesterday, for the first time since the removal of the military dictator Augusto Pinochet in 1990. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with reporter Gideon Long in Santiago about the way forward for Chile.