Swiss valley

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For today’s Geo Quiz we’re looking for a beautiful Swiss valley, abuzz with helicopter trips for skiers. And not everyone’s happy about that. The valley is about 40 miles southeast of the city of Bern. So, what’s the name of this valley? (flickr image: zug55) Download MP3

Entire program – May 6, 2010

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Today on The World: US and Pakistani officials look for a connection between the failed Times Square bomber and Pakistani militants; Britons vote today in the country’s closest general election in decades; and Nigeria mourns the death of its president.

Investigation into failed NYC attack continues

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Attorney General Eric Holder said Thursday that suspect Faisal Shahzad’s cooperation with US agents is continuing as investigators delve into the attempted Times Square bombing. The Pentagon said it was encouraged by Pakistani cooperation in the case. Authorities in Islamabad are looking into possible connections between Pakistani extremist groups and Shahzad. Matthew Bell reports. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• NY Times: “Evidence Mounts for Taliban Role in Car Bomb Plot”
• Profile: Faisal Shahzad

Interview with Pakistan’s ambassador to the US

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Anchor Marco Werman talks with Pakistan’s ambassador in the United States, Husain Haqqani about the car bomb attack in New York and common efforts of the US and Pakistan in the fight against terrorism. Download MP3 (Image courtesy of Pakistani embassy)

• Pakistani embassy in Washington
• The Changing World: Generation Jihad

First non-Latin web addresses go live

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Arab nations are leading a “historic” charge to make the world wide web live up to its name. Net regulator Icann has switched on a system that allows full web addresses that contain no Latin characters. Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the first countries to have so-called “country codes” written in Arabic scripts. Marco Werman has more. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Icann
• Egyptian Ministry of Technology (Arabic script)

Korea’s rice harvest

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Famine in North Korea may have killed up to 2 million people during the 1990s. Now aid groups warn that the reclusive nation is facing another severe food shortage. Meanwhile South Korean farmers can’t sell all the rice they’re growing and that’s led to a price hike. Some say there’s one solution that would solve the problems of both Koreas. Reporter Jason Strother has more from Andong, 150 miles south of Seoul. Download MP3 (Photo:Jason Strother)

• In pictures: Life in poverty-stricken North Korea
• North Korea’s Kim visits China

Public reaction in Marjah

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Norine MacDonald of the International Council on Security and Development. She’s been investigating the possibility of a backlash in Afghanistan after the recent US-led NATO offensive to clear the Taliban from the district of Marjah.

Venezuela’s sinking town

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Massive oil extraction is literally reshaping the earth. The World’s Marina Giovannelli has the story of a small town in Venezuela that’s literally sinking after a long history of oil extraction.

Insect invades Italy

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Italy is facing a new invader — this one of the insect variety. The red palm weevil from North Africa is munching Rome’s famous palm trees and is threatening to change the country’s landscape. Megan Williams reports from Rome.

Election Day in the UK

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with The World’s Laura Lynch in London about today’s British elections.

Frantic moving day for British prime minister

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The winner of Britain’s general election gets to live in Number Ten Downing Street right away. If a sitting prime minister loses, he or she has to be ready to move out immediately. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Andrew Rawnsley, the chief political commentator for the British paper, The Observer, about the packing rush when power changes hands.

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography puzzler.

Geo answer

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Today’s Geo Quiz was inspired by the stories of Sinbad the Sailor. In the book, “One Thousand and One Nights,” Sinbad recounts his seven voyages on the high seas. The question we asked was, which sea or ocean? The answer is the Indian Ocean. The stories are perennial favorites. But now a conservative group in Egypt is calling for the book to be banned. Anchor Marco Werman has details.

Nigerian president dies

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The World’s Carol Hills reports that Nigerians are mourning their president, Umaru Yar’Adua, who died last night. There were great hopes for his presidency when he came into office in 2007, but his term was marred by chronic health problems.

Tony Allen

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Nigerian afro-beat drummer Tony Allen about his music and about the influence former bandleader Fela Kuti still has on Allen today.