Sinbad the Sailor

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Sinbad the Sailor inspires today’s Geo Quiz. The stories of Sinbad show up in the book “One Thousand and One Nights” or “Arabian Nights.” The tales are set in the Middle East and South Asia. From his home in Baghdad, Sinbad recounts his 7 fantastic voyages on the high seas. Download MP3

Music Heard on Air for May 6, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For May 6, 2010. Artists featured are Nguyen Le, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Moriba Koita, Lord Newborn, Bassekou Kouyate, Ngoni ba, Praful.

Entire program – May 5, 2010

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Today on The World: More on the would-be Times Square bomber and his connections in Pakistan; Also, it’s the last day of campaigning before key elections in Britain; and the newest album from the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars by way of New Orleans.

NYC bomb suspect ‘nearly escaped US’

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Details have emerged of how Pakistan-born Faisal Shahzad, who is suspected of plotting to bomb New York City’s Times Square, was arrested while trying to leave the US. Shahzad was allowed onto a Dubai-bound plane, despite being on a no-fly list. It was only when customs agents checked passenger names 30 minutes before take-off that he was noticed and arrested, he now faces terrorism and explosives charges. The World’s Matthew Bell reports on changes being made to the way no-fly lists work. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Times Square bomb suspect charged
• Profile: Faisal Shahzad

Greece protest turns violent

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Three people have been killed in the Greek capital, Athens, where protests against big cuts in government spending have turned violent. The austerity program is being brought in so that Greece can receive an international financial bailout and avoid defaulting on its debts. Marco Werman speaks with one of the protestors, Despina Koutsoumba, who’s an elected official with the Greek Civil Servants’ Trade Union. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Global Economy podcast: The Greece problem

Final day of campaigning in Britain

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It’s the last day of campaigning before the British general election on Thursday and the leaders of the three main parties are travelling across the country in last-minute bids to win votes. Opinion polls put the main opposition Conservative party of David Cameron ahead, but suggest he won’t win an outright majority. Many voters are thought to be still undecided. Laura Lynch reports from London. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• UK elections could bring hung Parliament
• Candidates focus on economy

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Ukraine’s political divide

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Last week Ukrainian lawmakers hurled eggs and smoke bombs in the chambers of parliament. This was after the ruling party of President Viktor Yanukovich (pictured) ratified a controversial treaty between Ukraine and Russia which extends the lease of a Russian naval base in Ukraine an additional 25 years. The brawl could signal the beginning of a turbulent period in Ukrainian politics, as Brigid McCarthy reports from Kiev. Download MP3 (photo by Ingwar)

• Battle lines drawn over Ukraine’s strategic direction
• In pictures: Ukraine parliament chaos

US and Pakistan doubt Times Square claim

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The Pakistan Taliban has claimed responsibility for the failed car bomb attack in Times Square last Saturday, but the Pakistani military and US officials are skeptical of that claim. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with author Ahmed Rashid, who’s written several books on the Taliban.

Times Square suspect

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Anchor Marco Werman learns more about the man accused of the failed car bomb in Times Square from writer Steve Coll. Coll has been writing about the would-be bomber for The New Yorker website.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/stevecoll/

Volcanic ash clouds strike again

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Volcanic ash is again closing airports in parts of the UK and Ireland. Anchor Marco Werman gets the latest from the BBC Scotland’s Caitriana MacPherson.

Ottawa’s urban farmers

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In a twist on the local food movement, some people in Canada’s capital city are tearing up their lawns and planting vegetables for sale at local markets. Correspondent Darrell Harvey reports from Ottawa.

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography puzzler.

Oil spill update

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Anchor Marco Werman has an update on the oil spill off Louisiana’s coast.

Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with the lead member of the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars about the band’s newest album, Rise and Shine – a project inspired by, and recorded in, the city of New Orleans.