Desert marathon

We’re looking for China’s largest desert this time. It’s located in the Uyghur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang in China. This desert is sometimes called the “sea of death.” All the same it will host an ultra-marathon. (Photo: courtesy of Racing the Planet)

• Photo gallery at Racing the Planet
• Eric Lahaie’s Racing the Planet blog

Entire program – August 18, 2010

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Today on The World: Experts say river mismanagement in Pakistan may have contributed to the devastating floods there; Also, piecing together Nazi propaganda films on the Warsaw Ghetto; And, and one woman’s story of driving a Saudi royal princess around Los Angeles.

Altered Rivers Contributed to Pakistani Floods

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Experts say Pakistan’s extreme floods, which have displaced 20 million people and swamped a fifth of the country, have been made far worse by decades of river mismanagement. The World’s Clark Boyd reports. Download MP3

• Satellite imagery tracking the Pakistan floods
• BBC coverage
• BBC multimedia: Pakistanis waiting for aid
• Environment coverage on The World

The rules of Ramadan

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Ramadan began last week. Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset during the Islamic holy month. And most Muslims take the obligation seriously. But a few young activists in the north African country of Morocco say they should be free not to fast. From Rabat, Ursula Lindsey has their story. (flickr image: JohnED76) Download MP3

• BBC video: Ramadan food prices soar in Bangladesh
• BBC Religion: Ramadan

Darbar cooks fast during Ramadan too

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It occurred to us here at The World that observing the holy month would be even more difficult if you work in the food industry. There’s a Pakistani-Indian restaurant just down the street from our office called Darbar. We walked over to pay them a visit and see how they manage during Ramadan. We were greeted by owners Gulman Khalid and his brother Irfan. Download MP3

• Darbar Restaurant Opens in Boston
• Video: See how the chefs taste test during Ramadan

‘A Film Unfinished’

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A decade after the end of World War II, East German archivists began to sort through thousands of films stashed in a vault. One copy of an unedited film was found titled “the ghetto.” Another reel was discovered with outtakes of this film and showed that much of the scenes in original film were in fact staged. A new documentary called ‘A Film Unfinished” attempts to shed light on how the film was really shot. (Photo: Steven Davy) Download MP3

• ‘A Film Unfinished’ at the Sundance Film Festival

Sufi music in New York

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Pakistan sent famous Sufi musicians to the United States. The idea is to portray the “true face of Sufi Islam” to an audience that often sees Pakistan as a haven for terrorists. Mekaal Hasan (pictured) was one of the artist at the festival. Madiha Tahir has today’s Global Hit. Download MP3

• Mekaal Hasan Band
• Rafqat Ali Kan
• Abida Parveen on Facebook
• Global Hit on Facebook

Driving the Saudis

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Actress Jayne Amelia Larson needed a job, so she jumped at the chance to be a chauffeur. She ended up driving a member of the Saudi royal family. Alex Gallafent brings us her story. Download MP3

• Video: Driving the Saudis
• ‘Driving the Saudis’ homepage

Flood update

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Foreign aid has hit the ground in Pakistan. Almost $459 million in initial relief is coming in to help the estimated 20 million victims of damaging floods. But thousands continue to struggle without food or shelter. The BBC’s Chris Morris reports from northwest Pakistan.

Displaced people in Pakistan

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Pakistanis are seeking refuge from the floods where they can find it.
Fahad Desmukh visited a shelter near Karachi and sent this report.

Haiti versus Pakistan aid response

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The floods in Pakistan have produced a fast-growing humanitarian crisis. But international aid has been a trickle compared with the January earthquake in Haiti. The World’s Jason Margolis looks at why.

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography challenge.

Geo Answer

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The answer to today’s Geo Quiz is Iqaluit, the capital of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Anchor Jeb Sharp speaks with Anglican Bishop Andrew Ataguttaaluk about the significance of rebuilding the igloo-shaped Anglican cathedral in the Arctic.

• Geo Quiz Archive

Music Heard on Air for August 18, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For August 18, 2010. Artists featured are Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, RJD2, Carol Thompson, Shivkumar Sharma, Brijbushan Kabra and Hariprasad Chaurasia, Alison Brown.

Travel Podcast: Russian wildfires, bears gone wild

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Images like this are a stark reminder of how the unusual summer heat and the accompanying wildfires, have seriously affected life in Moscow. In this episode of our Talking Travel podcast, Lonely Planet’s Robert Reid says Russia’s a big place, and you shouldn’t let the wildfires stop you from visiting the country’s many tourist destinations. We’ll also discuss air rage, and some animals that seem to want to pack their suitcases and take a holiday. (Photo: Sergei Gutnikov)

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