The battle for Misrata

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While parts of Libya’s northern coast have been changing hands from day to day, the conflict in Misrata has turned into a lethal stand-off. Weeks of heavy bombardments by forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi have failed to break the deadlock. Hundreds have died in the seven-week siege. Anchor Lisa Mullins talks with Los Angeles Times reporter Ned Parker in Misrata. Download MP3

BBC Video: Libyan rebels in Misrata will ‘fight until they die’

A soldier remembers Tim Hetherington

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Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with former US Army Sergeant Brendan O’Byrne (pictured) about war photographer Tim Hetherington who was killed in Libya on Wednesday. Hetherington is perhaps best remembered as director of the 2010 Afghan war documentary, ‘Restrepo’ about a platoon serving in a remote outpost in Afghanistan. O’Byrne was a member of that platoon. Download MP3
BBC picture editor Phil Coomes on Tim Hetherington

Opposition leader arrested in Uganda

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The main opposition leader in Uganda has been arrested for taking part in an illegal protest. Dennis Porter reports from Kampala on the issue that is driving opposition protests – rising prices. Download MP3

Slideshow: Unrest in Uganda

Psychological impact of Mexico’s drug war

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Since the start of President Felipe Calderón drug war in 2006, more than 35,000 people have been killed in related violence. Countless thousands more remain unaccounted for, many missing for years. Myles Estey reports from Tijuana on the psychological impact of violence. Download MP3

Slideshow: Impact of violence in Tijuana

Science podcast: alien invaders

Alien species can sometimes become invaders and wreak havoc in their new environment. For example, the Burmese python is taking over the Florida Everglades. What makes some species become invasive? That, and two studies on the evolution of human language, in this week’s World Science Podcast.

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Documenting India’s languages

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India has hundreds of languages and dialects. Audio recordings were made a century ago in an attempt to document them and they have just come to light. Bruce Wallace reports. Download MP3

Air traffic control comparisons

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Bill Voss is the President and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation in San Diego. He talks to anchor Lisa Mullins about how the US air traffic control system compares with others around the globe. Download MP3

Flight Safety Foundation

Spain’s phantom airports

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The World’s Gerry Hadden reports on a brand new $ 250 million international airport in Spain’s Castellon region that no one uses. It’s one of four “ghost” airports that sit idle in Spain. Download MP3

Lemur sanctuary

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Lemurs live in the wild on the island of Madagascar and the Comoro Islands but they’re endangered and face all kinds of threats. Now billionaire Richard Branson has come up with a novel idea. He wants to create a safe haven for lemurs on an island in the Caribbean. For the Geo Quiz we want you to name that island. Download MP3

A tribute to Tito Puente

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Ken Bader tells us about a tribute album to the late Tito Puente from Bobby Sanabria and the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Download MP3

Video: El Lider by Bobby Sanabria Big Band at Lincoln Center

PRI’s The World(04/21/2011: Myles Estey, Dennis Porter)

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An Afghan war veteran remembers photographer and documentary maker Tim Hetherington who was killed Wednesday in Libya. Also, protests break out in Uganda over rising prices. And a multi-million dollar airport in Spain that has no air traffic – none at all. It is one of Spain’s “ghost” airports. Download MP3

Music Heard on Air for April 21, 2011

Tunes spun on The World between our reports for April 21, 2011. Artists featured are: Jan Garbarek, Anouar Brahem, Shaukat Hussain, Oumou Sangare, Euphoria, Moriba Koita, Cachaito Lopez.

Syria protests continue

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Thousands of Syrians demonstrated today against Bashar Assad’s authoritarian regime. The protesters brushed off the president’s promise to lift Syria’s nearly 50-year-old emergency laws. The month-long uprising in Syria escalated in the city of Homs on Sunday when clashes between protesters and security forces killed at least 12 people. On Tuesday, security forces in Homs opened fire with live ammunition on hundreds of anti-government demonstrators. Anchor Lisa Mullins talks with one of the protesters. Download MP3

Malaysia’s anti-gay camp

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A camp set up to ‘correct the effeminate behavior’ of Muslim schoolboys violates the law and should be abolished, says Malaysia’s women’s minister. 66 schoolboys identified by teachers as ‘effeminate’ began counseling this week to ‘discourage them from being gay’. Anchor Lisa Mullins talks to the BBC’s Jennifer Pak in Kuala Lumpur. Download MP3

Fuel from straw – a biofuel breakthrough?

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The World’s Clark Boyd reports from Denmark on a new factory that’s making ethanol from straw. If the technology pans out, supporters hope it will help replace both gasoline and biofuels made from food crops. Download MP3