Private militias in the Philippines

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On Monday, voters across the Philippines head to the polls for national elections. But many are concerned about the potential for violence. In recent weeks, 12 local political leaders have been gunned down, allegedly by members of politically connected “private armies.” Phillip Martin reports from General Santos City on the island of Mindanao. Download MP3

• View pictures and read Phillip’s story
• BBC coverage

Colorado River water rights

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Under a longstanding treaty, the Colorado River irrigates 3 million acres of farmland and supplies water to 30 million people in the United States and Mexico. Between population growth and a decade long drought, the Colorado is under such stress that Western states – desperate to maintain water supplies – want to purify agricultural runoff currently diverted into Mexico. But as The World’s Lorne Matalon reports, Mexico covets that water, because it has given birth to a productive wetland. Download MP3

• Lorne Matalon’s Mexico stories
• See photos from the Colorado River

Eradicating Guinea worm disease

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In this special podcast, The World takes you to Sudan with former President Jimmy Carter. Carter is working in Southern Sudan to eradicate a horrific disease known as Guinea worm. Our health and science editor David Baron traveled with Carter. We bring you Baron’s report, and an extended interview with Carter. Download MP3

• See photos and read the transcript
• Listen to an interview with Jimmy Carter about Guinea worm (17:08)

Reporter’s Notebook: Return to Haiti, Part II

Reporter Amy Bracken is currently in Haiti on assignment. She knows the country well, having lived and worked there in the past. We asked her to keep a notebook of her experiences during her current reporting trip. This is her second entry. (Photo caption: Charcoal seller at the Champs de Mars camp, Haiti. photo credit: Amy Bracken)

• Reporter’s Notebook: Return to Haiti, Part I
• The World: Amy’s coverage from her previous trip to Haiti (Jan. 19, 2010)
• The World: Amy reflects on post-earthquake Haiti (January 14, 2010)

Reporter’s Notebook: Return to Haiti

Reporter Amy Bracken is currently on assignment in Haiti, a country that she knows well, having lived and worked there extensively in the past. The World asked her to keep a diary of her experiences on this trip. In this, her first entry, she writes about being back in the country, and about how the Haitians are preparing for the rainy season. (Photo: Amy Bracken)

• The World: Amy’s coverage from her previous trip to Haiti (Jan. 19, 2010)
• The World: Amy reflects on post-earthquake Haiti (January 14, 2010)

Nuclear Standoff with Iran

President Barack Obama has said the US and its allies are developing a “significant regime of sanctions” against Iran for its nuclear program. He said the international community was unified over Iran’s “misbehavior”. Speaking in Washington, he said despite Tehran’s denials, it was clear Iran was working to build nuclear weapons. His remarks came after Iranian state media reported that Iran had started the process of enriching uranium to 20% for use in a medical research reactor.

Taliban insurgency

Afghan forces will begin taking control of security in some of the country’s provinces by the end of 2010, a key summit on its future has pledged. In a statement at the end of the one-day meeting in London, delegates said the process would be complete within five years. In December, President Obama announced he was sending an additional 30,000 troops to help battle the Taliban insurgency.

North Korea’s strategic arsenal

North Korea says it will continue to co-operate with the United States on ending its nuclear program and agrees that stalled talks need to resume. The country’s foreign ministry said Pyongyang would work with Washington to “narrow remaining differences”. In June, the UN Security Council voted to impose tougher sanctions on communist North Korea, following a nuclear test carried by the North Koreans in defiance of previous UN resolutions.

Gaza conflict

The UN Human Rights Council has backed a report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza that accuses both Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes. The report by Richard Goldstone calls for credible investigations by Israel and Hamas, and suggests international war crimes prosecutions if they do not. The United States and Israel opposed official endorsement of the report, saying it would set back Middle East peace hopes.

German elections

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has outlined plans to form a swift coalition with the Free Democrats after a major win in the general election. Merkel said the result was a great vote of trust, and that a government would be formed by November. Voters were concerned about Germany’s involvement in Afghanistan and the bad economy.

Iran protests

Thousands of opposition supporters have clashed with security forces during a government-sponsored rally in Tehran. Iran’s reformists had been warned not to try to turn the pro-Palestinian Quds (Jerusalem) Day marches into anti-government protests. Reports say opposition leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi and former President Mohammad Khatami were attacked. The opposition has been banned from holding rallies since the disputed presidential election in June.

Pirate Parties Go Global

The Pirate Party began in Sweden. Its political goals are to reform copyright and patent laws, and to campaign for citizen privacy, both online and in the real world. Now, the movement’s gone global. Cyrus Farivar reports. >>>Listen to the story

Unrest in western China

A night-time curfew has been reimposed in the restive western Chinese city of Urumqi, officials have announced. The curfew had been suspended for the last two days after officials said they had the city under control. Mosques in the city were ordered to remain closed on Friday, but at least two opened at the request of crowds of Muslim Uighurs that gathered outside. The government re-imposed a nighttime curfew Friday as well. Listen

Global economic crisis

President Barack Obama has announced a major reform of banking regulation to prevent future financial crises. The overhaul will require big banks to put more money aside against future losses to curb excessive risk taking. Consumers will get a special agency to protect their interests and regulate mortgages and credit cards. In outlining the reforms, President Obama described them as the biggest shake-up of the US system of financial regulation since the 1930s.