Greek band “Imam Baildi”

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Lisa Mullins tells us about “Imam Baildi,” a band from Athens, Greece, named after a Mediterranean dish and devoted to mixing old tunes with modern beats. Download MP3

Entire program – January 4, 2010

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Today on The World: Increased airport security around the world focuses on travelers from 14 nations; Also, the US increases counter-terrorism aid to Yemen; Plus, the world’s tallest building makes its debut today.

Fighting terrorism in Yemen

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The US and Yemen share an interest in stamping out the Yemen-based group, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which has been blamed for the attempt to blow up flight 253 to Detroit on Christmas Day. So Washington has ramped up counter-terrorism aid to the Yemeni government. Jeb Sharp talks with the BBC’s Jonathan Head, who is currently in Sana’a. Download MP3

• BBC profile of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
• The World’s Matthew Bell on AQAP (Dec 30)
• Matthew Bell on counter-terrorism activities in Yemen (Dec 29)

Guam awaits the Marines

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The population of Guam is expected to increase by 50 % in the next four years. That’s because the U.S. military plans to redeploy thousands of Marines and their families from the Japanese island of Okinawa. The move could bring an economic boom to the Pacific island but it threatens to strain Guam’s infrastructure as Akiko Fujita reports. Download MP3 (Photo: Johan Burati)

• BBC profile of Guam

Dubai super tower

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The world’s tallest building has been opened in a dramatic fireworks ceremony in the Gulf emirate of Dubai. The Burj Khalifa is more than 2,700 feet high. Construction began in 2004, at the height of an economic boom but now the opening came after a financial crisis which has seen Dubai bailed out by Abu Dhabi. Bernard Zand, is a correspondent for ‘Der Spiegel’ Download MP3 (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

• BBC coverage
• Burj Khalifa in pictures
• Alex Gallafent on the Dubai crisis (Nov 27)

Indian coin sellers

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India is a country teaming with enterprise – from quacks doing cataract operations in the middle of the road to children selling hand-made cards to passers-by. At Haji Ali Dargah, a mosque and tomb, just off the coast of Mumbai – even the beggars are entrepreneurs. Most devotees like to hand out coins to the hundreds of beggars who line the road, wailing piteously to Allah, but few are willing to part with big bills. In response, some beggars have started a coin-change business, making it easier to give alms. Linda Blake reports. Download MP3

• Watch a video about the coin sellers

Passengers under tighter scrutiny

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The US government is asking governments around the world to increase security screening of passengers bound for the United States. In particular, U-S officials are asking for tighter scrutiny of airline passengers from 14 nations, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Nigeria. The World’s Jason Margolis reports.

US HIV travel ban lifted

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Even as new airport security restrictions go into effect for passengers bound for the United States, the is lifting another kind of travel restriction — the one on travellers with HIV. Anchor Jeb Sharp has more.

Squatting in London

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Londoner Katherine Hibbert was 26 years old and doing fine until she was laid off and informed that her rent was going up. So Katherine Hibbert decided to chuck it all… and live on just about no money. She became a squatter. That meant finding unused buildings to live in and finding food where she could. We speak with her about her experience as a squatter.

South African leader weds

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South African President Jacob Zuma now has three wives — after his latest wedding today. South Africans are divided on their attitudes toward polygamy. Jeb Sharp speaks with South African professor Penny Andrews about reactions to Jacob Zuma’s multiple wives.

Geo Quiz

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For today’s geo quiz, we are looking for the name of the building in Taiwan that held the title of world’s tallest building… until the newly-opened Burj in Dubai came along to take top spot.

Romas under attack in Europe

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Europe’s largest minority group, the Roma, is struggling to cope with a rise in attacks against Romas in several countries. That’s prompted a surge in asylum requests from Romas hoping to leave central Europe for Canada. The World’s Laura Lynch reports from Hungary.

Geo answer

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For today’s geo quiz, we are looking for the name of the building in Taiwan that held the title of world’s tallest building… until the newly-opened Burj in Dubai came along to take top spot. The answer is the building known as “Taipei 101.” The structure in the Taiwanese capital is now the SECOND-tallest building in the world.

Lhasa

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We pay tribute to singer-songwriter Lhasa de Sela. Lhasa established her musical career in Montreal and in 1997 her debut album ‘La Llorona’ won the Canadian Juno Award for Best Global Artist. The bluesy, rootsy voice of Lhasa was silenced on New Year’s Day.