Entire program – August 20, 2009

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Today on The World: The votes are being counted in Afghanistan’s presidential election; The only person convicted in the Lockerbie bombing flies home to Libya… after a Scottish court frees him on compassionate grounds; and why waves of new immigrants are flocking to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Vote count begins in Afghan election

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Despite a spike in violence leading up to Afghanistan’s presidential election, Afghan voters came out to cast their ballots today. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with the BBC’s Carolyn Wyatt, who’s in Helmand Province about today’s vote.

Pictograms help illiterate Afghan voters

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Many Afghans are illiterate so today’s ballots included pictograms to help identify the many candidates. The World’s Jeb Sharp explores the use of symbols in Afghanistan’s presidential election.

US watches Afghan election

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Much is stake for the US in today’s election in Afghanistan. Charlie Sennott of the website GlobalPost tells anchor Lisa Mullins that the vote is a test of the strength of President Obama’s strategy there.

Lockerbie bomber freed

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Scotland freed the Lockerbie bomber today on compassionate grounds. Former Libyan intelligence agent, Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, was the only person convicted in the 1988 downing of the Pan Am flight over Lockerbie that killed 270 people. Scottish officials say he’s terminally ill. The World’s Laura Lynch has the story.

LEGO profits beat recession

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In spite of the global recession and tough competition from the computer gaming world, profits for the toymaker LEGO jumped 23 percent during the first half of this year. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Lego’s CEO Jorgen Vig Knudstorp.

Leaked Israeli memo makes waves

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Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Nadav Tamir, Israel’s Consul-General to New England, who made headlines in Israel recently when an internal memo he wrote about US-Israel relations was leaked to the media there.

The Ellis Island of the Great Plains

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Sioux Falls, South Dakota has been dubbed the Ellis Island of the Great Plains. The World’s Jason Margolis reports on how the North and South Dakota have become a center for refugee resettlement.

For Iraqi Kurd, South Dakota is home

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Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Qadir Aware, an Iraqi Kurd who went to South Dakota as a refugee in the 1970s. He now runs a multi-cultural center in Sioux Falls.

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography puzzler.

Global Hit and geo answer

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In today’s Geo Quiz, we’re looking for the name of a Middle Eastern city that is the home of the American University. Composer and pianist Waleed Howrani has recorded variations of the school’s anthem. The tune is also used by many universities in the US. We’ll hear Howrani’s tune “Alma Mater” coming up in today’s Global Hit.