Entire program – October 12, 2009

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Today on The World: More violence in Pakistan raises questions about how the country is cracking down on insurgent groups; Also, after more than half a century, Germany pardons the soldiers who deserted the Nazi army. We speak with one of the last remaining Nazi deserters. And a Middle East Bernie Madoff who stole millions from his fellow Lebanese.

Suicide car bombing in Pakistan’s Swat valley

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At least 41 people have been killed in a suicide car bombing in Pakistan’s Swat valley, officials say. The explosion hit a security convoy in Shangla district – an area the military said it had retaken from militants. It is the latest in a string of attacks and comes amid warnings of an offensive against militants in nearby South Waziristan, on the Afghan border. Marco Werman speaks with the BBC’s Aleem MaqBool in Islamabad. Download MP3 Photo: AFP PHOTO/A MAJEED

• BBC coverage
• Wikipedia: Swat Valley

Nazi deserters pardoned

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This month Germany overturned the sentences of tens of thousands of German soldiers convicted of treason during World War II. The move comes late for most of the fighters. The vast majority were executed, died in concentration camps or were killed in so-called death battalions before the war ended. Still exonerating these rebellious ranks has symbolic importance for a country still dealing with its Nazi past. The World’s Gerry Hadden met one of Germany’s three surviving Nazi traitors and has his story. Download MP3

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• BBC coverage

Operation Ice Bridge

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For today’s Geo Quiz head about as far south as you can go. The Transantarctic Mountains span Antarctica … dividing it roughly in half. We’re looking for the half that principally borders on the Pacific Ocean. Download MP3

Dealing with Pakistan’s insurgency

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Four recent militant attacks in Pakistan – including one over the weekend against the Army headquarters in Islamabad – raise questions about how Pakistan is cracking down on militant groups. The World’s Matthew Bell reports.

The evolution of Karzai

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Since US forces ousted the Taliban in Afghanistan in late 2001, the face of Afghan leadership has belonged principally to one man: Hamid Karzai. The World’s Alex Gallafent looks at the changing image — in the west — of Afghanistan’s president, Hamid Karzai.

Baseball translator

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Reporter Cyrus Farivar profiles the man the Los Angeles Dodgers hired as a Japanese translator. It helps that he speaks Spanish too.

The game of chess boxing

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It’s the unlikeliest of pairings — chess and boxing. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Iepe Rubingh, a Dutch performance artist…and the creator of “CHESSBOXING.”

Listener email

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Middle East Madoff

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The Lebanese have been riveted for the past few weeks by the arrest of a man people are calling the Middle East Bernie Madoff. Authorities say he ran a pyramid scheme that bilked investors out of a billion dollars. The World’s Aaron Schachter reports from southern Lebanon.

London newspaper free of charge

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It was a big day for “The London Evening Standard” today. The newspaper is now free. And that’s changing what commuters hear from newspaper vendors. The World’s Alex Collins spoke with one vendor named Christine at the Temple underground station in central London.

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography puzzler.

Global Hit

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Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya fronts the trio The Very Best. The band members met in London and first shot to fame via the internet. They remixed versions of cover tunes. Now they’ve put out their first CD of original music. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with singer Esau Mwamwaya.