Entire program – December 28, 2009

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Today on The World: Authorities in Netherlands investigate how a Nigerian man got through Dutch airport security and allegedly went on to try to blow up a Detroit-bound plane; Also, several opposition leaders have reportedly been arrested in the aftermath of yesterday’s protests across Iran; Russia’s school for tabloid journalists.

Airport security in The Netherlands

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Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab began his journey in Lagos, Nigeria. But he made the connection to the US in the Netherlands at the Dutch airport, Schipol, Amsterdam. An investigation is underway there to figure out how he got through. Hans de Vreij is security editor for Radio Netherlands. Anchor Katy Clark speaks with Hans de Vreij about airport security. Download MP3

• Radio Netherlands
• BBC profile of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab

Foreign investment in the US

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More Americans are looking for work than in 26 years. The dollar keeps getting weaker. Times are tough for many Americans. But for foreign companies looking to invest in the United States, America looks pretty attractive. Roughly five-and-a-half million Americans work for foreign companies operating in the U.S. States across the country are vigorously competing for their business. But there are pros and cons to foreign investment. What does a state get out of the bargain? The World’s Jason Margolis profiles one state: Mississippi. Download MP3

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• Jason’s previous stories from Mississippi

Patua scroll book

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Five years ago, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded occurred off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh Province. The quake triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean with waves up to a hundred feet tall. More than a quarter of a million people died, most of them in Indonesia. India was also hit. Now a publishing company based in the Southern city of Chennai is remembering what happened five years ago with a beautiful new handmade book. We speak with the founder and director of Tara Books. Download MP3

• Video: Patua scroll book
• Tara Books: Tsunami

Russian tabloid wants to be trendsetter

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Some might call it a school for scandal but a muckraking Russian newspaper publisher is calling it critical to the future of journalism in his country. Aram Gabrelyanov has created his own journalism training program – aimed and producing a new breed of reporters. Laura Lynch reports from Moscow. Download MP3

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An update on the accused Nigerian bomber

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More details are emerging about the Nigerian man who’s accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound flight. But as The World’s Matthew Bell reports, there are still many unanswered questions about a possible al Qaeda connection and what the foiled attempt means for airline security.

How people become radicalized

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Anchor Katy Clarks speaks with Marc Sageman, an ex-CIA case officer and forensic psychiatrist, who studies the process of radicalization.

Opposition figures arrested in Iran

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Anti-government demonstrations across Iran reportedly left at least eight people dead yesterday. And the protests continue. Opposition websites say today Iranian authorities arrested a number of opposition figures. Anchor Katy Clark speaks with Kasra Naji of the BBC’s Persian Service, who’s monitoring events from London.

Asylum rules to change

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Asylum seekers in the US sometimes have to spend up to a year in an immigration detention facility. But the US government is changing that policy — starting next week, asylum seekers could be immediately eligible for supervised release. Correspondent Monica Ortiz Uribe has the story.

Junkanoo Festival

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Our Geo Quiz sends us in search of the largest city in the Bahamas. The annual Junkanoo Festival takes place across the islands, but the main revelry occurs in this city’s downtown. Scott Gurian sent us this audio postcard.