The Specter of Syrian Civil War

As the violence escalates in Syria, there’s fear of sectarian civil war.

Civil War, 1896 Tsunami, Mau Mau, Yuri Gagarin, Bay of Pigs

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In the last week alone we’ve had at least three big anniversaries: 150th anniversary of the start of the (American) Civil War; 50th anniversary of the first human being into space; 50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs. So we’ll look back at each of those moments. Plus Lisa Mullins interviews an archivist at National Geographic about an American writer and photographer, Eliza Scidmore, who documented the aftermath of a tsunami in northeast Japan more than a century ago. And we have two segments on the history behind the trial unfolding in London right now over alleged British atrocities in Kenya during the counterinsurgency campaign against Mau Mau rebels in the 1950′s. Download MP3

The global conflicts of 1861

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Americans marked the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War today, but according to Brian DeLay, a teacher of history at the University of California, Berkeley, the rest of the world was hardly at peace, either. Download MP3

Friday protests in the Arab world

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While Colonel Gaddafi’s forces continue to make advances on rebel-held territory in Libya, there was a muted response to internet appeals for a day of demonstrations in Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom deployed massive security Friday to prevent any illegal gatherings. We get a roundup of other protests today in North Africa and the Middle East from reporters Sean Carberry in Bahrain, Laura Lynch in Saudi Arabia, and Ben Gilbert in Egypt. Download MP3
Slideshow: Bahrain protests

Shortage of nurses in Libya

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Libyan rebels are fleeing the oil port of Ras Lanuf after sustained attacks by forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Because of the fighting in Libya, foreign workers have been leaving in droves, among them nurses badly needed now. Sean Carberry reports on the shortage of nurses in Libya. (photo: Susan Schulman) Download MP3
Slideshow: treating the wounded

Gaddafi’s troops advance against rebels

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Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have been continuing a major offensive against rebels in the western city of Zawiya. There are also reports of more shelling in the oil port of Ras Lanuf. Anchor Marco Werman gets the latest from BBC correspondent Jon Leyne who is in Benghazi. Download MP3
Live updates from the BBC

Is Libya in a civil war?

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Mohamed Husein of BBC Monitoring. Husein has been listening in on the news media in Libya and weighs in on the question of whether what’s going on in Libya constitutes a civil war. Download MP3

Casualties of Libya’s civil war

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Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is taking the fight to the opposition in both western and eastern Libya. In the West, Gaddafi’s forces are hitting the opposition-held towns of Zawiyah and Misrata. In the East, the fighting is centered on Ras Lanuf and its surroundings. There are no reliable casualty figures but we know they must be high. America Abroad senior correspondent Sean Carberry saw for himself at a hospital in the eastern city of Ajdebia. (Photo: Sean Carberry) Download MP3
Live updates from the BBC

The battle for Libya

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The battle for Libya continues. On Monday, forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi apparently won more than they lost. Colonel Gaddafi’s troops pushed back rebel forces in the oil town of Ras Lanuf. Gaddafi’s troops are also reported to have resumed artillery attacks on the city of Zawiya, near the capital, Tripoli. We reached reporter Borzou Daragahi of The Los Angeles Times earlier in Tripoli. Download MP3
Live updates from the BBC

Possible scenarios for Libya

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The World’s Katy Clark reports on what could happen in Libya if the Gaddafi regime were to fall. There’s concern that chaos or civil war could follow, because Gaddafi has prevented any leaders or institutions to develop under his rule. Download MP3
Live updates from the BBC

Sri Lanka’s unifying cuisines

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Even during the height of the Sri Lankan civil war, Sinhalese and Tamils were able to come together on a few things. One of those was food. Reporter Ike Sriskandarajah gives us a tour of Sri Lankan cuisine. Download MP3

Find out some mouth watering Sri Lankan recipes here.

Britain’s involvement in the US Civil War

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A long forgotten and controversial part of Britain’s past is being unearthed by an American historian living in London. Tom Sebrell has uncovered evidence of strong support for the southern Confederate states in the Civil War in America. Britain was officially neutral during the war. But Sebrell is now leading walking tours of London that reveal untold stories of Britain’s role. Laura Lynch decided to take the tour for herself. Download MP3
Video: More with Tom Sebrell

Re-opening tourism in Liberia

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The problem with a good stretch of beach is that once word gets out, the word is out. You have to fight for waves or a patch of sand. That won’t happen for a while in Liberia. The West African nation was torn apart by 14 years of Civil War. The country has been peaceful since UN peacekeepers arrived in 2003. But before Liberia descended into war, the country was a West African travel hotspot: five-star hotels, beautiful beaches, and a rich cultural history. Today, tourism dollars would certainly help that country with its economic recovery. But is Liberia ready to re-open for tourists? The World’s Jason Margolis had a look. Download MP3

• Jason Margolis’ Rebuilding Liberia series
• Photos: Tourism in Liberia

Rebuilding Liberia

The West African nation of Liberia suffered through an on-again, off-again civil war for 14 years from 1989 to 2003. The country was economically devastated: Roads were destroyed, sewage and water largely ceased functioning, and electricity was knocked out throughout the entire country. A generation of young people, many of whom were child soldiers, never received a formal education. Many were psychologically traumatized by a brutal and at-times bizarre war. The World’s Jason Margolis spent two weeks in Liberia to examine the challenges of rebuilding a war-torn nation.

An interview with author Tracy Kidder

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Pulitzer prize-winning author Tracy Kidder (left) stopped by The World studios this morning for an interview with Anchor Jeb Sharp. Kidder talked about his new book, entitled Strength in What Remains. The book tells the story of Deo, a survivor of the decades long civil war that ripped apart the central African nation of Burundi. Kidder follows Deo’s story as the young African arrives in New York City having fled the ethnic violence in his country. >>>Click here to view a short video of our interview with Tracy Kidder.