In the U.S., the election season seems to last forever. But in Canada it's a more like blink-and-you-missed-it. The World's Andrea Crossan reports.

Our daily geography quiz. We are looking for a town on northern coast of Somalia that's considered a haven for pirate gangs operating in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

The answer to today's Geo Quiz is the town of Eyl on the northern coast of Somalia.

Somali pirates are holding a Ukrainian ship off the coast of Somalia. They're demanding $20 million dollars in ransom. The ship contains a sensitive cargo of tanks and other weapons. Lisa Mullins speaks to Jeffrey Gettleman of The New York Times, who spoke to the pirates directly.

The latest release from Swedish jazz group, the Esbjorn Svensson Trio, will sadly be their last. The band's founder, Esbjorn Svensson, was killed in a scuba-diving accident in April. The World's Marco Werman tells us about the group's impact on the jazz world and beyond.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin met seven world leaders in 48 hours. Critics of Governor Palin have argued that although she is hoping to become America's vice president, she currently has little or no foreign policy credentials. They have branded the meetings as a PR opportunity, with some broadcasters threatening to boycott the entire exercise. The BBC's Matthew Price reports from New York.

Video: Meet Ms. Palin