The World's Marco Werman looks back at some musicians who died in 2008.

Today on The World: how Pakistan's closing a key U.S. military supply route is affecting relations between Washington and Islamabad; why a number of young Somali men have disappeared from Minnesota; and we look back at China's 2008 -- a year full of important highs and lows for the Chinese.

The World's Quil Lawrence is on a hillside on the outskirts of Gaza City. He tells host Lisa Mullins he can see the long range missiles Palestinians are lobbing into Israel, as well as the smoke rising from Israeli airstrikes inside Gaza.

Gaza conflict

Arab countries have condemned Israel's offensive in Gaza. But there's been little in the way of action from Arab governments. One exception is Lebanon, which today declared a national day of mourning in support of the Palestinians in Gaza. The Lebanese government is also pledging a million dollars in food and medical aid. Here's more on the Arab reaction from The World's Aaron Schachter in Beirut.

Host Lisa Mullins speaks with Pakistani author and journalist Ahmed Rashid about relations between the U.S. and Pakistan. They also discuss the importance of Pakistan's move to close a major supply route into Afghanistan as part of its offensive against militants in the region.

Beginning this spring, some poor school children in the south African nation of Zambia will no longer have to walk long distances to school. They're getting specially designed bikes courtesy of a Chicago foundation. The group started four years ago. It's called World Bicycle Relief. Reporter Jay Field has the story.

Kris Holloway is the author of a book that has changed the lives of some of the poorest people in Mali. Lisa Mullins speaks with the author of: "Monique and the Mango Rains."

The World's Katy Clark reports on a recent wave of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo by a notorious rebel group from neighbouring Uganda known as The Lord's Resistance Army, or LRA. The LRA is believed to have been behind a Christmas Day massacre there that left 400 civilians dead.

A number of young Somali men have disappeared from Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Their families are concerned they've gone back to fight in the civil war that has plagued Somalia for nearly two decades. From Minneapolis, Todd Melby reports.

Our daily geography puzzler.