Rob Schmitz reports on the growing US demand for natural gas from around the world. Some worry that could lead to a new US dependence on natural gas reserves in countries like Russia and Iran.

photo: Rob Schmitz

Burma's military rulers have clamped down hard on pro-democracy demonstrators, and shut down the flow of information out of the country. But the BBC's Fergal Keen went undercover for three days in the main city, Rangoon. He spoke to some Burmese who support the pro-democracy movement.

Anchor Marco Werman speaks with journalist Andrew Meldrum about Zimbabwe's worsening food crisis. Zimbabwe was once the bread basket of southern Africa. But the country's wheat market has collapsed...and now there is no bread. Andrew Meldrum covered Zimbabwe for the British newspaper The Guardian.

Ursula Lindsey reports from Cairo on the job of the misaharati. The misaharati is the man who wakes up Muslims during Ramadan to have their last meal before dawn.

Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Timothy Greenfield-Sanders about his recent project photographing injured veterans of the war in Iraq.

Anchor Marco Werman reports that many countries -- like Britain -- have been downsizing their military presence in Iraq. But the small nation of Georgia has been increasing the number of its troops deployed in Iraq.

The Iraqi government wants the American private security firm Blackwater to compensate the families of Iraqi civilians killed by Blackwater employees last month. The World's Jason Margolis has more on the story.

October 9, 2007 full program

The World's Marco Werman profiles Bi Kidude, a singer from Zanzibar who's keeping alive the East African islands' musical connection to the Middle East.

Today's answer is the Spanish town of El Puerto de Santa Maria. The town is known for its sherry...its fresh fish...and its connection to Christopher Columbus. Reporter Hayley Salvo has details.