Anchor Lisa Mullins has details on President Obama's naming today of two special envoys. Former US ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke will be focusing on relations with Afghanistan and Pakistan. And former Senator George Mitchell will work on Middle East peace.

Today on The World: President Obama issues an executive order to close the Guantanamo prison within a year; Also, Mr. Obama's international background becomes part of the presidential narrative; Plus, Israel braces for possible war crimes lawsuits over the conduct of its soldiers in Gaza.

Scots are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of their national poet Robert Burns this Sunday. To mark the occasion, BBC Scotland is launching an audio archive project which will include readings by many well known figures as well as recordings of his songs. One famous contributor is the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, who reads the poem "My Heart's in the Highlands."

Prince Charles

Welsh harpist Gweneth Gibbard explains the significance of her instrument to the Welsh.

The answer today's Geo Quiz is not a place, but rather an organization that oversees the seas. It's the International Hydrographic Organization based in Monte Carlo. Anchor Lisa Mullins get details about its inner workings from journalist Simon Winchester who's writing a new biography of the Atlantic Ocean.

Our daily geography puzzler today has a hydrographic twist.

The World's Katy Clark reports on the challenges facing the Obama Administration in its push to close the Guantánamo Bay prison camp. Today a military judge agreed with a request from the new administration to put one Guantánamo trial on hold.

Katy Clark's Guantánamo stories

Vermont Public Radio's Steve Zind reports from Tehran on the reaction people there had to Barack Obama's inauguration.

People in many parts of the Arab world who listened to President Obama's inaugural speech yesterday welcomed his offer to bridge the divide between the West and the Muslim world. The World's Aaron Schachter explores how their reactions, not surprisingly, had a lot to do with the situations in their own countries.

President Obama didn't waste any time diving into the cauldron of Middle East diplomacy. Mr. Obama called several leaders in the region today. The White House says the president made it clear to all that he is committed to pursuing Arab-Israeli peace from the start of his term. That pursuit begins in the aftermath of Israel's 22-day military offensive in Gaza. The Palestinian territory is in ruins right now -- and so are the lives of many Gaza residents. The World's Quil Lawrence has one family's story.

Gaza conflict