The earth stopped shaking in one place this week and erupted in another. Britain is coming to grips with the Parliamentary beauty contest and don't feel bad if you can't pronounce Eyjafjallajokull.

(The Earth doing what it does best)

DOWNLOADS: 1241

PLAYS: 655

Embed

We start off Monday, April 19 with a CBC The World At Six report on the Volcano in Iceland and the disruption of travel. Also reports of abuses in Canadian Health Care (welcome to our country), the potential for a Canadian Mortgage crisis (just like us) and a look at the Gun Rally in Alexandria Virginia.

(What one version of tense looks like)

DOWNLOADS: 817

PLAYS: 247

Embed

To the BBC World Service Global News for April 21. Signs of progress as the ban for air travel throughout Europe is lifted in the wake of the Volcano in Iceland. Also the continuing Thai protests and threatened crackdowns.

(Stranded for days - to some it seemed like the camping trip from hell)

DOWNLOADS: 1206

PLAYS: 36

Embed

BBC 5Live Story of The Day - April 21. As the ban on air travel is lifted completely, the airlines struggle with getting back to normal and the inevitable game of finger pointing starts. Act of God it seems, ain't good enough anymore - it has to be a bureaucrat.

(oh . . .him again)

DOWNLOADS: 1577

PLAYS: 67

Embed

ABC Radio National in Australia's AM Program from April 22 features the ongoing saga of sex abuse in the Catholic Church with Pope Benedict somewhere in the middle. Also news on the Australian Health Care Reform story (yes, them too), and an inquiry into the prison death of a notorious Australian crime figure.

(Wounded British soldiers are getting treated about the same as U.S. wounded soldiers - and they don't like it either)

DOWNLOADS: 1109

PLAYS: 108

Embed

From the BBC Radio 4 Today Program on April 22, the matter of treating wounded soldiers in Britain and how they, like our own wounded troops, are getting ignored by the government.

(Honor killings in India - seemingly the last word you'd use to describe it)

DOWNLOADS: 1232

PLAYS: 185

Embed

From The BBC World Service program Outlook on April 22, a report on the rise in "honor killings" in India, also a report and interview with New York Times Reporter Elizabeth Rubin, who went to Iraq and Afghanistan to cover the war while pregnant.

(By Round 2 the novelty is starting to wear off)

DOWNLOADS: 1237

PLAYS: 102

Embed

BBC World Service Newshour devoted almost the entire broadcast of Friday April 23 to the second of three debates being held in Britain for the office of Prime Minister. The novelty is starting to wear off but it still gets punditry rolling. Also a report on the Wall Street reform talks and President Obama's address and comments by Clay Lowery, former member of The Treasury.

("Isn't that cute, they have their own little language"- U.S. reporter

DOWNLOADS: 952

PLAYS: 917

Embed

And finally, for our friends in Iceland (or those of you ex-pat's who miss the Mother Tongue), from RAS2 in Reykjavik, a sampling of the days news and an observation on the difficulties the outside Press were having pronouncing the name Eyjafjallajokull to baffled listeners around the world (starting at about 7:35 into it).

What a week - and there's always another one starting up shortly.

The world was a busy place this week and at last report, it hasn't stopped.

(Elections in Sudan - at least they could listen to music)

DOWNLOADS: 1337

PLAYS: 99

Embed

From the BBC Africa Service, reports on the elections in Sudan and the growing oppression in Somalia on the parts of Muslim extremists. This week imposing a ban on all music played over the radio.

(China - a disaster made worse by inaccessibility)

DOWNLOADS: 725

PLAYS: 83

Embed

By Mid-week, reports of the earthquake near the Tibetan border grew more grim by the minute. First reported hundreds dead, then 600 dead and, at last count over 800 dead. Rescue work is being hampered by the altitude and thin air but miracles are still happening. Also, from this Global News Report from April 14th, updates on the aftermath of the tragedy in Poland, news on land reform in Zimbabwe and the upcoming British elections.

(Helena Guergis and Rahid Jaffer - gives a whole new spin on the phrase "hot chicks with douchebags")

DOWNLOADS: 708

PLAYS: 421

Embed

From the CBC World News At Six on April 15th, the continuing scandal and resignation of Canadian MP and Cabinet member Helena Guergis and allegations of "improprieties" on behalf of her husband, former MP Rahim Jaffer. Nice to know we aren't the only ones who get mired in sex and drug scandals. Also reports of torture of Afghan prisoners by troops in 2006 as reported by a member of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

(The first time the UK held televised debates . . what hath God wrought?)

DOWNLOADS: 1102

PLAYS: 274

Embed

From the BBC Politics site on April 16th, a capsule version of the previous nights first-ever live televised Debate between candidates for Prime Minister. Now it's the UK's chance to drown in spin, pundits and polls. Various news outlets are reporting the Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg won hands down. Let the beauty contest begin.

(The vice-President in Israel reacting to the sound of wingnuts exploding)

DOWNLOADS: 770

PLAYS: 262

Embed

If you ever thought the shrill shriek of wingnut radio was the exclusive property of the U.S., that we somehow were the only country on the planet bombarded by noise and extremism, I'm here to tell you it just ain't so. Big relief, right? Well, in Israel they have this prevalent radio network called Israel National Radio and, even by their own admission are probably one of the most hard-line right wing propaganda outlets in the middle-east. In comparison, Fox seems almost moderate by comparison. Take for example an excerpt from this April 16th broadcast of A Light Unto The Nation which features interviews with Daniel Pipes and Dr. Mike Cohen. They despise Joe Biden and pretty much hate Obama. Sounds familiar, no? They don't however, say anything about being "fair and balanced" - that's a relief.

And so went the world this week, continuing its inevitable spin. We survived so far.