Omar Bongo of Gabon

Africa’s longest-serving leader — Omar Bongo of Gabon — died this week. Anchor Marco Werman looks at the leaders who now move up on the list of longest reign over a country. Listen

Hurricanes trigger slow earthquakes

The World’s Science Correspondent David Kohn explains how hurricanes and “slow earthquakes” are related. Listen Find out more here.

Global Hit: Library of Congress recordings

The Library of Congress has chosen twenty-five historic recordings to its collection. Among them are a speech by Winston Churchill and The Who’s My Generation. Anchor Marco Werman finds out more from Matthew Barton, Curator of Recorded Sound at the Library of Congress. Listen

Global Political Cartoons: June 6 to June 12, 2009

This week cartoonists around the world share the excitement and concern as Iranians prepare to go to the polls. They also respond to North Korea’s latest provocations and the rightward results of the European elections.

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Gabon’s Omar Bongo

Africa’s longest-serving leader died this week. Omar Bongo ruled for more than four decades and the small country of Gabon must now figure out how to go on without him. He’s credited with Gabon’s relatively stability and yet tainted by all-too-familiar allegations of corruption and abuse. Listen

Best of the BBC: Inside North Korea

North Korea’s recent nuclear test has received condemnation from around the world. But North Korean residents themselves make of it? Despite the difficulties of investigating inside a closed society like North Korea’s, a Japanese magazine called ‘Rimjingang’ managed to get a glimpse behind the facade, helping a few brave people to film inside North Korea. BBC correspondent Roland Buerk went to Osaka to meet the man behind the project, Jiro Ishimaru.

Entire program – June 11, 2009

Today on The World: What US troops are facing in one of Afghanistan’s most dangerous provinces; Colombia’s plan to protect its water supply; and a conversation with Francis Ford Coppola about his new film … Tetro. Listen

Newly arrived US troops in Afghanistan

The World’s Aaron Schachter speaks with anchor Lisa Mullins from Camp Leatherhead, where a group of US Marines are stationed in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Aaron reports on the delicate balance for US troops — between being sensitive to the local population and keeping safe. Listen

Mysterious rainforest in Mozambique

The BBC’s Jonah Fisher takes us into a rainforest in Mozambique that scientists were unaware of until they picked up evidence of it in a Google Earth search last year. Listen

Innovative Plan to Protect Bogota’s Water Supply

The World’s Marco Werman reports from Bogota, Colombia, on an innovative partnership aimed at protecting the region’s delicate watershed. Listen

Periodic table grows by one

Anchor Lisa Mullins tells us about a new addition to the periodic table of elements. It’s called “ununbium.” Because it decays so quickly, scientists have only seen it four times. Listen

Countdown to Iranian elections

The World’s Laura Lynch reports on the power shift happening in Iran thirty years after the Islamic Revolution. Tomorrow Iranians head to the polls for a hotly contested presidential election. Listen

Geo Quiz and answer for June 11, 2009

The answer to today’s Geo Quiz is the Portuguese island of Madeira. Its most famous son is soccer superstar Ronaldo. He’s just been acquired by the Spanish team Real Madrid for 131 million dollars. Anchor Lisa Mullins gets details from Forbes London bureau chief Parmy Olson. Listen

Show Ender: Francis Ford Coppola

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Francis Ford Coppola about his new film, Tetro. Coppola talks about his personal connection to the screenplay and why he filmed it in Argentina. Anchor Lisa Mullins continues her conversation with Francis Ford Coppola about his new film, Tetro. Listen

Reporter’s Journal: Snapshots of Kenya

The World’s Andrea Crossan is currently on assignment in Kenya. Follow along as she meets President Obama’s step-grandmother, and hears about the problems facing Kenyans today.