Soft food and obesity

A Harvard anthropologist says soft food is sabotaging the battle against obesity. He argues that the modern diet is too over-processed and spongy. Anchor Marco Werman gets the story from The World’s science correspondent David Kohn. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download mp3

Iranian cleric issues threat to protesters

Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Borzou Daragahi of the Los Angeles Times about the latest developments in Iran. A leading Iranian cleric today said opposition protesters were waging war against God and called on authorities to deal “severely and ruthlessly” with the leaders of the protests. Listen

Progress in Pakistan

The BBC’s Orla Guerin reports that a police crackdown in Pakistan’s Punjab province is getting results. Several Taliban cells have been broken up and two potential bombers arrested. Listen

Afghan star

The World’s Ken Bader previews the film “Afghan Star.” It’s a documentary about the hit TV show that’s Afghanistan’s version of “American Idol.” Listen

Geo Quiz Answer

For our Geo Quiz, quiz, we’re looking for a rocky archipelago off Norway’s northwest coast. The answer is Lofoten, where marine biologist Hieke Vester studies and records communication among marine mammals. The World’s David Leveille has the story. Listen

Global Hit

Anchor Marco Werman treats us to a Japanese remix of some Michael Jackson hits. Listen

Reporter’s Journal: Snapshots of Kenya, IV

The World Health Organization reported today that the H1N1 swine flu virus has now sickened just shy of 60,000 people. That’s the number of confirmed cases worldwide. Of those, just five are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fears Africa could be hit hard by the pandemic. The CDC watches for new diseases in Africa, and it’s keeping a close eye on the continent’s crowded slums. The World’s Andrea Crossan reports from Nairobi, Kenya.

Music Heard on Air: June 26, 2009

A list of all the music featured in between our reports from June 25, 2009

This week on the World Science Podcast, and in the World Science Forum

Harvard anthropologist Richard Wrangham argues that cooking is the key technology that allowed us to become human. He’s spent decades doing research on primates in Africa, and he says cooking gave us access to a wider range of foods, helped our brains grow, and – because we no longer had to eat berries and leaves for six hours a day — gave us leisure time to develop tools and technologies.

Remembering Michael Jackson around the world

Tributes from stars and fans have been pouring in for singer Michael Jackson, who has died aged 50 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home. The BBC has received a flood of comments on Michael Jackson’s death from around the world.

World Books Review: The Old Maid’s Tale

All great anti-utopian novels focus on a disturbing aspect of the present, pushing it to its most horrific conclusions. In “1984,” it’s the panoptic police state. In “Brave New World,” the sexualization and Americanization of England. In “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the subjugation of women through the sanctification of childbirth. In Ninni Holmqvist’s “The Unit,” the issue in question is the way the childless, especially the childless elderly, are looked down upon as irrelevant.

Global Political Cartoons: June 20 to June 26, 2009

Cartoonists note the sudden death of pop star Michael Jackson with images both respectful and, well, irreverent. Iranian mullahs define theocracy. The fly on President Obama’s arm gets a name. And even in death, Ed McMahon tries to find a new sidekick.

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Music Heard on Air for June 25, 2009

A list of muisc played between reports for June 25, 2009

Entire program – June 25, 2009

Today on The World: Why many Americans are joining up to fight in Afghanistan — it’s the economy; Why Italy’s teflon Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi may not escape his latest controversy; and how Germany’s aggressive campaign to cut carbon emissions is proving good for the economy. Listen

Reducing civilian deaths in Afghanistan

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with The World’s Aaron Schachter about expected new guidelines for US troops in Afghanistan. They’re aimed at reducing the number of Afghan civilians’ casualties. Listen