German elections

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has outlined plans to form a swift coalition with the Free Democrats after a major win in the general election. Merkel said the result was a great vote of trust, and that a government would be formed by November. Voters were concerned about Germany’s involvement in Afghanistan and the bad economy.

The G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh

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The G-20 Summit was held in Pittsburgh this week. World leaders agreed on far-reaching efforts to revamp the global economic system. They called for tighter regulation over financial institutions, complex financial instruments and executive pay. The World’s Jason Margolis was in Pittsburgh for the summit, and he got to see more than just the inside of the convention center where the meetings took place.

Iran ‘concealed nuclear facility’

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Iran has been accused of concealing a second uranium enrichment plant in defiance of international calls for transparency over its nuclear plans. The US, UK and France demanded UN inspectors be given immediate access to the facility. Iran revealed the existence of the plant to the UN watchdog, saying it was not yet operational and would only be used for nuclear energy. Tehran has previously acknowledged it has one enrichment plant, at Natanz (pictured in AP photo). Katy Clark reports.

• BBC coverage
• Iran’s key nuclear sites
• Background Brief: Nuclear Standoff with Iran

The beer economy

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World leaders are gathered in Pittsburgh, PA this week for the G20 Summit. They are trying to sort out the world’s economic problems – monetary and fiscal policies, capital requirements, and financial regulations. It can be confusing stuff. The World’s Jason Margolis went to Pittsburgh trying to make sense of it by looking at only one product: a bottle of beer. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• FAQ: The G20 Pittsburgh summit
• BBC global recession aftershock
• The World’s Global Economy podcast

Scottish scientists begin earthworm count

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Next week, representatives of most of the world’s countries will gather in Bangkok, Thailand to start negotiating the text of a possible new climate treaty. One item that’s probably not the agenda in Bangkok is the humble earthworm. But in some parts of the world, worms may be a good harbingers of the effects of climate change. To that end, scientists in Scotland have begun an earthworm count. We speak with Roy Neilson of the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) in Dundee. Download MP3

• SCRI Homepage
• BBC: More on the earthworm count
• Dig deeper into the importance of the earthworm

2009 Baseball World Cup

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For today’s Geo Quiz, we’re going in search of the city that’s playing host to the 2009 Baseball World Cup. Sure, baseball is supposedly “America’s Pastime,” but you’ll want to look well beyond the U.S. border to get the answer to today’s quiz. OK, no more clues. Time for you get sleuthing, and for us to go grab some hot dogs. We’ll have the answer for you later today on our show. Download MP3

• More of our Geo Quizzes
• Test your geography skills: Play the Geo-Quiz Challenge

Entire program – September 25, 2009

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Today on The World: Iran reveals a second, secret nuclear power plant, prompting new calls for stronger sanctions; why Canada is the top destination for foreign spies, and how earthworms may play a big role in combating climate change.

Iran reveals a secret nuclear plant

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Iran has revealed it’s developing a second uranium enrichment plant. Until now it’s acknowledged only one. President Obama called on Tehran today to open the facility international inspectors. The World’s Katy Clark has the story.

Reaction to Iran’s second nuclear fuel plant

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Jacqueline Shire, an expert on arms control and proliferation, about revelations that Iran has a secret underground nuclear plant.

Canada as a top spot for spies

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Military secrets, political secrets — and up to 30 Billion dollars worth of research are stolen ever year by foreign spies working in Canada. That’s according to former Canadian intelligence officer Michel Juneau-Katsuya who says Canada is the world’s number one destination for foreign spies. He’s author of the new book, “Nest of Spies: The Startling Truth about Foreign Agents at Work Within Canada’s Borders.” He speaks with anchor Marco Werman.

Colombia’s spy agency scandal

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Colombia intelligence agency, the DAS, has been caught eavesdropping on citizens known to be critics of Colombia’s President Alvaro Uribe. That’s feeding suspicion that the orders came from the top. John Otis reports from the capital Bogota.

Standoff continues in Honduras

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The stand-off in Honduras entered its fifth day today. Deposed president Manuel Zelaya is holed up inside the Brazilian embassy. Anchor Marco Werman speaks one of the people inside the embassy, Andres Conteris of the US-based non-profit group “Nonviolence International.”

What does it have to do with the price of beer?

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The World’s Jason Margolis examines the dynamics that dictate the price of a bottle of beer as a way to explain what’s going on at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh this week.

The G20 gains more clout

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President Obama announced today that the G20 will NOW act as the global forum for economic policy — and not the smaller G8. The decision brings some of the newer, developing economies to the table. Anchor Marco Werman explains.

Earthworms and climate change

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A group of scientists in Scotland is attempting to count the number of EARTHWORMS in the country to learn more about climate change. Anchor Marco Werman gets details from Roy Neilson, one of the lead scientists on the project.