Conflict in Copenhagen

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There was tension today at the Copenhagen climate summit. But it wasn’t a dispute between industrialized countries and developing nations. Developing nations started arguing among themselves Anchor Marco Werman finds out more from the BBC’s environmental correspondent, Richard Black.

Paris heat wave offers lessons on climate change

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In 2003, Europe was hit by a major heat wave. It caused the death of about 1,200 people in Paris. Now the city is trying to learn from that tragedy, as it plans for the kind of extreme temperatures climate change could bring. Reporter Daniel Grossman has the story.

Blame game after Moscow nightclub fire

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Reporter Jessica Golloher reports from Moscow on the fall-out following night club fire last weekend that’s killed 124 people.

Russia’s culture of accountability

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Christian Science Monitor correspondent Fred Weir in Moscow about the Russian culture of accountability.

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography quiz.

Geo answer

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The answer to our Geo Quiz today is Kyoto, Japan, where a seasonal tradition is being celebrated this week at several of the city’s temples. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Nori Akashi and Tomoko Inuishi of the Japan National Tourism Organization in New York about the annual Daikon radish festival in Kyoto.

Fat Freddy’s Drop

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Finally today — an eight-man band from New Zealand is the focus of our Global Hit. It’s called Fat Freddy’s Drop. Corey Takahashi caught up with them in Los Angeles. Download MP3

• Fat Freddy’s Drop homepage
• YouTube Video: The Trailer Incident

Music Heard on Air for December 9, 2009

Tunes Spun On The Word Between our reports for December 9, 2009. Artists featured are Jesse Cook, Kila, Jan Garbarek, Prem Joshua & Chintan, Tinariwen, Sorotoumou, Tor Dietrichson.

Entire program – December 8, 2009

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Today on The World: The top US commander in Afghanistan testified on Capitol Hill today that the Taliban momentum can be reversed; Also, Colombia’s president faces down a scandal where money meant for poor farmers wound up in the pockets of his supporters; and, we meet Israel’s Arab-Israeli diplomat.

General McChrystal in Afghanistan hearing

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The United States will reverse Taliban momentum within a year and accomplish its mission in Afghanistan, but it will be “undeniably difficult” and costly, the top American commander there has said. Appearing in Congress, General Stanley McChrystal warned the mission would fail without more troops and praised President Obama’s decision to deploy 30,000 additional forces. Katy Clark reports. Download MP3 (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

• BBC coverage of the conflict with the Taliban
• President Obama’s Afghanistan strategy
• Background Brief: Taliban insurgency

Assessing India’s green energy promises

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As climate negotiators huddle in Copenhagen, India is promising to reduce its greenhouse emissions with a big boost in green energy. But as Miranda Kennedy reports, there are big question marks as to whether India can deliver. Download MP3 (AP Photo: Rafiq Maqbool)

• Miranda’s report on India’s resisting steep cuts in greenhouse emissions
• BBC coverage of the Copenhagen summit
• Impact of climate change (interactive map)
• Environment coverage on The World

Climate activists get creative

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Activists are already staging creative demonstrations at the climate change summit in Copenhagen. The World’s Marina Giovannelli looks at how different protest groups are vying for a spot on the international stage, and whether or not their efforts will sway the outcome of the negotiations. Download MP3 Photo: ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images

• Website for Climate Justice Action
• Video performance by The Institute for the Art and Practice of Dissent at Home

The voice of North Korea

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Washington’s special North Korea representative, Stephen Bosworth, is in Pyongyang trying to restart stalled denuclearization talks. It’s unlikely that the envoy will meet with reclusive leader Kim Jong-il, as former President Bill Clinton did back in August. But if he does, it is sure to be covered in official North Korean media. And as reporter Jason Strother tells us, there is one anchorwoman whose job it is to report it: Ri Chun-hee. Download MP3 Photo: Reuters

• KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY of DPRK
• BBC country profile

Chile mourns celebrated folksinger Jara

Chilean folksinger and songwriter Victor Jara was reburied in Chile on Saturday – 36 years after his death. Thousands of people joined the procession in Santiago to celebrate the life of this national icon. Jara was an activist and supporter of deposed socialist president Salvadore Allende. He was killed in 1973 following General Pinochet’s coup. His body was exhumed in an effort to piece together the details of his death.

• Click here for the Victor Jara slideshow
• Chile reburies coup victim and singer Jara

Pakistan’s role in US surge in Afghanistan

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As more US troops arrive in Afghanistan, many expect the insurgents to slip across the border to Pakistan. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Shuja Nawaz, Director of the South Asia Center at The Atlantic Council of the United States, about what the US needs from Pakistan and what it can expect.