Obama on climate change

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with The World’s Environment Editor, Peter Thomson, about the place of climate change legislation on President Obama’s agenda.

Etelvina Maldonado

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In the past 24 hours, we’ve heard of the passing of historian Howard Zinn, and novelist J.D. Salinger. Both men well-known here in the US — but both also had great influence on how people outside this country view America. For our Global Hit today, we want to tell you about a woman who died this week, unknown to many here in the U.S. Etelvina Maldonado was 75. Even in her home of Colombia, Etelvina Maldonado was not a household name.

‘I was expelled from Afghanistan’

Our senior producer in London heard this BBC Radio 4 interview by Fergal Keane from his ‘Taking a Stand’ series. Keane talks to Michael Semple (pictured), whose ideas while working in Afghanistan, including reintegrating moderate Taliban into society, saw him expelled in 2007 by President Karzai’s government.

• Michael Semple on BBC’s “Taking a Stand”
• The World: Our interview with Semple in October, 2009

Music Heard on Air for January 28, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports for January 28, 2010. Artists featured are Calamus, Kila, Luis Bacalov, Milan Kovacev, Etran Finatawa, Moriba Koita.

Taliban insurgency

Afghan forces will begin taking control of security in some of the country’s provinces by the end of 2010, a key summit on its future has pledged. In a statement at the end of the one-day meeting in London, delegates said the process would be complete within five years. In December, President Obama announced he was sending an additional 30,000 troops to help battle the Taliban insurgency.

Entire program – January 27, 2010

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Today on The World: Counter-terrorism experts chime in on what President Obama might say in his State of the Union address tonight, the stock market reacts to Toyota’s recall troubles, and the international community grows more concerned about instability in Yemen.

The state of national security

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President Barack Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address tonight before Congress. The economy and healthcare reform are sure to be high on the President’s agenda. But he will also likely focus on counter terrorism measures. The World’s Jason Margolis tells us what the President might say, and what some counter terrorism experts say he should say. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Map of the President’s first year travels
• On The World: Obama gets mixed reviews in Ghana

How best to help Haiti

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The earthquake in Haiti happened more than two weeks ago. Yet aid organizations continue to struggle with basic questions there. Americans who want to help have been urged to give money but we’ve also heard of some organizations collecting things like tents or food. So, should you donate items, or is money still the best way to go? David Case is an editor with the online news website Global Post.Download MP3

• BBC Haiti coverage
• Case’s article “Help with money – not stuff”

Britain’s inquiry into the Iraq war

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The UK government’s former top lawyer has said he initially believed a second UN resolution was necessary to justify invading Iraq in 2003, but changed his mind a month before the war. Critics of the war have long suspected that former Attorney General Peter Goldsmith was pressured to change his mind by then Prime Minister Tony Blair (pictured). Blair is expected to testify before the inquiry on Friday. Laura Lynch reports. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Timeline: Tony Blair on Iraqi WMD
• Tony Blair’s closest aide defends choices on Iraq

Trouble at Toyota

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Toyota stocks took a big hit today, after the company announced it’s suspending US sales and production of eight popular models. Millions of Toyota vehicles already out there have also been recalled. The cars are being sent back to the shop to repair potentially defective gas pedals. Marco Werman talks with Leo Lewis, the Asia business correspondent for the Times of London. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Info on the recall from Toyota
• Carmakers in crisis

Real runners do it barefoot

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A new study finds that people who run barefoot move very differently from people who run in modern athletic shoes. The research, conducted in the U.S. and Kenya, found that shoeless runners land on the front or middle of the foot, whereas shod runners land on the heel, therefore increasing the odds of athletic injuries. Keith Seinfeld of station KPLU will have the story later today. (Photo: Harvard University) Download MP3

• Harvard University: Running Barefoot
• Videos: Running barefoot vs. running with shoes

America’s third war

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with The World’s Jeb Sharp about an important component of President Obama’s counterterrorism strategy: the controversial drone war over Pakistan.Download MP3

• American drones in Pakistan (Jun 18, 2009)
• The debate over drones (May 27, 2009)

The skier from Kenya

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with cross-country skier Philip Boit, the only athlete to represent Kenya at the Winter Olympic Games.

Geo Quiz

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Where will our Geo Quiz take us today?

Is Yemen in trouble?

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Yemen is the subject of a high-level international conference in London today. There are fears the Arab nation could become a failed state and a haven for al-Qaeda. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with the Middle East editor of London’s Guardian newpaper, Ian Black.