Archive for February, 2010


New Apple app causes stir in Italy

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Anchor Katy Clark tells us about the controversy surrounding a popular new iPhone app in Italy called iMussolini.

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Geo answer

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For today’s Geo Quiz, we’re looking for a Canadian town where severe winter storms can hit unexpectedly. A group of international finance ministers is meeting there this weekend. The answer is Iqaluit, Nunavut. Chris Windeyer reports for the Nunatsiaq News — he tells anchor Katy Clark why it’s been chosen as the site for the meeting.

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Gay Bollywood movie challenges censors

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The new Bollywood film “Don’t Know Why” is scheduled for release in May, but it’s already making waves across the country. The film features the industry’s first gay male kiss. Anchor Katy Clark finds out more from correspondent Harshita Kohli, who’s in Mumbai.

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Music Heard on Air for February 4, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For February 4, 2010. Artists featured are Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Bassekou Kouyate, Ngoni ba, De Vibroluxe, Kila, Praful.

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The Costs of the Winter Olympics and Toyota

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It took seven years of planning, construction, hassle and heartache. Finally, the party is about to begin. Starting February 12th, British Columbia will host the Winter Olympics for 17 days. (And the Paralympics to follow.) Canadian taxpayers are on hook for CDN $6 billion, by some estimates. What did British Columbia get for all that money? Was it all worth it?

Also on this edition of the podcast, news about Toyota and Moscow McDonald’s turns 20. (Photo credit: © VANOC/COVAN)

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Your World, Your Way – BBC users show off video skills

Michael Schmacke’s fast animation through the center of Berlin is art of the BBC World Service MyWorld project. The film is one of many short videos being submitted by World Service users to share the things that matter to them. Michael shot his film with a digital SLR camera – he describes it as “a point of view which only could be developed by the cold war, an abstract building of childish arguments. Just like the film…”


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Entire program – February 3, 2010

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A London university studies whether Muslim students are becoming radicalized while going to school there; also, a bombing near a girls school in Pakistan kills three American soldiers; and Vancouver hopes to experience something called the Olympic “halo effect.”

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Pakistan blast kills American soldiers

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Three US soldiers were among 10 people killed when a bomb blast hit a convoy near a school in north-west Pakistan. Three schoolgirls were among the dead while 70 people were injured in the explosion in Lower Dir. The US embassy said the military personnel had been training Pakistan’s Frontier Corps in counter-insurgency. Marco Werman gets the latest from the BBC’s Mark Dummet in Islamabad. Download MP3 (AP Photo: Sherin Zada)

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Radicalized at a British university?

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The alleged attempt to blow up a US airliner on Christmas Day sent a shock through the security system. Prosecutors say Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (pictured) tried to detonate a bomb sewn into his underwear. Abdulmutallab’s former London university is now launching a review into whether he became radicalized there. The World’s religion editor Jane Little reports. Download MP3


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Olympic Buzz

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The Olympics are just nine days away. It took seven years of planning and preparation to get ready for 17 days in February, then the Paralympics to follow. But people involved with the Games are hoping the Olympic glow will last a lot longer than just a few weeks. Their rosiest projection: A flawless Games will bring in an extra 4 million visitors to British Columbia over the span of two decades. Jason Margolis has more. Download MP3 (Photo credit: © VANOC/COVAN)

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Sydney’s new water factory

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One of the world’s thirstiest major cities is getting a taste of things to come. Starting this winter, residents of Sydney, Australia are getting some of their drinking water from a brand new desalination plant. The plant was built after years of erratic rainfall. Phil Mercer reports from Sydney. Download MP3


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Al Qaeda defectors

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with former 9/11 Commission counsel Michael Jacobson about his study on people who defect from Al Qaeda. Jacobson is now with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.


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Rebuilding Haiti’s job market

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The BBC’s Nick Davis reports from Haiti on efforts to create jobs in the quake-stricken nation. Many say job creation is a key part of Haiti’s recovery from last month’s devastating earthquake.

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The science of a shootout

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It’s a standard feature of old Hollywood westerns. A shootout between a good guy and a bad guy. The bad guy reaches for his gun first. And he loses. But why? It certainly makes a good story, but now there’s some science to back it up – kind of. The World’s Alex Gallafent reports.


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Iran launches research rocket

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Iran announced today that it has launched a research rocket into space. What makes this launch unusual is the passenger list. The rocket is carrying a mouse, two turtles, and about a dozen worms. The announcement of the Iranian launch came two days after President Obama made clear his intention to scrap NASA’s back-to-the-moon program. John Pike is Director of GlobalSecurity.org. That’s a defense information website based in Alexandria, Virginia.

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