Entire Program – July 2, 2010

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Three aid workers are killed in a suicide bomb attack in northern Afghanistan. Also, a new study focuses on a genetic change that allows Tibetans to thrive at high altitudes. Plus, World Cup matches on TV equal lower productivity in the office.

Petraeus in Afghanistan amidst violence

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General David Petraeus arrived in Afghanistan today, where he is taking over the war effort at a difficult time. There’s been a surge in US and NATO casualties in Afghanistan during the past month. Often, that means an increase in the number of soldiers killed or wounded. Today, the news is of civilian casualties. Suicide bombers staged a pre-dawn attack on a compound housing aid workers in the northern Afghanistan province of Kunduz. Officials say three aid workers were among those killed. Host Katy Clark speaks with Tom Popyk, a freelance journalist in Kabul, Afghanistan.Download MP3 (Photo: STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images)

• BBC coverage of suicide attack

Re-opening tourism in Liberia

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The problem with a good stretch of beach is that once word gets out, the word is out. You have to fight for waves or a patch of sand. That won’t happen for a while in Liberia. The West African nation was torn apart by 14 years of Civil War. The country has been peaceful since UN peacekeepers arrived in 2003. But before Liberia descended into war, the country was a West African travel hotspot: five-star hotels, beautiful beaches, and a rich cultural history. Today, tourism dollars would certainly help that country with its economic recovery. But is Liberia ready to re-open for tourists? The World’s Jason Margolis had a look. Download MP3

• Jason Margolis’ Rebuilding Liberia series
• Photos: Tourism in Liberia

Promise of long life in lush Ecuador valley

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In today’s Geo Quiz, we are looking for a town legendary for its long-lived residents. About one in ten of its inhabitants live to see the ripe old age of 100. The town is in the province of Loja and our Host Katy Clark will speak with Bella English, a reporter from the Boston Globe who just returned from a the town to see what it’s all about. (Photo courtesy of Bella English for The Boston Globe) Download MP3

• See Bella English’s Ecuador photos

Japanese rocker Miyavi turns heads in the US

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Japanese rock or J-Rock has been around for a few decades. But a subgenre of J-Rock called Visual Kei is finding an audience among Americans. Elizabeth Segal reports on one musician, Miyavi, who is winding up a US tour. (Photo: Flickr/xper)Download MP3

• Miyavi on Wikipedia
• Miyavi’s Myspace page

General Petraeus takes command

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Today’s attack came on the day when General David Petraeus arrived in Kabul. Petraeus charged with giving new momentum to the US and NATO war effort in Afghanistan. With preparations for a new offensive in Kandahar already underway, General Petraeus will have to hit the ground running. Host Katy Clarks talk with Retired Major General Bill Nash, who thinks Petraeus is up to the task.

Money woes for Palestinian boycott

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The Palestinian Authority is intensifying a boycott of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Palestinian workers are being asked to quit their jobs in settlements and boycott any goods made in the settlements. But the fund that is supposed to pay for all this is mired in bureaucracy. Linda Gradstein reports from the Jewish settlement of Modi’in Illit.

Net carbon dioxide emissions remain steady around the world, soar in developing countries

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This week, a Dutch research institute published a study that says that for the first time in 18 years, there has been no growth in global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use, cement production and chemicals production. So we should think it’s good news, and thank everyone who worked hard at slowing down their carbon foot print, right? But not really. The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, which published the study, says the emission’s flat-lined in 2009 mostly because of the recession. While those emissions decreased dramatically in Europe and Russia, they soared in China and India.

Ex-husband of alleged Russian spy gets visit from MI5

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This week’s spy saga has now turned into an international investigation with reports that British security services are looking into the activities of Anna Chapman. Chapman used to live in London, it’s where she met Alex Chapman. The couple divorced in 2006. But on Wednesday, an agent from MI5 interviewed Alex Chapman about his former wife. The World’s Laura Lynch reports.

Poles to pick new president after tragic plane crash

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In Poland, voters will decide on a new president on Sunday. The second round of voting will replace Lech Kaczynski who died in a plane crash in April. The campaign has been mostly calm after the tragedy. But as Dave McGuire reports from Warsaw, the run up to the election has exposed a deep division in Poland.

Geo Answer

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For today’s Geoquiz we were looking for a town in Ecuador that claims to have a secret for long life, boasting many residents who live to be over 100 years old. The answer is the town of Vilcabamba in Ecuador’s famed ‘Valley of Longevity” is called . Anchor Katy Clark speaks with Boston Globe reporter Bell English, who visited the town and wrote about her experiences there.

Evolutionary pressures brought swift genetic change in Tibet

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Tibet is known for its mountain peaks and high altitudes. It is also known for its people who can tolerate those high altitudes. It turns out there are real genetic differences between Tibetans and those of us who live closer to sea level. According to a newly published study, those genetic changes occurred over a relatively brief period of evolutionary time. The World’s Science correspondent Rhitu Chatterjee is with us to explain.

World Cup may cost billions in worked productivity around the globe

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Huge surprise at the World Cup today. Tournament favorite Brazil is out after losing to the Netherlands two to one. Millions of people in the US took a break from work to watch that game on TV, just as they did for many of the tournament’s previous 56 games. The American TV market with the highest World Cup ratings is South Florida. That’s where reporter Ruth Morris of station WLRN wondered if all that soccer on TV is affecting productivity.

Turkish, Stalin, and just say non!

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In this week’s World in Words podcast, the newest star of Germany’s national soccer team is an ethnic Turk. His popularity is one of the reasons why Turkish has become just a little more accepted in Germany today. Also, the Georgian government pulls down a statue of Joseph Stalin in his hometown, but people there use the language of extreme denial to describe the town’s most famous son. And a British politician calls French a “useless” language to learn. Download MP3

Music Heard on Air for July 2, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For July 2, 2010. Artists featured are Reggie Msomi’s Hollywood Jazz Band, Oran Etkin, Moriba Koita, Baaba Maal, Mansour Seck, Kerekes Band.