Somali insurgents emerge as main suspects in Uganda’s twin bombings

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The World’s Jeb Sharp brings you the latest on the twin bombings in the Ugandan capital Kampala. The double blasts killed some 70 people. The main suspect at this stage is the Somali insurgent group al Shabab. (Photo: Trevor Snapp/AFP/Getty Images) Download MP3

• BBC’s coverage of the Uganda bombing

European countries weigh outlawing the Burqa

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Some Muslim women wear what’s called a burqa. It’s a garment that covers nearly the entire body with holes for the eyes. The burqa doesn’t create much of a stir in conservative Islamic societies. But it is controversial in western Europe. Tomorrow, the lower house of the French parliament is expected to approve a bill that would make it illegal to wear the burqa in public. And several European countries are considering similar legislation. For example, The World’s Gerry Hadden tells us about moves in Spain to ban the burqa. (Photo: Flickr/Steve Evans) Download MP3

Geo Quiz: Running with horned danger

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We’re going to Spain for today’s Geo Quiz. Spain welcomed home its World Cup winning soccer team today. Huge celebrations took place in the streets of Madrid as players showed off their trophy to thousands of fans. Spain’s San Fermin festival is underway in another city than the one we’d like you to name. It’s the capital of Navarra, a region of northern Spain and its narrow cobblestone streets were jammed with thrill seeking runners from bulls. A three minute risky dash ahead of a small herd of bulls charging toward the city’s bullring. So watch your step and name this Spanish city if you can. (Photo: Bill Hillmann) Download MP3

Hindi Zahra’s fuses funk and Jazz, Moroccan style

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To our global hit now, and today we take you to Paris by way of Morocco, or perhaps Morocco by way of Paris. Hindi Zahra’s debut mixes jazz and blues with a generous measure of Moroccan folk music and a few dashes of funk. Reporter Thomas Marzahl caught up with the singer after a concert in Berlin. (Photo: Hassan Hajjaj) Download MP3

Geo Quiz: Running with horned danger

[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download MP3 We’re going to Spain for today’s Geo Quiz. Spain welcomed home its World Cup winning soccer team today. Huge celebrations took place in the streets of Madrid as players showed off their trophy to thousands of fans. Spain’s San Fermin festival is underway in another city [...]

Dirty bomb concerns in South Africa

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with reporter Graeme Hosken in South Africa about five men arrested there for allegedly trying to sell a low-radiation industrial nuclear device. Officials have declined to comment on whether the device could be used to make a so-called “dirty bomb.”

Roman Polanski freed in Switzerland

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Anchor Marco Werman talks with reporter Jeffrey Toobin about the case of director Roman Polanski. Today, Swiss authorities announced that they will not extradite Polanski to the U.S. for the charge of having sex with a thirteen year old girl in 1977.

George Papandreou’s dilemma

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Greece’s Prime Minister faces an enormous challenge to rein in his country’s enormous debt. But to do that, George Papandreou has to rise to another challenge he has to overcome the legacy of corruption widely identified with his father, who was himself a Greek prime minister. Joanna Kakissis reports from Athens.

NY fire department in Haiti

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One program to help Haitians cope with the post-earthquake conditions comes by way of the New York City Fire Department. As the BBC’s Nick Davis reports, the program was designed for Americans, but is helping Haitians.

Visualize the BP Oil spill

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BP is still working to contain the worst oil spill in US history. The British-based energy giant is hoping that a new system will be able to capture almost all of the gushing oil. The spill has fouled coastlines of five states along the Gulf of Mexico. But that fact doesn’t quite convey just how big this thing is. Now, you can see for yourself. The website www.ifitwasmyhome.com superimposes the gulf oil spill over any location in the world.

Geo Answer

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The answer to today’s Geo Quiz is the Spanish city of Pamplona, where the annual Running of the Bulls is under way. One of the participants this year is an American, Bill Hillman. It’s the fifth year he’s run with the bulls.

Globish, and faux Facebook fans

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In this week’s World in Words podcast, the case for and against Globish. A group of writers and artists debate the proposition that a simplified version of English is uniquely equipped to take over the world. Also, health care access for non-English speakers in the United States. Plus, a conversation with Gregory Levey, whose book “Shut Up I’m Talking” has more Facebook fans than Bill Clinton. Download MP3

Music Heard on Air for July 12, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For July 9, 2010. Artists featured are Ensemble FizFuz, Pell Mell, Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Habib Koite & Bamada, Kila, Jesse Cook.

World Books Review: An uneven ‘Storm’

Writers and readers are drawn to natural disasters because they create an urgency that usually makes for compelling reading. But this novel about one of the worst natural disasters in the history of The Netherlands, while it contains wonderful set pieces, is a brilliant idea that never becomes more than that — a brilliant idea.

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• Bill Marx’s Arts Fuse blog

Entire Program: July 9, 2010

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Russia and the US complete their spy swap. Who got the better end of the deal? Also, Japan’s many campaigning parties don catchy names to capture flagging public attention. And why some soccer fans in Spain won’t be cheering on the Spanish team at the World Cup final.