American aid for Pakistan

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The United States is stepping up its assistance to flood-ravaged Pakistan. US military choppers were already helping relief supply deliveries but the US is now increasing the resources devoted to the operation. The floods in Pakistan have been massive. More than a thousand people have been killed and millions have been displaced. US Army Major Dan Rice flies a Blackhawk helicopter. He arrived in Pakistan 2 days ago to help with flood relief. Jeb Sharp talks with him. (Photo: US Army) Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• BBC picture gallery: Pakistan’s flood crisis
• US Army photostream on flickr
• On The World: extreme weather in Europe and Asia

Einstein@Home makes discovery

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An international astronomy project, which uses the computing power of 250,000 home computers, has made its first discovery. The Einstein@Home project has found a rare type of pulsar — a dense star that emits pulses of radiation. The World’s science reporter Rhitu Chatterjee has the story.(Image: B. Knispel, Albert Einstein Institute) David Baron contributed to this report. Download MP3

• Add your questions and comments to The World’s Science Forum
• Einstein@Home
• Explainer: The Einstein@Home Search forBinary Pulsars (PDF)
• Black Carbon and climate change
• Cloned cows spark food fears in Europe

Transforming roadkill into sporrans

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A woman in the Scottish Highlands is using roadkill to make sporrans. The traditional pouch worn on a leather strap or chain with a kilt can be made of many materials such as seal, fox, deer and even duck as Kate MacPherson knows well. Jeb Sharp speaks with her. (Photo courtesy of Kate MacPherson) Download MP3

• Kate Macpherson’s Wild Sporrans on Facebook
• Kate Macpherson’s Sporrans website

African rebel group’s abuse of children

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Hundreds of children are being abducted and forced to serve as fighters for the shadowy Lord’s Resistance Army in Central Africa. Anneke Van Woudenberg, a senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, tells anchor Jeb Sharp how the children are used to spread terror.
Contains graphic descriptions of violence

Iraqi forces need more time

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Iraq’s top army officer says the plan to withdraw US troops by the end of next year is premature. He says the Iraqi military may need another 10 years before it’s ready to take control of the country. The World’s Katy Clark reports.

US permanent base strategy

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Washington has had a strategy of maintaining permanent military bases in outposts around the world since the Korean War. Anchor Jeb Sharp speaks with Bruce Cumings, author of “The Korean War: A History.”

Costa Rica’s same-sex union debate

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A court in Costa Rica has blocked a referendum on same-sex civil unions. It said the issue should be decided by legislators. Anchor Jeb Sharp speaks with Montserrat Sagot, of the University of Costa Rica, about the Central American nation’s debate over civil unions and gay marriage.

Beijing building gets facelift

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In Beijing, an iconic new building designed by architect Rem Koolhaas was much touted by Chinese officials in the lead up to the 2008 Olympics. The building suffered major fire damage last year, and now it’s under reconstruction. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports that this time, no one involved with the project wants to talk about it. (Photo: Mary Kay Magistad)

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography puzzler.

Geo Answer

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The answer to today’s Geo Quiz is the Chinese city of Shijiazhuang, where the China Girls Math Olympiad is taking place. Anchor Jeb Sharp speaks with Lynnelle Ye one of eight teenagers on the US girls math team who are competing against teams from countries including Russia, China and Australia.

• Geo Quiz Archive

Afro rock

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For today’s Global Hit – a celebration of Nigerian Afro-rock from the 1970′s. Anchor Jeb Sharp speaks with Uchenna Ikonne, who wrote the liner notes for a 2-CD set called “The World Ends: Afro Rock and Psychedelia in 1970s Nigeria.”

• Soundway Records
• With Comb and Razor
• Global Hit on Facebook

Music Heard on Air for August 12, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For August 12, 2010. Artists featured are Bela Fleck, Baka Beyond, Moriba Koita, Elcados.

China Girls Math Olympiad

Today we’re looking for a big industrial city in North China. It’s the capital of Hebei Province, about 170 miles south of Beijing. It’s where an international meet called the “China Girls Math Olympiad” is taking place. Sounds like fun right? So where in China are we?

Entire program

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Today on The World: Concern over reports that former insurgents in Iraq may be taking up arms again; Also, scientists zero in on a big source of carbon in the atmosphere — open-air wood-stoves in the developing world. Plus, Germany’s tradition of recycling grave plots.

Stabilizing Afghanistan

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The World’s Ben Gilbert has been embedded with the 82nd airborne division in Afghanistan. The division has been at the front lines of the battle against the Taliban north of Kandahar. Today, Ben reports on attempts by the Americans to bring order to areas that had lacked stability. (Photo: Ben Gilbert) Download MP3

Ben Gilbert on The World:
• Slideshow: the 82nd Airborne in Arghandab
• Audio report: Kandahar supply lines
• Audio report: US strategy in Afghanistan