India helps in Pakistan flood disaster

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This week marks one month since the beginning of Pakistan’s worst floods in decades. Today, the United Nations described the humanitarian situation in the south Asian country as critical. Tens of thousands of Pakistanis are being displaced every day. The US has promised $ 150 million for emergency relief. Even Pakistan’s neighbor, India, will contribute $ 5 million to the aid effort. That donation could have an impact on the historically troubled relations between the two countries. From New Delhi, reporter Elliot Hannon explains. Download MP3

• In pictures: Pakistan flood devastation
• BBC coverage
• US help warms hearts of Pakistan community
• Altered rivers contributed to floods

Neighbors improve relations over quake

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Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island of Hispaniola but the two Caribbean nations have not exactly been good neighbors over the years. However, as The World’s Amy Bracken reports, the January earthquake that devastated parts of Haiti seems to have changed that. (Photo of Haitian and Dominican volunteers: Amy Bracken) Download MP3

• BBC coverage of Haiti earthquake
• Talking Travel podcast: Revisiting Haiti
• Amy’s Haiti reporter’s notebook

Trapped Chilean miners alive

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It was bad enough when tunnel in a Chilean copper and gold mine collapsed 17 days ago and stranded 33 men. It got worse when rescuers tried and failed seven times to drill down to an emergency shelter to try to make contact with the miners. Now, the men were found alive but there’s a catch. It could take months to carve a tunnel big enough for them to get out. Jeb Sharp reports. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• In pictures: Trapped Chilean miners alive

British woman breaks texting record

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How fast can you text “the razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human?” For Melissa Thompson of Manchester, England, the world’s fastest texter, it took a little more than 25 seconds.Anchor Marco Werman has more. (Photo credit: UK Press Association) Download MP3

• Video: See Melissa Thompson texting record
• Woman claims fastest texter in the world title
• Woman breaks text message record

Pétanque cool with French youth

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Italy has Bocce, England has lawn bowling. And the French? They have Pétanque. Players stand inside a circle and toss heavy metal balls down a short field. The image is of old men in berets with a cigarette and a glass of pastis nearby. But in the last couple of years, Pétanque has suddenly become cool among a younger set. Anita Elash has the story. Download MP3

• Pétanque for beginners

Bombings in Pakistan

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Three bomb attacks in Pakistan killed at least 36 people today. Two took place near the Afghan border. The third happened near Peshawar. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with the BBC’s Shaoib Hasan in Islamabad.

Geo Quiz

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The World’s daily geography challenge.

Transgender rights in Egypt

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Daniel Estrin reports on the transgender world in Egypt. It’s a taboo subject in the conservative society, but some in Cairo are trying to change that.

Culture clash in Iraq

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Iraq is wrestling with what kind of a country it wants to be. A new openness has lifted the lid on a world of drugs, prostitution and pornography. But the country also is becoming more religious in some ways. Anchor Marco Werman discusses the culture clash with freelance reporter Jane Arraf in Baghdad.

Geo Answer

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The answer to today’s Geoquiz is the Beijing-Tibet expressway, where a massive traffic jam stretching 60 miles has clogged the roadway for 9 days. The World’s correspondent Mary-Kay Magistad reports.

• Geo Quiz Archive
• Proposed ‘straddling’ bus

Leon Gieco

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Reporter Betto Arcos tells us about the newest album from Argentine folk-rock singer, Leon Gieco. It’s called “Mundo Alas.”

• Leon Gieco’s homepage
• Global Hit archive
• Global Hit on Facebook

Music Heard on Air for August 23, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For August 23, 2010. Artists featured are Habib Koite, Mario Grigorov, Alison Brown, Tor Dietrichson, Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Silina Musango, Nostalgia 77.

Chinese traffic jam

There’s a traffic jam in China that, according to officials, could last a whole month. This traffic jam has already lasted nine days and stretched to over 60 miles. The highway is officially dubbed China’s “National Expressway 110″ but it’s also known by the names of the places at either end of the long road…

• BBC coverage

Entire program – August 20, 2010

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Today on The World: Washington announces the first direct peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians since 2008; Also, Australian voters head to the polls tomorrow. One hot button issue is immigration. And, determining the size of country’s economy by looking at pop music charts.

The happy State of Israel

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Israelis may be skeptical about the new round of peace talks just announced but in general, they’re feeling pretty positive about things. This week, Newsweek ranked Israel as the most liveable country in the Middle East. That distinction came in the magazine’s first-ever index of the world’s best countries. Israel ranked 22 overall, the US, by the way, came in at 11. And another survey put Israelis among the happiest people on earth as well. The World’s Matthew Bell reports from Jerusalem. (Image of Tel Aviv beach: Matthew Bell) Download MP3

• Newsweek Interactive: The world’s best countries