World Books Review: The Weekend – A Portrait of German Guilt

In this novel, German writer Bernhard Schlink wants to explore the powerful guilt that the German people still feel after World War II, how they are still rightly disturbed by displays of nationalism and religiosity parading under the banners of truth and justice.

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Entire program – February 8, 2011

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Anti-government protesters in Egypt hold their ground; Also, a visit to Kunming , recently selected as “China’s happiest city;” Plus, the Marines pull the plug on a media project that chronicled the deployment of one Marine battalion in Afghanistan. Download MP3

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Reporting the Egypt uprising

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The World’s Alex Gallafent looks at how the news out of Egypt is being presented in the United States. In many case, it’s being packaged using familiar narratives that reflect American values and suspicions. It means that Americans are getting competing interpretations of what’s happening. (Photo: Al Jazeera English) Download MP3
Egypt coverage on The World

Hip-hop for revolution

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The poetic tradition in North Africa has also woven its way into more modern forms of expression. Rappers and hip-hop artists from Algiers to Cairo have been casting critical eyes on governments and dictators for years now. In the wake of unrest across the region, their rhymes have become a kind of soundtrack for revolution. Now, one group of Libyan exiles has assembled some of the best tracks into a compilation. The World’s Clark Boyd reports. Download MP3

Videos: Soundtracks for revolution

Basetrack program canceled

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Lisa Mullins speaks with Teru Kuwayama of Basetrack, a media project following a US Marine battalion’s deployment in Afghanistan. Basetrack’s embedded journalists were unexpectedly asked to leave the battalion. Download MP3

Franco-Egyptian poet Andree Chedid dies in Paris

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The World’s Marco Werman tells us about the poetry and life of the late Andree Chedid, born in Egypt and most recently of Paris, France. Chedid, who won the 1979 Goncourt prize for literature for “Time And The Body,” was born in Cairo of Lebanese Christian descent and moved to Paris in 1946. Her son Louis Chedid is a well-known French singer and grandson Matthieu “M” Chedid is a pop star. Download MP3
Video: Matthieu “M” Chedid performs tribute

Kunming: One of China’s happiest cities

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The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports from China on why the southwestern city of Kunming was recently selected as one of the country’s happiest cities. Download MP3

Protesters hold their ground in Egypt

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Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with correspondent Thanassis Cambanis, who’s in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. He reports that hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters continued to demand President Mubarak’s resignation today, despite a number of government concessions. Download MP3

Lobster safari in Sweden

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For today’s Geo Quiz, we’re searching for an ocean strait between the North Sea and Kattegat Bay. Denmark lies to the south – Norway and Sweden, respectively, to the north and east. Download MP3

Growing unrest in Yemen

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The political opposition in Yemen is growing, and threatening the stability of the country’s long-time leader. But the BBC’s Natalia Antelava tells anchor Lisa Mullins that protesters in Yemen are hampered by a lack of unity, and little access to social media. Download MP3

More at Thanassis Cambanis’s blog

A Marine in Afghanistan

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Monica Campbell reports from Afghanistan on a Marine commanding officer who is about to take over a battalion. Download MP3

Music Heard on Air for February 8, 2011

Tunes spun on The World between our reports for February 8, 2011, after 4pm. Artists featured are: Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Kaya Project, Kerekes Band, Ali Farka Toure, Petrol Bomb Samosa, 2raumwohnung.

Entire program – February 7, 2011

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Protesters in Egypt vow to keep pressing for Mubarak to step down; Also, the racism divide between northern Sudan and the soon-to-be independent South; Plus, how Mandarin threatens Cantonese as the the preferred dialect in Chinatowns in the US. Download MP3

Egypt’s economy feels the strain

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The Egyptian economy is taking a beating, while the anti-government demonstrations continue. But life in Egypt is starting to feel a little more normal, as banks and businesses re-open. But as The World’s Matthew Bell reports from Cairo, many of the protesters are vowing that life in the country won’t really return to normal until President Mubarak leaves. Download MP3
Bloggers in Tahrir Square
Egypt coverage on The World

Israel worried about energy supply

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Israel has been anxiously following events in Egypt, worried about how the unrest could affect the peace treaty between the two countries. But as Daniel Estrin reports, Israelis are now worried about their energy security, too, after an explosion affected natural gas deliveries from Egypt. Download MP3
Ha’aretz coverage