Michael Rass
Amsterdam: The World’s Most Bike-Friendly City?
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Many U.S. cities are trying to get more residents out of cars and on to bikes. But how far could this go? Kathleen Schalch takes us to a place where people are more likely to hop on a bike than to get behind the wheel.
Over the Andes: A new trade route for South America?
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In South America, politicians and corporate leaders have devised a grand plan for an overland trade route to compete with the Panama Canal. The idea is to move goods from the Pacific to the Atlantic along a chain of ports, highways, and riverways. Reporter Melaina Spitzer followed the route from the Ecuadorian port city of Manta.
Ceu
We close our program today with the latest release from Brazilian singer Ceu. Now you may recall Ceu first came on the scene in 2007 with her self titled debut CD. Starbuck’s released it and Apple’s iPhone helped promote it. This time around though the hype has settled a bit — but in a good way.
What’s on your Five Foot Shelf?
One hundred years ago saw the publication of Charles Eliot’s Five Foot Shelf. But what books from the last 100 years, fiction or non-fiction, have now earned a slot alongside them? >>>Join the discussion
Korean mud fest
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For the Geo Quiz, we’re visiting a mud fest. This week, a beach in South Korea is holding its 12th annual mud festival.
Recruiting Somalis in Kenya
Somalia has experienced almost constant conflict since the collapse of its central government in 1991. The long-running instability has created misery for its people. And it’s spilled over into its east African neighbor, Kenya, home to many ethnic Somalis. Heba Aly has the story of one Kenyan community that’s lost one of its young men to the insurgency.
Serbian city
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Our destination is a Serbian city that’s currently hosting one of Europe’s biggest rock festivals. The event is called “Exit” and it draws hundreds of thousands of European rock fans.
Babik
The World’s Carol Hills profiles the jazz quartet, Babik. The group is from Buffalo, New York, but their musical inspiration is from the life of jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.
Unrest in western China
A night-time curfew has been reimposed in the restive western Chinese city of Urumqi, officials have announced. The curfew had been suspended for the last two days after officials said they had the city under control. Mosques in the city were ordered to remain closed on Friday, but at least two opened at the request of crowds of Muslim Uighurs that gathered outside. The government re-imposed a nighttime curfew Friday as well. Listen
Women only pharmacy
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We’re looking for a city in western Canada where a one-of-a-kind pharmacy opened its doors this week. It’s a pharmacy that serves only women. It’s a pharmacy that serves only women. Listen to the interview below to find out why a local women’s health group thought a women-only pharmacy was needed….
Blakk Rasta
President Obama may find himself serenaded by one of Ghana’s hottest musicians during his visit to the country. Blakk Rasta shot to fame last year with his song called – you guessed it – “Barack Obama”.
Moon artist
It’s been almost 40 years since a human first walked on the moon. Neil Armstrong made that giant leap for mankind in July 1969. 11 other men walked on the lunar surface between 1969-1972. Of that intrepid dozen, only one is an artist. Lisa Mullins talked with Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean.
Oumou Sangare
Today’s Global Hit shines a spotlight on Malian singer Oumou Sangare, currently on a North American tour promoting her latest album, ‘Seya’. Anchor Lisa Mullins explains that Sangare is a superstar back home and a champion of women’s rights.
Chris Merrill’s summer reading recommendations
It’s summer, so we’ve asked The World’s book critic Chris Merril for some good beach reads – or for those of us in parts of the country that are totally water logged, good rainy day reads. Chris never fails to connect us with good books from all over the globe – read his recommendations here.
Australian town: No bottled water, please!
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A small town in Australia is at the center of the Geo-Quiz this time. This picturesque town west of Sydney has voted to ban bottled water. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with environmental campaigner Jon Dee.
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