Entire program – July 13, 2009

Today on The World: Casualties are up in Afghanistan, as the US troop escalation hits full swing; Colombian guerillas cross into Venezuela looking for new hostages for ransom; And why an effort to mobilize young voters through the Internet violates Japan’s election law. >>>Listen to the show

Rising casualties with rising troop levels

President Obama’s surge of troops into Afghanistan is in full swing, and casualties among US and international forces are on the rise. Anchor Jeb Sharp gets the latest from the BBC’s Martin Patience in Kabul. Listen

Keeping secrets from Congress

This weekend, the New York Times broke the story that the Bush administration had a secret counter-terrorism program started after the 9/11 attacks and that Vice President Cheney directed the CIA to keep it from Congress. The World’s Jason Margolis reports on the legal ramifications. Listen

Somalia conflict leaks over the border

Correspondent Heba Aly has the story of a young man from central Kenya who went to fight with the insurgents in Somalia. He’s believed to have blown himself up in a suicide bombing. Now his family and friends worry that other young men from his village will follow his path. Listen

Read more and view pictures

Add to the five-foot shelf

One hundred years ago, Harvard President Charles Eliot declared that all the books you need for a complete liberal arts education could fit on a five-foot shelf. Last week, we asked listeners to come up with some updates. Anchor Jeb Sharp reads a couple of the suggestions. We’ll reveal more on Friday. Listen

Join the discussion: Which books would you like to see on the Five Foot Shelf?

Kidnappers cross into Venezuela

Kidnappings in Colombia are down. But the kidnappers are still busy. Colombian guerrillas and criminal gangs are now crossing the border into Venezuela to find new victims for ransom. John Otis reports from San Cristobal, Venezuela. Listen

Honduras standoff

Honduras’ interim president said talks may begin Saturday to address the political crisis enveloping the country since the military deposed the country’s sitting president two weeks ago. Anchor Jeb Sharp gets the latest from Jennifer McCoy, director of the Americas Program at the Carter Center in Atlanta. Listen

Going grassroots in Japan

Inspired by the grassroots Obama campaign, a Japanese student tried to start an online group to mobilize young Japanese voters. But he discovered that his online effort violates the country’s 50-year-old election law. Akiko Fujita reports. Listen

Ethnic identity in China

The fighting between minority Uighurs and the majority Han Chinese last week has revealed a crack in China’s self-perception as a unified country of one people. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports. Listen

Unrest in western China

North Korean leader reportedly has cancer

Reports that North Korea’s leader has pancreatic cancer are unconfirmed, but they’re fueling speculation about who will next rule the reclusive communist dictatorship. Listen

Geo Quiz

Our daily geography puzzler. Listen

Geo answer

For our GEO QUIZ today we’re looking for the STANS — seven countries that end with the suffix “stan.” The answers are…Afghanistan; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Pakistan; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; and Uzbekistan. Anchor Jeb Sharp tells us about an EIGHTH “stan” that can’t be found on a map. It’s an idealized world created by Lebanese businessman Michel Eleftriades. [...]

Global Hit: Blick Bassy

Musician Blick Bassy is a member of the nomadic Bassa community in the African country of Cameroon. He now lives in Paris, but he hasn’t forgotten his roots. The World’s Emma Kwesiga Lydersen has this profile. Listen