Entire program – October 13, 2009

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Today on The World: The US and Russia talk about cooperating on a number of fronts; Also a custody battle highlights legal differences between the US and Japan; And we follow Colombian soldiers as they track rebels in the jungle.

Clinton in Russia for talks

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow today. At a joint news conference, the two said that there has been considerable progress in talks on a new treaty to reduce their nuclear arsenals. Both sides say they want to avert the risks of missile proliferation. Later today, The World’s Matthew Bell will take a closer look at the talks. Download MP3 Photo: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images.

• Scaling back on nuclear weapons (Sept. 2009)
• US and Russia make nuclear pledge (July 2009)
• Q&A on nuclear disarmament (July 2009)

Guineans in New York City look toward home

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The violence that has rocked the West African nation of Guinea in the past weeks has left many Guineans living outside the country anxious about their friends and families back home. Mamadou Sidy Barry (pictured) lives and works in New York City. He’s trying to organize opposition to Guinea’s military rulers. The World’s Alex Gallafent takes the pulse of Guineans in New York. Download MP3 Photo: Alex Gallafent.

• Massacre in Guinea (Oct. 8, 2009)
• Timeline: Guinea
• Country profile: Guinea

US Coca-Cola and Mexican Coca-Cola

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We’re not going to take sides in the eternal competition between Coke and Pepsi. Nor are we about to re-ignite the bottle-versus-the-can debate or revisit the New Coke versus Coke Classic controversy. But we ARE going to venture into a story every bit as volatile. This one pits Coke that’s made and bottled in Mexico against Coke from the USA. Rob Walker, who writes the “Consumed” column for The New York Times, came down on the side of Mexican coke this week. Marco Werman (pictured holding Mexican coke (left) and US coke (right) discusses the differences today. Download MP3

• New York Times article
• Facebook: Mexican Coke fan page

Cancer transferred from mother to fetus

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A 28 year-old woman in Japan has helped scientists to answer an important medical question. The woman had cancer and that cancer was transferred to her baby. It’s the first conclusive case that scientist have studied where cancer was passed from pregnant mother to child. Doctor Anthony Ford is with the Institute of Cancer Research. He was on the team of scientists studying his case. We speak with Dr. Ford. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• The Institute of Cancer Research

Defunct place names

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On Monday’s Geo Quiz we wanted to know about geographic names that have disappeared. Here’s an example: Tanganyika. Can you find Tanganyika on the map? It once bordered the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria, but its vanished! Harry Campbell has written a book called “Whatever Happened to Tanganyika?: The Place Names That History Left Behind.” We speak with him. Download MP3

• Which disappearing name would you like to bring back?
• Which place names would you like to see retired?

Russian mob boss laid to rest

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Russian mafia kingpin Vyacheslav Ivankov was buried at a Moscow cemetery today. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with writer Stephen Handelman about Ivankov’s lengthy career in the world of Russian crime.

Russia’s drinking problem

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Jessica Golloher reports that Russian leaders say they’re getting serious about alcohol abuse. But they’re cracking down on beer consumption… not vodka.

US-Japan custody battle

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A custody battle between a Tennessee man and his Japanese ex-wife is highlighting legal differences between the two countries. Japan doesn’t recognize international custody even though the man was granted legal custody by a US court. Reporter Akiko Fujita has the story.

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography puzzler.

Into the jungle with Colombian army

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Correspondent John Otis follows Colombian army commandos on a high-risk mission deep into the jungle, in search of FARC rebels. The army has gained the upper hand in Colombia’s long-running civil war.

Global Hit

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The world of African music is still honoring a man who died 20 years ago this week. Francois Luambo Makiadi — or Franco — was once hailed as the King of Congolese rumba. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Afropop Worldwide’s Banning Eyre, who met Franco in the last years of his life.