The Presidential Politics of Ignoring Climate Change

One issue has been nowhere on the radar during the Republican presidential primaries: addressing global climate change.

Egypt: Election Day Campaigning in Maadi

It’s election day in Egypt. Here is an example of some campaigning in Maadi … a taxi loudspeaker in trunk.

DR Congo Poll Amid Delays and Violence

The Democratic Republic of Congo election has been marred by violence and logistical problems. It is the second election since the end of wars in which four million died.

A New Somoza in Nicaragua

Alvaro Somoza fled Nicaragua just before the Sandinista Revolution toppled his family’s long-ruling regime. He returned some years later, and is now considering entering politics.

Despite Nobel Prize, Sirleaf’s Re-Election Not Guaranteed

Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was named a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, but it’s no guarantee that she’ll win re-election on Tuesday.

Corruption-Tainted Blatter Re-elected As FIFA President

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Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with The World’s William Troop about today’s presidential election of FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, which is in the midst of a corruption scandal. Download MP3

Language-learning in Europe, and free speech in Tunisia

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In this week’s World in Words podcast: The French government is proposing that children start learning English at age three. Good idea, say some French intellectuals, but why English? In Ireland, the incoming government wants to end mandatory Irish learning in schools. And Anglo-Middle Eastern singer Natacha Atlas is singing about free speech in Egypt and beyond. Download MP3

Blaming China

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There was a lot of finger pointing at China in the Congressional campaigns but once candidates take the oath of office and actually have to govern, will the China bashing ease up? The World’s Jason Margolis has more. Download MP3 (Photo: asterix611/Flickr)
More midterm election coverage by Jason Margolis

China, jobs, and the midterm election

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The focus of the election campaign has been the domestic economy. You can search far and wide through the political ads for a reference to any country besides our own. Few candidates, for example, are talking about Afghanistan or Iraq. If there’s one country that actually is on the political radar, it’s China. That’s because China’s economic policies affect the number one issue of this political season: unemployment. The World’s Jason Margolis visited New Hampshire to find out what the people and politicians are saying about jobs and China. Download MP3

Iraq still looking for new government

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Six months after nationwide elections, Iraq is still without a new government. Ayad Allawi’s Iraqiya List and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Malikis ‘State of Law’ coalition got the most votes in the election last March, but neither has been able to gather enough support to form a government. The political impasse continues as American presence in Iraq decreases and frustration on the Iraqi street grows. Susannah George has more from Baghdad. (Photo: Omar Chatriwala/Al Jazeera) Download MP3

• BBC: The struggle for Iraq
• Washington pushes power-sharing for Iraq

Kenya film Togetherness Supreme

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Kenyans went to the polls Wednesday to vote on a draft constitution. The new constitution was introduced in the wake of violence which followed the disputed elections in 2007. One of the flashpoints for the violence in 2007 was the massive shantytown of Kibera. Now a new film tells the story of the post-election violence through the eyes of those who witnessed it. The World’s Andrea Crossan has the story. Download MP3

Andrea Crossan’s report was funded in part by a fellowship from the International Reporting Project.

• Watch the trailer
• More on Togetherness Supreme
• The International Reporting Project

Kandahar trauma unit

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Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned that casualties will increase as the US led NATO force in Afghanistan conducts a major offensive in the southern province of Kandahar this summer and fall. June has been the deadliest month for international forces since the war in Afghanistan began in 2001. Nowhere is the violence more apparent than at the trauma ward at Kandahar Airfield.  Ben Gilbert reports. Download MP3 (flickr image of Spin Boldak medevac: lafrancevi)

• The surge in Afghanistan
• BBC coverage

US Afghanistan commander fired

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The top US military commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has been dismissed by President Barack Obama after he criticized leading administration officials. He had earlier agreed with Mr Obama that his statements in Rolling Stone magazine showed “poor judgement”. News that General McChrystal was standing down came after he met Mr Obama at the White House. He will be succeeded by General David Petraeus, US officials say. Jeb Sharp talks with Scott Wilson, White House Reporter for the Washington Post. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• McChrystal summoned over article
• Rolling Stone: “The Runaway General”

Meeting with Afghan village elders

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On Friday Ben Gilbert reported from Afghanistan about an attack on an American and Afghan army patrol in the Paktia province. That’s near Afghanistan’s eastern border with Pakistan, where the Taliban and their allies are strong. Now, Ben Gilbert accompanied the unit to talks with elders from the village where the patrol was attacked. Download MP3 (photo: Ben Gilbert)

• Ben Gilbert’s photos from Afghanistan
• At War blog of the NY Times
• Ben Gilbert’s story on Friday

The war in Afghanistan

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The American military death toll in Afghanistan has reached 1,000 and the number of US troops in Afghanistan has now surpassed the total in Iraq. The grim milestone comes midway between President Obama’s decision last December to send 30,000 more American troops to Afghanistan and a progress report on the war that he has promised by the end of the year. Reporter Ben Gilbert is embedded with an Army unit currently deployed in Eastern Afghanistan. Download MP3 (photo: Ben Gilbert)

• Ben Gilbert’s photos from Afghanistan
• At War blog of the NY Times
• Ben Gilbert on joint patrols in Iraq (March)