Sex and violence drive political ads in Spain

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The World’s Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona in the Catalan region of Spain, where voters go to the polls on Sunday.While the dominant issue is the economy, campaign ads that use sex and violence are getting all the attention. Download MP3

Dancing boys of Afghanistan

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Ghaith Abdul-Ahad writes for The Guardian newspaper in London. His latest story is about Afghanistan’s “dancing boys” or “bacha bazi.” These boys are mostly between the ages of 14-18, and are hired to dance at private parties. It was an ancient tradition banned by the Taliban. But now it’s back. Older men in northern Afghanistan are hiring out young male dancers to entertain them, and to have sex with them. (Photo: Ghaith Abdul-Ahad) Download MP3

• Read The Guardian article

Denmark pulls ‘promiscuous’ video

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A video promoting tourism in Denmark has been removed from YouTube after complaints it promoted promiscuity. The three-minute clip shows a young blond woman trying to find a man whom she had a one night stand with, who fathered her child “August.”
We hear more about the video, and the controversy, from Danish radio journalist Anders Lindemann.

• Watch the video
• BBC Coverage
• Copenhagen Post editorial

World Books Feature: Summer Reads for the Adventurous

It may be summer, but your brain needn’t go on vacation. My summer list of fiction in translation that demands and repays close attention.