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A Japanese emperor hasn't voluntarily stepped away from the throne in nearly 200 years. In a televised speech, the current Japanese leader, Emperor Akihito, hinted that he may step down. He talked about his failing health and his difficulty in keeping up with his duties. Changing the Japanese law would be a break from tradition, as Japan has the world's longest-running hereditary monarchy: 2,600 years. Listen to hear more about the Japanese monarchy and tradition.
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AIR DATE: 08/08/2016
June 6, 2016
4:04
Obama recently visited Hiroshima, Japan, to honor the memory of all who lost their lives in World War II. The city was the first to be hit with an atomic weapon in 1945. Nagasaki was the second. Obama is the first sitting U.S. President to visit Hiroshima. He did not apologize for using nuclear weapons on Japan during his visit, but paid respect to the victims. Listen to hear more about this historic visit.
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4:59
Jose Mujica, former president of Uruguay, was widely admired for his impressive political accomplishments and humble, down-to-earth style. He lives in a simple home and travels without a limousine. While in office, he reduced poverty to single digits, increased trade and foreign investment, and improved the economics of Uruguay. After five years in office, Mr. Mujica stepped down from his position as Uruguay’s president last spring. Since then he’s been living a quiet life but he plans to be active in Uruguay’s government for years to come. Listen to hear more about this remarkable man and politician.
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4:42
The next U.S. President will be elected in November, 2016. But the race is already packed with candidates. There are more than two dozen major candidates who are seeking the job as president. Running for president is difficult and exhausting, so why would so many people want to run? There are many reasons, both legitimate and delusional. Without an incumbent president, a lot of people think they have a chance to win this election. Some candidates hope to bring attention to their message and some to cash in on their new celebrity. Listen to hear about this race and the reasons so many people are running for President this year.
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