Venezuela’s “socialist” toys

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The Venezuelan government has invested $1.4 million in toys to sell them at a 70% discount at their big “Socialist Toy Fair”. BBC Mundo’s Anahí Aradas checked out the merchandise in Caracas, Marco Werman talks with her. Download MP3

• BBC Mundo story (en español)

Protest minaret in Switzerland

For the Geo Quiz we’re looking for a Swiss city on the shores of Lake Geneva. The owner of a shoe store company there is protesting a recent vote that bans the construction of minarets. Guillaume Morand speaks to anchor Marco Werman about why he had a minaret built at the company’s headquarters. (AP Photo/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron)

• Jane Little on the Swiss minaret ban (Nov 30)
• PBS Newshour: Swiss minaret ban prompts neutrality questions
• Europe’s press says Swiss ban sends wrong signal
• Pomp It Up shoes

Israeli politics

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The World’s Aaron Schachter reports on concerns by right wing groups in Israel that some international aid is going to help left wing groups who are vocal critics of the Israeli government.

Palestinian food gets its own label

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The British government says produce from the West Bank that’s sold in British supermarkets may now be labeled as “Palestinian produce” because the land is not within the internationally recognized boundaries of Israel. That move has prompted an angry outcry from Israeli officials.

Women on Italian TV

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Correspondent Megan Williams reports on a campaign by Italian businesswomen Lorella Zanardo to change the way women are portrayed as sex objects on Italian television programs.

EU pledge to climate fund

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The European Union has pledged 10-and-a-half billion dollars over three years to help developed nations deal with climate change. Now it’s looking to other big polluters — like the US and China — to make a contribution. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports.

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography quiz asks listeners to name the OTHER big city on the banks of Switzerland’s Lake Geneva.

Music Heard on Air for December 11, 2009

Tunes Spun On The Word Between our reports for December 11, 2009. Artists featured are Praful, Jesse Cook, Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Oki Dub Ainu Band, Hassan Erajji, Zelal feat. Cem Yildiz.

Tech Podcast 270: Drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan

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On this week’s podcast, we kick off with an extended version of an interview with Noah Shachtman of Wired.com. Noah’s just back from checking out the drones that are currently flying over Pakistan and Afghanistan, and he’s got a lot of interesting things to talk about. We’ll also take a trip into space to hear about a new NASA telescope, and about Sapporo’s “Space Barley” Beer.

• Download the tech podcast
• Noah’s blog: Danger Room
• Subscribe to the tech podcast on iTunes
• Donate to the tech podcast

Death and denial in Nigeria

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A harrowing report has been filed by Caroline Duffield, the BBC’s correspondent in Lagos, Nigeria. The bodies of young men are literally piling up in a hospital in the town of Enugu, and have been for months, it has been alleged. Nigerian police say the men, many of whom are untraceable, were thiefs and armed robbers. But the family members of some who can be identified are disputing the claims. Download MP3

• Read Caroline Duffield’s online story
• Amnesty International: Nigerian police “kill at will”
• Nigeria’s police say Amnesty brutality claims are unfair

North Korea’s strategic arsenal

North Korea says it will continue to co-operate with the United States on ending its nuclear program and agrees that stalled talks need to resume. The country’s foreign ministry said Pyongyang would work with Washington to “narrow remaining differences”. In June, the UN Security Council voted to impose tougher sanctions on communist North Korea, following a nuclear test carried by the North Koreans in defiance of previous UN resolutions.

Entire program – December 10, 2009

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Today on The World: Obama accepted his Nobel Peace Prize today…he’ll leave Oslo without going through the entire traditional ceremony and that’s leaving some Norwegians a bit miffed, Human rights activists have provided proof that Robert Mugabe used rape to terrorize political opponents during Zimbabwe’s contested presidential election last year, and protests over the construction freeze on West Bank settlements is driving a wedge between the settlers themselves.

President Obama’s peace prize

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President Barack Obama has said the US must uphold moral standards when waging wars that are necessary and justified, as he accepted his Nobel Peace Prize. In his speech in Oslo, he defended the US role in Afghanistan, arguing the use of force could bring lasting peace. Marco Werman talks with political philosopher Michael Walzer about the President’s approach to war and peace. Download MP3 (AP Photo: Susan Walsh)

• BBC coverage
• Jeb Sharp put the President’s award into historical perspective (Oct 9)
• Text of the President’s acceptance speech
• The award ceremony in pictures

Sexual assault in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe

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A new report out today documents Robert Mugabe’s alleged campaign of organized sexual violence against opposition supporters during the 2008 elections in Zimbabwe. The World’s Jeb Sharp reports. Download MP3

• Read the report at AIDS-free World
• Jeb Sharp on rape as a weapon of war (Sep 29)

Underground energy concerns

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To produce cleaner energy, companies and governments are looking to capture carbon emissions, and store them underground. But that’s not necessarily popular with the locals. Later today, The World’s Gerry Hadden will report on a carbon capture project in Germany. Download MP3 (Photo of German carbon capture facility: Gerry Hadden)

• More photos for this story
• Ashley Ahearn on carbon sequestration research in Iceland
• Environment coverage on The World