2010 June | PRI's The World

Archive for June, 2010

Entire Program – June 30, 2010

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Download MP3A look at the backgrounds – real or not – of the 11 accused Russian spies arrested this week. The Domacratic Republic of Congo marks 50 years of independence from Belgium, but many Congolese have mixed feelings about the country’s progress. And Ukrainian journalists unite against what they say is censorship from the country’s new, pro-Russian government.

Alleged Russian spies in US cities

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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The break-up of the alleged Russian spy ring does not seem to be affecting relations with Russia. Anchor David Baron speaks with Anders Aslund, a senior associate at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, about why top leaders have so far been silent. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) Download MP3

DR Congo: 50 years after independence

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Today, the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrates half a century of independence from Belgium. It hasn’t been an easy 50 years for the central African country, better known today for dictatorship, war, and poverty than its world-class musicians, the 1974 Muhammed Ali /George Foreman Rumble in the Jungle, or its abundant natural resources. In Congo itself, the anniversary has been met with mixed emotions, as Michael Kavanagh reports from Kinshasa, the Congolese capital. (Photo from: flickr.com/babasteve)Download MP3

BBC photos of Congo at 50

Ukrainian journalists protest Soviet-era censorship

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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Ukraine has one of the feistiest, most pluralistic media anywhere in the former Soviet Union. It’s been an enduring achievement of the 2004 Orange Revolution. But journalists there have begun protesting what they say is censorship and political pressure from the country’s new, pro-Russian government. Brigid McCarthy reports from Kiev. (Photo: Brigid McCarthy) Download MP3

Songs about leaving Africa

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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15 musician are featured on the new CD ‘Songs About Leaving Africa.’ Host David Baron speaks to two musicians on the album and the journalist Rose Skelton who compiled the music. Download MP3

Out Here Records

American spies abroad

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Download MP3Host David Baron talks to former CIA field officer and author Robert Baer about what kind of spies the US deploys around the world.

Spy steals identity of Canadian baby

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Download MP3Anchor David Baron tells us about the identity stolen by one of the suspected Russian spies. Donald Heathfield was the name of a Canadian infant who died in 1963. His brother David told the CBC that he was shocked when he found out his name was used by the accused Russian operative.

Russian spies in Boston

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Download MP3The World’s Jason Margolis reports on what people in Cambridge, Massachusetts make of the fact that suspected Russian spies lived and worked in their midst.

Prison overcrowding in the UK

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ 3 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Download MP3In Britain, there’s a new push to empty overcrowded prisons. UK is locking up too many people, has too much prison over-crowding and will announce that fewer offenders will be locked up, more will be rehabilitated, and repeat-offender rates are expected to come down as a result. The World’s Laura Lynch reports from London.

Epiphany on Plato and music

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Download MP3The writings of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato are cryptic, and often end in riddles. Few Plato scholars claim to know precisely what the philosopher himself really thought. But now a professor at Britain’s University of Manchester claims to have cracked a code hidden in Plato’s writings. Jay Kennedy is an expert on Greek mathematics and music theory. He tells host David Barron how he was pouring over his volumes of Plato one day, and he had an epiphany.

The case of Italy’s crucifix

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Download MP3We’re focusing on the region of Italy that includes Venice. That region is named Veneto. This city may not be as beautiful as the city of canals. But it does have some unique claims to fame.One is the local botanical garden. It was created in 1545, and the UN calls it the world’s original botanical garden. It’s listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Then there’s the city’s university where Galileo once lectured. And finally, this is where Shakespeare set his “Taming of the Shrew.” So which city in northern Italy is it?

Geo Answer

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Download MP3For today’s Geoquiz, we’re looking for an Italian city 30 miles west of Venice where a parent’s request to remove the crucifixes from a public school has grown into a 9-year-long legal battle that has reached the halls of Europe’s highest human rights court. The answer is Padua. Anchor David Baron gets the full story from political commentator Sergio Romano, who’s in Milan.

The case of Italy’s crucifix

By The World ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

We’re focusing on the region of Italy that includes Venice. That region is named Veneto. What we want you to do is name a major city some 30 miles west of Venice. This city may not be as beautiful as the city of canals. But it does have some unique claims to fame. One is the local botanical garden. It was created in 1545 and the UN calls it the world’s original botanical garden. It’s listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Then there’s the city’s university where Galileo once lectured. And finally this is where Shakespeare set his “Taming of the Shrew.” So which city in northern Italy is it? We’ll let you know in just a few minutes.

Music Heard for June 30, 2010

By Ann Lopez ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For June 30, 2010. Artists featured are Ensemble FizFuz, Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Habib Koite & Bamada, Kila.

Tech Podcast: Our new monthly tech round-up

By Clark Boyd ⋅ June 30, 2010 ⋅ 4 comments ⋅ Transcript

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While all eyes are trained on South Africa and the soccer World Cup, we should note that Singapore this month played host to RoboCup 2010. That’s only one of the great tech stories you’ll hear about in this, our newly minted monthly round-up of the best in global technology news. We’ll also talk about Wikileaks, the .xxx domain name, the One Laptop Per Child Project, and cyber-security. (Photo: FUmanoids)