Tech Podcast: A Nobel for the Internet?

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The Internet, the late Senator Ted Stevens famously quipped, is “just a series of tubes.” Well, now this set of fat data pipes has its very own nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. Will it win? We’ll talk about the chances on this month’s podcast round-up of great global technology stories.

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Resorting to prostitution in Haiti

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The World’s Amy Bracken speaks with a number of women in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, who say that in the aftermath of the earthquake, they’ve been forced to resort to a job they never imagined doing — prostitution.

Archbishop Tutu retires

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South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu is stepping down from public life today. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with the daughter of the man described as “the conscience of South Africa” about what her famous father will do now.

Mario Vargas Llosa wins Nobel

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Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa has won this year’s Nobel Prize for Literature. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Amherst College professor of Latin American and Latino culture, Ilan Stavans about Vargas Llosa’s life and work. Download MP3

Big Brother could be next door neighbor

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Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Tony Morgan, director of Internet Eyes, a British company that uses members of the public to monitor surveillance camera footage from public places. He says the purpose is to deter crime.

• Internet Eyes

Lost Vivaldi concerto found

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You’ll never guess where some long lost music by one of the world’s best-known composers just turned up? That’s the question in the Geo Quiz. Download MP3

Garotas Suecas

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You may recall the New York-based band Brazilian Girls. It’s a rocking little ensemble, but somewhat misnamed: there are no girls from Brazil in it. Well along comes a band from Brazil called Garotas Suecas. That means Swedish Girls, but, again, no girls from Sweden in that band. Like Brazilian Girls, the misnomer doesn’t matter. The music is still great. The World’s Marco Werman has more. Download MP3

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Music Heard on Air for October 7, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For October 7, 2010. Artists featured are Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Kila, Jonthan Richman and The Modern Lovers, Etran Finatawa, Jamal Porto, Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck.

Entire program – October 6, 2010

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Today on The World: the battle for Afghanistan’s future as seen from Kandahar; also, what Brazilians make of the American obsession with acai berries; Plus, how a nine-year-old Palestinian boy from Gaza City found a respite from conflict in music.

The war in Afghanistan, nine years on

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In October 2001, the US military began its operations in Afghanistan – nine years later, there are more US troops in Afghanistan than ever. And yet the situation on the ground remains extremely difficult. Parts of the country remain under the sway of the Taliban, especially in the south and east. The country’s second-largest city, Kandahar, remains a hotbed of Taliban support. Lisa Mullins talks with The World’s Ben Gilbert in Kandahar. (Photo: Ben Gilbert) Download MP3
>>>Ben Gilbert’s coverage on The World

Palestinian boy’s gift for music

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Nine-year-old Mahmoud Kohail lives in Gaza City. Like many children who lived through the conflict with Israel, he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder – but not when he plays his instrument. In the Global Hit Mahmoud guides The World’s Matthew Bell through his music school in Gaza. (Photo: Matthew Bell) Download MP3
>>>Video: watch Mahmoud play the qanoon

Acai no panacea in Brazil

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The Amazonian berry known as açaí is rapidly gaining popularity in the United States. Proponents tout its unsubstantiated health benefits. But the berry has a very different reputation back in Brazil. Reporter Kelley Weiss reports. Download MP3

Rene Redzepi’s Nordic cuisine

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Lisa Mullins speaks with two Michelin star chef Rene Redzepi about his new cookbook of Nordic cuisine. Redzepi runs the award-winning restaurant NOMA in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2010, it was ranked as the Best Restaurant in the World. Download MP3
>>See photos of Chef Redzepi’s dishes

Director Hammad Khan’s Slackistan

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Lisa Mullins talks with Hammad Khan, director of a new film called “Slackistan”. The film depicts a group of westernised twenty-something friends drifting aimlessly around Islamabad. Download MP3
>> Watch the trailer to Slackistan

Iraqis still want US help in Anbar

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Correspondent Susannah George visits Iraq’s Anbar Province, once the most dangerous place for US troops in Iraq. Today, US forces are getting ready to withdraw, and Iraqi forces are in charge of security in Anbar. But some Iraqis there don’t want the Americans to leave.