2011 January | PRI's The World - Part 3

Archive for January, 2011

Plastic cups spoil India’s tea time

By The World ⋅ January 27, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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The BBC’s Judy Swallow reports from Kolkata, India, where tea is served by street vendors in disposable clay cups. It turns out those cups are more environmentally friendly than the plastic ones you get from vendors elsewhere in India. Download MP3

The David Wax Museum

By The World ⋅ January 27, 2011 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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Jawbone is your first clue for today’s Geo Quiz. Not just any jawbone, but a donkey’s jawbone. It’s known in Spanish as quijada or carrichacha. It’s actually a traditional percussion instrument.

The donkey jawbone is usually associated with South American or Latin rhythms. We know of at least 3 countries where this instrument shows up. Geo Quiz: Can you name one or all of them? Download MP3

Journalist beaten in Egypt

By The World ⋅ January 27, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Jack Shenker, a reporter for The Guardian newspaper, was beaten and arrested alongside protestors in Egypt last night. He recorded the experience as he was driven in the dark through the city of Cairo. Download MP3

Listen to the longer version of Shenker’s recording

Protests break out in Yemen

By The World ⋅ January 27, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Yemen, inspired by the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Hakim Almasmari, Editor in Chief of the Yemen Post, tells anchor Marco Werman that the country’s government is corrupt and incompetent, but not on the verge of collapse. Download MP3

US response to Yemen protests

By The World ⋅ January 27, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Washington is walking a fine line when it comes to the responding to the anti-government protests in Yemen, says Bernard Haykel, a professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. Haykel speaks with anchor Marco Werman. Download MP3

A soldier’s misplaced proposal

By The World ⋅ January 27, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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The hunt is on for a soldier, thought to be serving in Afghanistan, who phoned home and proposed to his girlfriend. But he apparently dialled the wrong number, leaving a message on the phone of a woman he didn’t know. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Diane Potts in Gateshead, England, who received the message. Download MP3

Tech Podcast: Social networks past, present and future

By Clark Boyd ⋅ January 27, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Ah, a good old-fashioned wedding, organized entirely via Facebook and Twitter. In a special BBC series, we’ll take a look at “The Secret History of Social Networking.” We’ll find out how social networks got started, and where they might be headed. Download MP3 (27:04)

Music Heard on Air for January 27, 2011

By Ann Lopez ⋅ January 27, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Tunes spun on The World between our reports for January 27, 2011. Artists featured are Vieux Farka Toure, Umalali, Kaya Project, Gipsy Kings, 2raumwohnung, AfroCubism.

Entire program – January 26, 2011

By The World ⋅ January 26, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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President Obama’s Sputnik-inspired call for American innovation – and does the 1950′s reference work for America’s 21st century problems? Also, a push to get companies to send more female executives to the World Economic Forum in Davos; Plus, a French railway company apologizes for its role in the World War II Holocaust.
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How do we win the future?

By The World ⋅ January 26, 2011 ⋅ 4 comments ⋅ Transcript

In his State of the Union address, President Obama told Americans that “the first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation.” The President said, maintaining leadership “in research and technology is crucial to America’s success.” What do you think? What’s your take on how America can win the future? Post your comments here

‘Our generation’s Sputnik moment’

By The World ⋅ January 26, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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“This is our generation’s Sputnik moment,” President Obama said during last night’s State of the Union address. He was referring to the need to spur innovation and stay competitive in a rapidly-changing world. The World’s Jeb Sharp tells us what Sputnik was and whether the analogy makes sense for today’s challenges. Download MP3

US urges Egypt to reform

By The World ⋅ January 26, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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The United States has urged the Egyptian authorities to implement political and economic reforms while calling for calm as protesters burned government buildings in Egypt. The government there has blamed the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood for the violence. But novelist and activist Alaa Al Aswany says the Egyptian demonstrations reflect popular anger at the Mubarak regime. Download MP3

BBC World Service cuts: The end of an era

By The World ⋅ January 26, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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The World’s Laura Lynch reports on the announcement today of deep job and program cuts at the BBC World Service. The cuts will reduce the BBC’s global audience by around 30 million people. Download MP3

Reactions to the BBC World Service cuts

North and South Korea resume military talks

By The World ⋅ January 26, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Two months after North Korea shelled some South Korean islands, the people on those islands are still not ready to go back. They are living in government funded dwellings on the mainland, but their government support is about to run out. Jason Strother reports from Seoul. Download MP3

A lesson from China in math and science

By The World ⋅ January 26, 2011 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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President Obama said in his address to the nation last night that the nation’s public schools must place more emphasis on math and science, something economic giants like India and China had already figured out. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with someone who’s experienced China’s math and science curriculum firsthand, Yong Zhao, professor of education at the University of Oregon. Download MP3