2011 March | PRI's The World

Archive for March, 2011

Libya rebels stay on the defensive

By The World ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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The US will put no “boots on the ground” in Libya, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has reaffirmed in Congress, after reports emerged that President Obama has authorized covert CIA aid to rebels. Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the operation had already degraded Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s forces by up to 25%. The remarks came as rebels retreated from towns on Libya’s eastern coast. The BBC’s World Affairs Editor John Simpson is in Tripoli. Download MP3
Live updates from the BBC

Ruling by emergency law

By The World ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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One phrase we’ve heard a lot since the start of protests across the Middle East is “emergency law.” Now, you’d think that an “emergency law” would be a temporary measure but in various Arab countries, emergency laws have dragged on for decades. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Nathan Brown, a professor of international affairs at George Washington University, about why lifting those emergency laws won’t necessarily restore civil liberties in the region. Download MP3
Video: Nathan Brown further discusses emergency laws
Interactive timeline of Middle East protests

Japanese gangsters go good samaritan

By The World ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Japanese gangsters known as “yakuza” have been taking on an unfamiliar role – a humanitarian one. They have been handing out blankets, water, toiletries and food to disaster victims. Anchor Marco Werman talks to Tokyo-based author and journalist Jake Adelstein to find out more. Download MP3

Worries for Argentine soy farmers

By The World ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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Soy farmers in Argentina have been watching the weather. It’s been a dry summer and soy crops are important to Argentina’s economy. But it’s not just the weather that farmers have to worry about – it’s also Wall Street speculation. Julia Kumari Drapkin reports. Download MP3
Slideshow: soy farming in Argentina

China torn on smoking issue

By The World ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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China’s government this week announced an expanded ban on indoor smoking in public spaces, but without clear penalties for those who break the rules. That may be because the government is unclear whether it really wants its people to kick the habit. Tobacco is China’s number one source of tax revenue, but it also prematurely kills more than a million Chinese a year. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports from Beijing. Download MP3

Libya’s foreign minister defects to Britain

By The World ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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The World’s Laura Lynch reports on the defection of Libya’s Foreign Minister, Moussa Koussa, to Britain. Scottish authorities say they’d like to question the ex-minister about the 1988 bombing over Lockerbie. Download MP3

Japan’s contaminated groundwater

By The World ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Anchor Marco Werman gets the latest on Japan’s nuclear crisis from The World’s environment editor Peter Thomson. Extremely high levels of radiation were found today in groundwater under the plant. Download MP3

Ivory Coast incumbent may be losing grip on power

By The World ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Forces loyal to the internationally recognized president of Ivory Coast have now entered the country’s commercial capital, Abidjan. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with the BBC’s John James in Ivory Coast about the latest developments there. Download MP3

French-Malian chamber music

By The World ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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For today’s geo quiz, we’re looking for a West African country and its capital. The capital sits on the banks of the Niger River and it’s deemed to be one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. For decades, this city has played a major role in world music. Download MP3

PRI’s The World(03/31/2011: Mary Kay Magistad, Jake Adelstein)

By The World ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Libya’s foreign minister, one of Moammar Gaddafi’s closest aides, defects to Britain;Also, in Japan, organized crime figures join the relief effort, assisting disaster victims; And, in Ivory Coast, forces loyal to the democratically elected president, Alassane Ouattara, enter the country’s largest city Abidjan. Download MP3

Music Heard On Air Thursday, March 31, 2011

By Stephen Snyder ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Tunes spun on The World between our reports for Thursday, March 31, 2011. Artists featured are Ali Farka Toure with Ry Cooder, AfroCubism, U-cef , Amina Annabi, and Kila.

Dictators with dialects, finger spelling and universal Inuit

By Patrick Cox ⋅ March 31, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

Napoleon, Hitler and Gaddafi all grew up speaking a distinct dialect of their native tongue. Coincidence? Dialects are the languages of outsiders, at least until they are co-opted by people, or governments, trying to standardize the language. That’s what’s happening right now in northern Canada, where with the dialects of the Inuit. The hope is that language will unite this widely scattered people[...]

Gaddafi forces push rebels back

By The World ⋅ March 30, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Rebels in Libya are retreating from their former strongholds along the eastern coast as they come under fire from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s forces. The US and France say they are sending envoys to rebel-held Benghazi to liaise with the interim administration there. Anchor Lisa Mullins gets the latest from reporter Ben Gilbert in Benghazi. Download MP3
Live updates from the BBC

China’s fight against ‘radical thought’

By The World ⋅ March 30, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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The unrest that’s sweeping through Arab nations apparently has China’s leaders nervous. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports on a controversial new policy at China’s Peking University that targets students with “radical thoughts” for counseling. Download MP3
China’s Jasmine crackdown
Follow Mary Kay on Twitter

Haiti waits for election results

By The World ⋅ March 30, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Haiti is awaiting preliminary results of its presidential runoff. They’ve been postponed until next week. It has been a long electoral season, marked by complaints of fraud and irregularities. The World’s Amy Bracken reports from the capital, Port-au-Prince. Download MP3

Slideshow: Presidential elections in Haiti