Archive for July, 2012
Cuban Baseball Player May Have Defected While in the Netherlands
At a baseball tournament, Cuba won the final, but one player Aledmis Díaz has gone missing.
Spanish Indie Bands Suffer with Economic Downturn
Spain’s worsening economy is putting a pinch on Spanish indie rock bands and many bands are struggling to make ends meet.
PRI’s The World: 07/24/2012 (Japan, Israel, Russia)
Gun culture is far from universal – we check out gun-free Japan, and gun-toting Israel. Russia attacks its drinking problem – by banning ads for alcohol, and people in France responds to a plan to raise taxes on the rich.
Gun Culture in Israel
The debate over gun control is settled in Israel: you can have a gun if you want, but you better be able to use it properly.
Gun Violence: Virtually a Thing of the Past in Japan
Authorities in Japan have made it very difficult for most of the country’s citizens to own guns. As a result, they’ve virtually eliminated shooting deaths. Max Fisher, an associate editor at The Atlantic says the differences between the gun cultures in the US and Japan are rooted in history.
Russia Bans Alcohol Advertising in all Media
A ban on alcohol advertising has gone into effect in Russia. It is part of Russian officials’ work to address the country’s drinking problem.
40 Years Ago, Soviet Gymnast Olga Korbut Dazzled the World
Forty years ago in Munich, Olga Korbut changed the way Americans watched the Olympics. And the tiny pig-tailed athlete inspired girls around the world to take up gymnastics.
Europe Teeters Again on Economic Brink
The economic news from Europe is getting grimmer. Spain is facing increased borrowing costs, with a bailout from its European partners. It’s looking more likely even powerhouse Germany might see its pristine credit rating downgraded.
French President Hollande’s Plan to Tax Rich Touches Nerve
France’s new president, Socialist Francois Hollande, has just announced a raft of tax hikes, all of them on big companies and the rich. The measures are proving popular among ordinary Frenchmen, but business leaders and the wealthy say squeezing them will hurt everyone.
Slideshow: Ancient Mayan ‘Place of Bats’
An abandoned Mayan city in northern Guatemala is the subject of today’s geo-quiz. Its name is derived from the millions of bats that live there. Anchor Aaron Schachter learns more about the city and its bats, from Brown University archaeologist, Stephen Houston.
Iran’s Chicken Gate
Iranians are dealing with the rapidly rising price and short supply of chicken. Anchor Aaron Schachter talks to the BBC’s Siavash Ardalan about the new poverty line, known in Iran as the “chicken line”.
Alfredo Rodriguez: Cuban Pianist Produced by Quincy Jones
Alfredo Rodriguez was a relatively unknown jazz pianist when legendary producer Quincy Jones spotted him at a gig. A month later Rodriguez got a call and was told Quincy Jones would like to produce his first album. Reporter Betto Arcos tells the story.
Voices of Arabia Part II
Saudis of a certain class know the United States. Many have traveled here. They’ve studied and have homes in the US. I, however, was woefully uninformed about Saudis [...]
PRI’s The World: 07/23/2012 (Cuba, Iraq, UK)
More than 100 people are dead following coordinated bombing attacks across Iraq. We get a personal account of the worse rainstorm in Beijing in 60 years. And the music of the Tallest Man on Earth from Sweden.
Iraq: Al-Qaeda Declares New Offensive as Sectarian Violence Kills More than 100
A staggering wave of coordinated bombings and attacks swept across 15 Iraqi cities on Monday killing more than 100 people. Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq announced this weekend that the group was launching a new offensive. Correspondent Jane Arraf talks with host Aaron Schachter about al-Qaeda’s staying-power in Iraq.
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