2012 | PRI's The World

Assange Calls on US to Release Bradley Manning

By Clark Boyd ⋅ August 20, 2012 ⋅ One comment ⋅

Bradley Manning, the US soldier accused of leaking video, documents and thousands of State Department cables to Wikileaks, is still awaiting trial. Julian Assange has called for Manning’s release.

China: Gu Kailai Sentenced

By Chris Woolf ⋅ August 20, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Gu Kailai stood to hear the verdict at the Hefei Intermediate People's Court. (REUTERS/Reuters TV)

In China, the wife of a disgraced elite politician was sentenced Monday for murder. Gu Kailai received a suspended death sentence.

The Cry of Egypt’s Junk Collectors Reveals A Lot About Country

By Julia Simon ⋅ August 20, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

“Bekya! Bekya!” is the call of the Egyptian junk collectors and the cries reveal a lot about Egypt’s economy.

The World on Twitter: Monday Aug. 20

By Steven Davy ⋅ August 20, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

A selection of tweets from The World’s newsroom, Monday morning August 20.

New Interest in Mormons Serving Missions Around the World

By Andrea Smardon ⋅ August 20, 2012 ⋅ One comment ⋅

Missionaries practice speaking Mandarin at the Mission Training Center in Provo, UT. (Photo: Andrea Smardon)

As the Republican Party prepares to nominate its first Mormon candidate for president next week, there’s growing interest in Mormon practice, especially young Mormons serving missions around the world.

Devout Catholic Paul Ryan’s Interest in Voltaire

By Adeline Sire ⋅ August 20, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Paul Ryan recently told People Magazine that he enjoys listening to lectures in his car, including one on 18th century French philosopher Voltaire.

Russian Fuel in NASA’s Mars ‘Curiosity’ Mission

By The World ⋅ August 20, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

This artist concept features NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover. (Photo: NASA)

Curiosity is powered by plutonium-238, a man-made nuclear fuel and only two places in the world have made a lot of it.

South African Miners Ordered Back to Work

By The World ⋅ August 20, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

A policeman fires at protesting miners outside a South African mine in Rustenburg. (Photo: Siphiwe Sibeko/REUTERS)

The country is still in shock, after 34 striking miners were shot dead by police last Thursday.

Alex Anwandter: Chilean Singer and Spokesman for Gay Rights

By Mirissa Neff ⋅ August 20, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Alex Anwandter (Credit: alexanwandter.com)

Chilean singer Alex Anwandter is part of an emerging electro-pop scene in his home city of Santiago and is also becoming a spokesman for gay rights in Chile.

Driving Dutch in France

By Ari Daniel Shapiro ⋅ August 17, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Rental car GPS, in Dutch (Photo: Ari Daniel Shapiro)

I had just switched on the GPS in my rental car and the computerized voice was talking to me in Dutch. Dutch! [...]

PRI’s The World: 08/17/2012 (South Africa, India, Cambodia)

By The World ⋅ August 17, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Three members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot are sentenced to two years in prison for hooliganism. Also, South Africa is still in shock, a day after police opened fire on miners, killing 34 people. And we get a taste of Haleem, a traditional Ramadan clash.