Archive for January, 2013
Sufi Cleric Behind Pakistan Protests
For the third straight day, protesters in Islamabad demanded the current government step down and be replaced by a caretaker regime until elections are held. The protests are being led by Tahir ul-Qadri, who’s frequently been described in the press as a ‘firebrand cleric.’
Hindus Moving Back to the Kashmir Valley
Religious and political violence nearly drove the entire Hindu minority away from the region, but some of those migrants are now returning, thanks to a new program by the Indian government.
Report: Soot 2nd Biggest Contributor to Global Warming
Soot from diesel engines and coal smoke was a main culprit in the recent Beijing smog crisis. Now a new report says soot is also a much bigger contributor to global warming than had been thought. Host Marco Werman gets the latest on soot from The World’s environment editor Peter Thomson.
Kita Nago: Walking Across Haiti for Unity
The Geo Quiz takes us to Haiti this time, where an unusual event is taking place. It’s a combination flashmob, religious pilgrimage, and parade, called Kita Nago, but what exactly is this Kita Nago? And where is it going?
Stephane Wrembel: ‘Midnight in Paris’, Django, and the Call of the Desert
Stephane Wrembel studied guitar in, among other places, Roma camps outside Paris. He wrote the distinctly Django Reinhardt-like theme for Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris.” But he disdains the term ‘Gypsy Jazz’, and woe betide anyone who says he’s just following in Reinhardt’s footsteps.
PRI’s The World: 01/15/2013 (Japan, Germany, Mali)
France ramps up its military intervention in Mali. Also, will Arab-Israelis swing the vote in Israel’s upcoming elections? And, half gaming, half gambling, Japan’s obsession with pachinko.
France Ups Ante in Mali, Sends More Troops
France is sending more troops to Mali, and other nations in the region are pledging to send their own soldiers to help fight the Islamist rebels that threaten the Malian government.
How the Mali War is Playing in France
A survey this week shows a majority of people in France backing President Francois Hollande’s decision to intervene in Mali.
Cuban Government Confirms Cholera Outbreak in Havana
Cuba has confirmed there’s been a cholera outbreak in Havana. The announcement came after days of rumors in the Cuban capital, as doctors checked neighborhoods house by house for potential cholera cases.
Indian City Considers CCTV Cameras on Buses
One Delhi suburb wants to install closed circuit television cameras in all of the city’s buses. The idea is to deter sexual violence and other types of crime.
Political Cartoons Take on Women’s Rights Following Gang Rape in Delhi
The gang rape in India has refocused interest in women’s rights and gender quality. One place those issues are showing up are in political cartoons.
Music Heard on Air for January 15, 2013
Tunes spun on The World between our reports for January 15, 2013. Artists featured are: Loreena McKennitt, Orchestra Lissanga, Jamshied Sharifi, Habib Koite & Bamada, Toubab Krewe, Salif Keita, Afrolicious.
Why Some People Around the World Struggle to Understand America’s Love Affair with Guns
New York State looks set to introduce the toughest gun laws in America. But it’s still hard for foreigners to comprehend America’s love affair with guns.
Election Fails to Inspire Israel’s Arabs
Arab-Israelis make up about 20 percent of Israel’s population. They have disproportionately high rates of poverty and unemployment. But hopes of addressing those issues through the ballot box are low, and Arab-Israeli voter turnout is falling.
Japan’s Pachinko Addiction
Pachinko, a Japanese game that resembles a cross between pinball and a slot machine, is huge business. The pachinko industry generates hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue each year. Sam Harnett reports on how the industry’s success depends on straddling the line between gaming and gambling.
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