Archive for January, 2013


Russian Couple on Trial for Allegedly Spying on NATO, EU

A middle-aged couple is on trial in Stuttgart, Germany, accused of spying for Russia for 25 years. (Photo: Andreas Praefcke/Wikipedia)

A married couple identified only by their code names “Andreas” and “Heidrun” are accused of spying on NATO and the EU for decades.

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Fatoumata Diawara Sings for Peace and the Emancipation of Women in Mali

Malian Singer-Songwriter Fatoumata Diawara (Photo: twitter.com/FatouDiawara)

This past weekend in New York, Host Marco Werman had the chance to speak with Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara, who had landed in the city from Mali’s capital Bamako just three days earlier. Like most of her musical colleagues back home right now, music takes a backseat to the daily concerns of war.

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PRI’s The World: 01/14/2013 (Sweden, Indonesia, Pakistan)

Islamist rebels in Mali gain territory despite French air strikes aimed at stopping their advance. Also, Spaniards get creative about protesting their government’s austerity measures and tax hikes. Plus, our correspondent in Beijing tells us what life is like in the pollution-choked Chinese capital.

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Mali Welcomes French Intervention

French soldiers at the Malian army air base in Bamako (Photo: Reuters)

The French intervention has been welcomed by many Malians hoping for an end to Islamist control of Mali’s north.

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The Politics Behind French Intervention in Mali

Yacouba Konate, 56, wears a French flag to show his support for the French military intervention in Mali in the Malian capital of Bamako (photo: Joe Penney/REUTERS)

France’s military intervention in Mali represents a shift in the country’s foreign policy. Anchor Jeb Sharp hears more about that from Jennifer Cooke, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

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Spanish Anti-Austerity Protesters Get Creative With Flash Mobs and Carrots

A banner outside the Bescano theater shows the now-famous carrot of protest, with the slogan, "For the Health of Culture." (Photo: Gerry Hadden)

A carrot rebellion is underway at a small Spanish theater in Bescano. One night, instead of selling tickets for a play, the theater sold carrots. For the same price.

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France’s Love-Hate with Russia: Why Depardieu Was Granted Russian Citizenship

French actor Gerard Depardieu. (Photo: REUTERS/Stevo Vasiljevic)

As French actor Gérard Depardieu embraces his new Russian citizenship to flee France’s 75 percent income tax on millionaires, some observers are reminded that the love-hate relationship between France and Russia has existed for centuries.

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Russian Soldiers Ordered to Use Socks

A Russian soldier puts on his 'portyanki', 2012 (Photo: WikiCommons)

Russia’s defense minister called Monday for Russian soldiers to use socks. Yes, socks. Until now, Russian military tradition has been to use cloths carefully rapped around the foot.

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India Street Protests Inspire Women’s Rights Advocates in Pakistan

Hina Jilani (Photo: REUTERS/Jamil Bittar)

A prominent attorney in Pakistan, Hina Jilani, says Indian street protests have empowered women’s rights advocates there, and reminded the Pakistani public to take a more active role, and not leave social action to small groups of activists.

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The Opposition in Myanmar’s Young Parliament

Phyu Phyu Thin campaigning in February. (Photo: Htoo Tay Zar/Wikipedia)

Longtime government opponents in Myanmar’s National League for Democracy are settling into new roles as elected officials.

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Beijing Residents Struggle to Cope with Off-the-Charts Air Pollution

The CCTV Headquarters building in Beijing, Jan. 12, 2013. (Photo: Chas Pope/Flickr)

Off-the-charts air pollution in Beijing has affected all residents of the Chinese capital in recent days, including The World’s Mary Kay Magistad. She speaks with anchor Jeb Sharp about what life in Beijing is like when the air becomes unbreathable.

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Stargazers Discovering the UK’s ‘Dark Sky’ Locations

Andromeda Galaxy (Photo: Dark Sky Discovery)

Stargazers in the UK are compiling a list of “dark sky ” locations around England, Scotland, and Wales where its dark enough for anyone to enjoy a good view of the night sky.

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One Scandinavian Nation Remembers Johnny Cash’s Prison Concert

Johnny Cash performing in Bremen, Northern Germany, in September 1972. (Photo: Heinrich Klaffs/Wikipedia)

Johnny Cash was famous for performing for inmates in US jails, but he also took his prison show on the road, recording a classic live album in front of a group of inmates in Sweden.

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Iwan Fals: The Voice of Social Justice in Indonesia

Iwan Fals at a recent concert in Bali, Indonesia (Photo by Niall Macaulay)

Back in the 1960s, American musicians wrote songs of social justice. Today, Indonesian singer-songwriter Iwan Fals does the same.

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A Musical Take on the Tube: A Dark Song That Shines With Brilliance

London Underground. (Photo: Nico Hogg/Flickr)

There’s a song that perfectly encapsulates the darker side of traveling on the London Underground, The Jam’s 1978 classic “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight.” [...]

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