NATO prepares big offensive against Taliban

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Hundreds of villagers living in a Taliban-controled area of southern Afghanistan are leaving before a major NATO-led offensive gets under way. It is expected to be one of the largest counter-insurgency operations since the Afghan conflict began in 2001. The operation to clear insurgents from the southern town of Marjah, in Helmand province, is expected to begin soon. The BBC’s Frank Gardner is 90 miles east of Marjah in Kandahar. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• On The World: President Obama’s Afghanistan plan
• NATO media photos from Afghanistan

Chinese popular with American students

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Medgar Evers College Preparatory School is a public school in central Brooklyn, NY. Most of its student population is African American and Afro-Caribbean. The school runs one of the largest Chinese language programs for students not from a Chinese background in the US. The World’s Alex Gallafent went back to school for us. Download MP3

• Alex Gallafent’s photos from the Brooklyn school
• From the NY Times: Will Americans Really Learn Chinese?
• The World in Words

Clandestine dining in Spain

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The police in Barcelona recently raided a suspicious looking dry cleaners. It was late at night and something fishy was going on. People were going in. But they weren’t coming out. It had all the makings of a front for some illegal business. Turns out it was a front. But the cops didn’t find anything nefarious. Just people eating dinner. The World’s Gerry Hadden explains. Download MP3

• Watch an undercover video of the secret restaurants

Tech Podcast: Internet Addiction and Depression

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We’ve got a great mix of stories on this week’s podcast. We take you inside a Crisis Camp for Haiti meeting in Montreal, to hear how concerned people thousands of miles away are helping the relief effort. Also, two great stories about design and technology: one concerns an ancient footbridge across the Nile, and the other the humble, but dangerous, British pint glass. And we end with some research into potential links between Internet addiction and depression.

• Download this episode
• Subscribe via iTunes
• More links, pictures and video related to these stories

Obama’s new words, Avatar in the Amazon and a Chinese satire

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As Obama enters the second year of his presidency, he’s dropped some expressions — “war on terror”, “Af-Pak”, even “Middle East”. His administration has invented a few too: “remotedly piloted aircraft” (drones) and “overseas contingency operations” (wars). Also, a special screening of Avatar in Ecuador for indigenous groups. What did these Shuar and Achuar speakers think of Avatar’s invented language, Na’vi? Finally, a new online satirical movie is all the rage in China. It features a Chinese double-entendre phrase aimed at avoiding government censorship. The movie also includes a fantastic “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” rant.
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Karine Polwart

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Scottish singer Karine Polwart crafts songs which combine the Scots ballad tradition with contemporary issues to create a sound utterly her own. Her skill as a songwriter and the power of her singing have propelled her to the forefront of the traditional music scene in Scotland. Now working as a solo artist, Polwart previously performed with the band Malinky (which she founded), MacAlias, and as the lead singer for The Battlefield Band. She talks with Marco Werman about her music and the Scottish ballad tradition in our Boston studio. Download MP3

• Watch a video of Karine singing in our studios
• www.karinepolwart.com/

Entire program – February 8, 2010

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Today on The World: US and NATO troops prepare for a major operation against a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan; Also, clandestine dining in Spain that requires a password… or a fingerscan; And a Scottish balladeer with a new take on an old tradition.