Chris Woolf
US to Open Peace Talks With the Taliban
The Taliban and the United States agreed Tuesday to hold peace talks, starting later this week. The aim is to negotiate an end to the fighting in Afghanistan.
Iran’s Regime Change?
Hassan Rouhani’s moderate tone contrasts pretty strongly with the rhetoric of his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad most famously talked of wiping Israel off the map.
Syria Crisis: Assad’s Revival Suggests Long War
The United Nations said Thursday it has documented the deaths of 93,000 people in Syria since the civil war began. And a recent revival in fortunes for the Assad regime suggests the war has no end in sight.
Chinese Plan for Inter-Oceanic Canal Across Nicaragua Echoes British Disaster of Long Ago
China is planning to build a canal across Nicaragua to rival the Panama canal. The Chinese are not the first to dream of using Nicaragua as a trade route to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The World’s History Editor Chris Woolf recalls a disastrous British attempt way back in 1780, at the time of the American Revolution.
Questions Raised About Whether Britain’s Security Agency has Used Prism to Get Around the UK’s Legal System
The British government is being grilled by lawmakers in London seeking clarification of the UK’s role in the NSA’s global surveillance programs. One accusation is that British citizens are being unlawfully spied upon.
The Fight for the Soul of Istanbul
The riots in Turkey over the past two weeks began over a what seemed like a routine town planning issue. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Sibel Bozdogan about the fight for the soul of old Istanbul. Bozdogan is a Turkish-American architectural historian, who teaches at Harvard and Bilgi university in Istanbul.
Victims Tortured by British in Kenya During Mau Mau Rebellion to be Compensated
The British government today made an historic apology. It says it ‘regrets’ detaining and torturing thousands of people in colonial Kenya in the 1950s. The Brits were trying to suppress the so-called Mau Mau rebellion. London is also to compensate the victims.
Massive Animal Rescue as Floods Hit Prague Zoo
There is heavy flooding in several countries in central Europe, due to extraordinarily heavy rains. Parts of the Czech capital, Prague, are underwater including about half of the city’s internationally famous zoo. Anchor Marco Werman hears about an amazing animal rescue from zoo spokesman, Michal Šťastný.
Turkey’s Struggles Over Power and Identity
Many Turks who support Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan are thinking of turning against him, after almost 12 years in power. These include journalist and author, Mustafa Akyol.
Re-Discovered Report Details Brazil’s ‘Extermination’ of its Indigenous Peoples
The indigenous peoples of Brazil were facing “extermination” in 1967 when a commission of inquiry reported on conditions they were facing. The report said the worst crimes were being carried out by the very agency supposed to be protecting the Indians. The Report quickly “disappeared” under the military dictatorship, only to be re-discovered earlier this year.
Anti-Muslim Backlash in Britain After Woolwich Soldier Murder
The murder of an off-duty British soldier on the streets of London last week has led to an increase in community tensions in the UK. Muslims have been assaulted; several mosques have been vandalized, and one was firebombed.
Hezbollah Intervention in Syria Risks Regional War
The government of Bashar al-Assad is pulling out all the stops to try gain an advantage militarily ahead of a proposed peace conference in June. Perhaps the key to the government’s successes might be the large reinforcement it’s currently getting from Hezbollah.
Apple Scrutinized on Tax Avoidance
One of America’s most profitable companies, Apple, is under scrutiny by a Senate sub-committee Tuesday. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, is explaining why Apple has paid so little tax globally over the last few years. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with British member of parliament, Margaret Hodge, who is leading similar investigations in the UK.
The Debate Over Intervening in Syria
Reports of chemical weapon use in Syria have reignited the debate over a possible US or Western intervention in Syria’s civil war. But even Syrian opposition supporters can’t agree on the way forward. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with two Syrian emigres, Dr. Rim Turkmani in London and Professor Amr al-Azm in Ohio.
Meeting Misha, the Alleged Mentor to the Boston Bomber
The Tsarnaev family has blamed the radicalization of their son, Tamerlan, on a Muslim convert called “Misha.” Journalist Christian Caryl tracked down a man he believes is Misha to his home in Rhode Island Sunday, and found him an unlikely Svengali.
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