Clark Boyd
The Golan Heights
Any peace deal between Israel and Syria will have to take account of the disputed Golan Heights. The World’s Matthew Bell travels to the region to take the pulse of its residents. You can see more photos from Matthew’s visit to the Golan Heights here.
Global Political Cartoons: June 20 to June 26, 2009
Cartoonists note the sudden death of pop star Michael Jackson with images both respectful and, well, irreverent. Iranian mullahs define theocracy. The fly on President Obama’s arm gets a name. And even in death, Ed McMahon tries to find a new sidekick.
Reporter’s Journal: Snapshots of Kenya, III
The World’s Andrea Crossan goes for a ride on Nairobi, Kenya’s preferred method of transportation, the mini-bus known as a matutu. On the way, she captures some photos and videos that give you a feel of what life is like for both those who ride, and those who work.
Global Political Cartoons: June 13 to June 19, 2009
The post-election political crisis in Iran dominates this week’s political cartoons. The images range from funny depictions of voter fraud to very dark depictions of media censorship, and a deep uncertainty about what comes next.
Twitter and Other Social Media Tools in Iran
It’s all Iran this week, folks. Violence and protests have flaired in Iran following last week’s disputed elections. The government moved quickly to shut down the flow of information out of, and into, the country. But Twitter and other social media tools are keeping that flow of information going. In fact, it’s not merely a flow, but a flood. For this week’s Technology Podcast,we’ll take an in-depth look at how vital social media tools have become in Iran in the wake of the elections. Listen
Jag Bhalla’s “I’m Not Hanging Noodles on Your Ears.”
If I told you that I’m not hanging noodles on your ears, you probably wouldn’t know what I mean. No surprise there; that’s the literal translation of a Russian expression. A new book highlights all kinds of quirky phrases from around the globe. And guess what? It’s called I’m Not Hanging Noodles on Your Ears, [...]
Chinese Net Surveillance Gets Personal
Chinese officials will now require that every PC sold in the country have Internet filtering software installed on it. The software is called Green Dam Youth Escort, and cyber-security experts are already noting it may be open to hacking. Meanwhile, rights groups are calling foul. Listen
Global Political Cartoons: June 6 to June 12, 2009
This week cartoonists around the world share the excitement and concern as Iranians prepare to go to the polls. They also respond to North Korea’s latest provocations and the rightward results of the European elections.
Iran’s Elections Online, US Cybersecurity, Emergency ICT in Pakistan
This week, we go to the Swat Valley in Pakistan to hear how a group of ICT emergency responders are helping UN workers deliver vital aid to those in need. Also, Iran’s presidential election goes online, and President Obama announces a major push to improve America’s cybersecurity. We’ll also talk about using bananas as a low-tech fuel source. Listen
Global Political Cartoons: May 31 to June 5, 2009
“A New Beginning” is the theme of this week’s global political cartoons. It was the title of the speech President Barack Obama gave in Cairo when he addressed Muslims around the world. But it could easily describe the message of the GM bankruptcy and reports out of South Korea that North Korea’s Kim Jong-Il has nominated his third and youngest son, 26-year-old Jong-Un, as his successor.
A Successor to Kim Jong-il?, and Two American Journalists on Trial in the DPRK
On this week’s podcast, we focus exclusively on North Korea. There are signs that Kim Jong-il may be paving the way for his third son, Kim Jong-un, to take over power. Also, we hear about two American journalists set to go on trial in Pyongyang for entering North Korea illegally. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be in a North Korean prison, then this is the podcast for you. We speak with a former US Navy Officer who spent more than 11 months in one after the ship he was on was captured in 1968. Read more…
Wind Power in the Antarctic, OR318, Sherlock Holmes Lives!, and The Photographer
This week, putting wind power to work in the Antarctic. Also, an online movement is created after an Iranian blogger dies in prison. Then, take a break from tech with Sherlock Holmes, and a new graphic novel about a French photographer’s journey into war-torn Afghanistan. Listen
EU Puts Hurt on Intel, Persian Bloggers on Saberi’s Release, Google Oceans Goes Deep, and SixthSense at MIT
This week, MIT’s SixthSense human-computer interface aims to the web, well, wherever you want it. Also, the European Union puts some financial hurt on chip-maker Intel. Persian bloggers weigh in on the release of journalist Roxana Saberi. And Google Oceans goes deep. Listen
Vodafone Wireless Winners, UK DNA Database, Swine Flu Questions Answered, and Airplanes!
On this week’s Technology Podcast, we hear about some wireless technologies that could improve lives across the globe. Check out the cell phone that’s been modded into a microscope! We also take an in-depth look at Britain’s DNA database, and the political ruckus that it’s causing. You sent your swine flu questions in, so we take 15 minutes and try to answer some of them. And we finish with another competition — Airbus wants to fly more efficiently, and is asking for help. The finalists include one team that wants to fly gaggles of planes in an inverted “V” formation…like geese. Listen
Google Book Search, World Digital Library, E-books, Psiphon, and Yahoo Purple Pedals
This week, we get positively bookish. We’ll hear the latest on with Google’s Book Search project, which wants to, well, scan and make available just about every book on the planet. But Google’s not the only dog in that hunt. UNESCO has launched what it calls the World Digital Library, and it’s got a lot more than just books. Then, we take an in-depth look at all manner of e-books and e-readers. Is paper doomed? Also, we hear about a piece of internet filtering circumvention technology called Psiphon. And Yahoo puts webcams on some purple bikes and lets them loose in the world. Listen
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