PRI's The World » The World

PRI’s The World: 02/11/2013 (Ecuador, Ethiopia, Israel)

The World — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:00:28 +0000

Pope Benedict XVI announces he will resign citing his advanced age. Danish newspaper exposes double-agent that provided intelligence on US drones. And a Frenchman who preserved the music of Ethiopia in the Ethiopique series.

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Pope Announces Resignation

The World — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:39:37 +0000

Pope Benedict XVI surprises the world by becoming the first pontiff to resign in nearly 600 years.

PRI’s The World: 02/08/2013 (Latvia, South Africa, Japan)

The World — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:00:56 +0000

The conflict in Mali escalates with a suicide bombing Friday in the northern town of Gao. Also, a new Israeli lawmakers from the controversial Jewish settlement in Hebron. Plus, why Latvians don’t want to give up their currency in favor of the euro.

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles Face Burkina Faso’s Cinderella in Cup of Nations

The World — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:40:48 +0000

Much of Africa’s attention will be on South Africa this weekend for the final of the Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament.

And it features two of the best teams from Africa – yet two very different teams.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles — a perennial regional powerhouse will face Burkina Faso’s Stallions.

The Burkina Faso’s Stallions surprised many by playing at higher level than expected. The team hadn’t won a game at the African tournament since 1998 and had yet to make the finals.

But the team nearly missed its opportunity. It was during the semi-final match between Burkina Faso and Ghana when a controversial call by a referee nearly cost the Stallions its star player, Jonathan Pitroipa. He received a red card which meant he would have missed Sunday’s final against Nigeria.

But a replay of the call showed that the referee made a bad call. The referee, Slim Jdidi of Tunisia, recognized his mistake and Pitroipa was reinstated and allowed to play in the final.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles hasn’t been without its troubles either. The team had been an African powerhouse in the 1990s.

But over the past decade hadn’t done well, causing the media to nickname the Super Eagles, the “Super Chickens.” The team has turned around with young and energetic players, making them the favorite to win.

PRI’s The World: 02/07/2013 (Uganda, Tunisia, Albania)

The World — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:00:19 +0000

Why Algeria is a key player in the fight against Islamist extremists in North Africa. Also, Spain offers citizenship to descendants of Jews kicked out of the country during the Inquisition, but there is a hitch. Plus, the retro-jazz sound of Dutch singer Caro Emerald.

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PRI’s The World: 02/06/2013 (Mali, Israel, Mexico)

The World — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:00:30 +0000

New fighting in Mali even as French troops contemplate an exit. Also, what Israelis expect from President Obama’s visit next month. Plus, why mariachi music is making inroads in schools in Texas.

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PRI’s The World: 02/05/2013 (Mexico, Mali, Jamaica)

The World — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:00:13 +0000

A Justice department memo makes the legal case for killing American cities who are senior al-Qaeda leaders. Also, we speak with the actor who played Osama Bin Laden in the film “Zero Dark Thirty.” Plus, we meet Mexico’s premier bat biologist and hear why he thinks bats need more protection in his country.

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Intervention in Mali

The World — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:46:45 +0000

The euphoria greeting French troops who entered Mali this month after Islamist militants threatened to invade the south of the country has given way to a wariness among some who wonder what will follow.

PRI’s The World: 02/04/2013 (Ecuador, Libya, France)

The World — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:00:17 +0000

Palestinians set up their own tent camps to protest expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The Israeli government responds by taking them down. Also, how identifying the bones of England’s infamous King Richard III could lead to a re-thinking of his legacy. Plus, how a presidential vote could affect press freedom in Ecuador.

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How Libya Reclaims its Forgotten Past

The World — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:30:19 +0000

For the Geo Quiz, we’re searching for a modern Libyan city …with an ancient past.

This city is located right along the coast of the Mediterranean in the northwest corner of Libya.

Less than a year and half ago this city was engulfed by Libya’s civil war.

It was a bloody but relatively recent chapter in its long history.

This 2,000 year old Roman city was an once an important trading post on the Mediterranean.

The ruins of Roman temples and theaters in this city are some of the best preserved from the ancient world.

The answer is Sabratha.

Journalist Robert Draper traveled to Libya for National Geographic. He writes in the February issue of the magazine that “for decades Libyans lived under a dictator who twisted their past. Now they must imagine their future”.

He tells The World about some of those Libyans he met including a female Muslim surgeon in Benghazi, and a police chief in Misrata. Both he says face daunting challenges:

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Rise of the Drones

The World — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:10:39 +0000

Since his re-election, President Obama has given no indication that he would change anything about the drone program, which he embraced in his first term to kill al-Qaeda and Taliban militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan without risking American lives.

The drone attacks are highly unpopular among many Pakistanis in particular, who consider them a violation of sovereignty that cause unacceptable civilian casualties. Now, the UN is launching an investigation into the impact of drone strikes and so-called targeted killings on civilians.

But drones aren’t just for warfare. The Federal Aviation Administration predicts there will be thousands of drones over domestic skies within the next decade, doing everything from watching traffic to delivering packages. And this doesn’t even take into account the thousands more worldwide that will be used to do things like watch borders or deter rhino poaching. This raises numerous questions about cost, privacy and safety.

The World looks at the implications of America’s so called drone war in Asia, and the proliferation of drones worldwide and here at home.

John Brennan Expected to Face Scrutiny Over America’s Drone Strategy in Senate Hearing

John Brennan, President Obama’s pick to take over as director of the CIA, faces a confirmation hearing in the Senate on Thursday, and it’s all but certain he will be quizzed about drones. More>>

Justice Department Memo Makes Legal Case for Killing Americans Abroad

A leaked Justice Department memo is the talk of the town in Washington, and around the globe, Tuesday. The memo, obtained and published by NBC News, sets out the Obama Administration’s legal case for the targeted killing of American terrorism suspects abroad. More>>

Israeli Legal Expert: Lack of Judicial Oversight in Targeted Killings a ‘Recipe for Disaster’

Amos Guiora gave legal advice on targeted killings to the Israeli Defense Force in Gaza in the 1990s. He’s troubled by the vague language in the leaked Justice Department memo, and tells anchor Marco Werman why he thinks the lack of judicial oversight in targeted killings is a ‘recipe for disaster.’ More>>

NYC Designers Create ‘Drone-Proof’ Clothing

New York-based designers Adam Harvey and Johanna Bloomfield have created a range of clothing to counter surveillance by thermal imaging. They hope that their pieces of silver-lined outerwear, including a hoodie and a burqa, will draw attention to a growing culture of surveillance at home and abroad. More>>

Kenyan Wildlife Conservancy Plans to Use a Drone to Counter Rhino Poaching

Conservation groups and governments across Africa are struggling to police the poachers and protect the animals. Now a wildlife conservancy in Kenya has purchased a drone to keep an eye on its precious residents. More>>

Why President Obama Embraces Drones

The UN is launching an investigation into the impact of drone strikes and so-called targeted killings on civilians. Marco Werman speaks with Daniel Klaidman of the Daily Beast, who has interviewed hundreds of US officials about the Obama Administration’s embrace of drones. More>>

Books Not Bombs or How About Tweets?

Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Nigerian-American author Teju Cole, about a series of literary-inspired short stories about drones that Cole posted recently on Twitter aimed at bridging what Cole terms our empathy gap. More>>

What It’s Like to Pilot Drones

Piloting a drone can be a strange mix of reality and virtual reality. A former British drone operator weighed in on what it’s like to fly drones, and the potential moral implications. More>>

Military Practices Flying Drones Over Northern New York

The drones that fly over Afghanistan are generally piloted by people sitting in the United States. Those pilots also fly training missions over domestic skies. That’s the case in northern New York. North Country Public Radio’s David Sommerstein reports on the fuzzy line between military preparation and a creepy eye in the sky. More>>

The Skies Could Fill With (small) Unmanned Aircraft

Drones aren’t just used for spying and dropping bombs. The civil applications for unmanned aircraft are numerous, from spreading seeds on fields to delivering medical supplies to remote areas. The World’s Jason Margolis reports. More>>

Reforming US Policies on Drone Strikes

The current trajectory of US drone strike policies is “unsustainable.” Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Micah Zenko, author of a new Council on Foreign Relations report titled “Reforming US Drone Strike Policies.” Zenko says it’s the same conclusion drawn by the new nominee as the next CIA director, John Brennan. More>>

U.N. Drone Investigator Might Be a Deadly Robot’s Worst Nightmare bit.ly/VPBoHy

— Noah Shachtman (@dangerroom) January 29, 2013

PRI’s The World: 02/01/2013 (Ireland, Turkey, Romania)

The World — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:00:59 +0000

Human rights groups allege abuses in Mali during the French-led invasion. Also, using drones to protect Africa’s endangered species. And a bid in Ireland to loosen drunk driving laws to boost business at pubs.

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PRI’s The World: 01/31/2013 (Mexico, China, Canada)

The World — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:00:57 +0000

Pentagon nominee Chuck Hagel, a Vietnam veteran, faced fierce questioning on Capitol Hill on Thursday. We hear from Vietnam veteran and author Tim O’Brien about a possible Vietnam-vet world-view in the new Obama administration. Also, the New York Times says it was hit by cyber attacks from China. And a look at rain-water harvesting in Mexico City.

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PRI’s The World: 01/30/2013 (Portugal, Switzerland, Guinea-Bissau)

The World — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:00:32 +0000

As Congress holds its first hearings on gun violence since Newtown, we hear about gun laws in Switzerland where gun ownership is high and crime is low. Also, more “crazy bad” pollution in Beijing has the Chinese talking about Clean Air Act. Plus, Carla Bruni sings again. The former first lady of France releases a new CD.

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PRI’s The World: 01/29/2013 (Sweden, Mali, Egypt)

The World — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:00:54 +0000

Egyptian women organize to protect themselves from sexual violence during protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Also, how farming fits into the immigration reform equation. Plus, a dose of rock music from Swedish band Graveyard.

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