- Home
- Listen to the Show
- Podcasts
- Geo Quiz
- Global Hit
- Photos and Videos
- Discussions
- Music Heard on Air
| Background ⋅ BBC ⋅ Books ⋅ Cartoons ⋅ Economy ⋅ Environment ⋅ Health ⋅ History ⋅ Language ⋅ Religion ⋅ Science ⋅ Special Reports ⋅ Technology ⋅ Travel |
Background Briefs
Nuclear Standoff with Iran
President Barack Obama has said the US and its allies are developing a “significant regime of sanctions” against Iran for its nuclear program. He said the international community was unified over Iran’s “misbehavior”. Speaking in Washington, he said despite Tehran’s denials, it was clear Iran was working to build nuclear weapons. His remarks came after Iranian state media reported that Iran had started the process of enriching uranium to 20% for use in a medical research reactor.
Taliban insurgency
Afghan forces will begin taking control of security in some of the country’s provinces by the end of 2010, a key summit on its future has pledged. In a statement at the end of the one-day meeting in London, delegates said the process would be complete within five years. In December, President Obama announced he was sending an additional 30,000 troops to help battle the Taliban insurgency.
North Korea’s strategic arsenal
North Korea says it will continue to co-operate with the United States on ending its nuclear program and agrees that stalled talks need to resume. The country’s foreign ministry said Pyongyang would work with Washington to “narrow remaining differences”. In June, the UN Security Council voted to impose tougher sanctions on communist North Korea, following a nuclear test carried by the North Koreans in defiance of previous UN resolutions.
Gaza conflict
The UN Human Rights Council has backed a report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza that accuses both Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes. The report by Richard Goldstone calls for credible investigations by Israel and Hamas, and suggests international war crimes prosecutions if they do not. The United States and Israel opposed official endorsement of the report, saying it would set back Middle East peace hopes.
German elections
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has outlined plans to form a swift coalition with the Free Democrats after a major win in the general election. Merkel said the result was a great vote of trust, and that a government would be formed by November. Voters were concerned about Germany’s involvement in Afghanistan and the bad economy.
Iran protests
Thousands of opposition supporters have clashed with security forces during a government-sponsored rally in Tehran. Iran’s reformists had been warned not to try to turn the pro-Palestinian Quds (Jerusalem) Day marches into anti-government protests. Reports say opposition leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi and former President Mohammad Khatami were attacked. The opposition has been banned from holding rallies since the disputed presidential election in June.
Pirate Parties Go Global
The Pirate Party began in Sweden. Its political goals are to reform copyright and patent laws, and to campaign for citizen privacy, both online and in the real world. Now, the movement’s gone global. Cyrus Farivar reports. >>>Listen to the story
Unrest in western China
A night-time curfew has been reimposed in the restive western Chinese city of Urumqi, officials have announced. The curfew had been suspended for the last two days after officials said they had the city under control. Mosques in the city were ordered to remain closed on Friday, but at least two opened at the request of crowds of Muslim Uighurs that gathered outside. The government re-imposed a nighttime curfew Friday as well. Listen
Global economic crisis
President Barack Obama has announced a major reform of banking regulation to prevent future financial crises. The overhaul will require big banks to put more money aside against future losses to curb excessive risk taking. Consumers will get a special agency to protect their interests and regulate mortgages and credit cards. In outlining the reforms, President Obama described them as the biggest shake-up of the US system of financial regulation since the 1930s.
Additional funding for PRI's The World is provided by:
 |
 |
