Economy
Boeing Dreamliner Makes Emergency Landing in Japan
A Boeing 787 was forced to make an emergency landing in Japan after battery problems developed during a flight. It’s the latest in a string of incidents for Boeing’s Dreamliner.
Japan’s Pachinko Addiction
Pachinko, a Japanese game that resembles a cross between pinball and a slot machine, is huge business. The pachinko industry generates hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue each year. Sam Harnett reports on how the industry’s success depends on straddling the line between gaming and gambling.
France’s Love-Hate with Russia: Why Depardieu Was Granted Russian Citizenship
As French actor Gérard Depardieu embraces his new Russian citizenship to flee France’s 75 percent income tax on millionaires, some observers are reminded that the love-hate relationship between France and Russia has existed for centuries.
Google Diplomacy: Eric Schmidt’s Controversial Trip to North Korea
Google chairman Eric Schmidt is back from his controversial trip to North Korea. He says he told North Korean leaders to loosen their restrictions on internet access in the recluse nation, or risk being left behind.
Could Car Sharing Work in a Place Like China?
As millions of more Chinese enter the middle class, many are demanding a key passport to that lifestyle: a car. Millions throughout the developing world have the same demand. The world can’t sustain this. One possible solution: car sharing.
In Kenya, Violent Elephant Poaching Increases at an Alarming Rate
The New York Times’ Jeffrey Gettleman talks about the latest massacre of 11 elephants — killed by poachers for their ivory tusks in Kenya. He said that as a pound of ivory can fetch upwards of $1,000 in Beijing, there is little chance this violent and illegal trade will slow down anytime soon in Central Africa.
Improved Economy, Cultural Ties are Bringing Entrepreneurs Back to Africa
As the economy improves in some countries in Africa, many Africans who live abroad are aching to return home.
The View of the (Fiscal) Cliff from Europe
The so-called “fiscal cliff” has been dominating news headlines here in the US for weeks. Across the pond, Europeans have been paying close attention and having similar, just as heated, debates about spending and taxes. The World’s Marco Werman gets the latest European view from London-based financial analyst Louise Cooper.
In Spain, Locksmiths Refuse to Cooperate with Foreclosures and Evictions
In Spain, in 2012, more than 50,000 families were evicted from their homes when they failed to pay their rent or mortgage. As the year wound down a handful of people committed suicide after learning they would be evicted. Now in Pamplona, a group of experts who help carry out the evictions has said ‘No more!’ Those experts? Locksmiths. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports.
2012: The Year of Movements Massive and Minute in Europe
Hands down the biggest story out of Europe in 2012 was the euro-zone economic crisis. There was much talk of the future of the euro currency, of the financial viability of the union itself, of giant bail-outs to struggling governments and of capital flight from banks as risk-averse investors began moving their money to safer havens.
Medellín’s Outdoor Escalator Part of Plan to Remake City
The Colombian city of Medellin was once the murder capital of the world and ground zero for Pablo Escobar’s cocaine cartel. But Medellin has lately emerged as a hotspot for urban planning and innovative mass transit. And, as John Otis reports, the projects are part of a long-term plan to fight poverty and remake the fortunes of the city.
Colombia Sets Sight on ‘Green Gold’
Colombia is a hotspot of mercury pollution from small-scale gold mining. But it’s also a testing ground for a new movement to reduce mercury pollution by paying small-scale miners more to use less of the toxic metal.
Britain Shows the Way Over ‘Fiscal Cliff’
It is looking extremely unlikely that Republicans and Democrats can agree on a plan by the end of the year. Britain went over its own fiscal cliff a couple of years ago. Since then, it has imposed a series of painful budget cuts.
Why Brits Aren’t Especially Bothered About Going Over the Fiscal Cliff
We get reaction from Brits hanging out on this holiday in an East End pub. They’re not happy about the potential for a global economic fallout, but they also don’t believe it will actually happen.
Owner of Asian Market in Columbia, Missouri Sees Future in New Immigrants
With the influx of immigrants, some entrepreneurs in Columbia, Missouri are seeing an opportunity in the city’s changing food culture, including the owner of Chong’s, the city’s oldest Asian grocery store.
Additional funding for PRI's The World is provided by:
