Latest Editions


Ebo Taylor: Ghana’s Highlife Guitarist on the Appia Kwa Bridge

Ebo Taylor's Appia Kwa Bridge

Ghana’s Ebo Taylor talks to Marco Werman about his latest album, Appia Kwa Bridge. Taylor is a master of the Ghanaian music style, highlife.

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PRI’s The World: 05/23/2012 (India, Canada, Peru)

Egyptians begin casting votes in their country’s first post-revolution presidential elections. Also, our series Beyond Class continues with a look at what India’s caste system means to Indians living here in the US. Plus, a rise in anti-foreigner sentiment in China.

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Egypt Chooses New President

Egypt Polling Station. (Photo: Matthew Bell)

Egyptians are voting in their first free presidential election, 15 months after ousting Hosni Mubarak in the Arab Spring uprising.

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Egypt Elections Stir Arab Dreams

Members of the Arab League, with flags (Photo: Wiki Commons)

Egypt is by far the largest Arab country, by population and events there tend to reverberate throughout the region.

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The Boston-Jeddah Connection

Dr. Sami Angawi (Photo: Ann Lopez)

It was to be an ethereal experience. An opportunity to sit on a roof top garden and watch the sunset with one of Saudi Arabia’s leading intellectuals. It sounded so romantic.

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Toronto’s Housing: Up in the Clouds, Literally and in Price

The rate of construction of high-rise buildings in Toronto is the highest in North America. (Photo: Jason Margolis)

Toronto’s skyline is starting to look a lot like Manhattan and so are the housing prices.

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Beyond Class Part IV: India – Searching for Your Caste Online

Inter-caste marriage is still the exception rather than the rule in India. (Photo: Alex Gallafent)

Inter-caste marriage is still the exception rather than the rule in India. That’s despite a surge in modern forms of bringing people together. In fact, as The World’s Alex Gallafent reports from Chennai, in south India, the substance of what’s taking place is remarkably similar to how it’s always been.

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Beyond Class Part V: Indians in America – Caste Adrift

Nilabhra (right), dressed in the classic saffron robes of a priest after getting his head shaved, watches the priest put oil in the fire during the later half of Upanayan. Fire, a Hindu God, is part of most Hindu rituals. (Photo: Rhitu Chatterjee)

In India, society has traditionally been stratified according to the caste system. Caste has its roots in scripture, but over the years it has expanded into many spheres of Indian life: work, education and, most recently, politics. Today, many urban Indians ignore caste, except when it comes to choosing a marriage partner. But abroad, some upper caste Indians have a nostalgic affection for a system that favored their forefathers.

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Beyond Class: Anand Giridharadas – Caste a ‘Scourge That’s Held India Back’

Anand Giridharadas (Photo: Darshan Photography)

Anand Giridharadas is a columnist for the New York Times and the author of India Calling: An Intimate Portrait of a Nation’s Remaking. He was born in Cleveland to Indian immigrant parents. His parents came from different castes, and raised him to ignore the proscriptions of the caste system. Here, he talks with The World’s Marco Werman about how caste came into being and how India is gradually shaking free of it.

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Anti-Foreigner Sentiment in China

Foreigners enjoying street food in Beijing. (Photo: Mary Kay Magistad)

China is spending billions of dollars to improve its international image, yet it is also ramping up anti-foreigner rhetoric.

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Peru’s Master Percussionist: Alex Acuña

Alex Acuña (Photo: Drummerworld.com)

This year at Peru’s annual cajon festival, Peru paid homage to Peruvian master percussionist Alex Acuña. He’s been drumming for more than 50 years, with musicians from Elvis Presley to Weather Report. Mitra Taj sent us this audio snapshot.

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PRI’s The World: 05/22/2012 (Ukraine, Australia, Egypt)

The former Foreign Minister of Greece gives his take on his country’s efforts to prevent defaulting on its Euro bailout. Also, our series “Beyond Class” continues to look at how the middle class sparked the revolutions in Egypt and Ukraine. Plus, why some Olympic torches have turned up for sale on eBay.

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Greeks Seek Exit from Economic and Political Morass

Dimitris Droutsas, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece. (Photo: Dimitris Droutsas)

When he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitris Droutsas, was part of the Greek government that negotiated bailout terms and austerity measures. He tells host Marco Werman that attitudes toward austerity are now shifting in Europe.

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Why Australia is Looking for a Few Good Workers

A government booth at The Aussie Jobs Fair in Houston. (Photo: Jason Margolis)

Are you an American plumber or electrician looking for work? Or perhaps a civil engineer? Want to possibly double your salary? One caveat with this job offer: You have to be willing to relocate 10,000 miles.

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2012 London Games: Olympic Torches for Sale

Sarah Milner Simonds transfers her torch flame to the next runner after running her leg of the Olympic Torch Relay in Dunster. (Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters)

While the Olympic torch continues its tour of Britain, some of the torch-bearers have put their torches up on auction sites such as eBay.

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