02/18/2013
PRI’s The World: 02/18/2013 (Venezuela, Mali, Japan)
Venezuela says President Hugo Chavez is back after more than 2 months of cancer treatment in Cuba. Also, a calligrapher in Mali is on a mission to save his nation’s ancient manuscripts. And a Massachusetts professor gets his hands on a London recording of Jimi Hendrix that stayed hidden for decades.
Venezuela Announces Return of Ailing Hugo Chavez
The government of Venezuela says ailing president Hugo Chavez has returned to his country from Cuba. Anchor Katy Clark speaks with blogger Francisco Toro sabout what the return could mean for Venezuela.
Cuban Dissident Blogger Yoani Sanchez Begins World Tour
Yoani Sanchez has been a vocal critic of the Cuban government on her blog Generation Y. But this weekend, Sanchez was granted permission to leave the country and she’s now embarked on a three month world tour.
Spanish Priest Commissions Graffiti for Church
A Catholic priest in Spain is trying something new to bring in parishioners. He commissioned some graffiti artists to decorate the interior of his church’s dome. But it’s graffiti in a Romanesque style.
Anti-Apartheid Leader Mamphela Ramphele Announces New Party to Challenge South Africa’s ANC
One of the leading activists from South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement has launched a new party. Mamphela Ramphele says her new party will challenge the ruling African National Congress in the 2014 elections. Anchor Katy Clark gets the details from The World’s Anders Kelto in Cape Town.
Dresden Peace Prize Given to an Ex-Soviet Soldier Who Didn’t Do His Job
Former Soviet Lt. Colonel Stanislav Petrov was awarded the Dresden International Peace Prize for not doing his job. During the height of the Cold War, he was on duty at the nuclear command center in the former USSR when he got a warning that five nuclear warheads were headed towards the former USSR. Instead of telling his command, he kept quiet. What year did Petrov make that fateful decision?
Mali’s Last Master Calligrapher
Boubacar Sadek is believed to be the last remaining master calligrapher in Mali. He fled Timbuktu with rare documents. He now makes a living in the capital Bamako, copying old manuscripts for posterity, as well as selling hand-made replicas to tourists. Laura Lynch reports for the CBC and The World.
Al-Qaeda ‘Memo’ Left Behind by Fleeing Mali Militants
An important al-Qaeda document left behind by retreating militants in Mali has been found by the Associated Press. It reads like a memo from a CEO to top management.
Remembering Keiko Fukuda, the Mother of Judo
Keiko Fukuda, the woman who earned the distinction of becoming the highest ranking woman in Judo, has died at the age of 99.
New Recording Surfaces of Jimi Hendrix Gig in London
Jimi Hendrix continues to inspire fans more than forty years after his death. New recordings of the guitar great seem to surface all the time. But none can quite compare to the one The World’s Clark Boyd got to hear recently.
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