05/25/2012
PRI’s The World: 05/25/2012 (Azerbaijan, Mali, Tunisia)
Egypt prepares for what may be a polarizing second round of voting in its presidential election. Also, thousands of refugees flee the violence in Mali and seek shelter in neighboring Burkina Faso. And the final installment in our series “Beyond Class” examines whether Britain can ever really leave its class divisions behind.
Egypt Election: No Clear Winner
The Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate for Egyptian president, Mohammed Mursi, is likely to face former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq in a run-off vote, according to partial election results. Early counts put Mursi on about 26% and Shafiq at roughly 24 percent.
Cartoon Slideshow: Egyptians Go to the Polls
A friendly Sphinx extends his paw to cast a vote while ancient pyramids are turned into ballot boxes and voting booths in these cartoons about Egypt’s historic elections. But look closely, one ballot box turns out to be a mirage and another is being clutched by a group that doesn’t want to let go: Egypt’s military. The World’s Carol Hills narrates.
Tuaregs Escape Violence And Islamic Rule in Mali
Marine Olivesi reports from Burkina Faso, where many Tuaregs have taken shelter to escape violence and Islamic extremism in their home country, Mali.
Mali Chaos Continues
Host Marco Werman talks with reporter Peter Chilson about the ongoing upheaval in Mali.
A Song Contest Stirs Up Human Rights Issues
The Geo Quiz takes us to an oil-rich city on the Caspian Sea where 42 countries are competing to win a song contest. The event is shining a spotlight on the poor human rights record of this former Soviet state.
Beyond Class Part VII: Is Social Class Still Relevant?
For our final story, we return to Britain, the country where the modern class system was born. Since the 1980s, one prime minister after another has declared Britain to be a “classless” society. At the same time, working class institutions have been vanishing: manufacturing factories have closed, union power legislated away, benefits slashed. Everyone is expected to be middle class. If you’re not, you may be described as “feckless,” “lazy” or the “underclass.” Britain, it turns out, hasn’t become classless. It has just re-invented its own class consciousness.
Sonia M’Barek: Tunisian Singer with Roots in Medieval Iberian Kingdom
Tunisian singer Sonia M’Barek performs a musical style with roots in the courts of Al-Andalus, the medieval Muslim kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula.
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