PRI's The World » 11/18/2009

Entire program – November 18, 2009

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:05:23 +0000

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Today on The World: A veto sparks concerns about Iraq’s upcoming national elections; Also, a new survey highlights that poverty is the main concern of ordinary Afghans; And,we look at how Obama’s visit has resonated in China.

Iraq vote in doubt

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:04:40 +0000

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One of Iraq’s two vice-presidents has vetoed part of the country’s new election law, putting the parliamentary polls scheduled for January in doubt. Electoral officials say they have suspended preparations for the vote until an amended law is approved. Katy Clark has the story.

Climate: getting concrete in Beijing

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:03:43 +0000

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On Tuesday, President Obama and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao agreed to co-operate on climate change and other important matters. Anchor Jeb Sharp talks with David Biello, the associate editor for environment and energy at Scientific American magazine, to find out what concrete agreements on energy and climate change came out of the President’s visit to China.

British vampires are the best

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:02:24 +0000

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The British Ambassador to the United States, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, has written a blog post extolling the virtue of British (on screen) vampires. The World’s Alex Gallafent would ‘take the pulse of the story’ if only it had one.

Rwanda seeks extradition of rebel leaders

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:01:14 +0000

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The FDLR is a militia group made up of former Rwandan Hutus who fled to the neighboring DR Congo after the 1994 genocide. The BBC’s Peter Greste reports on the connection between some of the ongoing violence in eastern Congo and an FDLR leader based in Germany.

Poverty in Afghanistan

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:59:12 +0000

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A new survey released by the aid group Oxfam highlights some of the largest concerns of ordinary Afghans. According to the survey, people are worried about the Taliban and corruption, but their main concern is living in poverty. Anchor Jeb Sharp speaks with the report’s author, Ashley Jackson, who’s in Kabul.

Shining a light on Turkey’s Kurdish minority

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:58:28 +0000

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Turkey’s government is working on legislation that would legalize the Kurdish language and establish a committee to fight discrimination. Most Turks know little about the Kurdish minority in their country. But a new documentary aims to change that. The World’s Aaron Schachter has the story.

Write to us

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:57:46 +0000

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We sample some listeners’ comments from our website.

President Obama’s impact in China

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:56:52 +0000

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While China’s state-run media have given President Obama high marks on his visit to China, civil rights lawyers and human rights activists there are disappointed in the president’s conciliatory tone. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad takes a look at the impact President Obama’s visit has had on China.

Geo Quiz

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:55:58 +0000

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Our daily geography puzzler.

Geo answer

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:55:19 +0000

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The answer to today’s Geo Quiz is Papua New Guinea. Five men who set sail from Papua New Guinea have been rescued after more than 2 months adrift in a small boat in the Pacific Ocean. A doctor in the Marshall Islands says another day drifting and they probably wouldn’t have survived. Anchor Jeb Sharp has details.

Change slow in Cuba

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:54:32 +0000

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Cuban president Raul Castro has talked a lot about reform since taking over from his brother Fidel Castro in 2006. But a new report from Human Rights Watch has found that things are not improving as much as originally thought. Anchor Jeb Sharp speaks with the lead researcher on that report, Nik Steinberg.

Anasma Vuong

The World — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:53:34 +0000

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Today’s Global Hit features a belly dancer. Her name is Anasma Vuong. She’s originally from Paris. Her father is Vietnamese, and her mother from Tunisia. These days Anasma Vuong lives in New York. And she specializes in a fusion of belly dance and hip hop.