At the BBC, fewer languages and less influence?

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In this week’s World in Words podcast: after the BBC World Service announces huge cuts, what’s next for global broadcasting? Five language services are to close, and seven more will become internet only, resulting in 30 million fewer BBC listeners worldwide. Will people migrate to the web, or will the BBC – and its news values – become less influential?
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BBC World Service cuts: The end of an era

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The World’s Laura Lynch reports on the announcement today of deep job and program cuts at the BBC World Service. The cuts will reduce the BBC’s global audience by around 30 million people. Download MP3

Reactions to the BBC World Service cuts

BBC interview with Gil Scott Heron

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American poet, singer, songwriter, author: Gil Scott Heron has worn many hats in his creative career, and ruffled the feathers of many. In the 1970′s he blazed the musical trail with his timeless classic ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ and went on to record and write numerous albums and texts, much of it critical of mainstream culture and society. Heron has a new album out today. Listen to the BBC World Service arts and culture program ‘The Strand’ interview here. Download MP3

• BBC’s The Strand

Your World, Your Way – BBC users show off video skills

Michael Schmacke’s fast animation through the center of Berlin is art of the BBC World Service MyWorld project. The film is one of many short videos being submitted by World Service users to share the things that matter to them. Michael shot his film with a digital SLR camera – he describes it as “a point of view which only could be developed by the cold war, an abstract building of childish arguments. Just like the film…”

• The Wall by Michael Schmacke
• MyWorld
• Top Tips for Great Film-Making

American Influence Podcast: Haiti in crisis

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This episode of The World’s American Influence podcast takes a look at the response to the earthquake in Haiti. The BBC’s Andy Gallacher gives an account from the ground. The World’s Katy Clark talks with some Haitian Americans in Boston. And correspondent Amy Bracken has a reporter’s notebook. Download MP3

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War costs for Afghanistan; Helmand dam project halted; CIA “black sites” in Lithuania

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This episode of The World’s American Influence podcast gets into the costs of the war in Afghanistan; the background to a huge reconstruction project that’s been in hold, the Kajakai dam in Helmand province, Afghanistan; and finally, Lithuania comes clean on the two CIA-run “black sites” that were located outside the capital, Vilnius. Download MP3

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A glimpse into the Persian blogosphere

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Persian language bloggers, both inside and outside the country, have been weighing in on the day’s events in Tehran. Those bloggers are the subject of some new research carried out by The BBC World Service Trust and a Persian social media website called Balatarin. Marco Werman hears more from The World’s technology correspondent Clark Boyd. Download MP3

• The BBC World Service Trust Iran Project
• Cyrus Farivar on detained Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan

Podcast: New Peace Lobby for Israel

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On this week’s American Influence podcast, J Street has its coming out party in Washington. The new pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby group creates a stir. And US-funded Palestinian security forces in the West Bank. Join The World’s Matthew Bell for his weekly in-depth look at US foreign policy and its effects across the globe. Download MP3

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Pakistan’s reluctant war on terrorism

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South Asia expert Christine Fair on Pakistan’s “partial war against terrorism.” Insurgent groups in Pakistan with ties to Al Qaeda and the Taliban are a threat to the government of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and a huge problem for Washington.Download MP3

Mideast photo-op, Israeli settlements and West Bank economy

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Matthew Bell reports from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Nablus in this episode of The World’s American Influence podcast. Extended interview with Ha’aretz political columnist Akiva Eldar, author of Lords of the Land.
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Tough Choices for US in Afghanistan

President Obama faces tough choices in Afghanistan. Things are not going well for the US-led mission there. There’s either a long, hard an expensive slog ahead. Or a pull-back that comes with its own risks.

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Eco-cooker, Generation Google, Kiva in the US

Since Clark Boyd has deemed it fit to swan off around the country with his college buddies this week, it falls to me to fill his ample shoes. Really, the man’s feet are huge. Three stories today: the first is a look at an impressive piece of engineering – a cooker that its makers claim reduces carbon emissions by a staggering degree. Listen