Watching Changes in Myanmar with Cautious Optimism

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced that Washington will start the process of exchanging ambassadors with Myanmar (Burma) following the release of political prisoners there.

Myanmar vs Burma

The highly-politicized question of what to call the country visited by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week.

Gaddafi: “All my people love me”

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Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has told the BBC he is loved by all his people and has denied there have been any protests in Tripoli. Gaddafi said that his people would die to protect him. The American ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said the interview showed Colonel Gaddafi was “delusional” and “unfit to lead”. Fighting continues in Libya and there have been renewed protests against Gaddafi’s rule in the capital. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with a Gaddafi critic in Tripoli. (Image: Alessio Romenzi /Corbis) Download MP3
Live updates from the BBC

Tech Podcast: PechaKucha Day for Haiti Update

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In this week’s technology podcast, we give you an update on a story we brought you a year ago. It’s about a group of global architects, designers and other creative people who tried to raise awareness, and money, for the rebuilding of Haiti. Now, their efforts have paid off with the building of a new school. (Photo: PechaKucha) Download MP3 (31:03)

Kosovo independence ‘not illegal’

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Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 was not illegal under international law, top UN judges say. The International Court of Justice was ruling on Serbia’s claim that the secession violated its territorial integrity. The US and many EU countries support Kosovo’s independence; Russia is strongly opposed to it. Laura Lynch reports. Download MP3 (flickr image: freedryk)

• BBC coverage
• Q&A: Kosovo’s future
• Revisiting the Kosovo air war

New sanctions against North Korea

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The US will impose new sanctions on North Korea, following the crisis over the sinking of a South Korean warship. The move was announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a visit to South Korea. An international inquiry blamed North Korea for sinking the Cheonan warship in March, with the loss of 46 lives, but Pyongyang has denied any involvement. Laura Lynch reports. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• UN condemns attack some website
• North Korea’s agenda

North Korea’s agenda

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the international community must respond in the growing crisis over the sinking of a South Korean warship. She said there was “overwhelming” evidence that North Korea was to blame, and urged Pyongyang to halt its “policy of belligerence”. But why would North Korea torpedo a South Korean ship and kill dozens of sailors? Matthew Bell is exploring Pyongyang’s agenda. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• No easy options
• North Korea discussed in US-China talks

Clinton urges China on North Korea

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Download MP3The Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the US is working hard to avoid an escalation after a report blamed North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean warship. After talks in China, Clinton urged countries in the region to contain “the highly precarious situation created by North Korea”. China is the only country with any real leverage over North Korea and so far Beijing has refrained from criticizing its neighbor. Marco Werman talks with The World’s Mary Kay Magistad in Beijing. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• North Korea – secretive state
• South Korean official blames North Korea

Afghan leader Karzai in Washington

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President Barack Obama has backed Afghan efforts to “open the door” to Taliban militants who renounce violence and cut ties with al-Qaeda. He was speaking after talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Washington. Karzai is in the US for four days of meetings aimed at repairing rocky relations between Kabul and Washington. Mr Obama said “perceived tensions” were “simply overstated”. The World’s Katy Clark reports. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Report card for Afghanistan’s government
• NY Times: At War blog

Tech Podcast 274: Mapping Haiti, Google and China

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This week’s podcast features more news on different tech efforts to help relief workers in Haiti. We look at Open Street Map, and Project EPIC’s “Tweak the Tweet.” We also delve into Clinton’s speech on Internet freedom, and get two in-depth views of Google’s recent announcements about China. Also, let us not forget the power of radio in Haiti.

• Download this episode
• Subscribe to the podcast via RSS
• Subscribe to the enhanced podcast via iTunes

China criticizes US over Internet freedom

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China has denounced US criticism of its Internet controls, saying it could harm ties between the two countries. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Thursday for China to lift restrictions on the Internet. Marco Werman talks with Rebecca MacKinnon who is writing a book on the Internet in China. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Full text of Clinton’s speech
• Video: Clips from Clinton’s speech
• On The World: Cyrus Farivar’s report on Clinton’s speech

Clinton outlines global Internet freedom policy

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has harshly criticized China and other countries for restricting Internet access. Mrs Clinton said there had been a recent spike in threats to the free flow of information. She was speaking at the Newseum in Washington, DC in a wide-ranging speech on Internet freedom. Cyrus Farivar reports. Download MP3 (Photo: US State Department)

• Full text of Clinton’s speech
• BBC coverage
• Video: Clips from Clinton’s speech

Making the case for Obama’s Afghanistan plan

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen went before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington today. The panel was giving testimony related to President Obama’s plan to send more US troops to Afghanistan. The World’s Jason Margolis reports. Download MP3 (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

• BBC: Taliban defiant over Obama surge
• PBS NewsHour: Analysis of Obama’s speech
• Coverage of the President’s speech on The World

Clinton in Russia for talks

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow today. At a joint news conference, the two said that there has been considerable progress in talks on a new treaty to reduce their nuclear arsenals. Both sides say they want to avert the risks of missile proliferation. Later today, The World’s Matthew Bell will take a closer look at the talks. Download MP3 Photo: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images.

• Scaling back on nuclear weapons (Sept. 2009)
• US and Russia make nuclear pledge (July 2009)
• Q&A on nuclear disarmament (July 2009)

Clinton in Congo

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has demanded an end to widespread sexual abuse in war-ravaged eastern DR Congo, during a visit to the country. Secretary Clinton spoke out during a tour of a crowded refugee camp in the eastern city of Goma. Earlier, following talks with Congolese President Joseph Kabila, she said there should be no impunity for the perpetrators of sexual violence. The World’s Jeb Sharp reports. (photo: AP/Etienne Kokolo) >>>Click here for Jeb’s award winning series on rape in Congo (Jan 2008)