Bahrain Sentences Shiite Activists To Life In Prison

A Bahraini court sentenced at least eight Shiite activists and opposition leaders to life in prison Wednesday and issued stiff terms for 13 others in the latest blow by authorities waging a crackdown against protesters seeking greater rights in the Gulf kingdom. The men were accused of plotting to overthrow the country’s monarchy during mass [...]

Egypt’s Political Transformation Moves Slowly

Five months after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was ousted, the military remains firmly in charge. But the question of who will ultimately control the country remains wide open. The army will clearly remain a powerful influence. Memories remain strong of the 1952 revolution against the monarchy — when army officers pledged a transition to democracy [...]

Mexico Captures Alleged Head Of Cult-Like Cartel

Mexican federal police have arrested a man said to be one of the country’s most notorious drug lords – Jose de Jesus Mendez Vargas, the alleged leader of the cult-like, pseudo-Christian La Familia cartel. Authorities said Wednesday that the arrest of Vargas, nicknamed El Chango, or “The Monkey,” dealt a lethal blow to the cartel, [...]

Documentary Shorts: Let The Crying Begin

If I were to list the documentaries I see at Silverdocs in order of the likelihood that you (not you, but an average you) will actually see them, we’d probably group them something like: (1) Ones that will get reasonably wide theatrical releases plus Netflix/DVD/cable, (2) ones that will get limited theatrical releases plus Netflix/DVD/cable, [...]

Greece’s Economic Crisis Upended Middle Class

Greece’s embattled prime minister survived a vote of confidence in parliament early Wednesday. Next week, he faces an even tougher vote for further painful austerity measures to secure a fresh bailout from international lenders. But the government has lost the people’s confidence as tens of thousands of Greeks continue daily protests against devastating measures that [...]

The ‘Country Lawyer’ Shaping Campaign Finance Law

A new loophole is being pried open in the campaign finance rules. It would enable federal candidates to once again solicit corporate money to finance organizations that promise to help them get elected. The idea comes from a lawyer who has done more than anyone else over the years to upset the status quo in [...]

Volatile Food Prices Grab G-20′s Full Attention

Agriculture is topping the G-20 agenda for the first time as agriculture ministers from the world’s largest economies gather in Paris beginning Wednesday. Ever since a dramatic spike in world food prices in 2008 sparked panic and deadly riots in countries across three continents, agriculture and food security have become issues of global, political importance. [...]

‘Made In America’ Store Capitalizes On Patriotism

Dozens of tour buses have added the tiny town of Elma, N.Y., as a stop this year. On their way to scenic sites like Niagara Falls, these tourists are squeezing in a visit to the Made in America store. Shop owner Mark Andol climbs aboard a bus and tells the riders that shopping here is [...]

China’s Businesses Boom, But Its Brands Don’t

This month, NPR is examining the many ways China is expanding its reach in the world — through investment, infrastructure, military power and more. After 30 years of mind-bending economic growth, everyone knows about brand China — but very few people can name a Chinese brand. And the reasons for that are not just economic. [...]

Junk Food Fight: Should Ads Stop Targeting Teens?

The government says junk food marketers shouldn’t advertise to kids. Not just on TV, but also online, in schools and in stores. The guidelines being proposed are voluntary; food companies can opt out. Still, with four powerful agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration, throwing their weight behind the proposal, [...]