Roundup

Susanna Centlivre was only 2nd to Shakespeare on 18c London stage [audio 11min]

Susanna Centlivre was one of the most performed playwrights of the 18th century, with over 1200 performances of her plays being staged. Only Shakespeare was performed more. She was also a political playwright, and a supporter of the Whig cause. Her play The Wonder! A Woman Keeps a Secret is now being performed in London, at The White Bear Theatre, for the first time in 150 years. Dr Gilli Bush-Bailey, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Drama at Royal Holloway and Dr Jane Milling, from t

Nasser's autocratic leadership overshadowed his political achievements [audio 30min]

Stephen Sackur presents the 2nd installment in a 2-part profile of President Gamal Abdel Nasser, still regarded by many Egyptians as the father of modern Egypt and inspiration to the Arab nationalist cause. Stephen talks to both champions and critics of Nasser's legacy, including Nasser's daughter Hoda, and members of his close political circle. After his victory over Suez, Nasser became a hero to the Egyptian people and a figurehead of the Arab nationalist cause. But did his increasingly autocr

History shows adults adapting childhood to serve their own ends [audio 15min]

This is the 30th and final episode "Invention of Childhood", a major 30-part narrative history series exploring British childhood and the experience of British children over the last thousand years, with one 15-minute programme each weekday since 25th Sept. As he looks back over our thousand-year history, Michael Morpurgo reflects on the impact of adults on children's lives -- the ways that parents, teachers, ministers of religion and politicians have so often adapted childhood to serv

This week in business history [audio 1min]

This week back in 1920, Pittsburgh radio station KDKA broadcast the results of the presidential race between Warren G. Harding and James Cox. It was the nation's first major public news broadcast. Report by Stacey Vanek-Smith.

After 1926 General Strike, NE England village became known as 'Little Moscow' [audio 30min]

Commentator Alexei Sayle journeys to North East England, to the village of Chopwell, 80 years after it became known as Little Moscow. In the aftermath of the 1926 General Strike, the small mining village became notorious for its association with communism. Portraits of Marx and Lenin appeared on the miners' banner, streets were named after communists, and its militant mineworkers were on strike for over 17 months. The press ran a series of sensational reports with headlines such as 'Spectre of a

Exiting Iraq: Frederick Kagan's View [audio 7min]

In the 2nd in a series of discussion on the U.S. end game in Iraq, military historian and scholar Frederick Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute says the U.S. needs more troops in Iraq to defeat the insurgency. "Exiting Iraq: A Discussion" July 22, 2006.

Stardust casino shines one last time before demolition [audio 3min @18:10]

Ah, the late 1950s! A more innocent time -- even in terms of sin and indulgence. Back in those days of post-war intemperance and hedonism, the Stardust Resort and Casino was a Las Vegas supernova of glitz and flash. The Stardust exploded onto the Las Vegas scene at noon on July 2nd 1958 -- literally, with the detonation of several bombs. At the time, it was the largest resort ever built on Planet Earth -- a $10-million complex comprising more than 1,000 rooms, a 32-metre-long swimming pool calle

World sees 'imperialism' in American reach, strength [audio 8min]

In the 4th report in a 5-part series exploring the political language of our times, Guy Raz considers the word imperialism. A few weeks ago, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke at the United Nations. He used the word imperialist about every 45 seconds during the speech, always in reference to the United States. Around the same time, Hezbollah spiritual leader Sheik Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah told a crowd in Beirut, Lebanon, that"the real danger to the entire world comes from the

King Memorial to join crowded D.C. Mall landscape [audio 6min]

As history marches on, space for memorials on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is shrinking. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, which officially begins construction on Nov. 13, may perhaps be the last monument to be built on the parcel. The King memorial will be built on one of the Mall's prime pieces of real estate, across from the Jefferson Memorial and just behind the cherry blossom trees that ring the Tidal Basin. They bloom in April, the month when King was assassinated. The site fo

Officials attempt to recover stolen Native American artifacts [audio 3min]

This week, federal officials announced the largest-ever investigation into the theft of Native American remains and artifacts. Methamphetamine addicts are accused of looting archaeological sites across central Oregon. Ann Dornfeld reports.

Painting stolen during WWII returned to France [audio 5min]

The National Gallery of Canada has been investigating art works with unclear histories. Thanks to meticulous Nazi bookkeeping of art stolen during World War II, a French painting in their collection was traced to its rightful owners in France. Report by Genevieve Oger.

Idi Amin film prompts viewing of 1974 documentary [audio 7min]

The new film The Last King of Scotland has renewed interest in infamous Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin. Cory Turner discovers another film about Amin, the 1974 documentary General Idi Amin Dada. Webpage includes video clips.

US Park Service maps the Great Plains fire history [audio 4min]

Land managers now realize that fire plays a critical role in a healthy landscape. In some forests, the heat is needed to germinate seeds. Fire also can manage invasive plants. To better understand its role, the National Park Service is mapping the fire history of the Great Plains. Sarah McCammon of Nebraska Public Radio reports.

The Poincare Conjecture -- How a 19th-century mathematician changed how we think about the shape of the universe [audio 45min]

The great French mathematician Henri Poincaré declared:"The scientist does not study mathematics because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful. If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing and life would not be worth living. And it is because simplicity, because grandeur, is beautiful that we preferably seek simple facts, sublime facts, and that we delight now to follow the majestic course of the stars." Poincaré's gro

Sandra Day O'Connor comments on threats to independence of judiciary [video 23min]

In the 1st of a series of interviews from America ahead of the US midterm elections, Stephen Sackur gets a rare interview with the former US Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor. She was the first woman justice to be appointed to the Supreme Court and for 25 years was one of its most influential voices. As the ultimate check on executive and legislative power, does she believe the independence of the judiciary is now under threat?

Black Civil War soldier gets overdue military honors [audio 5min]

More than 100 years after his death, a black Civil War-era soldier is getting the military honors he deserves. State and local officials honored Lt. Stephen Swails, one of the first black commissioned officers in the US Army, with an overdue military ceremony and a marker for his gravesite.

Muslim women, the veil and Western society [audio 30min]

Last month, former UK foreign minister Jack Straw reopened debate on Muslim women and the veil. Straw said that, when women visited his office with their faces covered, he asked them to remove the veil because he believes it makes communication easier; a female staff member was always present. Some British Muslims agreed with Straw, others protested, and there have been similar debates in Italy, in France and in the USA as well. Part of the argument is over cultural standards, about what types o

Former South African president Botha dies [audio 2min]

Tony Cox reports on the death of former outh African President P.W. Botha. Botha died at age 90 at his home on the southern cape coast of South Africa Tuesday night.

Museum recalls German hero of 'Rape of Nanjing' [audio 5min]

A new museum has just opened in Nanjing, China, commemorating the actions of a German businessman who saved lives during the 1937 Japanese invasion of the city, known as the "Rape of Nanjing." The Japanese are believed to have killed 300,000 Chinese during the invasion and occupation. The house where John Rabe sheltered 600 Chinese civilians has been turned into a museum and international research center for peace and reconciliation. Webpage includes photos.

Johnny Unitas towers over history of football [audio 3min]

One of football's greatest players was quarterback Johnny Unitas. But he was more than a great player. Unitas was a unique man who towered above his contemporaries, and the stars who have played after him.