Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography puzzler.

Remembering the inventor of the ATM

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The man heralded as the inventor of the ATM, John Shepherd-Barron, has died at the age of 84. The World’s Alex Gallafent has a remembrance.

Geo answer

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For today Geo Quiz, we asked what country has elevated the soccer move known as the “paradinha” to an art form? The answer is Brazil. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with The World’s resident soccer expert, William Troop.

Paradinha

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A new rule goes into effect for today’s Geo Quiz. The World Cup soccer tournament kicks off next month in South Africa. Soccer’s powers-that-be have been busy planning and changing the rules. This week, they banned a move called the paradinha. (Photo: www.flickr.com/photos/alexfrance)

Music Heard on Air for May 20, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For May 20, 2010. Artists featured are Mario Grigorov, Habib Koite & Bamada, Moriba Koita, Kerekes Band, Jesse Cook, Bombay Dub Orchestra.

Taxes

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U.S. Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, “Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.” That message often seems forgotten these days: Most citizens, the world-over, seemingly hate to pay their taxes. And in some places, like Greece, tax evasion is rampant. What’s a government to do? What’s the best way to collect taxes? And what’s the strangest way to collect taxes? All questions examined on this edition of The World’s Global Economy Podcast.

Entire program – May 19, 2010

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Today on The World: Insurgents attack NATO-led troops at the Bagram military airbase in Kabul, Bangkok gets temporary relief from protest violence after a curfew is put on the city, and South Korea says it has proof that North Korea torpedoed its warship in March, killing 43 South Korean sailors.

Blasts hit US base in Afghanistan

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One US soldier was killed and nine others injured when insurgents attacked Afghanistan’s Bagram airbase near the capital, Kabul. Anchor Marco Werman gets details from correspondent Ben Gilbert, who’s on the airbase and was near one of the blasts. (Photo: SHAH MARAI/AFP) Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Taliban insurgency

One year later in Sri Lanka

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Its one year since the Tamil Tiger separatists in Sri Lanka were defeated after a bloody civil war that lasted over three decades. The government’s main priority since their victory has been reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation with the Tamils in an effort to consolidate their win. The government claims it’s all progressing very fast. But some Tamils aren’t impressed. The BBC’s Tinku Ray reports from Sri Lanka. Download MP3

• The World background coverage
• BBC coverage

The Kronos Quartet

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The Kronos Quartet is known for its wild, wide-ranging collaborations. The latest one took the San Francisco string quartet on a trip of sorts to Central Asia. The World’s Adeline Sire recently caught up with Kronos’s artistic director David Harrington. She has today’s Global Hit. Download MP3

• Kronos Quartet’s website
• Kronos Quartet’s myspace page

Bangkok under curfew

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Bangkok is under curfew after a long day of violence between “Red Shirt” protesters and Thai authorities. Marco Werman gets the latest from Ron Corben, an independent journalist who’s been based in Bangkok for twenty years. (Photo: MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images) Download MP3

• The World’s coverage on the Thailand protests
• John Burdett’s Bangkok

South Korean blames North Korea

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A South Korean official said today his government has evidence that North Korea attacked a South Korean warship in March. Forty-six sailors died after the vessel sank. Anchor Marco Werman gets the latest from Don Kirk, a reporter for the Christian Science Monitor.

Evading the draft in South Korea

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South Korean men are required to serve for two-years in the military. Every year, hundreds of young men end up in jail for trying to avoid the draft. Now some are saying it’s time to move to a volunteer army. Jason Strother has the story.

Mexico’s drug war

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Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon has declared war on the drug cartels, and has deployed army troops in the fight. But critics say the military effort has only made things worse. Steven Dudley reports from Juarez.

Arizona’s immigration law

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This week, a group of immigrant students staged a protest in the Arizona offices of Senator John McCain. They were holding a sit-in to protest Arizona’s new law cracking down on illegal immigrants. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with one of the students, Yahaira Carrillo.