AR Rahman on tour

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AR Rahman is best known for the two Oscars he won for for his work on the film Slumdog Millionaire. Now Rahman is taking his music on the road with dancers and acrobats and virtuoso musicians from India. The World’s Alex Gallafent went to a recent performance in New York. Download MP3

• AR Rahman world tour
• Watch a video from the New York performance
• Photo gallery
• Beasley Music
• Global Hit archive

President addresses nation on Gulf spill

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President Obama speaks to the nation tonight about the continuing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s Mr. Obama’s first Oval Office address. Anchor Marco Werman previews the address with senior reporter Dan Stone, who covers the White House for Newsweek.

The post 9/11 presidency

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Julian Zelizer, professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University, about whether the expectations of the presidency have changed in the post-9/11 world.

France moves to stop falling test scores

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Test scores among students in France are slipping, so the French education minister is proposing a dramatic change to the school day. Correspondent Anita Elash reports from one school that’s trying out the program.

Canada launches conservative news channel

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The Canadian company Quebecor launched a new TV channel today. It’s officially called ‘ The Sun TV News Channel,” but it’s also been called ‘Fox News North.’ Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Canadian political comedian Rick Mercer for his take on Canada’s new kind of news channel.

Brazil’s hidden oil reserves

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Brazil has the potential to become one of the world’s largest producers of oil if it can tap its reserves deep under the South Atlantic. Anchor Marco Werman discusses Brazilian views of deep-sea oil drilling with the BBC’s Paulo Cabral is in Niteroi, near Rio de Janeiro.

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography quiz.

Geo answer

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The answer to today’s Geo Quiz is Plaza de Torros in Mexico City. It’s where a Mexican matador made headlines this weekend. Anchor Marco Werman gets the story from reporter Franc Contreras in Mexico City.

Fleeing Mexican matador

Today’s Geo Quiz takes us to a temple of bullfighting. The sport is still popular in a few countries, such as Spain, Portugal, and our destination, Mexico.

Music Heard on Air for June 15, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For June 15, 2010. Artists featured are Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Nguyen Le, Jonthan Richman and The Modern Lovers, Mario Grigorov, Rokia Traore.

Entire program – June 14, 2010

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Today on The World: How having natural resources affects developing countries… it’s not always a road to riches; Also, an update on deadly ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan; Plus, abandoned families in South Korea.

Afghans say US team found huge mineral wealth

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Afghanistan may have more than a trillion dollars worth of untapped mineral deposits, a spokesman for the ministry of mines has suggested. The statement came after reports in the New York Times of the work of a team of Pentagon officials and US geologists. They discovered large quantities of iron and copper as well as valuable deposits of lithium. The World’s Laura Lynch reports that being rich in natural resources is not always a direct road to riches for developing nations. Download MP3 (flickr image: US Army)

• BBC coverage
• New York Times story
• NY Times graphic: Afghanistan’s mineral deposits

Japanese soccer fans rooting for North Korea

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North Korea will begin its World Cup campaign against soccer superpower Brazil. Some of the Stalinist state’s most ardent fans have gone to South Africa to root for their team. But they’re not from North Korea – they’re from Japan. Akiko Fujito tells us what’s going on. Download MP3

• Jason Margolis on soccer fever in Liberia
• World Cup 2010 on The World
• The language of soccer

Sounding the vuvuzela

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Even though South Africa is experiencing winter, World Cup fever is officially spiking well over 98 degrees Fahrenheit. You can feel it, and you can hear it. If you can’t hear World Cup fever, you’re probably deaf. The love hate relationship with the vuvuzela on today’s show. Download MP3 (Photo: flickr.com/south-african-tourism)

• Vuvuzela Orchestra
• World Cup 2010: Organisers will not ban vuvuzelas
• Embrace vuvuzela say organisers

Genetically engineered foods in Europe

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In Germany, public opinion runs strongly against genetically engineered crops. Scientists who work in the field endure protests and occasional threats. So why do the scientists stay in Germany? One reason: the German government provides generous research funding. David Hecht reports. Download MP3 (photo: David Hecht)

• Can genetically modified crops help feed the world?
• A Tale of Two Spuds