World Books Review: Mao and the Chess Master

In one of the novellas in this fine, powerful collection, acclaimed Chinese writer Ah Cheng probes chess much as the best of Western writers have. What’s more, these stories, which first appeared in the mid-1980s, changed the course of his country’s literature by challenging Maoist conformity.

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• Bill Marx’s Arts Fuse magazine

Global Political Cartoons: July 18 – 24, 2010

President Obama is about as popular as BP; Fidel Castro lets some of the caged go free; and Apple’s Steve Jobs tries to listen to his critics using an iPhone 4.

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Global Political Cartoons: July 18-24, 2010

President Obama is about as popular as BP; Fidel Castro lets some of the caged go free; and Apple’s Steve Jobs tries to listen to his critics using an iPhone 4.

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European inland sea

For our Geo Quiz today…imagine you’re looking down from space . Now, imagine you see a blueish-green swirl spreading over 150,000 square miles. It’s not the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Actually it’s floating on the surface of a shallow sea in northern Europe – the one we’d like you to name.

Entire program – July 23, 2010

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Today on The World: US marines still fighting off the Taliban in Marja, Afghanistan, five months after the surge there. Also, a new US law calls for electronics manufacturers to investigate whether their business is funding conflict in Africa and a project in east Africa that’s using Koranic principles to teach environmental conservation.

Staking out a corner of Taliban country

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Travel with us to a military base in Southern Afghanistan. It used to be controlled by the Taliban. Now US Marines hold the fort but the Taliban are on every side. The World’s Ben Gilbert spent some time with the Marines at Patrol Base Chris in Marjah (Photo: Ben Gilbert) Download MP3

• Multimedia: See Ben Gilbert’s photo slideshow from Marjah
• The surge in Afghanistan
• Infrastructure for Afghanistan offensive

The drone war in Pakistan

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The Taliban in Pakistan have told the BBC that attacks by US drone aircraft are having an effect on Taliban activities in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. Marco Werman talks with BBC’s Islamabad Bureau chief Haroon Rashid to learn more. Download MP3

• BBC: Mapping U.S. drone and Islamic militant attacks
• America’s third war
• Video: U.S. drone attacks increase

Google Maps and geo-politics

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Google’s policy to offer multi-interpretations or “open-ended” maps has embroiled the company in some of the world’s hottest geo-political disputes. The World’s Anchor Marco Werman interviews John Gravois, a writer and editor based in the Middle East, who recently wrote for the Washington Monthly on the issue. Download MP3

• Multimedia: Compare the differences in U.S., India and China Google Maps
• John Gravois’ report: The Agnostic Cartographer
• Cyber espionage in China

Marco Werman and Tom Schnabel’s Top Picks

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At the height of the July heat we’re thinking music here at The World. Anchor Marco Werman chats with Tom Schnabel, music programmer at KCRW, to discuss their top World music picks of the summer. Download MP3

Join the discussion in our comments section:
What World music are you taking to the beach?
What’s your personal soundtrack this summer?

• Click here for Marco and Tom’s picks
• The World’s Top Picks of 2009
• Tom Schnabel at KCRW

Eco-Islam in Africa

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Green is the color commonly associated with Islam and some scholars say the Koran also commands Muslims to be green in the modern environmental sense. In East Africa, a development project using Islamic ethics has taught locals the Koranic imperatives of conserving natural resources. Some say eco-Islam has taken root. From Pemba Island in Tanzania, Matthew Brunwasser reports. (Photo: Matthew Brunwasser) Download MP3

• Multimedia: See Matthew Brunwasser’s photo slideshow of Pemba Island
• Environment coverage on The World

Colombia and Venezuela break off relations

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The already strained relationship between neighbors Colombia and Venezuela is taking another hit. Venezuela’s president Hugo Chávez has severed diplomatic relations with Colombia following accusations that his government is harboring Marxist rebels. John Otis reports from Bogota.

Canadian census controversy

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Canada asks a lot more questions when it comes to collecting census information. And some Canadians say the forms violate their privacy. So Canada is dropping some questions, and it’s considering making census participation voluntary. Derek Stoffel reports from Toronto.

Cell phones and conflict minerals

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There’s been growing concern in the US that certain minerals used in the manufacture of electronics are linked to criminal activity in eastern Congo. Now a provision of the new US financial regulation law calls for manufacturers to disclose where elements of their products come from. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with two experts on the matter – Mike Loch of Motorola, and Mike Davis with the international trade watchdog group Global Witness.

Geo Quiz and Answer

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The answer to today’s Geo Quiz is Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where the holiest Islamic shrine Ka’bah is located. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Usef Arefin of the BBC’s Indonesia Service about confusion that’s arisen in Indonesia over the Kiblah, the geographic direction that Muslims face when they pray to Mecca.

• Qibla locator
• Geo Quiz Archive

Music Heard on Air for July 23, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For July 23, 2010. Artists featured are Bela Fleck, Kerekes Band, Habib Koite & Bamada, Vieux Farka Toure, Mongo Santamaria.