2009 November 30 | PRI's The World

Entire program – November 30, 2009

By The World ⋅ November 30, 2009 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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Today on The World: Anticipation for President Obama’s announcement tomorrow on Afghanistan; Also, a reporter’s view of how organized crime has evolved over the years in Japan; And, how Dubai’s financial problems could lead to more problems in Europe and elsewhere.

The situation in Kandahar

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President Obama will officially unveil his new orders for the US military in Afghanistan tomorrow night at the US Military Academy at West Point, New York. You can be certain the President’s speech will be closely watched at the military base in Kandahar. That’s Afghanistan’s second largest city and militants have been making gains in the area. Reporter Ben Gilbert is there. Download MP3

Dubai repercussions

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The government in Dubai has confirmed that it will not guarantee the debt of the state-controled investment company, Dubai World. This has led to sharp falls on the Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock markets. But the problems in Dubai and Abu Dhabi could have long-term repercussions in parts of Europe and the developing world. The World’s Jason Margolis has more. Download MP3

Tokyo Vice

By The World ⋅ November 30, 2009 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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Marco Werman talks with “Tokyo Vice” author Jake Adelstein. Adelstein’s new book chronicles his years covering Japanese organized crime and vice as a reporter for Japan’s Yomiuri Shinbun newspaper. Download MP3

Jake Adelstein reads an excerpt:

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Book information: Tokyo Vice
www.japansubculture.com

Marriage and Río de la Plata

By The World ⋅ November 30, 2009 ⋅ 6 comments ⋅ Transcript

The Rio de la Plata leads you right up to the doorstep of today’s Geo Quiz. The Río de la Plata or River Plate is located on the south-eastern coast of South America….

Global Hit: Paganini

By The World ⋅ November 30, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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For today’s Global Hit, we tackle a very serious subject: classical music. Or maybe not so serious, if you’re checking out Paganini, a comedy string quartet from Spain and Lebanon. The group’s mission is to get the world of classical music to lighten up. The World’s Gerry Hadden went to one of Paganini’s shows in Spain. Download MP3

Brown announces more troops

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Britain confirmed today that it’s sending more troops to Afghanistan. The World’s Laura Lynch reports that the British announcement may have previewed tomorrow’s speech by President Obama.

Report highlights shortcomings in Afghanistan

By The World ⋅ November 30, 2009 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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The war in Afghanistan might be going better were it not for a missed opportunity in December, 2001. A new report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee revisits a crucial moment in the war — when Osama bin Laden escaped from Tora Bora. We speak with Douglas Frantz, the chief investigator for the Committee’s Democratic staff who prepared the study.

Bankruptcy in high fashion

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The prestigious French fashion house Christian Lacroix is facing bankruptcy. Anchor Marco Werman speaks about the bankruptcy and its implications with Hilary Alexander, fashion director for The Daily Telegraph newspaper in London.

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography puzzler.

War crimes suspect in court

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Retired US autoworker John Demjanjuk made a court appearance in Germany today. He’s facing a trial there on charges that he was a Nazi concentration camp guard who herded thousands of Jews to their deaths during the Holocaust. The BBC’s Steve Rosenberg reports from Munich.

Minaret ban in Switzerland

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A vote in Switzerland to ban construction of minarets on mosques is drawing criticism from other parts of Europe. The World’s Jane Little reports.

Geo answer

By The World ⋅ November 30, 2009 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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The answer to our Geo Quiz today is Buenos Aires, Argentina. Two men living in Buenos Aires plan to get married tomorrow. It would be Argentina’s first legally-sanctioned same-sex marriage. The World’s Julia Kumari Drapkin spoke to the grooms in a Buenos Aires hotel.

Words your grandmother taught you in Chinese, Dutch and Yiddish

By Patrick Cox ⋅ November 30, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Many people learned their first foreign words from their grandmothers. Marco Werman learned a Dutch curse. Nina Porzucki learned a Yiddish word that speaks to a certain Jewish mindset. Marilyn Chin learned insults, puns and tongue twisters, many of which later found their way into Chin’s poetry and fiction.
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