Conserving Dubai’s deserts

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It was nice and warm in the city of Dubai today. The temperature reached 99 degrees but it’s dry heat and there are ways to escape it even though the rest of the emirate is mostly desert. Correspondent Jake Warga tells us about the mixed feelings the people of Dubai have for their desert. Download MP3 (Photo: Jake Warga)

• On The World: Dubai super tower
• Alex Gallafent’s Dubai series (2007)

Investigation into failed NYC attack continues

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Attorney General Eric Holder said Thursday that suspect Faisal Shahzad’s cooperation with US agents is continuing as investigators delve into the attempted Times Square bombing. The Pentagon said it was encouraged by Pakistani cooperation in the case. Authorities in Islamabad are looking into possible connections between Pakistani extremist groups and Shahzad. Matthew Bell reports. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• NY Times: “Evidence Mounts for Taliban Role in Car Bomb Plot”
• Profile: Faisal Shahzad

NYC bomb suspect ‘nearly escaped US’

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Details have emerged of how Pakistan-born Faisal Shahzad, who is suspected of plotting to bomb New York City’s Times Square, was arrested while trying to leave the US. Shahzad was allowed onto a Dubai-bound plane, despite being on a no-fly list. It was only when customs agents checked passenger names 30 minutes before take-off that he was noticed and arrested, he now faces terrorism and explosives charges. The World’s Matthew Bell reports on changes being made to the way no-fly lists work. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Times Square bomb suspect charged
• Profile: Faisal Shahzad

Mistaken identity

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Freelance journalist Alon Tuval has the misfortune of looking a lot like one of the suspects in the Dubai case. He says even friends are mistaking him for one of those involved. He’s in Jerusalem now. Katy Clark checks in with him. Download MP3

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• Murder mystery in the Middle East

Murder mystery in the Middle East

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Last month, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a military commander of the Palestinian group Hamas, was killed in Dubai. Hamas blamed Israel. This week, Dubai police released names, photos, and passport numbers of 11 members of an alleged hit-squad. Dubai said they carried European passports, but most of the identities appear to have been stolen. And at least seven of those identities matched up with Israeli citizens. We hear from Ronen Bergman, the security and intelligence correspondent for the Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth. Download MP3

• BBC coverage of this story
• BBC history of Israeli covert killing

Dubai super tower

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The world’s tallest building has been opened in a dramatic fireworks ceremony in the Gulf emirate of Dubai. The Burj Khalifa is more than 2,700 feet high. Construction began in 2004, at the height of an economic boom but now the opening came after a financial crisis which has seen Dubai bailed out by Abu Dhabi. Bernard Zand, is a correspondent for ‘Der Spiegel’ Download MP3 (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

• BBC coverage
• Burj Khalifa in pictures
• Alex Gallafent on the Dubai crisis (Nov 27)

Romance and Freedom… Making Sales

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The Global Economy Podcast was recently voted one of iTunes top podcasts for 2009! Quite an honor. Thank you, good folks at iTunes.

Some of the themes on this edition of the podcast: love and freedom. Or rather, using love and freedom to sell products. How can you not tune in for that? Now you see why this is one of the year’s best podcasts!

Entire program – December 4, 2009

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Today on The World: Suicide militants in Pakistan kill at least 35 people at a mosque in Rawalpindi, a look inside the Dubai debt crisis, and how China might clean up its image while it works to clean up its environment.

Dubai’s debt crisis

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What’s behind the fall of Dubai World? Some say Dubai’s Islamic banks may have abandoned their principles for Western-style investing. The World’s Aaron Schachter explains.

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

• BBC coverage
• Global Economy podcast
• Alex Gallafent on the Dubai crisis

Dubai in trouble

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Shares at Wall Street fell on worries about Dubai’s debt problems, with the Dow Jones ending down 154 points on Friday. It was the US markets’ first chance to react to news that state-owned Dubai World had asked for more time to repay its debts. American markets were closed for Thanksgiving when other world markets all suffered steep losses. Alex Gallafent reports. Download MP3(Photo credit: Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images)

• BBC coverage
• Global Economy podcast
• The World’s Alex Gallafent reported from Dubai in 2007