Friday, September 22, 2017

Top US News & World Headlines — September 22, 2017


Dotard: An Educational Insult


Inside Story: Is President Donald Trump to Blame for a Rise in Hate Crimes?


The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC celebrates its first anniversary this week. It took a century to get it built - a salute to the history, culture and achievements of America's almost 40 million black people. Fittingly, it was the Obamas who opened it along with George W. Bush, who had signed off on the project. Its opening could have heralded a new era, a departure from the racism of the past. But it hasn't.

In the past 12 months the US has had perhaps its most divisive election, there's a new man in the White House and racist violence and hate crimes are on the rise. So, what's behind this spike in hate?

Presenter: Martine Dennis | Guests: Daryl Johnson - Author, 'Rightwing Resurgence'; Day Gardener - President, National Black Pro-Life Union; Corey Saylor - Director, Department to Monitor & Combat Islamophobia, Council on American-Islamic Relations


How Saudi Arabia Financed Global Terror (2015)


Funding Jihad? (2003) - Did the Saudi Royal Family really finance 9/11? Although a key Middle Eastern ally of America and Britain, the Wahhabist Saudi regime is nevertheless suspected of financing terror groups around the world.

Saudi Arabia's Dissenting Princes Are Being Hunted


Saudi Arabia - a key ally of the UK and America - has been ruled as an absolute monarchy since its foundation. Any opposition in the country is often brutally oppressed. BBC Arabic has been investigating allegations the Saudi monarchy has operated a system of illegal abduction and capture of dissident princes who have criticised the government, including evidence of princes kidnapped in Europe and forced back to Saudi Arabia, where they've not been heard from since. Reda El Mawy reports.

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Worlds Apart: German Elections – Harold James, Professor of History and International Affairs


Germany is soon going to the polls for an election that most probably won’t change much, but will mean a whole lot. This is because the country, which once was blamed for destroying Europe, is now tasked with saving it. How well are the Germans coping in balancing their guilt for Europe's past with their sense of responsibility for its future? To discuss this, Oksana is joined by Harold James, Professor of History and International Affairs at Princeton University.

Top US News & World Headlines — September 21, 2017


Brexit: The UK's Charm Offensive in the EU Regions - BBC Newsnight


Brexit secretary David Davis has been quietly reaching out beyond the EU's formal structures - to some of the places that could have most to lose from Brexit. Our political editor Nicholas Watt reports.

France: Front National Leader Philippot Explains Why He’s Leaving the Party


US - At United Nations, Rouhani Defends Iran Nuclear Deal against 'Rogue Newcomers'


Wednesday, September 20, 2017

What Is Trump's Message to the World? - Inside Story


The United Nations hosts the 72nd General Assembly - a gathering of 193 members to discuss the most pressing problems of our time. It is US President Donald Trump's first.

What is Trump's message to the world?

Presenter: Martine Dennis | Guests: Ian Williams - former president of the UN correspondents association; author of "Untold: A Guide to the UN”; Jeanne Zaino - political analyst; professor of political science and international studies at Iona College – specialist in US elections and political parties; Evan Siegfried - political strategist; author of "GOP GPS: How to find the Millenials and Urban Voters the Republican Party Needs to Survive"


The Debate: Iran's Rebuttal: Tehran Answers Trump and Netanyahu


Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim's UN Speech in Full


Qatar's emir has addressed the 72nd UN General Assembly session in New York City. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani addressed Qatar’s blockade and called “for an unconditional dialogue based on mutual respect for sovereignty”.

On international matters, he called on Myanmar's government "to stop violence against Rohingya minority" and appealed to Palestinians to complete their "national reconciliation".


Hurricane Maria Tears through Puerto Rico


Hurricane Maria has made landfall in Puerto Rico. It is one of the strongest hurricanes ever to hit the island.

The Category 4 storm is packing winds of 250 kilometres per hour, with officials warning of catastrophic damage.

Al Jazeera's Andy Gallacher reports from San Juan.


Kim Jong Un’s Most Bizarre Claims



N. Korea’s Kim keeps teen sex slaves, executes musicians with anti-aircraft guns, defector reveals »

Are Universities in Pakistan Becoming a Breeding Ground for Terrorism?


Top US News & World Headlines — September 20, 2017


Eine letzte Zigarette: Aufstieg und Fall des blauen Dunstes (2009)


A Final Cigarette (Swiss documentary) - Das war einmal: Schweizer TV-Moderatoren mit der Zigarette in der Hand, Swissair-Piloten, die sich nach dem Start mit einem Glimmstengel belohnen, Nationalräte im Tabakdunst: DOK dokumentiert den Aufstieg und Fall des blauen Dunstes. Ist die zunehmende Reglementierung des Rauchens richtig oder falsch?

Auf der Terrasse des rauchfreien Bundeshauses stehen schlotternde Nationalräte im Schneesturm und rauchen trotz beissender Kälte. DOK-Autor Fritz Muri vergleicht diese Szene mit Fundstücken aus Film- und Fotoarchiven aus einer Zeit, als mehr als 50 Prozent der Erwachsenen in der Schweiz noch rauchten.

Ein besonderes Highlight ist die Szene, in der Dichter Friedrich Dürrenmatt und Literaturpapst Marcel Reich-Ranicki während einer Fernsehdiskussion einen Studiobrand verursachten. Besonders die Eliten aus Kultur, Medien und Politik waren dem blauen Dunst zugetan. Kettenraucher gab es aber auch unter Piloten und Chirurgen. Models hüpften mit der Zigarette in der Hand über den Laufsteg, und die Werbung verbreitete omnipräsent den Duft der grossen weiten Welt.

Die weltweiten Kampagnien der Tabakmultis hatten damals ihre Gesichter. Zwei davon gehörten Schweizern: Der Berner George Herriger zog als Camel-Man durch den Dschungel, und Beat Wyss lächelte als Parisienne-Protagonist von den Plakatwänden der Luzerner wurde damals unfreiwillig zum Vorzeigeraucher und erforschte später als Professor der Kunst- und Mediengeschichte die Kulturgeschichte des Rauchens. Im Dokumentarfilm wird er zum Experten im doppelten Sinne.

Zu Wort kommen auch Präventivmediziner, Manager der Tabakmultis, der ehemalige Tabak-Lobbyist Edgar Oehler und der vormalige Tageschau-Chef Heiner Hug. DOK zeigt, wie in Büros, Fernsehstudios, Spitälern und Polizeistationen die Raucherinnen und Raucher immer mehr an den Rand gedrängt werden, aber auch wie eine Handvoll Genussraucher auf ein Zürichseeschiff flüchtet, um ungestört ihrem Laster zu frönen.

Fritz Muri schildert in seinem Film zudem die Geschichte des Bündner Volksmusikkönigs Peter Zinsli. Nach 60 Jahren als Raucher kann er heute nur noch mit einer Sauerstoffmaske überleben. Kann sein Beispiel seinen Sohn und seine Enkelin vom Rauchen abhalten? DOK gibt die Antwort.