Friday, November 30, 2018

What Do Ex-lawyer Pleas Mean for Trump? - BBC Newsnight


President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen is back - this time with allegations about the President's Russian links. Trump denies wrong-doing, but how damaging could this new information be?

Kirsty Wark is joined from San Francisco by former US attorney Harry Litman, and from the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires by RT America presenter Scottie Nell Hughes.


Thursday, November 29, 2018

What's Ahead for the US-Saudi Relationship? l Inside Story


US Senators have sent a strong message to the White House – they will hold Saudi Arabia to account over its rôle in the war in Yemen and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The Senate has voted to hold hearings next week on whether to end US involvement in the 3-year old conflict. That's despite strong opposition from the Trump administration, which sent the Secretaries of State and Defense to persuade Senators to vote against the measure.

So, what will this mean for the future of the US-Saudi relationship?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Charles Moran - Republican Political Strategist; Karen Greenberg - Director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University School of Law; Glenn Carle - A former CIA officer.


Should Saudi Crown Prince Be Charged with War Crimes? G20 Host, Argentina, Considers Probe


Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman could face prosecution in Argentina for alleged complicity in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the Saudi-led humanitarian crisis in Yemen. On Wednesday, an Argentine prosecutor reportedly accepted a request by Human Rights Watch to prosecute the crown prince, just hours after he landed in Argentina ahead of the G20 summit. Argentina recognizes universal jurisdiction for war crimes and torture, which means it is able to press charges against the crown prince while he is in the country. We speak with Reed Brody, counsel and spokesperson for Human Rights Watch, and Shireen Al-Adeimi, Yemeni scholar, activist, and an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University.

Despite Tension between Iran and Israel, Iran’s Jewish Minority Feels At Home


Jewish people have called Iran home for nearly 3,000 years. The Trump administration and U.S. ally Israel often depict the Iranian government as composed of anti-Semitic radical Islamists bent on destroying Israel. But within Iran, many of the estimated 15,000 Jews say they're safe and happy living in the Islamic Republic. Reza Sayah takes a rare inside look at life for Iran's Jewish minority.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

#democracynow : Top US News & World Headlines — November 28, 2018


A Fourth Reich In The Sun - Hitler's Escape to Argentina


Patrick Henningsen interviews Gerrard Williams, the former Duty Editor at Reuters Television and Foreign Duty Editor at The BBC, Sky News and APTN and author of the book Grey Wolf. Patrick and Gerrard take a deeper look into one of the greatest the untold stories of World War II, where Adolf Hitler and many other top Nazis including Martin Bormann, escaped to Argentina after the Fall of Berlin in 1945.

In addition, they investigate the active role of many top US and German international corporations had in supporting the Nazi war machine during the war, as well as top Nazi involvement in the formation of the Bilderberg Group after WWII.


Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Can Turkey Trigger International Probe into Khashoggi's Murder? l Inside Story


It's been nearly two months since journalist Jamal Khashoggi walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. His murder at the hands of a 15-member hit squad has put Saudi Arabia under an international spotlight. Its embattled Crown Prince, who's been accused of ordering the killing, is on a tour of regional countries before he heads to Argentina for the G-20 Summit.

But Turkey wants to make sure the case does not disappear from the world's attention. Its investigators launched a search of two villas outside Istanbul on Monday. They say they're owned by a Saudi businessman close to the Crown Prince. But will this make any difference? And Can Turkey successfully push for an international investigation?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan | Guests: Vehbi Baysan - Professor of History at Ibn Haldun University; Matthew Bryza - Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council and a former US Ambassador; Simon Mabon - Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Lancaster University in the UK


Sunday, November 25, 2018

Will Macron Bow to the Demands of 'Yellow Vest' Protesters? l Inside Story


French fuel tax protesters again vent their anger against President Emmanuel Macron.

Emmanuel Macron was elected last year on presidential pledges to create more jobs and improve lives. But for many French people, his economic reforms are a disaster. Critics accuse him of being a president for the rich - while hurting the poor.

One of his reforms is causing particular outrage - fuel tax. So-called 'Yellow Vest' protesters in Paris blocked roads for a second successive Saturday to tell Macron they've had enough. And his environmentally-friendly tax on diesel aimed at cutting pollution has to go - and so does he.

So, will he change his controversial policies?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan | Guests: Anne Giudicelli - Founder of Terrorisc Consultancy; Jacques Reland - Senior Research Fellow, Global Policy Institute London; Renaud Girard - Chief Foreign Correspondent, Le Figaro daily newspaper



Friday, November 23, 2018

A Royal Family, Episode 1: The Father-in-law of Europe | Documentary


At the end of the 1800s, the Danish King, Christian IX and his wife, Queen Louise, married their six children into the dominating European royal families and Christian IX became known as "Europe's Father-In-Law". Today, his descendants are to be found all over Europe.

These are their stories, stories of power, love, triumph, tragedy and honour, recounted through interviews and never before published letters, photographs and home movie footage, by over 30 members of the European royal family.

Anecdotes handed down through generations give insight into a Europe ruled by 'dynasty politics' where arranged marriages created alliances between countries.

In the Europe of the 1800s, Denmark, England, and Russia each have a childless king; all three need an heir to the throne. Speedily arranged marriages, births, and cunning strategies bring King Christian IX, Queen Victoria and Tsar Alexander II to the throne.


Wadah Khanfar Interview on Media Coverage of the Killing of Khashoggi | One on One Express


We sit down for a one on one interview with Wadah Khanfar, the director of Al Sharq Forum to discuss media coverage of the killing of Khashoggi, how it’s influenced public opinion, and its repercussions.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Trump Chooses “Relationship with Saudi Arabia” over Accountability for Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder


Despite overwhelming evidence that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated at the order of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Trump stood by Saudi Arabia Tuesday in an extraordinary written statement riddled with exclamation points and subtitled “America First,” writing, “It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn’t! That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Trump’s statement came even after The Washington Post reported last Friday that the CIA has “high confidence” that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. Saudi officials have tried to dismiss Khashoggi’s death as a rare, unauthorized killing, but a recent New York Times report suggests the kingdom has sought out private companies to assassinate perceived enemies since the beginning of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s rule. We speak with the Israeli investigative reporter who helped break the story, Ronen Bergman, author of “Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations.” Ronen Bergman is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine and the senior national security correspondent for Yedioth Ahronoth. His piece in The New York Times is titled “Saudis Close to Crown Prince Discussed Killing Other Enemies a Year Before Khashoggi’s Death.”

How Far Can Trump Shield Bin Salman? l Inside Story


The US President admits Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to murder journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The CIA says the Crown Prince actually ordered it. But Trump’s contradicted his intelligence agency saying that’s not a definitive determination; and in any case he says it would be foolish to take action against Riyadh. That would threaten lucrative weapons deals and push the price of oil up. Very simple, said Trump, It’s America First.

But it might not be that simple – all eyes are now on the US Congress to see what it will do. So, America First? Or justice last?

Presenter: Laura Kyle | Guests: Mohamad Elmasry, Associate Professor of Journalism at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies; Sigurd Neubauer, Middle East Analyst and Columnist; Cinzia Bianco, Senior Analyst and researcher at Gulf State Analytics


Sunday, November 18, 2018

Nancy Isenberg: The Origin of ‘White Trash,’ and Why Class Is Still an Issue in the US


In “White Trash,” Nancy Isenberg delves into the history of class in America, starting with British colonization. At that time, America was seen as a wasteland -- a place to discard the idle poor. The agrarian communities they subsequently formed often remained poor due to a phenomenon Isenberg calls “horizontal mobility.” Jeffrey Brown speaks with the author about how we can evolve past class.

CIA Blames Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman for Khashoggi Murder


’The Washington Post’ is reporting that the CIA blames Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Friday, November 16, 2018

What Can Khashoggi Tape Reveal about His Murder? | Inside Story


Saudi Arabia has given numerous versions of what happened to Jamal Khashoggi at its consulate in Istanbul, but has always maintained Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew nothing about his death. And it has insisted the killing wasn't pre-meditated.

But now the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet has leaked an audio recording that contradicts the latest Saudi narrative. It suggests a hit squad discussed Khashoggi's murder prior to him entering the consulate on October 2nd.

Presenter Laura Kyle | Guests: Saad Djebbar, International Lawyer and Political Commentator. He represented PLO Leader Yasser Arafat’s widow and Al Jazeera journalists who were in prison; Matthew Bryza, former White House official and Senior fellow at the Atlantic Council; Sahar Aziz, Professor of Law at Rutgers University and Director of the Center on Security, Race, and Civil Rights


Thursday, November 15, 2018

Saudi Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty for Five in Khashoggi Murder l Breaking News


Authorities in Saudi Arabia say they will seek the death penalty for five people accused of carrying out the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul. Speaking in Riyadh, Shaalan al-Shaalan, Saudi Arabia's deputy public prosecutor, said "the incident" began on September 29 when a "former" deputy chief of intelligence ordered the "leader of the mission" to "bring back the victim by means of persuasion, and if persuasion fails, to do so by force". While the prosecutor's office did not give names, General Ahmed al-Asiri, who was fired as deputy head of intelligence in the wake of the killing, has been implicated. Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons reports.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

President Donald Trump Retreating From Duties Into A ‘Cocoon Of Bitterness’ | The Last Word | MSNBC


The Los Angeles Times reports that Trump has almost completely stopped his public duties in the wake of Republicans' major election losses. Lawrence discusses Trump's 'brooding' and 'anger' with Jason Johnson and Jennifer Palmieri.