Monday, June 12, 2017

Qatar Airways Chief: Air Blockade ‘Unfair and Illegal’


The Chief Executive of Qatar Airways says the measures taken against Qatari air traffic should be declared illegal. Speaking to Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons, Akbar Al Baker criticised Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for closing their airspace to Qatari flights.

Oman's Flourishing Youth Consider the Future of Their Nation


'A Young Nation' portrays Oman through the eyes of its youth and strives to put a human face on what is at stake in the country, touching on the anxious question of stability in Oman and the rest of the Middle East. This report was filmed, edited and produced by Hannah Gaber.

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Bad News in the Battle for Freedom of Speech


Ezra Levant of TheRebel.media reports more bad news in the battle for freedom of speech as the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear his appeal of the defamation judgment against him.

The Trump Experiment Has Failed – Still Think We Should Run Government Like A Business?


Republicans have long been telling us that we should elect a businessman to the Presidency to run this country like a business. How’s that working out for ya? It is time that we understand that political experience means something in this country, and that the United States is not a business. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

General Election: Britain Post-Brexit – May's Misjudgment


MARK ALEXANDER: Brexit is tearing the UK apart. It was a very bad idea from the start.

Prior to the referendum, there was no good, rational debate on the subject. Debate was governed by emotion and misinformation. So people ended up voting without knowing the facts.

As a result, the country is divided: younger people tend to be Remainers; older people tend to be Brexiters. Many young people feel they have had their future taken away from them; old people feel that Britain now has a chance to regain sovereignty and take back control.

We are living, however, in an increasingly globalized world; so how much true sovereignty can we expect to regain by leaving the EU? Moreover, what is it going to cost us?

The problem for the Tories is simple to understand. Ever since the UK entered the EU, the Party has been split – split between Europhobes and Europhiles. It seems that no leader has been able to heal the rift between these two groups. Thatcher couldn’t do it; and nor could Cameron. That’s why Cameron called the Brexit referendum: to try and bring his Party together. The mess we have now is the result. So now, instead of just the Tories being divided, the nation is divided too.

May had been herself a Remainer. She’d have been better off sticking to her principles.

© Mark Alexander

All Rights Reserved

Inside Story - How Long Can Britain's May Cling to Power?


Theresa May, British prime minister, is fighting to save her political career after Thursday's election setback. May addressed the nation on Friday - saying she has struck a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to form a minority government. She says what the UK needs now more than ever - is stability, and not division.

Despite Theresa May's enthusiasm to go forward, the leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party, Nicola Sturgeon, says it is time for May to move on. Sturgeon says she has lost all "authority and credibility". She says the conservatives were "reckless", and Sturgeon is promising to form alliances with any party willing to keep them out of power. So, did Theresa May's call for a snap elections backfire? | Presenter: Jane Dutton | Guests: Alex Deane - former chief of staff to David Cameron, former UK prime minister, and now heads up the public-affairs firm, FTI Consulting; Matthew Goodwin - senior fellow at the Brexit think tank, UK in a Changing Europe; Matt Zarb-Cousin - former spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn | Source: Al Jazeera News


Brexit Doubts Loom after May's Snap UK Election Gamble Back Fires


European leaders took little time to digest Britain’s complex general election result before insisting that Brexit negotiations must go on, regardless of the hung parliament which threatens to sink talks before they’ve even begun.

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Bill O'Reilly on James Comey's Testimony, Fox News and More


Qatar FM in Moscow for Talks with Russia


Qatar's Foreign Minister was in Moscow on Saturday for talks with his Russian counterpart. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said only dialogue will solve the dispute that's dividing the Gulf. But Washington's role as mediator is in question. Al Jazeera’s as Andrew Simmons explains.

Merkel Assumes UK Will Stick with Its Brexit Plan


German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the EU is ready to start Brexit negotiations despite the UK election shock.

Brexit: 'I Feel I've Been Excluded' – BBC News


Theresa May says she is determined to start Brexit negotiations with the EU in 10 days' time, as originally planned. There are three million EU nationals living in the UK who were not eligible to vote at the election, but the way Brexit is delivered will have a profound effect on their lives. The BBC spoke to a group of EU nationals living in Edinburgh to gauge their reaction.

Is the President a "Serial Fabricator"? Fired FBI Director Comey Says Trump Repeatedly Lies


Tuesday, June 06, 2017

Meet Larry Krasner: Civil Rights Attorney, Death Penalty Opponent & Democratic Philly DA Candidate


Saudi Move against Qatar Is a Game-of-Thrones Style Power Play


Engulfed: How Far Will Qatar Row Go? (Parts 1 & 2)



Is Saudi Arabia Preparing an Annexation of Qatar?


Paris's Notre-Dame: Attacker Shot Outside Cathedral - BBC News


French police say they have shot a man outside the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, after he tried to attack an officer using a hammer. Police have closed the area and are asking people to stay away. Reports say the attacker has been injured and his condition is not clear. Eyewitnesses reported tourists fleeing for cover. France is in a state of emergency since attacks by jihadists in Paris left 130 people dead in 2015.

Is the Qatar Boycott a Precursor to Invasion?


The London Bridge Massacre: David Wood



Hat tip: Always On Watch »

Top US & World Headlines — June 6, 2017


Comey Prepares to Testify on Trump and Russia - BBC News


The former FBI Director will testify in front of US Congress and comment on whether President Trump wanted him to stop investigating his connections to Russia. | Produced by Franz Strasser.

Qatar's Foreign Minister Talks to Al Jazeera about Diplomatic Crisis


Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke to Al Jazeera after several member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council and others severed diplomatic ties.

How Should We Tackle Extremism? - BBC Newsnight


How should society balance the need for security with the protection of civil liberty? Evan Davis speaks to Henna Rai, Director of the Women Against Radicalisation Network, and Anas Altikriti, CEO of the Cordoba Foundation.

Sebastian Gorka on President Trump’s Twitter Feud with London Mayor - BBC Newsnight


Following a Twitter feud between President Donald Trump and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Evan Davis speaks to Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka.

President Trump vs President Obama Visiting Saudi Arabia


Fight Over the Succession in Saudi Arabia?


He might be only a little more than 30 years old, but Mohamed Bin Salman is already one of the most powerful people in the world and he controls more money than we could ever possibly count.

Leaked UAE Emails: Yousef al-Otaiba Criticises Trump


The latest round of leaked emails of the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to the US reveal repeated criticism by the diplomat of then-US presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The Huffington Post, the US media outlet that received the latest series of emails, said they showed Yousef al-Otaiba denigrating Trump and others with officials close to then-President Barack Obama.


UAE Email Leak: 'On What Planet Can Trump Be President?'


The latest round of leaked emails of the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to the US reveal repeated criticism by the diplomat of US President Donald Trump.

Trump le climato-sceptique


Le président américain doit se prononcer ce soir sur le retrait ou le maintien dans l’accord de Paris. Mais son indifférence face au climat est déjà notoire.


Trump le climato-sceptique by LePoint

La réaction d'Emmanuel Macron au retrait des États-Unis de l'accord de Paris


Emmanuel Macron réagit au retrait des États-Unis de l'accord de Paris.


La réaction d'Emmanuel Macron au retrait des... by LePoint

Pourquoi l'Arabie saoudite met au ban le Qatar


Riyad et ses alliés ont rompu leurs relations diplomatiques avec le petit émirat, accusé d'un double jeu vis-à-vis du voisin iranien.


Pourquoi l'Arabie Saoudite a rompu ses... by LePoint

Faithkeepers: Inspire the World to Stop Christian Genocide


Monday, June 05, 2017

Morning Joe & Mika's Epic Reaction To Trump's Latest Tweets


Trump Trolls London Mayor after Terror Attack


London Attack: Policing, Politics and the Response to the Latest Rampage (Parts 1 & 2)



Inside Story - What's Behind the Diplomatic Breakdown in the Gulf?


What's behind the diplomatic breakdown in the Gulf? – Inside Story This time it's more than just recalling ambassadors. Land and sea borders have been closed. On top of that, major airlines are cancelling flights to and from Doha. And Qatar residents have two weeks to leave the Gulf states in question.

Qatari leaders say they’re astonished at what they call the unjustified decision by seven countries to cut diplomatic relations. A cabinet statement said the aim is to strip Qatar of its sovereign decisions. The Foreign Ministry said: 'The aim is clear and it is to impose guardianship on the state. This by itself is a violation of Qatar's sovereignty as a state. So, how far will this crisis go? And what will mean for the Gulf Cooperation Council? | Presenter: Kamahl Santamaria | Guests: Abdulaziz Alhorr, Academic, researcher and contributor to the book: 'Policy-making in transformative state: The Case of Qatar'; Mahjoob Zweiri, Associate Professor in contemporary history of the Middle East, Qatar University; David Hearst, Editor in chief of Middle East Eye


Le Qatar face au défi de son isolement dans le Golfe


LE FIGARO: L'Arabie saoudite, les Émirats et l'Égypte rompent avec Doha, accusé de financer le terrorisme.

Rupture des relations diplomatiques, fermeture des espaces aériens et maritimes, interdiction de voyager au Qatar: la mise en quarantaine du minuscule émirat est entrée en vigueur. Appuyée par les Émirats arabes unis, Bahreïn et l'Égypte, l'Arabie saoudite a décidé lundi d'isoler son remuant voisin qu'elle accuse de financer le terrorisme. «Le Qatar accueille divers groupes terroristes pour déstabiliser la région, comme la confrérie des Frères musulmans, Daech et al-Qaida», souligne Riyad. À son tour, Doha, réagissant avec colère, a accusé ses voisins du Golfe de vouloir mettre le Qatar «sous tutelle» et de l'étouffer économiquement. » | Par Georges Malbrunot | lundi 5 juin 2017

Trump Attacks London's Mayor & Jeremy Corbyn Calls for Theresa May's Ouster After Terror in London


Should Internet Be Regulated in Effort to Prevent Terror?


Jun. 05, 2017 - 4:08 - Debate gets heated on 'Outnumbered'

Diplomatic Spat: Several Gulf States Cut Ties with Qatar for Allegedly ‘Supporting Terrorism’


The Middle East has descended into a huge diplomatic row. Four Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE have severed diplomatic ties with Qatar. While Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have also closed their borders with the country. They accuse Doha of supporting terrorism and interfering in the internal affairs of Arab states.

GCC Rift: Five Nations Cut Diplomatic Ties with Qatar


The Qatari government says it regrets the unjustified decision by four countries to cut diplomatic ties. Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also imposing an air, sea, and land embargo. The Saudis accuse Qatar of supporting extremism and radicalism as well as media incitement, which Qatar denies. Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra explains.

Here's What's Behind the Qatar Diplomatic Split


Four Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and moved to close off access to the Gulf country, escalating a crisis that started over its relationship with Iran and its support of the Muslim Brotherhood. Bloomberg's Mohammed Sergie reports on "Bloomberg Markets."

Iran's Leader Lashes Out at Trump, Saudis for Anti-Tehran Alliance


REUTERS.COM: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lashed out on Sunday against U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's leaders for their new regional alliance against Tehran, saying it would bear no fruit.

Trump singled out Iran as a key source of funding and support for militant groups during his visit to Saudi Arabia in late May, two days after the Iranian election in which pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani won a second term.

During Trump's visit to Riyadh, the U.S. sealed a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional arch-rival.

Khamenei called the visit a display of brazenness.

"The U.S. president stands alongside the leaders of a tribal and backward system and does the sword dance, but criticizes an Iranian election with 40 million votes," the supreme leader said in a speech broadcast live on state TV.

"Even with a multi-billion dollar bribe to America, the Saudis cannot achieve their goals in the region," he said. » | Reuters | Sunday, June 4, 2017

Sunday, June 04, 2017

What's the Reason behind Recent Media Attacks against Qatar? – Inside Story


It's been a week of tension in the Arabian gulf. Last week, Qatar's official news agency was hacked. Then, fake remarks critical of US foreign policy were posted on its website and wrongly attributed to Qatar's leader. Now, a series of e-mails belonging to the UAE's ambassador to the US have been leaked. They reveal a close co-ordination between the diplomat and a pro-Israeli Think tank in Washington DC. The e-mails also show how Ambassador Youssef al-Otaiba and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies or FDD lobbied in the US against Qatar and Kuwait. So, how will this impact US policy in the Gulf? | Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Saad Djebbar - International lawyer; Ian Black - Visiting Senior Fellow at the Middle East Centre at London School of Economics and a former Middle East Editor for The Guardian newspaper; Mohammed Cherkaoui - Professor of Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.

London Attacks: Police Arrest 12 after Terror Attack - BBC News


Twelve people have been arrested after the London terror attack which left seven people dead and 48 injured. The arrests in Barking, east London, followed a raid at a flat belonging to one of the three attackers.

No Ma’ame, It’s Not a Perversion of Islam!


Our prime minister has come out yet again with the trope that this is a “perversion of Islam.”

I am sick to death of listening to our so-called leaders’ twaddle about these terror attacks being a “perversion” of the 'peaceful faith of Islam.' How stupid do they think the electorate is? As I tweeted today: ‘Jihad is to Islam what Coke is to cola. It’s the real thing!’ Beat that, Mrs. May! That would be a good soundbite for you!

Our politicians will never get a grip on this problem, because they simply refuse to confront the truth. As I have told you before, this is not a law enforcement issue, which they insist it is; rather, it is a war – a war on the West. The Islamic State has already come out and called for ‘All Out War’ on the West during Ramadan. Islamic State is the real thing, too. Not much different from the version of Islam practised in Saudi Arabia. In fact, one could say it is identical. The only difference is that what is pracatised in Saudi Arabia is state-sanctioned rather than rogue. But the end result is the same.

How many more innocent people are going to have to be killed and maimed before our weak leaders change the narrative and accept that they have made a mistake allowing all these people into the West? When will our politicians come to their senses? They need to stop talking nonsense and start talking sense for a change.

Sad times!

© Mark Alexander

All Rights Reserved

Election Gamble: Tight Race before UK Vote, Polls Suggest Drop in Theresa May’s Ratings


A number of polls in the UK are showing a large drop in support for Prime Minister Theresa May, just days before the country votes. It paints a very different picture to when she called the snap election two months ago, amid predictions she was on course for an overwhelming victory. And while there's a chance they are just rogue polls, RT's Polly Boiko has been looking at what might happen if they turn out to be true.

Why Saudi Arabia Is Our Friend And Iran Is Our Enemy


The official reasons from the US government are lies. Jimmy Dore, and Steve Oh discuss on the latest episode of Aggressive Progressives.

UK: May Says “Things Need to Change,” Then Repeats False and Failed Analysis That Jihad Is “Perversion of Islam”


JIHAD WATCH: Theresa May says “far too much tolerance of extremism in our country,” and that “when it comes to taking on extremism and terrorism things need to change.” Then she repeats the same false and failed analysis, that the jihad “is a perversion of Islam.” Her refusal to identify the motivating ideology behind these jihad attacks means that she will never confront this enemy properly, and never deal with the real source of the incitement to violence. And so for all her tough talk, she is doomed to failure. Read on and comment » | Robert Spencer | Sunday, June 4, 2017

London Attacks: Theresa May 'Enough Is Enough' - BBC News


Prime Minister Theresa May has said it is time to say "enough is enough" when it comes to tackling terrorism. "We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are," she said. She said the general election will go ahead as planned on Thursday.

London Attacks: UK PM Theresa May Addresses Nation


How Islamic State Called for 'All-Out War' on West during Ramadan


THE TELEGRAPH: European security services are bracing for more attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, after Islamic State called on its followers to rise up in an “all-out war” on "infidels” in the West.

Last Saturday marked the start of a 30-day period of fasting and reflection in the Islamic world, which has in recent years seen a large uptick in Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) terror attacks.

“Muslim brothers in Europe who can’t reach the Islamic State lands, attack them in their homes, their markets, their roads and their forums,” the jihadist group said in a message entitled Where are the lions of war? and published on YouTube. Read on and comment » | Josie Ensor, Middle East Correspondent, in Beirut | Sunday, June 4, 2017

London Bridge Attack: Van Mows Down Pedestrians, Reports of Stabbing at Nearby Restaurant


Saturday, June 03, 2017

Behind The Scenes : The Prince Of Monaco's Kitchen - Documentary


''The politics divides the men, the gastronomy gathers them.'' In the service of the princely Couple, H.S.H. Prince Albert II and H.S.H. Princess Charlène of Monaco, the chef Christian Garcia prepares the particular meals of the family Grimaldi and orchestrates the big receptions of the Palace. We are going to follow in their everyday life, the Chamberlain, the servants, the linen maids, the gardeners, silver cleaners and entire staff of the Palace of Monaco which protect all the secular traditions in the art to receive. Through this exceptional documentary, we discover the wings of one of the most famous Palaces of the planet and the principality which fascinates the whole world. ''La bonne cuisine est la base du véritable bonheur.'' Auguste Escoffier, 1846 - 1935

Privacy And Power: A Year In The Life Of Prince Albert Of Monaco


For one year, our cameras followed the Prince in his daily head of state and family. Twelve key moments of a year of reign behind the scenes of princely palaces and abroad. His personal office atop one of the towers of the palace (rarely filmed) to the most private rooms where he always meets with the family, sports events in charitable prestigious galas, political obligations very personal passion, Monaco or abroad, the ruler of Monaco sharing for the first time his public and private life ... A topic not to be missed, in which man is surrounded by his top aides, his wife and his whole family to reveal its personality and intimate answer the questions related to his reign.

BBC Documentary - Abu Dhabi, UAE


BBC Presenter-Reporter Amandeep Bhangu | Current Affairs Documentary | Broadcast internationally | The UAE is often thought of in terms of oil wealth and conspicuous consumption. But the new name of the game is economic and cultural diversification. So is it really changing? Amandeep Bhangu examines by interviewing Emiratis and expats who work in the capital, Abu Dhabi.


UAE Direct »

"Cool, Smooth, Terrific": Macron's First Steps on the World Stage


Mike Pence Can't Understand Why People Care About Climate Change


Actually he understands fine. He’s acting perplexed because he’s a pathological liar who just needed to squeeze one more lie into an interview. Cenk Uygur, Ben Mankiewicz, John Iadarola, and Michael Shure, hosts of The Young Turks, discuss.

Branson: Paris Exit Cements Donald Trump As Worst President In U.S. History | For The Record | MSNBC


Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson tells Greta Van Susteren that President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord has “dragged America to a new, very shameful low.”

Friday, June 02, 2017

What Does US Decision on Climate Mean for our Planet? - Inside Story


President Donald Trump announced the United States was formally withdrawing from the landmark 2015 Paris climate agreement, keeping his campaign promise to American workers, especially coal miners.

The president, surrounded by his supporters, made the address during a speech at the White House on Thursday. Global leaders formed a united front in criticising the decision with condemnation coming from Asia, Australia and Europe. What is the impact of his decision? And what will it mean for our planet? | Presenter: Hazem Sika | Guest: Gina Loudon - former Trump campaign media surrogate and author; Michael Dorsey - director of the Sierra Club, the largest environmental organisation in the US; Damian Ryan - director of strategy at the Climate Group


Morning Joe: Steve Bannon Is Now the President! – June 2, 2017


Trump Staff Shortage – Nobody Wants To Work In His Disastrous Administration


According to a senior Republican official, the White House is struggling to hire more staffers because there aren’t enough qualified, talented people applying for positions to work with Donald Trump. The anonymous Republican claims that too many people view the president as “crazy,” and they don’t want to be associated with his brand. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Ireland Could Elect Its First Gay Prime Minister


Ireland could soon have its first openly gay prime minister. Leo Varadkar, the son of an Indian immigrant, is the favourite to win a ruling party vote. His political achievements are sign of huge generational change in the once staunchly Catholic country. Al Jazeera’s Neave Barker reports from Dublin

UK: What Does Theresa May Stand For?


World Leaders Condemn US Withdrawal from Paris Climate Deal


World leaders have condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull America out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Al Jazeera’s Andrew Thomas reports from Sydney.

Question Time from Barnet – June 1, 2017


Chinesischer Ministerpräsident in Berlin: Pressekonferenz Li und Kanzlerin Merkel


Pressekonferenz mit Bundeskanzlerin Merkel und dem chinesischen Ministerpräsidenten Li Keqiang in Berlin

Our Disgraceful Exit From the Paris Accord


THE NEW YORK TIMES: Only future generations will be able to calculate the full consequences of President Trump’s incredibly shortsighted approach to climate change, since it is they who will suffer the rising seas and crippling droughts that scientists say are inevitable unless the world brings fossil fuel emissions to heel.

But this much is clear now: Mr. Trump’s policies — the latest of which was his decision to withdraw from the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change — have dismayed America’s allies, defied the wishes of much of the American business community, threatened America’s competitiveness as well as job growth in crucial industries and squandered what was left of America’s claim to leadership on an issue of global importance. » | The Editorial Board | Thursday, June 1, 2017

Speech of the French President Emmanuel Macron in English - Reaction to Donald Trump


"Make our planet great again"

Thursday, June 01, 2017

Emmanuel Macron to US Climate Researchers: "Come Here and Work with Us!"


Trump on Paris Climate Accord


President Trump announces his decision on U.S. participation in the Paris climate agreement. The address follows days of speculation and weeks of intensive lobbying.

Democracy Now! US News and World Headlines


Advocates: Trump Pulling Out of Paris Climate Accord Would Be "Suicide Note to the World"


Britain's Billionaire Immigrants - 2017


Dispatches - When Cousins Marry | Channel 4 Documentary


BBC Documentary - How Princess Diana Died


Who Really Killed Diana? The Conspiracy On The Death Of The Princess of Wales


Etienne Cardiles marié à titre posthume avec le policier tué Xavier Jugelé



L’EXPRESS: François Hollande et Anne Hidalgo ont assisté mardi soir au mariage posthume du policier Xavier Jugelé, tué dans un attentat sur les Champs-Élysées, et de son compagnon.

Le mariage posthume entre Xavier Jugelé, policier tué dans un attentat sur les Champs-Élysées, et son compagnon,Étienne Cardiles, s'est déroulé mardi soir dans la mairie du 14ème arrondissement de Paris. Les deux hommes étaient déjà pacsés.

Le mariage à titre posthume est autorisé en cas de "motifs graves" - les attentats entrent dans cette catégorie, précise le site du gouvernement - et d'une "volonté matrimoniale non équivoque" de la personne décédée. C'est le président de la République qui autorise, par décret, la célébration du mariage. » | Par LEXPRESS.fr avec AFP | mercredi 31 mai 2017

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Does Trump Pulling Out of Paris Climate Deal Matter, Explained


In December 2015 the world came together in Paris to combat climate change, tonight, despite the pleading of other world leaders, President Trump is poised to take the United States of America out of the accords - joining only Syria and Nicaragua.

Breaking Down the White House Press Briefing


Press secretary Sean Spicer held an off-camera press briefing Wednesday, deflecting questions about the Paris climate agreement and the Russia investigation. CBS News national correspondent Chip Reid joins CBSN to discuss the latest.

Smoking Has Become the Root of ALL Evil! What's Being Done to Repair the Damage Done by Smoking? – Inside Story


According to the World Health Organization, seven million people - almost the entire population of Hong Kong - die every year because of smoking and other ailments related to cigarette use.

The WHO's annual report says the industry is costly to health, the economy and the environment. The report called Big Tobacco says discarded cigarette ends and waste contain more than seven thousand toxic chemicals that poison the environment.

Cigarette butts account for up to 40 percent of all litter collected in coastal and urban clean-ups. The report also said that between 10 to 14 percent of children in tobacco-growing families miss class because they're working in tobacco fields.

Tobacco also contributes to one in six deaths from non-communicable diseases. So what's needed to control the industry?

Presenter: Hazem Sika | Guests: Vinayak Mohan Prasad, Head of the WHO Tobacco Free Initiative; Hazel Cheeseman, Director of Policy at Action on Smoking & Health


Wendy Sherman: Jared Kushner Backchannel Defense 'Took My Breath Away' | The Last Word | MSNBC


Ambassador Wendy Sherman says President Trump's actions on his recent European trip shows that he "plays checkers while other leaders play chess." She agrees with Lawrence O'Donnell that French President Emmanuel Macron is now "leader of the free world."

Forbidden Talk: The LGBT Community In the Middle East


Description Recently pride marches were cancelled in Turkey due to threats from ultra-nationalists and this August, Iran plans to hold a conference to discuss Islamic Human Rights principles which will exclude LGBT rights...which begs the question, is the LGBT community at greater risk now than ever before, in the region?


OhMyHappiness »

Forbidden Talk - Homosexuality in the Middle East (2014)


Homosexuality in the Middle East remains a highly controversial issue. We discuss what being gay means for people from the region, whether they believe it is compatible with religion, and if there could be a change in people's attitude in the near future.

Masculinity in the Middle East: New Report Reveals Surprising Results


The New Germans - Featured Documentary


Nearly one million ethnic Arabs fleeing war and violence back home have come to Germany since 2015.

This film follows one of them, newspaper editor and Syrian asylum seeker Ramy Alasheq, as he looks into historical patterns of Arab immigration and how the latest arrivals are being received in their new country.

For Ramy and many others, life has not been the same since young men said to be Arab were accused of robbing and attacking German women on New Year's Eve 2015 in his new hometown, Cologne. It is a city that Ramy has come to love. But while he and fellow immigrants initially received a warm reception, there are now widespread calls to halt the entry of Arab refugees into Germany.

For hundreds of years, Germany has been a magnet for migrants and refugees from all over the world. But its specific focus on encouraging migration from countries in the Middle East like Egypt, Syria, Iraq and to a lesser extent Jordan, Palestine and North Africa, is not often discussed.

Through the human stories of second and third-generation migrants, as well as incoming new refugees, this film paints a picture of how the experience of Arab immigrants in Germany has changed over the decades.

We ask what it means to be a foreigner in Germany, and at the same time come to understand Germany itself and the reasoning behind its immigration policies. We also hear from German analysts and decision-makers about Germany's dependency on migrant communities to re-populate its dwindling towns and keep its economy strong.


Inside Story - What's Triggering Hate Crimes in the US?


What's triggering hate crimes in the US? The fatal stabbing of two men on a train – and serious injuries to another - has turned the spotlight on bigotry and intolerance in the United States. All three were standing up to a known white supremacist who was heard racially abusing two young women, one of them a Muslim wearing a headscarf. Their alleged attacker is facing trial for aggravated murder and other charges. Was the attack an isolated incident or evidence of a growing trend?