Top US News & World Headlines — December 12, 2017

Im Zentrum: Rauchverbot auf der Kippe - ORF | 10.12.2017

Das geplante Rauchverbot ab Mai 2018 könnte wieder fallen, wenn es nach den Wünschen der FPÖ in den laufenden Koalitionsverhandlungen geht. Handelt es sich dabei um einen gesundheitspolitischen Rückschritt? Die Gegner des Rauchverbots sprechen von staatlicher Bevormundung, Mediziner und Nichtraucher sind alarmiert. Die Debatte um den blauen Dunst wird immer heftiger und emotionaler.

Saudi Arabia: Authorities Lift Ban on Cinemas

Top US News & World Headlines — December 11, 2017

Erdogan Calls Israel 'Terrorist', Netanyahu Hits Back

The Israeli prime minister says he won't take lectures from a Turkish president "who jails journalists... and helps terrorists"

Netanyahu in Paris: We Will Not Be Lectured to by Erdogan

Benjamin Netanyahu says Palestinians must quote "get to grips" with the reality that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel in order to move towards peace. The Israeli Prime Minister made the comments in Paris during a meeting with the French president. When asked about discontent across the region over Trump’s decision, including harsh criticism from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Netanyahu said he would not be given morality lectures by the Turkish leader. Al Jazeera's Natacha Butler reports from Paris.

Brexit Could End the Age of "Cool Britannia" | The Economist

Chris Hedges "Fascism in the Age of Trump"

Journalist, author and war correspondent Chris Hedges spoke at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy NY on November 10, 2017 on fascism and empire in the age of Trump.

Inside Story - Jerusalem: A Momentous Change, But At What Cost?

For decades American presidential candidates from both parties have promised to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem - but once elected they have retreated from the idea.

On Wednesday, Donald Trump changed that. Trump overruled his top political and military advisers to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and announce plans to relocate the US embassy. To give you a sense of how unusual that is: of all the countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel, not one currently has an embassy in Jerusalem. And the few that have had embassies there in the past have been small countries with little connection to the Middle East, such as Costa Rica and El Salvador.

Trump's decision has been widely condemned and has sparked protests in many parts of the Middle East and the wider Muslim world. It remains to be seen, however, exactly what will change and how fast those changes will be. While making his much-anticipated announcement in Washington on Wednesday night, Trump also signed a new national security waiver, exactly the same sort of waiver regarding the embassy move that every US president has signed twice each year for more than two decades. He also said that actually building a new embassy and moving American diplomats into it is a process that will take a minimum of several years.

There is no question, however, that Trump's move will alter the diplomatic and political situation on the ground. The question is: how?

Presenter: Laura Kyle | Guests: Mouin Rabbani, Senior Fellow, Institute for Palestine Studies: JD Gordon, Former National Security & Foreign Policy Adviser to Donald Trump; Yossi Mekelberg, Professor of International Relations, Regent's University, London

Trump Is Allowing Israel 'to Annex Jerusalem': Ashrawi

The city of Jerusalem has its historical, religious and political significance, and is a prominent symbol for the Palestinian cause, or what is left of it. The US, which undertook the role of peace broker between Israelis and Palestinians for over two decades, has become the first country in the world to recognise the whole of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Hanan Ashrawi, executive committee member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, told Al Jazeera why she believes Trump's move will allow Israel to "annex" Jerusalem from the Palestinians.

WIKI: Hanan Ashrawi »

Jerusalem Move ‘Makes Clear There Will Be No Peace Settlement’ – Former Diplomat

President Donald Trump’s decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is in line with his Saudi and Israeli-aligned foreign policy, encourages his pro-Israel evangelical base, and builds bridges with Zionist Democrats like Chuck Schumer who praised the move, former diplomat Jim Jatras tells RT.

“There Are Thousands of Us”: Mental Health Professionals Warn of Trump’s Increasing Instability

As questions over President Donald Trump’s mental health grow, we continue our interview with Dr. Bandy Lee, a forensic psychiatrist on the faculty of Yale School of Medicine and an internationally recognized expert on violence. She edited the best-selling book, “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President.” Dr. Bandy Lee declares that she is not representing the views of Yale University, Yale School of Medicine or Yale Department of Psychiatry.

What's Next for Brexit? – Inside Story

It is a breakthrough on Brexit at long last. Leaders beat Friday’s deadline and shook hands on the terms of a "Brexit" divorce, allowing them to open up talks on the future of their relationship.

The European Commission announced on Friday that "sufficient progress" had been made by Britain on separation issues including the Irish border, Britain's divorce bill, and citizens' rights.

The initial agreement contains few specifics, and there are already signs that the different players' have conflicting views about what exactly has been agreed.

Presenter: Sami Zeidan | Guests: John Mills - Chairman of the Labour Leave campaign; Nina Schick - Europe political analyst; Conor Lenihan - Former cabinet minister in the government of Ireland

US President Trump Recognises Jerusalem As Israel's Capital

BBC Question Time from Swansea – November 7, 2017

David Dimbleby presents topical debate from Swansea. The panel includes Conservative MP and member of the Vote Leave campaign Bernard Jenkin, the shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Labour's Owen Smith MP, the leader of Plaid Cymru at Westminster, Liz Saville-Roberts MP, TV and radio presenter Richard Bacon and Kate Andrews of the Institute of Economic Affairs.

Top US News & World Headlines — December 8, 2017

Australia: Parliament Allows Same-Sex Marriage Across Nation

Top US News & World Headlines — December 7, 2017

Jerusalem Status: World Condemns Trump's Announcement - BBC News

The leader of the Islamist movement Hamas, which dominates Gaza, called for a "day of rage" on Friday and said it should "be the first day of the intifada against the occupier". "We have given instructions to all Hamas members and to all its wings to be fully ready for any new instructions or orders that may be given to confront this strategic danger," Ismail Haniya said.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was profoundly grateful to Mr Trump, who had "bound himself forever with the history of the capital". He also said Israel was "in touch with other countries to follow suit. I have no doubt other embassies will move to Jerusalem - the time has come." He did not name any of these countries, although the Philippines and the Czech Republic have been singled out in Israeli media.

Germany Offers Money for Refugees to Go Back Home

The number of Afghans being deported from Germany has almost doubled in recent years. Some asylum seekers in Germany are being offered cash if they volunteer to return home before February. The incentive applies to around 100,000 refugees and amounts to about $1,200 per person. Al Jazeera's Aela Callan reports from Bayreuth, Germany.

SIMPATICA: A Family Circumnavigation

SIMPATICA: A Family Circumnavigation from Wences Casares on Vimeo.

Interview with Michael Stürzenberger on Acquittal and New Charges

This is a follow up to the one we did with Michael after his sentencing to 6 months in jail posting a historically accurate photo to his FB page.

Jerusalem Is Israel's Capital: Donald Trump's Full Announcement - BBC News

President Trump has announced that the US now recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Mr Trump described the move as "a long overdue step" to advance the Middle East peace process. The president said the US would support a two-state solution, if approved by both the Israelis and the Palestinians. Ahead of the decision, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned it would have "dangerous consequences" for the region.

Analysis: Trump's Jerusalem Move a 'Declaration of War on Palestinian Rights'

President Donald Trump has announced that the US formally recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will begin the process of moving its embassy to the city, breaking with decades of US policy. The president said he ordered the state department to develop a plan to relocate the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Al Jazeera's Marwan Bishara explains why his statement is a "declaration of war against Palestinian rights".

Theresa May Scrambles to Salvage Brexit Breakthrough

Iranians react to Trump's travel ban

A new extended US travel ban is due to come into effect. One of the original countries blacklisted by the White House was Iran. "Death to America" is a protest chant so synonymous with the country that US President Donald Trump even mentioned it in his recent policy speech as one of the reasons Iran's leaders could not be trusted. And though Iranians may resent the US government’s new visa restrictions, how they feel about America as a country is a little different. Al Jazeera's Zein Basravi reports from Tehran.

Top US News & World Headlines — December 5, 2017

Saudi Arabia's House of Cards - BBC News

Saudi Arabia is seeing dramatic developments after decades of slow change. Modernisation, women’s rights and squaring up to Iran are all on the agenda, driven by the kingdom’s new, young crown prince. BBC Arabic's Ahmed Zaki tells us why it has suddenly happened. Producer: Dina Demrdash; Graphics: Albert Villa Alsena

Dr. Richard Wolff – Economist: Economic Update: Which Way For US Economy

This show is available at no cost to public access and non-profit community stations! Contact your local channels and let them know you would like them to add Economic Update to their programming. Let us know if you've reached out: info(a)democracyatwork.info

Will the US Move Its Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem? - Inside Story

For some it's a red line, for others it could ignite violence across the region. So why is the U.S. government considering moving its embassy in Israel, from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem?

Arab leaders have been very vocal about their opposition to such a move; some have even accused Donald Trump of "playing with fire," others say it will fuel extremism. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has previously warned the White House against moving the embassy.

In 1995, during the Clinton Administration, the U.S. Congress passed legislation on moving the embassy. It was supposed to happen by May 31st, 1999. But there was a provision in the law that allowed the president to sign a waiver every six months - in the name of national security. Every president since 1998 has done so, even Donald Trump himself back in June.

Putting the embassy in Jerusalem is controversial because the eastern part of the city is Palestinian territory being illegally occupied by Israel. So, what message is the Trump Administration sending with this plan to relocate the embassy?

Presenter: Peter Dobbie. | Guests: Mustafa Barghouti - Secretary General, Palestinian National Initiative; Daniel Levy - President of U.S.-Middle East Project; Hussein Ibish - Senior Resident Scholar, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington

Rep. Keith Ellison: GOP Tax Bill Would Reorder Society & Create “Hereditary Aristocracy” for Rich

On Saturday morning, Senate Republicans passed a nearly 500-page tax bill that will have dramatic impacts not only the U.S. tax code, but also healthcare, domestic spending and even oil and gas drilling. The plan would cut taxes by nearly $1.5 trillion. Major corporations and the richest Americans, including President Trump and his own family, would reap the most dramatic benefits. Overall, the bill is expected to add $1.4 trillion to federal budget deficits over the next decade. The bill passed the Senate 51 to 49, with every Democrat voting against the bill and all Republicans voting for it except for Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee. We speak with Minnesota Democratic Congressmember Keith Ellison. He’s the first Muslim member of Congress. Ellison is also the deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Top US News & World Headlines — December 4, 2017

Tucker: Trump Retweet Outrage Shows Death of Free Speech

Tucker's Thoughts: The furor over President Trump's retweet of three videos circulated by a British nationalist group's leader shows there's growing fascism and death of free speech in the West - even if the speech is unpopular.

NY Times' Tom Friedman Presses Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman On Global Policy Views | CNBC

Tom Friedman, New York Times foreign affairs columnist and best selling author of "Thank you for Being Late," discusses his groundbreaking interview with the Mohammad Bin Salman, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince.

This man is talking BS. Wahhabism didn't start in 1979, and nor did it start with the Iranian Revolution. Further, MbS is not restoring Islam to its moderate version. Islam has never been moderate. That's an outright lie. This man has been taken in by MbS. This discussion is sickening to listen to. But it does play into the Western narrative, I suppose. – @Mark Alexander

This comment also appears here

Ex-Muslim Delivers the Greatest Speech I Have Ever Heard from an Arab Atheist

Stephanie: Life Beyond Faith

A Canadian woman who converted to Islam in her late-teens, Stephanie married a Libyan Muslim, and gave birth to two daughters. After a few years of living as a faithful Muslim, Stephanie began to have doubts. Recognizing the immorality and irrationality of Islam, Stephanie grew detached from the faith and concerned about her children being raised in such a context. In 2011,

Stephanie left their residence in Libya for a short trip to see her father in Canada. When safely out of Libya en route to an airport in a neighboring country, her husband unveiled his plan for her: he would never allow her to even visit her daughters again unless she gave up her Canadian custody of the kids.

Knowing that retention of custody of her daughters gives them a small chance of gaining their freedom, she refused his offer. Today, Stephanie lives in Canada, coping with the loss of her dearest loved ones and hopes to one day be reunited with her girls.

Colliding Worldviews: What is the Andalusian Problem?

BBC Question Time from Scarborough - November 30, 2017

David Dimbleby presents topical debate from Scarborough, with a panel including Conservative MP and prisons minister Sam Gyimah, Labour's Chuka Umunna, Ukip's new leader Henry Bolton, deputy editor of The Sunday Times, Sarah Baxter and the economist and former finance minister of Greece, Yanis Varoufakis.

Senate Republicans Kill Democratic Measure To Force Companies To Spend Tax Cuts On Workers

In an attempt to force the Republican Party’s hand on the tax bill, Senate Democrats proposed adding a new provision to their corporate giveaway legislation that would have forced companies to spend their tax cuts on workers and wages, something that Republicans say will happen if we give corporations more money. Every single Republican in the Senate voted against that measure, and Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins offers up some explanations as to why that happened.

Constitutional Expert Says Move to Impeach Trump Can Proceed Without Derailing FBI’s Criminal Probe

At least 17 communities around the country are now on record calling for impeachment proceedings against President Trump. On Tuesday, the town of Weston, Massachusetts joined that list, when residents supported a citizen petition asking the House to assess whether Trump is violating the Constitution. This comes as a nationwide petition for impeachment launched in October by Democratic donor Tom Steyer has topped more than 3 million supporters. But calls for President Trump’s impeachment have been criticized by some Democratic leaders, who say it should come after investigators have concluded their work. We speak with constitutional attorney John Bonifaz, co-founder and director of Free Speech for People.

Ezra Levant: Why British MPs Chose Islam over Trump

Ezra Levant of TheRebel.media explains that British MPs blasting Trump for his tweets about Islamic violence is really about silencing British citizens who share the same concerns as the President.

The Risks of Trump Retweeting Anti-Muslim Messages

President Trump shared what are widely seen as virulent anti-Muslim messages on Wednesday, igniting a new firestorm and prompting British Prime Minister Theresa May to say, “It is wrong for the president to have done this.” Judy Woodruff gets reaction from Rizwan Jaka of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center and Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League.

Is US Foreign Policy at a Crossroads? – Inside Story

In just 24 hours, Donald Trump goes from threatening to destroy North Korea to chipping away at the so-called special relationship with the United Kingdom.

It has been a week of tough talk and miscommunication by the White House. Donald Trump promised to handle the situation in North Korea after its latest missile test. But he was silent on exactly what that meant.

Several hours later, Trump faced a backlash for retweeting anti-Muslim videos from a far-right group in Britain. Prime Minister Theresa May condemned Trump for the tweets.

Nearly two million people have signed a petition, calling on May to revoke an invitation for a state visit for Trump. Another wrinkle for the administration is the future of America's top diplomat.

The White House is denying reports it plans to replace Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. So what's the foreign policy strategy of the White House?

Presenter: Peter Dobbie | Guests: Charlie Wolf - US political commentator & co-host, of podcast “Pod to be American”, London-based American broadcaster, writer, blogger: Richard Johnson - Lecturer in US politics and international relations, Lancaster University, published on race in American politics (Harvard’s Dubois Review), runs a module on US foreign policy since 1945; Khalil Jahshan - Executive Director, Arab Centre of Washington, former Middle East analyst, Pepperdine University, political analyst

If Tillerson's Out, Is Iran War In?

The Trump administration will reportedly oust Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and install CIA Director Mike Pompeo in his place, with Republican Sen. Tom Cotton replacing Pompeo. Trita Parsi of the National Iranian American Council says that's a recipe for a US war on Iran

The Debate: The Consequences of Trump’s Anti-Muslim Tweets

Who Is Mohammed bin Salman? (MBS Biography)

Mehdi Hasan Rips Thomas Friedman’s “Nauseating” Column in NYT Praising Saudi Arabia

We get response from Al Jazeera’s Mehdi Hasan to New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman’s recent controversial column, “Saudi Arabia’s Arab Spring, at Last.” Hasan argues the piece is absurdly sympathetic to Saudi Arabia, and that Trump’s friendly relations with the country mean he “is not just a liar and a conspiracy theorist, he’s a hypocrite. He goes on about radical islamic terrorism but cozies up to Saudi Arabia, which many would argue has done more to promote ideologically and financially radical Islamic terrorism than any other country on earth.”

Life of the Party: American Politics in the Trump Era - Fault Lines

It’s been just over a year since Donald Trump shocked the world and won the US presidency. In that time, he’s managed to upend nearly every political convention, throwing both Washington and the country into chaos nearly every day. He’s also left both major political parties in tatters, with their identity blown to pieces. In their trade for power, the Republicans lost control of their party to Trump and the far-right of their base of voters. And the Democrats have yet to fully come to terms with how and why Hillary Clinton lost. In this episode of Fault Lines, we examine the loss of identity of both the GOP and Democrats and look at what their strategies for rebuilding mean for the country’s future.

As GOP Tax Plan Faces Senate Vote, Critics Say Bill Would Give Hundreds of Billions to Top 1 Percent

Donald Trump Retweets Far-right Group's Anti-Muslim Videos – BBC News

Donald Trump has retweeted three inflammatory videos from a British far-right group. The first tweet from Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First, claims to show a Muslim migrant attacking a man on crutches. This was followed by two more videos of people Ms Fransen claims to be Muslim. Responding to Mr Trump's posts, UK Prime Minister Theresa May's official spokesman said it was "wrong for the president to have done this". Britain First was founded in 2011 by former members of the far-right British National Party (BNP).

US - President Trump Retweets Anti-Muslim Videos from Far-right Groups

Top US News & World Headlines — November 29, 2017

The Israel-Saudi Arabia Alliance

Paul Jay talks with Larry Wilkerson

Top US News & World Headlines — November 28, 2017

Is the Royal Engagement a Significant Moment for People of Mixed-race Heritage? - BBC Newsnight

Following the announcement of the royal engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, we asked journalists Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff and Georgina Lawton and presenter Amal Fashanu if this a significant moment for people of mixed-race heritage.

Top US News & World Headlines — November 27, 2017

How I Divorced Islamic State - BBC News

The British ex-wife of an American leader in the so called Islamic State describes her journey out of extremism.

Tania Georgelas met her husband John, an American convert to Islam, online and they connected over their Islamist views. After John moved Tania and their children to Syria, she decided to escape. Now she wants to dedicate her life to countering extremism and rehabilitating ex-jihadists.

Reporter: Rickin Majithia, video journalist: Colleen Hagerty

‘A New Hope’ of Saudi Arabia: The MSM Tradition of Praising Incoming Saudi Kings

Saudi crown-prince Mohammed bin Salman is making the headlines across media - being described as a 'revolutionary' politician and a 'new hope" for Saudi Arabia. He's even leading the race to top Time magazine's 'Person Of The Year' reader's poll. Murad Gazdiev now profiles the man behind Saudi Arabia's rapidly-shifting sands.

Inside Story: Can Online Content Be Policed?

YouTube is the world's most popular video-sharing site. Billions of users watch and upload videos on the website, which makes it a natural fit for advertisers. But the company has come under fire after a UK-based newspaper found adverts running along side inappropriate videos of children and comments.

The Times investigation found there were many videos of pre-teen girls, which were then liked and commented on by hundreds of paedophiles. One such clip of a young girl drew 6.5 million views. Several companies including chocolate-maker MARS and Deutsche bank have pulled their ads from YouTube.

The newspaper said the site had allowed sexualised imagery of children to be easily searchable. It also criticised the company for not monitoring its content. So, will YouTube do more to monitor and remove certain content?

Presenter: Laura Kyle | Guests: Nishanth Sastry - Senior Lecturer in Informatics at King's College London; Susan Rose - Marketing and Reputation Expert at Henley Business School; Aral Balkan - Who describes himself as a "cyborg" Rights Activist

African Americans Are Converting to Islam at an Alarming Rate

Prison Planet; Islam, the fastest growing religion In America. According to an estimate conducted in 2016, there were 3.3 million Muslims living in the United States. The census found that the number of Muslims living in the United States increased by a stunning 66.7 percent. Meanwhile, Christian denominations lost members. Sadly, when Barack Obama once said that “we are no longer a Christian nation” he wasn’t too far off the mark. Christianity is rapidly losing influence, and Islam is rapidly gaining members and building new places of worship. As Islam continues to grow in the United States, it is inevitable that Islam will reshape America.

Will Eastern European Countries Be Drawn Into Russia-U.S. Conflict?

Paul Jay talks with Larry Wilkerson

On Contact: Decline of the American Empire with Alfred McCoy

Alfred McCoy, Harrington Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explains the decline of the United States as a global power and the rise of the Chinese empire.

Islam, Narratives, And Media Bias - Sarah Haider

Recorded as a part of Ex-Muslims of North America's 'Normalizing Dissent' tour at Virginia Tech Hosted by Campus FreeThinkers of Virginia Tech

The Debate - Israel - Saudi Arabia Alliance

Israel's military chief of staff, in an unprecedented interview with a Saudi newspaper, says that Tel Aviv is ready to cooperate with the Saudi kingdom to confront Iran. He said the Israeli regime & Saudi sheikhdom are united in their mutual enmity towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. While the world’s worst kept secret of a relationship between the Saudis & Israelis is that much more obvious now, what will its repercussions be in a volatile region? Join me, Waqar Rizvi, as we seek to answer that & more in tonight’s discussion.

'The Saudis Are Going to Fight Tehran to the Last Dead American'

Paul Jay talks with Larry Wilkerson

Cubans Mark First Anniversary of Fidel Castro's Death

Cubans mark the first anniversary of the death of their revolutionary leader. Fidel Castro built the communist state on America's doorstep half a century ago. And in three months, his brother and successor, Raul, steps down. Al Jazeera’s Lucia Newman reports from Havana.

History of Saudi Arabia (House of Saud)

100 Years of Arab Beauty - ١٠٠ سنة من الجمال العربي

Overthrowing Assad and the Neoconservative Agenda in Syria

Putin's Syria Plan Could Spark ‘New Persian Empire’ – Analyst

Russian President Putin has met with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts, President Erdogan and President Rouhani, to discuss a political solution, while the United States has been largely left out. John Sitilides, geopolitical strategist at Trinity Advisors, joins ‘News With Ed’ to discuss.

After Collapse of Coalition Talks, What's Next for Germany?

"The problem is that many people in Germany are really sick of all the old parties; they don't believe any of them, they're unhappy and dissatisfied," says author and journalist Victor Grossman

‘Saudi Arabia Backfires on Itself by Forcing Lebanese PM Hariri to Resign’ – Expert

The Lebanese prime minister has announced he’s putting his surprise resignation on hold, after the president asked him to reconsider. RT talked to Jamal Wakeem, professor of history and international relations at Lebanese University in Beirut.

Hard Bargaining: Lebanon Prime Minister Returns and Suspends Resignation

Inside Story - Is the War in Syria Really Almost Over?

Bashar al Assad flew to Russia for a few hours to meet his major ally Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin said Russia’s President told him that the fight against armed groups is close to finishing. And once it's over, finding a peaceful political settlement will be key.

The opposition has long demanded a future Syria without Assad. But he’s survived nearly seven years of war and is likely to remain in charge for the foreseeable future. So, will Assad detractors come to terms with that?

Presenter: Laura Kyle | Guests: Marwan Kabalan - Director of Policy Analysis, Doha Institute; Pavel Felgenhaeur - Russian foreign policy specialist and newspaper columnist; Ammar Waqqaf - British Syrian Society

Lebanon's PM Hariri Defers Resignation for Dialogue

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri has promised his supporters that he will stick with them and defend his country, more than two weeks after announcing, while in Saudi Arabia, that he was stepping down.

Hariri is now back in Beirut, where he has agreed to delay his resignation after a request from Lebanon's President Michel Aoun to allow more dialogue.

Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports from Beirut.

FCC Moves to Gut Net Neutrality, Ignoring Public Support & Laws Upholding Equal Internet Access

Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai issued a major order Tuesday in which he outlined his plan to dismantle landmark regulations that ensure equal access to the internet. Pai wants to repeal net neutrality rules that bar internet service providers from stopping or slowing down the delivery of websites and stop companies from charging extra fees for high-quality streaming. A formal vote on the plan is set for December 14th. We speak with Tim Karr, Senior Director of Strategy for Free Press, which is organizing support to keep the rules in place ahead of the vote.

Can You Be Gay & Muslim?

Like with any religion, the answer to homosexuality is complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s when religion is taken to the extreme that issues arise. We take a closer look at what it means to be gay and Muslim.

Does Mark Zuckerberg Want to Run for President? - BBC Newsnight

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been touring the United States to meet and connect with the American people. Newsnight's Emily Maitlis followed his footsteps to find out why.

Why Does the US Have So Many Child Brides? - BBC News

Angel was 13 when her mother forced her to marry and start a family. "I felt like a slave," she says of her childhood.

While countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi and El Salvador have recently banned child marriage, it remains legal in the US - and half of states have no set minimum age below which you cannot get married.

For the BBC's America First? series the BBC's Aleem Maqbool is exploring health and social issues where the US, the richest country in the world, does not perform well in international rankings. Video by Franz Strasser; produced by Ashley Semler

Top US News & World Headlines — November 21, 2017

Saudi Financial Crisis at Heart of Princely Rage

The severe financial crisis and foreign policy failures are making Prince Mohammed bin Salman increasingly belligerent, says Vijay Prashad

F24Debate - Has Merkel Still Got It?

Yemen: Saudi Blockade 'A Collective Extermination'

The International Committee of the Red Cross says the Yemeni cities of Sanaa, the country's capital, and al-Bayda now lack clean water. A shortage of fuel caused by the Saudi-led blockade has caused pumping stations to shut down.

Some Yemeni ports have re-opened to allow in desperately needed food and aid, but critics say it’s not enough, as Yemen suffers a humanitarian catastrophe and the worst outbreak of cholera recorded.

Al Jazeera's Mohammed Jamjoom reports.

Top US News & World Headlines — November 20, 2017

Saad Hariri, Saudi Power Play and the Media – The Listening Post (Full)

Why Is Washington Closing the PLO's Office? – Inside Story

Over the past 50 years since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, there have been countless talks, negotiations and UN resolutions. And the Palestinian Liberation Organization has been at the forefront of peace talks over the years. But now, Donald Trump's administration says it will shut down the PLO's office in Washington D.C. That's in response to Palestinian efforts to raise the issue of Israel's occupation at the International Criminal Court.

If the U.S. goes ahead with its plans, Palestinians say they will end all communication with Washington. But what will this move mean for Trump's Middle East peace plan?

Presenter: Laura Kyle | Guests: Qais Abdel Karim - Member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO; Hillary Mann Leverett - Former White House National Security and State department Official; Ian Black - Visiting Senior Fellow at the Middle East Centre, London School of Economics.

Saudi Prince Defects: 'Brutality, Oppression as Government Scared of Arab Revolts' (2013)

In recent weeks Saudi Arabia has launched an offensive against anti-regime activists arresting many and sentencing some to years in jail. Total number of political prisoners has now surpassed 40 thousand according to some reports. The crackdown has even forced a member of the ruling family to defect. RT Arabic spoke exclusively to Saudi prince Khaled Bin Farhan Al-Saud - who accuses the monarchy of corruption and silencing all voices of dissent.

UK Hosts Conference on Saudi Crisis

Saudi Arabia's heir to the throne has recently been making bold political moves - detaining some of his relations and a number of the kingdom's wealthiest businessmen amid an ongoing war with Yemen.

Mohammed bin Salman's policies have been the focus of a conference in London attended by analysts, academics and senior political figures. The conference aims to highlight what's at stake, namely the stability of the Gulf region and that of other countries like Lebanon and Iran.

Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal reports from London.

Saudi Arabia's Purge: A Quest for Media Control? - The Listening Post

Inside Story: What Is Mohammed Bin Salman's Next Move?

There are reports that Saudi Arabia is demanding money from the senior officials it recently arrested.

Saudi Arabia's 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is stoking huge tension in an already volatile region. He has made a number of controversial decisions that many believe could forever change the Kingdom and the entire region.

The developments in Saudi Arabia and what they mean for the rest of the world, have been the focus of a conference in London on Saturday. That's where former diplomats and Middle East Analysts have been meeting to discuss the crisis and Saudi Arabia's future. So, how far will Saudi Arabia's young crown prince go to achieve his goals?

Presenter: Laura Kyle | Guests: Pierre Conesa - Lecturer at the Paris Institute for Political Studies; Sami Hamdi - Editor-in-chief of The International Interest; Afshin Shahi - Senior lecturer in International Relations & Middle East Politics at the University of Bradford

Is Saudi Arabia Becoming a Danger to the Region? -UpFront

In this UpFront special, we ask US Congressman Ro Khanna why he believes the US government should stop supporting the Saudi-led bombing of Yemen.

Also on the show, we debate with a panel of experts the rights and wrongs of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s domestic and regional policies.

CrossTalk: Saudi Turmoil

Recent events coming out of Saudi Arabia are truly stunning. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is said to be a reformer and on an anti-corruption drive. Others say differently. Saudi Arabia is experiencing a life threatening crisis that could ignite a region-wide conflict. And the Trump administration appears to be on board. CrossTalking with Martin Jay, Halim Shebaya, and Joe Macaron.

Qatar Foreign Minister Rejects Trump's Claim Nation Backs Terrorists | Andrea Mitchell | MSNBC

Qatari minister of foreign affairs Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani joins Andrea Mitchell to discuss the allegations by President Trump that Qatar government funds terror.

Top US News & World Headlines — November 17, 2017

Is Greek Democracy Dead?

Panagiotis Lafazanis, former leader of Syriza’s Left Platform and current leader of Popular Unity, says Greece has become a protectorate of the Troika

Gay Rights in France: After Marriage Equality, What’s Next?

Saudi Arabia: French, Saudi FM Hold Press Conference

Will Cold War between Saudi Arabia & Iran Become a Full-scale Military Conflict?

Thousands of people in Yemen have lined the capital's streets in protest against the Saudi-led blockade of the country. The civil war in Yemen is seen by Middle East experts as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Lebanon: President Aoun Accuses Saudi Arabia of Detaining Former PM Saad Hariri

What Is Happening In Saudi Arabia? - Marwa Osman on The Corbett Report

The Lebanese Prime Minister has "resigned" on Saudi tv. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has rounded up a dozen other princes in the House of Saud in a startling move that threatens to upset the kingdom. Reports saying that King Salman will step aside for the crown prince abound. What the hell is happening? Joining us to help sort through the rubble of this incredible week is Marwa Osman, a political analyst and commentator in Beirut.