Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is reported to have boasted that he has US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in his pocket. And leaked documents allege a major fundraiser for the President was offered business deals from the Gulf to influence U.S. policy.
The potential role of foreign money in the Trump White House is attracting the scrutiny of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Are these lobbying efforts reshaping the Middle East?
Presenter: Jane Dutton | Guests: Mahjoob Zweiri - Director of the Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University; Khalil Jahshan - Executive Director, Arab Center Washington DC; Afshin Shahi - Senior Lecturer of Middle East Politics, University of Bradford
The Saudi Crown Prince is promoting himself as a social and an economic reformer - reinventing his Kingdom for the modern era. But since his rise to power last year, Mohammed bin Salman has been a controversial figure. He has put together a range of reforms at home, including easing restrictions on women's rights, and a more open policy on entertainment and public performances. And he is behind a major anti-corruption drive targeting the Saudi elite, which critics say also removes domestic rivals.
The United Nations says the Saudi bombing campaign in Yemen has contributed to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. And the Crown Prince has hit out at Iran, comparing the country's Supreme leader to Adolf Hitler. And now reports have emerged of a plan to reshape the political map of the Middle East and fracture the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Presenter: Laura Kyle | Guests: Joe Macaron - Policy analyst at the Arab Center Washington DC; Rami Khouri, a Senior Public Policy Fellow and adjunct professor of journalism at the American University of Beirut; Sami Hamdi, Editor-in-Chief of International Interest
About 110 million voters are given the chance to choose a President for Russia, and the spotlight is on one man - Vladimir Putin. He has led the country for almost two decades - either as President or Prime Minister.
Many voters credit Putin, a 65-year-old former KGB spy, with standing up for Russia’s interests. But others say there's no alternative. The election comes at a time when relations with the US are compared to the Cold War and Moscow's accused of poisoning a spy in Britain.
So what do Russians expect from their leader?
Presenter: Laura Kyle | Guests: Pavel Felgen-haeur - Columnist with Novaya Gazetta; Anna Borsh-chevskaya - Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; James Nixey - Head of the Russia and Eurasia programme at the foreign affairs think-tank, Chatham House
As special counsel Robert Mueller continues his probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, we take a look back at Washington’s record of meddling in elections across the globe. By one count, the United States has interfered in more than 80 foreign elections between 1946 and 2000. And that doesn’t count U.S.-backed coups and invasions. We speak to former New York Times reporter Stephen Kinzer, author of “Overthrow: America’s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq.”
The rhetoric of the Cold War appears to be back - with strong words at the UN Security Council and the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats from Britain.
The US, France and Germany along with the UK have issued a joint statement blaming Moscow for the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK.
The apparent unity in the West though comes at a time of friction over Brexit and an unpredictable White House. Russia says the accusations are 'insane' - and that Britain is refusing to cooperate with Moscow in the investigation of the incident.
Is there a rush to judgment by western powers on Russia?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan | Guests: Vyacheslav Matuzov, a former Russian diplomat; Matthew Goodwin, Senior Visiting Fellow in the Europe Programme at Chatham House; Fabrice Pothier, Former Director of Policy Planning for NATO
When the blockade against Qatar began in June last year, the question on everyone's lips was: why!? A new Al Jazeera investigation suggests the answer does not lie in events of eight months ago, but those of more than two decades ago.
The report reveals new evidence of an attempt by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain, to overthrow the Qatari government in 1996. It includes interviews with coup leaders who conspired to remove the Emir of Qatar at the time - Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. He is the father of the current Emir.
The investigation implicates leaders from all four blockading countries. It says the committee formed to organise the 1996 coup was led by many who are the helm of power in some of the blockading countries On Inside Story, an in-depth discussion on why the anti-Qatar quartet has been targeting the regime in Doha. />
Media reports say the U.S. is considering selling nuclear reactors to Saudi Arabia. Analyst Ali al-Ahmed is skeptical, and says Trump has just removed the fig leaf of concern for human rights abuses by the Gulf dictatorship.
The red carpet has been rolled out at Buckingham Palace and Number 10 Downing Street in London for Mohammed Bin Salman on his first trip abroad since he became Saudi Crown Prince.
The 32-year old became heir to the throne after a palace crisis last June. Since then, he's continued his country's involvement in the war in Yemen, launched the blockade of Qatar and began what his government calls an anti-corruption drive. Dozens of high profile princes and businessmen were arrested and held in a hotel accused of corruption.
His country is accused by human rights organisations of widespread abuses, and has been criticised for its conduct of the war in Yemen, a conflict which has caused a humanitarian catastrophe. So what will be the impact of his visit, both for Saudi Arabia and the UK?
Presenter: Richelle Carey | Guests: David Hearst - Editor-in-chief of Middle East Eye; Khalil Jahshan - Executive Director of Arab Center Washington DC; Anas Altkriti - President of the Muslim Association of Britain
As Italians head to the polls on 4 March 2018, discontent over immigration and persistent economic problems dominate the agenda. Mark Urban reports on an unpredictable election.
Italy may be the next Western democracy to witness a populist uprising, spurred by a young political party called the Five Star Movement. Ahead of elections in early March, the party's candidate for prime minister, Luigi Di Maio, is championing tax cuts and anti-immigrant rhetoric while vowing to clean up Italy's bureaucracy. NewsHour Weekend Special Correspondent Christopher Livesay reports.
He is considered the shining star of a grass roots movement called 5 star that has shaken up the Italian political landscape. Luigi di Maio, 31, in just five years has gone from unemployed university dropout to the front-runner candidate for Prime Minister. The anti-establishment movement he leads is now Italy’s most popular party. His rise to power was as meteoric as that of the Five Star Movement.
Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has a reputation for being one of the president’s closest and well listened to advisers.
But his role in the White House is being scrutinised because of US media reports about the impact his business ties are having on US policy. Questions are being asked whether or not he’s misused his influence to secure money for his family's business from foreign countries.
Another concern is whether he helped Russian interference in Trump's election campaign.
All that while the president’s appointed Middle East peace broker had his top level security clearance downgraded last week.
Is that a sign of more chaos in the president's inner circle?
Presenter: Mohamed Jamjoom | Guests: Clyde Wilcox - Professor of Government, Georgetown University; Bruce Fein - Former US Associate Deputy Attorney General; Rami Khouri - Senior Fellow, Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy, American University of Beirut
Theresa May acknowledged in her speech today that Britain will have less access to EU markets after Brexit. However, she also asked for some special rules to apply to the UK after Brexit. Meanwhile, Brussels says it will not accept cherry-picking. Also, Silvio Berlusconi returned to the political center stage in Italy ahead of elections on Sunday. And Donald Trump caused an international uproar over steel and aluminium tariffs.
