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New York Times
Alan Cowell is a London-based correspondent for the New York Times and the author of The Paris Correspondent: A Novel of Newspapers, Then and Now and the forthcoming Permanent Removal.
PROFILE
Alan Cowell
Guest
FROM Alan Cowell
To the Point
British PM Theresa May calls for snap general election in June British Prime Minister Theresa May threw down a gauntlet today, calling an early election for June 8 in an effort to gain strength for negotiations on Brexit — leaving the European Union. Outside Number 10 Downing Street, May challenged her political opposition to show that it is "not opposing the government for the sake of it, to show that you do not treat politics as a game." The Scottish National Party wants that part of Britain to say in the European Union. Leader Nicola Sturgeon told the BBC that May "sees the opportunity given the total disarray in the ranks of the Labour Party to crush all opposition to her, to get rid of people that disagree with her and to give herself a free hand to take the country in the increasingly right wing direction that she wants to take it in." Alan Cowell, who contributes to the New York Times from London, believes that May called the early election to prove her she maintains a mandate.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Hacking Scandal Rebekah Brooks, the former head of Rupert Murdoch’s British newspapers, has avoided jail time in the phone hacking scandal that caused an uproar in England. Brooks was acquitted, but her former editor Andy Coulson, who later became head of communications for British Prime Minister David Cameron, is facing jail time.
To the Point
Ugandan President Signs Anti-Gay Legislation A Ugandan tabloid newspaper today published a list of what it calls the nations 200 most significant homosexuals. This, after President Yoweri Museveni, signed harsh news legislation to punish gay and lesbians. The US says relations will be complicated. Alan Cowell is the New York Times senior correspondent in London.
To the Point
G4S Admits to 'Humiliating Shambles' over Olympics Security Last week, private security company G4S admitted it won't have enough security personnel to cover the London Olympics. With the games scheduled to start in just 10 days, the British Army agreed to provide 3500 soldiers, bringing the total to some 17,000. But today, G4S head Nick Buckles admitted that his company's effort to provide security has become a "humiliating shambles," but said it will not forfeit a management fee of $90 million. Parliament's Committee on Home Security made sure he would never forget it. Alan Cowell is senior correspondent for the New York Times .
Which Way, L.A.?
Rupert Murdoch: Finance, Politics and Journalism The British police and the US Justice Department are investigating the way Rupert Murdoch has conducted an empire that spans the world of communications media. But a majority of a committee of Britain's parliament has already acknowledged his " willful blindness " and concluded he's "not a fit person" to lead a major international company. We look at his problems and his influence on journalism worldwide.
To the Point
Rupert Murdoch: Finance, Politics and Journalism Rupert Murdoch is best known in the US for Fox News and the Wall Street Journal , but his media empire spans the world of communications. Now, a committee of Britain’s parliament has accused him of not being "a fit person" to run an international company. Will hacking telephones, bribing public officials and covering up wrong-doing mean the end of an empire? We look at Murdoch’s legal, financial and political problems, as well as his impact on the news business in the English speaking world.
To the Point
Clashes at the Syrian Border Leave Turkey Concerned Syria's bloody conflict crossed two borders today. Government forces killed a cameraman in Lebanon today and wounded at least six people at a refugee camp in Turkey. What are the prospects for Kofi Annan's UN-brokered cease-fire, scheduled to start tomorrow? Alan Cowell is senior correspondent for the New York Times .
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To the Point
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
To the Point
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
To the Point
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.