PREVIEW: CNN International Programme Information Weeks 6 and 7
Inside the Middle East
CNN’s Arwa Damon meets expatriates living in Beirut
In February, ‘Inside the Middle East’ travels to Beirut, the cosmopolitan, multi-lingual capital of Lebanon. Beirut’s popularity among expatriate residents has not waned, despite the recent instability caused by the bitter conflict in neighbouring Syria. Hosted by CNN’s Senior International Correspondent, Arwa Damon, the programme discovers why the ‘Paris of the Middle East’ is so appealing to immigrants.
Expats may be flocking to Beirut, but not everyone is welcome. Many economic migrants in Beirut struggle with prejudice on a daily basis. The country has implemented a zero-tolerance policy towards racism – but Damon finds out why it’s going to take more than a legislation to change the local attitudes.
The programme also explores the rights of women in Lebanon – a nation known for its tolerant stance on gender issues. With few laws on domestic abuse and little female representation in government however, activists say the sense of freedom among women in the country is a false one. ‘Inside the Middle East’ meets women now demanding change.
Also, the programme meets the alternative rock band Mashrou’ Laila, a group who have become hugely popular in Lebanon by taking on traditionally taboo topics, such as politics and homosexuality, in their music.
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Rory McIlroy proudly holds the Rodman Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship – Credit: Getty
In February, ‘Living Golf’ travels to the Middle East for the annual Desert Swing – where the world’s top players compete across Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai.
The programme looks at Rory McIlroy’s recently-signed massive Nike sponsorship deal, reported to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, making him one of the highest paid sports stars in the world. Host Shane O’Donoghue speaks to the man himself, and exclusively to his former main sponsor Jumeirah and Rory’s managers, Conor Ridge.
Also this month, O’Donoghue sits down with Europe’s new Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley, for an in-depth interview on the road to Gleneagles 2014.
Plus, the programme looks at how the Italian region of Tuscany plans to drive high-end golf tourism in the coming years, and former world number one Martin Kaymer gives a lesson in how to play bunker shots for ‘Living Golf’’s regular Hotshots feature.
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It’s ‘business as usual’ at Gardemoen Airport, Oslo, despite extreme weather conditions. Credit: Nivek Neslo / Getty
Travel and weather are awkward bedfellows. More and more, weather dictates when and where we can fly, and the travel industry faces the constant task of keeping things moving come sun, rain or snow.
This month, ‘CNN Business Traveller’ is in Oslo, to find out how the city’s airport ensures smooth operation despite extreme weather conditions, heavy snowfall and temperatures as low as -25C. Gardemoen Airport, Oslo has been named ‘Europe’s most punctual airport’ four times by the AEA (Association of European Airlines).
‘CNN Business Traveller’ host Richard Quest gets a thorough insight into how the airport keeps things moving, turning his hand to clearing a runway of snow and de-icing a plane, using some of the best technology in the industry. Meanwhile, Ayesha Durgahee investigates what is done to ensure a plane can withstand extreme conditions. For those times when weather does win the day, Quest looks at how passengers can keep busy if they find themselves stranded.
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Skippers begin the race on their monohulls at the start of the 7th edition of the Vendee Globe. Credit: Damien Mayer/AFP/Getty Images
Thursday 14 February at 1030 GMT / 1130 CET and 1730 GMT / 1830 CET Saturday 16 February at 0830 GMT / 0930 CET and 2200 GMT / 2300 CET Sunday 17 February at 1730 GMT / 1830 CET Duration: 30 minutes
In this month’s ‘MainSail’, host Shirley Robertson heads to France to witness the exhilarating finish to the round-the-world Vendée Globe yacht race.
In November 2012, Robertson was in Les Sables d’Olonne as twenty skippers left France to sail non-stop alone around the world in the seventh edition of the race. ‘MainSail’ is at the dockside to see whether the first person home will, once again, be a French father in his mid thirties – the winning skipper profile of every edition since the race began in 1989.
During the race, Robertson was in communication with the sailors via satellite at Race Control at the Montparnasse Tower Headquarters in Paris and witnessed the racing fleet shrink from twenty to twelve entries as the race took its toll.
‘MainSail’ heads to the finish line in France to uncover the stories that only ever get told once the skippers are ashore. The programme witnesses just how many of the sailors can complete the course, and the pressure is on – winning the Vendée Globe is considered the ultimate achievement in solo racing.
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