Al-Jazeera to Slash 500 Jobs, Most from Qatar Headquarters

Al-Jazeera to Slash 500 Jobs, Most from Qatar Headquarters

by Breitbart News 27 Mar 2016

http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2016/03/27/al-jazeera-slash-500-jobs-qatar-headquarters/

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Al-Jazeera, the Qatar-based broadcaster, said Sunday it is slashing about 500 jobs a little more than two months after announcing the closure of its U.S. offshoot.

The cutbacks come as 2022 World Cup host Qatar refocuses its spending priorities amid a steep drop in prices for oil and gas, the backbone of the OPEC nation’s economy.

The Al-Jazeera Media Network described the cuts as part of a “workforce optimization initiative” tied to an evolving media landscape.

They will enable Al-Jazeera to “maintain a leading position and continue our recognized commitment to high quality, independent and hard-hitting journalism around the world,” acting Director General Mostefa Souag said in a statement.

The network did not make officials available for comment, but confirmed it currently employs about 4,500 people. Most of those losing their jobs are based in Qatar.

Al-Jazeera began as an Arabic-language news channel in 1996 with backing from Qatar’s then-emir, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. It now has multiple channels, including an international English-language service, and boasts more than 70 bureaus worldwide.

It struggled to crack into the U.S. market, however. It announced in January it was shutting down its Al Jazeera America cable news network, launched in October 2013, after struggling to attract viewers and convince cable and satellite companies to carry it.

Like other major energy producers, Qatar is under pressure from a steep slide in oil prices that has pushed crude to less than $40 a barrel from more than $100 in the summer of 2014. Several prominent Qatari employers have cut jobs in recent months, and authorities in January hiked subsidized gasoline prices by at least 30 percent.

Even with cutbacks in government spending, Qatar expects to run a budget deficit of more than $12 billion this year.

OPEC

Qatar, Saudi Arabia & the United Arab Emirates are members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Note: Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was the emir of Qatar, is the founder of the Qatar Foundation International, and the founder of Al Jazeera.

Qatar Foundation International was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Friends of Saudi Arabia was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

United Arab Emirates was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Hillary Rodham Clinton was a director at the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and is the candidate for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign.

Ready PAC (Ready For Hillary) supported the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.      

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a co-chair, national finance council for the Ready PAC (Ready For Hillary), and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), and the Climate Reality Project.

Teresa Heinz Kerry is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), married to John F. Kerry, and the vice chair for the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment.

Larry J. Schweiger is a trustee at the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and a director at the Climate Reality Project.

Sherwood L. Boehlert was a trustee at the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and is a director at the Climate Reality Project.

Albert A. Gore Jr. is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project, and was a co-founder & chairman for Current Media, LLC.

Current TV is a division of Current Media, LLC.

Al Jazeera acquired Current TV.

Laura Ling is a journalist for Current TV, was freed as result of the 2009 humanitarian mission to North Korea, and William J. Clinton negotiated her release from North Korea.

Euna Lee was a journalist for Current TV, was freed as result of the 2009 humanitarian mission to North Korea, and William J. Clinton negotiated her release from North Korea.

Douglas J. Band was a team member for the 2009 humanitarian mission to North Korea, the deputy assistant to the president for the William J. Clinton administration, William J. Clinton’s counselor, and a director at the USA Bid Committee Inc.

Don Garber was a director at the USA Bid Committee Inc., a director at the United States Soccer Foundation, and is the commissioner for the Major League Soccer.

Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup bid

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_2022_FIFA_World_Cup_bid

The Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup bid was a bid by Qatar to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The bid has come under FBI investigation for bribery and corruption, leading to the resignation of FIFA President Sepp Blatter. With a population of 2 million people, Qatar will be the first Arab state to host the World Cup.[1] Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, son of Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani the then Emir of Qatar, was the chairman of the bid committee.

William J. Clinton led team for the 2009 humanitarian mission to North Korea, negotiated Laura Ling & Euna Lee’s release from North Korea, is married to Hillary Rodham Clinton, an adviser for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign, and the founder of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Qatar was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, the Brookings Institution (think tank), Qatar, Saudi Arabia & the United Arab Emirates are members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Qatar Foundation International was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Friends of Saudi Arabia was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

United Arab Emirates was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Hillary Rodham Clinton was a director at the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and is the candidate for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign.

Ready PAC (Ready For Hillary) supported the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, the Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International.      

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a co-chair, national finance council for the Ready PAC (Ready For Hillary), and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Climate Reality Project, the Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International.       

Syrian Electronic Army reportedly hacked the Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Qatar Foundation.    

Bashar al-Assad is supporting the Syrian Electronic Army a hacker group, the president of Syria, and permitted the rise in Syria of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).

Qatar Foundation was a funder for the RAND Corporation (think tank).

Leonard D. Schaeffer is a trustee at the RAND Corporation (think tank), and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Teresa Heinz Kerry is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), married to John F. Kerry, and the vice chair for the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment.

Larry J. Schweiger is a trustee at the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and a director at the Climate Reality Project.

Sherwood L. Boehlert was a trustee at the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and is a director at the Climate Reality Project.

Albert A. Gore Jr. is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project, and was a co-founder & chairman for Current Media, LLC.

Current TV is a division of Current Media, LLC.

Al Jazeera acquired Current TV.

Laura Ling is a journalist for Current TV, was freed as result of the 2009 humanitarian mission to North Korea, and William J. Clinton negotiated her release from North Korea.

Euna Lee was a journalist for Current TV, was freed as result of the 2009 humanitarian mission to North Korea, and William J. Clinton negotiated her release from North Korea.

William J. Clinton led team for the 2009 humanitarian mission to North Korea, negotiated Laura Ling & Euna Lee’s release from North Korea, the spokesman for the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, is married to Hillary Rodham Clinton, an adviser for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign, and the founder of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund raises funds to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Thad W. Allen oversaw the emergency response for Hurricane Katrina, was a senior fellow at the RAND Corporation, and is the EVP for Booz Allen Hamilton.

Booz Allen Hamilton was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Qatar Foundation was a funder for the RAND Corporation (think tank).

Leonard D. Schaeffer is a trustee at the RAND Corporation (think tank), and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Teresa Heinz Kerry is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), married to John F. Kerry, and the vice chair for the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment.

Is Christie positioning to be Trump's running mate?

Is Christie positioning to be Trump's running mate?

'Making the transition from endorser to enabler ... to be a major player'

Chris Christie and Donald Trump

JOE KOVACS

http://www.wnd.com/2016/03/is-this-man-positioning-to-be-trumps-running-mate/

If Donald Trump secures the Republican nomination for president, just whom will he select to run with him as vice president on the GOP ticket?

Reports from various media in the New York region suggest New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is a strong possibility, given his growing role within the Trump campaign in recent days.

“Christie is clearly making the transition from endorser to enabler and positioning himself to be a major player in the Trump camp,” presidential historian David M. Kennedy told NJ.com.

And Edward “Ted” Newton, who led Mitt Romney’s vice-presidential vetting process on Christie in 2012, added that being Trump’s debate coach indicates his standing has risen tremendously.

“Leading the debate prep, as Christie has, or the VP candidate search, as Dick Cheney did, fosters a strong relationship and a great level of trust,” Newton said.

“It’s natural for that person to see themselves becoming a potential running mate.”

The initial report from NJ.com prompted a follow-up by the New York Post, which splashed a big headline this weekend stating: “Chris Christie positions himself to be Trump’s running mate.”

“There’s a lot of phone conversation between the two,” the source told the Post.

Christie, who dropped out of the race after failing to gain traction among 17 original GOP presidential contenders, also arranged a conference call for Trump to talk directly to New Jersey Republican leaders and seek campaign help.

The Post reported: “Christie confidante Bill Palatucci also sits on the Republican National Committee’s Rules Committee and will be advancing and protecting The Donald’s interests within the party and at the convention. Most of Jersey’s major GOP county committees have endorsed Trump. Jersey has 52 delegates in its winner-take-all primary.”

Both the Post and NJ.com noted that Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment.

David M. Kennedy

David M. Kennedy is an advisory board member for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and a trustee at the New-York Historical Society.

Note: Diane S. Ravitch is an advisory board member for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Henry Louis Gates Jr. is an advisory board member for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, a trustee at the New-York Historical Society, and was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Ellen V. Futter is an advisory board member for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Harlem Children's Zone, the Robin Hood Foundation, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone.

Gilder Foundation was a funder for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the Harlem Children's Zone, and the New-York Historical Society.

Victoria B. Bjorklund is a governor at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and a director at the Robin Hood Foundation.

Michael R. Bloomberg was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation, a New York (NY) mayor, and is Emma Bloomberg’s father.

Emma Bloomberg is Michael R. Bloomberg’s daughter, and was the chief of staff for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Robin Hood Foundation raised money for Hurricane Sandy relief.

Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund is a relief organization for Hurricane Sandy.

Mary Pat Christie is the chair for the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, married to Christopher J. Christie, the president of the Drumthwacket Foundation, and Cam Henderson was her chief of staff.

Christopher J. Christie is married to Mary Pat Christie, the New Jersey state government governor, an honorary chairman for the Drumthwacket Foundation, and was the candidate for the 2016 Chris Christie presidential campaign.

Cam Henderson was Mary Pat Christie’s chief of staff, the finance director for the 2016 Chris Christie presidential campaign, and is the executive director for the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.

Barbara Knowles Debs is a trustee at the New-York Historical Society, and married to Richard A. Debs.

Drumthwacket Foundation maintains the governor's mansion for the New Jersey state government.

Donald Trump was a donor for the Drumthwacket Foundation, is the candidate for the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign, and a director at the Police Athletic League of New York City.

Bruce E. Mosler is a director at the Police Athletic League of New York City, and was a trustee at the New-York Historical Society.

David M. Kennedy is a trustee at the New-York Historical Society, and an advisory board member for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Richard A. Debs is married to Barbara Knowles Debs, was a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), and Anwar Sadat’s pro-bono financial adviser.

Anwar Sadat’s pro-bono financial adviser was Richard A. Debs, and was the president of Egypt.

Mohamed Morsi was the president of Egypt, and is the leader for the Muslim Brotherhood.

Richard C. Leone was a treasurer for the New Jersey state government, and a chairman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

David Wildstein was a director of interstate capital projects for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Bridget Anne Kelly sent an email about GWB traffic, 2013 to him, Christopher J. Christie’s high school classmate, a Livingston (NJ) High School) graduate, and the owner of PolitickerNJ.com (NJ.com).

Bridget Anne Kelly sent an email about the GWB traffic in 2013 to David Wildstein, and was Christopher J. Christie’s deputy chief of staff.

'Humiliated' Christie Apologizes for Bridge Scandal

By Sandy Fitzgerald and Newsmax wires   |   Thursday, 09 Jan 2014 10:42 AM

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/christie-bridge-gate-scandal/2014/01/09/id/546182/

An "embarrassed and humiliated" New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday apologized for the bridge-gate scandal and said he has fired a top aide after fresh revelations that his staff played a key role in closing some lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge in what critics say was a political vendetta.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/christie-bridge-gate-scandal/2014/01/09/id/546182/#ixzz449cPBfGY
Christopher J. Christie’s high school classmate was David Wildstein, a Livingston (NJ) High School) graduate, Bridget Anne Kelly was his deputy chief of staff, the candidate for the 2016 Chris Christie presidential campaign, is married to Mary Pat Christie, the New Jersey state government governor, and an honorary chairman for the Drumthwacket Foundation.

Drumthwacket Foundation maintains the governor's mansion for the New Jersey state government.

Donald Trump was a donor for the Drumthwacket Foundation, is the candidate for the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign, and a director at the Police Athletic League of New York City.

Bruce E. Mosler is a director at the Police Athletic League of New York City, and was a trustee at the New-York Historical Society.

David M. Kennedy is a trustee at the New-York Historical Society, and an advisory board member for the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.