大象传媒

The State of Texas is to deny cities the right to ban fracking for oil and gas.

Supporters say fracking has kept global energy prices low, and moved the US closer to its goal of energy self-sufficiency. Critics argue it is a dangerous threat to our health and the environment.

Now the state of Texas is poised to re-ignite the controversy, by passing a bill which will prevent individual cities from imposing a ban on fracking.

We talk to Chris Watts, mayor of Denton, a city in northern Texas which imposed its own fracking ban last November and to Chris Faulkner, the boss of Breitling Energy, a fracking company based in Dallas

Just over four years ago, Qatar was announced as the venue for the 2022 football World Cup. Since then, more than a million migrant labourers have arrived there in search of work.

Qatar is experiencing a multi-billion dollar construction boom, as new roads, hotels and stadiums are built ahead of the tournament. But just how well are those workers being treated? Hundreds have died and many more injured because of unsafe working practices.

大象传媒 correspondent Mark Lobel was invited by the Qatari government to witness conditions for migrant workers, but he was was arrested and detained in prison. He tells us about his experiences.

Also on the prrogramme, eleven days after the British general election it seems the real arguments are only just beginning. One key topic of discussion is Prime Minister David Cameron's pledge to offer a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union. The chairman of construction equipment firm JCB has said the UK should not fear an exit from the European Union. According to Lord Bamford, "We are the fifth or sixth largest economy in the world. We could exist on our own - peacefully and sensibly". We hear what German business thinks of a possible "Brexit"or British exit from the EU.