大象传媒

Qatar鈥檚 leader, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, will discuss the economic blockade of his country, by nations in the region led by Saudi Arabia and Gulf security,when he meets Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday.

The meeting comes as the United States grows concerned about attacks on oil tankers, which Washington blames on Iran. Ellen R. Wald, an expert on Qatar's energy driven economy, explains why the country could seek the help of the US to deal with the sanctions imposed by Saudi Arabia, as well as give President Trump an inside track on Iran's nuclear policies.

Some people enjoy an expensive painting for its artistic merit, but others are more interested in its value as an investment. Often the buyers for the most expensive works are investors, who need to see profits to justify their purchases and that has created a lucrative line of business for banks. Financial institutions have entire departments which lend money to the owners of art collections, using the paintings as collateral.We hear from Evan Beard who runs this kind of operation for the Bank of America.

We also get a report on how concern is growing that Brazil is clearing more of its rain forests at a faster rate than ever before, as the country opts to use the land for economic development. Experts claim an area the size of a football field is being cleared every minute.

We will be joined throughout the programme by two guests who usually have a wide range of opinions on many subjects, Professor Peter Morici, from the University of Maryland in Washington and Yuan Yang, at the Financial Times in Beijing.

(Picture:Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Copyright Reuters.)