Biden's America against Xi's China: Struggle for Supremacy? | To the Point

Who can stop China's surge to global dominance? It's one huge question, and one huge challenge, that the new US president, Joe Biden, is already facing. Biden has inherited a divided and doubt-ridden America from his predecessor Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping 's China is both expansive and authoritarian. It's two rival systems apparently on collision course. So, on "To the Point" we ask: Biden's America against Xi's China: Struggle for supremacy?

Al-Andalus sous la domination des musulmans espagnols (711 – 1492)

ANDALOUSIE: La conquête d’ Al-Andalus par les musulmans, puisque c’est ainsi qu’il nommèrent l’Espagne, se caractérisa par sa rapidité et sa facilité. Au début du 8ème siècle, le royaume wisigoth qui dominait l’Espagne était très affaibli par la corruption et la lutte de ses gouvernants, ce qui supposa que l’occupation des territoires par les musulmansayant traversé le détroit, fut très rapide.

Les communautés chrétiennes et juives furent tolérées en échange de tributs, raison pour laquelle la population d’Al-Andalus fut un tel mélange de races et de croyances.

A priori, il semble difficile de comprendre comment les peuples musulmans, qui tiennent la « guerre sainte » comme un de leurs percepts fondamentaux, permirent à d’autres religions de coexister dans les terres qu’ils occupaient. L’explication en est que les religions juives et chrétiennes sont toutes deux monothéistes, apparentées à l’Islam par le biais d’Abraham (père des trois religions). De plus, pour les musulmans, juifs et chrétiens étaient des « frères » qui se trompaient simplement et qui ne voulaient pas accepter le message d’Allah. Les musulmans appelaient les chrétiens et les juifs Ahl-al-kitab, les « gents du livre » (la Bible), duquel ils assumaient même une partie des traditions et des révélations antérieures. Pour ces raisons, ils leur octroyèrent un statut spécial.

Ce qui caractéristique le séjour des musulmans en Al-Andalus fut la fragmentation et la fragilité de ses territoires, qui firent qu’ Al-Andalus ne connut jamais de domination pacifique. Ce furent des temps de guerres continuelles, tantôt avec les chrétiens, qui petit à petit formaient un siège par le nord ; tantôt avec les musulmans eux-mêmes ; ou encore avec des tribus du nord de l’Afrique, qui tentaient également sans cesse des invasions par le sud. En conséquence, pour pouvoir maintenir la paix sur les territoires, les dominateurs devaient maintenir la paix en ayant recours à des politiques de pactes et d’alliances. Ainsi la domination musulmane en Al-Andalus et Grenade passa par diverses périodes bien distinctes. » | Pas d'attribution d'écriture | Sans date

Leaving the Ultra-Orthodox — Jews Seeking a New Life in Germany | DW Documentary

Increasing numbers of Jews have been leaving ultra-orthodox communities in recent years. Surprisingly, Germany has become a popular refuge for them. Rabbi Akiva Weingarten has been helping them.

More than 1.3 million Jews live in ultra-orthodox communities worldwide. It’s a kind of parallel universe — in which only God’s laws count. Every aspect of everyday life is clearly regulated: The women are responsible for the home and for looking after the children while the men devote their lives to religious study. But some ten percent of ultra-orthodox Jews in Israel go on to quit their communities - and that figure is growing. The majority are young adults and, surprisingly, many come to Germany. Akiva Weingarten was one of them. He grew up in an ultra-orthodox Satmar community in New York State but made a radical break in 2014. He left his wife and children and started a new life in Berlin - without a credit card, a bank account or a job, or any relatives to fall back on. He is now surrounded by a free community of former ultra-orthodox Jews - who turn to the rabbi for practical and religious advice. Moshe Barnett and David Lamberger have only been flat mates in Dresden for a few months now. They are not just seeking a new life, but a new relationship with God.

Princess Latifa: Daughter of Ruler of Dubai Says She Is a Hostage in Secret Message

The daughter of the ruler of Dubai, who tried to flee the emirate in 2018 but was forcibly returned, has used a smuggled phone to send a series of secret video messages taken over the past two years claiming she was being held hostage in a locked villa surrounded by police. The new videos were obtained by BBC Panorama and will be aired in more detail on Tuesday evening in the UK

Harry and Meghan Aim to Avoid Embarrassing Queen in Oprah Interview

THE GUARDIAN: ‘Tell-all’ interview announcement has prompted reports it will lead to couple being stripped of patronages

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not wish to embarrass the Queen despite frenzied speculation over their planned “wide-ranging” interview with Oprah Winfrey, it is understood.

The announcement by CBS of a “tell-all” intimate account by Harry and Meghan of their “Megxit” departure from the UK has led to reports it is the final straw for an exasperated Buckingham Palace who will strip the couple of their royal patronages.

The couple are said to have the greatest respect and love for the Queen and will not say anything to undermine that, according to a source. They are determined to fight to retain their patronages.

Reports that the interview will directly result in Harry being stripped of his honorary military titles, and of Meghan losing her patronage of the National Theatre, personally bestowed by the Queen, are understood to have conflated two issues. Rather, practical considerations, such as the couple living thousands of miles away, are likely to see them being forced to relinquish them under palace pressure. » | Caroline Davies | Tuesday, 16, 2021

Adultery, accusations and walkouts: when royals do TV interviews »

As Fox News Struggles at Home, Murdoch Brings Its Playbook to the U.K.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: His venture and another upstart by a rival group of investors will challenge the BBC and Britain’s efforts to guard against political bias in television news.

LONDON — Beset by declining ratings, upheaval in its on-air ranks and a multibillion-dollar defamation suit related to its election coverage, Fox News is staggering out of the Trump era — blamed by many for seeding the poisonous political culture that brought a violent mob into the halls of the United States Capitol.

Yet in Britain, where television news is regulated to avoid political bias, Rupert Murdoch and a competing group of investors are seizing this moment to create two upstart news services that will challenge the BBC and other broadcasters by borrowing heavily from Mr. Murdoch’s Fox playbook. » | Mark Landler | Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Conservative Lawyer Bruce Fein: Trump’s Acquittal Gives Future Presidents License to Break the Law

The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain | A PBS Documentary

A Short History of the Moors

The Guardian View on Queen's Consent: The Crown Does More Than It Seems

THE GUARDIAN: End the flummery that enables a Queen’s gambit and ministers making moves that suit the monarch

In Britain the Queen is supposed to act on the advice of her government. The monarch, it is said, merely signs the laws that ministers bring her. The charade is conducted in the manner of a magician, with pomp and ceremony shielding the public so they fail to realise what is going on. The Guardian this week pulled back the curtain and let the daylight in. The truth is that the government often acts on the advice of the Queen.

Under our unwritten constitution, the monarch does have the power to withhold royal assent to a bill. It’s never been used. The Queen, wrote the Victorian thinker Walter Bagehot, "must sign her own death-warrant” if parliament sends her a law to that effect. Yet documents in the National Archives reveal that Her Majesty managed, in secret, to get laws changed – in favour of her personal interest – before they were introduced. The Guardian found four instances between 1968 and 1982 where the palace had lobbied to get the law altered. In 1973 the Queen’s lawyers intervened to allow her to hide her private wealth from the public. » | Editorial | Friday, February 12, 2021

Lisbon - What Makes Portugal's Capital City So Attractive? | DW Documentary

Lisbon, Portugal’s "White City", is an old multifaceted city in Europe. Lisbon has experienced many periods of prosperity and has survived many crises.

But what makes Lisbon so attractive today – especially among young people? A film crew met a range of mainly young people in Lisbon, and asked them about their relationship to the Portuguese capital city. Lisbon’s history has been significantly shaped by its harbor, which made it a central hub of trade in Europe and the starting point for voyages of discovery and conquest in the late Middle Ages. Vasco da Gama embarked on his last trip to India from Lisbon, and enjoyed a hero’s welcome on his return in 1499. From Bairro Alto and the National Museum of Ancient Art to the Tower of Belém and countless palaces, churches and hotels, Lisbon has a lot to offer tourists. But what makes the Portuguese capital such an attractive destination for young people in the present day? The friendly and carefree nature of the Portuguese people, says one blogger, who quit his job in a bank in order to photograph his city for an image campaign. The incomparable light of Lisbon, says a city historian committed to the conservation of Portugal’s colorful glazed wall tiles: azulejos. The sense of melancholy, adds a singer, who is just as enthusiastic about modern electronic as she is about the traditional fado, which she herself performs on stage. Culinary specialties made from locally fished seafood are the secret, says an acclaimed chef and craftsman. And for an avid surfer, the city’s appeal lies in the impressive waves along the coastline.

Growing Global Concern over Coronavirus Variants | DW News

In the UK, coronavirus testing is now being stepped up to discover virus variants and stop them from spreading. Up to 10% of positive tests will now be sent on to labs for further genome analysis. It's part of a growing effort to catch the more contagious mutations before they take hold.

Former US Muslims Break Silence, Imam Supports Their Choice (2015)

It’s estimated that more than a quarter of Americans have left the faith they were raised in. And while all major faiths have lost adherents, many of those who abandoned Islam face particular hardships. VOA religion correspondent Jerome Socolovsky went to a support group that helps former Muslims who may feel ostracized or disoriented, and reports.

Margaret Thatcher - Speech to the College of Europe ("The Bruges Speech") [1988]

In this impressive speech in Bruges, Margaret Thatcher spoke strongly in favour of the Single Market. Indeed, the Single Market was Thatcher’s baby. Today’s Conservatives under BoJo have betrayed Thatcher’s legacy. Whilst Maggie was anti-federalism, she was certainly pro-European free trade; and she was certainly very much against erecting barriers to European free trade, which Brexit does. All I can say is this: Thatcher must be turning in her grave! All her hard work has gone up in smoke. – ©Mark Alexander

Leaving the Faith - Former Muslims | People and Politics

A growing number of Muslims in Germany are either converting to another faith or turning their backs on religion altogether. Some have faced intimidation and even death threats. Refusing to be put off, they write blogs and provide advice for others who want to follow them.

Ex-Muslims Share Their Experiences | The Economist

The decision to turn your back on your religion can have huge ramifications. Two women who were shunned by their families and community share a rarely seen perspective on faith—and on losing it.

Saudi Women's Rights Activist Loujain al-Hathloul Released from Prison

THE GUARDIAN: Campaigner was held in custody for 1,001 days on charges denounced as politically motivated

The prominent Saudi dissident and women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been released from prison after 1,001 days in custody.

Following a concerted campaign by her relatives and global rights groups, Hathloul was granted probation by a judge in Riyadh and released to her family on Wednesday afternoon. Her sister Lina published a photo of a smiling Loujain on Twitter early evening Riyadh time – the first image of the most celebrated political prisoner in the Kingdom since she was detained almost three years ago. “Loujain is at home !!!!!!”, the accompanying message said.

Another sister, Alia, said in a separate post that Hathloul was at their parents’ home in Saudi Arabia, adding “this is the best day of my life”. » | Martin Chulov, Middle East correspondent | Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Die Nazis, die Arbeit und das Geld | Doku | ARTE

Im Juni 1940 führte Hitler Feldzüge in ganz Europa, obwohl Deutschland kaum noch Geld, nur wenige Rohstoffe und keine Devisen mehr hatte. Wie konnten die Nationalsozialisten mit einer solch schwachen Wirtschaft die zerstörerische Maschinerie des Zweiten Weltkriegs in Gang setzen?

Der Dokumentarfilm basiert auf neueren wissenschaftlichen Forschungen der Professoren Adam Tooze von der Columbia University, Richard Overy von der University of Exeter, Frank Bajohr vom Institut für Zeitgeschichte in München und der Privatdozentin Marie-Bénédicte Vincent von der Universität von Angers. Sie zeigen in ihren Forschungen zur NS-Zeit, welch treibende Rolle wirtschaftliche Aspekte für das Familienleben, die Arbeitswelt und die Kriegsführung im Deutschen Reich gespielt haben. Animationen im Stil der Collage-Kunst der 30er Jahre veranschaulichen die außerordentlichen Währungsmanipulationen der Nationalsozialisten. Damit wird der Blick auf einen bisher wenig beachteten Kriegsschauplatz gelenkt, nämlich auf die Fabriken des Deutschen Reichs, auf die Sparbücher der deutschen Familien, die Planungsbüros der Manager und kaum bekannte Protagonisten, die agierten: der Generalfeldmarschall und Staatssekretär in Görings Reichsluftfahrt-Ministerium Erhard Milch(1892-1972) etwa, der die gesamte Flugzeugbau-Industrie umstrukturierte und bereits 1954 aus der lebenslänglichen Haft entlassen wurde, der NSDAP-Gauleiter von Thüringen Fritz Sauckel(1894-1946), der in seiner Funktion als Generalbevollmächtigter für den Arbeitseinsatz für die Zwangsarbeit von Millionen von Menschen verantwortlich war und in Nürnberg hingerichtet wurde, oder SS-General Herbert Backe(1896-1947), der als Reichsminister und Leiter des Ministeriums für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft die rigide kriegswirtschaftlich und rassenideologisch begründete Hungerpolitik in Osteuropa plante und organisierte und sich in Nürnberg durch Suizid der Verantwortung entzog.Der Dokumentarfilm zeigt, wie die Nationalsozialisten ihr rassistisches und antisemitisches Weltbild in allen Bereichen der Großindustrie, der Landwirtschaft und der Finanzwelt implementieren konnten. Sie schufen damit ein abscheuliches, auf Währungsmanipulation, Gewalt, Raub und Völkermord beruhendes Wirtschafts-„Modell“, das nur durch Krieg und Unterdrückung funktionierte und zur Zerstörung Europas führte.

Dokumentarfilm von Gil Rabier (F 2020, 90 Min)

Twitter Says Trump Ban Is Permanent – Even If He Runs for Office Again

THE GUARDIAN: Chief financial officer says ‘when you’re removed, you’re removed … our policies don’t allow people to come back’

Donald Trump’s ban from the social media platform Twitter is going to stick even if he runs for the White House again – and even if he won again, a senior executive said on Wednesday.

The former president’s permanent block from Twitter is permanent, Twitter chief financial officer Ned Segal said during an interview on CNBC when he was asked whether Trump’s tweeting privileges could be restored if he ever returns to power.

“The way our policies work, when you’re removed from the platform, you’re removed from the platform,” Segal said.

He added: “Whether you’re a commentator, you’re a CFO, or you are a former or current public official. Remember, our policies are designed to make sure that people are not inciting violence, and if anybody does that, we have to remove them from the service and our policies don’t allow people to come back.” » | Guardian staff | Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Queen's Consent Is a Constitutional Outrage – Parliament Must Abolish It

THE GUARDIAN: If an MP or peer sought to secretly influence a draft bill in this way, it could lead to a criminal charge

The practice of Queen’s consent, on which the Guardian has shone a welcome light in recent days, is a constitutional outrage. It gives an unelected person the opportunity to require changes to draft legislation in order to benefit herself financially, or to exempt herself from laws she does not like, and to do so in secret without any public accountability.

If an MP or peer sought to secretly influence a draft bill to advantage themselves in this way, it would be called corruption. It could lead to a criminal charge.

The palace likes to pretend that the practice of Queen’s consent is all ceremonial, somehow rather quaint. “Any assertion that the sovereign has blocked legislation is simply incorrect,” they say. This is both accurate and entirely misleading. The Queen does not block legislation because she does not need to. The draft bill is sent to the palace and to her legal advisers. If they have objections, they will ring the Cabinet Office and relay these. Nothing is normally put in writing these days, to avoid a written record. The bill is then altered to meet the Queen’s wishes and the revised version is then sent back and gains her consent. You see? Nothing has been “blocked”. » | Norman Baker | Wednesday, February 10, 2021