Robert Reich: Closing the Border to Mexico Is "Insane"

$1.5 billion dollars per day cross the US-Mexico border and closing it, as Trump has proposed would be "cataclysmic," says former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, whom Laura Carlsen interviewed in Mexico

Tatchell: "Why Is Assange Being Pursued & Not NYT or The Guardian? It Smacks of Double Standards"

"Why is Julian Assange being pursued and not the The New York Times or The Guardian? It smacks of double standards" says Peter Tatchell after Assange is arrested after spending almost 7 years inside Embassy of Ecuador, London.

Craig Murray on Julian Assange: "This Is a Very Important Fight, One We Absolutely Must Win"

"This is a very important fight and it's a fight we absolutely must win" says former British ambassador Craig Murray who believes a 'dishonest game is being played with the courts' over Julian Assange's arrest.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — April 12, 2019

Sandhurst and Cranwell Included in Training of Saudi Arabian Officers

It's been revealed that over 40 Saudi officers have been trained at RAF Cranwell and The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Anti-arms trade activist Tom Franklin believes 'all we're doing is training them to increase the blockade in Yemen'.

Julian Assange's Mother Accuses Theresa May of Using Son to Distract from 'Dog's Breakfast Brexit'

THE TELEGRAPH: Julian Assange's mother has accused Theresa May of using her son's "thuggish" arrest to divert attention from "her Brexit dog's breakfast".

Christine Assange launched her attack on the Prime Minister after Mrs May welcomed the the WikiLeaks founder's arrest after almost seven years of self-confinement inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

Mrs Assange, who pledged to "fight like hell" to clear her son's name, tweeted: "Theresa May trying to divert attention away from her Brexit dog's breakfast by cheering on the thuggish, brutal, unlawful arrest of my courageous, tortured multi-award winning journalist son Julian!"

Speaking in the Commons yesterday, Mrs May declared Assange's arrest showed "no one is above the law" in Britain. » | Telegraph Reporters | Friday, April 12, 2019

Daniel Ellsberg On Assange Arrest: The Beginning of the End For Press Freedom

"This is the first indictment of a journalist and editor or publisher...And if it's successful it will not be the last."

Neil Clark: "Julian Assange Has Been Besmirched"

"He has been besmirched" says Neil Clark after Julian Assange shouts 'UK, resist' as he's dragged out of Embassy of Ecuador, London by MET Police officers.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — April 11, 2019

Science and Islam - Islamic Knowledge | Science Documentary | Reel Truth Science

Physicist Jim Al-Khalili travels through Syria, Iran, Tunisia and Spain to explore the relationship between science and Islam. Throughout his journey he will tell the story of the leap in scientific knowledge that happened in the Islamic world between the 8th and 14th centuries and explain how this knowledge helped establish modern science.

Julian Assange Arrested: What Now for the WikiLeaks Founder?

The Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is in custody tonight after being arrested for allegedly breaching his bail conditions.

WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Arrested

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested by British police in the Ecuadorian embassy where he had been living since 2012 after the Ecuadorian government withdrew his asylum.

Former MI5 Agent on Assange’s Arrest

“His mission has always been very clear, to expose and impose transparency”, says Annie Machon, Former MI5 Agent, following Julian Assange’s arrest.

Julian Assange of WikiLeaks Arrested in London; Faces US Charge Related to Chelsea Manning Leaks

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested in London. Earlier today, British police forcibly removed Assange from the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he has been living since 2012. London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement that Assange was arrested on behalf of the United States authorities. The U.S. has charged Assange with helping Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning hack a government computer. The indictment was unsealed shortly after his arrest. We speak to Renata Ávila, a member of Assange’s legal team, as well as British human rights attorney Geoffrey Robertson, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald and former Justice Department attorney Jesselyn Radack.

Glenn Greenwald Calls Julian Assange’s Arrest "A Grave Threat to Press Freedoms"

“It’s the criminalization of journalism by the Trump Justice Department and the gravest threat to press freedom, by far, under the Trump presidency,” says Glenn Greenwald responding to the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. “Every journalist in the world should be raising their voice as loudly as possible to protest and denounce this.”

India | The Land of Jambu Trees

Julian Assange, WikiLeaks Founder, Is Arrested in London

THE NEW YORK TIMES: LONDON — Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder who released reams of secret documents that embarrassed the United States government, was arrested by the British police on Thursday at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he had lived since 2012, after Ecuador withdrew the asylum it had granted him.

President Lenín Moreno of Ecuador said on Twitter that his country had decided to stop sheltering Mr. Assange after “his repeated violations to international conventions and daily-life protocols,” a decision that cleared the way for the British authorities to detain him.

The relationship between Mr. Assange and Ecuador has been a rocky one, even as it offered him refuge, and WikiLeaks said last Friday that Ecuador “already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest” and predicted that Mr. Assange would be expelled from the embassy “within ‘hours to days.’ ”

Video footage showed a bearded Mr. Assange being taken down the steps of the red brick embassy in the wealthy area of Knightsbridge in central London by several plainclothes police officers and put into a gray police truck that was waiting to take him away. » | Richard Pérez-Peña | Thursday, April 11, 2019

Kim Jong-un Vows to Deliver 'Serious Blow' over Sanctions

THE GUARDIAN: North Korean leader says ‘hostile forces’ are determined to bring country to its knees

Kim Jong-un has vowed to deliver a “serious blow” to hostile countries he accused of using sanctions to bring the regime “to its knees”, according to the country’s state media.

The North Korean leader’s broadside against measures imposed in response to missile and nuclear programmes comes weeks after his second summit with Donald Trump ended in failure after they disagreed on how to match sanctions relief with progress on denuclearisation.

“We must deal a serious blow to the hostile forces who are mistakenly determined to bring us to our knees with sanctions by advancing the socialist construction to a high level of self-reliance that fits our circumstances and state, based on our own power, technology and resources,” Kim said, according to the state news agency KCNA. » | Justin McCurry and agencies | Thursday, April 11, 2019

Pence Asks UN to Recognize Guaidó in Venezuela

At a meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York City, US Vice President Mike Pence called on the UN to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as president and revoke the credentials of Venezuela’s ambassador. RT’s Dan Cohen has more.

What Kind of Government Will Take Power in Israel? | Inside Story

There is no doubting Benjamin Netanyahu is a political survivor. The Israeli Prime Minister first took office back in 1996, and now in Israel's 2019 election, he's once again in prime position to bring together a ruling coalition.

That's not to say Israel's elections weren't close. They definitely were. But in Israel, politics is all about partnerships, and the way Netanyahu positioned himself before the vote has meant finding support after it, will be far easier for him and his Likud party. So what will it all mean for Israel... and the region?

Presenter: Kamahl Santamaria Guests Akiva Eldar, columnist for Al-Monitor's Israel Pulse... Yossi Mekelberg, Professor in International Relations at Regent's University Mitchell Barak, CEO of Keevoon Global Research, and an adviser to the former Israeli President Shimon Peres.

'Brexit May Be Worse for EU Than UK' Timothy Garton Ash Interview

In an interview with DW, British historian Timothy Garton Ash argued for a long Brexit extension or a soft Brexit, saying a no-deal Brexit could poison relations between the EU and the UK for decades and would be a boon for Europe's populist movements.

Will EU Members Approve Theresa May's Brexit Extension Request?

EU leaders are meeting for a crisis summit in Brussels today to discuss British Prime Minister Theresa May's request for a delay to Brexit. Diplomats say London could be offered a flexible extension of up to a year. If there is no agreement, Britain could crash out of the block on Friday night. Ahead of the meeting, May visited Berlin and Paris to plead her case. But she'll need the support of all 27 EU members to obtain the delay. It seems likely leaders will demand May accept a longer extension than the one she has proposed.

Europäische Union: Ungarn ist verloren

ZEIT ONLINE: Unter Viktor Orbán wird Ungarns Demokratie systematisch zerstört. Hass, Rassismus und das anmaßende Ganoventum der Rechten sind Staatsräson. Die EU ist daran mit schuld.

Beda Magyar ist ein ungarischer Wissenschaftler, der in Budapest an der Zentraleuropäischen Universität (CEU) gearbeitet hat. Diese Hochschule wurde von der ungarischen Regierung mit neuen Anforderungen im Hochschulgesetz unter Druck gesetzt, bis sie sich Ende 2018 gezwungen sah, teilweise nach Wien umzuziehen. Beda Magyar schreibt hier unter Pseudonym, um sich und sein privates und berufliches Umfeld zu schützen. Seine Identität ist der Redaktion bekannt.

Ungarn hat Selbstmord begangen – mit ungeschickter Hilfe der EU und vor den Augen der übrigen, hilflosen EU-Mitglieder. Der Totentanz der Demokratie hat begonnen, wie schon einmal im 20. Jahrhundert: Menschenrechte, Pressefreiheit, die Unabhängigkeit von Justiz, Wissenschaft und Kunst sind wieder zum Spielball der Politik geworden; Fakten und Realitäten werden umgedeutet zu Angriffen auf die nationale Identität; Hass und Gesetzesbruch werden zum moralischen Imperativ erklärt. Dies alles geschieht nicht nur in der EU, sondern die EU hat selbst dazu beigetragen, den Wahngebilden der Rechtsextremen Leben einzuhauchen. Denn um nichts anderes handelt es sich bei der fixen Idee, die Brüsseler Bürokratie stelle eine Bedrohung für Ungarns kulturelle Identität dar. » | Ein Essay von Beda Magyar, Budapest | Dienstag, 09. April 2019

In English: Hungary Is Lost »

Why Is the US Calling Iran's Revolutionary Guard 'Terrorists'? | Inside Story

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard in Iran is both revered and feared. The 150,000 strong élite army answers directly to the Supreme Leader, and controls major businesses in Iran as well. However, it's been accused of destabilising the Middle East.

The United States has designated the force as a terrorist organisation in an unprecedented move. Iran responded by calling US troops in the Middle East terrorists, and threatened to produce more advanced nuclear centrifuges. So what's the objective? And what will be the impact of these unprecedented declarations?

Presenter: Martine Dennis | Guests: Mohammad Marandi - Dean of Faculty of World Studies at the University of Tehran; Trita Parsi - Professor at Georgetown University; Ellie Geranmayeh - Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa programme and Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations

Iran's MPs Don Uniform of Revolutionary Guard in Protest at US

THE GUARDIAN: Tehran responds fiercely to US’s reclassification of its military wing as a terrorist organisation

Politicians in Iran wore Revolutionary Guard uniforms in parliament on Tuesday in protest at the US decision to classify the nation’s military wing as a foreign terrorist organisation.

There were chants of “Death to America” as the president, Hassan Rouhani, declared the guard was “dearer than ever in the hearts of the Iranian nation” and announced countermeasures against the US.

Donald Trump’s move on Monday marked the first time Washington has declared another nation’s military wing a terrorist organisation – in the same category as non-state groups such as Isis or al-Qaida.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters, met members of the Revolutionary Guard on Tuesday, telling them: “Americans imagine they are designing and making trouble against the guard – in fact against the revolution and Iran – but their evil designs will not harm [the force]”. » | Bethan McKernan and agencies | Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Has Trump Locked US and Iran into a “Permanent State of Enmity” by Listing IRGC as Terror Group?

Democracy Now! Top US & World Headlines — April 9, 2019

Who Are the Real Terrorists? Trump Intensifies Economic War Against Iran – Wilkerson & Jay

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization on Monday, upping the economic war against Iran, the rift with Europe and China, and preparing conditions for a “military option” - Col. Larry Wilkerson joins Paul Jay

Trump Hires New Legal Team To Protect His Tax Returns

A major fight is brewing between House Democrats and Donald Trump over the president’s tax returns. But Trump isn’t going to sit idly by while Democrats consider subpoenaing these records, and he’s hired a new legal team whose only purpose is to protect those returns and fight off the Democrats. The man is clearly hiding something, we just don’t know what. Is it evidence of criminal activity, or simply embarrassing info that he doesn’t want us to see regarding his REAL net worth? Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

IS Targets the Philippines | DW Documentary

Is the so-called "Islamic State" aiming to use the Philippines as its bridgehead in Asia? IS took control of the predominantly Muslim city of Marawi in 2017, and it took the Philippine army five months to take it back.

We report from a country that the so-called "Islamic State" apparently wants to use as a bridgehead to spread its ideology in Asia. Marawi's total destruction made the Philippine state look weak and incapable of defending its own territory. The IS fighters may have been defeated, but the grueling house-to-house fighting against a well-equipped army supported by the USA was a propaganda coup for the Caliphate. Martial law still applies on Mindanao, the second largest island in the south of the Philippines where Marawi is located. More than 60,000 of the city’s inhabitants are still living in refugee camps or other emergency shelters, and reconstruction could take years. The terrorist group’s capture of Marawi was the climax to an old, religiously charged conflict that IS did not cause but was able to exploit. A feud between local Muslim inhabitants and Christian colonial rulers and settlers from the north of the archipelago has been smoldering in the south of the Philippines for more than 400 years. Many Muslims still complain about the discrimination they face from a mainly Catholic society, which is an ideal environment for the recruitment of new fighters for jihad. The fact that the Islamists' black flag flew over Marawi for 154 days could boost radical forces throughout the entire region. IS terrorists are also targeting neighboring Indonesia. And Rodrigo Duterte, a president better known for his toughness than his talent for peace making, is pouring fuel on the flames.

US Labels Iran's Élite Revolutionary Guard Corps a 'Terror Group' | Al Jazeera English

The United States designated Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a foreign "terrorist organisation", President Donald Trump said on Monday, marking the first time Washington has formally labelled another country's military a "terrorist" group. Iranian officials have threatened to respond to the move in kind, with legislators reportedly preparing legislation that would label the US military as a "terrorist group", according to Iran's state-run media. Critics have warned that the move could open US military and intelligence officials to similar actions by unfriendly governments. Al Jazeera's Kimberly Halkett and Rosiland Jordan have more from Washington.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — April 8, 2019

Trump Designates Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a Foreign Terrorist Group

THE NEW YORK TIMES: WASHINGTON — President Trump said on Monday that he was designating a powerful arm of the Iranian military as a foreign terrorist organization, the first time that the United States had named a part of another nation’s government as such a threat and raising the risk of retaliation against American troops and intelligence officers.

The move, which has been debated at the highest levels within the administration, was imposed on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The military unit has carried out operations across the Middle East, trained Arab Shiite militias and taken part in a wide range of businesses in Iran.

The designation “underscores the fact that Iran’s actions are fundamentally different from those of other governments,” Mr. Trump said in a statement. “This action will significantly expand the scope and scale of our maximum pressure on the Iranian regime. It makes crystal clear the risks of conducting business with, or providing support to, the I.R.G.C.”

The action imposes wide-ranging economic and travel sanctions on the military unit as well as the organizations, companies or individuals that have ties to it — including officials in Iraq, an American ally. Officials in the United States said the broad terrorist designation covers 11 million members of the Iranian group and units in its hierarchy. » | Edward Wong and Eric Schmitt | Monday, April 8, 2019

Charlotte - A Royal At War – World War 2 Documentary | Timeline

Facebook Are 'Morally Bankrupt Liars' Says New Zealand's Privacy Commissioner

THE GUARDIAN: John Edwards calls out social media giant after Christchurch attack for refusing to accept responsibility for harm

New Zealand’s privacy commissioner has lashed out at social media giant Facebook in the wake of the Christchurch attacks, calling the company “morally bankrupt pathological liars”.

The commissioner used his personal Twitter page to lambast the social network, which has also drawn the ire of prime minister Jacinda Ardern for hosting a livestream of the attacks that left 50 dead, which was then copied and shared all over the internet.

“Facebook cannot be trusted,” wrote Edwards.

“They are morally bankrupt pathological liars who enable genocide (Myanmar), facilitate foreign undermining of democratic institutions. » | Eleanor Ainge Roy in Dunedin | Monday, April 8, 2019

Theresa May erklärt im Video das Brexit-Chaos

Drei Abstimmungen im britischen Unterhaus konnten keine Übereinkunft über einen geordneten Brexit finden. Theresa May hat bereits ihren Rücktritt in Aussicht gestellt – sollte es endlich zum lang erwarteten Austritt aus der EU kommen. Nun erklärt sie in einem Video, wie der Brexit vorangetrieben werden soll.

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Brexit ist für Deutsche das wichtigste politische Thema »

Why the War on Meat? Find Out Here from Dr. Gary & Belinda Fettke

Ever wondered why absurd anti-meat articles keep popping up on the world's media? Or why EAT-Lancet has sprung from the ashes of low-fat, to promote the guzzling of grains and vegetable oils in preference to real food? Well look no further - the answers are in 100 years of the historical record - now revealed here!

I Support Gary »

Battle for Tripoli Escalates as Fighting Nears Libyan Capital

THE GUARDIAN: Fighting rages between UN-backed Tripoli government and self-styled Libyan National Army

The battle for Tripoli escalated on Sunday as a military assault on the city by the eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar led to 21 deaths and nearly 90 injuries, and international calls for calm were ignored.

As the fighting neared the capital, the UN issued a plea for a temporary ceasefire to allow the wounded to be evacuated. Hours earlier, the US announced it was withdrawing some of its troops from the country, citing deteriorating “security conditions on the ground”. India also withdrew a group of its peacekeepers, saying the situation in Libya had suddenly worsened.

The international airport 15 miles south of central Tripoli was a scene of fierce battles after Haftar claimed to have seized control of the area from the UN-backed government of national accord. » | Patrick Wintour and Chris Stephen | Sunday, April 7, 2019

Trump Under Fire over Islamophobia after Man Threatens to Kill Ilhan Omar

THE GUARDIAN: Ocasio-Cortez also makes direct link between controversial remarks by Fox News’s Jeanine Pirro and threat against Omar

Donald Trump and Fox News are coming under fire for contributing to a climate of Islamophobia, following the arrest of a supporter of the president who threatened to kill Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota who was one of the first Muslim women elected to the US Congress. » | Ed Pilkington in New York | Sunday, April 7, 2019

Yuval Noah Harari on the Rise of Homo Deus

Yuval Noah Harari on the Myths We Need to Survive

Yuval Noah Harari - Q&A on Being Gay

Prof. Yuval Noah Harari presents a scientific perspective on homosexuality, and shares how this has affected his personal experience of being gay.

The Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi

On Oct. 2, 2018, Saudi agents killed Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. What has been done to hold those responsible accountable?

‘It’s Dangerous to Go Out Now’: Young, Gay and Scared in Brunei

THE OBSERVER: Draconian new laws have spread unease rather than outright panic in a population that is used to finding ways around legislation

A day after it became legally possible to be stoned to death for having gay sex in Brunei, 21-year-old Zain* got a bitter taste of the new reality.

Walking down the street in skinny jeans and high-heeled boots, a flamboyant anomaly in the conservative sultanate, the university student became a target.

“I saw this van about 50 metres away,” said Zain, who is gay. “When the driver saw me, the van accelerated, just to run me over, but I dodged it. I was like, ‘Bitch, what the hell was that?’”

Last week Brunei – a tiny tropical nation on the island of Borneo, a former British protectorate that is home to 420,000 people – introduced harsh new sharia laws, including death by stoning for adultery and gay sex, and amputation of limbs for theft. » | Kate Lamb in Bandar Seri Begawan | Saturday, April 6, 2019

RAF and Royal Navy Urged to Cut Ties to Sultan of Brunei over Anti-gay Law

THE GUARDIAN: Protests outside Dorchester hotel in London after Brunei regime passes ‘death by stoning’ law for gay sex

The RAF and Royal Navy are under pressure to cut links with the sultan of Brunei amid a global backlash against his country’s decision to introduce death by stoning as punishment for homosexuality.

The calls came after crowds protesting against the country’s new draconian penal code surged through barriers outside the Brunei-owned Dorchester Hotel yesterday afternoon, forcing the police to stand in front of its doors.

More than 100 people, many bearing a mixture of rainbow flags, banners and placards, chanted “shame on you” outside the luxury hotel in Park Lane.

The protest was led by gay-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who said: “The sultan is copying the barbaric punishments by Isis in Syria and Iraq; enacting death by stoning for people found guilty of homosexuality, adultery and insulting the prophet Muhammad.

“He is comparable to the Isis fanatics who executed people for these so-called crimes during their murderous caliphate. Brunei should be isolated as a pariah state, just like Isis was.” » | Charles Richardson and Jamie Doward | Saturday, April 6, 2019

Companies Abandon Brunei's Dorchester Hotel over Gay Sex Law

THE GUARDIAN: Businesses including Financial Times cancel events at London landmark as backlash grows

High-profile events and awards shows have been cancelled at the Dorchester in London in protest at the decision of Brunei, the hotel’s ultimate owner, to make gay sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death.

The boycott against businesses owned by the Brunei state has continued to grow in recent days, following an outcry from LGBT campaigners including Sir Elton John over the introduction of the new rules, ordered by the sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah.

With other celebrities including the actor George Clooney giving their support to the boycott campaign, a string of companies confirmed on Friday that they would no longer be using the five-star hotel’s facilities. The TV Choice awards, several major property companies and the Financial Times were among those that said they would be cancelling events. » | Jim Waterson, Media editor | Friday, April 5, 2019

Tucker Carlson’s White Power Hour Is Losing Tons Of Money

Tucker Carlson’s ratings might be at a near-record high, but his ad dollars have been cut nearly in half in the past year. This is due to the fact that he has completely turned his program into a nationalist hour where he rails against immigrations, assimilation, and other issues that only appeal to a certain sect of the white population. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins explains what’s happening.

WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange May Be Arrested Soon

All eyes are on the Ecuadorian embassy in London after reports that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will be kicked out after seven years of asylum. Investigative journalist Ben Swann takes a dive into this situation with RT America’s Sara Montes de Oca.

The UK’s ‘Man at the EU’ on the Brexit Saga - and the Threat of No Deal

In Gary Gibbon’s latest Politics: Where Next podcast, he talks to Sir Ivan Rogers - formerly our man at the EU. He was the British diplomatic service’s top EU expert - let go effectively by Theresa May just as the Brexit negotiations were getting under way.

Européennes: le casse-tête de la participation britannique

LE FIGARO: Si le Royaume-Uni reste au sein de l’Union européenne le 23 mai, ses citoyens pourront voter lors des élections. Une participation qui aurait de graves répercussions politiques sur le Parlement de Strasbourg.

La question de la participation du Royaume-Uni aux élections européennes - prévues entre les 23 et le 26 mai selon les pays - taraude les dirigeants l’UE depuis des mois. Si le Royaume-Uni est toujours dans l’UE le 23 mai, ce pays restera un État membre à part entière et devra participer aux élections. «Nous ne pouvons pas y échapper, indique Jean-Claude Piris, l’ex-directeur général du service juridique du Conseil de l’UE. Tout citoyen de l’Union a le droit de voter aux européennes. Dans ce cas précis, cela vaut pour les Britanniques et pour tous les citoyens européens qui vivent au Royaume-Uni.» » | Par Anne Rovan | vendredi 05 avril 2019

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — April 5, 2019

Jewish Holocaust Survivor– Henryka Shaw: Testimony

Tim Ryan: Working Class Needs Someone To Represent Them | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, discusses his foreign policy credentials and the importance of a thriving middle class in America. Rep. Ryan also discusses the 2020 field and why he's fighting for the working class.

Lawrence's Last Word: Donald Trump's Worst Presidential Appointment | The Last Word | MSNBC

Alex Acosta did not deny that he broke the law when he made a plea bargain deal with sex trafficker and child rapist Jeffrey Epstein, a billionaire friend of Trump's.

Holidays and Arms Deals with Brunei Don’t Trump Gay People’s Right to Exist

THE GUARDIAN: Fine words on LGBT equality from the government cost nothing – only real economic action will make a difference

Gay lives either matter or they don’t. Declaring that you support LGBTQ rights is cost-free; so is wrapping yourself in the rainbow flag, smiling at a same-sex couple publicly holding hands with that “Good for you” look in your eyes, or waving on a Pride parade with your kids. But what happens when a dictatorship allied to Britain and linked to the British establishment announces that it will stone gay people to death and torture lesbians?

Our own government has failed this test. “The Sultan of Brunei has been a great friend of this country over many years,” cooed Mark Field, describing the country as a “friendly and generous place”, blaming Britain’s mate for getting “a little bit more devout as he got older”, and calling for a “positive and constructive dialogue on this issue”. On the spectrum of condemnation, this barely qualifies as mild tutting. Over the last few years, in our time-honoured tradition of flogging weapons to human-rights abusing despots, the British government has approved millions of pounds worth of arms licences to Brunei. » | Owen Jones | Friday, April 5, 2019

This is a wonderful article by Owen Jones. Don't miss reading it all. – MA

Yemen War: Congress Votes to End US Military Assistance to Saudi Arabia

THE GUARDIAN: House voted 247-175 to send the resolution to Trump’s desk, where it is likely to be met with a veto

Congress has given final approval on a resolution to end American military assistance for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, in an unprecedented attempt to curtail the president’s power to go to war and a sweeping rebuke to Donald Trump’s foreign policy.

The House voted 247 to 175 to send the resolution to the president’s desk, where it is likely to be met with a veto. Sixteen Republicans broke ranks and joined Democrats in the effort. The Senate passed the resolution last month, with seven Republicans voting in favor of it.

The resolution’s passage sets up another confrontation between Congress and Trump, who has already threatened to veto it. The White House has said the resolution raises “serious constitutional concerns”. » | Lauren Gambino and Julian Borger in Washington | Thursday, April 4, 2019

The Guardian View on Brunei and Stoning: Don’t Leave It to Celebrities to Act

THE GUARDIAN: Brunei’s shocking new penal code must be challenged – through deeds as well as words. Britain’s responsibilities are clear

Brunei’s introduction of new laws allowing stoning for adultery and sex between men has sparked international outrage. Elton John and George Clooney’s calls for a boycott of luxury hotels owned by the tiny south-east Asian kingdom have grabbed the spotlight. The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has condemned the “cruel and inhuman” measures, as have the EU, Australia and others.

The punishment is only one of many horrifying changes in a penal code which also covers apostasy, amputation as a punishment for theft and flogging for abortions. Lesbian sex is punishable by 40 strokes of the cane as well as jail. In some cases children who have reached puberty are subject to the same penalties as adults; younger ones may be flogged. The sharia code was first introduced in 2013, and was supposed to be enacted gradually; following an outcry the government did not bring forward its harshest elements until now. Many suspect that the impact of declining oil revenues on public spending has left Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the longest-ruling absolute monarchs, keen to bolster support among conservative elements. » | Editorial | Thursday, April 4, 2019

Condemn Persecution of LGBT People in Brunei

CHANGE.ORG: Please sign the petition HERE »

Will Saudi Arabia Go Nuclear? | Al Jazeera English

"If Iran develops a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit." That was the warning from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman last year. Now, the Kingdom is said to be a few months away from completing its first nuclear reactor and some arms-control experts are alarmed.

Photos have been published showing the reactor site in the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology on the outskirts of Riyadh. Construction is apparently nearly done around a vessel intended to contain atomic fuel.

Saudi Arabia is yet to sign up to an international framework aimed at ensuring atomic programmes are not used to build weapons. But what does all this mean for an already tense and volatile region?

Presenter: Hazem Sika | Guests: Ibrahim Fraihat, Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution at the Doha Institute; Seyed Mostafa Khoshcheshm, Professor of Journalism at the Fars Media Faculty under the Applied Sciences University; Mark Fitzpatrick, Director of the Non-Proliferation Program at the International Institute for Strategic Studies

Le sultanat de Brunei se convertit à la charia la plus stricte

LE FIGARO: INFOGRAPHIE - Le petit État pétrolier a provoqué un tollé international en annonçant qu’il punirait l’adultère et l’homosexualité de la peine de mort par lapidation.

L’indignation de pays occidentaux, d’ONG ou de stars comme George Clooney face à des châtiments d’un autre âge n’y aura rien changé. L’État de Brunei a instauré ce mercredi une nouvelle législation d’inspiration islamique qui punit l’adultère et les rapports sexuels entre hommes de la peine de mort par lapidation. Ce petit pays pétrolier, situé sur l’île de Borneo et dirigé d’une main de fer par le sultan Hassanal Bolkiah depuis 1967, est ainsi devenu le premier gouvernement d’Asie du Sud-Est à appliquer au niveau national un Code pénal s’inspirant de la charia la plus stricte, à l’image de l’Arabie saoudite. Le nouveau texte prévoit, en outre, l’amputation d’une main ou d’un pied pour les voleurs. Le viol est aussi passible de la peine capitale, tout comme l’outrage au prophète Mahomet. Et les relations sexuelles entre femmes peuvent entraîner jusqu’à dix ans de prison. Certains articles, comme la lapidation pour homosexualité masculine concernent les musulmans comme les non-musulmans. » | Par Cyrille Pluyette, correspondant du Figaro à Pékin | jeudi 04 avril 2019

Salvini Aims to Forge Far-right Alliance ahead of European Elections

THE GUARDIAN: Italian deputy PM holding gathering of far-right parties in Milan next week as he seeks to create bloc of populist parties

Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and leader of its far-right League party, will host a gathering of European far-right parties in Milan next week aimed at building an alliance before elections in May.

Salvini is attempting to position himself as the informal leader of Eurosceptic, populist forces in Europe, but it remains unclear whether any kind of formal coalition will work, given policy differences between parties and the tangled web of alliances already at play inside the European parliament.

Europe’s rightwing populists are in power in Italy, Hungary, Austria and Poland and are riding high in several countries including France and the Netherlands, and, according to polls, will make significant advances in May’s elections. However, they are not predicted to form a majority and most analysts believe they will struggle to present a united front. » | Shaun Walker in Budapest, Angela Giuffrida in Rome and Jon Henley in Paris | Thursday, April 4, 2019

Police amass 10,000 Officers in Preparation for No-deal Unrest

THE GUARDIAN: Chiefs warn that inflammatory rhetoric from politicians could worsen Brexit tensions

Police chiefs have voiced fears that inflammatory rhetoric from politicians and activists could fuel Brexit tensions as they revealed they have amassed their biggest ever peacetime reserve of 10,000 officers to deal with potential unrest in the event of no deal.

The chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, Martin Hewitt, warned “prominent individuals” involved in the protracted Brexit debate should avoid inciting anger given the “febrile” and “emotive” atmosphere, amid concerns of violence and disorder.

Hewitt said: “This is highly emotive ... I think there is a responsibility on those individuals that have a platform, and have a voice, to communicate in a way that is temperate and is not in any way going to inflame people’s views or cause any actions out of there.

“I think we are in an incredibly febrile atmosphere. There is a lot of angry talk that you can pick up if you look across social media.” » | Vikram Dodd, Police and crime correspondent | Thursday, April 4, 2019

Backlash as Brunei Introduces Death by Stoning for Homosexual Sex | ITV News

Brunei will roll-out full Sharia law today, where people who have gay sex could be punished with death by stoning. The country's leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, has supported the strict Islamic teachings and insisted his nation was a "fair and happy place". "I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger," Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said, without mentioning the new laws.

#boycottbrunei : Brunei Sultan Enacts Gay Sex Stoning Law | DW News

Brunei hat einen steinreichen Sultan und führt drakonische Strafen nach Scharia ein – was ist das für ein Land?

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Brunei ist dank Öl und Gas reich. Davon profitiert der absolutistisch regierende Sultan wie das Volk. Doch der gesellschaftliche Sozialvertrag kommt unter Druck.

Eine Fläche von der Grösse des Kantons Bern und eine Bevölkerung in der Grössenordnung der Stadt Zürich – kein Wunder, steht der Ministaat Brunei kaum je im Zentrum der globalen Aufmerksamkeit. Nicht einmal Wahlen rücken das südostasiatische Land ab und zu ins Rampenlicht. Denn Wahlen gibt es nicht. Brunei ist eine absolutistische Monarchie, seit 51 Jahren regiert Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah mit uneingeschränkter Macht. Formell hält er auch die Portfolios als Ministerpräsident, Verteidigungs- und Aussenminister, und er steht den drei Universitäten des Landes vor. Mit einem geschätzten Vermögen von 20 Milliarden Dollar gehört er zu den reichsten Männern der Welt. » | Patrick Zoll | Mittwoch, 03. April 2019

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Barbarische Strafen für Ehebruch in Brunei » | Manfred Rist, Singapur | Mittwoch, 03. April 2019

Questioning Brunei's Consulate on Anti-LGBT Sharia Law Death Penalty | Janice Atkinson

Janice Atkinson of TheRebel.media reports: The Nation of Brunei is introducing a new Sharia Law penal code on April 3rd that imposes the death penalty on its Muslim citizens by stoning for rape, adultery, insulting Muhammad and for committing homosexual acts.

Human Rights Watch: LGBT Law Will Turn Brunei into 'Human-rights Pariah'

Brunei on Wednesday introduced harsh new sharia laws, including death by stoning for adultery and gay sex, despite a storm of global criticism from politicians, celebrities and rights groups. Human Rights Watch says the hardline rules will turn the sultanate into a "human-rights pariah."

The Sultan of Brunei’s Frugal Brother! »

Brunei Enacts New Penal Laws amid International Condemnation | #TheCube

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Brunei Introduces Death by Stoning for Gay Sex and Adultery » | Iliana Magra | Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Guaidó Stripped of Immunity by Venezuelan Legislators | Al Jazeera English

Politicians loyal to Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro have stripped opposition leader Juan Guaidó of immunity. It means he could now be prosecuted on accusations of violating the constitution -- after declaring himself interim president. The trial will likely start soon but this pits Maduro's government against the more than 60 countries that have backed Guaidó. Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman reports from Caracas.

President Donald Trump's Day of Strange and Confusing Statements | The Last Word | MSNBC

Lawrence examines what Donald Trump did and said today, and why it raises urgent and important questions about the President of the United States. Psychiatrist Prudence Gourguechon, Ron Klain and Adam Jentleson join Lawrence to discuss.

Steinigung von Schwulen: George Clooney ruft zum Brunei-Boykott auf

Hollywood-Star George Clooney hat wegen der Einführung der Todesstrafe für Homosexuelle in dem südostasiatischen Kleinstaat Brunei zu einem Boykott von Luxushotels im Besitz des herrschenden Sultans Hassan al Bolkiah aufgerufen.

Woman Claims Sultan of Brunei Breaks His Own Strict Law

Author Jillian Lauren claims she witnessed the Sultan of Burnei, "not exactly living on the straight and narrow."

Trump's Silence Is Deafening As Brunei's Brutal Anti-LGBTQ Laws Arrive

ADVOCATE: Today, new laws go into effect that require death by stoning if one is caught having any type of queer sex — marking a brutal set-back for LGBTQ rights.

As of today, in Brunei, gay sex and adultery can be punished with death by stoning — and the president of the United States hasn’t said a word about it.

Donald Trump’s silence comes despite his administration’s announced campaign to end the criminalization of homosexuality around the world — although that is something he seemed to have no clue about when questioned on it in February.

The small but oil-rich nation is an absolute monarchy ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah who decided to set this new rule with little explanation to why.

"I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger," Bolkiah said on Wedneseday morning local time, according to AFP news agency, but did not mention the new laws.

Homosexuality has been illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison for some time already — and are connected to Bolkiah's 2014 pursuits to usher in more conservative laws. However this new era seems to promise a level of brutality that has put the global community on edge. » | Trudy Ring | Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Brunei Sultan Calls for Islamic Teachings to Be Strengthened as He Implements Death by Stoning for Gay Sex

THE TELEGRAPH: Brunei's sultan called for Islamic teachings in the country to be strengthened as strict new sharia punishments, including death by stoning for gay sex and adultery, were due to come into force on Wednesday.

The tough penal code in the tiny country on tropical Borneo island - ruled by the all-powerful Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah - is set to be fully implemented following years of delays.

The laws, which also include amputation of hands and feet for thieves, will make Brunei the first place in East or Southeast Asia to have a sharia penal code at the national level, joining several mostly Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia.

Rape and robbery are also punishable by death under the code and many of the new laws, such as capital punishment for insulting the Prophet Mohammed, apply to non-Muslims as well as Muslims. » | Agence France-Presse | Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Trump Lashes Out at Germany over Military Budget | DW News

NATO is marking its 70th birthday today. The military alliance was created to protect Europe from threats from the Soviet Union. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO has been redefining itself. Its 29 member states - and Germany in particular - have come under mounting pressure from Washington since President Donald Trump took office. He has demanded other NATO allies increase their spending on military budgets. At a press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump reiterated complaints about German Chancellor Angela Merkel and about Germany failing to meet targets of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense.

Calls for Independent Probe Persist Six Months after Khashoggi Murder | Al Jazeera English

It has now been six months since Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Turkey. Saudi Arabia admitted Khashoggi was the victim of premeditated murder and of the 21 suspects it had taken into custody, 11 have been indicted. But many say an independent trial is necessary amid accusations that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing and is deflecting responsibility. Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons reports.

Brunei Brings in Stoning to Death for Gay Sex, Despite Outcry

THE GUARDIAN: Shock among LGBT community in tiny southeast Asian kingdom as nation moves towards strict sharia law

Brunei’s small underground LGBT community have expressed shock and dismay over Brunei’s plan to bring in the punishment of death by stoning for adultery and gay sex.

The laws were scheduled to be introduced on Wednesday in the tiny south-east Asian kingdom ruled by the all-powerful Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

The new punishments, which also include amputation of hands and feet for thieves, will make Brunei the first country in east or southeast Asia to have a sharia penal code at the national level. Several mostly Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia also adhere to sharia law. » | Kate Lamb in Jakarta and agencies | Wednesday, April 3, 2019

König zahlt vier Kindern Khashoggis Schweigegeld

DIE PRESSE: Die Nachkommen des ermordeten Journalisten sollen Luxusvillen und Apanagen erhalten.

Tunis. Saudiarabien will die Kinder des ermordeten Journalisten Jamal Khashoggi mit hohen Summen finanziell entschädigen. Nach einem Bericht der „Washington Post“ erhalten die beiden Töchter und die beiden Söhne jeweils eine Vier-Millionen-Dollar-Villa in der Hafenstadt Jeddah, eine fünfstellige Monatszahlung sowie einen Millionenbetrag, dessen Höhe noch ausgehandelt werden muss. Die Luxusgebäude gehören zu einer Wohnanlage, in der der älteste Sohn Salah bereits ein Haus besitzt. Er arbeitet als Banker und ist der einzige der vier Nachkommen Khashoggis, der weiterhin in Saudiarabien leben möchte. » | Martin Gehlen | Dienstag, 02. April 2019

Former German FM Sigmar Gabriel: MBS 'Overestimated His Position in Region' | Talk to Al Jazeera

Sigmar Gabriel, who served Germany as vice chancellor, and more recently as foreign minister, has been very outspoken about the issue of German soldiers in Afghanistan, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the GCC crisis.

The Life and Work of Slain Journalist Jamal Khashoggi | Al Jazeera English

The career of Jamal Khashoggi, who was considered to be the most renowned Saudi journalist before his murder in the Saudi consulate in Turkey six months ago, spanned decades, and for much of it, he was a supporter of the Saudi royal family. But, after he became a critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), he was killed by Saudi authorities. Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall reports on his life and work.

Dr. Adam Gaffney Says “We Should Be Skeptical” of Trump’s Proposed Healthcare Plan

President Trump says doctors and health executives in the Senate will write legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act, just one week after the Justice Department supported a federal court ruling to wipe out the plan entirely. Dr. Adam Gaffney says "we should be extremely skeptical” that any new legislation would be better than Trump’s widely criticized move to dismantle the Affordable Care Act in 2017.

THE GUARDIAN: Universal healthcare could save America trillions: what’s holding us back? » | Adam Gaffney | Tuesday, December 11, 2019

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Americans Borrowed $88 Billion to Pay for Health Care Last Year, Survey Finds » | Karen Zraick | Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Did Saudi Arabia Intentionally Hack Jeff Bezos' Phone? | Morning Joe | MSNBC

The Bezos' investigation 'concluded with high confidence' that Saudi Arabia had access to the Amazon CEO's phone and had gained private information, according to Bezos' investigator in a new Daily Beast article.

Democracy Now! “This President Is Cruel”: Congresswoman Slams Trump for Fighting against Puerto Rico Disaster Aid

We look at the fight in Congress over disaster aid for Puerto Rico since it was ravaged by Hurricane Maria, one of the deadliest storms in U.S. history. On Monday, two competing disaster relief bills stalled in the Senate. A companion to a January package passed in the House failed after Republicans objected to the lack of relief funding for recent flooding in the Midwest. Another Senate bill supported by Republicans fell short of the 60 votes needed. It contained just $600 million for Puerto Rico’s food stamp program, a number Democrats say is far too low as many Puerto Ricans are still recovering from the devastation of 2017’s Hurricane Maria. Democrats also say aid should cover rebuilding and other forms of disaster relief. Trump responded Monday night on Twitter that “Puerto Rico got far more money than Texas & Florida combined, yet their government can’t do anything right, the place is a mess–nothing works.” We get response from New York Congressmember Nydia Velázquez, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1993. She is the first Puerto Rican woman to be elected to Congress and is the former the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

BBC Hardtalk: MP Ken Clarke

HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur speaks to former Conservative minister and longest serving MP Ken Clarke. It is hard to remember a time when Britain wasn't consumed by Brexit agony. And still it's impossible to say how and when the pain will stop. MPs are currently trying to find a Brexit consensus in defiance of the wishes of prime minister May. Her own deal remains short of a parliamentary majority, though she clings to the hope it will eventually prevail before time runs out. How close to breaking point is Britain's political system?

Peine de mort pour homosexualité : la France appelle Brunei à renoncer

LE POINT: La porte-parole du ministre des Affaires étrangères a annoncé que cette nouvelle législation est « contraire aux engagements internationaux ».

La France a appelé mardi le sultanat de Brunei à renoncer à une législation qui va instaurer la peine de mort en cas d'homosexualité ou d'adultère en invoquant la loi islamique. « Brunei a annoncé l'entrée en vigueur d'un nouveau Code pénal le 3 avril 2019 qui prévoit des châtiments corporels et la peine de mort pour des incriminations notamment d'homosexualité, d'apostasie, de blasphème et d'adultère », a déclaré Agnès von der Mühll, la porte-parole du ministère français des Affaires étrangères.

« La France appelle Brunei à renoncer à ce projet et à maintenir son moratoire de fait des exécutions capitales depuis 1957 », a-t-elle ajouté dans un communiqué. Cette législation est « contraire aux engagements internationaux » pris par Brunei en matière de droits de l'homme, que ce soit à l'ONU et au sein de l'Association des nations l'Asie du Sud-Est (Asean), a-t-elle relevé. » | Source AFP | mardi 02 avril 2019

Rees-Mogg and the AfD’s Alice Weidel Have a Lot In Common – All of It Nasty

THE GUARDIAN: The ERG supremo and the far-right German leader are nationalists linked by their hatred of the EU and much else

My first reaction on hearing that Jacob Rees-Mogg had retweeted a video by the populist German Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)was: “Well, that figures.” And not just because the AfD is the nasty party in German politics and because Rees-Mogg represents the faction that wants the Conservatives to remain the nasty party in Britain. One of the driving forces behind the AfD is a very German inferiority complex regarding the second world war. Rees-Mogg, with his foppish retro look and accent, embodies the Britain that German nationalists think they lost the war to. A Britain they despise, envy and admire in almost equal measure. » | Alan Posener | Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Erdoğan’s Grip on Turkey Slips as Opposition Makes Election Gains

THE GUARDIAN: Local elections viewed as referendum on president’s handling of economic crisis

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s grip on Turkey has been challenged by a resurgent opposition in local elections, with his ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) losing control of Ankara and on track to lose Istanbul, according to unofficial local election results. » | Bethan McKernan in Istanbul | Monday, April 1, 2019

THE GUARDIAN: Is Turkish poll shock the beginning of the end for Erdoğan? »

Saudi Arabia Paying Jamal Khashoggi's Children Thousands Each Month – Report

THE GUARDIAN: Four children of murdered journalist have also been given houses to ensure they ‘continue to show restraint in their public statements’

The children of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi have received multimillion-dollar homes and are being paid thousands of dollars per month by the kingdom’s authorities, the Washington Post has reported.

Khashoggi – a contributor to the Post and a critic of the Saudi government – was killed and dismembered in October at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul by a team of 15 agents sent from Riyadh. His body has not been recovered.

The payments to his four children – two sons and two daughters – “are part of an effort by Saudi Arabia to reach a long-term arrangement with Khashoggi family members, aimed in part at ensuring that they continue to show restraint in their public statements”, the Post said. » | Agence France-Presse | Tuesday, April 2, 2019

An Explainer on Sharia Law and Why It Shouldn't Be Used to Punish Gays

ADVOCATE: Draconian laws like those in Brunei are based on a misapplication of Sharia, which isn't really a legal code, Islamic scholars and activists say.

There has been, understandably, much outcry against the sultanate of Brunei’s imposition of what is often called Sharia law — a legal system based on Islam. But Sharia is not monolithic, according to many scholars of Islam; it can be and is interpreted in different ways from one country to another. And some point out that referring to Sharia as “law” is problematic — it’s a religious way of life.

Brunei, ruled dictatorially by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, began incorporating aspects of Sharia into its penal code in 2014, causing international outrage and a boycott of the luxury hotels owned by the sultan’s company, the Dorchester Collection. Some portions of the code going into effect in April provide for death by stoning for people who have sex with a person of the same gender and women who have sex outside of marriage, and for amputation of a hand or foot for thieves. » | Advocate.com Editors | Monday, April 1, 2019

ADVOCATE: Brunei's Antigay Laws Are Too Much Even for Ted Cruz » | Trudy Ring | Monday, April 1, 2019r

PINK NEWS: Bill Maher says Brunei boycott is ‘chickens**t tokenism’ » | Nick Duffy | Monday, April 1, 2019

Brunei to Punish Homosexuals with Death by Stoning

PERSPECTIVES | The sultan of Brunei has declared homosexuality is now punishable by stoning to death. The sultan's move has LGBT groups and human rights organizations worried, as the sultanate in southeast Asia takes a step in a more conservative direction. How is the international community perceiving this? Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen analyzes.

Gay Sex Is About To Become Punishable With Death By Stoning In Brunei | TIME

UN Joins Clooney in Decrying 'Inhuman' Brunei Anti-gay Law

THE GUARDIAN: Penal code that imposes death by stoning for gay sex is serious setback for rights, says commissioner

The United Nations has condemned “cruel and inhuman” laws set to take effect in Brunei this week that impose death by stoning for gay sex and adultery, and amputations for theft.

“I appeal to the government to stop the entry into force of this draconian new penal code, which would mark a serious setback for human rights protections for the people of Brunei if implemented,” the UN high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, said in a statement.

Brunei, an absolute monarchy ruled for 51 years by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, has said it will implement the code starting on Wednesday.

Brunei first announced the measures in 2013, but their implementation has been delayed in the face of opposition by rights groups, and as officials worked out the practical details.

The law stipulates the death penalty for a number of offences, including rape, adultery, sodomy, robbery and insulting or defaming the prophet Muhammad.

It also introduces public flogging as punishment for abortion as well as amputation for theft, and criminalises exposing Muslim children to the beliefs and practices of any religion besides Islam. » | Agence France-Presse in Geneva | Monday, April 1, 2019

UK 'Silver Spoon' Cabinet Will Escape Brexit Fallout, Says German Minister

THE GUARDIAN: Michael Roth describes Brexit as a ‘big shitshow’ run by out-of-touch politicians

Germany’s Europe minister has accused “90 percent” of the British cabinet of having “no idea how workers think, live, work and behave”, as politicians in the union are finding Westminster turmoil to be a useful argument in the campaign for upcoming elections.

At the Social Democratic party’s (SPD) conference on Saturday, Michael Roth dispensed with diplomatic etiquette to condemn what he called the “big shitshow” of Brexit.

UK politicians “born with silver spoons in their mouths, who went to private schools and elite universities” were responsible for the current impasse in parliament, but were unlikely to suffer the direct consequences of their actions, he said. » | Philip Oltermann in Berlin | Monday, April 1, 2019

Rees-Mogg Defends Promotion of German Far-right AfD Video

THE GUARDIAN: Tory MP tweeted video of Alice Weidel criticising role of Germany and Merkel in Brexit

Jacob Rees-Mogg has defended his decision to tweet a video of a speech by a senior member of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), saying he did not endorse the party’s views but the opinions expressed had “real importance”.

The Conservative backbencher and leading Brexiter faced strong criticism from some Labour MPs after tweeting a YouTube video of a speech by Alice Weidel, the leader of the AfD’s 91 deputies in the Bundestag, the German parliament.

Rees-Mogg added the message: “The AfD leader asks: ‘Is it any wonder the British see bad faith behind every manoeuvre from Brussels?’” » | Peter Walker, Political correspondent | Monday, April 1, 2019

Interview: Michael Heseltine: ‘Britain Is Stepping Down from World Pre-eminence’

THE GUARDIAN: The veteran Tory Remainer on the British leaders of his lifetime and how he came to be the hero of the Put it to the People march

Lord Heseltine is a Conservative politician and businessman. He served as an MP between 1966 and 2001 and now sits in the House of Lords. He has held several government positions, including defence secretary under Margaret Thatcher and deputy prime minister under John Major, and worked as an adviser to David Cameron. He lives in Northamptonshire with his wife, Anne, and is co-founder of the publishing company Haymarket. A longstanding Europhile, he is now a prominent critic of Brexit. » | Dorian Lynskey | Sunday, March 31, 2019

Leaked Reports Reveal Severe Abuse of Saudi Political Prisoners

THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: cuts, burns and bruising documented, despite government denials of torture

Political prisoners in Saudi Arabia are said to be suffering from malnutrition, cuts, bruises and burns, according to leaked medical reports that are understood to have been prepared for the country’s ruler, King Salman.

The reports seem to provide the first documented evidence from within the heart of the royal court that political prisoners are facing severe physical abuse, despite the government’s denials that men and women in custody are being tortured.

The Guardian has been told the medical reports will be given to King Salman along with recommendations that are said to include a potential pardon for all the prisoners, or at least early release for those with serious health problems. » | Nick Hopkins, Stephanie Kirchgaessner and Kareem Shaheen | Sunday, March 31, 2019

Elton John Joins call for Boycott of Brunei-owned Hotels

THE GUARDIAN: Singer follows George Clooney in protest at sultanate’s death penalty for gay sex and adultery

Elton John has joined George Clooney in calling for a boycott of nine Brunei-owned hotels over the sultanate’s new death penalty laws for gay sex and adultery.

“I commend my friend, George Clooney, for taking a stand against the anti-gay discrimination and bigotry taking place in the nation of Brunei – a place where gay people are brutalised, or worse – by boycotting the sultan’s hotels,” the singer wrote on his Twitter page late on Saturday.

The 72-year-old, a veteran gay rights campaigner, said his “heart went out” to staff at the hotels, but that “we must send a message, however we can, that such treatment is unacceptable”.

The nine hotels mentioned by Clooney, in the US, Britain, France and Italy, include London’s exclusive Dorchester and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. » | Agence France-Presse | Sunday, March 31, 2019

Venezuela Bars Guaido From Holding Public Office For 15 Years

Maajid Nawaz's Blistering Case For Why Second Referendum Is Not Undemocratic

Brexit Stalemate Has Caused Enormous Damage to UK, Princeton's O'Toole Says

Mar.29 -- Fintan O'Toole, Princeton University professor, comments on U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May's push for a Brexit deal. He speaks with Bloomberg's Vonnie Quinn on "Bloomberg Markets."