Analysis – US Targeted ISIL Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: US Officials

The United States has carried out an operation targeting Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL or ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, have told news agencies. A US official told The Associated Press that the ISIL leader was targeted in Syria's Idlib province. Another US official confirmed to Reuters news agency that the operation took place but did not disclose details and did not say whether it was successful. Newsweek, citing a US Army official briefed on the result of the operation, said al-Baghdadi was killed in the raid. Al Jazeera's Natasha Ghoneim reports Al Jazeera's Zaina Khodr reports from Beirut Marwan Kablan is director of policy analysis at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies joins Al Jazeera from Doha.

Brexit Referendum Should Never Have Been Called, Say Majority of Voters

THE GUARDIAN: Poll shows growing hindsight regret on leaving EU … but a 16% Tory lead in a general election

Twice as many people now think it would have been better never to have held a referendum on Brexit than believe it was a good idea, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.

Asked to consider the difficulties the government has had in reaching an agreement, 57% of UK adults surveyed said that they believed it would have been better not to have had a public vote in June 2016.

This compares with 29% of voters who believe it was right to hold the referendum on whether the UK should stay in or leave the EU. » | Toby Helm | Saturday, October 26, 2019

THE OBSERVER: Number of Britons leaving for Europe hits a 10-year high »

Brexit: Can Westminster Seal a Deal? | To the Point

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the House of Commons have tried all the tricks in fighting for their interests in the Brexit battle. But who wants what? Our guests: Vendeline v. Bredow (Economist), Derek Scally (Irish Times), Jon Worth (Blogger)

Klimawandel-Debatte: Esst ruhig Fleisch!

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Fleisch ist in Verruf geraten, das Schnitzel nur noch mit Schuld zu verzehren. Dabei macht Fleischverzicht weder gesund noch rettet er das Klima. Der große Fleischreport.

Löschen Sie alles, was Sie in den letzten Jahren über rotes Fleisch gehört haben. Es ist nicht ungesund, und sein Beitrag zum Klimawandel ist geringer als propagiert. Eine jahrzehntelange Kampagne hat das Nahrungsmittel in Verruf gebracht und Menschen zu fleischarmen Diäten gedrängt, die ihrer Gesundheit schaden und den Klimawandel nicht stoppen können. Schlecht fundierte Forschung, kommerzielle Interessen und religiös-ideologische Vorstellungen prägen das Narrativ einer überlegenen fleischfreien Ernährung. Genauer Überprüfung hält dieses nicht stand. » [€] | von Winand von Petersdorff | Freitag, 25. Oktober 2019

The Guardian View on Boris Johnson’s Election Demand: MPs Should Call His Bluff

THE GUARDIAN: There is no good reason to commit to an early general election when parliament has not yet considered the withdrawal agreement bill in detail. First things first

Boris Johnson is the playground bully of British politics. He acts as if he is prime minister with a majority in parliament when in fact he has no majority. Because he cannot govern in that way with parliament, he has tried instead to govern against parliament. The delusion that he can do as he pleases led him to try to prorogue parliament this autumn – a bluff that was called by the supreme court. It then led him to concoct a fantasy legislative agenda by commissioning a Queen’s speech, though none of its measures will ever become law. Now he is trying to make his Brexit withdrawal bill conditional on the Commons agreeing to a general election in December. This proposal, like all the others before it, is merely another bluff, and parliament should duly call it. » | Editorial | Thursday, October 24, 2019

Most Voters Believe Violence against MPs 'Is Price Worth Paying' over Brexit

THE GUARDIAN: Research finds majority of both leave and remain voters feel violence worth it to get outcome they support

A majority of voters in England, Wales and Scotland believe that the possibility of some level of violence against MPs is a “price worth paying” in order to get their way on Brexit, an academic survey has found.

The poll from Cardiff University and the University of Edinburgh asked respondents what they would be prepared to see happen in order to leave or remain within the European Union.

Most leave voters who took part in the Future of England study thought violence towards MPs was a “price worth paying” for Brexit to be delivered – 71% in England, 60% in Scotland and 70% in Wales.

The majority of remain voters felt that potential violence was worth it if it meant we would stay in the EU – 58% in England, 53% in Scotland and 56% in Wales. » | Amy Walker | Thursday, October 24, 2019

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — October 24, 2019

Should Trump Be Committed to a Mental Health Facility? (April 2019)

Donald Trump's campaign opened with shouts of "Lock Her Up" from his followers and supporters. Two years into his presidency calls for impeaching Donald Trump are using that phrase against him.

Now Dr. Justin Frank, Psychoanalyst, and author of 'Trump on the Couch' joins the Thom Hartmann program to call for locking Donald Trump up in a Mental Health facility,

Is it time to put Donald Trump in the funny farm? Is the President's mental health out for lunch?

Österreich: FPÖ schmeißt Straches Ehefrau raus

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Im Streit über ihr Mandat im österreichischen Parlament hat die rechtspopulistische FPÖ Konsequenzen gezogen: Philippa Strache, Ehefrau von Ex-Parteichef Heinz-Christian Strache, wurde ausgeschlossen.

Die FPÖ hat Philippa Strache aus der Partei ausgeschlossen. Als Grund nannten die österreichischen Rechtspopulisten eine schriftliche Stellungnahme der 31-jährigen Frau von Ex-Parteichef Heinz-Christian Strache. Sie hatte darin mitgeteilt, ihr Mandat im Parlament anzunehmen. Laut FPÖ hatte die Mitteilung "eindeutig parteischädigenden Charakter".

Philippa Strache saß am Mittwoch bei der ersten Sitzung des neuen Parlaments als fraktionslose Abgeordnete hinter den SPÖ-Parlamentariern.

Die Straches sind bei der FPÖ mit ihrem neuen Chef Norbert Hofer in Ungnade gefallen. Gegen beide ermittelt die Staatsanwaltschaft. Heinz-Christian Strache soll private Rechnungen auf Kosten der Partei abgerechnet haben. Er und seine Frau bestreiten die Vorwürfe. Die Spesen-Affäre und das Ibiza-Video dürften die wichtigsten Gründe für das Wahldebakel der rechten Partei sein. Die FPÖ stürzte am 29. September um fast zehn Prozentpunkte auf 16,2 Prozent ab. » | als/dpa | Mittwoch, 23. Oktober 2019

Is Russia the New Power Broker in the Middle East? Inside Story

Russia and Turkey reach deal on northern Syria after US brokered ceasefire expired.

Russia and Turkey are on opposite sides of the war in Syria. Moscow backs the Syrian president, while Ankara supports opposition rebels who want to remove Bashar Al Assad. However, the two sides have been working more closely in recent months.

On Tuesday, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave Kurdish fighters six days to retreat from the Syrian-Turkish border. They reached the agreement just before the end of a US-brokered ceasefire that halted Turkey's military offensive in the region.

As Washington pulls back from the region, is Russia becoming the new power-broker? And what are the implications for the wider Middle East?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Yusuf Alabarda - Retired Colonel of the Turkish Armed Forces; Pavel Felgenhauer - Russian Defence and Military Analyst; Samuel Ramani - Researcher at Oxford University and a member of the Valdai Discussion Club, a Moscow-based think tank and discussion forum

US Healthcare: Is Medicare Supplements Availability Disappearing? (w/ Alex Lawson)

Will Medicare Supplements programs change? Republicans drilled holes into Medicare, and now private insurance companies are taking advantage to take away your coverage.

Benny Gantz to Be Tasked with Forming Israeli Government

THE GUARDIAN: Ex-military chief expected to have 28 days to forge coalition and avoid third election in year

Israel’s president is expected to task the former military chief Benny Gantz with forming a government after Benjamin Netanyahu failed to do so following an inconclusive election last month.

Neither Gantz’s Blue and White coalition nor the incumbent prime minister’s Likud party came out with a clear win, and few expect the opposition leader to form a coalition through deals with disparate political parties with ease.

He will have 28 days to try, after which parliament can nominate a third candidate, although that appears extremely unlikely given the divided makeup of Israel’s legislature, the Knesset.

If no contender can end the political crisis, the country will face an unprecedented third election in a year. » | Oliver Homes in Jerusalem | Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Could Donald Trump Actually Be Impeached?

Things are getting serious for Donald Trump. The swiftly unrolling Ukraine scandal could cause him to become only the third president to be impeached.But what is impeachment? How does it work? And how likely is it to happen? Adam Gabbatt has the answers

Dan Rather, Sam Donaldson Have Dire Warning about Trump

Dan Rather and Sam Donaldson tell CNN's Don Lemon that they think that President Donald Trump is dangerous for the country because Trump is only interested in protecting himself.

The Debate: Brexit Can Wait: Can Johnson's Divorce Deal Pass without Strings Attached

Abschiedsrede im Parlament: Juncker: Bekämpft den dummen Nationalismus

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Nach fünf Jahren an der Spitze der EU-Kommission verabschiedet sich Jean-Claude Juncker vor dem Europaparlament. Er mahnt: „Frieden ist nicht selbstverständlich.“

Mit einer emotionalen Rede hat EU-Kommissionspräsident Jean-Claude Juncker sich nach fünf Jahren Amtszeit verabschiedet und seine Erfolge herausgestrichen. „Ich scheide aus dem Amt nicht betrübt, auch nicht übermäßig glücklich, aber im Gefühl, mich redlich bemüht zu haben“, sagte der 64-Jährige am Dienstag im Europaparlament. „Ich war stolz darauf, während langer Zeit und vor allem in den letzten fünf Jahren ein kleines Teilchen eines größeren Ganzen zu sein, das wichtiger ist als wir.“

Der Luxemburger erinnerte daran, dass die Europäische Union vor allem ein Friedensprojekt sei. „Frieden ist nicht selbstverständlich, und wir sollten stolz darauf sein, dass Europa den Frieden erhält“, sagte Juncker. Darüber müsse man auch mit jungen Menschen reden. Den Parlamentariern gab er mit auf den Weg: „Bekämpft mit aller Kraft den dummen Nationalismus.“ Seine Rede schloss Juncker mit den Worten: „Es lebe Europa!“ » | Quelle: nto./dpa/AFP | Dienstag, 22. Oktober 2019

Remember Thatcher’s Britain? That’s Where This Brexit Deal Would Take Us

THE GUARDIAN: Without a second referendum we face a decade of deregulation, and a repeat of the 1980s assault on working people

Hopes for a second referendum on Brexit are receding, as more and more Tories show their true colours and fall in line behind Boris Johnson and his controversial deal. They have passed through all the stages of grief to arrive at acceptance of a Brexit that they know will make Britain poorer and weaker. One of their leading lights, the former home secretary Amber Rudd, explicitly acknowledged that the deal would “hurt the economy” – but she said “it’s the right thing to do because we had a referendum”.

Pursuing an economically devastating Brexit is a choice, not a necessity. The referendum was a mandate to change the political basis of our relationship with Europe, not to terminate all our economic cooperation altogether, as envisaged in the new withdrawal agreement. The proposal would give Britain the same economic relationship with the EU as distant countries such as Mexico or Canada. That’s why the extremist interpretation of the 2016 referendum that was begun by Theresa May and accelerated by Johnson can and must be resisted. If that cannot be achieved by a second referendum – even the most ardent campaigners now accept they don’t have the numbers – then it is vital that politicians return to the arena of compromise. » | Tom Kibasi | Tuesday, October 22, 2019

There’s a message in this story: Never trust the Tories with the economy again! It’s high time for the Tories to go the way of the Whigs – into oblivion! – Mark

Dominic Raab

The author of 'The Assault on Liberty' says that we must keep questioning the claims made by the Government, as it attempts to take away rights and liberties.

George Michael, Aretha Franklin – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (Official Video)

Boris Johnson in Final Push to Ram Through Brexit Deal

THE GUARDIAN: PM will seek to win two crucial votes on Tuesday in bid to leave EU by 31 October deadline

Boris Johnson will make a final bid on Tuesday to force Brexit through by the 31 October “do or die” deadline, amid growing signs he will make a renewed push for a general election whether his deal passes or not.

Johnson has already requested a delay to Brexit, by sending the letter to Brussels required by the backbench Benn act after MPs declined to support his deal on Saturday – something he said he would rather be “dead in a ditch”than do.

But if the government can force its Brexit bill through parliament in time, the UK could in theory still leave the EU by next Thursday’s deadline. » | Heather Stewart and Rowena Mason | Monday, October 21, 2019

Netanyahu Fails to Form a Government. Israel Turns to Gantz.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Israel’s president will offer the chance to form a government to Benny Gantz.

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel gave up on his latest attempt to form a government on Monday, clearing the way for Benny Gantz, the former army chief who narrowly defeated him in last month’s election, to try to become the country’s next leader.

Mr. Netanyahu, who turned 70 on Monday and has been prime minister since 2009, told President Reuven Rivlin that he had been unable to put together a 61-seat majority coalition in Parliament.

Mr. Rivlin said he would give Mr. Gantz, 60, leader of the centrist Blue and White party, the mandate to form a government “as soon as possible.” Under the law, Mr. Gantz will have 28 days to do so.

“The time of spin is over, and it is now time for action,” Mr. Gantz’s party said in a statement. “Blue and White is determined to form the liberal unity government, led by Benny Gantz, that the people of Israel voted for a month ago.” » | David M. Halbfinger and Isabel Kershner | Monday, October 21, 2019

Prince William Worried about Harry after TV Interview Discussing Their 'Rift', Source Claims

THE TELEGRAPH: The Duke of Cambridge has been left concerned for the wellbeing of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, it is claimed, after the couple told a television audience of millions of their personal unhappiness and a rift in the Royal Family.

The Duke is said to be “worried” about his younger brother, who on Sunday night publicly confirmed the siblings are on “different paths” and spending less time together.

A palace source told the BBC of household fears the Sussexes are in a “fragile place”, with Prince William hoping they “are alright” after Prince Harry unexpectedly laid bare details of their private relationship in a television documentary.

Acknowledging a “rift” in conversation with friend and broadcaster Tom Bradby on ITV, Prince Harry admitted "inevitably stuff happens" under the pressure of royal life.

His decision to speak about the brothers’ relationship immediately placed them at the centre of a worldwide conversation, detailed on the front page of five leading British newspapers and headline news on radio and television from the Today programme to Loose Women. » | Hannah Furness, Royal Correspondent | Monday, October 21, 2019

People's Vote Marchers: ‘Brexit Is Not Done by a Long Way’

From morris dancers to a man dressed as death and everyone inbetween: the Guardian follows anti-Brexit protesters in London on Saturday as they march to demand a fresh referendum. Organisers of the march said the turnout was comparable to the previous second referendum rally six months ago, when a million people gathered in central London

Brexit Delay: Boris Johnson Sends Opposing Letters to EU | DW News

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he's determined that the UK will leave the European Union by October 31, despite a letter he was forced to send Brussels asking for a delay, which he sent without his signature. Johnson was required by law to ask for the delay after parliament voted to postpone ratifying his Brexit deal. The prime minister also sent a second letter to the EU, which he did sign, saying he was against an extension.

Super Saturday: MPs Debate Boris Johnson’s New Brexit Deal – Watch Live

The prime minister summoned MPs for an emergency Saturday parliament session to decide Brexit fate

Eric Trump Defends Emoluments Violations Then Claims They Aren’t Happening

Eric Trump is trying to defend the fact that his father is profiting greatly off the presidency while simultaneously claiming that his father is losing money on the president. It takes a special kind of stupid to believe that both things are true, but that’s what we get with the Trump kids. The truth is that Eric and his brother Donald, Jr. are both running interference for their father, and the whole family is cashing in on this administration. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Daniel Kawczynski MP Speaks in a Westminster Hall Debate on LGBT Acceptance and Education

'It Was News I Was Scared to Tell': Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski Calls for Understanding of Same-sex Relationships

SHROPSHIRE STAR: Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski has told about the nerves he suffered when 'coming out' to his constituency association - as he led a Westminster debate on LGBT issues.

Mr Kawczynski revealed how he had travelled back to Shrewsbury from Parliament, with some big news for his constituents.

"It was news I was scared to tell, even to my closest supporters in the local Conservative Association – so much so that I was quietly praying the train would break down so I would not have to impart it. The news was that I was now in a same sex relationship."

The MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham will this year enter into a civil partnership with his long-term partner Fernando. And he says the supportive reaction he got from his constituency party six years ago will stay with him all his life.

"Full of apprehension, I looked up at the faces of the people I had spoken to, 50 of the most senior members of my local party and awaited their reaction," he recalls.

"Almost immediately, a gentleman in the front row stood up and said, 'I think that’s marvellous news, well done' and began clapping. » | Mark Andrews, Shrewsbury | Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Divorced Conservative MP: 'I’ve fallen in love with a man’ »

EU's Juncker Says Brexit Deal Agreed

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announces new Brexit deal between Britain and the European Union. The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has announced that Brussels had come to an agreement with Britain on a Brexit withdrawal agreement to be presented to EU leaders. "Where there is a will, there is a deal - we have one! It's a fair and balanced agreement for the EU and the UK and it is testament to our commitment to find solutions," Juncker tweeted. "I recommend that EUCO endorses this deal," he said, referring to the European Council of the leaders of member states that was to meet later on Thursday. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "We have a great new deal that takes back control." Al Jazeera's Rory Challands reports.

What Neo-Nazis Have Inherited from Original Nazism | DW Documentary | Neo-Nazi Documentary

What resemblance do today’s ethnonationalistic ideologies bear to those which surged during the rise of the Nazis in the Weimar-era? Quite a lot, this documentary shows. Germany’s far-right neo-nazi scene is now bigger than at any time since National Socialism.

History may not repeat itself, but one can still learn from it. The years of the Weimar Republic were scarred by post-war trauma, political extremism, street fighting, hyper-inflation and widespread poverty. But they also saw economic boom, the establishment of a liberal democratic order and a parliamentary party system. Nobody could really imagine that the Nazis would brush aside the achievements of this young democracy just a few years later. But there were signs, warnings even that all was not well.

So how does that resonate today? How do today’s right-wing populist movements and parties achieve their political aims? Which slogans, images and stereotypes played a role then, and which ones are playing a role now?

The film also looks beyond Germany’s borders. How has Europe changed in the last few years and how have far-right movements been able to gain such influence? In the interwar period, democracies across the continent collapsed one after the other like a house of cards. What about today? Riding on the coat-tails of the political party the Alternative for Germany (AfD) the far-right has become a factor in both national and state parliaments, united by nationalist and often racist ideologies directly linked to those of the 1930s. At that time, global economic crisis and mass unemployment drove people straight into the fascists’ arms. So what will happen if crisis strikes now? Are our democracies and their achievements today any more stable than they were in the years before the Second World War?

Fourteen Weddings and a Divorce | British Royal Family Documentary | Timeline

Chronicling the romantic life of Britain's royal family in the 20th century, this documentary explores the history of royal marriages and asks what's next for a royal family increasingly battered by media pressures and whose business is shared with the whole world.

Nachkriegszeit in Deutschland - Die Stunde Null | Geschichte

Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs in Europa | Geschichte

Überfall auf die Sowjetunion | Vernichtungskrieg | Geschichte

tagesschau 20:00 Uhr, 14.10.2019

Themen der Sendung: EU ruft Mitglieder zum Einstellen der Waffenverkäufe an Ankara auf, Politische Aufarbeitung des Anschlags in Halle, Queen verliest Regierungserklärung von Johnson, Parlamentswahl in Polen: Klare Mehrheit für Regierungspartei PiS, Oberstes Gericht in Spanien verurteilt neun katalanische Separatistenführer zu langjährigen Haftstrafen, Kais Saied wird neuer Präsident von Tunesien, Hauptstadt von Ecuador wird nach gewalttätigen Protesten aufgeräumt, Wirtschaftsnobelpreis geht an drei Armutsforscher, Gewerkschaft UFO ruft Flugbegleiter von Lufthansa zu Warnstreiks auf, Saša Stanišić erhält Deutschen Buchpreis 2019, Das Wetter

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — October 14, 2019

Réduit National: Ein Film über die Schweiz im zweiten Weltkrieg

Maturaarbeit von Marco Grünenfelder und Jan Baumgartner an der Kantonsschule Zug

Beginn des Zweiten Weltkriegs | Geschichte Hitlers Blitzkrieg

History File: Life in Nazi Germany

The Unlikely Romance of a Black Nurse and a German POW in World War II

In this edition of Maryville Talks Books, author Alexis Clark and host Paul Schankman have a conversation about her remarkable new "stranger than fiction" book, Enemies in Love, which tells the true story of a black nurse and a German Prisoner of War, who fell in love during World War Two, and eventually married. Though their story began more than 70 years ago, it feels very relevant today as America continues to wrestle with issues of racism and hate.

Enemies in Love: A German POW, a Black Nurse, and an Unlikely Romance »

Pete Buttigieg: I Would Keep Troops in Syria If Needed

During an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, 2020 Democratic candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg responded to President Trump's decision to pull troops out of northern Syria, a move Buttigieg says "makes America worse off."

The Battle of Passchendaele | 100th Anniversary of The Great War – Documentary (July 2017) | Timeline

Support Grows for a New Brexit Poll amid Fears over Johnson’s Plan

THE OBSERVER: DUP raises doubts on customs union, while Labour says it will whip MPs to support a second referendum

Pro-remain MPs predicted on Saturday that they were gaining sufficient cross-party support to secure a second Brexit referendum as fresh doubts were raised over whether Boris Johnson can secure a deal with the EU that can pass through parliament.

The push for a second vote appeared to be gaining momentum before what promises to be a dramatic “super Saturday” showdown in parliament next weekend. That emergency House of Commons sitting, called by Johnson, will be held after a critical EU summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. It will coincide with a pro-referendum march through London, which organisers say a million people could join. » | Toby Helm and Michael Savage | Saturday, October 12, 2019

No-deal Brexit will wreck Tories’ reputation as party of business, says Lidington »

A speedy referendum would be a far better alternative than a general election »

Goldman Sachs Tells Trump Administration that Americans Are Paying 100% of His China Tariffs

Goldman Sachs has confirmed that the tariffs Trump has put in place on China are actually being paid by American consumers and businesses. But not just “some” of the tariffs – 100% of the tariffs are being paid by American citizens. Trump falsely claims that China is paying for it, but the truth refuses to remain hidden. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

David Sinclair: "Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don't Have To" | Talks at Google

David Sinclair, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, discusses his new book "Lifespan", which distills his cutting-edge research findings on the biological processes underpinning aging. Sinclair describes lifestyle hacks we can undertake now to combat aging, as well as future scientific breakthroughs that promise to slow down—and even reverse—the aging process. Moderated by: Sam Phippen

Shepard Smith Steps Down from Fox News

Fox News and Shepard Smith jointly announce that he will be stepping down from his role as chief news anchor and managing editor of the network's breaking news unit and anchor of 'Shepard Smith Reporting.

Shepard Smith leaves Fox News with hope that 'facts will win the day' »

Liberals love Fox News's Shepard Smith. Is he the network's voice of reason? »

Cities At War - Berlin: The Doomed City | WW2 Documentary | Timeline

Cities At War: London | World War 2 Documentary | Timeline

Cities At War - Paris: The Enraged City | WW2 Documentary | Timeline

Susan Rice on Trump: What Is He Smoking?

Former national security adviser to President Obama Susan Rice responds to President Donald Trump's comments claiming Kurdish forces haven't helped US forces throughout history.

Robert De Niro on Donald Trump: 'I Can't Wait to See Him in Jail'

THE GUARDIAN: The Irishman actor tells the Guardian that Trump and the Republicans ‘have to know they can’t get away with bullying us’

Robert De Niro has renewed his criticism of Donald Trump, calling the US head of state a “gangster president” and saying he “can’t wait” to see him jailed.

De Niro was speaking to the Guardian ahead of the London film festival premiere of The Irishman, Martin Scorsese’s new film, in which he plays mafia killer Frank Sheeran, now generally presumed to have been responsible for the murder of celebrated union boss Jimmy Hoffa in 1975.

De Niro said: “We have a real, immediate problem in that we have a gangster president who thinks he can do anything he wants … the problem is, if he actually gets away with it, then we all have a problem. » | Andrew Pulver and agencies | Friday, October 11, 2019

Helmut Schmidt übers Rauchen

Helmut Schmidt: Ein Auszug aus dem Interview zum Thema Vorbilder - von Thomas J. Nagy: "Rauchen". Bilder: Rainer Friedl

Helmut Schmidt wollte sich von seinen Ärzten nicht überreden lassen, aufs Rauchen zu verzichten. „Würde ich das tun, gehe ich ein“, sagte er im Vorbilder-Interview und zündete sich die nächste Zigarette an.

Elizabeth Warren's Answer to Marriage Question Gets Laughs at Los Angeles Townhall

Elizabeth Warren's deadpan quip in LGBT debate wins plaudits »

Trump Insults Opponents, Promises to Win in 2020 in His First Campaign Rally

President Donald Trump has held his first campaign rally since Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry against him.

An angry, energized Trump whipped his supporters into a frenzy on Thursday at a rally in Minneapolis as he sought to use the Democrats' two-week-old impeachment inquiry as a campaign weapon, and predicted a 2020 election "backlash" against any attempt to unseat him.

In a speech lasting one hour and 40 minutes, Trump bathed in supporters' adulation, homing in on his favourite talking points with a mix of jokes, insults and populist exaggeration. Trump told a crowd in Minnesota that he has done nothing wrong. He is accused of pressuring Ukraine's leader into investigating his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.

Al Jazeera's John Hendren reports.

Testosterone – New Discoveries about the Male Hormone | DW Documentary

Testosterone has long been seen as a metaphor for aggression, but is there really anything to the idea of the testosterone-driven male? Prominent scientists explain how subtle the hormone’s effects actually are.

Men with a lot of testosterone have long been accused of violent and competitive behavior. Now the image of the sex hormone is changing. Unlike in the animal world, the general statement "testosterone makes one aggressive" cannot be confirmed in humans, and recent studies suggest that it can actually even promote selfless behavior. One of the leading experts in this field is Jean-Claude Dreher from Lyon. He says his laboratory experiments show that testosterone does not make men aggressive but instead allows them to act in a strategic manner. Those who are more testosterone-charged tend to be friendlier towards others in order to bolster their own social status. British behavioral psychologist Simon Baron Cohen demonstrates how testosterone determines our gender characteristics when we are still in the womb. Meanwhile, his colleague Oliver Schultheiss from Erlangen has found out how testosterone can improve our learning abilities.

Evangelical Leaders Say God Wants Them to Protect Trump

Disgraced evangelical leader Ralph Reed has become the most recent member of the “religious right” to come forward and say that God wants us to protect Donald Trump. Reed has a new book coming out that allegedly makes the moral case for Christians to support Trump, but his pleas might be falling on deaf ears, as Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins explains.

Who’d want to be an American Evangelical Christian? They have such a crazy (mis)understanding of Christianity!

Erdoğan Threatens to Send 3.6m Refugees to Europe

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warns he will ‘open the gates’ if Syria assault is called an ‘occupation’ »

Trump Alters US Under the Radar While Impeachment Is Pursued

The Trump administration is undermining our nation from immigration to the environment, while his tweets and impeachment distract us. Add it all up, says our guest, we can see how he threatens what remains of U.S. democracy.

Turkey Invades Syria: Who Are the Players and What Do They Want? | DW News

Civilians are fleeing northern Syria as Turkish troops advance in Kurdish-controlled areas. The offensive was made possible by the withdrawal of US troops. It has opened a new front in Syria's eight-year-old war. So, who are the key players in this particular conflict and what are their goals? Let's begin with Turkey: Ankara wants to establish a so called "safe zone" along its border stretching about 30 kilometers into Syria territory. This area is currently controlled by Kurdish militias. Turkey wants to clear it of Kurds – and then resettle some two million Syrian refugees there who are currently living in Turkey. Then there are the Syrian Kurds. Groups like the Kurdish People’s Protection Units or YPG want autonomy. The latter fought alongside the US AND Turkey against the so-called Islamic State. But Ankara's offensive could now force Kurdish militias to throw in their lot with the Syrian government and its Russian and Iranian allies. And there is the US. The main goal of the United States and its allies was to defeat Islamist forces in Syria, like ISIS. Washington says ISIS has now been defeated and has started withdrawing its troops from north-eastern Syria, clearing the way for the Turkish offensive.

Britain’s against Brexit, So Why Is It Still Happening? Plus Are Extinction Rebellion Being Heard?

Brexit Is a Necessary Crisis – It Reveals Britain’s True Place in the World

THE GUARDIAN: A determined ignorance of the dynamics of global capitalism is bringing about a long-overdue audit of British realities

Who backs Brexit? Agriculture is against it; industry is against it; services are against it. None of them, needless to say, support a no-deal Brexit. Yet the Conservative party, which favoured European union for economic reasons over many decades, has become not only Eurosceptic – it is set on a course regarded by every reputable capitalist state and the great majority of capitalist enterprises as deeply foolish.

If any prime minister in the past had shown such a determined ignorance of the dynamics of global capitalism, the massed ranks of British capital would have stepped in to force a change of direction. Yet today, while the CBI and the Financial Times call for the softest possible Brexit, the Tory party is no longer listening. » | David Edgerton | Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Turkey Launches Airstrikes on Syrian Kurdish Territory | DW News

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the start of Turkish military action in northern Syria. Turkish television reports that jets are carrying out airstrikes on Syrian Kurdish positions in the border town of Tal Abyad. Early video footage shows strikes hitting fields. But reports from the Kurdish-led Syrian democratic forces say the air strikes are causing "huge panic among the people." Before the strikes, Erdogan announced offensive "Operation Peace Spring" in two tweets.

Sachsen-Anhalt: Tödliche Schüsse in Halle - Bundesanwaltschaft ermittelt

In Halle (Saale) sind zwei Menschen erschossen worden. Mehrere bewaffnete Täter seien auf der Flucht. Die Polizei fordert die Menschen auf, in ihren Wohnungen zu bleiben.

ÉDITORIAL : La diplomatie irresponsable de Donald Trump

LE MONDE : Editorial. Le président américain a annoncé, lundi 7 octobre, le retrait des troupes américaines au nord de la Syrie, avant de rétropédaler face au tollé provoqué par cette décision. Mais le mal est fait.

Depuis son arrivée à la Maison Blanche, Donald Trump a souvent agi sur des coups de tête, a multiplié les revirements soudains et les décisions à l’emporte-pièce. Mais la confusion qu’il a semée à propos du retrait des forces américaines de certains secteurs du nord de la Syrie convoités par la Turquie est inouïe et inédite. Provoquant la sidération non seulement de la part des alliés des Etats-Unis, de sa propre administration, mais aussi, une fois n’est pas coutume, de son propre camp politique, le président américain a affaibli la parole de la première puissance mondiale. » | Editorial du « Monde » | mardi 8. Octobre 2019

Brexit Deal Is Now ‘Essentially Impossible’, Says Downing Street Source

Tonight, the chances of a Brexit deal appear to be slim or none.

American Germany

GI's in Rubbleland - by Mathias Haentjes"

Frankly, I had very little sympathy for the Germans. After all they were the ones who started the damn war, not us." These sentiments as expressed by US Press Officer Gene Mater are shared by many former GIs who came to Germany at the end of the war. The years 1945-1949 were for many of these young soldiers the most important time of their lives.

'American Germany' tells the stories of German-American rapprochement from the perspective of former occupying troops. The Americans, who had previously only known the Germans from the battlefield or from propaganda, found that their opinion of the local population changed as a result of living in close quarters with them.

At the time, they were undertaking a task that was the first of its kind, i.e. to re-educate politically the population of a conquered country, to put that country back on its feet economically and to help its population achieve a whole new attitude to life.

In this documentary, Gene Mater and other occupying soldiers discuss their experiences in Germany. They tell us of the misery of post-war Germany, of distrust between the Americans and the Germans, of the black market and of the hunt for hidden Nazis. And they tell us of great emotions. Love amid the rubble - at that time this was no cliché but a reality a thousand times.

'Reckless, Dangerous, Pathetic': Key Players React to No 10 Briefing

THE GUARDIAN: Leaders on both sides of Channel react angrily to suggestion Brexit deal looks impossible

A No 10 source who said the German chancellor Angela Merkel’s demands for Northern Ireland after Brexit had made a deal “essentially impossible” has sparked furious exchanges on social media between prominent politicians.

Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, criticised Johnson directly, tweeting it was not about “winning some stupid blame game”. » | Martin Belam | Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Boris Johnson Ready to Give Up on Brexit Deal

THE GUARDIAN: No 10 source says agreement looks ‘essentially impossible not just now but ever’

Boris Johnson is poised to give up on Brexit deal talks with the EU after speaking to the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, with a No 10 source briefing that an agreement looked “essentially impossible not just now but ever”.

The prime minister appears to be heading for a more explicit no-deal strategy after speaking to Merkel to discuss his Brexit proposals, which have been given a frosty reception by the EU.

An anonymous No 10 source briefed broadcast journalists, saying Merkel “made clear a deal is overwhelmingly unlikely and she thinks the EU has a veto on us leaving the customs union”. Downing Street did not deny the contents of the statement and Berlin is yet to give its side of the conversation. » | Rowena Mason, Deputy political editor | Tuesday, October 8, 2019

THE GUARDIAN: The Guardian view on Boris Johnson: let no such man be trusted » | Editorial | Monday, October 7, 2019

The Brexit Deal Is Dead »

The Hidden World of the Harem | Suleiman the Magnificent Documentary | Timeline

The Guardian View on a Changing EU: Leaving Britain Behind

THE GUARDIAN: Brexiters routinely underestimate the resilience of the European project and overstate their own importance on the continent

There is a common misperception among British Eurosceptics that the EU is as obsessed with obstructing Brexit as they are with completing it. That is untrue in two ways. First, the priority in Brussels is to facilitate the UK’s orderly departure. There was a phase of grief, but that has mostly given way to frustration at British politicians’ collective ineptitude – remainers as well as leavers. » | editorial | Sunday, October 6, 2019

Macron Gives Johnson Until End of Week to Overhaul Brexit Plan

THE GUARDIAN: French president’s insistence that UK should give way raises chances of talks imploding

The French president has given Boris Johnson until the end of the week to fundamentally revise his Brexit plan, in a move that increases the chances of the negotiations imploding within days.

The UK proposals tabled last week are not regarded in Brussels as being a basis for a deal and Emmanuel Macron emphasised that it was up to the UK to think again before an upcoming EU summit.

After declining to meet with the prime minister in person, Macron further insisted during a phone call on Sunday that the talks would only be advanced through Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator. » | Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Sunday, October 6, 2019

Health Matters: The Truth about Heart Disease & Cholesterol — Dr. Dwight Lundell

Watch this MOST informative and educational presentation.

Saudi Arabia to Allow Unmarried Foreign Couples in Hotel Rooms

THE GUARDIAN: Kingdom relaxes rules as it turns to tourism to bolster economy for post-oil era

Saudi Arabia has announced it is to allow unmarried foreign couples to rent hotel rooms together as the ultra-conservative kingdom begins offering tourist visas for the first time.

The tourism authority said in a statement on Twitter on Sunday that Saudi women travelling alone would also be able to check into a hotel by presenting valid ID. In the past, couples wanting to stay in a hotel had to prove they were married.

“This is no longer required for tourists,” the statement said.

Saudi Arabia announced on 27 September it was opening its doors to holidaymakers with the goal of diversifying its oil-dependent economy. » | Agence France-Presse in Riyadh | Sunday, October 6, 2019

Trump: Is Fox News Turning Its Back on US President? | The Listening Post (Full)

‘We Cannot Change What We Are’: Michel Barnier Stares Down Tory Threats

THE OBSERVER: EU’s chief negotiator reaffirms that a no-deal outcome would be the responsibility of Boris Johnson

As the Brexit pressure ratchets up another notch, Michel Barnier appears everything most of the current British government is not: clear, calm, precise – and logical to a fault.

“I promised myself from the start,” the EU’s silver-haired, grey-suited chief negotiator told a packed theatre near the Gare du Nord in Paris on Saturday, “that I would not allow passion or emotion into my approach to Brexit.

“I work on facts, on figures. On what is legal and operable. My obligation is to defend, calmly and firmly, the interests of the European Union, of its citizens, its companies, its regions … And in leaving, the UK cannot ask us to change what we are.” » | Toby Helm and Jon Henley | Saturday, October 5, 2019

THE OBSERVER: Michel Barnier: blame Boris Johnson for a no-deal Brexit » | Saturday, October 5, 2019

China Calls It Re-education, But Uighur Muslims Say It's 'Unbearable Brutality'

Uighurs are Muslims who trace their roots back thousands of years in Central Asia, most currently living in the Chinese province Xinjiang. The group represents less than 1 percent of China's population, but they have endured what the U.S. calls one of the worst human rights crises of modern times. Nick Schifrin reports on how Communist China has persecuted this religious and cultural minority.

US Immigrants Will Be Denied Entry If They Can't Afford Health Care

THE GUARDIAN: White House says too many non-citizens taking advantage of the country’s ‘generous public health programs’

Immigrants applying for US visas will be denied entry into the country unless they can prove they can afford health care within 30 days of entering or can’t pay for it themselves, according to a proclamation signed by President Trump.

The new rule, which comes into force on 3 November, will be applied to people seeking immigrant visas, not those in the US already. It does not apply to those seeking asylum seekers, refugees or children.

But it would apply to the spouses and parents of US citizens. That could have an impact on families who are trying to bring their parents to the US.

The proclamation said immigrants will be barred from entering the country unless they are to be covered by health insurance within 30 days of entering or have enough financial resources to pay for any medical costs. » | Agencies | Saturday, October 5, 2019

Thatcher Sent Pinochet Finest Scotch During Former Dictator's UK House Arrest

THE GUARDIAN: New revelation adds colour to close relationship between pair / Pinochet oversaw death and torture of thousands of Chileans

While he was under house arrest in Surrey in 1999, the former Chilean military dictator Augusto Pinochet received a fine malt from an old friend.

“Scotch is one British institution that will never let you down,” read the accompanying note from its sender: the former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

The detail, revealed this week in the third volume of Charles Moore’s biography of Baroness Thatcher, adds further colour to the close relationship between Thatcher and the man responsible for the death of more than 2,000 people and the torture of many more.

Thatcher was appalled that the Labour government had allowed the arrest of Pinochet while he was in London for medical treatment, overriding his diplomatic immunity. » | Matt Youkee in Santiago | Friday, October 4, 2019

The Guardian View on Donald Trump: An Abuser of His Office

THE GUARDIAN: The US president is trying to normalise his self-serving breaches of his oath of office. America must hold him to account and restore the rule of law and ethics

Until very recently indeed, the idea that the president of the United States might stand outside the White House and call on Communist China to investigate one of his presidential challengers would not merely have seemed far-fetched. It would also have seemed unpatriotic (presidents don’t involve foreign powers in domestic politics), unprincipled (this is the same China with which he is fighting a trade war and which may soon crack down on Hong Kong democracy protests), illegal (US law bans attempts to solicit foreign assistance to fight American elections), and a breach of his oath of office (in which he promises to protect and defend the constitution). It [sic] short, such a thing was unthinkable.

It is a mark of Donald Trump’s ability to trash the rules of domestic and international politics, and make up an entire new set of his own, that the unthinkable happened this week without causing much more than a weary collective shake of the American head. Speaking on live television outside the White House on Thursday, Mr Trump openly solicited America’s greatest international rival to help him get re-elected. Next year, Mr Trump may face a presidential contest against Joe Biden, the former vice-president, whose son Hunter – like Donald Trump Jr, as it happens – is a businessman and lobbyist with overseas interests. This week Mr Trump said: “China should start an investigation into the Bidens.” » | Editorial | Friday, October 4, 2019

Hong Kong Protesters Attack Metro Stations after Face Mask Ban

Thousands of people swept into the streets of Hong Kong for a night of violent protests after the government activated sweeping colonial-era powers for the first time in over half a century, using them to ban face masks. After darkness fell, crowds set fire to two metro stations and vandalised shops and businesses considered pro-China, leading riot police to respond with teargas Violence grips Hong Kong as Lam activates emergency powers

THE GUARDIAN: Violence grips Hong Kong as Lam activates emergency powers » | Emma Graham-Harrison in Hong Kong | Friday, October 4, 2019

Prince Harry Launches Phone-hacking Case against Sun and Mirror Owners

THE GUARDIAN: Royal continues fight with UK newspapers after attacking treatment of his wife, Meghan

Prince Harry has issued legal proceedings against the owners of the Sun and the Daily Mirror over alleged phone hacking, in an escalation of his all-out war with the British newspaper industry.

The decision follows Harry’s strongly worded attack on the British media’s treatment of his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

Buckingham Palace confirmed claims had been filed at the high court regarding alleged illegal interception of voicemail messages. News Group, which published the News of the World until its closure as well as the Sun, confirmed a claim had been issued.

There were no details on the nature of the intended claims but they were filed by Clintons, a law firm that has brought multiple phone-hacking claims in the past and won substantial payouts on behalf of its clients. » | Jim Waterson and Caroline Davies | Friday, October 4, 2019

Is UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit Proposal for the EU Workable? | Inside Story

Britain's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, may have to live up to his words very soon - that's if the European Union doesn't approve his proposals for Brexit.

The EU has already said there are problems - key, is what happens to the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

There are more talks planned for October 17th - but that's just 10 days before Boris Johnson says leave will mean leave, even if it's against the law as it now stands.

With one eye on a possible general election, UK MPs would have to vote for what he wants, knowing that the EU can ultimately veto the whole thing anyway.

So, is the European Union ready to compromise?

Presenter: Peter Dobbie | Guests: Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University; Pieter Cleppe, Head of the Brussels Office, Open Europe think tank; Professor Alex De Ruyter, Director of Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University

Donald Trump demande ouvertement à la Chine d’enquêter sur son rival Joe Biden

LE MONDE: Menacé par une procédure de destitution pour avoir demandé à son homologue ukrainien des informations compromettantes sur Joe Biden, le président américain a dit qu’il pourrait formuler la même demande au président chinois.

Alors que la procédure de destitution à son encontre s’accélère au Congrès, le président américain persiste et signe. Jeudi 3 octobre, Donald Trump a ouvertement appelé la Chine à enquêter sur son rival Joe Biden. « La Chine devrait lancer une enquête sur les Biden parce que ce qui s’est passé en Chine est tout aussi grave que ce qui s’est passé en Ukraine », a déclaré le président devant la presse.

Le président américain est sous la menace d’une mise en accusation(impeachment) après qu’il a demandé à son homologue ukrainien de l’aider à rassembler des informations compromettantes sur Joe Biden, bien placé pour l’affronter dans la présidentielle de 2020.

Martelant que son échange avec Volodymyr Zelensky était « parfait » et sa requête légitime, Donald Trump a franchi un nouveau cap jeudi en déclarant qu’il pourrait « assurément »formuler la même demande auprès du président chinois. Le milliardaire républicain répète à l’envi que Joe Biden et son fils Hunter ont « arnaqué la Chine et l’Ukraine ». » | Le Monde avec AFP | jeudi 3. octobre 2019

Silence Still Surrounds the Murder of My Fiancé, Jamal Khashoggi. Who Will Speak Up?

THE GUARDIAN: A year on, no action has been taken about the killing. The Trump administration has much to answer for

Exactly one year ago, I stood outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, waiting for my fiance, Jamal Khashoggi, to come out with the marriage documents we needed to begin our life together. I was optimistic, even excited. Yet I never saw Jamal again.

I did not expect to have my life transformed. I did not expect to have to alert the authorities to Jamal’s disappearance, or to find myself at the centre of a story that would shake the world. I did not expect, on a day that seemed unremarkable, to have my dreams shattered. By necessity I was put on a path, compelled to begin a campaign for justice for the man who was not only stolen from me but also taken away from those who read his work, and who admired him for his courage and his unrelenting commitment to the truth. » | Hatice Cengiz | Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Boris Johnson's Brexit Plan Hangs by Thread as EU Dismisses Weekend Talks

THE GUARDIAN: Sources say PM’s insistence on Ireland customs border means there is no basis for discussions

Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans look to be falling apart as the European commission has said there are no grounds to accept a request from the UK for intensive weekend negotiations two weeks before an EU summit.

EU sources said there remained considerable doubt as to whether there was any basis for such discussions, given the British prime minister’s insistence on there being a customs border on the island of Ireland.

Johnson’s chief negotiator, David Frost, along with a team of a dozen British officials, failed to convince their EU counterparts in Brussels on Friday that he had a mandate from Downing Street to compromise on what the EU sees as major flaws in the UK government’s proposals. » | Daniel Boffey and Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Friday, October 4, 2019

Pig Ignorant: Spanish PM Ridiculed for Mixing Up His Hams

THE GUARDIAN: Pedro Sánchez confuses prized jamón ibérico for plain old jamón serrano in ‘serious error’

Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has confused jamón ibérico, the prized Spanish ham, with run-of-the-mill jamón serrano in a gaffe on a par with a French politician referring to a fine burgundy as plonk.

Speaking at the centuries-old livestock fair in Zafra in Extremadura, western Spain, Sánchez left his audience open-mouthed when he told them “you can be sure that when the Chinese president visited Spain he would have been served a plate of jamón serrano from Extremadura”.

Extremadura is the cradle of jamón ibérico, a delicacy capable of throwing Spaniards of all political persuasions into a gastronomic swoon. The local farmers’ association said it had dispatched some to Madrid to educate Sánchez, lest he once again cast his swine before pearls. » | Stephen Burgen in Barcelona | Friday, October 4, 2019

MbS' Words on Khashoggi ‘An Empty Gesture’ – George Galloway

Turkish President Recep Erdogan wrote in a recent op-ed that the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi is the most influential and controversial incident of the 21st century, barring the September 11, 2011 attacks. Khashoggi’s one-year death anniversary falls on Wednesday. Former UK MP George Galloway, Khashoggi’s close friend, weighs in.

Johnson Will Write to EU Requesting Article 50 Extension, Court Told

THE GUARDIAN: Government pledge appears to contradict claim Brexit will happen on 31 October

The UK government has promised a court that Boris Johnson will send a letter to the EU seeking an extension to article 50 as required by the Benn act.

The undertaking appears to contradict the prime minister’s statements the UK will leave the EU on 31 October regardless and unattributed claims from Downing Street that he will find a way to sidestep the act.

The pledge has been given in legal papers submitted to the court of session in Edinburgh after anti-Brexit campaigners began legal action to force Johnson to uphold the act’s requirements. » | Severin Carrell and Heather Stewart | Friday, October 4, 2019

The Debate: How Nasty Will It Get? Trump Impeachment Probe Opens in Run-up to 2020 Campaign

EU Parliament: Boris Johnson Brexit Plan Not Remotely Acceptable

THE GUARDIAN: Leading MEP says it is ‘nearly impossible’ to see how Irish border plan can be basis of deal

The European parliament has told Boris Johnson that his proposals for the Irish border do not “even remotely” amount to an acceptable deal for the EU, in comments echoed by Ireland’s deputy prime minister.

The committee of MEPs representing the parliament’s views on Brexit said the prime minister’s proposals could not form the basis for an agreement, describing them as a “last-minute” effort. The European parliament will have a veto on any withdrawal agreement.

“Safeguarding peace and stability on the island of Ireland, protection of citizens and EU’s legal order has to be the main focus of any deal,” it said in a statement. “The UK proposals do not match even remotely what was agreed as a sufficient compromise in the backstop.”

Simon Coveney, the Irish foreign minister and deputy to the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, reiterated those concerns. » | Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Thursday, October 3, 2019

Lung Damage from Vaping Resembles Chemical Burns, Report Says

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Doctors at the Mayo Clinic examined samples of lung tissue from 17 patients, all of which looked as if the people had been exposed to toxic chemicals, the researchers said.

The lung damage in some people who have become ill after vaping nicotine or marijuana products resembles a chemical burn, doctors from the Mayo Clinic reported on Wednesday.

Their findings are based on samples of lung tissue from 17 patients around the country whose biopsy specimens were sent to Mayo to be examined under the microscope by experts in lung pathology. Two samples came from patients who died.

“All 17 of our cases show a pattern of injury in the lung that looks like a toxic chemical exposure, a toxic chemical fume exposure, or a chemical burn injury,” said Dr. Brandon T. Larsen, a surgical pathologist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. “To be honest, they look like the kind of change you would expect to see in an unfortunate worker in an industrial accident where a big barrel of toxic chemicals spills, and that person is exposed to toxic fumes and there is a chemical burn in the airways.”

The injuries also look like those seen in people exposed to poisons like mustard gas, a chemical weapon used in World War I, he said. » | Denise Grady | Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Joe: Mike Pompeo Is Shaming Himself and America | Morning Joe | MSNBC

The panel discusses Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's reaction to the Trump Ukraine scandal and to a House committee requesting to interview five State Department officials. Aired on 10/2/19.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — October 2, 2019

Trump's Foreign Policy Is For Sale. That Threatens Our National Security

THE GUARDIAN: The president’s efforts to govern in his own self-interest will undermine the world’s faith in our commitments

The Ukraine scandal is not only undermining American democracy – it’s damaging national security. US foreign policy increasingly looks like that of a mafia state, wielded at the behest of, and for the benefit of, one man’s personal interests, and for sale to the highest bidders. This is devastating America’s role in the world.

Trump led an effort – along with other government officials and the president’s personal lawyer – to use the power of the United States to pressure the government of Ukraine to fabricate smears about one of Trump’s domestic political opponents. As the White House admitted in a transcript of Trump’s 25 July call with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Trump asked Zelenskiy for a “favor” – to look into the former vice-president Joe Biden and his son – and said that the US attorney general, Bill Barr, and Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, would help.

At the same time, Trump withheld military assistance to Ukraine – which is fighting a war with Russia – on a timeline that makes it clear that it was part of an attempt to use taxpayer dollars as leverage to get Ukraine to do Trump’s personal bidding. » | Michael H Fuchs | Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Mohammed bin Salman: How Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Rose to Power

BBC: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS, is transforming and modernising a deeply conservative country.

Yet at the same time, he has dragged Saudi Arabia into a war in Yemen, and locked up women’s rights protesters, Islamic clerics and bloggers. He is also widely suspected of being behind the murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul a year ago.

So just who is the man they call MBS?

Jeddah, September 2013, and under a blazing Red Sea sun the palace guards stepped aside as our car swept through the reinforced gates. It had taken days to get an audience with the ageing then-Saudi Crown Prince and Defence Minister Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Years earlier, in 2004, Prince Salman had been governor of Riyadh when gunmen ambushed our BBC team, shooting me six times, leaving me for dead and killing my Irish cameraman, Simon Cumbers. I’m told the prince visited me in hospital but I have no recollection since I was in a medically induced coma.

Today Salman is king and in frail health. Even then, in 2013, I noticed he was resting his hand on a walking stick as we sat on ornate gilt chairs in a palace reception room.

His long, solemn face cracked frequently into a smile as he spoke slowly, in English, in a deep, stentorian voice, telling me how much he liked London. » | Frank Gardner | Wednesday, October 2, 2019