Jordan’s Prince Hamzah Pledges Loyalty to Half-brother King Abdullah

THE GUARDIAN: Palace turmoil eases as former crown prince vows to remain ‘faithful to the legacy of my ancestors’

Jordan’s Prince Hamzah has pledged loyalty to the king as the monarch accepted mediation over a rift within the royal family that saw the prince placed under house arrest, the palace said.

The government has accused Hamzah, an ex-crown prince and half-brother of King Abdullah II, of a “wicked” plot and involvement in a seditious conspiracy to “destabilise the kingdom’s security”.

Hamzah, detained along with at least 16 others, had earlier struck a defiant tone saying he had been placed under house arrest inside his Amman palace, but insisting he would not obey orders restricting his movement.

But in an apparent easing of the palace turmoil, the 41-year-old prince pledged his backing to King Abdullah. “I will remain … faithful to the legacy of my ancestors, walking on their path, loyal to their path and their message and to His Majesty,” he said in a signed letter, quoted by the palace.

“I will always be ready to help and support His Majesty the King and his Crown Prince,” he is quoted as writing. » | Agence France-Presse | Monday, April 5, 2021

Jordan Accuses Prince Hamzah of 'Malicious Plot' to Destabilize Kingdom | DW News

Jordan says it has foiled a plot by a former crown prince to destabilize the kingdom. The government maintains Hamzah bin Hussein and others were undermining security with the help of foreign powers. As many as twenty high level officials have been arrested. Hamzah denies being part of a conspiracy, and says he is being silenced.

According to Jordan security officials, the King's half-brother had been under investigation for some time. The country's foreign minister said the former crown prince was trying to mobilize tribal leaders against the government - with support from abroad. Sixteen people, including a former adviser to King Abdullah and another member of the royal family were arrested.

The military initially denied arresting Hamzah bin Hussein - but said it had issued him a warning for his actions. But in a video statement sent to media on Saturday Prince Hamzah claimed he had been placed under house arrest for associating with critics of the royal family.

Though he no longer holds an official title, Hamzah remains a popular figure in the country. And many see stability in King Abdullah the second. He has enjoyed widespread popularity during his reign.

Jordan is widely seen as an island of calm in a troubled region - strategically located between Israel, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The US, UK and several Arab nations have all expressed their full support for the reigning monarch.

But COVID-19 has hit the country's economy hard. Unemployment and poverty is on the rise, stoking domestic discontent.

From the 60 Minutes Archive: Steve Jobs

On the 45th anniversary of the founding of Apple, a look back at the 2011 profile of Steve Jobs, which aired just weeks after his death.

Jordan Says Prince Liaised with 'Foreign Parties' over Plot to Destabilize Country

The half-brother and former heir of Jordan's King Abdullah, Prince Hamza, liaised with foreign parties over a plot to destabilize the country and has been under investigation for some time, the deputy prime minister said on Sunday. Video by JORDANIAN PRIME MINISTRY / REUTERS

Jordanien: Wie König Abdullah seine Macht bewahren will

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Der jordanische Prinz Hamsa bin Hussein ist in Hausarrest, mehrere seiner Getreuen wurden verhaftet. Planten sie einen Putsch gegen den politisch ohnehin geschwächten König?

Eine Satellitenverbindung war dem Prinzen noch geblieben. Über diese setzte Hamsa Bin Hussein, ein Halbbruder des jordanischen Königs, sein vorerst letztes Handyvideo in die Welt. Darin beschrieb Prinz Hamsa in englischer Sprache einen Besuch des Generalstabschefs, der ihm verboten habe, das Haus zu verlassen. Er sagte, seine Kommunikation werde abgeschnitten und viele seiner Bekannten und Freunde seien verhaftet worden. Der Vorwurf lautete: Er habe an Treffen teilgenommen, an denen König Abdullah II. und die Regierung Jordaniens kritisiert worden seien.

Jordaniens Sicherheitskräfte hatten am Samstag in Amman den Palast von Prinz Hamsa gestürmt. Die Behörden teilten mit, Hamsa sei nicht verhaftet worden. Gleichwohl scheint sich dieser in Hausarrest zu befinden. Nach Angaben der staatlichen Nachrichtenagentur Petra wurden 20 Personen verhaftet, unter ihnen zwei Vertraute des Prinzen. Dass damit Planungen eines Putschversuchs vereitelt worden sein könnten, darauf könnte eine Mitteilung des Generalstabs deuten. In der heißt es, Hamsa sei aufgefordert worden, „Bewegungen und Aktivitäten einzustellen, welche die Sicherheit und die Stabilität Jordaniens treffen sollten“. Hamsa dementierte, dass er Teil einer Verschwörung gegen den König sei. » | Von Jochen Stahnke und Rainer Hermann | Quelle: FAZ.NET | Montag, 5. April 2021

Jordan's Prince Hamzah Defiant after Being Put under House Arrest

THE GUARDIAN: King Abdullah’s half-brother says he will disobey the army’s orders not to communicate with outside world

Jordan’s estranged Prince Hamzah bin Hussein has said in a voice recording that he will disobey orders by the army not to communicate with the outside world after he was put under house arrest.

The half-brother of King Abdullah and the former heir to the throne said in the recording released on Monday by the country’s opposition that he would not comply after being barred from any activities and told to keep quiet.

“I am going to escalate and won’t obey when they tell you you cannot go out or tweet or reach out to people and are only allowed to see the family,” he said in the recording he circulated to friends and contacts. » | Reuters | Monday, April 5, 2021

Breaking Down Judaism | Rabbi Wolpe | Rubin Report

Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report talks to Rabbi Wolpe (Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple) about Judaism, Orthodoxy, Conservative Judaism, Reform Judaism, the political component to Judaism, the state of Jews in America in 2017, and more.

Happy Easter ! Frohe Ostern! Joyeuses Pâques !

Jordan's Former Crown Prince under House Arrest over Alleged Coup

THE OBSERVER: Authorities also arrested two aides after raiding King Abdullah’s half-brother’s palace in capital Amman

Jordanian authorities raided the palace of the kingdom’s former crown prince on Saturday and arrested two senior aides after uncovering what intelligence officials believe was an attempted coup against the ruling monarch, King Abdullah.

The arrests focused on a network allegedly connected to Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, a half-brother of King Abdullah, who was removed from his post 16 years ago.

Prince Hamzah said in a video recording he was under house arrest and had been told to stay at home and not contact anyone.

Speaking in English in the video, passed by his lawyer to the BBC, he said he was not part of any foreign conspiracy and denounced the ruling system as corrupt.

“(Jordanians’) well[-]being has been put second by a ruling system that has decided that its personal interests, financial interests, that its corruption is more important than the lives and dignity and future of the 10 million people who live here,” he said. » | Martin Chulov, Middle East correspondent, and Michael Safi | Saturday, April 3, 2021

Hitler, Nazis, Zweiter Weltkrieg - und wie die Deutschen heute damit umgehen | Meet the Germans

"Don't mention the war"? Hitler und die Nazis ein Tabu in Deutschland? Keinesfalls. Hier begegnet man der Vergangenheit auf sehr vielfältige Weise. Rachel Stewart hat sich 75 Jahre nach dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs auf Spurensuche begeben - und dabei auch Timur Vermes getroffen, der mit seiner Hitler-Satire "Er ist wieder da" einen internationalen Bestseller gelandet hat.

Die gebürtige Britin Rachel Stewart lebt seit 2016 in Deutschland und lernt noch immer Neues, Überraschendes und Erstaunliches über die Deutschen und ihre Kultur. Für “Meet the Germans” taucht sie in den deutschen Alltag ein - und mit wahren Kulturschätzen wie “Bier”, “Fleisch” oder “Weihnachten” wieder auf. Aber auch kontrovers diskutierte Themen wie “Deutsche Digitalisierung” oder “Voll emanzipiert? Frauen in Deutschland” gehören natürlich zu “Meet the Germans” dazu.

Boris Johnson ‘a Clown’ with No Diplomacy Skills, Says Ex-deputy in Diaries

THE GUARDIAB: Ex-Foreign Office deputy Sir Alan Duncan says PM mistakes regular headlines for political power

Boris Johnson’s former deputy at the Foreign Office has described him as an “embarrassing buffoon” in a new book. Sir Alan Duncan, the MP for Rutland and Melton from 1992 until the last election, said the prime minister was “a clown, a self-centred ego, an embarrassing buffoon, with an untidy mind and sub-zero diplomatic judgment”. “He is an international stain on our reputation,” Duncan added, in diaries which have been serialised in the Daily Mail.

The diaries, made into a book titled The Thick of It, cover his final four years in parliament during Brexit and Johnson’s move to Downing Street. Duncan served on the Conservative frontbenches for 18 years and was a former minister for international development.

In the diaries, Duncan also quotes the business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng’s criticism of Johnson.

In an entry on 29 March 2017, Duncan wrote that he had run into Kwarteng in New Palace Yard in Westminster.

“He says Boris doesn’t appreciate that diplomacy is not about having nice conversations with your friends: it’s about how you engage with those who are awkward,” he wrote. » | Molly Blackall | Saturday, April 3, 2021

‘Raise My Taxes – Now!’: The Millionaires Who Want to Give It All Away

THE GUARDIAN: Abigail Disney has parted with $72m – and thinks the rich need to pay far more tax. As Covid widens the inequality gap, she and an international league of the super-rich are urging governments to take their money

Abigail Disney has always been very, very rich, or, as she describes it, “too rich”. The money came with her name: she is the granddaughter of Roy Disney who, with his brother Walt, founded the Walt Disney Company in 1923. Disney, 61, refuses to say how much she has, but acknowledges she would have been a billionaire in her own right had she not realised in her 20s that it was her fortune that was making her miserable, and decided to start giving it away.

She has been donating to good causes ever since – $72m (£52m) and counting, mostly to groups helping women in prison, women living with HIV, and victims of domestic violence. But giving it away is no longer enough. She wants the tax collector to take more money, not only from her, but from “all of the absurdly rich people across the world”.

“We’ve long known that the world is hugely unequal,” says Disney. “But now the pandemic has really shown it to all of us, and no one in all conscience can continue to ignore it.” Disney is speaking over Zoom from a pristine white sofa in her San Francisco home. Today, she looks more hippy chic than heiress: her light-brown hair falls in long, gentle curls, and there is a discreet peace dove tattooed on the inside of her wrist.

“It is like when your kids have a bath, and you pull the plug out and slowly all the little toys at the bottom are revealed,” says Disney. “That is what has happened here: now we all know what is going on under the surface.” As well as killing more than 2.5 million people, the pandemic and global lockdown response has plunged some 150 million more into “extreme poverty”, according to the World Bank. The Washington-based institution described Covid-19 as “a heat-seeking missile speeding toward the most vulnerable in society”. » | Rupert Neate | Saturday, April 3, 2021

The Patriotic Millionaires »

‘Kill the Bill’ Protesters Rally across England and Wales on Saturday

THE GUARDIAN: Demonstrations against crackdown on right to protest are organised in 25 cities including London

Protesters are rallying in central London and 24 other towns and cities in England and Wales on Saturday against a crime bill that critics say will severely restrict the right to stage demonstrations.

The police, crime, sentencing and courts bill, which passed its second reading in parliament last month, will modify existing public order legislation to make it easier for police to ban or shut down peaceful protests if they are considered too disruptive or likely to lead to disorder.

Opponents of the bill have called it an attack on the right to protest and a step towards authoritarianism. They warn that in conjunction with new laws giving agents of the state licence to commit crimes while undercover and changes to the judicial system, the balance of power is being tipped towards the authorities, eroding individual freedoms. » | Damien Gayle | Saturday, April 3, 2021

Moscheereport: Islam und Homosexualität

Schwul und Muslim - das geht nicht. So sehen es viele Gläubige im Nahen Osten, aber auch in Deutschland. Warum das richtig sei und auch so bleiben solle, berichtet ein Imam im Moscheereport. Constantin Schreiber berichtet im Moscheereport über das Verhältnis zwischen Islam und Homosexualität.

Verbotene Liebe - Homosexualität im NS-Regime

Gleichgeschlechtliche Liebe war in den Augen der Nazis entartete Sexualität. Tausende schwule Männer kamen in den Konzentrationslagern ums Leben. Das schwul-lesbische Filmfestival Pink Apple in Zürich widmete im Mai 2015 diesen verboteten Liebesgeschichten einen Schwerpunkt.

Homosexualität in der Geschichte: Von der Antike bis heute

In der Antike gehört Homosexualität zum Alltag – und ist nicht strafbar. Mehr als ein Jahrtausend später im Mittelalter werden Homosexuelle verbrannt, die Nationalsozialisten unter Adolf Hitler verfolgen, misshandeln und töten homosexuelle Menschen. Wie sich der Umgang mit Homosexualität, vor allem der Kontext homosexueller Handlungen, im Laufe der Geschichte gewandelt hat, erfahrt Ihr in diesem Video mit MrWisssen2Go Mirko Drotschmann. Homosexualität als Begriff für gleichgeschlechtliche Liebe ist natürlich viel jünger als gleichgeschlechtliche sexuelle Handlungen und Liebe. Die gibt es vermutlich seit Beginn der Menschheitsgeschichte. Aus der Antike kennen wir einige Darstellungen solcher Handlungen. Die Praktiken sind weit verbreitet, haben aber eine andere Bedeutung als heute. Mirko erzählt Euch von antiken Vasen mit eindeutigen Bildern, homosexuellen Handlungen im Krieg, von Richard Löwenherz, der mit Philipp II. von Frankreich das Bett teilt, um seinen Vater zu verärgern. Dann geht es im Video über Homosexualität in der Geschichte um das christlich geprägte Mittelalter. Im Mittelalter werden Menschen für homosexuelle Praktiken bestraft. Vom Mittelalter und der Frühen Neuzeit an werden Homosexuelle bis weit ins 20. Jahrhundert kriminalisiert, stigmatisiert und verfolgt. Trauriger Höhepunkt ist die Verfolgung von Homosexuellen im Nationalsozialismus. Die Nazis richten eine eigene Behörde dafür ein, die „Reichszentrale zur Bekämpfung der Homosexualität und Abtreibung“. Auch nach dem sogenannten Dritten Reich werden homosexuelle Handlungen in der Bundesrepublik nach §175 des Strafgesetzbuches jahrzehntelang unter Strafe gestellt. 1994 wird der bereits abgemilderte Paragraph 175 in der Bundesrepublik komplett aufgehoben. In der DDR sind Homosexuelle seit 1988 rechtlich gleichgestellt. Mirko spricht auch über die LGBTQ+-Bewegung, die Stonewall-Aufstände in den USA, und damit einhergehende Veränderungen. In diesem Video versucht Mirko, die Geschichte des Umgangs mit Homosexualität nachzuzeichnen.

Wir danken an dieser Stelle Frau Dr. Jana Kristin Hoffmann für die hilfreichen Anmerkungen!

Die gefälschte Bibel

Glaubt man der Bibel, dann hat Gott zur Zeit des Propheten Mose Völkermorde, die Todesstrafe und Tieropfer befohlen. Gleichzeitig gab Gott durch Mose jedoch das Gebot: „Du sollst nicht töten“. Auch distanziert sich Gott durch einige Propheten des Alten Bundes deutlich von den Ritualen der Tieropfer. Wie kommt das? Hat Gott zwei Meinungen - oder wurde die Bibel gefälscht?

Es erstaunt: Für die Katholische und die Evangelische Kirche sind alle Teile der Bibel, trotz der vielen Ungereimtheiten und offensichtlichen Fälschungen, das wahre „Wort Gottes“. Um die Antwort zu finden, warum es so viele Widersprüche in der Bibel gibt, muss zuerst der Frage nachgegangen werden: Wer hat die Bibel geschrieben? Wer hatte entschieden, welche Schriften in die Bibel aufgenommen wurden und welche nicht - und warum nicht?

Die Antwort ist ernüchternd: Es waren durch alle Zeiten die Pharisäer, Schriftgelehrten und Theologen, die diese Entscheidungen getroffen haben - im übertragenen Sinn die „Priesterkaste“. Doch welche Interessen waren im Spiel? In der TV-Dokumentation „Die gefälschte Bibel“ wird diesen Fragen nachgegangen. Die Ergebnisse überraschen und lassen erstaunen.

Nikotin ~ Droge mit Zukunft! | Doku | ARTE

Opinion: Boris Johnson’s Government Is Built on Cruelty

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Determined to make good on the nativist promise of Brexit, it has embraced anti-migrant authoritarianism.

LONDON — Last week, as Britain focused on its gradual emergence from lockdown, the home secretary, Priti Patel, laid out the government’s “New Plan for Immigration.”

The details were deeply sinister. Only those coming through resettlement schemes, who amount to less than 1 percent of refugees globally, would be welcomed. Everybody else, forced to take life-threateningly dangerous journeys, would be branded “illegal” and aggressively penalized. They would be blocked from key state support, given diminished family reunion rights and be permanently liable for removal, even if granted asylum.

These drastic proposals — which some suggest could contravene the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention — have been months in the making. Last year, Ms. Patel reportedly raised the possibility of sending asylum seekers to islands in the south Atlantic and considered deploying the Navy to prevent people from reaching Britain’s shores. Her plan, inhumane and wrongheaded, exemplifies how the British government treats migrants and refugees.

But such cruelty goes further than the asylum process. Since Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government took office in December 2019, promising to “Get Brexit Done,” it has sought to institute a harsher, more punitive system of immigration and border control. In the name of British sovereignty, it has suffused its rule with anti-migrant authoritarianism. » | Maya Goodfellow | Thursday, April 1, 2021

Top UK Brain Surgeon Calls for Urgent Inquiry into Assisted Dying

THE GUARDIAN: Henry Marsh reveals he has advanced prostate cancer and says law ‘insists I must suffer’

Henry Marsh, one of the UK’s leading brain surgeons and a bestselling author, has called for an urgent inquiry into assisted dying after revealing he has advanced prostate cancer.

Marsh, the author of Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain Surgery, said dying of cancer could be “a very horrible business” but the law “insists I must suffer”. Politicians had “shown a striking lack of compassion by ducking this issue for too long and are inadvertently guilty of great cruelty”, he said.

His call for an inquiry is backed by more than 50 MPs and peers from different parties, some of whom have previously voted against changing the law. Their letter to Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, argues that the UK has now fallen behind many other countries on the issue of assisted dying.

Last month Spain became the latest European country to approve legislation giving patients with incurable diseases or unbearable conditions the right to choose to end their lives with the assistance of a doctor. » | Harriet Sherwood | Thursday, April 1, 2021

ORF Zeit.Geschichte: 30 Tage bis zum Untergang Österreichs 1938

The RCA's Ban on Smoking Tobacco versus Judaism's Take (2009)

Timeshift: The Smoking Years (BBC)

Ask The Rabbi: Is Smoking a Sin?

The Difference Between Judaism, Christianity & Islam

What Is God?

This lecture was Sponsored in memory of Barbara Schwartz by her family.

Leaders of Covid-hit German States Call for National Lockdown

THE GUARDIAN: Leading virologist says country is in ‘serious and complicated’ stage of pandemic

Regional leaders of two German states badly hit by a third wave of coronavirus have urged the rest of the country to reimpose a tough lockdown to flatten infection rates, as a leading virologist said Germany was in a “serious and complicated” stage of the pandemic.

In a joint letter reported on by Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, Bavaria’s conservative premier, Markus Söder, and the Green head of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, said the situation was “more serious than many believe”.

“That is why we must live up to our responsibility now and not discuss it any longer,” the two politicians said, in an apparent swipe at other state leaders seen as reluctant to enforce an emergency break on easing restrictions. » | Philip Oltermann in Berlin | Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Emmanuel Macron : Adresse aux Français

Whitney Houston: ’When You Believe’ ft. Mariah Carey – from ‘The Prince Of Egypt’ | Official Video

Prince Albert of Monaco Weighs In on Harry and Meghan's Interview: 'It Did Bother Me’

TATLER: The son of Grace Kelly opened up during an interview with the BBC

Prince Albert II of Monaco has become the first royal to speak out about the bombshell interview that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave to Oprah Winfrey at the beginning of the month, telling the BBC that it 'did bother [him] a bit'.

Speaking to journalist Yalda Hakim about his environmental work, including the need to preserve the planet's marine ecosystems, he was asked for his take on the royal drama.

'This kind of display of public dissatisfaction, to say the least, these type of conversations should be held within the intimate quarters of the family. It doesn't really have to be laid out in the public sphere like that,' he says. 'So it did bother me a little bit. I can understand where they are coming from in a certain way but I think it wasn't the appropriate forum to be able to have these kinds of discussions.' » | Rebecca Cope | Friday, March 26, 2021

No Joke: Volkswagen Confirms It Will Change Name to Voltswagen in US

THE GUARDIAN: In what was initially thought to be an April Fool’s prank, company confirms name change to reflect its investment in electric cars

For 65 years, Volkswagen has been one of the most popular and best-known names in American motoring, its iconic VW Beetle snaring generations of enthusiasts and helping sell millions of vehicles.
But now, in North America at least, the Volkswagen brand is no more. In what was initially thought to be an April Fool’s prank, apparently thanks to a premature announcement by an overeager publicist, the German auto giant has confirmed its metamorphosis into Voltswagen – an attempt to reflect its investment in the growing electric vehicle (EV) market.

A statement posted to Volkswagen’s US website on Tuesday hailed the move, which takes effect on 21 May, as “a public declaration of the company’s future-forward investment in e-mobility”. » | Richard Luscombe in Miami | Tuesday, March 30, 2021

W5: The Shadowy Underworld of Contraband Tobacco (2018)

Off-brand and tax-free cigarettes produced on First Nations reserves look like a deal for smokers, but as W5's Kevin Newman reveals, organized crime is reaping the profits and costing the government billions in lost revenues.

Black Market Tobacco Floods Australian Market (2016)

As cigarette prices have risen, illegal tobacco or chop-chop is being imported into the country in increasing amounts. The Feed went undercover with Customs to see how hard it was to buy.

Price Rankings by Country of Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) (Markets) »

An Alliance of Autocracies? China Wants to Lead a New World Order

THE NEW YORK TIMES: As President Biden predicts a struggle between democracies and their opponents, Beijing is eager to champion the other side.

President Biden wants to forge an “alliance of democracies.” China wants to make clear that it has alliances of its own.

Only days after a rancorous encounter with American officials in Alaska, China’s foreign minister joined his Russian counterpart last week to denounce Western meddling and sanctions.

He then headed to the Middle East to visit traditional American allies, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as Iran, where he signed a sweeping investment agreement on Saturday. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, reached out to Colombia one day and pledged support for North Korea on another.

Although officials denied the timing was intentional, the message clearly was. China hopes to position itself as the main challenger to an international order, led by the United States, that is generally guided by principles of democracy, respect for human rights and adherence to rule of law. » | Steven Lee Myers | Monday, March 29, 2021

The 'Firm' Strikes Back: Inside Royal Reaction to Meghan and Harry Interview | 60 Minutes Australia

No More Tax Breaks for Billionaires

Does anyone out there honestly believe that the answer to growing income and wealth inequality is to give more tax breaks to billionaires? That is absurd.

Brexit Is a Catastrophic Mistake and the Government Knows It

After just three months Brexit is clearly a disaster. Fishing, farming, food production, SME’s trying to supply the EU and those in the performing arts all experiencing the disastrous consequences of the madness that is Brexit. Our borders are open, imports flood in whilst exports are blocked. The government knows it is a disaster but have no idea what to do. Anger is increasing throughout the population and social unrest seems almost inevitable

Why Jews Don't Accept Jesus as the Messiah

Rabbi Eliezer Sneiderman discusses the various reasons why Jews don’t accept Jesus as the Messiah.

Why Does Jewish Law Prohibit Cremation?

Why does Judaism care what happens to the body after death. Rabbis Yossi New Yitzchak Schochet & Mrs. Rivkah Slonim answer this important question.

What Is God?

Dr. Birx Drops Bombshell about US Covid-19 Deaths

Dr. Deborah Birx, the coronavirus task force coordinator until former President Donald Trump, revealed in an interview with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta that the number of coronavirus deaths could have been "decreased substantially" if cities and states across the country had aggressively applied the lessons of the first surge toward mitigation last spring, potentially preventing the surges that followed.

"I look at it this way. The first time we have an excuse," Birx said. "There were about a hundred thousand deaths that came from that original surge. All of the rest of them, in my mind, could have been mitigated or decreased substantially." #DrSanjayGupta #CNN #Newday

Peter Jennings Reporting: How to Get Fat without Really Trying

First aired December 8, 2003 on ABC

Obesity is fast on its way to becoming the nation’s largest and most costly public health problem. While much of the public debate about obesity has focused on personal responsibility, Peter Jennings Reporting – How To Get Fat Without Really Trying reveals how federal government agricultural policies and food industry practices are contributing to America’s growing obesity epidemic.

In this program, Jennings demonstrates for the first time how more federal agricultural subsidies are going to foods Americans should be eating less, while few subsidies go to foods we should be eating more. Jennings investigates the type of food products the packaged food industry introduces each year and finds that the vast majority of new food products are those that dietary guidelines say Americans should be eating least.

Jennings also takes a bold look at the marketing of unhealthy food to children. Studies reveal that young children are not capable of understanding the intent of advertising and Jennings questions the ethics of such marketing, raising the question: should children be protected from junk food marketing – despite the economic impact that might have on food companies and broadcast networks?

Within days of this documentary airing, schools across the country requested copies for use in their classrooms. Nutrition scholars are re-directing their research to examine the relationship of agricultural subsidies to the obesity epidemic. The Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission has indicated that food marketing is an area in which the agency will become more involved. And California legislators scheduled a screening of the program as they were considering restrictions on marketing of junk food to children.

If God Created the Universe, Who Created Him?

Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz answers the classic questions: 'If all things have a creator, then who created God?'

Proof That God Exists In 4 Minutes!

The real question should be, how do you answer such a question in 4 minutes?

Returning to the 3 aspects: creation, revelation and redemption, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks OBM answers this important question with references to modern day philosophers and great societies built by people deeply influenced by the Hebrew Bible.

Abraham who lived close to 4000 years ago, with no army and no empires, but with lessons so pure, true and eternally valid, that his effect has influenced every culture since.

This video should not be missed.


Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks dies of cancer at 72 » | JC Reporter | Saturday, November 7, 2020

Indonesia: Suicide Bombers Attack Church after Palm Sunday Mass | DW News

At least 20 people have been injured in a suicide bombing outside a Catholic cathedral in the Indonesian city of Makassar. Authorities say two bombers were killed in the attack. Churches have been targeted in Indonesia in the past by Islamic extremists. Pope Francis said he would pray for the victims, who were attending Palm Sunday Mass.

The beginning of Easter week is a holy time for Christians. But in Makassar the celebrations were marred by violence. As worshippers were leaving Sunday Mass, two suspected suicide bombers set off explosions outside the Indonesian city's main Catholic cathedral. One of them was said to be a woman.

President Joko Widodo called for calm, saying his government would ensure people of all faiths can worship without fear. Places of worship in Indonesia have been targeted before. Police are investigating if this attack is linked to religious extremism.

The majority Muslim country has a history of Islamist attacks. Indonesia has been on high alert in recent months following the arrest of the prominent leader of an extremist group. Counterterrorism squads have arrested dozens of suspects across the country, including in Makassar.

Communities of Hate: Why People Join Extremist Movements

The recent attack on the US Capitol and our democracy remind us of the ever-present dangers of hatred and propaganda. Join us for a discussion about how, 75 years after the Holocaust, white supremacist and other hate groups continue to exploit racism, conspiracy theories, and antisemitic lies. Speakers: Arie Kruglanski, Holocaust Survivor, Terrorism Expert, and Psychology Professor, University of Maryland Patricia Heberer Rice, Senior Historian, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Moderator: Edna Friedberg, Historian, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

How Did Young Americans Respond to the Nazi Threat

While growing up in a time of racial segregation and the Great Depression, some young Americans looked beyond the struggles of their own nation to respond to the Nazi threat in Europe.

Why Yasmine Mohammed Left Islam

Yasmine Mohammed is a Canadian former Muslim and an outspoken critic of Islam, the hijab, and the oppression of women. She has written a book called ‘Unveiled’.

On Smoking: Mark Littlewood in Conversation with Simon Clark

On 16th May 2019, to mark the 40th anniversary of the smokers' group FOREST (Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco), Mark Littlewood, director-general of the Institute of Economic Affairs, spoke to Forest director Simon Clark.

How Americans Got Sold on Cigarettes

Mein Kampf: The Secrets of Adolf Hitler's Book of Evil | Free Documentary Nature

Today Adolf Hitler’s autobiography cum Nazi manifesto is still sold all over the world, under the counter, on the internet or simply at the bookshop. This 700 page book, published in 1925, was re-edited numerous times since the death of the author. How was it written? Was Hitler really the author? Were the war and the Holocaust truly inscribed in its pages? This documentary plunges deep into the secrets of Mein Kampf. A simple book of paradoxes: famous but unknown, fascinating and repulsive.

A Collapse Foretold: How Brazil’s Covid-19 Outbreak Overwhelmed Hospitals

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The virus has killed more than 300,000 people in Brazil, its spread aided by a highly contagious variant, political infighting and distrust of science.

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil — The patients began arriving at hospitals in Porto Alegre far sicker and younger than before. Funeral homes were experiencing a steady uptick in business, while exhausted doctors and nurses pleaded in February for a lockdown to save lives.

But Sebastião Melo, Porto Alegre’s mayor, argued there was a greater imperative.

“Put your life on the line so that we can save the economy,” Mr. Melo appealed to his constituents in late February.

Now Porto Alegre, a prosperous city in southern Brazil, is at the heart of an stunning breakdown of the country’s health care system — a crisis foretold.

More than a year into the pandemic, deaths in Brazil are at their peak and highly contagious variants of the coronavirus are sweeping the nation, enabled by political dysfunction, widespread complacency and conspiracy theories. The country, whose leader, President Jair Bolsonaro, has played down the threat of the virus, is now reporting more new cases and deaths per day than any other country in the world. » | Ernesto Londoño and Letícia Casado | Saturday, March 27, 2021

Yasmine Mohammed | Spirituality | Rubin Report

Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report talks to Yasmine Mohammed (Author and Activist) about Ex Muslims, being married to someone in Al Qaeda, Islamists, the Hijab, Linda Sarsour, Sharia Law and more.

Dominion Voting Sues Fox News for $1.6bn over Election Fraud Claims

BBC: Dominion Voting Systems has filed a $1.6bn (£1.2bn) defamation lawsuit against Fox News, arguing it promoted baseless claims of vote-rigging.

Conservatives and Trump campaigners had claimed last year that the US company had altered its voting machines to deny re-election to Donald Trump.

The false claim of a stolen election was promoted by Mr Trump and helped fuel the 6 January attack on Congress.

Fox News said it would fight the "baseless lawsuit in court"

. The lawsuit argues that Fox News, which hosted guests touting anti-Dominion conspiracy theories during the 2020 election, "recklessly disregarded the truth" because "the lies were good for Fox's business".

"Fox News Media is proud of our 2020 election coverage, which stands in the highest tradition of American journalism, and we will vigorously defend against this baseless lawsuit in court," the media company said in its response. » | Friday, March 26, 2021

France Claims UK Will Struggle to Source Second Covid Jabs

THE GUARDIAN: EU will not be blackmailed over Oxford/AstraZeneca doses, says foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

Britain will struggle to source second Covid jabs for those who have already had their first dose but the EU will not be “blackmailed” into exporting vaccine to solve the problem, France’s foreign minister has claimed.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, a close political ally of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, claimed that the UK’s success had been built on driving forward with first jabs without having secured the second doses necessary for full vaccination.

The EU and the UK are locked in talks about the fate of Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs produced in a factory in the Netherlands.

In an interview with FranceInfo radio, Le Drian suggested that the EU should not have to lose out on the doses to help Britain with a problem of its own making. EU officials and top-rank politicians have repeatedly said they will block any export request by AstraZeneca.

“The UK is proud to have vaccinated many people with the first dose, but they will have a problem with the second dose,” Le Drian said. “And we are fully vaccinated with two doses, not one. Today we have the same number of fully vaccinated people in France and the United Kingdom. » | Daniel Boffey In Brussels | Friday, March 26, 2021

Markle for President?

BAHAMAS TRIBUNE – EDITORIAL: We are living in serious times. But what makes it worse is that certain persons who are in positions to influence public opinion are making a joke of our predicament – particularly in the United States, where it is now being suggested that Meghan Markle, who could not adapt to palace life in the UK, is now interested in running for president of the United States!

It is claimed that one of the reasons that she was not keen to give up her American citizenship when she married Prince Harry was that she wanted the option left open to her in case she could one day realise her dream to become the first female president of the United States! Just to think that she was not smart enough to get a thorough briefing before marrying Prince Harry as to what life would be like in the Palace and how much she would have to adapt to a new world – now she wants to aim for the stars? I refuse to believe that she could be this dumb. » | Editor, The Tribune | Monday, March 22, 2021

DOCU | You Don't Know Nicotine

Amidst radical changes in nicotine use globally, one filmmaker's journey through the confusion & fear leads to a startling discovery about Earth's most hated stimulant. Society may be changed forever.

Smokefree: A Better Britain?

Talking Liberties webinar, 10th March 2021: 'Smokefree: A Better Britain?', featuring Andrew Allison, campaigns director, The Freedom Association; Liz Barber, friend of Forest and confirmed smoker; Mark Oates, director, We Vape and the Snus Users Association; tobacco investment analyst Rae Maile; and Simon Hills, former associated editor of The Times Magazine and author 'Strictly No! How We're Being Overrun by the Nanny State'. Is a smoke free Britain achievable let alone desirable? Join the conversation. 73 minutes, including audience interaction.

Angela Merkel kippt Oster-Ruhe und entschuldigt sich

Es sei nur ihr Fehler gewesen, sagte die Kanzlerin Angela Merkel im Bundestag.

Dan Barker | God Does NOT Exist

Dan Barker gives his argument against the existence of God.

COVID-19: Germany Imposes Strict Lockdown over Easter | DW News

Germany is extending the current lockdown through to April 18, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Tuesday. The country will enter an even stricter lockdown from April 1 to April 5, over the Easter holiday period when shops, including grocery stores, will largely have to close. Merkel warned that Germany needed to "break the exponential growth of the third wave." Case numbers have reached levels that authorities say will overburden intensive care units.

Tuesday's announcement marks a reversal from earlier this month when state leaders agreed to begin a cautious reopening process.

Talks between leaders of Germany's 16 federal states and Merkel lasted until the early hours of the morning following a lengthy interruption.

What are the new measures?

As well as prolonging existing measures such as the closure of cultural, leisure and sporting facilities, tougher restrictions will apply over the Easter period.

- Churches will be asked to hold services marking the Christian festival online. - No more than five adults from two households will be able to meet over the five-day period. - Testing and vaccination centers can remain open. - Public gatherings will be prohibited. - Almost all shops will be shut during the five days. Only grocery stores may open on Saturday, April 3. - Anyone from Germany holidaying abroad will have to be tested before boarding a flight back to Germany. - The "emergency brake" will halt further re-openings and will apply to areas exceeding 100 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a seven-day period.

If an area has an incidence rate of over 100 for three consecutive days, harsher lockdown measures will once again apply.

Top Saudi Official Issued Death Threat against UN's Khashoggi Investigator

THE GUARDIAN: Senior official twice threatened to have Agnès Callamard ‘taken care of’ in meeting with UN colleagues in Geneva in January 2020

A senior Saudi official issued what was perceived to be a death threat against the independent United Nations investigator, Agnès Callamard, after her investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In an interview with the Guardian, the outgoing special rapporteur for extrajudicial killings said that a UN colleague alerted her in January 2020 that a senior Saudi official had twice threatened in a meeting with other senior UN officials in Geneva that month to have Callamard “taken care of” if she was not reined in by the UN.

Asked how the comment was perceived by her Geneva-based colleagues, Callamard said: “A death threat. That was how it was understood.” » | Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington | Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Prince Harry Joins $1bn Silicon Valley Startup as Senior Executive

THE GUARDIAN: Duke of Sussex’s first formal role since ending royal duties involves ‘meaty role’ as chief impact officer at BetterUp

Prince Harry has been given a job by a $1bn (£730m) Silicon Valley startup which provides professional coaching, mental health advice and “immersive learning” as its chief impact officer.

The Duke of Sussex said he hoped to be able to “create impact in people’s lives” by working with BetterUp to provide “proactive coaching” for personal development, increased awareness and “an all-round better life”.

It is the Duke’s first formal position at a private company since he stepped down from being a working member of the royal family a year ago.

Harry and his wife, Meghan, have also signed multimillion-dollar deals to provide content for Spotify and Netflix.

As chief impact officer at BetterUp Prince Harry will be expected to help with product strategy decisions, charitable collaborations, and advise on topics related to mental health. Harry has already worked closely with mental health charities. » | Rupert Neate | Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Northern Ireland’s Brexit Act | DW Documentary (November 2020)

The coming months could be a real stress test for Northern Ireland. Though legally it has left the European Union, Northern Ireland will still be subject to many EU laws and regulations. Officially part of the UK but in many ways still in the EU.

What could this new role mean for a country that has struggled for decades to secure lasting peace, stability and economic success? The new situation could reignite old questions about Northern Ireland’s identity. There are currently no border controls on the island of Ireland. Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland which remains a member of the EU have a completely open border, with freedom of travel, trade and a shared electricity grid. And that is supposed to remain unchanged in spite of Brexit, in order not to jeopardize the Good Friday Agreement and the hard-fought peace that has been achieved on the island.

Northern Ireland will effectively remain in the European Single Market, with the customs border officially in the Irish Sea. This poses a huge challenge for port authorities and haulage companies, because that customs border will effectively split Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom. The port will be required to carry out customs checks for goods coming from Britain to Northern Ireland. Haulage contractors will have to fill out customs declarations although it’s actually domestic trade.

On the other hand, some companies - like one sports clothing manufacturer in Belfast - are happy to be able to continue trading closely with the Republic of Ireland and the rest of the EU, despite Brexit. But it’s clear, businesses will have to realign and many fear they will be forced to decide whether to trade with the EU or the rest of the UK.

And that turns Northern Ireland’s special status into a political issue. Could it drive a wedge between Northern Ireland and Britain, making closer ties with the Republic of Ireland seem more attractive? The Unionists, who attach great importance to Northern Ireland being part of the UK, are furious. They rejected all suggestion of a customs border in the Irish Sea right from the start, while the Republicans believe this process will inevitably work in their favor, leading ultimately to the reunification of Ireland. So how is all this affecting ordinary people in the cities of Belfast and Londonderry, who continue to live with the high barriers that separate predominately Unionist neighborhoods from Republican ones?

Rare Ancient Scroll Found in Israel Cave of Horror - BBC News

Fragments of a Biblical scroll and other relics have been found in what officials call an "historic discovery" in desert caves in Israel.

The dozens of pieces of parchment were written in Greek, with just the name of God appearing in Hebrew. The scroll is believed to have belonged to Jewish rebels who fled to the hills following a failed revolt against Roman rule in the 2nd Century.

They were found during an operation to prevent caves in the area being looted.

Covid: Germany Warns of 'Exponential' Rise in Coronavirus Cases

BBC: Coronavirus cases are rising exponentially in Germany, officials warn, as continental Europe braces for a third wave of infections.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was likely that the country would now need to apply an "emergency brake" and re-impose lockdown measures.

France, Poland and other nations are also reintroducing restrictions.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn has said that Europe lacks the vaccines needed to significantly reduce cases.

"We have to be honest about the situation - in Europe we don't have enough vaccines to stop a third wave through vaccinations alone," he told reporters. » | Friday, March 19, 2021

UK Furlough Scheme Pays Out Millions to Foreign States and Tax Exiles

THE GUARDIAN: Qatari owners of Harrods and the Ritz claimed £3m alongside payouts to Saudi royals and British National party from Covid job support scheme

Billionaire tax exiles, the British National party, Saudi royals and oil-rich Gulf states have claimed millions of pounds in taxpayer-funded furlough money, the Guardian can disclose.

The revelations, based on analysis of government information, have sparked dismay among MPs at the use of a scheme designed to support struggling businesses and prevent mass unemployment, with one complaining of public money being scattered “like confetti”.

Beneficiaries behind companies that have drawn on the coronavirus job retention scheme include:

• Members of the Saudi royal family

• Qataris behind Harrods and the Ritz

• The ruler of Dubai

• Tax exiles Jim Ratcliffe and Guy Hands

• Billionaires Evgeny Lebedev, Len Blavatnik and Mohamed Al Fayed

• The British National party » | Rob Davies and Joseph Smith | Friday, March 19, 2021

The foreign royals and billionaire tax exiles collecting UK's furlough millions »

'Takes One to Know One': Putin-Biden Spat Escalates after 'Killer' Accusation

THE GUARDIAN: Officials in Moscow go on offensive after Biden said Russian president would pay price for election meddling

Vladimir Putin has told Joe Biden that “it takes one to know one”, as Kremlin officials promised reprisals if the US president does not apologise for describing his Russian counterpart as a “killer”.

In an escalating diplomatic spat, Russian officials described Biden as “demented and hysterical” after he agreed during a TV interview that Putin had orchestrated murders and said Putin would soon “pay a price” for alleged election meddling.

On Wednesday Moscow recalled its ambassador to Washington in protest at the interview, and on Thursday officials went on the offensive.

Relations had already been pushed to new lows after Washington imposed sanctions over the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and declassified an intelligence report stating that Putin directed interference in the 2020 US presidential election. » | Theo Merz in Moscow | Thursday, March 18, 2021

Russia Erupts in Fury Over Biden’s Calling Putin a Killer »

Russia Recalls US Ambassador after Biden's 'Killer' Comment | DW News

Joe Biden is facing what could be the first major diplomatic crisis of his presidency. Moscow has recalled its ambassador to the US for consultations after Biden confirmed he thought Russian president Putin was 'a killer.' The US president was speaking in an exclusive interview with ABC Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos. He also promised to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for meddling in the US elections and said Russia will soon 'pay a price.' Biden's strong words follow a US intelligence report on foreign interference in last November's elections. The report says Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a campaign of misinformation aimed at sowing discord among voters. Moscow has denied any involvement, just as it has also denied meddling in the 2016 vote which saw the election of Donald Trump.

All NHS and Care Staff in Wales to Get £735 One-off Bonus

WALES ONLINE: It is estimated the payment will benefit 221,945 people in Wales

NHS and social care staff are set to be given a bonus in their next pay packet to recognise their "extraordinary contribution" during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Welsh Government has confirmed that the one-off payment is equivalent to £735 per person to cover the basic rate of tax and national insurance contributions incurred. After deductions most people will receive £500.

It is estimated the payment will benefit 221,945 people in Wales including 103,600 social care staff, 90,000 NHS Wales staff, 2,345 deployed students and 26,000 primary care staff (including pharmacy, GP, dental and optometry staff). » | Mark Smith, Health correspondent | Wednesday, March 17, 2021

The Brexit Deal Was Astonishingly Bad, and Every Day the Evidence Piles Up

THE GUARDIAN: Trade has plummeted and red tape has blocked our borders. Is that what ‘protecting our sovereignty’ meant?

Now we know that British exports to the European Union plummeted by a cataclysmic 41% after Brexit on 1 January, what next? This is not the “slow puncture” predicted, but a big bang. Yet so far, it registers little on the political Richter scale.

It should shake the government to the core, but voters are well protected from this unwelcome news by our largely pro-Brexit press. Nor does BBC news, under Brexiteer mortar fire, dare do enough to rebalance the misinformation. Saturday’s Financial Times splashed that killer trade figure on its front page, but the Daily Express splashed “Flying start for US trade deal”. There is no “flying start”. Meanwhile, an EU legal action against Boris Johnson is starting this week, for his reneging on the Northern Ireland protocol and thereby imperilling the Good Friday peace agreement.

The Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Express and Daily Telegraph barely cover the EU trade fiascos, says Dr Andrew Jones, part of an Exeter University team monitoring Brexit media stories since the referendum. Currently, Jones says, those papers’ main Brexit story is Britain’s triumph over the EU on vaccines. That trope always omits the fact the UK could have purchased the same volume while in the EU, but it has become the Brexiters’ clinching case. » | Polly Toynbee | Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Ghada - The Toxic Modesty of the Hijab

Alexei Navalny Moved to ‘Concentration Camp’ Known for Strict Control

THE GUARDIAN: Kremlin critic reveals on Instagram he has arrived in penal colony north-east of Moscow and has a ‘freshly shaven head’

The Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is being held in a prison camp in the Vladimir region of Russia north-east of Moscow known for its strict control of inmates, a message posted on the opposition politician’s Instagram account confirmed on Monday. » | Staff and agencies in Moscow | Monday, March 15, 2021

In The News: Conversions to Judaism in Israel

Israel's Supreme Court recognized Reform and Conservative conversions carried out in Israel. Hence, such converts will be considered Jews for citizenship purposes, under Israel’s Law of Return. Journalist Ben-Dror Yemini discusses the decision's background and implications. With Shahar Azani.

”Awesome Without Allah” – Seth Andrews

"I was able to generate my own sense of purpose instead of having my life spoon-fed to me." For Seth Andrews, between the safety of the “religious cocoon” and the “goodness, love and beauty” he discovered upon leaving it?

Third Covid Wave Sweeps across EU and Forces New Restrictions

THE OBSERVER: New variants blamed as Italy, France, Germany and Poland see infection rates surge

A third wave of the Covid pandemic is now advancing swiftly across much of Europe. As a result, many nations – bogged down by sluggish vaccination campaigns – are witnessing sharp rises in infection rates and numbers of cases.

The infection rate in the EU is now at its highest level since the beginning of February, with the spread of new variants of the Covid-19 virus being blamed for much of the recent increase.

Several countries are now set to impose strict new lockdown measures in the next few days – in contrast to the UK, which is beginning to emerge slowly from its current bout of shop and school closures and sports bans.

In Italy, authorities recorded more than 27,000 new cases and 380 deaths on Friday. “More than a year after the start of the health emergency, we are unfortunately facing a new wave of infections,” said prime minister Mario Draghi. “The memory of what happened last spring is vivid, and we will do everything to prevent it from happening again.”

From Monday most of Italy will be placed under lockdown and people will only be allowed to leave their homes for essential errands. Most shops will be closed, along with bars and restaurants. » | Sunday, March 14, 2021

Cross-dressing among Nazi-era German Wehrmacht Soldiers | DW Feature

Homosexuality was a crime in Nazi Germany. Still, artist Martin Dammann found so many Nazi-era photos of Wehrmacht soldiers in drag that he published an entire book of them. What do the photos tell us about sexuality in the Wehrmacht? Why was cross-dressing so prevalent among Nazi-era soldiers?

Live on Live - Saudi Author in Exile, Rana Ahmad

RFI's Sarah Elzas talks to activist and author Rana Ahmad about her childhood in Saudi Arabia, why she fled - and what life's like as an athiest in Germany. Ahmad's first book, "Women Aren’t Allowed to Dream Here" has been published in both German and French.

Harry et Meghan ébranlent Buckingham

LE MONDE – ÉDITORIAL: Bien au-delà du psychodrame familial, le couple princier lance un redoutable défi institutionnel à la monarchie britannique, en envoyant une flèche empoisonnée aux deux successeurs potentiels de la reine Elizabeth.

Editorial du « Monde ». Difficile pour les citoyens d’une République de saisir la véritable nature de la monarchie britannique. Une survivance anachronique ? Une extravagance inutile et coûteuse ? Un « business » familial ? Un symbole d’unité nationale et un lien avec l’histoire longue chers aux Britanniques ? Un peu de tout cela en réalité.

Si l’interview explosive donnée par le prince Harry et son épouse Meghan Markle a suscité des audiences record, si elle alimente les conversations, c’est non seulement par l’intérêt très humain que suscite un tel déballage de (beau) linge sale familial, par le dérivatif qu’il constitue en pleine crise sanitaire et sociale, mais aussi parce que la monarchie britannique, instrument central du soft powerbritannique, s’en trouve affaiblie. » | Le Monde | jeudi 11 mars 2021

Amazon to Stop Selling Books That Frame LGBTQ+ Identities as Mental Illness

THE GUARDIAN: Retail giant announces decision in letter to Republican US senators about removal of book by conservative academic

Amazon will no longer sell books that frame gay, lesbian, transgender and other sexual identities as a mental illness.

The company made the announcement public in a letter sent to Republican senators who had asked why Amazon had stopped selling When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment, a book by the conservative academic Ryan Anderson, best known for his opposition to same-sex marriage.

In the letter, first obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Amazon writes: “As a bookseller, we provide our customers with access to a variety of viewpoints, including books that some customers may find objectionable.

“That said, we reserve the right not to sell certain content. All retailers make decisions about what selection they choose to offer, as do we. As to your specific question about When Harry Became Sally, we have chosen not to sell books that frame LGBTQ+ identity as a mental illness.”

The letter came in response to criticism from the rightwing senators Marco Rubio, Mike Lee, Mike Braun and Josh Hawley who wrote to the Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, criticizing the book’s removal and calling it a signal “to conservative Americans that their views are not welcome on its platforms”. » | Dominic Rushe | Friday, March 12, 2021

What Did the Pope Know about the Holocaust? | DW Documentary

The Vatican opened once-secret records on Pope Pius XII on March 2020. This gave researchers a brand new insight into the Catholic Church during the Nazi era. What did the Pope know about the Holocaust?

Pius XII, born Eugenio Pacelli, is one of the most controversial figures in recent church history. New archive material sheds light on his career and politics. As ambassador of the Holy See in Germany and Cardinal Secretary of State of the Vatican, Pacelli witnessed Hitler’s rise to power. He was elected Pope in 1939, just months before the start of World War II. But what role did he play during the Holocaust? Many accuse him of shirking his responsibilities; of complicit silence while minorities were murdered, especially the Jewish.

Just days after the archives opened, church historian Hubert Wolf discovered a document describing the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto. Pope Pius XII read the paper on 27 September 1942, but its contents were never published. Nor were the notes in the margins by members of the Secretariat of State. But the Vatican claimed for decades that nothing was kept from the public.

Defenders of Pius XII say he acted in secret to save the lives of many Jews. Thousands were hidden in church institutions, and the Roman Curia helped them to escape abroad. But the credibility of the Roman Curia during the Holocaust is now at stake, with many still unanswered questions. Why did Pius XII not join the Allies’ protest in December 1942 against the extermination of the Jews?

Piers Morgan Speaks to Journalists about Meghan Row and Good Morning Britain (GMB) Exit

A day after leaving his job at Good Morning Britain, Piers Morgan said the Duchess of Sussex's interview with Oprah Winfrey was a 'diatribe of bilge' and that he doesn't 'believe almost anything that comes out of her mouth'. Morgan came under fire after making critical remarks about the Duchess of Sussex’s mental health, prompting an on-air row with a colleague and more than 40,000 complaints to Ofcom. During the interview, Meghan said her mental health had deteriorated while she was pregnant amid a barrage of negative and racist press coverage and alleged a lack of support from 'the firm' – the apparatus surrounding the royal household

Switzerland to Ban Wearing of Burqa and Niqab in Public Places

THE GUARDIAN: Muslim groups criticise move, which they say will further stigmatise and marginalise their community

Switzerland will follow France, Belgium and Austria after narrowly voting in a referendum to ban women from wearing the burqa or niqab in public spaces.

Just over 51% of Swiss voters cast their ballots in favour of the initiative to ban people from covering their face completely on the street, in shops and restaurants.

Full facial veils will still be allowed to be worn inside places of prayer and for “native customs”, such as carnival.

Face coverings worn for health and safety reasons are also exempt from the ban, meaning face masks worn because of the Covid-19 pandemic will not be affected by the new law. » | Philip Oltermann in Berlin | Sunday, March 7, 2021

Queen Hails Togetherness in Commonwealth Day Address

Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday praised the 'courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty' of frontline healthcare and public service workers across the Commonwealth in their response to the pandemic. The broadcast replaces the annual service at Westminster Abbey, which was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, and comes hours before the airing of a two-hour special hosted by Oprah Winfrey in which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to tell the story behind their tumultuous departure from royal duties. Harry and Meghan stir public debate ahead of Oprah interview

Global Homophobia – The Roots of Hatred | DW Documentary

This hard-hitting documentary reveals the abuse suffered by the gay community all over the world. France, despite having legalized gay marriage in 2013, has seen a rise in homophobic violence in recent years.

In Tunisia, gay people can be sentenced to three years in prison, simply for their sexual orientation. When arrested by the police, they are subject to an "anal examination," a humiliating procedure of no scientific value. Uganda is one of the 27 sub-Saharan countries in which homosexuality is suppressed, with active government encouragement of homophobia, and where homosexuality is punishable by life imprisonment.

In the United States, more progressive laws have not translated into progressive attitudes. In a desperate attempt to change their sexual orientation, around 700,000 Americans have visited therapists who claim to be able to "transform any homosexual into a heterosexual."

The Observer View on Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince

THE OBSERVER: How can the west continue to do business with the man who approved Jamal Khashoggi’s murder?

As details emerged of the gruesome 2018 murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul of the exiled dissident and journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, most observers became convinced it could not have happened without the approval of the all-powerful Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. The US intelligence report, published last week, definitively supports that conclusion.

Joe Biden is to be commended for making the CIA’s findings public after they were blocked by Donald Trump. The US sanctions imposed on Saudi government employees involved in the killing, and new measures to curb foreign agents who harass dissidents abroad, are welcome. But Biden’s too-pragmatic decision not to penalise Salman himself, the plot’s ringleader, and, in effect, let him off the hook, is dismaying.

The reasoning behind this shabby act of realpolitik is obvious enough. Saudi Arabia is an important western ally. Its cooperation is needed if Iran’s destabilising regional activities and nuclear programme are to be curbed. Hopes that Riyadh will follow the UAE and Bahrain in normalising ties with Israel are a factor, too. Saudi Arabia remains a key energy producer. And the crown prince, 35, is likely to lead the country for decades to come. » | Observer editorial | Sunday, February 28, 2021

Justin Welby Condemns Nigerian Archbishop's Gay 'Virus' Comments

THE GUARDIAN: Archbishop of Canterbury says Henry Ndukuba’s comments that homosexuality should be ‘expunged’ are unacceptable

The archbishop of Canterbury has issued a rare public condemnation of a fellow Anglican primate who described homosexuality as a “deadly virus” which should be “radically expunged and excised”.

Justin Welby, who is the leader of the global Anglican church, said the comments made by Henry Ndukuba, the archbishop of Nigeria, were unacceptable and dehumanising.

His criticism was endorsed by senior Church of England colleagues, including Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, and Sarah Mullally, the bishop of London.

In response to a statement on the pastoral care of gay people issued by the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) in January, Ndukuba said: “The deadly ‘virus’ of homosexuality has infiltrated ACNA. This is likened to a yeast that should be urgently and radically expunged and excised lest it affects the whole dough.” » | Harriet Sherwood | Saturday, March 6, 2021

Buckingham Palace Opens Investigation into Duchess Meghan Bullying Allegations l Good Morning America (GMA)

Plus, ABC News royal contributor Robert Jobson discusses the timing of Buckingham Palace’s statement ahead of Harry and Meghan’s Oprah Winfrey interview.

Whitney Houston - Hold Me

Winston Churchill - Zurich Speech - "United States of Europe" - September 1946

Speech of Winston Churchill - United States of Europe Zurich, 19th September 1946

The words of a great man! “Let Europe arise!” Are you listening, Boris? – ©Mark

Eating Meat 'Raises Risk of Heart Disease, Diabetes and Pneumonia'

THE GUARDIAN: UK researchers find link between regular meat intake and nine non-cancerous illnesses

Eating meat regularly increases someone’s risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, pneumonia and other serious illnesses, research has found.

It is already known that intake of red and processed meat heightens the risk of being diagnosed with bowel cancer. But these findings are the first to assess whether meat consumption is linked to any of the 25 non-cancerous illnesses that most commonly lead to people being admitted to hospital in the UK.

The academics from Oxford University who have published the study found that consumption of red meat, processed meat and poultry meat such as chicken and turkey, either alone or together, at least three times a week was linked to a greater risk of nine different illnesses. » | Denis Campbell, Health policy editor | Tuesday, March 2, 2021

If you believe this, you’ll believe anything! How can the consumption of meat or poultry possibly lead to diabetes, still less pneumonia? In German, the original word for diabetes is Zuckerkrankheit, or sugar illness or disease. The original word for pneumonia in German is Lungenentzünding, or inflammation of the lungs. How can the consumption of meat and poultry possibly lead to these illnesses? This is total nonsense! It is a perfect example of fake news! – ©Mark