Bitcoin Price Surges to Record High of More Than $68,000

THE GUARDIAN: Other cryptocurrencies such as ethereum also reach records as investors hedge against inflation

Bitcoin’s price is predicted to rise further in the coming weeks. Photograph: Hollandse Hoogte/Rex/Shutterstock
The bitcoin price has reached a new record high, breaking through $68,000 (£50,000), and analysts predict that the world’s best-known cryptocurrency will rise further in the coming weeks.

This beats the previous record high set in late October, when bitcoin reached nearly $67,700 before falling back again when investors discovered a new cryptocurrency, shiba inu. Other cryptocurrencies have also risen to record highs, such as ethereum, which soared to $4,837.

Bitcoin has always been volatile but remains the world’s largest digital currency, with a market value of more than $1.1tn. Five years ago, a single bitcoin was worth about $700. Investors are buying it because they are worried about rising inflation – as an alternative to gold, a traditional inflation hedge – and as bond yields are falling. » | Julia Kollewe | Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Poland-Belarus Border Tensions Intensify | DW News

Nov 9, 2021 • Polish officials closed the crossing with Belarus at the border town of Kuznica on Tuesday morning, a day after thousands of migrants arrived in the area. Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki described the incident as a "hybrid attack" conducted by the regime of Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko. "Sealing the Polish border is our national interest. But today the stability and security of the entire EU is at stake," Morawiecki wrote on Twitter. "We will not be intimidated and will defend peace in Europe with our partners from NATO and EU." Belarus denied the Polish accusations, labeling them as "unfounded and unsubstantiated," and claimed Warsaw was deliberately escalating tensions.

Hundreds of migrants are believed to still be near the border on Tuesday, with videos showing tents and fireplaces on the Belarusian side. The Polish Interior Ministry said the night was quiet, save for a rock being thrown at a police car. Videos from the scene on Monday showed a large group of migrants attempting to breach the border. Polish border guards and military claim Belarus troops were controlling and directing the group. Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller told reporters that another 3,000 to 4,000 migrants were massing in the area. "We expect that there may be an escalation of this type of action on the Polish border in the near future, which will be of an armed nature," he added.



Related.

Weissrussland: Lukaschenko schickt Migranten-Gruppe zur EU-Aussengrenze, Polen reagiert mit einer Schliessung der Grenze: Als Reaktion auf Sanktionen der EU ermuntert Lukaschenko Migranten, über Weissrussland die EU-Aussengrenze zu passieren. EU-Staaten mit einer Grenze zu Weissrussland regieren mit dem Ausnahmezustand und Grenzschliessungen. »

Migrants à la frontière Biélorussie-Pologne : Poutine et Loukachenko se sont téléphoné »

Sharing the Love Is Good Wherever You Are! On Dry Land, in the Water, or in the Air!

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Die Liebe zu teilen ist gut, wo immer Sie sind! Auf dem Trockenen, im Wasser oder in der Luft! / Partager l'amour est bon où que vous soyez ! Sur la terre ferme, dans l'eau ou dans les airs !

Alexander Meadows | I'm From Miami, FL | True Gay Stories (2009)

Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey - When You Believe | Official HD Video

Views on YouTube: 348,831,849

Poland Warns of ‘Armed’ Attempts on Its Border as Germany Urges EU to Act

THE GUARDIAN: Poland says thousands more migrants are waiting near Belarusian border, and German minister says Warsaw and Berlin ‘can’t handle this alone’

Migrants gather on the Belarusian-Polish border Photograph: Leonid Shcheglov/BelTA/TASS
Poland has warned of an “armed” escalation of conflict involving migrants massed near the border with Belarus, as the global community reacted to the latest grim chapter in Europe’s migrant crisis.

Having blocked hundreds of people from entering the country, Polish government spokesperson Piotr Muller said a further 3,000 to 4,000 migrants were gathering near the border. “We expect that there may be an escalation of this type of action on the Polish border in the near future, which will be of an armed nature,” he said.

Poland and other EU countries have accused Belarus of trying to provoke a new refugee crisis in Europe in revenge for their criticism of Alexander Lukashenko’s brutal crackdown on opposition. The situation has been simmering for months and worsened on Monday when Belarus authorities escorted an estimated 1,000 people to the Polish border. With video » | Andrew Roth in Moscow with agencies | Tuesday, November 9, 2021

„Lasst uns unseren Blick nicht von der Tragödie abwenden!“ »

„Das können Polen oder Deutschland nicht allein bewältigen“: Bundesinnenminister Horst Seehofer fordert die EU-Kommission auf, Polen bei der Sicherung der Außengrenze zu unterstützen. Die Regierung in Warschau hatte zuvor die Ankunft tausender Migranten gemeldet. »

‘Unacceptable’: Outrage as Air Canada Chief Gives Quebec Speech in English

THE GUARDIAN: Michael Rousseau’s decision not to speak French in Quebec address inflames longstanding grievances over linguistic rights

The head of Canada’s largest airline is facing public outrage and calls for his resignation after giving a speech in English to business leaders in Quebec – a misstep that has inflamed longstanding grievances over linguistic rights and protections in the country’s lone Francophone province.

The row began last week, when in his first major public appearance as head of Air Canada, Michael Rousseau chose to address the city’s chamber of commerce without speaking French.

Rousseau’s gaffe comes as the Quebec government attempts to dramatically strengthen protections for the French language amid fears English is overtaking it, especially in large cities. » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Monday, November 8, 2021

Géorgie : l'ex-président Saakachvili dit être maltraité en prison, craint pour sa vie

LE FIGARO : L'ex-président géorgien emprisonné Mikheïl Saakachvili, en grève de la faim depuis plusieurs semaines, a affirmé lundi 8novembre craindre pour sa vie après avoir été maltraité physiquement par ses gardiens. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | lundi 8 novembre 2021

La France, terre de liberté pour les LGBT Arabes

Nov 29, 2019 • À Marseille, un imam franco-algérien bénit des unions de couples du même sexe, bien souvent des fidèles d'origine arabe voulant concilier identité sexuelle et foi. À Paris, un couple d'hommes libanais s'apprêtent à se marier dans l'Hexagone, loin des interdits de leur pays d'origine. Depuis la légalisation du mariage pour tous en 2013, la France représente un espoir pour ces couples LGBT originaires des pays arabes.

The French Have a New Donald Trump in Eric Zemmour, the Far-right Firebrand

VANITY FAIR: A onetime fixture of an ultraconservative TV network, the would-be candidate is stoking fear and loathing across France.

A screenshot from the photo accompanying the article.
A media star with no political experience throws his hat into the ring and soars in the presidential polls. Hurling crude insults at his critics, bashing the elites, vilifying the press, and lavishing praise upon Russia, he rides a wave of populist anger, fear, and xenophobia as he promises to restore his demoralized country to its former glory. No wonder many pundits are calling Eric Zemmour the French Donald Trump. Zemmour, 63, who aides say is about to announce his candidacy, freely acknowledges Trump’s rise to power as a blueprint for his own potential run. He even modeled the cover of his latest book, France Has Not Said Its Final Word, on Trump’s 2015 manifesto, Great Again.Both men pose like patriotic saviors in front of their national flag. Both men have been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. (Zemmour has declined to respond to the allegations.)

Beyond the obvious similarities, however, the differences between Trump and Zemmour are substantial. Trump is an uncultivated vulgarian. Zemmour, in contrast, is an articulate, well-read intellectual whose speeches are peppered with literary and historical references. Trump succeeded by taking over the Republican Party; Zemmour, who belongs to no party, is scrambling to improvise a movement of his own. With his height, girth, and outlandish coiffure, Trump is physically imposing; Zemmour is balding, of modest stature and slight build, with a reedy voice—the kind of guy Trump would make fun of if he were in the opposing camp.

Perhaps the main thing the two men share is their status as outsiders that no one took seriously until they began to get traction in national polls. In Zemmour’s case, the rise has been meteoric: Credited in June with a 5.5% share of the theoretical vote, he has more than tripled that margin and now has a serious chance of facing off against President Emmanuel Macron in the runoff of France’s two-round election next April. Until recently, conventional wisdom had pointed to a replay of the 2017 matchup between Macron and Marine Le Pen, of the far-right anti-immigrant National Rally (R.N.) party, who has been trying to moderate her image. But by outflanking her on the radical right—and relentlessly insisting that “Marine can’t win”—Zemmour could lure a substantial number of Le Pen’s 2017 voters to his camp. » | Tom Sancton | Monday, November 8, 2021

Allah weiß, daß ich schwul bin | Homosexuelles Leben für Muslime in Deutschland | Reportage

Mar 1, 2021 • Schwul zu sein, ist in vielen muslimischen Ländern noch ein großes Problem. Die Betroffenen müssen ihre sexuelle Neigung oft verborgen halten. Wird sie von anderen entdeckt, kann es sogar gefährlich werden.

Der Film begleitet den Libanesen Hadi, der nach Deutschland geflohen ist, weil er von seiner eigenen Familie gedemütigt und mit dem Tode bedroht wurde. Nachdem sein Asylantrag in Berlin gewährt wurde, war er noch lange nicht sicher. Die Familie verfolgt ihn auch hier.

Weitere Informationen zur Sendung: rbburl.de/awdisb

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — November 8, 2021

«Sie warten, bis es stirbt oder etwas anfängt. Wenn nicht, muss ich mit einer Blutvergiftung rechnen»: Wut und Trauer in Polen nach dem Tod einer Frau, die keine Abtreibung erhalten durfte

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Ein Jahr nach der Einführung eines faktischen Verbots von Schwangerschaftsabbrüchen stehen die Ärzte unter Druck, Abtreibungen zu verweigern. Aber in der Bevölkerung verlieren die Fundamentalisten an Unterstützung.

Der Tod einer Frau nach der unterlassenen Abtreibung eines sterbenden Fötus hat in Polen am Wochenende Zehntausende auf die Strassen getrieben. In Dutzenden von Städten versammelten sich die Menschen unter dem Slogan «Keine Einzige mehr». Manche trugen das Porträt der ums Leben gekommenen Izabela S., andere entzündeten Kerzen oder marschierten mit den Symbolen des Frauenstreiks. » | Ivo Mijnssen, Wien | Montag, 8. November 2021

La tension monte au Sahara occidental

Les tensions se ravivent entre le Maroc et l’Algerie. RYAD KRAMDIFADEL SENNA/AFP
LE FIGARO : Le Maroc aurait tué trois Algériens sur ce territoire qui nourrit l’animosité entre les deux pays.

Nouveau cap dans l’escalade des tensions entre l’Algérie et le Maroc: mercredi 3 novembre, la présidence de la République algérienne a condamné dans un communiqué le «lâche assassinat» de trois de ses ressortissants, en accusant «les forces d’occupation marocaines».

Les trois hommes, décrits comme des routiers assurant la liaison entre Nouakchott (en Mauritanie) et Ouargla (dans le Sud algérien) à bord de leurs camions de transport de marchandises, auraient, selon des médias proches du Front Polisario (mouvement indépendantiste du Sahara occidental) été tués par «des armes sophistiquées» - en clair, une frappe de drone - sur la route entre Ain Ben Tili, à l’extrême nord de la Mauritanie, et Bir Lalhlou, au Sahara occidental, territoire sur lequel le Maroc considère qu’il est souverain. Sur les réseaux sociaux, les images de deux poids lourds calcinés ont bien circulé, mais sans pouvoir être vérifiées de manière indépendante. » | Par Adam Arroudj | mercredi 3 novembre 2021

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Après neuf mois d'absence et de mystère, Charlène de Monaco est de retour sur le Rocher

La princesse Charlène de Monaco arrive à la cathédrale de Monaco (le 19 novembre 2020, Monte-Carlo.) | Getty Images
MADAME FIGARO : Le retour tant attendu d'Afrique du Sud. En effet, c’est ce lundi 8 novembre que la princesse Charlène a foulé la terre monégasque et a enfin retrouvé son époux, Albert II de Monaco et ses enfants, Jacques et Gabriella.

Le Rocher a enfin retrouvé Charlène de Monaco, absente depuis février dernier. C'est via le compte Instagram du palais princer que l'on a appris la nouvelle : on peut y voir trois clichés de la princesse, en compagnie de ses deux enfants Jacques et Gabriella, et de son époux, Albert II de Monaco. Dans une interview accordée au magazine Point de vue le 4 novembre, ce dernier s'était prononcé sur le retour de sa compagne, en mentionnant qu'elle reviendrait probablement avant la fête nationale monégasque, soit le 19 novembre. Un souhait qui s'est donc réalisé. » | Alice Mascher | lundi 8 novembre 2021

Dimitra’s Dishes : Kreatopita: Greek Beef & Phyllo Pie

Get the recipe here.

In Romania, Hard-Hit by Covid, Doctors Fight Vaccine Refusal

THE NEW YORK TIMES: An anti-vaccine clarion call by leading religious figures, echoed by prominent politicians and social media, helps explain why Romania now has the world’s highest Covid death rate.

The emergency unit of Bucharest University Hospital. Short of beds, the hospital erected a big treatment tent in the parking lot and turned the lobby into a new Covid ward. | Cristian Movila for The New York Times
COPACENI, Romania — As a new wave of the coronavirus pandemic crashed over Eastern Europe last month, devastating unvaccinated populations, an Orthodox Church bishop in southern Romania offered solace to his flock: “Don’t be fooled by what you see on TV — don’t be scared of Covid.”

Most important, Bishop Ambrose of Giurgiu told worshipers in this small Romanian town on Oct. 14, “don’t rush to get vaccinated.”

The bishop is now under criminal investigation by the police for spreading dangerous disinformation, but his anti-vaccine clarion call, echoed by prominent politicians, influential voices on the internet and many others, helps explain why Romania has in recent weeks reported the world’s highest per capita death rate from Covid-19.

On Tuesday, nearly 600 Romanians died, the most during the pandemic. The country’s death rate relative to population is almost seven times as high as the United States’, and almost 17 times as high as Germany’s. » | Andrew Higgins | Monday, November 8, 2021

The U.S. Allows Vaccinated International Travelers in and Bars Unvaccinated Travelers from Abroad.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The United States reopened its borders for fully vaccinated travelers from dozens of countries on Monday, ending more than 18 months of restrictions on international travel that left families separated from loved ones and cost the global travel industry hundreds of billions of dollars in tourism revenue.

Under the new rules, fully vaccinated travelers will be allowed to enter the U.S. if they can show proof of vaccination and a negative coronavirus test taken within three calendar days of travel. Unvaccinated Americans and children under the age of 18 are exempt from the requirement, but must take a test within one day of travel. » | Ceylan Yeginsu, Niraj Chokshi and Concepción de León | Monday, November 8, 2021

Europeans express relief as the American travel ban ends. »

L’Amérique rouvre ses portes aux Français : L’obtention d’un visa de travail ou d’une «green card» relève toutefois encore du parcours du combattant. »

Crypto Rally Lifts Ether to New Record, Bitcoin at Near 3-week High

THE GUARDIAN: Meanwhile in the cryptocurrency world, bitcoin rallied toward its all-time high on Monday and ether has climbed to a fresh record.

Bitcoin is over 6% overnight to reach $66,357, approaching the previous record around $67,000 set on October 20.

Ether - which underpins the ethereum network - has risen to a fresh record at a record top of $4,767.55 on Coindesk.

Reuters says that “momentum, flows, favourable news and inflation fears” are all lifting crypto assets: » | Graeme Wearden | Monday, November 8, 2021

George Michael : Father Figure

Views on YouTube: 80,727,295

Chopin - 12 Études, Op. 25 - Daniil Trifonov

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Jun 2, 2011 • Daniil Trifonov performs Chopin - 12 Études Op. 25 at the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition (May, 2011, Tel Aviv).
This cannot be embedded on external websites . It must be listened to on YouTube itself. It's wonderful.This is a link to it.

Angela Merkel - Die Kanzlerin im DW-Interview | DW Nachrichten

Nov 7, 2021 • Angela Merkel ist nicht mehr lange Bundeskanzlerin Deutschlands. Nach 16 Jahren wird es bald eine neue Regierung und einen neuen Kanzler geben. Angela Merkel wurde mehrfach zur mächtigsten Frau der Welt gekürt. Ihre Kanzlerschaft war von vielen Krisen geprägt: Finanzkrise, Klimakrise, Corona-Pandemie. Legendär ihr Satz "Wir schaffen das." von 2015 in der Frage, wie sich Europa und insbesondere Deutschland zu syrischen Flüchtlingen verhalten soll.

Im DW-Interview stellt sich Angela Merkel den Fragen von Max Hofmann. Er will wissen: Was ist ihr politisches Vermächtnis? Worauf ist Angela Merkel besonders stolz? Was kommt als Nächstes?

Mit diesem eleganten Lodencape / -poncho werden Sie diesen Winter stilvoll und cool, aber warm und bequem.

Avec cette élégante cape / poncho en loden, vous serez élégant et ‘cool’ cet hiver, mais chaud et confortable. / With this elegant loden cape / poncho you will be stylish and cool this winter, but warm and comfortable.
Dank an Pinterest für dieses schöne Bild.

David Cicilline | I'm From Providence, RI | True Gay Stories

Feb 24, 2011 • US Representative David Cicilline made sure the media mentioned his sexuality

Le jeu dangereux de la Pologne, ex-élève modèle devenu un mouton noir de l’UE

Zbigniew Ziobro, ministre de la Justice polonais. Varsovie, le 4 mai 2021. Czarek Sokolowski/AP
LE FIGARO : À la tête de ce pays majoritairement europhile, qui incarna longtemps la réussite de l’élargissement de 2004, les dirigeants nationaux-conservateurs du PiS s’opposent à Bruxelles sur le terrain de l’État de droit et laissent agiter le spectre d’un Polexit.

Le chemin européen de la Pologne n’a pas toujours été un long fleuve tranquille. Depuis que le pays est dirigé par le PiS, le parti Droit et Justice, les conflits entre Varsovie et Bruxelles se sont multipliés, de la crise migratoire de 2015 à celle des travailleurs détachés en passant par les restrictions imposées aux LGBT et les questions environnementales. Mais en affirmant, le 7 octobre dernier, que certains éléments du droit européen n’étaient «pas compatibles» avec la Constitution du pays, la Cour constitutionnelle a poussé à son paroxysme des années de guerre larvée entre la Pologne et l’Union européenne sur la réforme du système judiciaire. » | Par Isabelle Lasserre | dimanche 7 novembre 2021

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À LIRE AUSSI : La Pologne et la Hongrie suspendues aux fonds européens : DÉCRYPTAGE - Dans leur bras de fer avec Bruxelles sur l’État de droit, les deux pays risquent gros: des milliards de subventions. »

A Moving, Heartfelt, Sincere Coming Out Story: A 30-Year-Old Man, Married with Kids

Jan 12, 2020 • Hello! My name is Nathan and this is the story of why it took me 31yrs, a 9-year marriage to a women, and 2 children, before coming out.

This is how I came to terms with my sexuality, figured out what was holding me back, and how I gained the strength and courage to finally set myself free.

I am creating a series of videos to address individual parts of my journey, in hopes other people like me can waste fewer years of their lives and start living free. Today! Thanks for watching, Nathan V

Katar: Millionen für Europas Islam | Doku | ARTE

Sep 18, 2019 • Ein Whistleblower spielte zwei französischen Journalisten Tausende von vertraulichen Dokumenten der NGO Qatar Charity zu. Sie enthüllen ein Programm zur Stärkung der Einflussnahme des politischen Islam in ganz Europa mit der Finanzierung von 140 Moscheebauten, Kulturzentren und Schulen, die alle mit der Muslimbruderschaft zusammenhängen. Recherche über eine hermetische Institution.

Alles begann mit einem mysteriösen USB-Stick, den ein anonymer Whistleblower den beiden französischen Journalisten Georges Malbrunot und Christian Chesnot zuspielte. Darauf befanden sich Tausende vertraulicher Dokumente der größten NGO der Golfstaaten, der Qatar Charity: unter anderem Spenderlisten, E-Mail-Korrespondenzen und Informationen zu Banküberweisungen. Die Unterlagen enthüllen Einzelheiten über ein Missionierungs- und Finanzierungsprogramm zur Stärkung des politischen Islams in ganz Europa, mit 140 Moscheebauten, Kulturzentren und Schulen, die alle auf die eine oder andere Art mit der Muslimbruderschaft zusammenhängen. Doch die Behörden in der Hauptstadt Doha bestreiten jegliche religiöse Aktivität im Westen. Das Filmteam wollte es genauer wissen und recherchierte über das Programm. Am Beispiel des europaweit größten Vorhabens für ein Islam-Zentrum im elsässischen Mulhouse, eines im Jahr 2016 in La Chaux-de-Fonds in der Schweiz eingeweihten Museums der Zivilisationen des Islam, einer mit dubiosen Mitteln finanzierten Ausbildungseinrichtung für Imame im zentralfranzösischen Département Nièvre und eines Flüchtlingszentrums auf Sizilien, das auf dem Höhepunkt der Syrienkrise Migranten aufnimmt, wird mit den Finanzierungsströmen auch die dahinterstehende Ideologie aufgedeckt. Sind diese Vorhaben Teil eines viel weitreichenderen Projekts oder ist das Programm lediglich der europäische Ableger einer Strategie Katars, mit der das Land seit dem Arabischen Frühling durch die Stärkung der Muslimbruderschaft seine Führungsposition in der arabischen Welt weiter auszubauen versucht? Die investigative filmische Recherche gibt Einblicke in die ebenso finanzstarke wie hermetische Organisation, deren Verbindungen bis in die Spitze des Staates Katar und die Herrscherfamilie Al-Thani reichen.

Dokumentarfilm von Jérôme Sesquin (F 2019, 90 Min)

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George Michael : One More Try

Views on YouTube: 132,888,925

Harvey Milk: US Navy Launches Ship Named for Gay Rights Leader

The USNS Harvey Milk was launched in San Diego on Saturday | GETTY IMAGES
BBC: The US Navy has launched a ship named after a gay rights activist forced to resign from the service because of his sexuality in the 1950s.

The USNS Harvey Milk was launched in San Diego on Saturday in a service attended by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro and Milk's nephew, Stuart.

It is one of six new ships to be named after famed US civil rights leaders.

Others include former Chief Justice Earl Warren and slain presidential candidate Robert Kennedy.

Milk served as a diving officer and Lieutenant aboard the submarine rescue ship USS Kittiwake during the Korean War. But he was forced out of the service following two weeks of interrogation about his sexuality in 1955.

He later became one of America's first openly gay politicians, elected in 1977 to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

But a year later he was shot and killed by Dan White, a former city supervisor with whom he had frequently clashed. » | BBC | Sunday, November 7, 2021

The Observer View on No 10’s Handling of the Owen Paterson Affair

THE OBSERVER – EDITORIAL: Sleaze has become a defining aspect of Boris Johnson’s politics. Britain deserves better

Boris Johnson: ‘A man utterly lacking in integrity, with no regard for standards in public life.’Photograph: Christopher Furlong/AFP/Getty Images
THE OBSERVER – EDITORIAL: Sleaze has become a defining aspect of Boris Johnson’s politics. Britain deserves better

Former prime ministers tend to avoid engaging in personal criticism of their successors, particularly if they served as leader of the same party. Sir John Major’s verdict on Boris Johnson’s handling of the Owen Paterson affair – “shameful and wrong” and “politically corrupt” – is an extraordinary and devastating intervention that shows how low the prime minister’s reputation has sunk with senior members of his party. Major has even gone so far as to say that he would face a dilemma were he to have to consider voting for Johnson at the next general election.

…

Johnson faces other questions over his personal integrity, including over the value of a free luxury holiday he accepted as a gift in recent weeks in Spain. His attitude infects standards right across government. When an investigation found Priti Patel had broken the ministerial code by bullying civil servants, it was not she who resigned, but the independent adviser on ministerial standards. The National Audit Office found last year that those with personal ministerial contacts were far more likely to win lucrative, pandemic-related contracts for personal protective equipment. » | Observer editorial | Sunday, November 7, 2021

Related »

Boris suffers sleaze backlash »

Owen Paterson: Boris Johnson's actions corrupt - Starmer (with video) »

Prof. Wolff Responds: Elon Musk's Billionaire BS

Nov 6, 2021 • In tis, Prof. Wolff responds to Elon Musk's opposition to the proposed billionaire's tax. Wolff highlights the ways in which billionaires have consistently utilized their wealth to manipulate the political system and shift the burden of tax onto the people.

It's Time to Boogie! Justin Timberlake : Can't Stop the Feeling

It’s That Time of the Day Again: It’s Absolut o’Clock!

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‘Shameful’: John Major Hits Out at Handling of Owen Paterson Scandal

THE GUARDIAN: Former PM said trying to shield MP from punishment suggested Johnson’s government was ‘politically corrupt’

John Major said the government’s actions had ‘the effect of trashing the reputation of parliament’. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA
Sir John Major has launched a searing attack on the government over its handling of the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal, condemning its actions as “shameful and wrong”.

The former prime minister said it suggested Boris Johnson’s administration was “politically corrupt”, and that Major would be posed with a dilemma if he had to consider voting for Johnson to remain PM at the next election.

The comments came after the government briefly tried to shield Paterson from punishment for what the standards committee called an “egregious case” of breaching lobbying rules.

Major told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think the way the government handled that was shameful, wrong and unworthy of this or indeed any government. It also had the effect of trashing the reputation of parliament.” » | Nicola Slawson | Saturday, November 6, 2021

Once upon a time, this country used to have decent and honourable Conservative governments and decent prime ministers like Sir John Major. Now, however, we are stuck with BoJo and his administration made up of people of questionable integrity. Sleaze and corruption abound, to say nothing of the questionable way BoJo entered Number 10 by duping the public. – © Mark

Boris Johnson sleaze crisis deepens amid pressure on Covid deals: Sir John Major attacks PM’s actions as ‘shameful’ while poll shows slump in Tory support »

Brigitte Bardot condamnée à 20.000 euros d'amende pour injures publiques envers les Réunionnais

Lors du procès, le 7 octobre, le parquet avait requis une amende de 25.000 euros à l'encontre de Brigitte Bardot. PATRICK DOYLE / AFP
LE FIGARO : L'ex-actrice avait notamment comparé La Réunion à «l'île du diable» avec «une population dégénérée encore imprégnée (...) des traditions barbares qui sont leurs souches».

Brigitte Bardot, qui avait qualifié en 2019 les Réunionnais à d'«autochtones ayant gardé leurs gènes sauvages», a été condamnée jeudi 4 novembre par le tribunal judiciaire de Saint-Denis à 20.000 euros pour injures raciales.

Poursuivi pour complicité d'injures publiques, Bruno Jacquelin, l'attaché de presse de l'ancienne actrice de 87 ans, a été condamné à 4000 euros d'amende. À la demande de son employeuse, il avait transmis le courrier litigieux à plusieurs médias, dont l'AFP.

Le 7 octobre, lors du procès, le parquet avait requis 25.000 euros d'amende à l'encontre de l'ancienne star qui défend la cause animale et 5000 euros contre son collaborateur Créatrice d'une fondation portant son nom et œuvrant à la protection des animaux, l'ex-actrice avait adressé en mars 2019 une lettre ouverte à Amaury de Saint-Quentin, alors préfet de La Réunion. Se disant «envahie par des lettres (...) dénonçant la barbarie que les Réunionnais exercent sur les animaux», Brigitte Bardot avait affirmé que «les autochtones ont gardé leurs gènes de sauvages». Elle avait aussi comparé La Réunion à «l'île du diable» avec «une population dégénérée encore imprégnée (...) des traditions barbares qui sont leurs souches». » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 4 novembre 2021

Why Are Autocrats Popular? - Assault on Democracy | DW Documentary

Nov 6, 2021 • A wave of authoritarianism is churning from East to West and assailing civil society. Autocrats are threatening democracy, while their regimes portray NGOs as Trojan horses for foreign interference.

The resurgence of authoritarianism is impacting countries across the globe, no matter what their form of government. "In the Crosshairs of the State" documents this worldwide phenomenon using the examples of India, Russia, and Poland and shows how civil society is being repressed, and what impact this can have on the future of democracy.

When populists and autocrats wield power, the first victims are civil liberties. However, regimes aren’t stopping at attacking and imprisoning activists - they go as far as criminalizing entire groups and freezing their funds. These governments are increasingly targeting NGOs and other players in civil society that demand democracy and assert human rights or protest about social grievances and environmental destruction. The methods of choice are defamation campaigns, repression, and criminalization.

In the past few years, certain countries have passed over 60 laws specifically aiming to systematically impede NGOs’ work or completely put an end to it. The root causes are wide-ranging, but it all boils down to rulers’ desire to remain in power and protect their economic interests. Beyond authoritarian wielders of power, democratic governments are increasingly clamping down on independent and critical players, too.

Are we experiencing a full-on global assault on civil society? What happens when the driving force of democracy - the people themselves - is silenced? How can we counter this development? Film director Sebastian Weis investigates these question, relating the situations in India, Russia, and Poland chapter by chapter, with each country representing an overarching issue. India faces environmental destruction, Russians are seeing human rights be eroded, and in Poland women’s rights are under attack.

Julio Iglesias : When I Need You

Performed in Jakarta, December 1994 | Views on YouTube: 20,809,375

The Paterson Fiasco Confirms the Threat Boris Johnson Poses to British Democracy

THE GUARDIAN – OPINION: The PM either ignores or rewrites the rules meant to hold him in check. He was thwarted this week, but the danger persists

‘This was merely the latest instance of Boris Johnson deciding that an ally clearly in breach of the rules should escape all consequence.’ Prime minister's questions, 3 November, 2021.Photograph: Jessica Taylor/UK PARLIAMENT/AFP/Getty Images
How many more times does it need to happen? How much more proof do we need that the country is run by a man with contempt for the rule of law, who believes that he and his friends are beyond its reach?

Boris Johnson demonstrated that again to the nation this week, as vividly as he could. Faced with the prospect that Owen Paterson, a comrade from the Brexit trenches of 2016, would be punished for what parliament’s standards committee called “an egregious case of paid advocacy”, Johnson instructed MPs to let his chum off the hook. The prime minister’s orders, dutifully followed by 250 of his troops, were to halt Paterson’s 30-day suspension from the House of Commons and to scrap the system that had found him guilty, replacing it with one that would be gentler in its treatment of Conservatives – because Conservatives would design it and dominate it.

The move was shocking because it was so brazen, not because it was novel. For this was merely the latest instance of Johnson deciding that an ally clearly in breach of the rules should escape all consequence. The roll call should be familiar by now. When Dominic Cummings decided the national lockdown did not really apply to him, Johnson stood by him. When Robert Jenrick fast-tracked an “unlawful” planning decision that would save Richard Desmond, a Tory donor, £45m in local taxes, Jenrick stayed in his post. When Priti Patel’s bullying behaviour was found to be a violation of the ministerial code, she too kept her job. If you’re on Team Johnson, the normal rules don’t apply.

Sometimes it’s about rewarding loyalty or a valuable favour. So when the Lords Appointments Commission decided that another Tory donor, Peter Cruddas, was not fit to receive a peerage, Johnson gave him one anyway. But just as often, the prime minister’s disregard for the rules extends to the gravest matters of state. » | Jonathan Freedland | Friday, November 5, 2021

Owen Paterson was just the fall guy. This week’s chaos was all about Boris Johnson: The prime minister has faced multiple investigations. You can see why the obliteration of the standards commissioner might seem appealing »

«Bitcoin hat keinen Wert und keine Zukunft. Knappheit allein ist kein Argument»

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Bitcoin und weitere Kryptowährungen sorgen für Schlagzeilen. Aber die meisten hätten keinen inneren Wert und keine Zukunft, so Eswar Prasad. Der Cornell-Professor ist stattdessen begeistert von den innovativen Möglichkeiten der Blockchain, und er fordert eine Diskussion über den Umgang mit der Privatsphäre.

Ein Kryptowährungs-Wechselbüro in Istanbul – doch Bitcoin ist laut Eswar Prasad nur ein spekulatives Phänomen. | Chris McGrath / Getty
INTERVIEW
Herr Prasad, Bitcoin und andere Kryptowährungen – die einen halten sie für das Geld der Zukunft, andere sehen pyramidenartige Spekulationsblasen. Und Sie?

Libertäre Idealisten wollten mit Bitcoin ein Zahlungsmittel schaffen, das ohne Zentralbanken und vertrauenswürdige Finanzinstitute funktioniert. Das ist nicht gelungen. Denn die Kursentwicklung ist sehr volatil, es sind keine grossen Transaktionsvolumina möglich, und das System ist sowohl langsam als auch teuer.

Gilt das auch für die Technologie im Hintergrund?

Die Blockchain-Technologie wird sehr wahrscheinlich nachhaltige Spuren hinterlassen. Immerhin lässt sie sich im Finanzbereich vielfältig verwenden.

Sie geben dem Bitcoin also keine Zukunft? Weiter lesen » | Christof Leisinger, New York | Freitag, 5. November 2021

In a Region in Strife, India’s Moral High Ground Erodes

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The hard-line attitude of Narendra Modi’s ruling party toward Muslims has undermined the nation’s reputation as a voice for tolerance in South Asia.

Hindus in Bangladesh protesting the violent attacks against them in Dhaka last month. | Munir Uz Zaman/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
NEW DELHI — The mob rampaged for days, burning homes, breaking into temples and clashing with police, leaving several dead.

The victims were minority Hindus living in Bangladesh, a majority-Muslim nation grappling with increasing extremism, and the violence drew an outcry from politicians in neighboring India. As the region’s traditional center of gravity, India has a history of promoting tolerance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also positioned himself as the champion of Hindus against a history of victimhood.

But the erosion of human rights in India has weakened its moral high ground in a region where ethnic and sectarian tensions are worsening. Sheikh Hasina — Bangladesh’s prime minister and a close ally, who had just sent Mr. Modi 71 red roses on his birthday — had pointed words for India, even as she promised to hunt the culprits.

“We expect that nothing happens there,” Ms. Hasina said, “which could influence any situation in Bangladesh affecting our Hindu community here.” » | Mujib Mashal | Saturday, November 6, 2021

Trapped in a Pandemic Funk: Millions of Americans Can’t Shake a Gloomy Outlook

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Despite signals that the economy is improving and the virus is waning, many Americans said they were frustrated by polarized politics and a sense of stagnancy.

Despite signals that things are improving, many Americans seem stuck in a pandemic hangover of pessimism. | Jenn Ackerman for The New York Times
A year ago, Michael Macey, a barber who lives in the suburbs outside Atlanta, was thrilled to help propel President Biden to victory, hopeful that Democrats would move swiftly to tackle policing laws and other big issues. But then he watched his hopes for sweeping changes wither in Washington.

Now, Mr. Macey’s sense of optimism — like that of millions of Americans — has been dashed. By the pain of an unending pandemic. By rising prices. By nationwide bickering that stretches from school board meetings to the United States Capitol.

“I don’t like the division,” Mr. Macey, 63, said. “I don’t like the standstill. We need something to get accomplished.”

For so many voters in this November of discontent, the state of the union is just … blech.

Despite many signals that things are improving — the stock market is hitting record highs, hiring is accelerating sharply with 531,000 jobs added in October, workers are earning more, and Covid hospitalizations and deaths are dropping from their autumn peaks — many Americans seem stuck in a pandemic hangover of pessimism. » | Jack Healy, Audra D. S. Burch and Patricia Mazzei | Friday, November 5, 2021

La Roumanie secouée par une profonde crise politique

Les sondages ne sont pas avantageux pour le président Klaus Iohannis qui ne recueille aujourd’hui que 14 % d’opinions favorables. JOE KLAMAR/AFP
LE FIGARO : Le président ne parvient plus à réunir les partis de droite et du centre derrière lui.

Depuis plus d’un mois et la chute du gouvernement du jeune et intempestif Florin Cîtu (49 ans), la droite roumaine est dans de sales draps. Les conservateurs (PNL) se trouvent coincés entre les réformateurs de centre droit de l’USR (l’Union sauvez la Roumanie) - ils avaient provoqué la chute de l’exécutif face à l’«attitude dictatoriale» de Florin Cîtu - et les socialistes du PSD, qui détiennent le plus grand nombre de sièges au Parlement (157, contre 119 pour le PNL, et 80 pour l’USR).

Minés par des querelles internes, les conservateurs ont fait exploser leur parti en a peine quelques semaines. Ludovic Orban, leur ancien leader, a démissionné du perchoir de l’Assemblée, entraînant derrière lui une cascade de défections (17 à ce jour). Ce sont les socialistes (ex-communistes) qui ont récupéré ce poste. En conflit ouvert avec le président de la République, Ludovic Orban agite désormais la menace, assez envisageable, d’une destitution de Klaus Iohannis. » | Par Paul Cozighian | jeudi 4 novembre 2021

Réservé aux abonnés

À LIRE AUSSI : La Roumanie sombre dans l’instabilité politique : DÉCRYPTAGE - L’impétueux premier ministre roumain a été sèchement éjecté de son siège de chef du gouvernement d’un pays qui s’enfonce dans la crise. »

Le pape nomme la première femme à la tête du gouvernorat du Vatican

François, 84 ans, a déclaré à plusieurs reprises qu'il souhaitait que les femmes jouent un rôle plus important dans l'Église catholique. Andreas SOLARO / AFP
LE FIGARO : La sœur Raffaella Petrini, Italienne de 52 ans, sera notamment chargée de superviser les opérations administratives concernant les musées du Saint-Siège, la poste et la police.

Le pape François a nommé jeudi 4 novembre la première femme à la tête du gouvernorat du Vatican, la sœur franciscaine Raffaella Petrini, poursuivant ainsi sa volonté de parvenir à une plus grande égalité des sexes dans l'Église.

En tant que secrétaire générale du gouvernorat, cette religieuse italienne de 52 ans sera chargée de superviser les opérations administratives, notamment les musées du Vatican, la poste et la police. Elle devient ainsi la femme la plus haut placée dans le plus petit État du monde. Selon le journal en ligne National Catholic Reporter, ce rôle est traditionnellement occupé par un évêque. » | jeudi 4 novembre 2021

À LIRE AUSSI : Le pape François juge le président américain «bon catholique» »

Les macarons Ladurée ne sont plus fabriqués en France

Les macarons Ladurée sont vendus dans toutes les couleurs Alexandros Michailidis
LE FIGARO : L'entreprise française a reconnu que les macarons étaient produits en Suisse depuis 2020.

Bien connus des Français, les macarons Ladurée ne sont pas fabriqués en France. C'est le président de l'enseigne, David Holder, qui l'a reconnu auprès du média suisse Bilan, confirmant les révélations de l'émission de France 2 Complément d'Enquête. Ces incontournables des petites douceurs à la française sont, en réalité, fabriqués en Suisse, à Enney exactement, dans le canton de Fribourg. » | Par Le Figaro.fr | samedi 6 novembre 2021

Allemagne : une attaque au couteau fait plusieurs blessés dans un train en Bavière

LE FIGARO : L'auteur présumé, un homme, a été interpellé, a annoncé la police locale.

Plusieurs personnes ont été blessées samedi dans un train ICE en Bavière en Allemagne lors d'une attaque au couteau dont l'auteur présumé, un homme, a été interpellé, a annoncé la police locale. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | samedi 6 novembre 2021

Owen Paterson, Sleaze, Corruption and Another U-turn by Johnson

Nov 6, 2021 • Boris Johnson's attempt to reform and replace the Parliamentary Commission for Standards by whipping his MPs to vote against the Commissioner's recommended 30-day suspension of MP Owen Paterson for 'egregious breaches of lobbying rules' proved to be a further massive misjudgement. Yet another public backlash resulted in a total U-turn only 24 hours later leaving those including Kwasi Karteng and Andrea Leadsome, who had backed the prime minister's proposals less than 24 hours earlier, looking foolish. In a pitiful attempt to gain sympathy, Paterson claimed that the worry of the investigation had contributed to his wife's suicide. This is yet further evidence of sleaze and corruption in the Tory party.

The Royal Wedding of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and Farah Diba

Please Help End This Scandal and Help Our Pensioners Resident Abroad: 'Frozen Pensions Day 2021'

Nov 3, 2021 • The unfair frozen pensions policy is the result of historical reciprocal arrangements agreed between a select handful of countries and the UK to allow for state pension uprating.

Uprating means that pensions are adjusted every year to align with inflation - with the cost of living rising, pensions are indexed so pensioners can continue to get by. If a state pension is not increased, it is 'frozen' and therefore falls in value year on year.

500,000 UK pensioners, just under half of those living overseas, now live in countries where their state pensions are frozen. This includes British pensioners living in Overseas Territories such as the Falkland Islands. This arbitrary post-code lottery means that UK citizens in the USA, the European Union, Israel or Jamaica rightfully receive a full state pension. But those in other countries, such as Canada and Australia, do not.

Over 90% of affected pensioners live in Commonwealth nations with close cultural ties to the UK. Many moved overseas for employment opportunities, or to live near friends and family. Others are members of the Windrush generation, who were invited to live and work in Britain at the call of the UK Government and have now been punished for returning to their country of birth.

Half of frozen pensioners receive a state pension of just £65 per week, or less. Almost all were unaware that their state pensions would be frozen before they left the UK.

Now, they are victims of geography. The End Frozen Pensions campaign believes that all pensioners, no matter where they happen to live, should be paid equally. Find out more at endfrozenpensions.org


Please sign the petition End Frozen Pensions

And email Your MP or the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to help these people here

Fremantle Shark Attack: Search for Missing Man Off Port Beach

THE GUARDIAN: WA police say actions of witnesses were ‘heroic’ after incident reportedly involving tiger shark and great white shark

Search and rescue vessels patrol off Port Beach in North Fremantle, Western Australia. A man is missing after a shark attack. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP
Emergency services are searching for a man who is believed to have been attacked by a shark off Port Beach in North Fremantle, Western Australia, on Saturday morning.

WA police said that water police, police air wing, Surf Life Saving and the Surf Rescue helicopter responded to reports of a shark attack off Port Beach at 10.10am Saturday morning.

Water police were co-ordinating a marine search for the missing man, whose age had not yet been confirmed.

A spokesperson for St John’s Ambulance WA said they had received a call at 10.03am of a shark bite and sent three crew to the scene.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Department of Transport (Marine) and Department of Transport (Marine) authorities also attended the scene.

Local councils have closed Port Beach and all beaches from Leighton Dog beach to Sand Tracks beach. » | Justine Landis-Hanley | Saturday, November 6, 2021

Brexit: EU Warns of ‘Serious Consequences’ If UK Invokes Article 16

A screenshot from the accompanying video.
THE GUARDIAN: Maroš Šefčovič says Brussels has seen no concessions from UK side in Northern Ireland protocol dispute

Britain and the EU appear on the brink of a trade war after Brussels accused Boris Johnson of lacking sincerity in negotiations over Northern Ireland’s future and warned of “serious consequences” if Downing Street suspended the post-Brexit deal.

As he emerged from his latest tense meeting with the UK’s Brexit minister, the EU commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said that despite Brussels’ attempts to find a compromise, “we have seen no move at all from the UK side”.

The two sides have been locked in talks for three weeks over changes to how the Brexit deal works to ensure the free flow of trade between Britain and Northern Ireland. The EU has offered to cut customs controls in half and health checks on animal and plant products heading to supermarkets by 80%, but Šefčovič suggested there had been scant effort by David Frost, the Brexit minister, to engage with the proposals.

“I found this disappointing and once again I urge the UK government to engage with us sincerely,” Šefčovič said. “From this perspective, I see next week as an important one. We should focus all efforts on reaching a solution as soon as possible.

“Our aim should be to establish stability and predictability for Northern Ireland. We hear a lot about article 16 at the moment, but there’ll be no doubt that triggering article 16 to seek the negotiation of the protocol would have serious consequences. With video » | Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Friday, November 5, 2021

Pro Footballer Says He’s Bisexual and Living with Boyfriend in Moving Open Letter

PINK NEWS: An anonymous footballer has written about his bisexuality in the wake of Australian pro player Josh Cavallo proudly coming out as gay.

Cavallo, 21, was praised for his courage and bravery after sharing his truth last month, becoming the only current openly gay male player playing professional top-flight football.

His actions have inspired another footballer to open up about his sexuality, according to Mundo Deportivo, a Spanish national sports newspaper that published a letter from an anonymous pro.

Bisexual footballer: ‘At least for now, I do not want to say who I am’

The athlete, a member of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, has not chosen to come out publicly as the “message itself is more important than the name”.

In the letter, the footballer also reveals that he is living with his boyfriend of more than three years. » | Josh Milton | Monday, November 1, 2021

Homophobia Is Alive and Kicking in European Politics and It’s Going Mainstream

iNEWS: All over the continent the far right are downplaying anti-LGBTQ violence – and in some cases, practising it

People in front of the Court House in Sofia, Bulgaria protest against homophobic attacks (Photo: Hristo Vladev/Getty)
It’s tempting to think that in Europe at least the LGBTQ community has virtually won its fight for equal rights.

In supposedly uptight Britain, same-sex couples on Strictly Come Dancing are told by straight judges to be a bit less… inhibited…

There are no same-sex shenanigans on Italy’s Ballando con le Stelle. But over there that’s the least of many gay people’s problems.

Thanks to the malign presence of the Vatican, and the nature of the far-right in its mainstream politics, Italy’s parliament is unable to pass a simple hate-crime law to combat the country’s (ample) homophobic violence – in spite of 10 years’ of trying.

Two far-right groupings voted last Wednesday to block the “Zan bill” in the Senate. Matteo Salvini’s League party and the even nastier “post-fascist” Fratelli d’Italia party led by Giorgia Meloni. Alessandro Zan is the politician and LGBTQ activist who promoted the bill.

National polls suggest they have the support of 24 per cent and 18 per cent of the Italian electorate, respectively. » | Michael Day, Chief Foreign Commentator | Published: Thursday, November 4, 2021; Updated, Friday, November 5, 2021

Pfizer präsentiert Pille gegen Covid-19 mit erstaunlich hoher Wirksamkeit

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Nun schürt bereits das zweite derartige Präparat Hoffnungen auf eine einfach handhabbare Therapie. Noch liegen allerdings nur wenig Daten vor.

Das amerikanische Pharmaunternehmen Pfizer hat am Freitag die neueste Waffe im Kampf gegen Covid-19 vorgestellt. Die Tablette soll eine erstaunlich hohe Wirksamkeit besitzen. Gemäss den vorläufigen Ergebnissen einer klinischen Studie senke die Therapie mit Paxlovid das Risiko, wegen Covid-19 ins Spital zu müssen oder sogar daran zu sterben, um 89 Prozent, teilte Pfizer mit. Dafür müsse in den ersten drei Tagen nach Symptombeginn mit der Therapie begonnen werden. Schwerwiegende negative Nebenwirkungen seien keine festgestellt worden. » | Stephanie Lahrtz | Freitag, 5. November 2021

Coronavirus weltweit: Österreich verbannt Ungeimpfte aus Restaurants, Deutschland empfiehlt Booster-Impfung für alle: Über 248 Millionen Menschen sind laut der Johns-Hopkins-Universität weltweit positiv auf das Virus getestet worden. Mehr als 5 Millionen Infizierte sind gestorben. Über 7 Milliarden Impfdosen wurden weltweit verabreicht. »

Covid-19 Infections Are Rising Dramatically in Germany | Covid-19 Special

Nov 5, 2021 • Germany's COVID infections are now higher than ever. And the numbers keep growing. That's despite a relatively high vaccination rate.

Almost 70 percent of Germans are fully vaccinated against the virus. One of the main reasons are breakthrough infections - where the disease manages to bypass the jab. The only consolation for the vaccinated is that severe illness is rare.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — November 5 2021

Au Pakistan, Imran Khan fait libérer des centaines d’islamistes antifrançais

Le 22 octobre, à Karachi, des partisans du Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) manifestent pour réclamer la libération de militants emprisonnés et l’expulsion de l’ambassadeur de France (en représailles aux caricatures de Mahomet parues dans Charlie Hebdo en septembre 2020). AKHTAR SOOMRO/REUTERS
LE FIGARO : RÉCIT - Le premier ministre pakistanais a cédé aux pressions du TLP, puissant mouvement soutenu par l’armée.

De New Dehli
C’est ce qui s’appelle l’effet papillon. Les réactions suscitées par la publication de caricatures de Mahomet par Charlie Hebdo en septembre 2020 n’en finissent plus de poser de nombreux problèmes au gouvernement pakistanais. Voilà plus d’un an qu’il essaye de transiger avec un parti islamiste, le Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). Cette organisation a fait de la défense de l’honneur du Prophète son cheval de bataille depuis sa création, en 2015.

Le TLP a organisé une énième marche entre Lahore et Islamabad du 22 au 31 octobre avec des exigences qu’il pousse depuis l’an dernier: expulsion de l’ambassadeur de France en représailles aux dessins de l’hebdomadaire français et aux propos d’Emmanuel Macron sur la liberté de caricaturer. Mais aussi libération de ses militants emprisonnés depuis le début de la mobilisation. Son chef, Saad Hussain Rizvi, est derrière les barreaux depuis le mois d’avril. » | Par Emmanuel Derville | vendredi 5 novembre 2021

Réservé aux abonnés

Hawaii Is Easing Restrictions and Preparing to Welcome Back Tourists.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The state is eager for its vacation industry to rebound after a devastating 2020 season.


Gov. David Y. Ige announced his state would welcome international tourists again and lift capacity limits later this month on bars, restaurants and gyms in counties that require patrons to present proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid test to enter. | Caleb Jones/Associated Press
Signaling that Hawaii is eager to jump-start its battered tourism and hospitality industries, Gov. David Y. Ige said that his state would ease Covid restrictions this month and welcome international travelers again, under new federal guidelines that go into effect on Nov. 8.

The governor’s decision was a turnaround for a state that only two months ago was advising travelers not to visit, as it dealt with the worst surge of coronavirus cases it had seen, a wave of illness driven by the highly contagious Delta variant that overwhelmed hospitals and halted Hawaii’s economic recovery. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Hawaii endured months of lockdown, imposing strict, 14-day quarantine protocols and suffering the economic consequences to its tourism economy.

Now, with low rates of hospitalizations and new cases, the islands are again ready for business, officials say. On Sept. 2, the state’s seven-day daily average of new cases was 910. As of Tuesday, it had dropped to 116, according to a New York Times database. » | Eduardo Medina | Thursday, November 4, 2021

The U.S. economy added 531,000 jobs in October. »

Angelina Jolie ‘Saddened’ by ‘Ignorant’ Countries Banning Eternals over ‘Beautiful’ Gay Love

Angelina Jolie attends the The Eternals UK premiere. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
PINK NEWS: Angelina Jolie has said she is “sad” for the “ignorant” countries that have banned Eternals reportedly over its gay content.

The new film, which sees gay tech maverick Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first same-sex kiss, has been quietly yanked across the conservative Gulf nations, per reports.

Angelina Jolie, who stars as Thena, a member of the celestial race of superhumans known as the Eternals, said she is “proud of Marvel” for “refusing to cut those scenes out”.

“I still don’t understand how we live in a world where there’s still [people who] would not see the family Phastos has and the beauty of that relationship and love,” Jolie, 46, told News.com.au.

“How anybody is angry about it, threatened by it, doesn’t approve or appreciate it is ignorant. » | Josh Milton | Friday, November 5, 2021

Angelina Jolie Is “Proud” Marvel Refused to Cut ‘Eternals’ Scenes Featuring Gay Hero for Gulf Nation Censors: The film was pulled from release in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait after Disney refused to make edits demanded by local censors. »

It’s Gay Friday!

via GIPHY

Unabashedly Gay

via GIPHY

Ryan Oldroyd | I'm From Glenwood, UT | - True Gay Stories

March 16, 2011 • A young Mormon is ex-communicated then outed to his parents after he comes out to his Mission President.

This video clip is from 2011, but has much changed for gay Mormons since then when it comes to acceptance? – Mark

We Are the Law - Military Wedding | Marine Corps

Feb 10, 2019 • Zac & Jordan’s wedding video, Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base

A Young Brit’s Coming Out Story

Jul 20, 2021 • He discusses his coming out story and his gradual acceptance of his sexuality.

Une expression d'amour : le baiser du matin pour commencer la journée.

Ein Ausdruck der Liebe: Der Morgenkuß, um den Tag zu beginnen. / An expression of love: The morning kiss to start the day.
Photograph: Adobe Stock

After the Wedding: The Contentment Is Palpable.

Nach der Hochzeit ist die Zufriedenheit spürbar. / Après le mariage, le contentement est palpable.
Photograph: Adobe Stock

Bank of England’s Rate Decision Leaves Many Economists Gasping for Air

THE GUARDIAN: Analysis: decision to keep rates on hold is not unpopular but governor’s signalling is roundly criticised

The Bank expects the base rate to be 1% by the end of 2022. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty
It is “compulsory for the Bank of England governor to be an unreliable boyfriend”, Andrew Bailey joked during a press conference to explain why the central bank he runs kept interest rates on hold when action of some kind was expected.

As quips go, it fell flat in financial markets, where currency traders sold the pound, knocking more than 1% from sterling’s value against the US dollar.

It also left many economists gasping for air as the full implications of Bailey’s refusal to turn up to his own party began to sink in. He had stressed last month that monetary policy “will have to act” if there is a risk of inflation. Those words were not followed by action on Thursday, despite the rising wages and prices.

Gerard Lyons, a former candidate for governor and a former adviser to Boris Johnson, described the governor’s signalling as “appalling”, adding that by not correcting how the market or the media interpreted his comments he encouraged “hawkish expectations ahead of this meeting that was not merited by the recent data”.

Lyons went on to say the bank needed to learn from the US Federal Reserve, “to be on top of the data” and “guide” the market. » | Phillip Inman | Thursday, November 4, 2021