UK Set to Impose Direct Rule on British Virgin Islands as Premier Faces Cocaine Charges

THE GUARDIAN: In a further twist, the islands’ premier has been arrested in a Miami sting operation on suspicion of drug trafficking

Liz Truss said intervention was necessary ‘to restore the standards of governance that the people of of the BVI are entitled to.’ Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Rex/Shutterstock
Britain is poised to impose a form of direct rule over the British Virgin Islands after the Caribbean territory’s premier was arrested in Miami on suspicion of drug running, and a UK-appointed commission of inquiry found rampant failings in governance.

Andrew Fahie appeared in federal court in Miami on Friday, a day after he was arrested by the US Drug Enforcement Agency in an elaborate sting operation that also snared the chief executive of the BVI port authority and her son. Late on Friday night it emerged federal prosecutors had charged him with cocaine trafficking and money laundering conspiracies.

Hours before his court appearance, the commission of inquiry – launched in 2021 – reported on widespread abuses, including millions of dollars of government funds that were spent each year by politicians and ministries without proper process. » | Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic editor | Friday, April 29, 2022

Plan for direct UK rule of British Virgin Islands opposed by acting premier: UK dispatches minister after ex-leader charged with drug offences and inquiry finds serious governance issues »

Britische Jungferninseln sollen Kontrolle Londons unterstellt werden: Der Premierminister des Überseegebiets war am Freitag verhaftet worden. Ihm werden Drogenhandel und Geldwäsche vorgeworfen. Ein von der Queen eingesetzter Gouverneur soll nun zwei Jahre lang Ordnung schaffen. »

Bringing the World a Little Closer: Cross-cultural Love.

via GIPHY

Die Welt ein bisschen näher bringen: interkulturelle Liebe. / Rapprocher un peu le monde : l'amour interculturel.

Lederhosen, Stil und Liebe.

Besten Dank an Martin Niggemann auf Pinterest fürs schöne Bild.

Glücklich und verliebt.

Heureux et amoureux. / Happy and in love.
Fürs schöne, ausdrucksvolle Bild bedanke ich mich bei Ben Pache auf Pinterest.

Russland: Krieg, das verbotene Wort | ARTE Reportage

Mar 28, 2022 • Die russische Bevölkerung darf das Wort Krieg nicht in den Mund nehmen, denn Wladimir Putin hat es verboten: Offiziell handelt es sich um eine "Sonderoperation". Doch trotz aller Gefahr, dem Präsidenten und seinem Regime zu widersprechen, werden Stimmen laut, die Nein sagen zum Angriffskrieg in der Ukraine.

Andere fühlen sich zu Unrecht verurteilt durch die internationalen Sanktionen und beklagen das totalitäre System, in dem sie sich wie gefangen fühlen. Natürlich glauben viele an Putin und an das, was das Staatsfernsehen ihnen täglich einhämmert; viele teilen die Ansicht des Patriarchen der russisch-orthodoen Kirche, der den Westen für dekadent erklärt. Doch trotz aller Propaganda: Dank des Internets könnten eigentlich alle Russen wissen, was da in ihrem Namen in der Ukraine geschieht.

Video auf YouTube verfügbar bis 19/03/2052

Biden Seeks to Lure Russia’s Top Scientists to the U.S.

President Biden at the White House on Thursday, where he called on Congress to authorize $33 billion in aid to Ukraine. | Doug Mills/The New York Times
THE NEW YORK TIMES: WASHINGTON — President Biden wants Congress to expedite visas for Russian scientists eager to leave their country in the midst of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, an effort to accelerate a brain drain already underway and further deprive President Vladimir V. Putin of some of Russia’s top talent. An administration proposal sent to Capitol Hill as part of a larger package requesting $33 billion in spending on the war would suspend for four years the requirement that scientists applying for H1-B visas have a sponsoring employer, eliminating one of the biggest obstacles for many seeking to come to the United States.

The measure would apply only to Russian citizens with master’s or doctoral degrees in science or engineering fields like artificial intelligence, nuclear engineering or quantum physics. Administration officials argued that such a move would have dual advantages — costing Russia while benefiting America. » | Peter Baker | Friday, April 29, 2022

Adam Smith und der Wohlstand der Nationen | Der Kapitalismus (2/6) | Doku HD | ARTE

Jan 10, 2022 • Woher kommt der Kapitalismus? Dokureihe. In dieser Folge reflektieren mehr als 20 prominente Mitwirkende aus dem Bereich Wirtschaftstheorie die Entwicklung seit 2008 und hinterfragen die wirtschaftspolitischen Denker aus der Geschichte des Kapitalismus. So auch Adam Smith, dessen "Wohlstand der Nationen" (1776) ein Bestseller ist, der regelmäßig neu aufgelegt wird.

Der Untergang des Sowjetreiches war auch das Ende des Kommunismus. Das einzig funktionierende Wirtschaftssystem sei der Kapitalismus – dachten viele. Spätestens seit der Finanzkrise 2007 scheint diese These mehr als fraglich. In dieser Dokumentation reflektieren mehr als 20 prominente Mitwirkende aus dem Bereich Wirtschaftstheorie die Entwicklung seit 2008 und hinterfragen die wirtschaftspolitischen Denker aus der Geschichte des Kapitalismus. So auch Adam Smith, dessen „Wohlstand der Nationen“ seit seinem Erscheinen im Jahr 1776 ein Bestseller ist, der regelmäßig neu aufgelegt wird. Für viele gilt er als Bibel eines neuen Wirtschaftssystems. In der aktuellen Folge wird anhand konkreter Beispiele dargelegt, wie Schlüsselpassagen des Buches aus ihrem Kontext gerissen und für politische Zwecke benutzt werden. In dem Bestreben, das Werk zum ökonomischen Testament zu erheben, wurden die sozialpolitischen Überlegungen von Adam Smith einfach außer Acht gelassen.

Dokureihe, Regie: Ilan Ziv (Frankreich 2013, 54 Min)
Video auf YouTube verfügbar bis zum 04/07/2022


WIKIPEDIA:

Der Wohlstand der Nationen.

The Wealth of Nations.

La Richesse des Nations.

Neil Parish MP: I'm Resigning after Porn Moment of Madness

Read the article here.

Britischer Abgeordneter tritt wegen Pornokonsum zurück: Was er getan habe, sei „absolut falsch“ gewesen, sagt der Tory-Abgeordnete Neil Parish. Er habe im Unterhaus nach Videos über Traktoren gesucht und sei dabei auf Pornos gestoßen, sagt er. »

Royaume-Uni : accusé d'avoir regardé du porno au Parlement, un député britannique avoue et démissionne : L'élu de 65 ans a assuré à la BBC avoir d'abord cherché «des tracteurs» avant de tomber sur «un autre site». «Mais mon crime c'est que j'y suis retourné une seconde fois et c'était délibéré», a-t-il avoué au bord des larmes. »

Scottish Independence: Could Britain Break Up? | The Economist

Apr 18, 2021 • The union between the nations of the United Kingdom is looking increasingly fragile, thanks to Brexit. If Scotland were to break away from Britain it would face an uncertain future—as would the rest of the union.

Emperadores romanos homosexuales

Russisches Außenministerium spricht sich gegen Atomkrieg aus

DER STANDARD: Russland spricht sich dem Außenministerium zufolge für die Verhinderung eines Atomkriegs aus. Die Risiken eines Nuklearkriegs sollten auf ein Minimum beschränkt bleiben, erklärt ein Ministeriumsvertreter der Nachrichtenagentur Tass zufolge. » | Rainer Schüller | Samstag, 30. April 2022

Le Canada, nouvelle destination du rêve américain

250 nouveaux Canadiens prêtent serment de citoyenneté, le 2 mai 2018, lors d’une cérémonie à Toronto. Le Canada a attiré 405.000 immigrants en 2021, malgré la pandémie de Covid. Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star via Getty Images
À Montréal
LE FIGARO : ENQUÊTE - Grands espaces, facilité de trouver un travail et de créer une entreprise, le pays rivalise d’attrait avec les États-Unis en raison d’une politique volontariste. Objectif: surmonter le déficit de natalité et parvenir à 100 millions d’habitants en 2100, grâce à une immigration choisie en fonction des seules compétences.

Montréal, métropole traditionnellement francophone de quatre millions d’habitants, grouille aujourd’hui d’accents variés. Commerçants chinois près du Vieux Montréal, Ukrainiens et Polonais sur le boulevard Saint-Laurent, Petite Italie au nord de la ville, de plus en plus sud-américaine. Et les Français? Longtemps présents dans le quartier bobo du Plateau Mont-Royal, ils se pressent désormais à Rosemont, moins branché mais plus abordable.

Les longs hivers glaciaux n’y font rien. Le Canada, 37 millions d’âmes au dernier recensement, a attiré 405.000 immigrants en 2021, malgré la pandémie de Covid. Des chiffres en forte hausse. Ottawa «dévoile un plan pour accueillir 1,3 million de nouveaux arrivants» au cours des trois prochaines années, a titré récemment Le Toronto Star. Un véritable boom, alors que 250.000 personnes ont immigré, bon an mal an, entre Terre-Neuve et Vancouver du début des années 1990 jusqu’en 2015. Justin Trudeau veut en accueillir 432.000 en 2022. … Des Indiens, des Chinois, … » | Par Ludovic Hirtzmann | vendredi 29 avril 2022

Réservé aux abonnés

The Price of Free Speech: Why Elon Musk’s $44bn Vision for Twitter Could Fall Apart

THE OBSERVER: The controversial billionaire may find that buying the platform exposes him to a whole new world of legal problems

Musk is a prolific, and controversial, Twitter user and has called the platform ‘the digital town square’. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Contained within 95 pages of dense legal jargon, the warning from Twitter to Elon Musk was clear: don’t use your considerable power on the social media platform to attack the company.

The world’s richest man and owner-in-waiting of Twitter signed an agreement for the planned $44bn (£35bn) takeover last week confirming that he could tweet about the deal so long as “such tweets do not disparage the company or any of its representatives”.

Yet hours later the self-described “free speech absolutist” was engaging with tweets criticising senior Twitter staff, including an interaction with a political podcast host who had labelled the company’s legal head, Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s “top censorship advocate”. » | Dan Milmo and Johana Bhuiyan | Saturday, April 30, 2022

Les clés pour comprendre la Suède, victime de son laxisme migratoire

La police suédoise a été prise pour cible lors d’émeutes survenues durant le week-end pascal. Kicki Nilsson/AP/SIPA
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Naguère paisible et prospère, le royaume scandinave est aujourd’hui secoué par des troubles ethnico-religieux: le résultat de vingt ans d’une politique migratoire «généreuse et bienveillante» jusqu’à l’absurde.

1. Un habitant sur cinq est né à l’étranger

La Suède fut longtemps un pays d’émigration, notamment vers les États-Unis. D’où une population restée homogène jusqu’à la fin du XXe siècle. Au nom de la tolérance et de la bienveillance, ses dirigeants issus de la social-démocratie (dont le royaume scandinave est le modèle suprême) ont décidé d’inverser les flux et d’ouvrir ses frontières aux réfugiés. Une générosité non dénuée d’arrière-pensées, l’économie ayant besoin de main-d’œuvre. Cette politique d’asile a commencé par la guerre en ex-Yougoslavie, mais elle s’est emballée avec le conflit syrien. Pour la seule année 2014, Stockholm a distribué 160.000 titres de séjour. Au total, le nombre de personnes nées à l’étranger a augmenté de 80 % en vingt ans. Un habitant sur cinq vient d’une autre contrée, soit 2 millions de ressortissants sur un effectif total de 10 millions. Un quart des nouveau-nés ont au moins un parent allogène. Malgré toute sa bonne volonté, l’État-providence a fini par donner des signes de fatigue, au niveau des régimes sociaux et du système scolaire. À tel point que le gouvernement a finalement coupé les vannes en 2020, limitant les entrées annuelles à 25.000 individus. Mais trop tard. 2. Le choc des valeurs et des croyances » | Par Jean-Louis Tremblais | vendredi 29 avril 2022

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Emmanuel Macron’s Win Was Also a Win for French Fashion

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Brigitte Macron continues to champion Louis Vuitton.

Brigitte Macron, in custom-made Louis Vuitton, at her husband’s re-election celebration in Paris on Sunday. | Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images
Emmanuel Macron’s victory in the French presidential election on Sunday was not just a victory for the young president’s vision of France and its role in the world, or centrism versus the far-right wing, though it was both of those things.

It was also a victory for fashion, especially high fashion, and the role it plays in reflecting French culture and heritage to the world.

If in doubt, simply consider the election night outfit of Brigitte Macron: a custom-made cropped Louis Vuitton navy jacket with silver military detailing and matching pants, perfectly coordinated with her husband’s navy suit. It was a choice that reflected the couple’s united front as well as the ideological battleground the election had become. And it acted as a subtle signal from an administration with a bent toward big business and the free market that those relations will continue to flourish in its second term.

Luxury, after all, has been cozying up to Mr. Macron since his first run for president, in 2017, and Louis Vuitton has been Mrs. Macron’s brand of choice since she became first lady. » | Vanessa Friedman | Published: Monday, April 25, 2022 ; Updated: Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Michael Lambert: The Top 5 Smug British Politicians - 2022 Awards

Apr. 30, 2022 • In this video we announce the winners of the top five smuggest politicians in the U.K. All of those chosen are known for their smugness, arrogance and self-satisfaction. By coincidence they are also all Tories.

This is the first of what we hope will be an annual award. Please also look out for the GIT awards (Gormless, Incompetent and Timewaster) which will be coming soon.

In the meantime, whilst Brexit continues to destroy the British economy and local elections are about to take place the government under Boris Johnson slumps from crisis to crisis and scandal to scandal.

Note We left the EU in January 2021 and not 2020 as stated in the video.

Sept enfants, trois mariages et Amber Heard : la vie privée explosive d'Elon Musk

Elon Musk quitte le tribunal de New Castle County. (Wilmington, le 12 juillet 2021.) Abaca
MADAME FIGARO : Côté vie publique, il est le célèbre fondateur de SpaceX, directeur de Tesla et nouvel acquéreur de Twitter. Côté privé, le milliardaire a également connu plus d'une romance, à chaque fois mouvementée.

Il s'apprête à racheter Twitter pour la modique somme de 44 milliards de dollars (40 milliards d'euros). Homme d'affaires de renommée mondiale, Elon Musk est connu pour avoir fondé la société SpaceX et repris les rênes de la compagnie Tesla. Sa vie privée n'est pas moins extraordinaire. À 50 ans, Elon Musk a déjà été le père de sept enfants, s'est marié trois fois et a entretenu maintes romances explosives.

Naissance d'un génie

Tout commence en 1971. Fils de Errol Musk, un ingénieur sud-africain, et de Maye Haldeman, un mannequin canadien - dont la carrière explosera à la soixantaine -, Elon Musk grandit à Pretoria. D'une intelligence aiguisée, l'adolescent vend son premier programme de jeux vidéo à l'âge de 12 ans au prix de 500 dollars (467 euros). À l'époque, il lit déjà deux livres par jour. » | Par Chloé Friedmann | mardi 26 avril 2022

Europe After Putin's War on Ukraine I ARTE.tv Documentary

Cette moitié du monde qui reste dans le camp de Vladimir Poutine

Le président russe Vladimir Poutine lors d’un discours à Saint-Pétersbourg, le 27 avril 2022. ALEXANDR DEMYANCHUK/AFP
LE FIGARO : ANALYSE - La crise ukrainienne, en cristallisant une opposition idéologique entre deux camps, fait souffler un vent de guerre froide sur le monde.

Vue d’Europe ou de Washington, l’impression domine que le monde entier s’est levé contre Poutine et sa guerre en Ukraine. Cette impression est nourrie par la condamnation unanime de l’Occident et par ses efforts politiques, économiques et militaires pour aider l’Ukraine à résister. Mais il s’agit d’une perception occidentale, qui agit comme un miroir déformant de la réalité.

Depuis le début de la guerre, une partie du monde soutient ouvertement le régime de Vladimir Poutine, tandis qu’une autre s’abstient de le condamner, se réfugiant dans l’indifférence ou l’embarras. Et deux mois après le début de l’offensive, les crimes de guerre commis par les forces russes en Ukraine n’ont pas modifié le positionnement de ces pays. » | Par Isabelle Lasserre | vendredi 29 Avril 2022

Réservé aux abonnés

Jacob Rees-Mogg Has Given the Game Away – Even This Government Knows Brexit Is a Disaster

THE GUARDIAN – OPINION: Leaving the EU was the point of Johnson’s administration. Without that goal, its founding purpose has gone

‘In the long story of Britain’s needless, pointless departure from the EU, the Rees-Mogg admission should count as a milestone.’ Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian
The definition of a gaffe is when a politician accidentally tells the truth. So ruled the veteran Washington journalist Michael Kinsley, who would surely take delight in the textbook example of the form served up on Thursday by Jacob Rees-Mogg, the satirically titled minister for Brexit opportunities.

On a visit to the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, hi-vis gilet over his double-breasted suit, Rees-Mogg announced that the government was delaying yet again the imposition of post-Brexit border checks on imports from the EU. He asked the public to celebrate this decision, on the grounds that it would save £1bn a year and help hard-pressed consumers by avoiding an increase in the cost of imported food. Enforcing post-Brexit checks, said the minister, “would have been an act of self-harm”.

You read that right. Jacob Rees-Mogg, arch-leaver and longtime loather of the EU, is now parroting lines from the remain campaign. He is admitting that implementing Brexit in full, honouring the 2016 promise to take back control of Britain’s borders, would be “an act of self-harm”. » | Jonathan Freedland | Friday, April 29, 2022

Boris Becker Jailed for Two Years for Hiding Assets after Bankruptcy

THE GUARDIAN: Former tennis star found guilty of four charges by a jury at Southwark crown court earlier this month

Boris Becker was worth about £38m in his heyday in prize money and sponsorship deals.Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA
Boris Becker has been jailed for two years and six months for hiding millions of pounds’ worth of assets after being made bankrupt in June 2017.

Sentencing Becker on Friday, the judge, Deborah Taylor, said: “I take into account what has been described as your ‘fall from grace'. You have lost your career and reputation and all of your property as a result of your bankruptcy.”

But she added: “You have not shown remorse, acceptance of your guilt and have sought to distance yourself from your offending and your bankruptcy. While I accept your humiliation as part of the proceedings, there has been no humility.”

The former tennis star, sentenced under the Insolvency Act, will serve half the full prison term. He was found guilty of four charges by a jury at Southwark crown court this month but acquitted of a further 20 counts relating to his 2017 bankruptcy. He had faced a maximum prison sentence of seven years. » | Amelia Hill | Friday, April 29, 2022

Boris Becker in London zu zweieinhalb Jahren Haft verurteilt: Schicksalstag für eine Tennis-Legende: Boris Becker ist wegen seiner Insolvenzstraftaten zu zweieinhalb Jahren Haft verurteilt worden. Das entschied ein Gericht in London am Freitag. »

Tennis : Boris Becker condamné à deux ans et demi de prison : L'ancienne star de tennis a notamment été déclarée coupable notamment d'avoir caché 2,5 millions de livres sterling. »

Boris Becker Sentenced to Two and a Half Years for Hiding Assets in Bankruptcy: The former tennis champion was found guilty by a London court on charges related to his 2017 insolvency. »

Wie aus dem Märchen ein Drama wurde: Wimbledon 1985 wirkt bis heute. Doch die Haftstrafe für Boris Becker zeigt die Tragik seines Lebens. Auf dem Platz überstrahlten seine Stärken oft seine Schwächen. Nach der Karriere ist es andersherum. »

Democracy Now! US News & World News – April 29, 2022

Russian State TV Discusses Possibility of Nuclear War

Apr 29, 2022 • Chris Hayes on ominous signs that Putin may be trying to get the Russian public on board with a serious escalation of war.

François Hollande: "Putin Isn't Frightened of War" | Amanpour & Company

Apr 28, 2022 • France is helping lead the EU’s response to the invasion of Ukraine, and President Macron’s re-election this past Sunday reinforced that commitment. Macron’s position is supported by his former mentor and predecessor François Hollande, who has himself negotiated with Putin. He spoke with Christiane in Paris, in the wake of France’s presidential election. Originally aired on April 28, 2022.

Musk's Twitter Takeover: A Win for Oligarchy

When billionaires like Musk justify their motives by using 'freedom,' beware. They want to use their vast fortunes to do whatever they please – unconstrained by laws or regulations, shareholders, or even consumers. This is not a win for free speech. It’s a win for oligarchy.

A Gay Farmer on Love, Isolation, and Disrupting the Meat Industry in Australia | The New Yorker | Reupload

Jun 9, 2021 • In “Alone Out Here,” by Philip Busfield and Luke Cornish, an Australian rancher who is openly gay in a conservative industry fights to reduce carbon emissions through his cattle farming.

What Would It Mean If Finland and Sweden Join Nato? - BBC News

Apr 28, 2022 • Finland and Sweden are said to be considering a joint bid to join Nato despite fears of retaliation from Russia.

Stockholm and Helsinki have long pursued policies of military neutrality to avoid conflict with regional powers.

But Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said "everything had changed" when Russia attacked Ukraine and told reporters that Helsinki must to be "prepared for all kinds of actions from Russia".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stressed that Moscow would have to "rebalance the situation" with its own measures if the Nato bid went ahead.

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto has said it would be "useful" for Sweden and Finland to launch joint Nato membership bids, but added that no fixed date had been set for any potential application.

The BBC's Ros Atkins explains the latest developments.

German Energy Firm Uniper Ready to Meet Russian Pay Demand

BBC: One of Germany's biggest energy firms has said it is preparing to buy Russian gas using a payment system that critics say will undermine EU sanctions.

Uniper says it will pay in euros which will be converted into roubles, meeting a Kremlin demand for all transactions to be made in the Russian currency.

Other European energy firms are reportedly preparing to do the same amid concerns about supply cuts.

Uniper said it had no choice but said it was still abiding by EU sanctions.

"We consider a payment conversion compliant with sanctions law and the Russian decree to be possible," a spokesman told the BBC.

"For our company and for Germany as a whole, it is not possible to do without Russian gas in the short term; this would have dramatic consequences for our economy."

Germany's biggest energy supplier RWE declined to comment on how it would pay for Russian gas. » | Daniel Thomas, Business reporter, BBC News | Thursday, April 28, 2022

Marokkanische Polizei beschlagnahmt Rekordmenge an Cannabis

31 TONNEN
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Die Polizei in der marokkanischen Hafenstadt Tanger hat laut eigenen Angaben eine „Rekordmenge“ Cannabis beschlagnahmt. Die sichergestellten Drogen - 31 Tonnen - sollten in Lebensmittelattrappen exportiert werden.

In einem Lagerhaus in der Nähe von Tanger fanden Ermittler laut Angaben der Generaldirektion für nationale Sicherheit am Mittwoch 31 Tonnen Cannabis und knapp 200 Kilogramm Cannabisharz . Die Drogen waren demnach in Attrappen von Obst und Gemüse versteckt und sollten mutmaßlich als Lebensmittel getarnt exportiert werden. » | Quelle: AFP | Donnerstag, 28. April 2022

French Cooking Academy – Stephane: Leek and Potato Soup

Potage Parmentier

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion
200 grams leeks
200 grams potato
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon saffron threads
salt and pepper to taste
1 litre white chicken stock
3 tablespoons cream
20 ml white wine
finely chopped chives
some extra drops of olive oil to decorate

Potage Parmentier or Potage à la Parmentier after Antoine-Augustin Parmentier [F], the French nutritionist and scholar who popularized the use of potatoes in France in the 18th Century.

Source: WIKIPEDIA

Moldova Facing ‘Dangerous Moment’ amid Fears It Could Be Drawn into Ukraine War

THE GUARDIAN: Government warns unnamed forces are stoking tensions in Russian-speaking breakaway region of Transnistria

Moldova’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Nicu Popescu, said his government had seen ‘a dangerous deterioration of the situation’. Photograph: Dumitru Doru/EPA
Moldova is facing “a very dangerous new moment”, the country’s deputy prime minister has said, as he warned that unnamed forces were seeking to stoke tensions after a series of explosions in the breakaway region of Transnistria this week.

In a briefing with journalists, Nicu Popescu said his government had seen “a dangerous deterioration of the situation” in recent days, after grenade attacks on the “ministry of security” in the breakaway region of Transnistria on Monday. The attacks with rocket-propelled grenades represented “a very dangerous new moment in the history of our region,”, he said, adding that Moldova’s institutions had been put on high alert in response.

Fears are growing that Moldova and Transnistria could be drawn into the Ukraine conflict. The predominantly Russian-speaking region of Transnistria in eastern Moldova has been controlled by pro-Russia separatists since 1992 after a short war when Moscow intervened on the side of the rebels.

Last week a senior Russian commander said gaining control over southern Ukraine would help Russia link up with Transnistria, which shares a 453km border with Ukraine. Then on Monday came a series of mysterious explosions targeting Transnistria’s “state security ministry”, a radio tower and military unit. » | Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Thursday, April 28, 2022

A Long Fight for Gay Rights in Romania

Nov 18, 2019 • This video is about the fight for gay rights in Romania, produced by Luis Jachmann

Being Gay in Romania | Bucharest

Mar 4, 2019 • In Romania, until 2001, you could be locked up in prison simply for being gay. And yet, Florin Buhuceanu kept fighting for equal rights no matter the danger he was putting himself in.

Ludmila Oulitskaïa, écrivaine russe : « Et, finalement, oui, Poutine peut annuler l’histoire et en fabriquer une autre »

LE MONDE : L’autrice vit désormais en exil : la guerre en Ukraine a rendu la Russie trop dangereuse pour elle. A Paris, elle évoque le passé, le présent et l’avenir, les siens comme ceux de son pays.

Ses mains s’abattent sur ses cuisses. « Un noir, un blanc ! » Deux pantalons. C’est tout ce que Ludmila Oulitskaïa a pris avec elle en quittant Moscou, quelques jours à peine après le déclenchement de la guerre en Ukraine, décidée par Vladimir Poutine, le 24 février. « Mon fils aîné est arrivé de Londres. Il a une vision large des choses, si large qu’il m’a dit : “Il faut partir tout de suite, c’est invivable ici.” » L’écrivaine et son mari, peintre et sculpteur, ont obtempéré. Ils ont fermé la porte de leur domicile et quitté la Russie, avec deux petites valises de moins de 7 kilos chacune, pour Berlin, puis Paris, où nous l’avons rencontrée. » | Par Isabelle Mandraud | mercredi 27 avril 2022

Article réservé aux abonnés

La famille Pasternak dans l’éternelle tourmente russe : RÉCIT - À côté des Ukrainiens victimes du conflit, des Russes occidentalisés ou opposés à la guerre sont eux aussi, par milliers, poussés à l’exil. Assia Pasternak et son mari, descendants du grand écrivain russe, se confient. »

Democracy Now! US News & World Headlines – April 28, 2022

Bundestag: Therapien zur „Heilung“ von Homosexualität verboten

May 8, 2020 • Therapien zur „Heilung“ von Homosexualität verboten. Der Bundestag hat am Donnerstag, 7. Mai 2020, den Gesetzentwurf der Bundesregierung „zum Schutz vor Konversionsbehandlungen“ in der vom Gesundheitsausschuss geänderten Fassung angenommen. CDU/CSU, SPD und FDP stimmten für den Gesetzentwurf, die übrigen Fraktionen enthielten sich, es gab eine Gegenstimme aus der AfD-Fraktion.

"On m'a expliqué que les gays étaient des dégénérés" - Interview | Homothérapies | ARTE

Nov 18, 2019 • En 2019, on cherche toujours à guérir les personnes homosexuelles. En se penchant sur des réseaux venus des États-Unis et bien implantés en Europe, qui s'inspirent du christianisme comme de la psychanalyse pour justifier d'obscures « thérapies de conversion », Bernard Nicolas révèle des pratiques aux conséquences dévastatrices, qui échappent pour diverses raisons au radar des pouvoirs publics européens.

After Years of Progress on Gay Rights, How Did the US Become So Anti-LGBTQ+?

Florida’s ‘don’t say gay’ bill bans discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools between kindergarten and third grade. Illustration: Esme Blegvad/The Guardian
THE GUARDIAN: A slew of bills are rolling back recently won freedoms. Is America ready to fight for LGBTQ+ rights all over again?

In 2019, the Atlantic ran an opinion piece titled “The struggle for gay rights is over”. Written by the rightwing academic James Kirchick, the piece was obviously meant as a provocation, but its argument that “for those born into a form of adversity, sometimes the hardest thing to do is admitting that they’ve won” was at least considered cogent enough at the time to publish.

It came towards the end of a slew of political victories for the LGBTQ+ cause. At that time, it seemed as though the US supreme court would hand down a landmark ruling immediately before Pride Weekend every couple of years. The demise of the homophobic Defense of Marriage Act in 2013 was followed by the end of the federal ban on marriage equality in 2015. Widespread acceptance of same-sex marriage rights, gay people serving in the military and the need for protections for LGBTQ+ people followed. As recently as 2020, the court, then with two Trump appointees, ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protected gay, lesbian and transgender workers. For all the terrible crises of our century, LGBTQ+ people’s rights were solidly enshrined, and attitudes were shifting in line with legislation. In 1985, 89% of parents said they would be sad if they discovered their child was gay or a lesbian. By 2015, it was down to 39%. » | Peter-Astrid Kane | Thursday, April 28, 2022

Russia’s President Putin Warns against Foreign Intervention in Ukraine War – BBC News

Apr 28, 2022 • Any country trying to intervene in the Ukraine war will face a "lightning-fast" response, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned.

"We have all the tools no-one can boast of... we will use them if necessary," he said, in what is seen as a reference to ballistic missiles and nuclear arms.

Ukraine's allies have stepped up the supply of weapons, with the US vowing to make sure Ukraine defeats Russia.

Western officials say Russia is being hampered in its efforts in the east.

The True Effectiveness of Russian Sanctions | The Mehdi Hasan Show

Apr 28, 2022 • The war in Ukraine is not just being fought with guns and missiles, but also with economic sanctions on Russia. But how effective will these sanctions be against the billionaire Russian oligarchs? Author and Putin critic Bill Browder knows — and he shares his thoughts with Katie Phang.

Ukraine War: Putin Warns against Foreign Intervention

Vladimir Putin said Russia had "all the tools" to respond | GETTY IMAGES
BBC: Any country trying to intervene in the Ukraine war will face a "lightning-fast" response, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned.

"We have all the tools no-one can boast of... we will use them if necessary", he said, in what is seen as a reference to ballistic missiles and nuclear arms.

Ukraine's allies have stepped up the supply of weapons, with the US vowing to make sure Ukraine defeats Russia.

Western officials say Russia is being hampered in its efforts in the east.

Last week, Russia launched a major offensive to seize the Donbas region after withdrawing from areas around the capital Kyiv.

But according to one official, Russian forces are "finding it difficult to overcome the staunch Ukrainian resistance and they are suffering losses".

In another development, the European Commission has accused Russia of blackmail after Moscow cut off gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria.

The Commission's President, Ursula von der Leyen said it showed Russia's "unreliability" as a supplier.

The Kremlin said Russia had been forced into the action by the "unfriendly steps" of Western nations. » | Yaroslav Lukov, BBC News | Thursday, April 28, 2022

Fears Are Mounting That Ukraine War Will Spill Across Borders

THE NEW YORK TIMES: WASHINGTON — For nine weeks, President Biden and the Western allies have emphasized the need to keep the war for Ukraine inside Ukraine.

Now, the fear in Washington and European capitals is that the conflict may soon escalate into a wider war — spreading to neighboring states, to cyberspace and to NATO countries suddenly facing a Russian cutoff of gas. Over the long term, such an expansion could evolve into a more direct conflict between Washington and Moscow reminiscent of the Cold War, as each seeks to sap the other’s power.

In the past three days, the American secretary of defense has called for an effort to degrade the capability of the Russian military so that it could not invade another country for years to come. The Russians have cut off gas shipments to Poland and Bulgaria, which joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after the collapse of the Soviet Union; Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, immediately denounced the move as an “instrument of blackmail.” Explosions have rocked a disputed area of Moldova, a natural next target for the Russians, and gas depots and even a missile factory in Russia have mysteriously caught fire or come under direct attack from Ukrainian forces. » | David E. Sanger and Steven Erlanger | Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Ukraine: Putin Warns of Fast Response to Intervention | DW News

Apr 27, 2022 • Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday that if any other country intervenes in Russia's military operation in Ukraine, Moscow will launch a quick-fire military response. Speaking to lawmakers, Putin said that "if anyone sets out to intervene in the current events from the outside and creates unacceptable threats for us that are strategic in nature, they should know that our response... will be lightning-fast".

Putin said that the military would not hesitate to use the most modern weaponry. "We have all the tools for this, that no one else can boast of having. We won't boast about it: we'll use them, if needed.

George Michael : Jesus to a Child

Provided to YouTube by Sony Music UK | Views on YouTube: 24,827,054

Toto : Africa | Official HD Video

Views on YouTube: 761,085,933

Auch schon in Bayern feiert man auf farbvolle Weise! Im Oktoberfest genießen zwei Männer ihre Liebe füreinander.

Même en Bavière, les gens célèbrent de manière colorée ! À l'Oktoberfest, deux hommes profitent de leur amour l'un pour l'autre. / Even in Bavaria people celebrate in a colorful way! At the Oktoberfest, two men enjoy their love for each other.
Für dieses schöne Bild bedanke ich mich bei destination-munich.com auf Pinterest.

Barbra Streisand Turned 80 on Sunday, April 24, 2022

WIKIPEDIA: Barbra Streisand.

Macron Dodges Tomatoes in Post-election Walkabout

THE GUARDIAN: Triumphant French president promises to listen as he chooses working-class Cergy for first public appearance since vote

Emmanuel Macron narrowly missed being hit by a bag of tomatoes during a surprise visit to a working-class area north of Paris, as he promised a new style of “listening to people” after his re-election as president.

In his first public appearance since Sunday’s vote, Macron strolled around a food market in the town of Cergy, north-west of Paris, shaking hands and posing for selfies. Most people were friendly, some shouted congratulations and others asked for help in finding a job, dealing with health problems or making ends meet.

But at one point there were briefly boos, and a bag of tomatoes was thrown towards Macron’s back but missed. A bodyguard opened an umbrella to shield the president, who quickly sidestepped the projectile and continued to greet people and shake hands.

The Élysée Palace said the trip was Macron’s way of “listening to people’s concerns, expectations and needs”. He told local young people that he wanted to get out on the ground “from the start”. One young woman replied: “Don’t just come here for the photos.” Another onlooker said: “It’s good that he’s getting out of the Élysée.” » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Democracy Now! US News & World Headlines – April 27, 2022

Eine neue Identität für ein ganzes Land

König und Kronprinz | Bild: AFP
MODERNISIERUNG SAUDI-ARABIENS
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Der saudische Kronprinz Bin Salman verordnet seinem Land eine radikale Neuorientierung: Nicht mehr der Wahabismus, sondern die Wiege des Hauses Saud soll nun identitätsstiftend sein. Auch die Wirtschaft wird modernisiert.

Das Königreich Saudi-Arabien vollzieht eine Neugründung, noch bevor der 36 Jahre alte Kronprinz Muhammad Bin Salman seinem fünfzig Jahre älteren Vater Salman Bin Abd al-Aziz auf dem Thron folgt. Derzeit werden alle drei Säulen, auf denen das Königreich ruht, erneuert. Das Haus Saud, die erste Säule, verändert sich, weil mit dem Kronprinzen erstmals die Enkelgeneration des Staatsgründers Abd al-Aziz Bin Saud auf den Thron drängt. Bislang waren auf den 1953 verstorbenen Gründer sechs seiner Söhne gefolgt.

Auf ein neues Fundament sollen die beiden anderen Säulen gestellt werden: die Abhängigkeit vom Erdöl und die Legitimation durch die wahhabitischen Religionsgelehrten. So soll die „Vision 2030“ des Kronprinzen die Wirtschaft modernisieren, damit sie nicht mehr vom Erdöl abhängt, und in Diriyah, einem Vorort von Riad, wird sichtbar, dass sich die Herrschaft des Hauses Saud nicht länger durch den 1744 vollzogenen Pakt mit dem Religionsgelehrten Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab legitimiert. » | Von Rainer Hermann | Dienstag, 26. April 2022

Um den ganzen Artikel lesen zu können, muß man abonniert sein. Momentan kann man hier ein Abonnement für 30 Tage kostenfrei testen.

Twitter war Trumps mächtigstes Megafon – Musk könnte es ihm nun zurückgeben

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Elon Musk hat den Kauf von Twitter mit dem Kampf für Meinungsfreiheit begründet. Trumps Anhänger hoffen deshalb auf eine Rückkehr ihres Idols auf Twitter. Selbst führende Republikaner finden dies keine gute Idee. Musk selbst muss nun zeigen, wo er politisch steht.

Kehrt Donald Trump möglicherweise bald zurück auf Twitter? | David Maxwell / EPA
Die Übernahme des Kurznachrichtendiensts Twitter durch den reichsten Mann der Welt hat kontroverse Reaktionen ausgelöst. Die rechtskonservativen und rechtsextremen Kreise in den USA indes fieberten seit Wochen mit Elon Musk mit. Bereits vor einem Monat hatte der Tesla-Gründer auf Twitter eine suggestive Umfrage lanciert: «Die Meinungsfreiheit ist essenziell für eine funktionierende Demokratie. Glaubt ihr, dass Twitter sich rigoros an dieses Prinzip hält?» Die Konsequenzen dieser Erhebung seien wichtig, kommentierte Musk und bat seine 85 Millionen Follower, sorgfältig abzustimmen. Diese beantworteten seine Frage zu 70 Prozent mit «Nein». » | Christian Weisflog, Washington | Mittwoch, 27. April 2022

Pourquoi la Russie évoque-t-elle le spectre d'une Troisième Guerre mondiale ?

Vladimir Poutine inspecte les exercices militaires conjoints russes dans la région de Leningrad le 18 septembre 2017.Mikhail KLIMENTYEV / SPUTNIK / AFP
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Lundi soir, Sergueï Lavrov, ministre russe des Affaires étrangères, a estimé qu'il ne fallait pas «sous-estimer» le risque de Troisième Guerre mondiale. Réelle menace ou simple posture ?

Dans une interview diffusée à la télévision d'État lundi 25 avril au soir, Sergueï Lavrov a affirmé que son pays s'efforçait de réduire le risque de guerre nucléaire, rappelant toutefois que le danger était «réel et sérieux». Au cours de son entretien télévisé, le ministre russe des Affaires étrangères a également mis en garde contre le danger d'une Troisième guerre mondiale : «Le danger est grave, il est réel, on ne peut pas le sous-estimer». En parallèle, des explosions se sont produites lundi 25 et mardi 26 en Transnistrie. L'Ukraine accuse Moscou de chercher à déstabiliser la région séparatiste moldave prorusse, et la présidente de la Moldavie a réuni mardi son conseil de sécurité national, craignant un débordement du conflit en Ukraine. » | Par Jeanne Sénéchal | mardi 26 avril 2022

Réservé aux abonnés

Russia-Ukraine: What Is Happening in Transnistria? I Al Jazeera Newsfeed

Apr 27, 2022 • Moldova is stepping up its security after a series of explosions in the breakaway region of Transnistria, which borders Ukraine and is run by Russian-backed separatists.

Moldavie : tirs près d'un dépôt de munitions russes en Transnistrie : La Transnistrie est une région séparatiste prorusse de Moldavie, voisine de l'Ukraine. Un village a été la cible de tirs après avoir été survolé par des drones. »

Where is Transnistria and why is it being drawn into Ukraine war?: Moscow-backed region in Moldova, which borders Ukraine, is in the news after a series of explosions »

Transnistrie : pourquoi la guerre en Ukraine suscite l’inquiétude pour ce territoire de Moldavie : Après une série d’explosions sur ce territoire séparatiste de l’est de la Moldavie, la crainte de voir le conflit en Ukraine s’étendre à cet ancien pays soviétique est ravivée. »

Video: Anschläge in separatistischer Region Transnistrien: Russland und die Ukraine beschuldigen einander, Sendemasten in dem Landstreifen Ostmoldaus zerstört zu haben. Er wird seit 1990 von prorussischen Kräften kontrolliert. »

Catholics Made Unwelcome in Orthodox Russia | 2002

Jan 30, 2019 • Russia's Holy War (2002) - The policy of religious discrimination pursued by Putin's government is more akin with the Tsarist regime of old than a new, modern Russian state.

In Pskov, on Russia’s far Western border, demonstrators protest outside the site of a new Catholic church. “Catholics get lost, Russia for Russians, Pskov for Pskovitans!” they chant. They are members of the Russian Orthodox Church, disgusted by the “intrusion” of the Catholic religion into their country.

Gazprom suspend ses livraisons de gaz à la Pologne et à la Bulgarie

LE MONDE : Le groupe russe sanctionne Varsovie et Sofia, qui ont refusé de s’acquitter de ses importations gazières en roubles, comme l’exige désormais le Kremlin.

Le premier ministre polonais, Mateusz Morawiecki, lors d’une viste en Ukraine, à Lviv, le 19 avril 2022. YURIY DYACHYSHYN / AFP
Varsovie s’y attendait. Dès mercredi 27 avril, 8 heures, Gazprom Export devait cesser ses livraisons en gaz à destination de la Pologne, acheminées grâce au gazoduc Yamal, reliant la Russie au reste de l’Europe occidentale. La Bulgarie, qui s’y attendait beaucoup moins en raison de son engagement plus limité derrière l’Ukraine, a elle aussi annoncé qu’elle allait subir la même sanction, via, cette fois, le gazoduc Turkish Stream, qui livre du gaz russe depuis la mer Noire.

« Le 26 avril 2022, Gazprom a informé [l’entreprise publique polonaise gazière]PGNiG de son intention de suspendre complètement les livraisons dans le cadre du contrat Yamal au début de la journée contractuelle du 27 avril », a confirmé, dans un communiqué, mardi 26 avril au soir, PGNiG. La Pologne, qui soutient ardemment la souveraineté ukrainienne et arme son voisin face à l’agresseur russe, avait déjà annoncé qu’elle ne renouvellerait pas son contrat avec Gazprom, en vigueur jusqu’à la fin 2022. » | Par Hélène Bienvenu (Varsovie (correspondance)) et Jean-Baptiste Chastand (Sofia, Envoyé spécial) | mercredi 27 avril 2022

Article réservé aux abonnés

Twitter Takeover: EU and UK Warn Elon Musk Must Comply or Face Sanctions

THE GUARDIAN: EU commissioner raises hate speech concerns as UK draws attention to penalties in online safety bill

The UK and EU have warned that Twitter must comply with new content rules or face sanctions that range from fines to a total ban, as concerns were raised that hate speech will increase on the platform under the ownership of Elon Musk.

The world’s richest man has agreed a $44bn (£34bn) deal to buy the social media network, which will hand control of a platform with 217 million users to a self-confessed “free speech absolutist”.

A UK government spokesperson said companies must adhere to the forthcoming online safety bill, which requires platforms to protect users from harmful content, or face the threat of large fines and, for repeat offenders, a total ban.

“Twitter and all social media platforms must protect their users from harm on their sites. We are introducing new online safety laws to safeguard children, prevent abusive behaviour and protect free speech. All tech firms with users in the UK will need to comply with the new laws or face hefty fines and having their sites blocked.”

Thierry Breton, the EU’s commissioner for the internal market, reminded the Tesla chief executive on Tuesday that he would have to comply with the newly agreed Digital Services Act, which requires online platforms to tackle illegal content such as hate speech. » | Dan Milmo and Mark Sweney | Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Concern over Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover Wipes $126bn Off Tesla Value

THE GUARDIAN: Fears that carmaker’s CEO may have to sell shares to fund $44bn acquisition of social network

Investors have wiped $126bn (£100bn) off Tesla’s value amid concern that Elon Musk may have to sell shares in the electric carmaker to fund his personal contribution to his $44bn acquisition of Twitter.

Tesla stock has been targeted despite the company not being involved in the bid but Musk, its chief executive and largest shareholder, is part-funding the Twitter deal with $21bn of his own equity and a further $12.5bn loan secured against his Tesla stake.

The 12.2% drop in Tesla’s shares on Tuesday equated to a $21bn drop in the value of his Tesla stake, equal to the cash stake he committed to the Twitter deal. » | Guardian staff and agency | Wednesday, April 27, 2022

The World's Worst Place To Be Gay | 2012

Top US General: What's At Stake Is Greater Than Ukraine

Apr 26, 2022 • General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discusses the stakes of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the wider global implications with CNN's Jim Sciutto.

Wenn Krebs arm macht | ARTE Re:

Apr 26, 2022 • Viele junge Krebspatienten zwischen 15 und 39 Jahren verlieren ihre Arbeit, ihre Wohnung, ihr Erspartes, weil die sozialstaatlichen Absicherungsmechanismen bei ihnen noch nicht ausreichend greifen. Sie fallen durchs Raster, etwa weil sie noch keine Ansprüche erworben haben. Ärzte schlagen Alarm und fordern ein Überbrückungsgeld.

Katharina Meier aus Potsdam ist 26 Jahre alt und angehende Lehrerin im Referendariat, als sie die Schock-Diagnose bekommt: Brustkrebs. Beide Brüste müssen abgenommen werden. Nur wenige Tage dann die nächste Hiobsbotschaft: Da sie nicht mehr arbeiten kann, muss sie den Ausbildungs-Platz an ihrer Grundschule frei machen. Sie solle sich melden, wenn es ihr wieder gut gehe. Binnen weniger Tage verliert sie so nicht nur ihre Gesundheit, sondern wird auch zum Sozialfall, muss Hartz IV anmelden. Ein Alptraum zwischen Chemo-Sitzungen, Jobcenter und OPs beginnt.

Auch der 19-jährige Marvin Funke aus Oberhausen hat gerade seine Ausbildung zum Maschinenbau-Mechaniker begonnen, als die Krankheit zuschlägt: Ein Hodentumor, es folgen 17 OPs. Marvin bekommt zwar Krankengeld, das sind jedoch nur 70 Prozent seines Azubi-Gehalts – 600 €. Miete, Essen, aber auch hohe Kosten für Pflaster, Mullbinden und Narbensalben, die die Krankenkasse nicht übernimmt, übersteigen diese Einnahmen bei weitem. Während Marvin ums Überleben kämpft, häuft er 25.000 € Schulden an.

Ärzte schlagen Alarm und fordern ein Überbrückungsgeld, denn die Angst vor dem finanziellen Absturz wirkt sich verheerend auf die Genesung aus – ein Teufelskreis.

Reportage (D 2021, 33 Min)
Video auf YouTube verfügbar bis 21/01/2023

Russia’s Lavrov Warns of World War III Risk as US Hosts Talks on Arming Ukraine

Apr 26, 2022 • Russia has warned of the “real” threat of World War III breaking out, ahead of a Tuesday meeting between the United States and allies over sending further arms to war-torn Ukraine. Follow our liveblog for all the latest developments.

CALLEkocht : Frisches Sauerkraut selber machen. Ganz einfach mit Omas "DIY" Rezept

Mar 8, 2022 • CALLEkocht: Sauerkraut aus der Dose? Warum wurden wir gefragt? Also machen wir Sauerkraut ganz einfach selbst. Das ist günstig, einfach, hat viel Vitamin C und braucht nur wenige Zutaten. Und es macht Spaß. Versprochen.

Zutaten: Auf 1 kg Weißkohl braucht man 11 g Salz, 2 Nelken und 1 Lorbeerblatt.

Elon Musk Is a Problem Masquerading as a Solution

JIm Watson/AFP via Getty Images
OPINION: GUEST ESSAY
THE NEW YORK TIMES: It is a perfect marriage for an age of plutocracy: Twitter with its serious problems and Elon Musk, the embodiment of those problems. What happens when the incarnation of a problem buys the right to decide what the problem is and how to fix it?

Twitter has a disinformation problem — fake news about Covid vaccines, climate and more running buck wild across the platform. Mr. Musk has shown himself to be a highly capable peddler of dubious claims, whether putting out misleading financial information or calling the British diver who helped rescue trapped schoolboys in Thailand a “pedo guy.”

Twitter has a racism problem. Time and again, it has failed to consequentially answer the pleas of users of color to address the bigotry and harassment that are endemic for them. Tesla, the carmaker that Mr. Musk runs, has its own racism problem, with many workers complaining to the press and California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing suing the company over an allegedly pervasive problem of racialized degradation. The agency recently described one of Tesla’s plants as “a racially segregated workplace” rife with slurs as well as discrimination “in job assignments, discipline, pay and promotion.” » | Anand Giridharadas * | Tuesday, April 26, 2022

* Anand Giridharadas is the author, most recently, of “Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World.”

Democracy Now! Elon Musk Has Been an "Abusive" Bully on Twitter for Years. Now He Owns It

Apr 26, 2022 • The world's richest man, Elon Musk, is set to become the new owner of Twitter after the company's board agreed to sell the influential social media platform for $44 billion on Monday. Musk, who describes himself as a "free speech absolutist," tweeted, "I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means." We speak with tech industry watchdog Jessica González and Evan "Rabble" Henshaw-Plath, who was part of the team that launched Twitter in 2006, about what the buyout means for the future of digital media and journalism. "Musk or no Musk, Twitter has work to do to ensure that it stops amplifying bigotry, calls to violence, hate speech and conspiracy theories," says González. Henshaw-Plath says he senses Musk has "no idea what he's getting into," and discusses the activist roots of Twitter.

Liens connexes.

Democracy Now! US News & World Headlines – April 26, 2022

Modération, services payants, correction des tweets... Ce qu'Elon Musk prévoit de changer chez Twitter

LE FIGARO : Le nouveau propriétaire du réseau social, dont il est un utilisateur très actif, a dessiné son plan d'action.

À quoi ressemblera Twitter une fois que le réseau social deviendra la propriété d'Elon Musk ? Le milliardaire, utilisateur très actif de la plateforme, n'a pas manqué de faire part de ses idées au cours des dernières semaines auprès de ses 83 millions d'abonnés, mais également en interview. Elles dessinent ses chantiers prioritaires pour «libérer le potentiel» de Twitter, qu'il est en passe d'acquérir pour 44 milliards de dollars. » | Par Chloé Woitier | mardi 26 avril 2022

«Elon Musk hat die Meinungsfreiheit im Internet falsch verstanden» : Musk sagt, er wolle mehr Redefreiheit auf Twitter. Doch Digitalexperten warnen davor, die Moderation der Inhalte einzuschränken. Verbale Entgleisungen online führen in der echten Welt zu mehr Hassverbrechen. Und Musk gilt als einer, der die Redefreiheit nur so lange schätzt, wie sie ihm nicht schadet. »

Related links.

What Better Owner for Twitter Than Elon Musk, Master of the Ill-advised Tweet?

THE GUARDIAN: The ultimate shitposter has bought up Twitter, and its denizens are angry – how entirely appropriate

Speaking a few hours ago about Twitter purchaser Elon Musk, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey declared: “I trust his mission to extend the light of consciousness.” Bless. This feels like the first flashback scene we see in a dystopian drama after the words “SIX MONTHS EARLIER …” Quite where we’ll be in six months’ time as far as Twitter is concerned remains tantalisingly unclear, but it seems difficult to imagine it will be either a more or less pleasant space. It’s a social media platform. I’m not sure what further evidence humanity needs before we cotton on to the idea that such a thing might be an intrinsically toxic concept. Of course, there will always be some people who think it just hasn’t been done right yet. Like communism, or a British version of the Daily Show. » | Marina Hyde | Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Twitter takeover: Jack Dorsey says Elon Musk is ‘solution I trust’: Platform’s co-founder backs controversial takeover by world’s richest man »

Related content.

Life in Scotland Is Getting Worse, Say Young LGBT+ People

THE GUARDIAN: Concerns about bullying, homophobia and hate crime revealed in latest five-yearly report

Life for LGBT+ young people in Scotland is “worse now than it has been for a long time”, according to a report which highlights growing concerns about homophobia in public spaces, bullying in schools and transphobic media coverage.

The five-yearly report from the campaigning and advocacy group LGBT Youth Scotland found a sharp decrease in respondents who believe that Scotland is a good place for LGBTI young people to live, falling from 81% in 2017 to 65% in 2022 and the first drop in the figure for 15 years.

There was also a significant increase in those who believe that homophobia and transphobia is a “big problem” in Scotland since the last survey was undertaken in 2017 – rising from 11% to 25% and 49% to 69% respectively. » | Libby Brooks, Scotland correspondent | Tuesday, April 26, 2022

De Budapest à Varsovie, le silence et l’embarras des gouvernements populistes d’Europe centrale

LE MONDE : Le Hongrois Viktor Orban espérait qu’une victoire de Marine Le Pen lui permettrait de refonder une droite européenne souverainiste.

La dirigeante du parti d’extrême droite français Rassemblement national (RN) Marine Le Pen (à droite), et le Premier ministre hongrois Viktor Orban (à gauche) avant le « Sommet de Varsovie », une réunion des dirigeants des partis conservateurs et de droite européens, en Pologne, le 4 décembre 2021. WOJTEK RADWANSKI / AFP
En allant inaugurer le salon hongrois de la formation professionnelle de Budapest, lundi 25 avril, Viktor Orban n’a pas eu le temps de commenter les résultats des élections françaises, où son alliée, Marine Le Pen, a essuyé une défaite dans les urnes, la veille. « Les forces nationales ont remporté les élections législatives il y a trois semaines avec un soutien sans précédent », a seulement vanté le premier ministre nationaliste, mais c’était au sujet de sa propre réélection, écrasante, le 3 avril. La quasi-totalité des chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement européens, y compris ses alliés polonais, ont pourtant félicité M. Macron dès dimanche soir.

Ce silence n’est pas une surprise. M. Macron a utilisé le souverainiste hongrois comme épouvantail pendant toute la campagne et il n’a toujours pas, lui non plus, félicité M. Orban pour sa réélection. Mais, surtout, la défaite de Marine Le Pen contrarie tous les plans de refonte des droites et les espoirs de chamboulement de l’Union européenne que le chef de gouvernement hongrois partageait avec ses alliés ultraconservateurs au pouvoir à Varsovie. « Le camp souverainiste est devenu une force incontournable de la politique européenne et, nous aussi, nous voulons voir une Europe des Etats-nations », avait espéré M. Orban lors de la visite de Mme Le Pen à Budapest, en octobre. Une banque hongroise appartenant en partie à son ami d’enfance, la MKB, a par la suite financé la campagne de la candidate d’extrême droite. » | Par Jean-Baptiste Chastand (Vienne, correspondant régional) et Jakub Iwaniuk(Varsovie, correspondant) | lundi 25 avril 2022

Article réservé aux abonnés

Russia Accuses Nato of ‘Proxy War’ in Ukraine as US Hosts Crucial Defence Summit

THE GUARDIAN: Ukraine dismisses Sergei Lavrov’s war comments as diplomats gather in Germany for US-hosted talks to navigate ‘critical’ phase

Russia’s foreign minister has accused Nato of fighting a proxy war by supplying military aid to Ukraine, as defence ministers gathered in Germany for US-hosted talks on supporting Ukraine through what one US general called a “very critical” few weeks.

Sergei Lavrov told Russian state media: “Nato, in essence, is engaged in a war with Russia through a proxy and is arming that proxy. War means war.”

He also warned that the risks of nuclear conflict were now “considerable” – a claim Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said showed Moscow had lost its “last hope to scare the world off supporting Ukraine”.

When asked about the importance of avoiding a third world war, Lavrov said: “I would not want to elevate those risks artificially. Many would like that. The danger is serious, real. And we must not underestimate it.” » | Helen Livingstone and agencies | Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Putins Rache | SPIEGEL TV

Apr 26, 2022 • Der Angriffskrieg auf die Ukraine ist nur der letzte Teil einer langen Blutspur des Kremlherrschers. Seit seiner Amtseinführung mussten bereits mehrere sogenannte »Staatsfeinde«, Oppositionelle oder ehemalige Geheimdienstler sterben. In vielen Fällen führt die Spur zum obersten Mann in Moskau.

heute journal vom 25.04.2022

Apr 25, 2022 • Durch den Krieg in der Ukraine droht im Libanon eine Hungersnot. Die Union fordert erneut, Kampfpanzer und schweres Gerät an die Ukraine zu liefern. Mehr dazu und weitere Nachrichten des Tages im heute journal.