Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee: Seven Decades in Photos

Chris Jackson/Getty Images
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, celebrating her 70 years on the British throne, is above all a tribute to one of history’s great acts of constancy.

Her reign has spanned virtually the entire post-World War II era, making her a witness to cultural upheavals from the Beatles to Brexit, technological advances from wireless radio to Zoom, political leaders from Winston Churchill to Boris Johnson.

From the sepia-tinted pictures of her coronation in 1953 to her emotional televised address to a nation in the grip of the pandemic in 2020, the queen has been an abiding presence in British life for as long as most Britons have been alive.

Her triumphs — history-making visits to South Africa and Ireland — have lifted the country. Her sorrows — the fraught days after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in a Paris car crash, or the Covid-enforced isolation of her grieving for her deceased husband, Prince Philip — have become the nation’s sorrows. » | Mark Landler | Produced by Mona Boshnaq | Thursday, June 2, 2022

Daniil Trifonov – Chopin: Fantaisie-Impromptu In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66

Locked Lips.

Verschlossene Lippen. / Lèvres verrouillées.
With many thanks to 8bithero on Pinterest for this superb photo.

California ‘Crippling Drought’ Leads to Strict Water Restrictions – BBC News

Jun 1, 2022 • Strict water restrictions come into force for millions of people in California as the US west coast continues to experience a crippling drought.

Many predict will get even worse during the summer.

People in the state's agricultural heartland, who have been struggling with water shortages and contamination for years, say it’s time for people in metropolitan areas to conserve water and do their part.

Prince Harry, Alcohol & Cigarettes in 2012 Interview, Katie Couric Reveals in Her Memoir

Oct 1, 2021 • Katie Couric is opening up about her sit-down interview with Prince Harry, nearly a decade later. The journalist is reportedly revealing new details about her 2012 chat with the Duke of Sussex in her memoir "Going There." In an excerpt from the book obtained by DailyMail.com, Katie claimed Harry smelled of cigarettes and alcohol while filming a special for ABC about his grandmother's Diamond Jubilee.

BBC 4: The Smoking Years | 2012

May 5, 2022 • The program reveals the story of the creature that is 'the smoker'. How did this species arrive on our shores? Why did it become so sexy - and so dominant in our lives? Was there really a time when everywhere people could be found shrouded in a thick blue cloud? Enlisting the help of Barry Cryer, Stuart Maconie and others, The Smoking Years tells the unnatural history of a quite remarkable - and now threatened - creature. Warning: smoke-filled nostalgia may damage your health.
This documentary cannot be embedded on external websites. It must be watched on YouTube itself. Watch the documentary here.

Welby’s Suggestion Duke of York Is ‘Seeking to Make Amends’ Prompts Fury

THE GUARDIAN: Clergy abuse survivors say ‘church hasn’t begun to address its own debts’ after archbishop of Canterbury’s remarks

In an interview with ITV on Tuesday, Welby said the Queen’s second son was seeking to make amends, adding: ‘I think that’s a very good thing.’ Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA
Survivors of clergy abuse have reacted with fury to the archbishop of Canterbury’s suggestion that the Duke of York was “seeking to make amends” after settling a sexual assault case.

Andrew Graystone, who advocates on behalf of survivors, said: “Victims of clergy abuse have spoken to me about their shock that Justin Welby should speak about forgiveness and reconciliation when the church hasn’t begun to address its own debts.”

The Church of England had repeatedly failed to listen to victims and deal effectively with abusers, he said. “If Welby wants to discuss issues of justice, mercy and reconciliation – and if he wants to give a lead to the nation on those things – he needs to get his own church in order first.

“Welby says we should cut Prince Andrew some slack because he is ‘seeking to make amends’ for what he may have done. Where are the signs that [the C of E] is seeking to make amends for those it has grievously abused?” » | Harriet Sherwood | Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Archbishop of Canterbury suggests Prince Andrew wants to ‘make amends’: Justin Welby made comment about the duke as he asked public to be more ‘open and forgiving’ »

Lebanon: A People in Crisis I ARTE.tv Documentary

May 30, 2022 • Undermined by the corruption of its leaders, Lebanon is going through one of the worst economic crises in its history. Since the collapse of the #banking system, Lebanese people have seen their living standards plunge. The local currency has lost up to 90% of its value, and #inflation is soaring. There are also shortages of fuel, electricity, and medicines. Some citizens even say Lebanon is on the brink of becoming a failed state. | Available until the 23/08/2022

Platinum Jubilee: Queen's Life in Pictures

Elizabeth was born on 21 April 1926 in London, the first child of Albert, Duke of York, and his wife, formerly Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. | PA MEDIA
BBC: The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations have begun, with Elizabeth II becoming the first British monarch to reign for 70 years. To mark the event we present an image from the archives of PA Media from every year of her life. » | BBC | Sunday, February 6, 2022

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines – June 1, 2022

Boris Johnson’s Move to Bring Back Imperial Units Is Pure Piffle – and Simply Unfathomable

THE GUARDIAN – OPINION: The prime minister is tapping into a history of xenophobia, pseudoscience and fears over lost political sovereignty

‘Touting the “return” of imperial units to shops is just disastrously retrograde.’ Photograph: George Marks/Getty Images
Starting a fight between metric and imperial units of measurement seems, at first, like an odd choice for Boris Johnson. From a political perspective. The move is obviously pure piffle: a dumbshow designed to placate (or at least entertain) the conservative base while distracting and antagonising rivals. But knowingly or not, by reigniting what 19th-century observers once called the “Battle of the Standards”, Johnson has tapped in to a long and wild history of anti-metric feeling that encompasses xenophobia, pseudoscience and fears over lost political sovereignty. » | James Vincent | Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Related articles in German and English here.

Crypto Mania: Behind the Hype of Cryptocurrencies | Four Corners

May 30, 2022 • Cryptocurrency is the hottest financial product in the world.

The hype is everywhere, with forms of the digital currency endorsed and advertised by celebrities daring you to invest in this brave new world.

Not everyone is convinced by the glossy ads and bold claims.

Four Corners investigates what lies behind the slick marketing and big promises to examine if it's a fad, a fraud or the future.

How Corporations Are Using Inflation to Take Your Money

May 31, 2022 • Don’t tell me corporations have no choice but to raise prices. Corporate profits are at a 70-year high. Stock buybacks are expected to reach $1,000,000,000,000 this year. News flash: They’re using inflation as cover to squeeze more money out of you.

L’Australie désigne symboliquement un « ministre délégué pour la République » avant une possible sortie de la monarchie

LE MONDE : Cette mesure, voulue par le nouveau premier ministre Anthony Albanese, pourrait aboutir à une « suppression de la Couronne » dans le pays.

Le premier ministre australien, Anthony Albanese, le 31 mai 2022. LUKAS COCH / AP
Le nouveau premier ministre australien, de centre gauche, Anthony Albanese, a nommé mardi 31 mai son gouvernement qui comprend un « ministre délégué pour la République », dans un pays qui est une monarchie selon sa Constitution. Matt Thistlethwaite, député de Sydney, a vu cette attribution lui échoir parmi d’autres. Il s’agit pour l’Australie d’une étape symbolique vers une sortie de la monarchie britannique, en pleins préparatifs à Londres du jubilé de la reine Elizabeth II.

Des dirigeants travaillistes avaient déjà promis dans le passé un référendum pour défaire la reine d’Angleterre de son titre de chef d’Etat de l’Australie. Une promesse que M. Albanese, républicain de longue date, s’est gardé de réitérer pendant la campagne. » | Le Monde avec AFP | mardi 31 mai 2022

Dimitra’s Dishes : Greek Lemon Phyllo Pie: Lemonopita / Patsavouropita

Get the recipe here.

König der Schaumweine | Karambolage | ARTE

Dec 24, 2021 • Kurz vor Weihnachten geht Nikola Obermann den Ursprüngen des Champagners auf den Grund. Autorin: Nikola Obermann Regie: Gilles Roqueplo | Verfügbar bis zum 05/02/2041

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines – May 31, 2022

Andrea Leadsom Criticises ‘Failures of Leadership’ in No 10

THE GUARDIAN: Former business secretary does not call on PM to resign but says MPs must ‘decide on right course of action’

Leadsom said she believed it was ‘extremely unlikely that senior leaders were unaware of what was going on’ in No 10 while Covid rules were in place. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA
The former cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom has criticised Boris Johnson’s “failure of leadership” – the latest in a string of senior Tory figures to express doubts about the prime minister’s future.

The former business secretary, who has twice run for the party leadership, stopped short of calling for Johnson to resign but said individual MPs would decide on how best to restore confidence.

In a letter to her constituents, Leadsom said she believed it was “extremely unlikely that senior leaders were unaware of what was going on”.

“I therefore agree with Sue Gray’s conclusions that there have been significant failures of leadership, both political and official, in No 10 and the Cabinet Office,” she wrote.

The MP for South Northamptonshire added: “Each of my Conservative MP colleagues and I must now decide individually on what is the right course of action that will restore confidence in our government.” » | Jessica Elgot, Chief political correspondent | Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Tory MP John Stevenson submits letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson »

Immer mehr Tories gegen Boris Johnson: Fast täglich sprechen konservative Abgeordnete dem britischen Premierminister die Amtstauglichkeit ab. Selbst eine frühere Vertraute äußert sich kritisch. »

Audrey Hepburn : le choix de l'élégance | Reupload

Die gleiche Dokumentation ist hier auf Deutsch verfügbar.

Monkeypox Infections Rise as Guidance Advises Cases to Abstain from Sex

BBC: Another 71 cases of monkeypox have been identified in England over the weekend bringing the UK total to 179, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says.

New guidance is advising anyone with the virus to abstain from sex while they have symptoms.

They are also told to use condoms for eight weeks after an infection as a precaution.

The risk to the population is low, but people should be alert to new rashes or lesions, the UKHSA says.

In total, 172 cases have been confirmed in England, with four in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and one in Wales. » | Jim Reed, Health reporter | Monday, May 30, 2022

Related.

Von McDonald’s bleibt höchstens das Menu – Russlands Wirtschaft wahrt noch den Schein, aber entkoppelt sich vom Rest der Welt

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: In Russland kommen neue Marken auf. Das ist aber weniger eine Bereicherung des Marktes als die Folge des Rückzugs internationaler Firmen. Die Sanktionen des Westens werfen ihre grossen Schatten – ihre Folgen spüren die Russinnen und Russen jeden Tag.

Noch sind die McDonald's-Logos in Moskau zu sehen. | Evgenia Novozhenina / Reuters

In Russland hat eine neue Phase der kriegsbedingten wirtschaftlichen Umwälzungen in der Unternehmenswelt begonnen. Direkt nach dem Beginn des Krieges hatten internationale Unternehmen Schlag auf Schlag bekanntgegeben, Russland verlassen zu wollen, und ihre Operationen in dem Land oftmals zeitweilig sistiert. Nun vergeht kaum ein Tag, an dem nicht über neue Eigentümer von Firmen berichtet wird, die zuvor Teil weltumspannender Marken und Konzerne waren. » | Markus Ackeret, Moskau | Sonntag, 29. Mai 2022

Protester Throws Pastry at the Mona Lisa

The protester faked a disability to get close to the painting before throwing a pastry at it, smearing cream on its glass case. The painting was not damaged.

« La Joconde » entartée, le Louvre porte plainte : L’homme, âgé de 36 ans, a été admis à l’infirmerie psychiatrique de la préfecture de police et une enquête a été ouverte pour « tentative de dégradation d’un bien culturel ». »

Nancy Pelosi's Husband Busted for Alleged DUI after Crashing in Napa

May 30, 2022 • Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was arrested for alleged drunk driving after getting into a crash with another driver in Napa, the California Highway Patrol said, No one was hurt in the crash and Pelosi was booked into jail on two misdemeanor charges, the CHP said.

Queen Elizabeth Is a 'Beacon of Hope,' Says King of Jordan - BBC News

May 30, 2022 • The King of Jordan has described the Queen as "a beacon of light and hope."

In a BBC interview to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, King Abdullah II spoke of her dedication to the monarchy and high standards in public life.

The monarch congratulated the Queen, whom he described as a life-long family friend, on 70 years on the throne saying:

"Our heart is always going to have a very big and warm place for Her Majesty, The Queen."


Platinum Jubilee: The Queen has sought to be nation's comforter-in-chief: As the UK celebrates her 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II has become the keystone in the nation's architecture, a solid and immovable piece holding the country's image of itself in place. »

Dimitra’s Dishes : Roasted Peppers Stuffed with Feta & Olives

Get the recipe here.

Negative Views of Russia Mainly Limited to Western Liberal Democracies, Poll Shows

THE GUARDIAN: Annual global survey of attitudes to democracy finds many countries maintain positive views of Russia

In Asia, a majority of people were against cutting economic ties with Russia over Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Photograph: Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik/Kremlin pool/EPA
The sharp polarisation between mainly western liberal democracies and the rest of the world in perceptions of Russia has been laid bare in an annual global poll of attitudes towards democracy.

Within Europe, 55% of those surveyed for the Alliance for Democracies said they were in favour of cutting economic ties with Russia due to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, whereas in Asia there was a majority against, and in Latin America opinion was evenly split.

Negative views of Russia are largely confined to Europe and other liberal democracies. Positive views of Russia have been retained in China, Indonesia, Egypt, Vietnam, Algeria, Morocco, Malaysia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. » | Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic editor | Monday, May 30, 2022

Ukraine war: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov denies Putin illness: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has denied speculation that President Vladimir Putin is ill. »

Pastor Who Wants Death Penalty for Gays Rails against Pride Month

“I don’t understand why we celebrate what used to be a crime not long ago,” Jonathan Shelley said at an Arlington City Council meeting in Texas.
ADVOCATE: A minister who preaches that homosexuality merits the death penalty railed against Pride Month at the Arlington City Council meeting in Texas this week, saying the Bible teaches “we should hate pride, not celebrate it.”

“God’s already ruled that murder, adultery, witchcraft, rape, bestiality, and homosexuality are crimes worthy of capital punishment,” Jonathan Shelley, pastor of Stedfast Baptist Church in Fort Worth, said at the council meeting Tuesday.

The council was taking public comments on whether to proclaim June as Pride Month. It has issued such proclamations for the past several years, TV station KERA reports. Arlington is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and Shelley said he has church members from Arlington and does business there.

“I don’t understand why we celebrate what used to be a crime not long ago,” Shelley said at the meeting, in an appearance captured on video and shared on social media. He cited passages in the Bible condemning gay sex and noted that the Texas antisodomy law is still on the books, although the Supreme Court’s 2003 decision in Lawrence v. Texas has made it unenforceable.”

He claimed that by celebrating Pride, the city is promoting “disease and AIDS,” and he falsely claimed that LGBTQ+ people are child molesters. “They say that they love so much, but they hate children,” he said. “They hate Baptists, they hate Christianity, and they hate God.”

He called on the city to eliminate its LGBTQ+ liaison and recommended that everyone in attendance watch a film he directed, The Sodomite Deception, “which would clearly illustrate what the Bible says on this issue, providing actual stats instead of bullying people.” » | Trudy Ring | Friday, May 27, 2022

Chase Strangio: Alabama Ban on Trans Youth Healthcare Is Part of Wider GOP Attack on Bodily Autonomy

May 30, 2022 • Alabama has become the first U.S. state to make it a felony to provide gender-affirming medical care to trans youth. The Alabama law is the latest in a series of escalating conservative attacks on LGBTQ people in the United States. "This is all happening in the same context that we're seeing the criminalization of abortion care, that we're continuing to see the massive suppression of votes across the country," says ACLU attorney Chase Strangio, deputy director for trans justice with the organization's LGBTQ & HIV Project. "All of these things are interconnected and creating chaos and fear among individuals, families and communities."

Donald Trump ridiculed for saying teachers shouldn’t ‘teach transgender’ to kids: Former US president Donald Trump – clearly with nothing better to do – has once again attacked trans people at a hate-filled rally. »

The Science & Process of Healing from Grief | Huberman Lab Podcast #74

May 30, 2022 • This episode, I discuss grief and the challenges of processing losses of different kinds. I explain the biological mechanisms of grief, including how neural circuits for emotional and factual memory combine with those for love and attachment, to create feelings of absence and yearning. I discuss how grief is distinct from depression, yet why they can feel so similar. I also provide science-based tools to assist with the grieving process, including how to reframe and remap the relationship with those we have lost while still maintaining a strong emotional connection to them. I also explain the importance of having and building strong foundational psychological and biological states so that we can better cope with grief when it happens. Finally, I describe tools to adjust those states, including those for accessing sleep, managing stress and emotional swings. This episode is for those suffering from grief but also for everyone, given that we all experience grief at some point in our lives.

We recorded this episode before the recent mass shooting tragedies in the United States. While we hope the information in this episode will be of use to anyone suffering from grief of any kind and at any time, we are also careful to acknowledge that many people require additional support and resources. For that reason, we include mention of such resources and we generally hope people will access them if needed.

"Policing the Womb": Law Professor Michele Goodwin on SCOTUS, Anti-Abortion Laws & the New Jane Crow

May 30, 2022 • As the Supreme Court appears poised to strike down Roe v. Wade, we speak with law professor Michele Goodwin, author of "Policing the Womb: Invisible Women and the Criminalization of Motherhood." She describes how the U.S. has historically endangered and denied essential health services to Black and Brown women, and calls new abortion restrictions "the new Jane Crow," warning that they will further criminalize reproductive health and encourage medical professionals to breach their patients' confidentiality and report self-administered abortions to law enforcement.

I Was Raped by My Father. An Abortion Saved My Life. »

This Age of Inflation Reveals the Sickness Ailing Britain’s Economy: Rentier Capitalism

THE GUARDIAN – OPINION: Ever since Thatcher’s monetarist medicine, profits have become all-but guaranteed for wealthy elites – and society has suffered

Inflation in the UK has hit its highest level in 40 years, particularly thanks to the dramatic rise in energy and food prices. This fact has provoked panic among some commentators and policymakers that Britain is about to relive the inflationary turbulence of the 1970s, and has prompted Rishi Sunak to announce a last-minute £15bn “cost of living package” partly funded by a one-off tax on energy companies. Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, has already been the subject of outrage for suggesting that workers should show “restraint” in their pay demands, to prevent an upward spiral in wages and prices as seen in the 1970s. Right now, with inflation at 9% and employers expecting to increase pay this year by just 3%, Bailey should be able to relax on that front.

Inflation aside, the differences between Britain’s economy of 2022 and that of 40 years ago are stark. In 1982, unemployment hit a postwar record, at more than 3 million, as manufacturing employment plummeted. Today, Boris Johnson boasts of record low unemployment. Trade union coverage was still over 50% in 1982; today, it’s less than half that, and almost half of that again in the private sector. The inability of most workers to negotiate collectively for wage increases is one of the principal reasons why Bailey sounded so out of touch, and why comparisons with the 1970s miss the mark. » | William Davies | Monday, May 30, 2022

Jim Acosta Challenges NRA Board Member

May 30, 2022 • CNN's Jim Acosta presses Judge Phillip Journey, an NRA board member, on gun laws and the organization's priorities following the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Variole du singe : seize cas « confirmés » en France

LE MONDE : Sur ces seize cas, douze ont été rapportés en Ile-de-France, un en Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, deux en Occitanie et un en Normandie, selon Santé publique France.

La France comptait, samedi 28 mai, seize cas « confirmés » d’infection au virus de la variole du singe, selon les chiffres rapportés, dimanche, par Santé publique France. D’après l’agence nationale de santé publique, sur ces seize cas, douze ont été rapportés en Ile-de-France, un en Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, deux en Occitanie et un en Normandie. » | Le Monde avec AFP | dimanche 29 mai 2022

Affenpocken: 71 weitere Fälle in Grossbritannien: Aus rund einem Dutzend Ländern ausserhalb Afrikas sind bisher mehr als 300 Fälle von Affenpocken bei Menschen gemeldet worden, auch aus der Schweiz und Deutschland. Die wichtigsten Fragen und Antworten und die neuesten Entwicklungen. »

Still Loyal to Putin

Apr 18, 2022 • Donald Trump: Still weak. Still compromised. Still loyal to Putin.

Royal Couples – The Next Generation I ARTE.tv Documentary

May 29, 2022 • Across Europe, dynamic young couples are renewing monarchies to keep them relevant to the modern world. Although Charles and Camilla are next in line, William and Kate, the #Duke and #Duchess of Cambridge, already seem ready to take the throne. In 🇪🇸 Spain, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia want to get closer to the people, as do the 🇸🇪 Swedish royal couple Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. Through the portraits of three emblematic royal couples, this #documentary traces the evolution of the monarchy in modern times and strategies monarchies deploy to survive.

Michael Bolton : Drift Away

Provided to YouTube by Columbia | Views on YouTube: 3,417,007

Hagebuttenmarmelade nach ARTE Art | Karambolage | ARTE

Oct 29, 2021 • Wir eröffnen in Karambolage eine neue Rubrik: typische deutsche und französische Rezepte, zum Mitkochen! Den Anfang macht Maija-Lene Rettig mit der Hagebuttenmarmelade. Autorin & Regie: Maija-Lene Rettig | Verfügbar bis zum 13/11/2050

Skin in the Game

Boris Johnson will Maßeinheiten Pfund und Unze zurückbringen

Rede zum Thronjubliläum: Boris Johnson am 26. Mai im Parlament in London | Bild: AFP
STATT GRAMM UND KILOGRAMM
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Der britische Premierminister Johnson will eine weitere Begleiterscheinung der EU-Mitgliedschaft rückgängig machen – und die alten Maßeinheiten Pfund, Yard und Unze wiederbeleben.

Der britische Premier Boris Johnson will die Freiheiten seines Landes nach dem Brexit nutzen, um imperialistischen Maßeinheiten wie der Unze neue Bedeutung zu geben. Pünktlich zum Thronjubiläum der Queen am kommenden Wochenende wolle Johnson einen öffentlichen Beratungsprozess dazu beginnen, wie die Einheiten wie Pfund, Unze oder Yard künftig wieder genutzt werden könnten, berichteten mehrere britische Medien am Sonntag. » | Quelle: dpa | Sonntag, 29. Mai 2022

What law actually says on Imperial measurements - what will Boris Johnson really change?: Boris Johnson will announce a Queen's Platinum Jubilee bid to give traders the choice between metric and imperial units - after two decades of EU law. He'll also 'bring back' the Crown stamp on pints. We look at how much of the patriotic bluster is true »

Johnson will Masseinheiten Pfund und Unze zurückbringen: Der britische Premier Boris Johnson will die Freiheiten seines Landes nach dem Brexit nutzen, um imperialen Masseinheiten wie der Unze neue Bedeutung zu geben. Pünktlich zum Thronjubiläum der Queen am kommenden Wochenende wolle Johnson einen öffentlichen Beratungsprozess dazu beginnen, wie die Einheiten wie Pfund, Unze oder Yard künftig wieder genutzt werden könnten, berichteten mehrere britische Medien am Sonntag. »

'Falling Flat': Acosta Breaks Down GOP Lawmaker's Pro-gun Talking Points

May 28, 2022 • CNN's Jim Acosta breaks down the pro-gun talking points from some GOP members and examines the potential reasons the US leads in number of mass shootings compared to other countries.

Das Baguette in den Kaffee tunken | Karambolage | ARTE

Oct 27, 2020 • Nikola Obermann versteht gar nicht, warum die Franzosen das Baguette in den Kaffee tunken. Autorin: Nikola Obermann Regie: Marion Auvin | Auf YouTube verfügbar bis zum 26/09/2049

Gravitas Plus: Gun Terror in America

336 people have died of gun terror in US so far in 2021, 521 people died in 2020, 1620 died in the last 4 years. Had this been in any other country, US would have cried human rights violation, genocide. Why is it silent on “terrorism” at home? WION’s Palki Sharma tells you.

Abortion in Europe | DW Documentary

May 6, 2022 • In Europe, the right to abortion is not universal. Poland is the scene of vociferous protests against some of the continent’s strictest abortion laws. Further south, in Italy, some doctors refuse to terminate pregnancies - even in medical emergencies.

Valentina should still be alive, Salvatore Milluzzo is sure of that. His daughter died in 2016. Pregnant with twins, she was taken to a hospital where doctors refused her an abortion for idealogical reasons, despite the acute danger to her life. This resulted in the deaths of both the unborn babies and the 32-year-old mother. Many women wishing to have an abortion in Italy meet resistance: 70 per cent of doctors there refuse to participate in surgery to terminate a pregnancy, even if the law permits it.

Poland has effectively moved to ban all abortions. For months now, Marta Lampert has been organizing protests against the government and the ultra-conservative Christian lobbyist organization Ordo Iuris. She rejects the paternalism of the church: "Our movement is the reaction to a patriarchal culture, to a patriarchal, fundamentalist state that treats women especially badly.”

In Spain too, Christian fundamentalists are trying to torpedo the statutory right of pregnant women to have an abortion. There are frequent reports of expectant mothers being deliberately deceived about the health of their embryo in a bid to "force” them into giving birth to a severely disabled child.

In Germany too, women seeking an abortion still face considerable hurdles, particularly in rural regions. In the Catholic city of Münster, few doctors are willing to carry out the procedure. Gynecologist Kristina Hänel runs a practice in Gießen. For years, she’s been embroiled in a high-profile legal battle. Anti-abortionists and public prosecutors say her website is breaking the law. At issue is a controversial paragraph of the criminal code prohibiting doctors from advertising their abortion services.

The pro-choice lobby is heartened by the new coalition government’s plan to scrap the offending "paragraph 219.” But this change in the law won’t necessarily make it easier for doctors to inform patients about abortions, let alone carry them out. After all, fanatical anti-abortionist voices are unlikely to be silenced. Consequently, many doctors simply decide not to offer the service at all.

NRA Delegates Reject Calls for Stricter Gun Controls as Trump Speaks at Convention

May 28, 2022 • You cannot outlaw tragedy - but we can make America safer. That's what President Biden declared today - promising to take the necessary action to protect lives in the wake of Tuesday's school shooting in Texas.

Just across the state, to the echo of protests outside - America's National Rifle Association is holding its annual convention - with delegates rejecting calls for stricter gun control measures.


Related article here.

Related video here.

America’s Gun Problem: More guns in the U.S. mean more deaths. »

Obesity and Corporate Greed | DW Documentary

May 26, 2022 • Doctors predict that by 2030, half of the world's population will be overweight or obese. An epidemic of obesity is causing a rapid rise in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It's becoming the biggest health challenge worldwide.

Why has no country managed to stop this epidemic? The food industry and government authorities say it's due to a lack of individual self-discipline. Is this true? Or is it the result of collective failure -- a symptom of a liberal society that abhors obesity, yet produces people who are overweight. Is society itself to blame for this situation?

Around the world, politicians, priests, doctors, and average people are standing up to multinational food corporations. They want to take back control of their nutrition and their bodies -- and they're using the law, scientific evidence, and political activism to correct the claim that people who are obese have only themselves to blame. These critics focus on sugary drinks that can be as addictive as some hard drugs; misleading advertising directed at children and low-income people; governments that turn a blind eye to junk-food companies; and lobbying that pushes the limits of legality.

These people say that a "hostile takeover" of our food has been underway for four decades, and they're demanding new legislation to put a stop to it. This documentary investigates how Chile is leading the way in this struggle. Which country will be the next to confront the big food corporations in the name of public health?

School Shooting Strengthens Case for Guns, Donald Trump Tells NRA

THE GUARDIAN: Speaking at the gun lobby’s convention, the former US president repeated his call to arm teachers

Trump denied guns are the problem and instead called for more school safety. Photograph: Aaron M Sprecher/EPA
Donald Trump has said the recent US school shooting is a reason to arm law-abiding citizens, not disarm them.

The former US president was a guest speaker at the National Rifle Association (NRA), which held its annual convention in Houston on Friday.

The event was held three days after 19 children and two adults were shot dead at a school in Uvalde and put in stark relief America’s deep divisions on gun control.

As demonstrations swelled in Houston, attenders inside the convention – including Trump – continued to deny that guns were the problem and put the emphasis on school safety and mental health. » | Guardian staff and agency | Saturday, May 28, 2022

'Give Me a Break': Acosta Reacts to Trump's NRA Speech

May 28, 2022 • CNN's Jim Acosta and former Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich react to former President Donald Trump's speech at the annual NRA convention in Houston just days after a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

Hitler privat: Der Führer (1) | SPIEGEL TV

May 28, 2022 • Der Obersalzberg war nach der Machtübernahme ein beliebter Rückzugsraum für Adolf Hitler. Hier machte Eva Braun auch seltene private Aufnahmen vom "Führer".

WIKIPEDIA: Winifred Wagner [D]. / Winifred Wagner [E}.

Hitler's Welsh girlfriend revealed »

Michael Lambert: Boris Johnson: Sue Gray Report and Boris Johnson's Catalogue of Failures

May 28, 2022 • The Sue Gray Report was published last week after a very long delay and after the publication of the Metropolitan Police report into the 'Partygate' scandal in Downing Street.

The report was damning and severely criticised the culture at No 10 at the time when the entire country was under the severest lockdown.

A procession of ministers has appeared before the media to praise and defend Boris Johnson who mysteriously escaped any further fines. These ministers claimed continuously that Boris had 'got Brexit done' and that he had masterminded the skilful response to the Covid pandemic.

Brexit is a disaster, resulting in much-reduced exports to the EU since the UK opted for the hardest of borders. The Northern Ireland Protocol is a problem without a solution given that there can be no border on the Island of Ireland and given Boris Johnson's insistence that there be no checks on goods travelling from GB to NI.

Whilst exports to the EU are subject to thorough checks and controls, goods flowing the other way are able to enter the UK without any checks whatsoever – an invitation to smugglers. It has been announced that the UK will impose no checks until at least the end of 2023.

Boris Johnson has been a disastrous leader. Almost every decision he has made has been wrong. He is dishonest, lazy, self-obsessed and incompetent.

Elton John : I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues | Remastered

Oct 30, 2018 • Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group

The Beach Boys: God Only Knows | Remastered

Mar 2, 2017 • Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group | ‘Views’ on YouTube: 1,967,299

America, How Long Will You Sacrifice Your Children on the Altar of Gun Worship?

THE GUARDIAN: This devotion to the right to bear arms is horrifyingly outdated. It brought terror to Texas – and it will happen again and again

There have been more mass shootings in the US in 2022 than days of the year.’ People mourn victims of the Robb elementary school mass shooting, in Uvalde, Texas, 26 May 2022. Photograph: Veronica Cardenas/Reuters
America’s great appeal to the world was its promise of possibility. It presented itself as virgin territory, a tabula rasa where a society could form anew, free of the past, and where individuals might do the same, reinventing themselves, renewing themselves, starting over. It was a myth, of course: it took no account of those people who were already there, and whose lives and lands were taken, or of those who had been brought to America in shackles. But it was a powerful myth all the same, one whose grip on the global imagination lives on: witness the success of the stage show Hamilton in seducing yet another generation into the romance of a new world and its revolutionary creation.

But now we see something else: a country uniquely burdened with the dead weight of its past, and therefore powerless either to deal with a danger in its present or to make a better future. The land of possibility stands paralysed, apparently unable to make even the smallest change that might save the lives of its young.

The evidence came again this week in the Texan town of Uvalde, where an 18-year-old walked into an elementary school and killed 19 children, aged between eight and 10, and two of their teachers. It was the 27th school shooting in the US this year, and it’s not yet June. » | Jonathan Freedland | Friday, May 27, 2022

This school shooting, like all others before it, is a national disgrace. Apparently, as nothing is ever done about such barbarity, one would be perfectly justified in concluding that it is more important for Americans to retain access to their guns and assault weapons than it is to keep their innocent, helpless children safe! What an appalling state of affairs! – © Mark

This, my comment, also appears here.

Run Away

May 27, 2022 • When all eyes are on the GOP following a national tragedy, what do they do? They run away.

They also say they pray for the victims. As if that's going to help when you've lost a child! What a load of BS! – Mark

Ricetta di Casa Mia: Baked Eggplant (Aubergine) – Quick and Easy

Ingredients:

2 Eggplants
Olive oil
Oregano
Salt
Chilli pepper
200g cherry tomatoes
125g mozzarella
2 tbsp breadcrumbs
1 tbsp capers

Method:

As shown in video.

Serbia, Russia and the War in Ukraine | DW Documentary

May 24, 2022 • Serbia has refused to impose sanctions on Russia up to now. The majority of Serbs support Putin’s war in Ukraine. Many have traumatic memories of NATO bombing during the Kosovo War and mistrust the West.

This documentary shows how the war in Ukraine has actually strengthened many Serbs’ feelings for Russia and upped President Vladimir Putin’s popularity. At demonstrations, protesters chant "Serbia and Russia: brothers forever” and "Putin, Putin”. Construction worker Sreten Mijovic regards Ukrainians as antichrists. For him, the most important things in life are Russia, Serbia and the Serbian soccer club Red Star Belgrade. The Grbovic family remembers the frightening weeks that they spent in the cellar during the NATO bombing campaign in 1999 — when Russia was the only country that took Serbia’s side.

Serbia would like to join the European Union, but it feels strong ties to Russia because of a shared culture and the Christian orthodox faith.

'An Absolute Disaster': Southern Baptist Sex Abuse Report Rattles Community

May 24, 2022 • Theologian Dr. Russell Moore joins Morning Joe to discuss a new report detailing decades of sexual abuse allegations and cover up from the Southern Baptist Convention, and he discusses calling for an investigation into abuse allegations while working at the SBC.

Frankreich 1939-40 Ein seltsamer Krieg | Doku | ARTE

Mar 3, 2021 • Als Sitzkrieg, früher auch 'seltsamer Krieg' oder 'komischer Krieg'. Französisch: drôle de guerre. Englisch: phoney war.

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

Boris Johnson Changes Ministerial Code to Remove Need to Resign over Breaches

THE GUARDIAN: New rules say ministers can apologise or temporarily lose pay for breaking code, which PM is accused of doing

Boris Johnson is accused of misleading parliament, which remains a resignation matter under the new rules. Photograph: Reuters
Boris Johnson is changing the rules to let ministers avoid resigning if they break the ministerial code, allowing them to apologise or temporarily lose their pay instead.

The prime minister, who is himself facing claims of breaching the code, published a policy statement on Friday saying it is “disproportionate to expect that any breach, however minor, should lead automatically to resignation or dismissal”.

A new version of the ministerial code has been published, suggesting that in future ministers are likely to face making a “public apology, remedial action, or removal of ministerial salary for a period” if they retain the confidence of the prime minister. » | Rowena Mason, Deputay political editor | Friday, May 27, 2022

Josh Cavallo: Proud My Coming Out Inspired Jake Daniels

Read the article here.

Related links here.

Queen: Footage Shows 'Fun behind the Formality'

Read the article here.

Related.

Harry Nilsson : Without You | 1972 | HD | Reupload

Copyright music records SME. | Views on YouTube: 9,244,608

Gravitas: China Retaliates after Biden's Taiwan Comment

May 26, 2022 • The PLA has announced it is organising combat drills around Taiwan. The militaries of China and the US are piling up lethal weapons in the region. Is the threat of a war growing in the Indo-Pacific? Palki Sharma tells you how recent developments raise the threat of a conflict.

Actor Kevin Spacey Facing Sexual Assault Charges

BBC: Actor Kevin Spacey is to be charged with sexual assault against three men, the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed.

Five charges are being brought against the 62-year-old after a review of Met Police evidence following complaints dating between 2005 and 2013.

Three complaints relate to sexual abuse which is alleged to have taken place in London, and one in Gloucestershire.

He also faces an additional serious sexual offence charge in London. » | BBC | Wednesday, May 26, 2022

Anklage gegen Spacey wegen sexueller Übergriffe auf drei Männer: Gegen den Schauspieler waren im Zuge der MeToo-Debatte Vorwürfe laut geworden. Es handele sich um insgesamt drei Fälle, die sich in England zugetragen haben sollen, teilte die britische Staatsanwaltschaft mit. »

L’acteur Kevin Spacey inculpé d’agressions sexuelles contre trois hommes au Royaume-Uni : Le parquet britannique autorise ainsi des poursuites pénales contre l’ancienne star de la série « House of Cards », accusée d’agressions sexuelles depuis 2017. »

The Unseen Queen: New BBC Film Shows Royal Family's Private Family Videos

Read the details here.

Vitamine - das Märchen vom Mangel

May 12, 2022 • In kaum einer anderen Ernährungsfrage klaffen Forschungsergebnisse und Verhalten der Bevölkerung so weit auseinander wie beim Thema Vitamine. Vitaminpräparate sind seit Jahren ein internationales Milliardengeschäft, weil die Mär vom Mangel erfolgreich erzählt wird. Doch welche Vitamine brauchen wir wirklich? Steckt nicht alles Notwendige in einer gesunden Ernährung? Mittlerweile setzen immer mehr Nahrungsmittelhersteller auf sogenanntes Functional Food, mit Vitaminen angereicherte Lebensmittel. Doch das kann zu einer Überdosierung bis hin zur Erhöhung der Sterblichkeit führen, warnen Wissenschafter. Ein NZZ Format über das fragwürdige Geschäft mit Vitaminpräparaten.

Bitcoin, ethereum ou tether… Pour les plus jeunes, argent facile et désillusions au pays des cryptomonnaies

LE MONDE : Malgré la forte volatilité des monnaies numériques, ils sont nombreux à investir dans la blockchain, tant par goût de l’argent facile que par défiance vis-à-vis du système bancaire classique.

Owen Simonin, alias « Hasheur », influenceur dans la sphère des cryptomonnaies, à Metz, le 17 janvier 2021. NICOLAS LEBLANC / ITEM
Lui s’est mis à investir dans les cryptomonnaies au début du mois de mai, à contre-courant, alors que le marché amorçait sa chute vertigineuse. A 19 ans, Arthur, étudiant en prépa HEC à Paris, une fois ses concours passés, cherchait « quoi faire de [sa] vie ». Il jette finalement son dévolu sur ces monnaies numériques, auxquelles se sont frottés avant lui plusieurs élèves de sa classe, passés en cours d’année des paris sportifs à la Bourse puis au bitcoin, la reine des cryptomonnaies. « Autour de moi, ceux qui en achetaient voulaient devenir millionnaires en deux heures. Moi, je m’y intéresse parce que c’est à la mode, dit-il, mais aussi parce que le bitcoin pourrait devenir la monnaie du futur. Peut-être qu’un jour on dira que le bitcoin a été aussi important que l’invention du chemin de fer. »

L’étudiant a acheté pour 500 euros de tether USD (USDT), un « stablecoin » (cryptomonnaie stable) qui vise à répliquer la valeur du dollar américain, après avoir passé de longues heures à lire des livres et à regarder des vidéos d’influenceurs. « J’aime bien me renseigner avant de jouer au loto, dit-il, et, à ce jour, je n’ai à peu près rien perdu. » » | Par Véronique Chocron | mercredi 26 mai 2022

Article réservé aux abonnés

"Zwanzigeins" | Karambolage | ARTE

Oct 21, 2020 • Nikola Obermann erklärt uns die etwas komplizierte Art der Deutschen verkehrt herum zu zählen. Autorin: Nikola Obermann | Regie: Bérangère Lallemant | Auf YouTube verfügbar bis zum 19/06/2050

French Cooking Academy with Stephane: Typical French Home Cooking – Broccoli, Cauliflower and Almond Custard Bake

La cuisine (française) de ménage.

INGREDIENTS:

300g cauliflower florets
300g broccoli florets
2 eggs
250ml cream
3 tbsp almond meal (ground almonds)
2 pinches of nutmeg
salt and pepper to season (according to taste)
50 – 100g grated cheese (according to taste)

METHOD:

As shown in video.

Die Bise: ein besonderer Kuss aus Frankreich | Karambolage | ARTE

Oct 30, 2020 • Vielleicht erinnern Sie sich noch: Vor der Corona-Krise war es in Frankreich üblich, sich mit Wangenküsschen zu begrüßen. Nikola Obermann frischt unsere Erinnerung auf und erklärt uns die Regeln hierzu. Autorin: Nikola Obermann | Regie: Marc Chevalier, Leslie David, Joris Clerté | Auf Youtube verfügbar bis zum 01/07/2050

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

Panzerschokolade - Crystal Meth bei der Wehrmacht | Doku

Nov 22, 2016 • Pervitin war innerhalb der Wehrmacht weit verbreitet: Von den Frontsoldaten über Panzerverbände bis hin zu den Piloten der Luftwaffe schluckten nicht nur kleine Soldaten-Trupps die Tabletten, sondern ganze Bataillone. Schnell nutzen Soldaten Pervitin auch zur Entspannung, wie Alkohol und Zigaretten - die "Panzerschokolade" wird für sie zur Droge.

Inside the Drug Use That Fueled Nazi Germany: An explosive bestseller mined the records of Adolf Hitler’s personal doctor, among other sources, to uncover details of the long-rumored drug use by many in the Nazi regime. »

Smoking: Unopened, Original WW2 Cigarettes from the Third Reich

Jun 10, 2021 • Seemingly, a really smooth smoke! (Not like the dross they sell these days*!) | Views on YouTube: 1,024,747

* I write now as an ex-smoker. Though I must say those cigarettes would be tempting. – Mark

Die Guillotine | Karambolage | ARTE

Sep 24, 2021 • Im September 1981, also vor vierzig Jahren, hat Frankreich die Todesstrafe abgeschafft. Ein Rückblick auf einen sehr französischen Gegenstand, die Guillotine, die inzwischen überholt ist, sowie auf die entscheidende Parlamentsdebatte, die zur Abstimmung über das Gesetz führte. Autor und Regisseur: Cédric Villain | Verfügbar bis zum 01/09/2043

International Sanctions Take Toll on Russian Economy | DW News

May 19, 2022 • The war in Ukraine has prompted huge financial sanctions against Russia. Despite the sanctions the Russian currency is astonishingly strong. Vasily Astrov from the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies says the sanctions take longer to fully unfold.

Boris Becker Moved to Prison for Foreigners in Sign He Will Be Deported

THE GUARDIAN: Ex-tennis champion convicted of hiding assets after bankruptcy transferred to HMP Huntercombe

Boris Becker has reportedly been transferred to a prison used to detain foreign criminals, indicating he will be deported from the UK at the end of his sentence.

According to the Times, Becker’s lawyer told journalists in Berlin that he had been transferred to HMP Huntercombe in Oxfordshire.

The former world No 1 tennis player had been detained at Wandsworth prison, a category B prison, after he was jailed for two and a half years for concealing £2.5m of assets to avoid paying money he owed after his bankruptcy. He will serve half of the sentence.

The German, 54, has lived in the UK since 2012 but is understood not to have British citizenship. » | Jamie Grierson | Wednesday, May 25, 2022

RIP Russia | 1991-2022 Russia's History through Konstantin's Eyes

Premiered May 3, 2022 • I share the history of the country that started in August 1991 and ended in 2022. RIP RUSSIA, MY LOVE.

You can support Konstantin/INSIDE RUSSIA on Patreon here.

Life in Russia under Sanctions: Empty Stores, Rising Prices, Personal Tragedy

You can support Konstantin/INSIDE RUSSIA on Patreon here.

Avec les protestants évangéliques qui tentent de convertir des passants de confession musulmane dans la rue

JULIEN MUGUET POUR « LE MONDE »
LE MONDE : REPORTAGE | Les protestants évangéliques et, à un degré moindre, les catholiques cherchent de plus en plus à attirer de nouveaux fidèles, en particulier des personnes de culture musulmane, généralement intéressées par les discussions sur la religion.

La scène a quelque chose de surréaliste. Place de la République, à Paris, une quinzaine de fidèles, dossards « Jésus sauve » en français et en arabe épinglés dans le dos, prient en cercle et à voix haute avant d’entonner des louanges. Ces protestants évangéliques, membres de l’association Tous pour Christ, s’affairent à tour de rôle autour d’une table pliante avec thermos de café, bananes, salades et tracts, bibles, livrets d’Evangile. Tout est gratuit. Leur mission ? « Annoncer la bonne nouvelle. » En clair, évangéliser les passants.

Il y a ceux qui passent leur chemin avec un sourire amusé et ceux qui tracent la route en levant les yeux au ciel. Il y a les habitués du quartier qui ne les voient même plus, les plus démunis qui profitent d’un gobelet de café et d’un sac de victuailles, dans lequel sont glissés un flyer « Connaissez-vous Jésus ? » et un Evangile. Et puis, il y a ceux qui acceptent de prendre le temps d’échanger sur le divin dans l’espace public. Ceux-là sont pour la plupart de confession musulmane. C’est là tout l’enjeu de ces opérations d’évangélisation de rue : face au recul de la religiosité au sein de la société française, convertir les « derniers » croyants.

« Les musulmans sont la cible principale de ces expéditions, car, en France, ce sont les derniers, ou presque, à croire encore », explique Fatiha Kaouès, sociologue des religions au CNRS, autrice d’une thèse, en 2013, sur le développement du protestantisme évangélique au Moyen-Orient. « Il est beaucoup plus facile de parler religion avec les musulmans, les autres ne sont pas intéressés », confirme Jamel Attar, ex-musulman converti, pasteur à Caen depuis plus de vingt ans. » | Par Louise Couvelaire | mercredi 25 mai 2022

Quand les évangéliques s’emploient à convertir les musulmans : Dans les banlieues, terres de mission, les évangéliques disent engranger les conversions. »

This Explains Why Russia Starts Insane Wars

Apr 17, 2022 • As Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine continues, we take a broader look at the roots of Russian imperialism. We go back to the 19th century and look at a book by Nikolai Gogol called Dead Souls. It contains a paragraph that exquisitely defines Russian historical identity.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines – May 25, 2022

Russland will Auslandsschulden in Rubel begleichen

DER STANDARD – LIVEBERICHT: Russland wird seine Auslandsschulden nach Angaben aus Moskau nun in Rubel begleichen. Künftige Zahlungen würden "in der russischen Landeswährung getätigt", erklärte das Finanzministerium am Mittwoch im Nachrichtendienst Telegram. Grund dafür sei, dass die USA eine entsprechende Ausnahmeregelung zur Schuldenbegleichung gestrichen hätten. Das mache es "unmöglich, die Staatsschulden weiter in Dollar zu begleichen". » | Ricarda Opis, Viktoria Kirner | Mittwoch 25. Mai 2022

More Than One in 10 Young Women in UK Identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Other

THE GUARDIAN: Of females aged 16-24, 11.4% said they were lesbian, gay, bisexual or other in annual ONS population survey

Participants in the annual Pride in London parade in 2019. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters
More than one in 10 young women in the UK identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or other, according to official figures that suggest more than 2 million people define themselves that way.

Of females aged 16-24, 11.4% said they were lesbian, gay, bisexual or other based on an annual population survey by the Office for National Statistics that relates to 2020. It is the first time since the research began in 2014 that the percentage has breached the 10% mark.

In 2014, only 3.1% of young women identified that way – fewer than young men – but they now far outstrip them, with the largest group of those not identifying as heterosexual – 7.6% – saying they are bisexual. » | Robert Booth, Social affairs editor | Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Putin's Secret Hero He Doesn't Talk About

May 22, 2022 • As Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine continues, we look at Putin's hero Tsar Alexander III.

We've spent several weeks looking at the natural of Putin's escalation his civilizational war against the West. In this video remove Putin's illusions about his own hero. We look at how Putin has repeated the mistakes of Tsar Alexander III, particularly his policies of Russification against Ukrainians. Finally we take seriously the idea that Russian history is repeating itself; that Putin is a 19th century Russian Tsar with nuclear weapons.

Vomiting and Partying until 4am: Sue Gray Delivers Damning Verdict on Boris Johnson’s No 10

THE GUARDIAN: Security logs also reveal spilled wine over walls and drunken staff told to leave by back entrance

Boris Johnson at a gathering in 10 Downing Street. Photograph: Sue Gray report/Cabinet Office/PA
Sue Gray has issued a damning verdict on the party culture in Boris Johnson’s Downing Street, in a 37-page report that includes nine photographs, and names a string of senior civil servants.

Gray sets out in embarrassing detail how each event unfolded, including a leaving party on 18 June 2020, at which “one individual was sick”, and “there was a minor altercation between two other individuals”.

“Whatever the initial intent, what took place at many of these gatherings and the way in which they developed was not in line with Covid guidance at the time,” the report says.

“Even allowing for the extraordinary pressures officials and advisers were under, the factual findings of this report illustrate some attitudes and behaviours inconsistent with that guidance.”

In what appears to be an indictment of the prime minister, as well as senior civil servants, she says “the senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture”.

Details of the gatherings include security logs revealing some staff carried on partying until 4am after the leaving do for the director of communications, James Slack, cleaners giving evidence of spilled wine over the walls, and messages warning drunken staff to leave via the back entrance. » | Heather Stewart and Aubrey Allegretti | Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Texas Primary School Shooting Leaves 21 Dead - BBC News

May 25, 2022 • Nineteen young children and two adults have died in a shooting at a primary school in south Texas.

The gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School - which teaches children aged seven to 10 - in the city of Uvalde before he was killed by law enforcement, officials said.

The 18-year-old suspect had a handgun, a semi-automatic rifle and high-capacity magazines, investigators have said.

The teenager is suspected of shooting his grandmother before the rampage.


This school shooting, like all others before it, is a national disgrace. Apparently, as nothing is ever done about such barbarity, one would be perfectly justified in concluding that it is more important for Americans to retain access to their guns and assault weapons than it is to keep their innocent, helpless children safe! What an appalling state of affairs! – © Mark

Fusillade au Texas : les Etats-Unis s’entre-tuent, le Parti républicain regarde ailleurs : L’éditorial du « Monde ». Un jeune Texan a tué dix-neuf élèves et deux enseignantes dans une école primaire, à Ulvade. Face aux tragédies qui se succèdent, les élus républicains s’opposent toujours à la moindre législation pour encadrer le marché des armes à feu. »

Uvalde, Buffalo and the Semiautomatic Weapons That Terrorize Us: Within the last two weeks, the country has seen the two deadliest mass shootings of the year, both committed by 18-year-olds. The motive for Tuesday’s attack on elementary school children in Uvalde, Texas, is still unknown. But the motive for the Buffalo attack appears clear from the online screed left by the accused attacker. Influenced by the “great replacement theory,” he sought to kill as many Black people as he could. Ten died. »

Partygate: Tory MPs Are 'Undermining Our Democracy' - Alastair Campbell

May 25, 2022 • If we ignore the findings of the Sue Gray report, will be saying "goodbye to the democratic system that we have", says former Downing St director of communications Alastair Campbell.

He spoke to Sky's Kay Burley, as No 10 braces itself for the publication of the report.

First though, he responded to the primary school shooting in Texas.


BoJo is a liar and a clown! I despise that man! I would NEVER vote for him. And I speak as a one-time, life-long Conservative voter! After Brexit, I shall NEVER vote Tory again! First the Tories 'shat' on Maggie; this time, they have 'shat' on the voters. Get rid of that plonker! – © Mark

Ukraine Invasion May Be Start of ‘Third World War’, Says George Soros

THE GUARDIAN: Veteran philanthropist tells World Economic Forum civilisation ‘may not survive’ what is coming

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens to be the “beginning of the third world war” that could spell the end of civilisation, the veteran philanthropist and former financier George Soros has warned.

In a ferocious attack on Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Soros warned that autocratic regimes were in the ascendant and the global economy was heading for a depression.

Soros, who has become a hate figure for the hard right in the US, also heavily criticised the former German chancellor Angela Merkel for cosying up to Moscow and Beijing.

With the mood in Davos already downbeat due to the war in Ukraine, Soros ramped up the gloomy rhetoric to new heights.

“The invasion may have been the beginning of the third world war and our civilisation may not survive it,” he said. » | Larry Elliott, Economics editor | Tuesday, May 24, 2022