Chairman Mao's Legacy 50 Years On (1999)

Aug 24, 2022 50 Years of Revolution (1999): A look at the lives of Chinese people whose youths were drastically affected by the politics of Mao Zedong.

On 1st October 1949 communist China was born, headed by Mao Zedong. 50 years later, while China had moved on greatly from Maoist principles, his legacy still looms large. ABC Australia speaks to those affected by China's so-called cultural revolution, a famous Mao programme in which almost 20 million young Chinese were sent to countryside to have a 'rural education'. While some have managed to thrive despite the policy, others are regretful that their education was squandered in favour of politics: "At that time we should have acquired knowledge but we weren't able to study so we didn't further our learning. I really regret this." An intriguing report on Mao's continuing presence in the everyday life of China, and the effect of one's youth on one adult life.


Last emperor of China abdicates »

WIKIPEDIA: Puyi »

Seth Andrews: Jesus & John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation | The Thinking Atheist

Sep 28, 2021 Dr. Kristin Du Mez is a Christian, yet she is also taking to task America's hard leanings into white Christian Nationalism and authoritarian "God warrior" narratives. Join us for a compelling discussion about her new book.

The Lincoln Project: Last Week in the Republican Party, August 23, 2022

Aug 24, 2022 Illuminati. Wizard of Oz. Prophesies. Just another week in the Republican Party.

The Lincoln Project is a leading pro-democracy organization in the United States — dedicated to the preservation, protection, and defense of democracy. Our fight against Trumpism is only beginning. We must combat these forces everywhere and at all times — our democracy depends on it.

America’s whackadoos! – Mark

What a Bloody Mess This Country Is In!

MARK ALEXANDER: I have lived a few years already and I must say that I have never lived through times like this before. Absolutely everything is going pear-shaped! Food prices are going through the roof. Prices for energy are scandalous, and for many, are becoming unpayable. People at the top are rewarding themselves with multimillion pound salaries and bonuses for doing FA. Ordinary folk are expected to suffer in order to pay for these excesses of the people at the top. Wages are stagnant. Savings, because of double-digit inflation, are being eroded very rapidly. The prime minister is largely absent. The last I heard, he was away in Greece having a ball whilst ordinary folk are having to suffer.

Brexit was always a very, very stupid idea. Now, the stupidity of the move is being shown to all, being shown to be as stupid as all sensible people knew it would be from the start. There are many things impoverishing us Brits now, but Brexit is one of the main things causing that impoverishment.

When I was growing up, we could always depend on the Conservatives to run our economy in a sensible way. We could always depend on the Conservatives to lead the nation to relative prosperity. That was once. Once upon a time. Alas, no longer. Now, the Conservatives are the architects of our demise. They are the ones enabling the rich to get even richer, and the poor to be impoverished beyond their wildest nightmares. The wages/salaries of the working classes and even of the bulk of the middle classes have been stagnant for years now. Yet the Conservatives, or Tories, have been in power for about twelve years already; therefore, it is the Tories who are the architects of this fiasco. We can blame no-one else other than the Tories.

This country’s politics was historically dominated by two parties: the Whigs and the Tories. The Whigs went the way of the dinosaur: into extinction. It is high time that the Tories did exactly the same. This country can do better than the Tories. What this country needs is a business-friendly party which is both pro-Europe/pro-EU and progressive. The Tories are neither pro-EU nor progressive. On the contrary, the party has ossified. Indeed, it is made up of fossils from a bygone age. Let the party go the way of the dodo. This party is unable to bring prosperity to this nation. Under this backward party, the country can look forward to only one thing: sliding into oblivion.

Trump is not one of my favourite politicians. But he did get one thing right: he spoke of “sh*thouse countries”. Unfortunately, he got the nomenclature right, but he forgot to include the UK in the list! This country is truly becoming one of those nations.

© Mark Alexander
All Rights Reserved

Meghan: I Was Made to Feel Ambition Was a Terrible Thing When Dating Harry

THE GUARDIAN: Duchess of Sussex talks of criticism she faced when beginning relationship with Prince Harry, in podcast Archetypes

The Duchess of Sussex interviews Serena Williams in the first edition of the audio series, in which the friends discuss female ambition. Photograph: Archewell Audio/Spotify/PA
The Duchess of Sussex has revealed she was criticised for her ambition when she began her relationship with Prince Harry, saying it was seen as a “terrible, terrible thing”.

She added that she had always thought of it as a positive trait as a child, before learning “a thing or two” about the labels and conventions that hold women back.

In the first of her new Archetypes podcast, released on Spotify on Tuesday and titled The Misconception of Ambition with Serena Williams, Meghan expresses her desire to explore “the boxes women have been placed in for generations”.

The statement, which could be construed as a fresh broadside at the royal family, comes after a turbulent few years for the Sussexes and their relationship with the firm. » | Alexandra Topping | Tuesday, August 23, 2022

First Kiss: If You Can Kiss as Good as This on Your “First Kiss”, Imagine How Good It Will Get on Your Hundredth or Even Tenth! | Reupload

Screenshot taken from the accompanying video.
This is one to smack the fundies (of all faiths) in the eye! God creates queers, just as He creates straight people. We queers need our pleasures and fun in life, too. Get over it!
This sublime video cannot be embedded. It can be viewed only on YouTube itself. So, click over here and get in on the action. Have fun! Or, as we say in German, Viel Vergnügen!

Betrogene Liebe - Auf der Spur der Internetherzensbrecher | SWR Doku

Oct 9, 2019 Die Opfer sind Alleinstehende. Sie sehnen sich nach Liebe, Zärtlichkeit, Leidenschaft. Die Täter geben vor, Traummänner zu sein. Mit romantischen Mails schaffen sie es, sich im täglichen Leben ihrer Opfer unverzichtbar zu machen, ohne sich mit ihnen ein einziges Mal zu treffen. Sind die Opfer in dieser „Liebesfalle“ gefangen, bringen sie sie dazu, Geld zu überweisen.

Das Geschäft der Internetdiebe mit der Internetliebe

Millionen von Singles suchen im Netz nach Liebe. Noch nie war es so leicht, jemanden kennenzulernen – und nie war es so gefährlich, dabei an einen Betrüger zu geraten. Scamming heißt die Methode, per Internet Geld zu erschleichen. Die Strafverfolgungsbehörden sind nahezu machtlos. Polizei und Staatsanwaltschaft haben kaum Chancen, an die Täter heranzukommen. „betrifft“ deckt auf, mit welchen Methoden die Internetgigolos ihre Opfer in die Falle locken. Die Opfer erzählen von gebrochenen Herzen und materiellen Verlusten. Autorin Petra Wernz versucht gemeinsam mit ihrem Team, die Tricks der Internetbetrüger aufzudecken und diese aufzuspüren.

Diese Doku haben wir am 2.11.2018 in der Reihe SWR betrifft ausgestrahlt unter dem Titel: Betrogene Liebe - Auf der Spur der Internetherzensbrecher.

Alle Aussagen und Fakten entsprechen dem damaligen Stand und wurden seitdem nicht aktualisiert.

Le Royaume-Uni en roue libre, un avertissement pour l’Europe

LE MONDE – ÉDITORIAL: La prééminence donnée à l’idéologie sur le pragmatisme en réponse à la la pire crise que connaît le royaume depuis les années 1970 risque d’aggraver la situation déjà dégradée laissée par Boris Johnson et d’accroître la tentation d’actionner les rhétoriques antieuropéenne et nationaliste.

Faute d’amortisseurs sociaux, les chocs économiques sont souvent ressentis plus violemment par la population au Royaume-Uni qu’ailleurs sur le continent européen. La tempête économique et sociale qui se lève outre-Manche confirme ce constat. Avec un taux d’inflation annuel supérieur à 10 % et un pic prévu à 13 % dès octobre, les Britanniques endurent les pires hausses de prix des pays du G7. Le coût des denrées alimentaires s’envole tandis que celui de l’énergie, faute de bouclier tarifaire, aura quasiment triplé en un an.

Conjuguée à une croissance en berne, cette hausse vertigineuse des prix produit la pire situation économique enregistrée depuis les années 1970. Si l’on ajoute les dégâts du Brexit et du Covid-19, le Royaume-Uni menace de régresser en « un marché émergent », analyse la banque danoise Saxo. Sortant de leur réserve, les dirigeants du Service national de santé (NHS) mettent, de leur côté, en garde contre le risque d’« une crise humanitaire » liée à l’appauvrissement de la population. » | Éditorial « du Monde » | mardi 23 août 2022

Read in English.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines – August 23, 2022

Our Yemeni Kitchen | مطبخنا اليمني | Kofta Kebab Cooked à la turque

Apr 20, 2022 Cooking an EASY and FAST Kofta Kebab recipe in a very creative Turkish way!

Ingredients and step-by-step instructions for making the recipe::

Preparing the kebab:

In a mixing bowl add the following ingredients:

400g minced lamb or beef
One tsp of garlic
40g of finely chopped onion
Salt and one tsp each of paprika and hot pepper
Mix everything. Use wooden kebab sticks.
Wet your hands and shape the kebab into the desired shape Refrigerate the kebabs so that they become firmer and don't break when grilled.

How to prepare the eggplant / aubergine:

Make holes in/Pierce the eggplants (aubergines and place on a baking tray
Put them in a preheated oven – oven temperature: 400°F, 200°C
Roast the eggplant for 12 minutes
Remove the eggplant skin
Add one tsp of grated garlic chopped finely
In a small pan, add a little olive oil.
Add the eggplant mixture and cook it over medium heat.
Add a half a tsp of salt. Keep stirring the eggplant until all the liquid evaporates.
Mix the eggplant with three fourths [three quarters] of a cup of yogurt.
Pour into a serving tray Add one fourth [a quarter] of a cup of yogurt on top.

Once the eggplant is done, start grilling the kofta kebab.
Over high heat, cook the kebab on all sides.
Place the kebab on top of the yogurt and eggplant mixture on the serving tray.
In a separate pan, heat up on low heat three tbsp of butter.
Add a half a tbsp of red pepper and mix it with the butter.
Pour the butter over the kebab and eggplant.
Garnish with parsley and serve with bread. Delicious!

For cooking instructions in Arabic, click here.

Die Franzosen und das H | Karambolage | ARTE

Jul 30, 2018 Claire Doutriaux nimmt sich einen Buchstaben vor, der den Franzosen Probleme bereitet, wenn sie Deutsch sprechen und den Deutschen, wenn sie Französisch sprechen: das H.

Autorin: Claire Doutriaux, Regie: Clémence Gandillot

Ein Wort, ein Gegenstand, ein Ritual – Karambolage erläutert spielerisch und humorvoll die kleinen und großen Unterschiede zwischen Deutschen und Franzosen.

Conservative Activist Suggests Putting LGBTQ Youth in Special Education Classes

Aug 22, 2022 An activist with the far right Moms for Liberty group suggested during a recent interview that LGBTQ youth should be placed in "specialized classes" in school, and then suggested that it was like a student with autism or Down's Syndrome. This is how these people view LGBTQ individuals - as if they have something wrong with them, much like homosexuality used to be viewed decades ago. Farron Cousins explains what's happening.

There is little hope for America anymore. The Republicans have seen to that. America is falling into a New Dark Age. And it is all because of far-right, Republican loons. Never mind! At this rate, China will soon overtake America. Then, we in Europe will have another set of problems to deal with. By the way, the woman Farron described in this video sounds like an ignorant fool. – © Mark Alexander

Who Is behind the Car Bombing that Killed the Daughter of Putin Ally Dugin? | DW News

Aug 22, 2022 Ukraine has denied any involvement in a car bombing near Moscow that killed the daughter of a prominent Russian nationalist. Daria Dugina died in the blast. Both she and her father Alexander Dugin have publicly supported Russia's war on Ukraine. Russia's foreign ministry speculated that Kyiv might be behind the bombing. But an adviser to Ukraine's president said his country was not a terrorist state.

Related links here in English and German.

Inside the Mind of a Romance Fraudster | Scammed | Real Crime

All relationships encounter their share of problems, but when one partner lies and defrauds the other of their savings, it becomes a crime.

The second story is of Jeff Kent, a charming charismatic individual who preyed upon the loneliness of others. Once he had gained his victim's trust, he incorporated them into his business schemes, often leaving the victim with large debts.

Dating Scammers Paradise: Burkina Faso

ROMANCE SCAMS NOW: Burkina Faso Scammer’s Paradise : Is A Country In West Africa (Scammer Central). Its capital is Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa around 274,200 square kilometres (105,900 sq mi) in size. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north; Niger to the east; Benin to the southeast; Togo and Ghana to the south; and Ivory Coast to the southwest. Its capital is Ouagadougou. As of 2014, its population is estimated at just over 17.3 million.

Formerly called the Republic of Upper Volta, the country was renamed “Burkina Faso” on 4 August 1984 by then-President Thomas Sankara. Residents of Burkina Faso are known as Burkinabè. French is an official language of government and business. Though this has not stopped a growing English Internet Scam Business from developing. However, it appears that most of their scams are directed at French speaking Europe. » | Writer: Unknown | Saturday, December 30, 2017

Patti LaBelle : On My Own | Official Music Video | ft. Michael McDonald | Reupload

Oct 7, 2009 Watch the official music video for "On My Own" performed by Patti LaBelle featuring Michael McDonald Music video by Patti LaBelle performing On My Own. (C) 1986 Geffen Records | Views on YouTube: 84,414,587

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

May 10, 2014 Official HD Video for ”When You Believe” by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey | Views on YouTube: 397,489,001

Michael Bolton : Drift Away | reupload

Nov 6, 2014 Provided to YouTube by Columbia | Views on YouTube: 3,949,659

Le baiser sans fin ! | Reupload

Der endlose Kuss! / The endless kiss!
Mes remerciements vont à out.com sur Pinterest pour ce marathon du baiser.
Watch this delightful 84-minute kissathon here on YouTube. (It cannot be embedded on external websites.)

Grandma's Secret Recipe for Sourdough Pear Cake. An Old but Special Pastry!

Aug 22, 2022 A very special dough makes this pear cake Grandma's secret recipe. Can you imagine that no one believed me that this pastry did not come from the baker? This pastry is just amazing. It was so amazingly delicious that I couldn't believe it myself. Try this recipe and you will see that your family will appreciate it!

Ingredients:

Dough:

20 grams of fresh yeast
100 g sugar (½ cup)
150 ml lukewarm milk (⅔ cup)
500 g flour (4 cups + 2 tbsp)
2 eggs
30 grams of butter
pinch of salt

Filling:

5 pears
5 tbsp raw sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 star anise
5 cloves
50 grams of butter
1 egg for brushing
powdered sugar [icing sugar]

Method:

As shown in video.

Bake: 180°C / 356°F 20 minutes on top/bottom heat

Global Junk Food: How the Fast-Food Industry Is Making Poor Countries Fat | ENDEVR Documentary

In Europe, food manufacturers have signed up to ‘responsibility pledges’, promising no added sugar, preservatives, artificial colours or flavours and not to target children. So why are they using tactics banned in the West in the developing world? There, they have created ultra-low-cost products with higher levels of salt, sugar and saturated fats. Filmed in Brazil, India and France, we investigate the new tactics of brands like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Domino’s Pizza.

UK Inflation Will Hit 18% in Early 2023, Says Leading Bank Citi

THE GUARDIAN: Forecasts updated after 25% and 7% rally in gas and electricity prices respectively last week

Inflation in the UK will hit 18% early next year as consumers count the cost of the deepening energy crisis, one of the world’s biggest banks has predicted.

Forecasters at the US financial services group Citi said it expects the consumer prices index to breach 18% in the first quarter of 2023, while the retail prices index inflation rate will soar to 21%.

The prediction outstrips previous modelling of the impact of rising costs. Earlier this month the Bank of England said it expected inflation to reach 13% by the end of the year as it raised interest rates for a sixth successive time.

Separately, the Resolution Foundation thinktank has forecast inflation could reach as high as 15% by early 2023.

However, on Monday Citi said the inflation rate was likely to be even higher next year with a peak of more than 18% in January. » | Alex Lawson, Energy correspondent | Monday, August 22, 2022

Liebe ohne Tabu: Taormina, Sizilien | Stadt, Land, Kunst | ARTE

Aug 22, 2022 Taormina im Osten Siziliens scheint das Meer zu umarmen. Lange war die ehemalige Kolonie der alten Griechen ein beschaulicher Badeort, den nur Insider kannten. Heute ist der legendäre Strand von Isola Bella ein Muss für alle Sonnenanbeter. Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts war die Stadt für viele Männer eine Verheißung der Freiheit …

Video auf YouTube verfügbar bis 01/06/2024

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — August 22, 2022

ZDF-History: Die zwei Leben der Grace Kelly: Von der Schauspielerei zur Landesmutter

Die amerikanische Schauspielerin Grace Kelly ist nicht nur eine der berühmtesten Schauspielerinnen der 50er Jahre gewesen, sondern wurde durch ihre spektakuläre Heirat mit dem Fürsten Rainier von Monaco auch zur Landesmutter der Monegassen. Am Vormittag des 13. September 1982 verglückten die Fürstin und ihre jüngste Tochter Stéphanie als sie mit dem Auto 40 Meter in die Tiefe stürzten. Prinzessin Stéphanie überlebte, doch ihre Mutter konnte nicht gerettet werden. Doch in der Erinnerung vieler Menschen ist sie unvergesslich geblieben.

Black and Arab | Trailer | Available Now

Aug 22, 2022 Nareeman Dosa, Saudi-born of Sudanese heritage, grew up in the Arab world, experiencing the casual racism that most Black Arabs face. In 'Black and Arab', she visits Tunisia, the first Arab country to have made racial discrimination a criminal offence, embarking on a journey to explore whether the law can alter deep-rooted prejudice.

Watch now on Video on Demand:

Vimeo here.

Jman TV here.

Act Up - Ein Überlebenskampf | Nach einer wahren Geschichte | ARTE

Aug 21, 2022 Frankreich, 80er Jahre: Als sich Aids rapide ausbreitete, sagte eine Handvoll homosexueller Aktivist:innen HIV den Kampf an. Durch ihre spektakulären und provokanten Aktionen ging "Act Up" mit den Bremsern von Aids-Aufklärung und -Prävention in Politik und Gesellschaft hart ins Gericht. Eine anregende Lektion in Sachen Aktivismus.

In den 80er Jahren, als Aids sich in Frankreich rapide ausbreitete, organisierte sich eine Handvoll Aktivistinnen und Aktivisten und gründete Act Up-Paris. Nach dem Vorbild des „großen Bruders“ – des 1987 gegründeten US-amerikanischen Interessenverbandes Act Up – trat die Vereinigung für die Verteidigung der Rechte aller HIV-Positiven oder an Aids erkrankten Menschen ein. Die Aktivistinnen und Aktivisten kämpften hartnäckig und mit vollem Engagement: Sie verbreiteten sachliche Informationen über die Krankheit, die alle Menschen – unabhängig von sexueller Orientierung – ereilen kann. Außerdem rangen sie um die Behandlung der Kranken und setzten sich unter hohem Zeitdruck für die Aids-Prävention ein.

Die kleine Act Up-Armee schreckte vor nichts zurück und setzte auch auf zivilen Ungehorsam: So warf sie beispielsweise als Protest gegen die Zensur mit Kunstblut gefüllte Wasserbomben. Zielscheiben ihrer Kritik waren die Kirche, die den Gebrauch von Kondomen ablehnte, Politiker, die eine echte Aufklärungskampagne verzögerten, und Forschungslabore, die offenbar nur an ihren Profit dachten. Act Up-Paris provozierte mit plakativen Slogans und legendär gewordenen PR-Aktionen, etwa dem Entrollen eines pinkfarbenen Riesenkondoms über dem Obelisken der Place de la Concorde.

Mit Auszügen aus Robin Campillos Spielfilm „120 BPM“ und Archivmaterial der damaligen Zeit vergegenwärtigt die Dokumentation die unglaubliche Energie, die den Aktivistinnen und Aktivisten von Act Up-Paris zu eigen war.

Dokureihe (F 2021, 27 Min)
Video auf YouTube verfügbar bis 17/02/2023

Pakistan's Former PM Imran Khan Charged under Terrorism Act - BBC News

Aug 22, 2022 Police in Pakistan have charged the country's former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, under anti-terror laws.

Officials accused Mr Khan of breaching the country's anti-terrorism act for allegedly making threats against the state officials.

He has been a vocal critic of the government and the country's army since he was ousted from power in April in a no-confidence vote.

Police announced the charges after the cricketer-turned-politician accused authorities of torturing his close aide, who is himself being detained under sedition charges.

Ein Mordanschlag erschüttert Russlands Propagandisten des Krieges

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Bei der Explosion eines Sprengsatzes an ihrem Auto ist in Moskau eine Verfechterin des Ukraine-Krieges, die Tochter des imperialistischen Ideologen Alexander Dugin, ums Leben gekommen. Das ist Anlass für viele Spekulationen und verschärft die Spannungen in Russland.

Daria Dugina fuhr am späteren Samstagabend auf einer der westlichen Moskauer Ausfallstrassen zurück in die Stadt, als ihr Auto explodierte und ausbrannte. Rettungskräfte fanden die verkohlte Leiche der 29-jährigen Frau darin. Nach ersten Ermittlungsergebnissen detonierte ein auf der Fahrerseite am Unterboden des Geländewagens angebrachter Sprengsatz.

Dugina ist kein unbekanntes Opfer. Die Philosophin und Publizistin war die Tochter des nationalpatriotischen, ultrakonservativen ideologischen Aushängeschilds Alexander Dugin, dessen rechte Hand und Gleichgesinnte. Unter dem Namen Platonowa war sie selbst auf Telegram und bei propagandistischen, rechtsnationalen Medien als Kommentatorin aktiv und hatte in den vergangenen Monaten mit zuweilen monströsen Äusserungen das Existenzrecht der Ukraine infrage gestellt. Der Wagen, den sie lenkte, gehörte ihrem Vater. Er hatte offenbar vom gemeinsam besuchten Festival «Tradizija» ausserhalb Moskaus damit zurückfahren wollen, aber sich dann kurzfristig umbesonnen. » | Markus Ackeret, Moskau | Sonntag,21. August 2022

Verwandte Links zu dieser Geschichte hier.

Daughter of Putin Ally Killed in Moscow Blast - BBC News

Aug 21, 2022 Darya Dugina, the daughter of Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, has been killed in a suspected car bombing in Moscow.

Her father is a close ally of Russia's President Vladimir Putin, and is believed to have been the intended target of the attack.

Mr Dugin is a prominent ultra-nationalist ideologue who is believed to be close to the Russian president, with the nickname "Putin's brain".


Related links here.

Russland macht ukrainischen Geheimdienst für Mord an Propagandistin Dugina verantwortlich »

Truss Poised to Plunge UK Economy into ‘Inflation Spiral’, Says Sunak

THE GUARDIAN: Truss cannot deliver £50bn tax cuts and support packages without pushing public debt to dangerous levels, says Tory leader contender

Liz Truss will plunge the economy into an “inflation spiral” if she does not choose between her unfunded £50bn tax cuts and providing cost of living support, her Conservative party leadership opponent, Rishi Sunak, has claimed.

Sunak’s leadership campaign said Truss would increase borrowing to “historic and dangerous levels” and place public finances into “serious jeopardy” if she attempted to do both.

The comments came after Truss, the frontrunner to be the next prime minister, signalled another U-turn with direct support for companies and households with soaring energy bills this winter.

In a statement, Sunak’s campaign said: “Following weeks of rejecting direct support payments as ‘handouts’, Truss supporters have slowly woken up to the reality of what winter brings. They now say that they will provide people with help – but what help, for who, when and how it will be paid for remains a mystery. » | Tobi Thomas | Monday, August 22, 2022

Singapore to End Ban on Gay Sex - BBC News

Aug 22, 2022 Singapore will repeal a law that bans gay sex, effectively making it legal to be homosexual in the city-state.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on national TV they would abolish the 377A law - which bans sex between men.

LGBT activists in Singapore have hailed the move as "a win for humanity".

But they also expressed concern after Mr Lee said the government would ensure better legal protection for the definition of marriage as one between a man and a woman.

This would effectively make it harder for gay marriage to be legalised.


Related article here.

The US Will Face Violence and Trump Will Announce Soon' | Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson

Aug 13, 2022 Former Republican strategist Rick Wilson spoke candidly with DW about the recent raid on former President Trump's home, the unshakeable bond he has with the party, Republicans hyper focus on culture wars and how the party's radical rhetoric could lead to political violence during the upcoming midterms.

Singapore to Repeal Law That Criminalises Sex between Men

THE GUARDIAN: Scrapping of colonial-era section 377A law hailed as ‘a win for humanity’ by LGBTQ+ rights groups

LGBTQ+ rights campaigners at the annual ‘Pink Dot’ event at Hong Lim Park in Singapore in June. Photograph: Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images
Singapore will repeal a colonial-era law that criminalises sex between men, a landmark decision described by LGBTQ+ groups as “a win for humanity”.

In a national address on Sunday, the prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, said that scrapping section 377A of the penal code would bring the law into line with current social attitudes and “provide some relief to gay Singaporeans”.

However, Lee added that the government did not want “wholesale changes in our society”, including changes to the legal definition of marriage.

“Even as we repeal 377A, we will uphold and safeguard the institution of marriage. Under the law, only marriages between one man and one woman are recognised in Singapore,” he said.

Section 377A, which was introduced under British colonial rule, criminalises “any act of gross indecency with another male person”. The law carries a sentence of up to two years in prison, though it is not believed to have been enforced for more than a decade. » | Rebecca Ratcliffe, South-east Asia correspondent | Sunday, August 21, 2022

My Darling, I Love You | Reupload

يا حبيبي أحبك / Mein Schatz, ich liebe dich / Mon chéri, je t’aime
With many thanks to ’ANGELSTURKIYE on Twitter’ on Pinterest for this delightful and expressive image.

Car Bomb Kills Daughter of 'Putin's Brain' Alexander Dugin | DW News

Aug 21, 2022 The daughter of the man described as Russian President Putin's brain has been killed in a suspected car bomb attack near Moscow. Video appears to show a distraught Alexander Dugin at the site of the explosion that killed his daughter Daria Dugina. She was a strong backer of the invasion of Ukraine. Her father may have been the intended target of the bomb. Alexander Dugin is an ultranationalist whose ideas have influenced Putin's rule.

Related link here.

Jacob Rees-Mogg Backs Liz Truss’s Claim UK Workers Need ‘More Graft’

THE GUARDIAN: Brexit opportunities minister says Tory leadership hopeful’s comments reflect Britain’s ‘poor productivity’

Jacob Rees-Mogg has been tipped for a cabinet position in a Liz Truss government. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA
Jacob Rees-Mogg, a key ally of Liz Truss, has defended the Tory leadership frontrunner’s suggestion that British workers need “more graft” as “sensible”.

Rees-Mogg, the Brexit opportunities minister, told the Mail on Sunday that her comments reflected “poor productivity in the British economy”.

He said they “attracted confected political criticism but they reflect an unfortunate reality in much of the British state”, adding: “This is not good for the government, or for the public as a whole.”

Rees-Mogg has been tipped for a cabinet position in a Truss government – perhaps as levelling up or trade secretary. » | Rowena Mason, Deputy political editor | Sunday, August 21, 2022

Rees-Mogg’s comments are an affront to hard-working Britons. Tell us, Jacob, how much graft have you ever done in your life? By the looks of you, NONE!

I would therefore advise you to be very careful with your utterances regarding the hard work, or otherwise, of British workers. Most British workers I have ever met have been extremely hard-working indeed. Moreover, I feel quite sure that many of them would consider you to be effete and even, perhaps, a ponce.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread! – © Mark Alexander

Verhaftete Studentin in Saudiarabien: 34 Jahre für ein paar Likes

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Die saudische Studentin Salma al-Shihab wurde zu einer langen Gefängnisstrafe verurteilt, weil sie kritische Beiträge auf Twitter geteilt hatte. Sie ist kein Einzelfall. Während sich das Königreich gesellschaftlich öffnet, wird es politisch immer autoritärer.

Der saudische Kronprinz Mohammed bin Salman duldet keinen Widerspruch und lässt Kritiker verhaften. | Cliff Owen / AP
In Saudiarabien dürfen Frauen inzwischen Autofahren, ohne Kopftuch ausgehen und als Sängerinnen auf der Bühne stehen. Was sie hingegen nicht dürfen: ihre Meinung in den sozialen Netzwerken kundtun. Genau das hatte Salma al-Shihab getan. Nun wurde die Saudiaraberin dafür zu 34 Jahren Haft verurteilt und zusätzlich mit einer ebenfalls 34 Jahre dauernden Ausreisesperre belegt.

Die 24-Jährige, die zurzeit im englischen Leeds Zahnmedizin studiert, war zu Besuch in der Heimat, als sie verhaftet wurde. Sollte sie ihre Strafe bis zum Ende absitzen müssen, wird sie 92 Jahre alt sein, bis sie sich das nächste Mal frei bewegen darf.

«Die Höhe des Strafmasses ist wirklich schockierend», sagt Duaa Dhainy von der saudischen Menschenrechtsorganisation ESOHR, die vom saudischen Aktivisten Ali Adubisi im Exil gegründet wurde und sich für die Freilassung von Dissidenten einsetzt. Früher, so Dhainy, seien derartige Strafen nur für Gewaltverbrechen ausgesprochen worden. » | Daniel Böhm, Beirut | Donnerstag, 18. August 2022

Verwandte Links auf Englisch und Französisch hier.

Daughter of Putin Ally Alexander Dugin Killed in Car Bomb in Moscow

THE GUARDIAN: Russian hawks without evidence blame Kyiv for death of Darya Dugina and demand Kremlin response

The daughter of an ultranationalist Russian ideologue and ally of Vladimir Putin has been killed in a car bomb on the outskirts of Moscow.

Darya Dugina, whose father is the Russian political commentator Alexander Dugin, died when the Toyota Land Cruiser she was driving was ripped apart by a powerful explosion about 12 miles (20km) west of the capital near the village of Bolshiye Vyazemy at about 9.30pm local time (1930 BST), according to investigators.

Prominent Russian hawks without evidence quickly blamed Kyiv for the attack, calling it an assassination attempt and demanding the Kremlin respond by targeting government officials in Kyiv. “Decision-making centres!! Decision-making centres!!!” wrote Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the state-funded RT television station, reposting a call to bomb the headquarters of the Ukrainian SBU intelligence agency.

If the car bombing is tied to the war it would mark the first time since February that the violence unleashed on Ukraine has reached the Russian capital, touching the family of a Kremlin ally near one of Moscow’s most exclusive districts. (+ video) » | Andrew Roth in Moscow and Martin Farrer | Sunday, August 21, 2022

He Kissed Me in the Pool & It Was So Hot | Out in the Dark P. 4 | QTTV

Nov 6, 2019 Nimer and Roy shared each other's story in a pool … [Love is above and beyond gender, race, religion and politics.]

Viewer discretion is advised. Not suitable for children. – Mark

The Lincoln Project : Dr. Oz Goes Shopping

Aug 16, 2022 FACT CHECK: Dr. Oz struggled his way through a minor shopping trip. Don’t worry, we’ve got you Doc.

The Lincoln Project is a leading pro-democracy organization in the United States — dedicated to the preservation, protection, and defense of democracy. Our fight against Trumpism is only beginning. We must combat these forces everywhere and at all times — our democracy depends on it.

Few People Cook Beef Like This. 400-year-old Recipe!

Feb 22, 2022 400 year old recipe! If you love beef, you must try this recipe at least once in your life.

Ingredients:

2 kg of beef
2 carrots
2/3 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp salt
Oil
2 onions
1/2 celeriac
2 parsley roots [parsnips]
4 carrots
3 bay leaves
1 tsp allspice
1 teaspoon
black pepper
200 ml cream
1 tbsp raw sugar
1-2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Dumplings:

20 grams of yeast
300ml milk
3 tbsp flour
1 tsp sugar
500g flour
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp oil

Interview – Ken Clarke: ‘The Idea That Tax Cuts Will Automatically Produce Growth Is Nonsense’

THE OBSERVER: The veteran Tory, who stood three times to lead his party, on the cost of living crisis, today’s political culture and the best PM we never had

Kenneth Clarke at his home in Nottingham. Photograph: Sophia Evans/The Observer
Kenneth Clarke was made Baron Clarke of Nottingham in 2020, having served as a Conservative MP for 49 years, and in a variety of government and cabinet positions, including chancellor of the exchequer and health secretary. He also stood three times for the leadership of the party, twice narrowly failing. He has cast his vote in the current Tory leadership election, but refuses to say for whom he plumped.

We’re facing a cost of living crisis, with growing inflation and the ongoing war in Ukraine. How should these problems be dealt with?
In the short term, we’ve got to go through probably a very serious economic crisis. I’ve felt for some time that we’re bound to have a very severe recession. And if we’re not careful, it’s going to be combined with very bad inflation, which does social, as well as economic damage. Brace yourself for it, but living standards generally are going to fall for the first time for a long time, and the main short-term measures should be to protect the very poor, very vulnerable and stop us seeing any increase in the number of people becoming destitute in this country. The government shouldn’t be asking themselves, what is the Daily Mail going to be saying tomorrow but what is the economy going to look like in a couple of years’ time when we have an election?

As a former chancellor of the exchequer, what do you think of the idea, put forward by Liz Truss in the Tory leadership campaign, that tax cuts will trigger economic growth?
The simplistic idea that tax cuts will automatically produce growth is nonsense. Everybody would do it if that worked. There’s a slight touch of the Argentinian or Venezuelan government about it. This is not a time for tax cuts because we have incurred enormous public expenditure, which I supported, to stave off the worst effects of Covid-19, leading to enormous public debts. Tax cuts will stimulate growth in demand, but the problems are with the difficulties in supply, so they will push inflation further up. » | Andrew Anthony | Observer New Review Q&A | Sunday, August 21, 2022

OBSERVER EDITORIAL:

The Observer view on Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak’s tax cut promises: The Conservative leadership contenders are blind to the dire lack of investment in a crumbling UK »

Mexico's Former Attorney General Arrested over Disappearance of 43 Students - BBC News

Labour Surges as Tory Fears Grow over Truss’s Tax Cut Agenda

THE OBSERVER: Likely PM’s policies will mean ‘big trouble’, say critics, as Starmer’s energy price initiative boosts him in polls

Liz Truss has been criticised by the former Tory chancellor Kenneth Clarke for proposing tax cuts during a time of ‘enormous public debts’. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA
Senior Tories have warned that their party will suffer dire electoral consequences under a Liz Truss premiership that fails to address the cost of living crisis, as Labour enjoys a poll bounce suggesting Keir Starmer could be on course for No 10.

Amid signs of mounting panic among high-ranking Conservatives about Truss’s economic policies, several former cabinet ministers told the Observer on Saturday the party would suffer devastating losses in blue and red wall seats unless Truss changes tack, if and when she enters No 10.

After Michael Gove described Truss’s plan to focus on cutting taxes as a “holiday from reality” and announced he was supporting Rishi Sunak, the latest Opinium poll for the Observer gives Labour and its leader a double poll boost, days after he backed a complete freeze on energy bills this autumn. Labour now enjoys its biggest Opinium poll lead in months – eight points – while Starmer has surged well ahead of Truss in the past two weeks when voters are asked who would be the best prime minister. » | Toby Helm, Observer political editor “ | Saturday, August 20, 2022

This woman, Liz Truss, is economically illiterate. That we should even be contemplating entrusting her with the keys to Number 10 is a sad indictment of the British political system. For this cipher to wish to pursue Thatcherite policies at this time of national crisis shows me, and should show you, that she has lost the plot! The very last thng this country needs right now is more Thatcherite policies! It is an overdose of Thatcherism that has helped to land us all in this parlous state we now find ourselves in. For God's sake, don't give that woman the keys to Number 10. Doing so will be the path to this country's ruin. It will also help accelrate this country's place on the list of Third World countries. To borrow Thatcher's well-worn turn of phrase: "No! No! No!" Further, to add insult to injury, that voice of hers! Well! It's bad enough to turn the milk sour! – © Mark Alexander

A Powerful and Passionate Kiss

Ein kraftvoller und leidenschaftlicher Kuss / Un baiser puissant et passionné
Many thanks to Twitter on Pinterest for this passionate kiss

Michael Lambert : Clueless Liz Truss Set to Turbo-charge UK Economy!

Aug 20, 2022 Liz Truss says she will TURBO-CHARGE the UK economy, whatever that means? The seemingly endless Tory leadership fiasco continues with Truss and Sunak announcing ever more right wing policies. Truss is expected to be announced as the winner on 5th September.

Inflation is at 10% and set to reach 13%, taxes are the highest for 70 years, according to Truss, interest rates are going up as are food prices. Energy prices are rising so steeply that thousands of businesses will find it difficult to survive and many will fail.

The cost-of-living crisis for those with limited means are set to make their lives almost impossible. The railway workers, the post office workers and the employees of Folkestone container port are just some of the unions going on strike and there are many likely to follow them.

Truss's plans to cut taxes now have been roundly criticised by the IFS, the OBR and others. She has said that she will confront the EU over the UK's illegal refusal to abide by the NI Protocol which is likely to risk a trade war with the EU which provides 40% of our food. She also wants to legislate against certain industrial action making strikes illegal. This would almost certainly lead to a catastrophic General Strike.

Truss's government is likely to be even more right-wing than Johnson's and may even include the almost impossibly deluded and incompetent David Frost (aka Lord Gormless) It is perfectly clear that Truss does not have a clue beyond talking about Turbo-charging the economy, 'Unleashing' British business whilst promising she will 'deliver, deliver, deliver' whilst claiming she 'Get's Things Done'

«Einbahnstrasse Euro - Franken»: Der Euro fällt auf ein Rekordtief

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Der Euro setzt seine Talfahrt gegenüber dem Franken und dem Dollar fort. Das schwindende Vertrauen der Investoren in die Euro-Zone gilt als einer der Hauptgründe.

Das Image der europäischen Gemeinschaftswährung Euro erleidet immer mehr Kratzer. | Lennart Preiss / AP
Der Euro wird zum Franken immer schwächer. Diese Woche war ein Euro zeitweise nur noch 0.9605 Franken wert. Damit ist die europäische Gemeinschaftswährung gegenüber dem Franken auf ein Rekordtief gefallen. Ulrich Leuchtmann, Ökonom bei der Commerzbank, schrieb diesbezüglich in einem Kommentar von der «Einbahnstrasse Euro - Franken» – für die Gemeinschaftswährung führt sie nach unten. Mitte September vergangenen Jahres wurden für einen Euro noch 1.0932 Franken bezahlt.

Auch gegenüber dem Dollar setzt der Euro seine monatelange Talfahrt fort. In letzter Zeit nahm die Gemeinschaftswährung dabei Kurs auf die Parität, am Freitag wurden für einen Euro noch 1.0047 Dollar bezahlt. Anfang September vergangenen Jahres waren es noch 1.1880 Dollar. Seit Jahresbeginn hat der Euro gemäss Daten von Bloomberg gegenüber dem Franken um 7,9 Prozent und gegenüber dem Dollar um 13 Prozent an Wert verloren. » | Michael Ferber | Samstag, 20. August 20, 2022

Dimitra’s Dishes : Easy & Delicious Kataifi Ice Cream

Get the recipe here.

Mastic: What Is Mastic?>

Was heißt Familie? | 2 Väter 3 Babys (2/5) | SWR Doku

Aug 3, 2022 Den Alltag mit zwei Babys haben Johnny und Stefan fest im Griff. Doch stellen sich für sie als schwule Eltern auch viele Fragen: Wie funktioniert die Regenbogenfamilie? Welche Rolle kann Leihmutter Robin für die Kinder spielen? Und wie stehen Großeltern und Freunde zu dem Familienmodell?


Teil 1.

Teil 3.

Alle fünf Teile können hier angeschaut warden.

Old German Recipe: A Forgotten Recipe from the Past: Butterkuchen

May 22, 2022 Old kitchen recipe: An old German recipe that you probably don't know yet. This recipe has been lost over time. It's incredibly easy to make, hearty and extremely delicious. It just surprises everyone how easy and delicious something like this can be. Incredible!

Ingredients:

200ml lukewarm milk
20g yeast
3 tbsp flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
pinch of salt
125g butter
470g flour
oil

Butter mixture:

50g butter
125g sugar
2 tbsp raw sugar for sprinkling

Method:

As shown in the video.

Bake: 180°C / 356°F for 30 min.

Arabie saoudite : la scandaleuse condamnation de Salma Al-Chehab

LE MONDE – ÉDITORIAL : En infligeant la peine ubuesque de trente-quatre ans de prison à la jeune doctorante en médecine pour avoir défendu les droits humains, les juges justifient les pires clichés dont les autorités saoudiennes sont les premières à se plaindre.

Il s’est donc trouvé des juges en Arabie saoudite pour condamner, le 9 août, à trente-quatre ans de prison, une doctorante en médecine dentaire. Pour quel crime ? Avoir partagé des messages en faveur des droits des femmes sur un compte Twitter resté particulièrement confidentiel.

En première instance, en 2021, une très lourde peine de six ans de prison, dont trois avec sursis, avait déjà été prononcée contre Salma Al-Chehab, âgée de 34 ans, mère de deux enfants et qui appartient à une minorité chiite souvent injustement stigmatisée. En appel, la justice saoudienne a fait ce choix du grotesque. Une interdiction de quitter le royaume pour une durée similaire a même été ajoutée pour faire bonne mesure. Cette justice a estimé que la jeune femme, qui poursuivait ses études au Royaume-Uni avant son arrestation à l’occasion d’une visite en Arabie saoudite, a « fourni de l’aide à ceux qui cherchent à troubler l’ordre public et à diffuser des informations fausses et malveillantes ». » | Éditorial « du Monde » | samedi 20 août 2022

Liens connexes en anglais ici.

Neues Babyglück | 2 Väter 3 Babys (3/5) | SWR Doku

Aug 19, 2022 Die Familie von Johnny und Stefan soll noch größer werden: Leihmutter Robin hat eingewilligt, ein weiteres Kind für das Paar auszutragen. Die beiden reisen zusammen mit ihren Zwillingen nach Amerika, um bei der Geburt von Baby Allegra dabei zu sein.

Wie können homosexuelle Paare eine Familie gründen? Viele wünschen sich leibliche Kinder und verwirklichen das mit Hilfe einer Samenspende bzw. Leihmutterschaft. In Deutschland ist das gesetzlich bisher nicht erlaubt. Daher weichen viele ins Ausland aus - in die USA, nach Osteuropa und Asien. Das kann Hunderttausende Euro kosten oder geschieht unter fragwürdigen Umständen. „Regenbogenfamilien“ sind inzwischen gesellschaftliche Realität, aber es gibt noch viel Skepsis: Fehlt da nicht die Mutter? Was wird den Kindern zugemutet? Und ist Leihmutterschaft nur etwas für Reiche?

Le rapprochement avec la Russie donne des marges de manœuvre à la Corée du Nord

LE MONDE : Le régime de Pyongyang essaie de profiter de la guerre en Ukraine et des tensions entre la Chine et les Etats-Unis pour son développement militaire et améliorer son économie.

L’embellie des relations avec la Russie depuis le début de la guerre en Ukraine, le 24 février, mais aussi la possible relance du commerce avec la Chine offrent des marges de manœuvre à la Corée du Nord pour son développement nucléaire et celui des missiles, voire pour améliorer son économie.

La nouvelle donne se traduit aussi par un clair rejet des offres de dialogue de la Corée du Sud. Dans un message rendu public vendredi 19 août par l’agence officielle KCNA, Kim Yo-jong, sœur du dirigeant Kim Jong-un, a fustigé ce que le président conservateur sud-coréen, Yoon Seok-youl, a présenté, le 15 août, comme une « initiative audacieuse » censée développer l’économie nord-coréenne en contrepartie de mesures de dénucléarisation. Mme Kim, par ailleurs directrice adjointe au sein du comité central du Parti du travail, au pouvoir, l’a comparée à une « tentative de planter des mûriers au milieu de l’océan » . » | Par Philippe Mesmer (Tokyo, correspondance) | vendredi 19 août 2022

Article réservé aux abonnés

Judge Orders Justice Department to Prepare Redacted Trump Search Affidavit for Possible Release

Aug 19, 2022 There are few pieces of paper more coveted by the US press than the highly sensitive affidavit used to justify an FBI search warrant for former President Donald Trump's Florida mansion.

Now that sealed document is one step closer to being revealed - which could shed light on key details in the investigation.

The unfolding drama seems to be energising Trump critics and supporters alike.

NHS Bosses Warn ‘Unprecedented’ Risk of Death from Cold Weather and Soaring Energy Bills

Aug 19, 2022 In a letter to ministers, the NHS Confederation and 100 health leaders have warned of an “unprecedented” risk of death from cold weather unless more is done to help people pay soaring energy bills. It outlines the stark choice that will be faced by those struggling - eat or freeze.

"Brazil on Fire": Lula Launches Campaign to Unseat Bolsonaro & End His Authoritarian Rule

Aug 18, 2022 This week former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva formally launched his campaign to challenge Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro this October. Fear is growing Bolsonaro might try to stay in office even if he loses, possibly with help from the Brazilian military. Lula, a union leader who held office from 2003 through 2010, is running on a platform to lift up Brazil's poor, preserve the Amazon rainforest and protect Brazil's Indigenous communities. In 2018, he was jailed on trumped-up charges, paving the way for the far-right Jair Bolsonaro to rise to power, but his convictions were annulled last year, restoring his political rights to challenge Bolsonaro. The presidential front-runners hold "two visions for Brazil," says reporter Michael Fox, former editor of NACLA and host of the new podcast "Brazil on Fire."

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines – August 19, 2022

Thatcherism Is an Obsolete Ideology – But It’s the Only One That Sunak and Truss Have

THE GUARDIAN – OPINION: The Tories see fresh thinking as a luxury, so their leaders are sticking with an orthodoxy that’s well past its sell-by date

It’s generally agreed that the last dozen years have been some of the most turbulent in our modern history. So much has changed or been called into question: our climate, the cost of living, the state’s ability to protect us, capitalism’s ability to spread prosperity, the continuation of the United Kingdom, our relationship with Russia and the EU, even our sensethat we can be a functional society. To an extent that was almost inconceivable in 2010, when the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition took office, this has become a different country.

Some politicians have tried to adapt. Labour has moved leftwards and then back towards the centre. The Lib Dems have moved rightwards, supporting Tory austerity, and then become more hostile to the Conservatives under Ed Davey. The SNP has become more assertive in its push for independence. Meanwhile some Tories, such as Boris Johnson and Theresa May, have at least talked about governing in new ways, by “levelling up” or helping the “just about managing”.

Yet one group of politicians, who have gradually become the most powerful in the country, and are about to become our rulers, whoever wins the Tory leadership contest, have seemingly not adjusted their thinking at all amid the chaos and flux. As a result, we may face our worst peacetime crisis since the 1930s under a government with a disastrously out-of-date worldview. » | Andy Beckett | Friday, August 19, 2022

It’s So Funny!

C'est trop drôle ! / Es ist so lustig!
Many thanks to Searchinh Hearts on Pinterest for this humorous, but often very truthful, image.

Saudi Woman Given 34-year Prison Sentence for Using Twitter

THE GUARDIAN: Salma al-Shehab, a Leeds University student, was charged with following and retweeting dissidents and activists

Salma al-Shehab, 34, was accused of ‘assisting those who seek to cause public unrest and destabilise civil and national security by following their Twitter accounts’. Photograph: democracy now
A Saudi student at Leeds University who had returned home to the kingdom for a holiday has been sentenced to 34 years in prison for having a Twitter account and for following and retweeting dissidents and activists.

The sentencing by Saudi’s special terrorist court was handed down weeks after the US president Joe Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia, which human rights activists had warned could embolden the kingdom to escalate its crackdown on dissidents and other pro-democracy activists.

The case also marks the latest example of how the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has targeted Twitter users in his campaign of repression, while simultaneously controlling a major indirect stake in the US social media company through Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Salma al-Shehab, 34, a mother of two young children, was initially sentenced to serve three years in prison for the “crime” of using an internet website to “cause public unrest and destabilise civil and national security”. But an appeals court on Monday handed down the new sentence – 34 years in prison followed by a 34-year travel ban – after a public prosecutor asked the court to consider other alleged crimes. » | Stephanie Kirchgaessner | Tuesday, August 16, 2022

The West Is Kidding Itself About Women’s Freedom in Saudi Arabia »

The Observer view on opposing Saudi Arabia’s sportswashing: Salma al-Shehab is in jail for the ‘crime’ of using Twitter. Football fans should stage a silent protest »

Anthony Joshua urged to speak out on human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia: Boxer receives letter from brother of man executed in March / Joshua fights Oleksandr Usyk in Jeddah on Saturday »

Top Vatican Official Is Accused of Sexual Misconduct in Quebec

THE NEW YORK TIMES: A woman accused Cardinal Marc Ouellet, a member of Pope Francis’ inner circle, of inappropriately touching and kissing her.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the former archbishop of Quebec, was named in a lawsuit made public this week. | Filippo Monteforte/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
OTTAWA — A woman in Quebec has accused a prominent Canadian cardinal — who is also a top Vatican official and member of Pope Francis’ inner circle — of engaging in sexual misconduct against her when she served as a diocesan intern.

The accusations against the cardinal, Marc Ouellet, are part of a sweeping class-action lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Quebec, in which 101 people say they were victims of sexual abuse by several dozen clerics and lay staff members of the archdiocese. The allegations date to 1940, and the lawsuit says that some of the plaintiffs were minors at the time of the events.

The case is the latest in a string of class-action lawsuits in Quebec that accuse Catholic clerics of sexual abuse, many of which have already been settled, including accusations covered under an 18-million-dollar agreement reached in 2013. » | Ian Austen and Gaia Pianigiani | Wednesday, August 16, 2022

Barefoot Contessa Makes Chicken Piccata | Barefoot Contessa | Food Network

Jun 30, 2019 Need dinner plans? Try Ina Garten's classic Chicken Piccata with a velvety lemon butter sauce. | Views on YouTube: 2,119,309

Get the recipe here.

En Russie, les outrances de Dmitri Medvedev, le faucon de Poutine

LE MONDE : Depuis le début de l’invasion de l’Ukraine, l’ex-président russe enchaîne les diatribes violentes et haineuses contre Kiev et ses alliés.

Dmitri Medvedev (deuxième à gauche) s’entretient avec le directeur du Service fédéral de sécurité (FSB), Alexandre Bortnikov (à gauche), Denis Pouchiline, le leader de la République populaire autoproclamée de Donetsk (de dos) et le ministre russe de l’intérieur, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, à Louhansk (Ukraine), le 11 août 2022. AP
Pas une semaine, ou presque, ne s’écoule sans que Dmitri Medvedev profère de nouvelles menaces. Tandis que Moscou et Kiev continuent à s’accuser mutuellement de bombardements inquiétants autour de la centrale nucléaire de Zaporijia, occupée par les forces russes, dans le sud de l’Ukraine, il écrivait, vendredi 12 août, sur son compte Telegram : « Les salopards de Kiev et leurs mécènes occidentaux semblent prêts à organiser un nouveau Tchernobyl. (…) Que puis-je dire… N’oublions pas que l’Union européenne possède également des centrales nucléaires. Et que des accidents y sont également possibles. » » | Par Isabelle Mandraud | jeudi 18 août 2022

Article réservé aux abonnés

The Unparalleled Elegance and Style of the Gentleman’s Double-breasted Summer Suit. | Reupload

L'élégance et le style incomparables du costume d'été pour homme à double boutonnage. / Die unvergleichliche Eleganz und der Stil des zweireihigen Herren-Sommeranzugs.
Many thanks to Sebastian Hagler on Pinterest for this stylish photo.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines – August 18, 2022

Die Satanischen Verse: Todesurteil für Salman Rushdie | Doku HD Reupload | ARTE

Aug 17, 2022 Am 12. August 2022 wurde Salman Rushdie in New York angegriffen und schwer verletzt. Schon seit Jahrzehnten lebte der britisch-indische Autor mit der Angst vor einem Anschlag: Als 1988 seine "Satanischen Verse" erschienen, wurde er zur Hassfigur muslimischer Fundamentalisten. Der iranischen Revolutionsführer rief in der Folge dazu auf, Rushdie zu töten. Gemeinsam mit William Karel blickte der Schriftsteller 2018 auf die Bedeutung seines berühmten Buches zurück.

Mehr als zehn Jahre war der britisch-indische Schriftsteller Salman Rushdie auf der Flucht. Er musste sich verstecken, stand unter Polizeischutz, wechselte immer wieder Identität und Wohnsitz. Der Grund: das Todesurteil, das der iranische Revolutionsführer Ajatollah Chomeini 1989 in seiner Fatwa als Reaktion auf sein als blasphemisch eingestuftes Werk „Die satanischen Verse“ gegen ihn aussprach. Damals war sich noch kaum jemand bewusst, welche blutigen Folgen der neu erstarkte muslimische Fundamentalismus mit sich bringen würde. Rushdie lebte in ständiger Angst, zog zigmal um und überlebte rund 20 Mordanschläge. Die Fatwa der Mullahs wurde zwar inzwischen aufgehoben, doch die iranische Presse ruft noch immer zur Hinrichtung des Schriftstellers auf. Bei manchen öffentlichen Auftritten gelten weiterhin besondere Sicherheitsmaßnahmen, doch Rushdie selbst scheint die Angst hinter sich gelassen zu haben. Der Film porträtiert einen Mann, der Ruhe und Humor als Waffen des Widerstands nutzt. Ergänzt wird das Gespräch mit dem Schriftsteller durch Archivaufnahmen, die die aufkommende hysterische Stimmung nach Erscheinen der „Satanischen Verse“ bezeugen. Sie zeigen, wie Cat Stevens zum Mord an Rushdie aufrief, was er später dementierte. Sie zeigen auch, wie jene, die ihn hätten schützen sollen – von Jimmy Carter bis zu Prinz Charles – ihn fallenließen. Und wie andere ihn sofort unterstützten, darunter Isabelle Adjani, die bei der César-Verleihung aus den „Satanischen Versen“ vorlas. Abgerundet wird das Porträt durch Passagen aus Rushdies literarischen Werken.

Dokumentation von William Karel (F 2018, 55 Min)
Video auf YouTube verfügbar bis 15/02/2023

Whitney Houston with Enrique Iglesias : Could I Have This Kiss Forever | Official HD Video | Reupload

Views on YouTube: 130,483,240

Rod Stewart : You Wear It Well | Remastered

Nov 8, 2014 Provided to YouTube by Rhino

Cute Love

Amour mignon / Süße Liebe
Many thanks to ginboysblog on Pinterest for this expressive photo.

Dating Apps Promised Instant Connection. So Why Does Finding Love Feel Harder Than Ever?

THE GUARDIAN: I scroll on apps during TV ad breaks, while I’m waiting for the microwave, in bed – but my hopes have given way to frustration

One of the first things I did when a long relationship ended in 2019 was download a dating app – mainly motivated, I must admit, by fantasies about my ex’s reaction to seeing my profile. Since then, I’ve never really stopped. I sit on them during TV ad breaks, while I’m waiting for the microwave to ping, in all those pockets of time where I used to listen to my own thoughts. In bed I lie on my back scrolling until my hand tingles because all the blood has run from it. Yet, despite my commitment, they’ve not found me a boyfriend, or even much sex. In fact, they’ve done the complete opposite to what I thought they would do when I first heard about them. They don’t make anything easy – they make it much harder.

I was at university when the people around me first started using Tinder. I had a boyfriend back then, so I never signed up. But I remember being jealous of the people who did. It would make it so much easier to find someone, I assumed: you wouldn’t have to waste nights out chatting to people in the smoking area only to find out they have a girlfriend, or open the door to rejection by writing your name on a napkin and giving it to a waiter. You just had to decide whether you like the look of someone, wait for them to do the same and if so, you can both meet up and have sex, or date, whatever you wanted. Apps would make the ambiguity of attraction explicit, obvious. » | Annie Lord | Wednesday, August 17, 2022

‘Nobody Is In Charge’: Tory Peer Hits Out at Ministers over Inflation

THE GUARDIAN: As rate reaches double digits, Stuart Rose calls lack of government action to shield households ‘horrifying’

The veteran retailer Stuart Rose has urged the government to do more to shield the poorest from double-digit inflation, describing the lack of action as “horrifying”, with a prime minister “on shore leave” leaving a situation where “nobody is in charge”.

Responding to July’s 10.1% headline rate, the Conservative peer and Asda chair said: “We have been very, very slow in recognising this train coming down the tunnel and it’s run quite a lot of people over and we now have to deal with the aftermath.”

Attacking a lack of leadership while Boris Johnson is away on holiday, he said: “We’ve got to have some action. The captain of the ship is on shore leave, right, nobody’s in charge at the moment.”

Lord Rose, who is a former boss of Marks & Spencer, said action was needed to kill “pernicious” inflation, which he said “erodes wealth over time”. He dismissed claims by the Tory leadership candidate Liz Truss’s camp that it would be possible for the UK to grow its way out of the crisis. » | Joanna Partridge | Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Das Leben nach der EU – Brexit-Verlierer und Gewinner | Reupload | DW Doku Deutsch

Jul 29, 2022 Niemand hätte 2016 wohl gedacht, dass die Briten für den Brexit stimmen - jetzt tritt er in Kraft. Das britische Referendum hat die Politik in Großbritannien und der EU auf den Kopf gestellt. Vieles ändert sich jetzt - auf beiden Seiten.

Mit dem Austritt aus der Europäischen Union fallen für die Briten viele ungeliebte Einschränkungen und Pflichten, aber auch Vorteile weg, die daraus resultierten, Teil eines größeren Ganzen zu sein. Innerhalb der EU-Staaten ist der ungehinderte Verkehr von Personen, Waren und Dienstleistungen garantiert, aber auch Hunderte gemeinsame Regeln von Menschenrechten bis hin zu Glühbirnenspezifikationen. Die Korrespondenten Birgit Maass in London und Georg Matthes in Brüssel haben den Brexit-Prozess von Anfang an hautnah miterlebt. Sie haben von unzähligen Gipfeltreffen und Verhandlungen berichtet, sind durch Großbritannien und Europa gereist und sogar darüber hinaus. Sie haben Menschen getroffen, deren Leben vom Brexit betroffen sein wird - auf vorhersehbare und nicht vorhersehbarer Weise.

Jetzt blicken Birgit und Georg in die Zukunft und stellen uns Menschen vor, deren Schicksale zeigen, wie bitter der Konkurrenzkampf in der Brexit-Welt sein wird: Fischergemeinschaften, die von verschiedenen Küsten aus in See stechen und in denselben Gewässern ihre Netze auswerfen. Britische Landwirte, deren Einkommen gekürzt wird, je nachdem, wie groß ihre Betriebe sind. Menschen, die ihr Leben in Großbritannien aufgebaut haben, aber nicht mehr willkommen sind. Und natürlich die Menschen auf beiden Seiten der Grenze zwischen Nordirland und der Republik Irland. Unsere beiden DW-Korrespondenten räumen mit dem jahrelangen absichtlichen und unabsichtlichen Chaos auf und stellen Ihnen sechs Brexit-Verlierer vor - und einige Gewinner.

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Premiered Oct 18, 2019 Official music video for Rod Stewart – “Maggie May” from 'You're In My Heart: Rod Stewart with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra' (2019). 'You’re In My Heart' combines classic vocals from the biggest hits with newly recorded arrangements by the RPO. | Views on YouTube: 7,065,216

Liz Cheney Now Supports Same-sex Marriage

Sep 26, 2021 The Republican Congresswoman tells 60 Minutes she has reversed her 2013 statements about same-sex marriage: “I was wrong.”