Polish Court Rules EU Laws Incompatible with Its Constitution

THE GUARDIAN: Country takes big step towards ‘legal Polexit’ against backdrop of rows between ruling nationalists and Brussels

The Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki, arriving at an EU-western Balkans summit in Slovenia on Wednesday. Photograph: Radek Pietruszka/EPA
Poland’s constitutional tribunal has ruled that some EU laws are in conflict with the country’s constitution, taking a major step towards a “legal Polexit” with far-reaching consequences for Warsaw’s funding and future relations with the bloc.

The tribunal, whose legitimacy is contested after multiple appointments of judges loyal to the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, said some provisions of EU treaties and EU court rulings clashed with Poland’s highest law, adding that EU institutions “act beyond the scope of their competences”.

“This is a legal revolution,” said René Repasi, professor of international and European law at Erasmus university in Rotterdam. “Admittedly it’s a captured court, but this is furthest step towards a legal exit from the EU ever taken by a national court.”

In a strongly-worded initial reaction, the European Commission said the decision on Thursday raised “serious concerns”. It reaffirmed that “EU law has primacy over national law, including constitutional provisions”.

The commission added that rulings by the European court of justice are “binding on all member state’s authorities, including national courts”, and said it would “not hesitate to make use of its powers under the treaties to safeguard the uniform application and integrity of union law”. » | Jon Henley Europe correspondent and Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Thursday, October 7, 2021

Outrage after Gay Woman Diagnosed at Spanish Hospital with ‘homosexuality’

THE GUARDIAN: LGBT group complains to Murcia government after teenager was given report that included line: ‘Current illness: homosexual’

A Pride march in the Valencia region of Spain. LGBTI activists in Murcia want their regional authorities to apologise over a teenager’s treatment at Reina Sofía hospital, saying some in the health service ‘view sexual orientation as an illness’. Photograph: Biel Aliño/EPA
A family and an LGBT collective in south-east Spain are demanding answers and an apology after a 19-year-old gay woman who visited a gynaecologist over a menstrual condition was diagnosed with “homosexuality”.

On Monday the woman went to an appointment at the Reina Sofía hospital in the city of Murcia. After being examined she was given a piece of paper that included the line: “Current illness: homosexual.”

The woman’s mother told the online paper elDiario.es that the gynaecologist had asked her daughter whether he could include her sexual orientation in his report, and that she had consented – despite her surprise – as she thought at the time it might be relevant.

“At first, I thought it was funny, but it just isn’t,” said the patient. » | Sam Jones in Madrid | Thursday, October 7, 2021

Butter Chicken - köstliches Hähnchen in aromatischer Sauce | Thomas kocht

‘Butter Chicken‘, oder Butter Hühnchen, ist ein indisches Curry auf Tomaten-Basis. Im indischen heißt es Murgh Makhani. Das Gericht ist, wie bei so vielen, aus der Resteverwertung entstanden. Übrig gebliebenes Tandoori Hühnchen wurde in eine würzige, cremige Tomatensauce gegeben. Das Ergebnis war ein unglaublich leckeres Curry.

Das Rezept ist hier erhältlich.

Jan Lisiecki – Chopin: Nocturne in E Minor, Op. posth. 72/1 | Live from Würzburg, 2018

Boris's Brexit Boomerang: Is the UK Spiraling into Chaos? | To the Point

Oct 7, 2021 • The UK is facing chaos. With supplies of some key goods becoming scarce, the military have been called in. Is Brexit to blame? Our guests: Vendeline von Bredow (The Economist), Jon Worth (freelance journalist),Simon Young (DW)

Brexit is, and will continue to be, a disaster. BoJo is not qualified for the high position he holds: He doesn’t have any understanding of economics and he is not interested in the hard work that governing entails. Britain is on its way to becoming the ‘Sick Man of Europe’ yet again. We’ve been there before and we had to enter Europe to solve it. BoJo and his silly ideas will only compound the problem. – © Mark

Ces hommes profitent de la plage avant le début de l'hiver

These men are enjoying the beach before winter sets in / Diese Männer genießen den Strand vor dem Winter einbruch
With many thanks to El Chulo Dominicano amd Pinterest for this lovely photo.

Hinweis an den Hacker

Ich glaube, es wäre eine gute Idee, wenn Du Deine Mutter fragen würdest, Dir als Geschenk eine Babyrassel zu kaufen und sie in Deinen Kinderwagen legen. Die Rassel wird Dich sicherlich trösten!

Liebe Grüße,
Mark

A Short but Important Message to My Visitors

I am being hacked again, even as I write this. One of my posts about anti-Semitism has been taken down. I had placed that up only a short while ago. It was an article from the New York Times on anti-Semitism in Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Then, I noticed that I was unable to place a link underneath my report from 60 Minutes Australia on gay conversion therapy, entitled Pray the Gay Away. The keyword underneath that video is now ‘great songs’. I did didn’t place those words there, a hacker did. Problem is that I cannot change it back to what it should be! This has never happened to me before.

The hacker is clearly an anti-Semite. He is also sure to be a homophobe. This is extremely sad. – © Mark

Vandals Tag 9 Barracks at Auschwitz with Antisemitic Slurs

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The police and the Auschwitz Memorial are urging anyone with knowledge of the vandalism to come forward.

Wooden barracks at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Oswiecim, Poland, in 2005. | Czarek Sokolowski/Associated Press
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The police and the Auschwitz Memorial are urging anyone with knowledge of the vandalism to come forward.

Vandals sprayed antisemitic slogans and phrases denying the Holocaust in English and German on nine wooden barracks at the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site, in what officials there called “an outrageous attack on the symbol of one of the greatest tragedies in human history.”

The police in Oswiecim, the town in southern Poland where the concentration camp sits, said on Wednesday they were analyzing footage taken by security cameras on the site and looking for anyone who could give them information about the vandals, who they believe struck between 8 a.m. and noon on Tuesday. The barracks, which were defaced with black paint, housed men during the Holocaust and are near the Gate of Death in the Birkenau death camp. The police declined to give any further details about the slurs.

The Auschwitz Memorial site, in the statement published on its Twitter account, further condemned the graffiti as “an extremely painful blow to the memory of all the victims” who perished at the camp.

More than 1.1 million people, the majority of them Jews, perished in gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau, or from starvation, cold and disease.

Countries across Europe have witnessed an increase in antisemitism online and among people protesting at demonstrations against the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, with observers expressing concern that Jews increasingly feel unsafe in the European Union. The European Commission has earmarked 24 million euros, almost $28 million, to increase protection around synagogues and other Jewish events or sites. » | Melissa Eddy | Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Gay Teen Describes Traumatizing Experiences at Gay Conversation Camps | ABC News

Mar 11, 2017 • Lucas Greenfield, 17, says he was sent away to facilities aimed at "curing" him of his homosexuality.

Vandals Tag 9 Barracks at Auschwitz with Antisemitic Slurs

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The police and the Auschwitz Memorial are urging anyone with knowledge of the vandalism to come forward.

Wooden barracks at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Oswiecim, Poland, in 2005. | Czarek Sokolowski/Associated Press
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The police and the Auschwitz Memorial are urging anyone with knowledge of the vandalism to come forward.

Vandals sprayed antisemitic slogans and phrases denying the Holocaust in English and German on nine wooden barracks at the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site, in what officials there called “an outrageous attack on the symbol of one of the greatest tragedies in human history.”

The police in Oswiecim, the town in southern Poland where the concentration camp sits, said on Wednesday they were analyzing footage taken by security cameras on the site and looking for anyone who could give them information about the vandals, who they believe struck between 8 a.m. and noon on Tuesday. The barracks, which were defaced with black paint, housed men during the Holocaust and are near the Gate of Death in the Birkenau death camp. The police declined to give any further details about the slurs.

The Auschwitz Memorial site, in the statement published on its Twitter account, further condemned the graffiti as “an extremely painful blow to the memory of all the victims” who perished at the camp.

More than 1.1 million people, the majority of them Jews, perished in gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau, or from starvation, cold and disease.

Countries across Europe have witnessed an increase in antisemitism online and among people protesting at demonstrations against the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, with observers expressing concern that Jews increasingly feel unsafe in the European Union. The European Commission has earmarked 24 million euros, almost $28 million, to increase protection around synagogues and other Jewish events or sites. » | Melissa Eddy | Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Boris Johnson promet un avenir «radieux»

Boris Johnson, mercredi devant le congrès des conservateurs à Manchester: «Build back better» (reconstruisons en mieux). PAUL ELLIS/AFP
LE FIGARO : Le premier ministre britannique a déroulé, mercredi, devant le congrès des tories sa vision d’un «conservatisme radical et optimiste».

Boris Johnson ne veut pas se laisser polluer par l’air du temps. Certes, il y a ces crises en cascade, la flambée des prix du gaz, les pénuries d’essence, les problèmes d’approvisionnement dans les supermarchés ou les usines, le manque de main-d’œuvre et mille autres tracasseries qui flottent dans le sillage de la crise sanitaire et du Brexit. Mais le premier ministre se veut un indéfectible optimiste et il fallait rassurer les militants. Il a ainsi promis, mercredi, un avenir «radieux», en déroulant sa vision d’un «conservatisme radical et optimiste».

C’est la première fois depuis deux ans que «BoJo» haranguait ses troupes conservatrices réunies en congrès à Manchester. Par contraste avec un Labour «fatigué et pessimiste», le patron des tories a voulu déployer toute sa force de conviction. L’artisan du Brexit s’est engagé à libérer «l’esprit unique» de la Grande-Bretagne. Cet esprit comparable à nul autre, il le trouve chez les soignants, les entrepreneurs et les sportifs. Le premier ministre a cité en exemple la résilience mentale de la joueuse de tennis Emma Raducanu, lors de sa victoire dans le dernier US Open. Et s’est émerveillé qu’un pays représentant 0,8 % de la population mondiale ait pu se hisser à la quatrième place des médailles aux derniers Jeux olympiques. » | Par Arnaud De La Grange | mercredi 8 octobre 2021

Réservé aux abonnés

Depuis le Brexit, les différends entre Paris et Londres s’accumulent : ANALYSE - Le bras de fer franco-britannique engagé depuis neuf mois au sujet de la pêche n’est qu’un contentieux parmi d’autres. La relation entre les deux pays n’avait pas été aussi dégradée depuis longtemps. »

La France peut-elle vraiment couper le courant à Jersey ? : LA VÉRIFICATION - Le secrétaire d'État aux Affaires européennes a agité ce mardi la menace énergétique pour faire pression contre Londres dans le dossier de la pêche. »

Ces hommes profitent de la plage avant le début de l'hiver

These men are enjoying the beach before winter sets in / Diese Männer genießen den Strand vor dem Winter einbruch
With many thanks to El Chulo Dominicano amd Pinterest for this lovely photo.

Gipsy Kings : Trista Pena

Scenes from the film «Revenge» starring Kevin Costner and Madeleine Stowe Lyrics, music: Andre Reyes, Jacques Baliardo, Jalhoul Bouchikhi, Maurice Baliardo, Nicolas Reyes, Tonino Baliardo

ulio Iglesias, Stevie Wonder : My Love

Autriche : le chancelier Sebastian Kurz visé par une enquête pour corruption

Sebastian Kurz a récemment été critiqué pour ses velléités de contrôle des médias nationaux. LEONHARD FOEGER / REUTERS
LE FIGARO : «Neuf autres suspects, ainsi que trois organisations» sont aussi concernés pour diverses infractions de corruption liées à cette affaire, a annoncé le parquet dans un communiqué.

Le chancelier autrichien Sebastian Kurz, visé par une enquête, est soupçonné d'avoir utilisé des fonds gouvernementaux pour s'assurer une couverture médiatique favorable, a annoncé le parquet mercredi 6 octobre. «Sebastian Kurz et neuf autres suspects, ainsi que trois organisations» font l'objet d'une enquête pour diverses infractions de corruption liées à cette affaire, a précisé le parquet dans un communiqué, après une série de perquisitions. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 5 octobre 2021

Bee Gees - Alone

Views on YouTube: 17,751,123

Rezept : Zürcher Geschnetzeltes mit Rösti | Marcel Prenz

Zürcher Geschnetzeltes ist eines meiner Lieblingsgerichte. Ich lernte es kennen als ich vor vielen Jahren in Zürich lebte und arbeitete. Falls sie dieses Gericht nicht kennen, darf ich es Ihnen empfehlen? Es ist ein Hochgenuß! Auch noch; Rösti wie dieser Herr sie vorbereitet ist authentisch und sieht wunderbar aus. Ganz lecker! Übrigens, viele Köche, vor allem in Großbritannien, machen Röstii falsch. Die Rösti, die dieser Herr vorbereitet, ist genau wie man sie vorbereiten sollte. - Mark

Das Rezept finden Sie hier.

A Scary Energy Winter Is Coming. Don’t Blame the Greens.

OPINION : THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Every so often the tectonic geopolitical plates that hold up the world economy suddenly shift in ways that can rattle and destabilize everything on the surface. That’s happening right now in the energy sphere.

Several forces are coming together that could make Vladimir Putin the king of Europe, enable Iran to thumb its nose at America and build an atomic bomb, and disrupt European power markets enough that the upcoming U.N. climate conference in Glasgow could suffer blackouts owing to too little clean energy.

Yes, this is a big one.

Natural gas and coal prices in Europe and Asia just hit their highest levels on record, oil prices in America hit a seven-year high and U.S. gasoline prices are up $1 a gallon from last year. If this winter is as bad as some experts predict — with some in the poor and middle classes unable to heat their homes — I fear we’ll see a populist backlash to the whole climate/green movement. You can already smell that coming in Britain.

I am a fan of the financial newsletter Blain’s Morning Porridge, written by a smart, irreverent market strategist in London, Bill Blain. Last Thursday he bluntly summed up the energy situation for the U.K. and Europe this way:

This winter — people are going to die of cold. As the price of energy goes higher, the costs will fall disproportionately upon the poorest in society. Income inequalities will be dramatically exposed as the most vulnerable in society face a stark choice: heat or eat. … This winter the U.K. is likely to be on its knees, begging energy from wherever it’s available. Europe will be in as much trouble. The Middle East will be charging whatever they can get away with, and the capacity to deliver is limited. … And Vladimir Putin can’t wait. … He will invite each European leader to plead their case individually, menacingly asking each leader why he should open the gas taps to their nation specifically. … Make no mistake, this winter is going to be shocking. Be aware.

How did we get here? In truth, it’s a good-news-bad-news story. » | Thomas L. Friedman, Opinion Columnist | Tuesday, October 5, 2021

’Pandora Papers’: Why Is It So Difficult to Clamp Down on Tax Evasion? | DW News

Oct 4, 2021 • It is the biggest ever data leak exposing how the world's richest and most powerful keep their wealth offshore, hidden from the tax man. Journalists from around the world, including at DW News, have spent years sifting through this trove of data – and the results reveal a global offshore shadow economy inhabited by billionaires, celebrities, and political leaders. The goal is the same: to keep wealth hidden and avoid paying taxes. Some of the practices are legal, others are raising eyebrows.