Covid Restrictions Tighten across Europe as Case Numbers Soar | DW News

Nov 22, 2021 • There's a growing public backlash as governments in several European countries tighten coronavirus restrictions. In the Netherlands, more than 130 people have been arrested during three days of unrest. Coronaviruses cases there are setting new records. A week ago the government imposed western Europe's first partial lockdown since the summer. Austria has gone back into national lockdown - the first country in Europe to reimpose such a harsh measure as a winter wave of Covid-19 infections rolls across the continent.

On Sunday tens of thousands turned out in the capital Vienna to protest against the lockdown. Now, Christmas markets, bars, restaurants and most shops have closed. For at least the next ten days, people can only leave their homes for essential reasons.

With Covid-19 cases also soaring in places like neighboring Germany, Europe is facing a winter of toughening restrictions.


Covid deaths in Europe to top 2 million by March, says WHO: Dr Hans Kluge describes situation as ‘very serious’ with increasing strain on health services »

Doctor Exposes Plan to Sell NHS to American Corporations

Oct 25, 2021 • The NHS is in imminent danger.

The Ultimate Guide to Tory Corruption

Open Democracy

There's a Sickness at the Heart of British Democracy & It's Called Oligarchy | Peter Jukes

Johnson ‘Losing the Confidence’ of Tory Party after Rambling CBI Speech

THE GUARDIAN: Senior party members concerned after chaotic fortnight, with PM said to be losing his grip over key policies

Conservative MPs are increasingly worried about Boris Johnson’s competence and drive after he gave a rambling speech to business leaders and was accused of losing his grip over a series of key policies from social care to rail.

Senior members of his own party said they needed Johnson to get the government back on track after a disastrous two weeks amid dismay about his performance at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference, where he lost his place in his speech for about 20 seconds and diverted into a lengthy tangent about Peppa Pig.

The prime minister was also facing a substantial rebellion over his social care proposals, anger at the decision to scale back rail improvements for the north and frustration over the government’s failure to keep its promises on small boats crossing the Channel. It caps a difficult fortnight for the prime minister after he admitted he “crashed the car into a ditch” in his handling of the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal.

Nervousness among Tory MPs about No 10 intensified after one Downing Street source told the BBC there was “a lot of concern inside the building about the PM … it’s just not working”, adding that the “cabinet needs to wake up and demand serious changes otherwise it’ll keep getting worse”. With video » | Aubrey Allegretti, Rowena Mason, Joanna Partridge and Rob Davies | Monday, November 21, 2021

Boris Johnson is not unwell and has not lost his grip, says No 10: Downing Street spokesperson responds to questions about PM’s health after rambling speech to CBI on Monday »

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — November 22, 2021

Émeutes aux Antilles: l’anarchie menace la Guadeloupe, la colère gagne la Martinique

Une file de voitures slalome, lundi, entre les carcasses de véhicules incendiés formant un barrage à Mare Gaillard, près de Pointe-à-Pitre. CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP
LE FIGARO : Malgré les renforts policiers, les barrages coupent toujours la circulation. Le chaos s’installe, les rayons des magasins se vident.

Pointe-à-Pitre
En Guadeloupe, l’hélicoptère de la gendarmerie passe et repasse dans le ciel, survolant les barrages et les routes déblayées par les forces de l’ordre, qui sont parfois rebloquées dans la foulée. Pour autant, la nuit de dimanche à lundi a été plus calme que les précédentes, selon les forces de police, qui notent «moins de pillages et moins de groupements». Et pour cause, indique un communiqué de la préfecture de Guadeloupe: «l’ensemble des services de police et de gendarmerie nationales a été mobilisé», tout comme les «renforts envoyés en Guadeloupe» directement déployés sur le terrain. Au total, 11 personnes ont été interpellées dans la nuit de dimanche à lundi. » | Par Amandine Ascensio | lundi 22 novembre 2021

À LIRE AUSSI :

Guadeloupe : des armes de guerre dérobées dans les locaux de la douane à Pointe-à-Pitre : INFO LE FIGARO - Alors que la tension monte dans le département d'outre-mer, des fusils et pistolets ont été subtilisés après un incendie de nature criminelle, survenu dans la nuit de vendredi à samedi. »

Cinq questions pour comprendre la grève générale en Guadeloupe : FOCUS - Depuis une semaine, la Guadeloupe connaît des scènes de violences urbaines, après l'appel à la grève générale contre l'obligation vaccinale et la suspension de centaines de postes. »

Faith & Fate | Episode 3 – The Roaring Twenties. 1920 - 1929

Premiered Aug 31, 2020 • The Roaring 20s is the story of rabbis and scholars, about yeshivas and women’s education, about strengthening the old and adapting to the new. It is a story about power, mass media, propaganda, gangsters and hoodlums… of Jewish communists on the left and radical Jews on the right. This was the decade that changed the world forever. A decade of hope, aspirations, optimism & progress - until the bubble burst.

Episodes 1 & 2 here.

Brexit : les pêcheurs français annoncent des actions imminentes contre le Royaume-Uni

Olivier Leprêtre, président du Comité régional des pêches des Hauts-de-France. FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP
LE FIGARO : Le président du comité des pêches des Hauts de France a annoncé lundi soir la préparation d'un mouvement national pour protester contre le refus des Britanniques d'accorder des licences de pêche aux bateaux français.

Face aux négociations qui s'enlisent, les pêcheurs français passent à l'action. Un mouvement national sera mené dans les prochains jours pour protester contre le refus britannique d'accorder des licences de pêche aux bateaux français.

«La Grande Bretagne doit respecter l'accord du Brexit», a martelé Olivier Leprêtre, président du comité régional des pêches des Hauts-de-France. «Ils veulent avoir accès au marché européen ? Qu'ils nous donnent des licences. Sinon on leur coupera l'accès. C'était dans les conditions de l'accord du Brexit.» » | Par Edouard de Mareschal | lundi 22 novembre 2021

À LIRE AUSSI :

Pêche post-Brexit: «Le gouvernement laisse notre profession s’éteindre» : ENTRETIEN - Pour Olivier Becquet, qui a navigué pendant vingt-trois ans, l’issue proposée au bras de fer qui oppose l’Angleterre à la France est tout simplement «indécente». »

Avis de gros temps sur la pêche française : INFOGRAPHIE - Le Brexit a engendré des tensions entre Londres et Paris dans une des zones les plus poissonneuses au monde. Plongeon dans un secteur en pleine mutation. »

Faith & Fate | Episode 2 – The Implosion of the Old Order. 1911 - 1920

Premiered Aug 27, 2020 • In the most devastating decade in mankind's history, Imperial greed, Russia's Communist Revolution ↦ WWII created a cauldron of conflict that changed Jewish & World history forever.

Part 1 here.

Russia Accuses West of Building Up Forces on Its Borders

THE GUARDIAN: Moscow, which has nearly 100,000 troops near Ukraine border, also criticises ‘provocative policy’ of US and EU towards Kyiv

Vladimir Putin has admitted that raising tensions in eastern Europe serves Russia’s interests.Photograph: Mikhail Metzel/AP
Russia has accused the west of building up forces on its borders as well as those of Belarus in remarks that appeared tailored to mirror recent US warnings about Moscow’s aggressive positioning towards Ukraine.

The Kremlin, as well as Russian intelligence, security, and diplomatic officials, have all gone on the offensive in the past 48 hours after Vladimir Putin publicly instructed his diplomats that tensions should be maintained with the west as a form of aggressive deterrence.

US and Ukrainian officials have said that Russia has amassed nearly 100,000 troops in the border regions near Ukraine and warned it was seeking a pretext in order to justify a major intervention in the country.

In a public statement on Monday, Russia’s foreign intelligence service announced that the situation was similar to that with Georgia in 2008, where Russia fought a short war against the government of Mikheil Saakashvili. » | Andrew Roth in Moscow | Monday, November 22, 2021

I’m a Therapist to the Super-rich: They Are as Miserable as Succession Makes Out

THE GUARDIAN – OPINION: Many billionaires I work with have trust issues, lack a sense of purpose and struggle with shame, guilt and fear

Brian Cox as Logan Roy in Succession. Photograph: HBO/David M. Russell
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard the term “first world problems”, my bank account would look similar to those of my clients. I work as a psychotherapist and my specialism is ultra-high net worth individuals.

I got into working with billionaires by accident. I had one wealthy client, who passed my name around to their acquaintances. They are called the 1% for a reason: there are not that many of them and so the circle is tight.

Over the years, I have developed a great deal of empathy for those who have far too much. The television programme Succession, now in its third season, does such a good job of exploring the kinds of toxic excess my clients struggle with that when my wife is watching it I have to leave the room; it just feels like work.

What could possibly be challenging about being a billionaire, you might ask. Well, what would it be like if you couldn’t trust those close to you? Or if you looked at any new person in your life with deep suspicion? I hear this from my clients all the time: “What do they want from me?”; or “How are they going to manipulate me?”; or “They are probably only friends with me because of my money.” » | Clay Cockrell | Monday, November 22, 2021

Most Germans to Be ‘Vaccinated, Cured or Dead’ within Months, Says Minister

THE GUARDIAN: Jens Spahn issues stark warning as neighbouring Austria implements contentious new Covid lockdown

Most Germans will be “vaccinated, cured or dead” from Covid-19 in a few months, the country’s health minister has warned, as Germany’s southern neighbour Austria put its population of 8.9 million back under a nationwide lockdown.

Figures released on Monday showed more than 30,000 newly confirmed cases in Germany over the past 24 hours — an increase of about 50% compared with a week ago. As intensive care units near capacity and hospitals contend with a shortage of staff and respiratory apparatus, doctors have said they are ready to apply a triage system that would prioritise care for patients judged to have the best chance of survival.

“Probably by the end of the winter, more or less everyone in Germany will be vaccinated, cured or dead,” the health minister, Jens Spahn, said. “That sounds cynical, but that is the reality.”

Spahn said the highly contagious Delta variant made his prediction very probable and that was why the government was so urgently recommending vaccination. » | Kate Connolly in Berlin | Monday, November 22, 2021

„Wahrscheinlich wird am Ende dieses Winters jeder geimpft, genesen oder gestorben sein“: Bundesgesundheitsminister Jens Spahn gibt zu, dass die Begrenzung des Corona-Impfstoffs von BioNTech und der Wechsel zu Moderna schlecht kommuniziert worden seien. Es gebe genügend Dosen für alle. Die Wissenschaft springt dem CDU-Politiker bei. »

Dimitra’s Dishes: Turkey Roulade Stuffed with Feta & Roasted Red Peppers

Get the recipe here.

Covid-19: Protests Erupt across Europe against New Lockdown Rules and Mandatory Vaccines

Dänemarks Problemviertel | ARTE Re:

Nov 22, 2021 • Mit seiner Politik im Umgang mit Migranten und Migrantinnen sorgt Dänemark europaweit für Schlagzeilen. Doppeltes Strafmaß bei Delikten, Unterricht in dänischer Kultur, Zwangsumsiedlungen in Problemvierteln. Während die einen im Getto-Plan die Lösung im Umgang mit Parallelgesellschaften sehen, stellt er für viele Bewohner und Bewohnerinnen das Leben schlagartig auf den Kopf.

Mjølnerparken, Kopenhagen: 1.800 Menschen leben hier in Sozialwohnungen, die meisten mit Migrationsgeschichte. Das soll sich nun ändern, viele Bewohner werden per Gesetz umgesiedelt. "Dabei gibt es hier positive Entwicklungen. Die Kriminalität ist niedriger als im Landesdurchschnitt, und immer mehr junge Menschen haben eine Ausbildung", sagt Fatma Tounsi. Die 30-jährige Tunesierin kam mit zwölf Jahren als Geflüchtete nach Kopenhagen, inzwischen hat sie einen Abschluss als Biochemikerin. Zusammen mit der Gruppe „Almen Modstand“ (gemeinnütziger Widerstand) klagt sie vor Gericht gegen die Behandlung der Bewohner und Bewohnerinnen. Steffen Boel Jørgensen ist Geschäftsführer der Bo-Vita, einer Wohnungsbaugesellschaft, die den Mjølnerparken verwaltet. Die 30-Prozent-Regel der Regierung, nach der nur 30 Prozent der Bewohner benachteiligter Bezirke eine "nichtwestliche" Herkunft haben dürfen, bezeichnet er als "schlechtes Gesetz". Er muss jetzt zwei Wohnblöcke verkaufen, damit Geld für Ersatzwohnungen da ist. Viele vermuten daher hinter dem Ghetto-Plan eine groß angelegte Privatisierungswelle von Immobilien. Doch es gibt auch Befürworterinnen und Befürworter: "Wir brauchen eine Durchmischung der Gesellschaft", sagt Halime Oguz von der Sozialistischen Volkspartei. „Ich bin für die Pläne der Regierung, denn ich habe erlebt, wie es ist, in einer Parallelgesellschaft aufzuwachsen". Sie kam als Sechsjährige aus einem kurdischen Dorf nach Dänemark, wurde als 17-Jährige zwangsverheiratet und setzt sich heute im Parlament für Frauenrechte ein.

Reportage (Deutschland 2021, 32 Min)

”We Defend Europe” - Message by Polish PM Morawiecki

„Europa ist in Gefahr“

MIGRATIONSSTREIT MIT BELARUS
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Polen hat die Abschottung seiner Grenze zu Belarus mit der „Verteidigung Europas“ begründet. Estland und Großbritannien haben Warschau nun die Entsendung von Truppen zur Unterstützung im Migrationsstreit zugesagt.

Polen hat die Abschottung seiner Grenze zu Belarus mit der „Verteidigung Europas“ begründet. Polens Ministerpräsident warnte in einem englischsprachigen Youtube-Video am Sonntag: „Europa, unser gemeinsames Haus, ist in Gefahr.“ Über eine künstlich ausgelöste Migrationskrise und über hohe Erdgaspreise wollten die „Diktatoren“ in Belarus und Russland Europa destabilisieren – „zum ersten Mal seit 1989“. Ministerpräsident Mateusz Morawiecki sagte bei einem Besuch in Estland am Sonntag, die EU sei mit „anschwellenden, miteinander synchronisierten Krisen“ konfrontiert, und erwähnte auch die Mobilisierung russischer Truppen in der Nähe der Ukraine. » | Von Jochen Buchsteiner, Gerhard Gnauck | Sonntag, 21. November 2021

Limping and Penniless, Iraqis Deported From Belarus Face Bleak Futures

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Hundreds of desperate Iraqis are being sent home after becoming political pawns in Belarus’s quarrel with its European Union neighbors.

Nazar Shamsaldin on Sunday with some of his family back in Erbil, Iraq, after being deported from Belarus. | Hawre Khalid for The New York Times
ERBIL, Iraq — It was cold in Belarus, bitterly cold, but at least it offered hope, however illusory.

Nazar Shamsaldin was one of thousands of Iraqis who made their way to the Eastern European country in recent months, hoping it would prove a jumping-off point to new lives in the West, only to become pawns in a geopolitical game.

But this weekend he was back in Iraq, sitting on the cold floor of a tiny unfinished concrete house, newly deported from Belarus. Nearby a small boy, one of a dozen children crammed into the house, was trying to warm his hands over a single, battered kerosene heater.

Mr. Shamsaldin, a laborer, and 35 of his relatives had risked everything to travel West. Like many of the hundreds of other Iraqis deported last week, they are now deep in debt and despair. » | Jane Arraf and Sangar Khaleel | Monday, November 22, 2021

As Thanksgiving Approaches, U.S. Virus Cases Tick Upward Once More

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Cases are rising again in parts of the country, but more people are traveling, and health officials have largely stopped telling people to skip celebrations.

CHICAGO — A month ago, new coronavirus cases in the United States were ticking steadily downward and the worst of a miserable summer surge fueled by the Delta variant appeared to be over. But as Americans travel this week to meet far-flung relatives for Thanksgiving dinner, new virus cases are rising once more, especially in the Upper Midwest and Northeast.

Federal medical teams have been dispatched to Minnesota to help at overwhelmed hospitals. Michigan is enduring its worst case surge yet, with daily caseloads doubling since the start of November. Even New England, where vaccination rates are high, is struggling, with Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire trying to contain major outbreaks. » | Mitch Smith | Monday, November 22, 2021