THE GUARDIAN: Travellers to UK must take PCR tests and masks to be made mandatory in shops and on public transport
Boris Johnson has announced fresh measures to curb the spread of coronavirus including mandatory masks in shops and PCR tests for travellers entering the UK after two cases of the Omicron variant were detected in the country.
Amid mounting global concern over Omicron, named a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization on Friday, the prime minister set out a series of steps the UK is taking to maximise its defence against Covid-19.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Johnson said anyone arriving in the UK will be asked to take a PCR test for Covid-19 on the second day and must self-isolate until they provide a negative test. The rules on face coverings in shops and on public transport will also be tightened, he said.
Contacts of all confirmed cases of people infected with the Omicron variant will have to self-isolate for 10 days. Health officials are also examining the case for widening access to the booster vaccine programme, he added.
The measures will be reviewed in three weeks. With video » | Andrew Gregory | Saturday, November 27, 2021
Covid-19: la présence du variant Omicron se confirme en Europe : LE POINT SUR LA SITUATION - Nouvelles mesures, nouveaux bilans et faits marquants: un point sur les dernières évolutions de la pandémie de Covid-19 dans le monde. »
Saturday, November 27, 2021
"Kontrollierte" Abgabe von Cannabis - Chance oder Risiko? | DW Nachrichten
Nov 27, 2021 • "Wir führen die kontrollierte Abgabe von Cannabis an Erwachsene zu Genusszwecken in lizenzierten Geschäften ein," heißt es im Koalitionsvertrag von SPD, Grünen und FDP.
Die Niederlande verfolgen schon lange eine liberale Drogenpolitik. Doch auch die Niederländer stoßen an ihre Grenzen. Nicht nur Besitz und Konsum von Cannabis sollten legal sein, sondern auch Anbau und Einkauf staatlich kontrolliert werden, meint Auslandskorrespondentin Kerstin Schweighöfer in den Niederlanden. Andernfalls könnte Deutschland eine Entwicklung wie in den Niederlanden drohen: Drogenbanden sind fest im Geschäft.
Die Niederlande verfolgen schon lange eine liberale Drogenpolitik. Doch auch die Niederländer stoßen an ihre Grenzen. Nicht nur Besitz und Konsum von Cannabis sollten legal sein, sondern auch Anbau und Einkauf staatlich kontrolliert werden, meint Auslandskorrespondentin Kerstin Schweighöfer in den Niederlanden. Andernfalls könnte Deutschland eine Entwicklung wie in den Niederlanden drohen: Drogenbanden sind fest im Geschäft.
Many Older Queer Adults Face Abuse Yet Rarely Report It, Study Says
ADVOCATE: Research into Oregon's LGB older adult population also found a majority of them have experienced discrimination in the last year.
A survey conducted by Oregon’s Human Services Department has found that most older lesbian, gay, or bisexual people in the state have reported experiencing discrimination and many also reported experiencing elder abuse.
The agency found that LGB older adults experienced higher rates of poverty, suicidal thoughts, and overall economic instability. Respondents described issues getting appropriate health care and social services, such as food or transport assistance, partly because of their identity. Older LGB people in the state also reported feeling isolated from others.
“We still fall under all the things that happen to older adults,” said Mary Rita Hurley, the 62-year-old lesbian cofounder of the advocacy organization LGBTQ Aging Coalition, told The Salem Reporter. “Then on top of that, particularly depending on how old the older LGBTQ person is, there is still an amazing amount of stigma out there. We still have people in the closet.” » | Alex Cooper | Friday, November 26, 2021
Stephen Sondheim, Musical Theater Legend, Dead at 91
ADVOCATE: The gay composer and lyricist of greats like Into the Woods and Company died suddenly on Friday, a day after reportedly spending Thanksgiving with friends.
Out songwriter and composer Stephen Sondheim died Friday at the age of 91. Sondheim’s work reshaped American musical theater and has influenced generations of songwriters.
His death was announced by his lawyer and friend, Richard Pappas, according to The New York Times. Pappas said Sondheim wasn’t known to be ill, and his death was sudden. The Broadway legend had spent Thanksgiving with some friends, Pappas said.
Sondheim’s success stretched from the 1950s, writing lyrics for West Side Story, to the 1990s, writing for such musicals as Assassins and Passion. The first Broadway show that he wrote the music and lyrics for was the 1962 comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. It won a Tony Award for best musical.
The Times noted that the 1970s and 1980s were his “most productive” years. His works in those decades included Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Into the Woods, and Sunday in the Park With George. » | Alex Cooper | Friday, November 26, 2021
Archbishop Desmond Tutu Compares Barbaric Anti-LGBT+ Laws to Apartheid: ‘I Can’t Keep Quiet’
PINK NEWS: Archbishop Desmond Tutu has compared anti-LGBT+ laws and violence to apartheid, insisting that he opposes them with the “same passion”.
The 90-year-old Archbishop Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has spent his life campaigning for human rights.
He was a major opponent of South Africa’s apartheid system, and has worked for universal suffrage, equal rights for women in the Anglican Church and LGBT+ rights.
In a video for the United Nations Free and Equal campaign, its “global campaign against homophobia and transphobia”, Tutu said: “I have to tell you, I cannot keep quiet when people are penalised for something about which they can do nothing.
“First, gender. When women are excluded, just simply and solely because they are women.
“But more perniciously, more ghastly, is the fact that people are penalised, killed, all sorts of ghastly things happen to them, simply, solely on the basis of their sexual orientation. » | Lily Wakefield | Saturday, November 27, 2021
Homophobic gang attack gay couple with hammer in terrifying street robbery: ‘I’m lost for words’: A gay couple say they were “violently attacked” while walking down the street in Radcliffe, Bury, on Tuesday. »
Au Niger, un convoi militaire français bloqué par des manifestants
LE MONDE : Une centaine de véhicules de l’armée française tentent de rallier le Mali, en transitant par le Niger et le Burkina Faso. La semaine dernière, le convoi avait déjà été forcé à l’arrêt par des manifestations contre la présence militaire française.
Alors que son passage avait déjà créé des tensions au Burkina Faso, un convoi militaire français a de nouveau été bloqué par des manifestants, samedi 27 novembre, à Téra (Niger). Ce dernier – se rendant au Mali, en transitant par le Burkina Faso et le Niger – a depuis pu reprendre sa route, a appris l’Agence France-Presse auprès de l’état-major.
« Le convoi s’est arrêté hier soir à Téra. Ce matin, quand ils ont voulu reprendre leur progression vers Niamey [à 200 kilomètres de là], ils ont été arrêtés par un millier de manifestants et un groupe violent parmi eux a tenté de s’emparer des camions », a détaillé le porte-parole de l’état-major français, le colonel Pascal Ianni. « Les forces de sécurité nigériennes étaient sur place et ont réussi à maintenir les manifestants à distance du convoi avec des gaz lacrymogènes », a-t-il expliqué. » | Le Monde avec AFP | samedi 27 novembre 2021
Alors que son passage avait déjà créé des tensions au Burkina Faso, un convoi militaire français a de nouveau été bloqué par des manifestants, samedi 27 novembre, à Téra (Niger). Ce dernier – se rendant au Mali, en transitant par le Burkina Faso et le Niger – a depuis pu reprendre sa route, a appris l’Agence France-Presse auprès de l’état-major.
« Le convoi s’est arrêté hier soir à Téra. Ce matin, quand ils ont voulu reprendre leur progression vers Niamey [à 200 kilomètres de là], ils ont été arrêtés par un millier de manifestants et un groupe violent parmi eux a tenté de s’emparer des camions », a détaillé le porte-parole de l’état-major français, le colonel Pascal Ianni. « Les forces de sécurité nigériennes étaient sur place et ont réussi à maintenir les manifestants à distance du convoi avec des gaz lacrymogènes », a-t-il expliqué. » | Le Monde avec AFP | samedi 27 novembre 2021
In kaum einem Land ist die Impfquote so hoch wie in Portugal – trotzdem verhängt das Land jetzt neue Einschränkungen
NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG Trotz erfolgreicher Impfkampagne beschliesst Portugal prophylaktisch eine Art Ausnahmezustand. Nach Silvester soll das soziale Leben eine Woche lang fast gänzlich stillstehen. Hinter dem Schritt dürfte auch wahltaktisches Kalkül stecken.
Die Portugiesen gelten bei der Impfkampagne als Musterschüler Europas. Fast 88 Prozent der Gesamtbevölkerung sind vollständig gegen das Coronavirus geimpft – so viele wie in kaum einem anderen Land. Portugals amtierender Ministerpräsident António Costa lässt daher auch keine Gelegenheit aus, das exemplarische Verhalten seiner Landsleute zu loben. Diese zeichneten sich durch hohes Verantwortungsbewusstsein aus, sagte der 60-Jährige am Ende einer Ministerratssitzung am Donnerstag. Dank der hohen Impfquote gebe es weniger Einlieferungen in Kliniken und Intensivstationen und vor allem weniger Tote. Trotzdem hat Costa nun beschlossen, wieder einen nationalen Notstand zu verhängen. » | Ute Müller, Madrid | Samstag, 27. November 2021
Die Portugiesen gelten bei der Impfkampagne als Musterschüler Europas. Fast 88 Prozent der Gesamtbevölkerung sind vollständig gegen das Coronavirus geimpft – so viele wie in kaum einem anderen Land. Portugals amtierender Ministerpräsident António Costa lässt daher auch keine Gelegenheit aus, das exemplarische Verhalten seiner Landsleute zu loben. Diese zeichneten sich durch hohes Verantwortungsbewusstsein aus, sagte der 60-Jährige am Ende einer Ministerratssitzung am Donnerstag. Dank der hohen Impfquote gebe es weniger Einlieferungen in Kliniken und Intensivstationen und vor allem weniger Tote. Trotzdem hat Costa nun beschlossen, wieder einen nationalen Notstand zu verhängen. » | Ute Müller, Madrid | Samstag, 27. November 2021
‘A Core Threat to Our Democracy’: Threat of Political Violence Growing across US
THE GUARDIAN: Republicans’ muted response to Paul Gosar’s behavior has intensified fears about where incendiary rhetoric may lead
The Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blasted Republican house minority leader Kevin McCarthy for failing to condemn Paul Gosar’s tweet. Photograph: Reuters
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stood on the House floor and implored her colleagues to hold Paul Gosar accountable for sharing an altered anime video showing him killing her and attacking Joe Biden.
“Our work here matters. Our example matters. There is meaning in our service,” Ocasio-Cortez said in her speech last week. “And as leaders in this country, when we incite violence with depictions against our colleagues, that trickles down into violence in this country.”
House Republicans heard Ocasio-Cortez’s impassioned plea and responded with a collective shrug. All but three Republican members voted against censuring Gosar and stripping him of his committee assignments, while every House Democrat supported the resolution.
The Gosar incident served as the latest data point in an alarming trend in American politics. In a year that began with a deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, lawmakers have seen a sharp rise in the number of threats against them. Republicans’ muted response to Gosar’s behavior has intensified fears about the possibility of more political violence in America in the months to come. » | Joan E Greve in Washington | Saturday, November 27, 2021
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stood on the House floor and implored her colleagues to hold Paul Gosar accountable for sharing an altered anime video showing him killing her and attacking Joe Biden.
“Our work here matters. Our example matters. There is meaning in our service,” Ocasio-Cortez said in her speech last week. “And as leaders in this country, when we incite violence with depictions against our colleagues, that trickles down into violence in this country.”
House Republicans heard Ocasio-Cortez’s impassioned plea and responded with a collective shrug. All but three Republican members voted against censuring Gosar and stripping him of his committee assignments, while every House Democrat supported the resolution.
The Gosar incident served as the latest data point in an alarming trend in American politics. In a year that began with a deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, lawmakers have seen a sharp rise in the number of threats against them. Republicans’ muted response to Gosar’s behavior has intensified fears about the possibility of more political violence in America in the months to come. » | Joan E Greve in Washington | Saturday, November 27, 2021
Young, Cute and Gay
Österreichische Polizei nimmt 15 Schlepper fest
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Die österreichische Polizei hat ein Schleppernetzwerk aufgedeckt, das bislang 700 Migranten illegal ins Land gebracht hat. Die meisten davon haben sich weiter auf den Weg nach Deutschland gemacht.
Die Polizei in Österreich hat ein Schleppernetzwerk aufgedeckt, das nach ihren Angaben mehr als 700 Menschen illegal ins Land gebracht hat. Die meisten davon hätten sich weiter auf den Weg nach Deutschland gemacht, wie ein Polizeisprecher im niederösterreichischen St. Pölten am Samstag berichtete. Innerhalb weniger Tage seien 15 mutmaßliche Schlepper festgenommen worden, die Menschen aus Syrien, dem Libanon und Ägypten transportiert hätten. » | Quelle: dpa | Samstag, 27. November 2021
Peter Hitchens | “I Have Given Up” | #CLIP
New ‘Variant of Concern’ Fuels Global Fear of Another Virus Surge
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Scientists do not yet know how dangerous the new Omicron variant is, but its many mutations set off alarms, lowering hopes of putting the pandemic in the past.
The world reacted with alarm on Friday to the highly mutated new coronavirus variant discovered in southern Africa, as the United States, the European Union and nations across the globe imposed new travel restrictions, financial markets swooned and visions of finally emerging from the pandemic started to dim.
Just two days after the world learned of the variant, the World Health Organization officially labeled it a “ variant of concern,” its most serious category — the first since the Delta variant, which emerged a year ago. The designation means that the variant has mutations that might make it more contagious or more virulent, or make vaccines and other preventive measures less effective — though none of those effects has yet been established.
After an emergency meeting, the W.H.O. warned in a statement that “preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant” in people who have already had Covid-19. In keeping with the practice of naming variants for letters of the Greek alphabet, it dubbed the new one Omicron. » | Richard Pérez-Peña and Jason Horowitz | Published: Friday, November 26, 2021; updated: Saturday, November 27, 2021
Germany finds a suspected case of the variant. »
Two cases of Omicron Covid variant identified in UK: The B.1.1.529 variant, described in Britain as ‘the most worrying we’ve seen’, was first found in southern Africa »
The world reacted with alarm on Friday to the highly mutated new coronavirus variant discovered in southern Africa, as the United States, the European Union and nations across the globe imposed new travel restrictions, financial markets swooned and visions of finally emerging from the pandemic started to dim.
Just two days after the world learned of the variant, the World Health Organization officially labeled it a “ variant of concern,” its most serious category — the first since the Delta variant, which emerged a year ago. The designation means that the variant has mutations that might make it more contagious or more virulent, or make vaccines and other preventive measures less effective — though none of those effects has yet been established.
After an emergency meeting, the W.H.O. warned in a statement that “preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant” in people who have already had Covid-19. In keeping with the practice of naming variants for letters of the Greek alphabet, it dubbed the new one Omicron. » | Richard Pérez-Peña and Jason Horowitz | Published: Friday, November 26, 2021; updated: Saturday, November 27, 2021
Germany finds a suspected case of the variant. »
Two cases of Omicron Covid variant identified in UK: The B.1.1.529 variant, described in Britain as ‘the most worrying we’ve seen’, was first found in southern Africa »
EuroMillions : un Français a remporté le jackpot de 162 millions d'euros
LE FIGARO : Cette victoire intervient après onze tirages consécutifs sans gagnant.
Un nouveau Français est devenu millionnaire. C'est ce que nous a appris le tirage de l'EuroMillions de ce jeudi soir qui mettait en jeu plus de 163 millions d'euros. Il est ainsi devenu le cinquième plus gros gagnant du pays.
La somme a donc été remportée par un heureux élu qui a joué sa grille en France, trouvant les cinq numéros gagnants (le 1, le 20, le 41, le 42, le 50) et les deux étoiles (le 3 et le 7), nécessaires pour remporter le jackpot. Il dispose de 60 jours pour se manifester. » | Publié : vendredi 26 novembre 2021 ; mis à jour : samedi 27 novembre 2021
Un nouveau Français est devenu millionnaire. C'est ce que nous a appris le tirage de l'EuroMillions de ce jeudi soir qui mettait en jeu plus de 163 millions d'euros. Il est ainsi devenu le cinquième plus gros gagnant du pays.
La somme a donc été remportée par un heureux élu qui a joué sa grille en France, trouvant les cinq numéros gagnants (le 1, le 20, le 41, le 42, le 50) et les deux étoiles (le 3 et le 7), nécessaires pour remporter le jackpot. Il dispose de 60 jours pour se manifester. » | Publié : vendredi 26 novembre 2021 ; mis à jour : samedi 27 novembre 2021
The UK Is Becoming an Authoritarian State under Home Secretary, Priti Patel
Jul 26, 2021 • The Home Secretary is a bully. She has been accused of bullying in three separate government departments and was found guilty of bullying by a Cabinet Committee resulting in compensation payments of £395,000.
She has persistently broken the ministerial code throughout her ministerial career. Whilst at the Foreign Office working under Boris Johnson who was then Foreign Secretary, she visited Israel claiming to be on holiday and held at least twelve meetings with senior Israeli government officials including the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Neither the British ambassador in Israel nor the prime minister Theresa May knew about these meetings.
She again broke the ministerial code by writing at least twice on behalf of a friend in order to secure a PPE contract for £102.6 million for masks which were supplied at double the benchmark price.
She is pushing through legislation which will give the Home Secretary, or the police, the power to stop any demonstrations at will if judged to be making too much noise or causing annoyance. Those who resist will be liable to imprisonment for up to ten years.
Other legislation will make whistleblowing a criminal offence as will publishing articles considered critical of the government. This will included the government having the power to control the movements and association of certain named individuals without reference to the courts.
She seeks to punish any asylum seeker arriving in the UK without permission with up to four years in prison. She also seeks to extend laws which currently apply to paid people-smugglers to everyone so that offering any assistance to asylum seekers, even saving them from drowning, will become a crime punishable with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
She is ruthlessly pursuing a course which will lead to the UK to becoming a fascist state where any dissent will be illegal.
She has persistently broken the ministerial code throughout her ministerial career. Whilst at the Foreign Office working under Boris Johnson who was then Foreign Secretary, she visited Israel claiming to be on holiday and held at least twelve meetings with senior Israeli government officials including the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Neither the British ambassador in Israel nor the prime minister Theresa May knew about these meetings.
She again broke the ministerial code by writing at least twice on behalf of a friend in order to secure a PPE contract for £102.6 million for masks which were supplied at double the benchmark price.
She is pushing through legislation which will give the Home Secretary, or the police, the power to stop any demonstrations at will if judged to be making too much noise or causing annoyance. Those who resist will be liable to imprisonment for up to ten years.
Other legislation will make whistleblowing a criminal offence as will publishing articles considered critical of the government. This will included the government having the power to control the movements and association of certain named individuals without reference to the courts.
She seeks to punish any asylum seeker arriving in the UK without permission with up to four years in prison. She also seeks to extend laws which currently apply to paid people-smugglers to everyone so that offering any assistance to asylum seekers, even saving them from drowning, will become a crime punishable with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
She is ruthlessly pursuing a course which will lead to the UK to becoming a fascist state where any dissent will be illegal.
Brexit - No Wonder It Is All Such a Mess
Nov 27, 2021 • David Frost, our chief Brexit negotiator, who, after negotiating a deal which he and the prime minister both proclaimed a huge success, before he realised it was not a good deal after all and then decided he wanted to change it.
He has since openly criticised the EU for not being prepared to re-negotiate and has resorted to threatening the EU with invoking Article 16 if there is no agreement to what he is demanding.
In a keynote speech at the Centre for Policy Studies, whilst talking of the benefits of the freedom we now have having left the EU, went on to demonstrate his grand delusion by explaining that his job is “to drive change within government and 'to push policy in the right direction'”.
He has since openly criticised the EU for not being prepared to re-negotiate and has resorted to threatening the EU with invoking Article 16 if there is no agreement to what he is demanding.
In a keynote speech at the Centre for Policy Studies, whilst talking of the benefits of the freedom we now have having left the EU, went on to demonstrate his grand delusion by explaining that his job is “to drive change within government and 'to push policy in the right direction'”.
Friday, November 26, 2021
Migrants on EU's Borders Risk Life and Limb for a Better Life | DW News
Nov 26, 2021 • As temperatures across Europe plummet, thousands of migrants are still stranded in Belarus. Many have spent weeks outside in freezing forests near Poland. They're still hoping to find a route into the European Union - though Brussels insists the bloc will not accept them. DW’s Nick Connolly met some of those migrants in the Belarusian capital Minsk. He spoke to people torn between hope and resignation.
Meanwhile, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has told the European Union it must live up to its values and actively oppose the authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. DW's Barbara Wesel caught up with her in Brussels.
And the deaths of 27 people in the English Channel are deepening tensions between Britain and France. The French interior minister has cancelled weekend talks with his UK counterpart after suggestions by the British Prime Minister France wasn't doing enough to stop migrants trying to reach England by boat. DW correspondent Jack Parrock visited the French port of Calais. And spoke to people hoping to make the same journey.
Meanwhile, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has told the European Union it must live up to its values and actively oppose the authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. DW's Barbara Wesel caught up with her in Brussels.
And the deaths of 27 people in the English Channel are deepening tensions between Britain and France. The French interior minister has cancelled weekend talks with his UK counterpart after suggestions by the British Prime Minister France wasn't doing enough to stop migrants trying to reach England by boat. DW correspondent Jack Parrock visited the French port of Calais. And spoke to people hoping to make the same journey.
“Coming Out Can Be Slow and It's Okay If It's Slow. But You Should Start Your Journey."
Migrant Crisis in the Channel | Behind the Story
Aug 18, 2020 • The number of people crossing the Channel in small boats to seek asylum in Britain is at an all-time high, fuelled by the coronavirus reducing the number of cars and lorries coming across and fears that Brexit will mean a stricter enforcement regime in the UK.
The Times and The Sunday Times’ Alastair Good and Federica De Caria travelled along the southeast coast from Ramsgate in Kent to Hastings in East Sussex, as well as across the Channel to Calais, to discover what was really happening and hear from people on all sides.
Produced, directed and edited by Alastair Good Shot by Federica DeCaria
The Times and The Sunday Times’ Alastair Good and Federica De Caria travelled along the southeast coast from Ramsgate in Kent to Hastings in East Sussex, as well as across the Channel to Calais, to discover what was really happening and hear from people on all sides.
Produced, directed and edited by Alastair Good Shot by Federica DeCaria
Despite Mormon Upbringing, Gay Man Learns to Accept His Truth. “Huge Relief to Finally Be Who I Am.”
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