‘Putin’s Palace’ Interior Is Revealed, Complete with Pole-dancing Room

The palace is said to have a theatre, an underground ice hockey rink and a spa
THE TIMES: Leaked photographs have confirmed that a $1 billion luxury palace on the Black Sea which was allegedly built for President Putin has a pole-dancing room, an ornate theatre and a wine cellar.

The investigative team of Alexei Navalny, 45, the jailed Russian opposition leader, first revealed details of the grand residence a year ago, using computer-generated images based on blueprints and furniture catalogues to demonstrate what the interior looks like.

At the time, the Kremlin and state media claimed the images were “cartoons” and fakes. But the cache of about 500 photographs now revealed from “Putin’s Palace” shows the mock-ups were accurate in their depiction of lavish fittings. » | Tom Parfitt, Moscow | Friday, January 21, 2022 [£] *

* The Times currently has an offer of a month's free trial.

Comment Donald Trump prépare sa revanche

Donald Trump, le 15 janvier, à Florence (Arizona), son premier rassemblement de l’année 2022. ROBYN BECK/AFP
Correspondant à Washington
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - L’ancien président américain a tenu son premier rassemblement de l’année 2022, où il a promis de «reconquérir la Chambre et le Sénat», avant «de reprendre la Maison-Blanche» en 2024.

Les difficultés de Joe Biden nourrissent les ambitions de revanche de Donald Trump. Samedi dernier, l’ancien président a tenu en Arizona son premier rassemblement de l’année 2022, où il a promis de «reconquérir la Chambre et le Sénat» , en novembre prochain, à l’occasion des élections de mi-mandat, avant «de reprendre la Maison-Blanche» en 2024.

«On savait tous que Joe Biden ne serait pas très bon», a lancé Trump, «mais peu auraient pu imaginer qu’il serait un tel désastre pour le pays. L’inflation est la plus élevée depuis quarante ans, le prix de l’essence a doublé et les rayons des magasins sont vides… les rues des villes démocrates sont pleines de sang, les meurtres sont généralisés, ainsi que les trafics de drogue et d’êtres humains, il y a quatre fois plus de cas de Covid… notre frontière sud est abolie et les étrangers illégaux déferlent dans notre pays par millions».

«Biden a humilié notre pays sur la scène mondiale», a aussi accusé Trump, nos adversaires «jouent avec nous». … » | Par Adrien Jaulmes | mercredi 19 janvier 2022

À LIRE AUSSI :

États-Unis: un an après, les Américains déçus par la présidence Biden : RÉCIT - L’élection de Joe Biden n’a pas ramené le calme. Le pays est plus divisé que jamais, et serait au bord de la guerre civile, selon plusieurs intellectuels. »

Pétain «sauveur» de juifs : Zemmour persiste et dit avoir «raison historiquement»

La décision de la cour d'appel sera rendue après l'élection présidentielle des 10 et 24 avril prochains. CHRISTIAN HARTMANN / REUTERS
LE FIGARO : Le candidat d'extrême droite à la présidentielle Eric Zemmour a dit vendredi 21 janvier maintenir ses propos sur le maréchal Pétain «sauveur» de juifs, estimant avoir «raison historiquement», au lendemain du rejet de la demande de renvoi de son procès pour contestation de crime contre l'humanité.

La décision de la cour d'appel sera rendue après l'élection présidentielle des 10 et 24 avril prochains. L'ex-chroniqueur vedette de CNews avait été relaxé en février 2021, après avoir soutenu en 2019 que le maréchal Philippe Pétain avait «sauvé» les juifs français pendant la Deuxième guerre mondiale. Le tribunal avait estimé que ces propos avaient été prononcés «à brûle-pourpoint lors d'un débat sur la guerre en Syrie». » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 21 janvier 2022

À LIRE AUSSI :

Guillaume Tabard: «Éric Zemmour à la recherche d’un nouvel élan» : CONTRE-POINT - Parti sur les chapeaux de roues, jusqu’à pouvoir miroiter une qualification au second tour, le candidat de Reconquête a désormais quelque six points de retard sur Valérie Pécresse et Marine Le Pen. »

Die Wannsee-Konferenz zeigt, wozu Menschen fähig sind

20.Januar1942: Planungsprotokoll eines Menschheitsverbrechens
80. JAHRESTAG
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Während die wissenschaftliche Aufarbeitung der NS-Verbrechen voranschreitet, wird der Antisemitismus in der Bevölkerung stärker. Deshalb brauchen wir Gedenktage und Holocaust Education an den Schulen. Ein Gastbeitrag von Josef Schuster.

Am 20. Januar 1942 fanden sich 15 leitende Beamte der NS-Administration in einer herrschaftlichen Villa am Wannsee zu einer „Besprechung mit anschließendem Frühstück“ ein. Wer heute flüchtig die Dokumente und das Protokoll der Sitzung liest, könnte angesichts der Sprache und Terminologie meinen, es ginge um Waren, deren Vertrieb optimiert werden müsse im damaligen Deutschen Reich samt der besetzten Länder und Gebiete.

Doch es ging um Menschen. Es ging um Millionen jüdischer Frauen, Männer und Kinder, die nach der nationalsozialistischen Ideologie nicht als vollwertige Menschen betrachtet wurden und denen das Lebensrecht abgesprochen wurde.

Ihre Verfolgung war 1942 bereits in vollem Gange. Jetzt sollten die verbleibenden rechtlichen und administrativen Schritte zur „Endlösung der Judenfrage“ geklärt werden. Es ging um die optimale Vorbereitung und Durchführung des Völkermordes an den europäischen Juden – um ein „bürokratisch organisiertes Staatsverbrechen“, wie es die Historiker Norbert Kampe und Peter Klein bezeichnet haben. Ziel war die Ermordung von elf Millionen Juden in rund 30 Ländern. Das Auswärtige Amt reichte am Tag vor der Sitzung „Wünsche und Ideen“ zu dem geplanten Völkermord ein. » | Von Josef Shuster * | Mittwoch, 19. Januar 2022

* Josef Schuster ist Präsident des Zentralrats der Juden in Deutschland.

Related.

80 Years Ago the Nazis Planned the ‘Final Solution.’ It Took 90 Minutes.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: As Germany observes the anniversary of the Wannsee Conference, witnesses of the Nazi era are dying and antisemitism is resurgent in Europe and the United States.

Portraits of European Jews murdered during the Holocaust, at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, on Wednesday. | Sean Gallup/Getty Images
BERLIN — On Jan. 20, 1942, 15 high-ranking officials of the Nazi bureaucracy met in a villa on Lake Wannsee on the western edge of Berlin. Nibbles were served and washed down with cognac. There was only one point on the agenda: “The organizational, logistical and material steps for a final solution of the Jewish question in Europe.”

Planning the Holocaust took all of 90 minutes.

Eighty years after the infamous Wannsee Conference that meticulously mapped it out, the bureaucratic efficiency of it remains as unnerving as ever.

The minutes taken that day and typed up on 15 pages do not explicitly refer to murder. They use phrases like “evacuation” and “reduction” and “treatment” — and divide up the task among different government departments and their “pertinent specialists.”

“You read that protocol, and it’s chilling,” said Deborah E. Lipstadt, a renowned Holocaust scholar. “It’s all very camouflaged language. But then you look at the list of countries and the number of Jews they planned to kill. Eleven million people they were going to go after. They had very big plans.”

The anniversary of that fateful meeting has a special resonance at a time when survivors of the Holocaust are dwindling and antisemitism and the ideology of white supremacy are resurgent in Europe and the United States, along with attacks targeting Jewish people and ethnic minorities. Just last Saturday a man took a rabbi and three members of his congregation hostage in a synagogue in Texas. » | Katrin Bennhold | Thursday, January 20, 2022

Leer en español :

Hace 80 años, los nazis planificaron la ‘solución final’ en solo 90 minutos : Mientras Alemania recuerda el aniversario de la Conferencia de Wannsee, los testigos de la era nazi están muriendo y el antisemitismo vuelve a resurgir en Europa y Estados Unidos. »

Dario Ronchi: Scott Joplin: Maple Leaf Rag

Oct 15, 2017 • Dario Ronchi plays the Maple Leaf Rag to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Scott Joplin's death. | Views on YouTube: 1,394,777

Phil Collins : Do You Remember? | Remastered

Provided to YouTube by Laika Network | Views on YouTube: 19,505,296

Boris Johnson weiter unter Druck – Nun tauchen auch Vorwürfe wegen der angeblichen Erpressung von Abgeordneten auf

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Er schien schon zu taumeln, dann rappelte sich der britische Premier Johnson noch einmal mit einem kämpferischen Auftritt im Parlament auf. Doch schon am Tag danach gibt es neue Vorwürfe.

Bei seiner Rede am Mittwoch in der Fragestunde im Parlament zeigt sich Boris Johnson kämpferisch. Doch mittlerweile bringen ihn neue Vorwürfe unter Druck. | Uk Parliament/ Jessica Taylor / Reuters
(dpa) Im Skandal um Lockdown-Partys im Regierungssitz Downing Street schafft es der britische Premierminister Boris Johnson nicht aus den Negativschlagzeilen. Nachdem er sich tags zuvor mit einem kämpferischen Auftritt im Parlament ein wenig Luft verschafft hatte, kamen am Donnerstag Vorwürfe über angebliche Erpressungstaktiken gegen aufsässige Tory-Abgeordnete auf. Neue Enthüllungen wecken zudem weiter Zweifel an Johnsons Aufrichtigkeit.

Er habe Berichte über die Erpressung von Abgeordneten erhalten, sagte der Vorsitzende des Verwaltungs- und Verfassungsausschusses im Unterhaus, William Wragg, am Donnerstag. Konservative Parlamentsmitglieder, die im Verdacht stünden, dem Premier die Gefolgschaft zu versagen, seien von Regierungsmitarbeitern mit der Veröffentlichung kompromittierenden Materials in der Presse bedroht worden. » | dpa | Donnerstag, 20. Januar 2022

The Guardian View on Dropping Covid Restrictions: Follow the Scandal

THE GUARDIAN: The scrapping of plan B is driven by the prime minister’s political panic, not scientific guidance

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ‘are keeping the mask mandate on public transport, in shops and similar places, while England is dropping it’. Photograph: Guy Bell/Rex/Shutterstock
No one is under the illusion that the ending of Covid restrictions in England from next week is driven by science. The prime minister’s announcement on Wednesday was prompted by political desperation, not data. The daily death rate on Wednesday was reported as 359.

Scientists warn that infections are likely to resurge. While the level of infection across the population and health staff absences are falling sharply, the chair of the British Medical Association warned that hospitalisations are double the level that they were when plan B was introduced, and case rates close to twice as high. Dr Chaand Nagpaul noted that the NHS remains under crippling pressure, with a record backlog of six million patients.

After two years of the pandemic, it is not only Tory backbenchers who long for a return to normality. It is true that Omicron has wreaked less damage than feared – though many have still lost loved ones, or suffered serious and perhaps lasting damage to their health. With vaccines and treatments now available, it is entirely reasonable that people are rethinking what constitutes appropriate and proportionate responses to the virus. Restrictions have saved countless lives, but they have economic, social and indeed health costs: the effects of isolation have been punishing for many. » | Editorial | Thursday, January 20, 2022

It’s high time that this circus leave town! Complete with its clowns!

In order for the chief clown to obtain the keys to Number 10, we, the people, had to relinquish all our rights as citizens of the EU. Now, he wants the people to relinquish their right to life too, in order that he be able to save his political career! Enough already! It’s high time that the Conservative Party restore normality, restore decency. Once upon a time, it was the Party of decency and common sense!

It is peculiar and unfathomable indeed that at the very time that other European countries are toughening their restrictions because of the dangers of the Omicron variant that this government is relaxing them. How senseless is that? – © Mark

'Alone Out Here' : A Gay Farmer on Love, Isolation, and Disrupting the Meat Industry in Australia | The New Yorker | Re-upload

Jun 9, 2021 • In “Alone Out Here,” by Philip Busfield and Luke Cornish, an Australian rancher who is openly gay in a conservative industry fights to reduce carbon emissions through his cattle farming.

A Short Message to My Visitors and Followers

I should like to draw your attention to one very important fact: When you see something posted on this website, you should not conclude that I necessarily agree with the content posted. I often post items which I might not always agree with. I post them because I think they might be of interest to you, my visitors and followers. I also sometimes post items because I feel they give one food for thought.

This blog is not about pushing an ideology. As a person, I am rather moderate in my views and live a very normal, moderate and, I believe, a very respectable life. Further, I have never been given to excess of any sort, neither in food nor drink nor dressing; indeed, in outlook, I am generally rather conservative.

I do, however, believe that there is a place in this world for all people, regardless of faith, skin colour, or sexual orientation. As long as people live decent lives and help others, especially when those people are in difficulty or need, they should be respected.

This is not a website for people with extreme political views. I firmly believe that extreme political views lead to instability in society and definitely, ultimately, lead to no good place.

So please, if you come across anything posted on this website, do not conclude that I necessarily agree with what has been posted. Only the comment I may have posted on it will give you any indication of my own beliefs. Even the recipes I post are not always things that I would necessarily wish to eat. For example, if I post a vegan recipe, not being a vegan myself, I might well not wish to cook that recipe.

I am trying hard to make this website interesting to as wide an audience as possible: gay, straight, young or old. I also work hard to bring you all something in English, German and French; and sometimes even in Spanish, even though, alas, I am a greenhorn in that language. But I have many visitors from Spain and Spanish-speaking nations, so I feel that such links would be of interest to them.

Again, I should like to thank you all for your continued support. It means a lot to me. I appreciate it greatly. Stay safe in these perilous times! – © Mark

L'Assemblée nationale reconnaît officiellement le génocide des Ouïghours

LE FIGARO : La proposition de résolution des députés socialistes a été adoptée presque unanimement ce matin, reconnaissant officiellement le génocide en cours au Xinjiang (Chine).

Presque unanimement, l'Assemblée nationale vient de voter ce jeudi matin en faveur d'une proposition de résolution reconnaissant et condamnant le «caractère génocidaire des violences politiques systématiques ainsi que des crimes contre l'humanité actuellement perpétrés par la République populaire de Chine à l'égard des Ouïghours». Par 169 voix pour, une voix contre et cinq abstentions, la France rejoint ainsi le Canada, les États-Unis et l'Irlande et plusieurs autres pays du monde dans la reconnaissance de ce génocide. Regarder la vidéo » | Par Jean Cittone | jeudi 20 janvier 2022

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — January 20, 2022

Jeff Bezos Recruits in Quest for Eternal Youth

THE TIMES: The Amazon founder is backing a venture to extend the prime of life, write Rhys Blakely and Louisa Clarence-Smith

Altos Labs, which is backed by Jeff Bezos and Yuri Milner, has hired GSK’s chief executive Hal Barron along with a slew of Nobel prize-winners
An effort to vanquish death moved up a gear yesterday as a new “anti-ageing” company backed by Jeff Bezos revealed it had recruited one of the world’s most respected scientists.

The venture, called Altos Labs, has poached Hal Barron, 59, to be its chief executive. He had previously been chief scientific officer for the British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline.

That alone would have secured Altos credibility — but the biotech start-up also revealed $3 billion in funding yesterday, as well as a board of directors brimming with Nobel laureates.

Its focus will be on “cellular programming”, a technique that can already be used to rejuvenate individual cells in a laboratory — and that some believe holds the key to prolonging human life by banishing diseases associated with … » | Rhys Blakely, Science Correspondent | Louisa Clarence-Smith | Thursday, January 20, 2022 [£]

Has Amazon Contributed to America’s Political Unraveling? | Amanpour & Company

Jan 19, 2022 • Amazon is the second most trusted institution in the U.S., surpassed only by the military, according to a Georgetown and New York University poll. What can the company's disproportionate influence mean for American society? This is the subject of a new book from award-winning journalist Alec MacGillis. In "Fulfillment," he examines the company’s impact on the wealth and poverty of towns and cities across the country. He speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about what lies behind that easy one-click purchase. Originally aired on January 18, 2022

Erdogan Pledges to Tackle Record Inflation in Turkey | DW News

Jan 20, 2022 • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to bring down Turkey's soaring inflation. Inflation jumped to 36% last month, seriously eroding the earnings of millions of Turks.

Christian Couple Ban Gay Man and His ITV Producer Partner from Buying Their Dream Surrey Home due to Their Relationship

MAIL ONLINE – EXTRACT: A gay couple were stunned to be told they could not buy their dream house in Surrey from a devoutly Christian couple - because of their sexuality.

When they tried to arrange a viewing through internet estate agents Purplebricks, they were refused and sent astonishing references to fire and brimstone Bible passages by the couple.

Luke Whitehouse and his ITV producer partner Lachlan Mantell spotted a £650,000, three-bed, semi-detached cottage as they looked to get on the property ladder. Read the story here » | Nick Craven for MailOnline | Thursday, January 20, 2022

Christian homophobes ban gay couple from buying their home, cite Bible verses at them instead: A Christian physicist and her husband refused to sell their house to a gay couple, instead messaging them with Bible verses. »

Silvio Berlusconi Angles for Italy’s Presidency, Bunga Bunga and All

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The billionaire former prime minister is working hard to persuade lawmakers to vote for him next week, despite an unusual résumé for a job resting on moral authority.

Silvio Berlusconi in Milan in October. | .Claudio Furlan/LaPresse, via Associated Press
ROME — Early this month, Silvio Berlusconi sat at a dining room table in his mansion with his girlfriend, more than a half-century younger, and an old political ally. As they feasted on a pumpkin souffle and truffle tagliatelle, the 85-year-old Italian former prime minister and billionaire made hours of phone calls, working his way down a list of disaffected lawmakers he hoped to persuade to elect him president of Italy next week.

“‘We are forming the Bunga Bunga party and we want you with us,’” Christian Romaniello, a lawmaker formerly with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, recounted Mr. Berlusconi as saying, referring to the sex-fueled bacchanals that Mr. Berlusconi has deemed merely “elegant dinners.” According to Mr. Romaniello, Mr. Berlusconi then added, “‘But I’ll bring the ladies.’”

The Italian presidency, the country’s head of state, is a seven-year position usually filled by a figure of unimpeachable integrity and sobriety whose influence flows from moral authority. The current holder, Sergio Mattarella, is a quiet statesman whose brother was murdered by the mob. Another contender is Mario Draghi, the prime minister and a titan of European politics who has led the country to a period of unusual stability.

Then there is Mr. Berlusconi, who despite his recent bad health, waxen appearance and weakened political standing, is making an unabashed push to win a career-culminating position that he hopes will wash away decades of stains — his allies say unjustly thrown mud — and rewrite his legacy. » | Jason Horowitz | Wednesday, January 19, 2022

If Democracy Ends? Inside the Economics of Fascism w/ Richard Wolff

Phil Collins : Another Day in Paradise | Official Music Video

Views on YouTube: 410,507,416