Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Inside the Far-right Blueprint for Germany’s Eurasian Future | DW Analysis

Sep 6, 2024 | Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is surging, with breakthroughs in regional and EU-wide elections. Party leader Alice Weidel says her goal is national power, eyeing the 2029 federal elections.

Despite its growing support, the AfD’s vision of foreign policy remains little known around the world. So in this new special report, DW takes a forensic microscope to the party’s blueprint for Germany’s future.

What this reveals is the party’s profound skepticism about the key Western alliances — NATO and the EU — and an outspoken openness to a Eurasian outlook, fostering deeper relations with Russia and China and the international institutions they lead, from the Belt and Road Initiative to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union: prime sources of prestige for Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Xi Jinping in Beijing.

In exclusive interviews with Alice Weidel, foreign policy spokesman Matthias Moosdorf and powerful ideologue Björn Höcke, DW’s Richard Walker and Rosalia Romaniec scrutinize the AfD’s views on Germany’s alliances and NATO Article 5 commitments to the Baltic states and Poland, its skepticism of the United States, possible future architectures for European defense, who should have nuclear weapons, future ties with Russia and China, and how Germany should act in a Taiwan conflict scenario.

Includes analysis from leading international experts on Russia, China, the US and Europe: Alexander Gabuev (Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center), Amanda Hsiao (International Crisis Group), Katarzyna Pisarska (Warsaw Security Forum), Peter Rough (Hudson Institute), and Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Europe).


Biden Bans Menthol Cigarettes

Aug 12, 2024 | Brian from Windy City Cigars sits down, and talks about the upcoming Menthol Ban coming in 2024. The Biden Administration is pushing for the ban of menthol cigarettes and tobacco and flavored cigars if the ban goes through it may cause millions of job losses due to the menthol ban.


You can support smokers’ rights in the UK here.

WIKIPEDIA: List of smoking bans in the United States »

BEWARE! The do-gooding control freaks are trying to take over everywhere. Remember: Smokers have rights, too! – © Mark Alexander

How Tobacco Helped Soldiers in World War 2

Jun 1, 2023 | Brian from Windy City Cigars sits down and discusses how important cigarettes were in World War 2 and the brand names they smoked.


This is a very interesting and informative video on soldiers smoking in war zones. Führer Starmer should watch it to educate himself before he tries to pass that ridiculous, stupid generational smoking ban through Parliament. It is totally unreasonable to expect our young men to go to war to fight for us without allowing them a few pleasures on the battlefield. A smoke is the least we can offer a soldier in such a dangerous situation. And please don’t be so stupid as to talk of the health dangers of smoking! Possibly dying in fifty years’ time from the health dangers of smoking is totally and utterly irrelevant when a man is in a battlefield and can be killed at any moment. – © Mark Alexander

The Economist: Mapping Putin’s Covert War in Europe

Oct 15, 2024 | Arson, cyber attacks and assassination attempts. There’s been a sudden increase in suspicious incidents across Europe—all linked to Russia. We’ve mapped these events and found a pattern in Vladimir Putin's new tactics.

Bob Woodward: ‘Putin Is the Adolf Hitler of Our Century’

Oct 15, 2024 | "[Trump] is almost envious of Putin. And this is part of the danger. We live in a democracy ... Trump talks about the power of autocratic authority … He admires it … Vladimir Putin is the Adolf Hitler of our century. The invasion of Ukraine is the equivalent to what Hitler did." - Bob Woodward

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Mein Kampf: An Autopsy Of Evil | Full Documentary

Oct 15, 2024 | Hitler’s Mein Kampf served as a blueprint for the atrocities of Nazi Germany, mobilizing ordinary people to commit heinous acts. This book's dark influence raises crucial questions: How did it inspire such widespread evil, and have we forgotten the vital lessons from that era?

Cast: Guy Walters, Lisa Pine
Director: Sarah Findley
Licensed through EM Productions Ltd


The Thatcher Legacy & the Future of British Politics with Charles Moore | In Conversation

Oct 14, 2024 | In this new episode in the 'In Conversation' series, Charles Moore, Baron Moore of Etchingham and Member of the House of Lords, sits down with Tom Clougherty, Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), to discuss the current state of British politics and the legacy of Margaret Thatcher. Moore, the acclaimed biographer of Thatcher and former editor of The Spectator and The Telegraph, offers unique insights into the challenges facing modern conservatism and draws intriguing parallels between today's political landscape and the era of Thatcher's rise to power.

Throughout the discussion, Moore delves into a range of pressing issues, including the impact of globalisation, the changing nature of political institutions, and the cultural shifts affecting contemporary society. He reflects on the lessons that can be learned from Thatcher's leadership style and governance approach, while also addressing the new challenges that have emerged in the decades since her tenure. Moore's nuanced perspective on topics such as immigration, the role of international institutions, and the evolving dynamics within the Conservative Party provides a thought-provoking analysis of the current political climate.

This conversation offers viewers a rare opportunity to hear from one of Britain's most respected political commentators as he shares his insights on the past, present, and future of conservative thought. Whether you're a student of politics, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about the forces shaping modern Britain, this discussion between Charles Moore and Tom Clougherty promises to be both enlightening and timely.


Trump Dances for 40 Minutes during Campaign Rally: ‘Let’s Listen to Music’

THE GUARDIAN: Ex-president swayed to songs such as YMCA and Ave Maria during Pennsylvania event after two attendees fainted

Opposition outrage over Donald Trump’s rabble-rousing demagoguery turned to bewilderment after the Republican nominee spent 40 minutes swaying to his favourite songs at a rally near Philadelphia, prompting Kamala Harris to express apparent concern for his mental state.

“Hope he’s okay,” Harris, the US vice-president and Democratic nominee, posted on social media, accompanying footage of a performance that many observers agreed was bizarre, even by Trump’s standards.

The ad hoc music fest in the Pennsylvania suburb of Oaks happened after two members of the audience at an indoor rally fainted, apparently because of the heat. » | Robert Tait in Washington | Tuesday, October 15, 2024

'He Proved It. Events Prove It.': Woodward on Milley Calling Trump 'Fascist to His Core'

Oct 15, 2024 | MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell is joined by Washington Post Associate Editor Bob Woodward to discuss the bombshell revelations about both the Trump and Biden presidencies in his new book "War" including Trump's former Joint Chiefs chair Gen. Mark Milley saying Trump is "dangerous" and "a total fascist."

Harris kritisiert Trump: „Er ist auf uneingeschränkte Macht aus“

Oct 15, 2024 | Donald Trump hat angedeutet, dass er sich einem „Feind im Innern“ gegenübersieht. Seine demokratische Kontrahentin Kamala Harris kritisiert die jüngsten Äußerungen des Republikaners als demokratiefeindlich. © REUTERS

Mr Orbán, We Want Our Money Back! No More EU Funds for Hungary! Daniel Freund

Oct 15, 2024

Taliban Bans All Images of Living Things

THE TELEGRAPH: Media in Afghanistan faces new restrictions, but the regime says the law will be implemented gradually

Afghanistan’s Taliban morality ministry pledged on Monday to implement a law banning news media from publishing images of all living things, with journalists told the rule will be gradually enforced.

It comes after the Taliban regime recently announced legislation formalising its strict interpretations of Islamic law that have been imposed since they swept to power in 2021.

“The law applies to all Afghanistan ... and it will be implemented gradually,” Saiful Islam Khyber, the spokesman for the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV), told AFP. He added that officials would work to persuade people that images of living things are against Islamic law.

“Coercion has no place in the implementation of the law,” he said. » | Telegraph’s Foreign Staff | Monday, October 14, 2024

Afghanistan : deux chaînes de télévision cessent de montrer des êtres vivants, sur ordre de la police des mœurs : Ce mardi, la police des mœurs a ordonné à la province de Takhar l'interdiction de prendre des images d'êtres vivants et de les diffuser. »

الله كريم!

The Late Shah of Iran Talks about the Progress of Iranians

These were his thoughts.

Monday, October 14, 2024

Canada Expels Indian Diplomats, Linking Them To Criminal Campaign

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Canadian police said the Indian government was orchestrating homicides and extortion in Canada to intimidate Sikh separatists. India, in return, kicked out Canadian diplomats.

Canada accused the Indian government on Monday of homicide and extortion intended to silence critics of India living in Canada, escalating a bitter dispute that began last year with an assassination of a Sikh activist.

Canada expelled India’s top diplomat and five others, saying they were part of a vast criminal network. India reciprocated, expelling six Canadian diplomats.

The two countries have been in an intense dispute following the assassination of a prominent Sikh cleric, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at the time had been orchestrated by the Indian government.

Canada is home to the largest Sikh community outside India, a religious minority that lives mostly in the state of Punjab, in northwestern India. » | Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Reporting from Toronto | Monday, October 14, 2024

NYT (2023):

Justin Trudeau Accuses India of a Killing on Canadian Soil: The Canadian leader said agents of India had assassinated a Sikh community leader in British Columbia in June. India called the accusation “absurd.” »

Scott Joplin: The Entertainer | Ragtime, Pianist: Luca Raggi

Jun 6, 2015 | In the video you can listen to my piano interpretation of one of the most famous pieces of ragtime, The Entertainer, composed by Scott Joplin and published in 1902.

Scott Joplin (1867-1917) was an American composer and musician. He was one of the most important in the genre ragtime which he himself called this music. This earned Scott Joplin the nickname the "King of Ragtime".

His music all has a strong syncopated character.

Happy listening! [Shortened and redacted.]


How Marlboro Became the #1 Cigarette Brand

Jun 30, 2022 | Marlboro cigarettes are the most smoked by far, but it wasn’t always like that; At one point, Marlboro owned less than 1% of the cigarette market. However, one famous marketing campaign that Marlboro ran skyrocketed their sales and made them the #1 cigarette brand in the world. This is the story of The Marlboro Man.

The Shah of Iran and SAVAK (1976) | 60 Minutes Archive

Sep 18, 2022 | In 1976, Mike Wallace interviewed Iran’s Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and asked him if his secret police force, SAVAK, had ever used torture.

Trump Sparks Outrage after Calling for Army to Handle Enemies on Election Day

THE GUARDIAN: Democrats condemn ex-president for saying armed forces should turn against ‘enemy within’ when voters go to polls

Donald Trump has provoked an angry backlash from Democrats after calling for the US armed forces to be turned against his political adversaries when voters go to the polls at next month’s presidential election.

In comments that added further fuel to fears of an authoritarian crackdown if he recaptures the White House, the Republican nominee said the military or national guard should be deployed against opponents that he called “the enemy within” when the election takes place on 5 November. » | Robert Tait in Washington | Monday, October 15, 2024

End This Regime": An Interview with Farah Pahlavi, Empress of Iran

Jul 27, 2024 | Farah Pahlavi, Empress of Iran, is the widow of the late Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Rafael Pinto Borges recently spoke with her about her life, today's Iran, and her hope for the future. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she continued in her deep devotion to charitable work. Today, she divides her time between Paris and Washington, D.C.

NASA Spacecraft Blasts Off to Hunt Alien Life on a Distant Moon | BBC News

NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft that will hunt for signs of alien life on one of Jupiter’s icy moons has blasted off from Florida, US.

NASA launched the spacecraft at 12:06 local time after hurricane Milton forced the mission to postpone plans last week.

Europa Clipper will now travel 1.8 billion miles to reach Europa, a deeply mysterious moon orbiting Jupiter.

It will not arrive until 2030 but what it finds could change what we know about life in our solar system.