Egypt TV Host Mohamed al-Ghiety Jailed for Interviewing Gay Man

BBC: An Egyptian TV presenter has been sentenced to one year of hard labour for interviewing a gay man last year.

A court in Giza also fined Mohamed al-Ghiety 3,000 Egyptian pounds ($167; £130) for "promoting homosexuality" on his privately owned LTC TV channel.

The gay man, whose identity was hidden, had talked about life as a sex worker.

Homosexuality is not explicitly criminalised in Egypt, however, the authorities have been increasingly cracking down on the LGBT community.

They routinely arrest people suspected of engaging in consensual homosexual conduct on charges of "debauchery", immorality or blasphemy. » | BBC | Monday, January 21, 2019

Ministers Agree to Consider Lib Dem Plans for New Referendum

THE OBSERVER: Vince Cable says move follows cross-party talks on Brexit deadlock options

Cabinet ministers involved in cross-party talks on how to break the Brexit deadlock have given the first indication that they are prepared to examine plans for a potential second referendum on the UK’s departure from the EU, according to the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Vince Cable.

The offer to examine a possible timetable for a second vote drawn up by the Lib Dems was made during discussions between senior Liberal Democratsand two cabinet ministers involved in the talks, Michael Gove and David Lidington, in the Cabinet Office on Thursday morning.

While Theresa May’s government remains strongly opposed to the idea of returning the issue of Brexit to the electorate, the revelation by Cable shows that ministers are determined to look at a wide range of ideas being put forward by opposition parties. » | Toby Helm, Political Editor | Saturday, January 19, 2019

President Pence? That Vision Should Terrify Women

THE GUARDIAN: The news that Karen Pence is returning to work at an anti-gay Christian school should remind us of the vice-president’s dangerous bigotry

President Pence would turn America into The Handmaid’s Tale

Karen Pence is not just the wife of the US vice-president, she’s an empowered career woman in her own right. While her husband works tirelessly alongside Trump to make America white again, Karen Pence, it was announced this week, is returning to her old job teaching kids art.

Or rather, she’s going to teach heterosexual kids art, and they shouldn’t expect to draw any rainbows.

The Christian school in northern Virginia where Pence will be working requires its teachers to agree that they won’t engage in or condone “homosexual or lesbian sexual activity” and “transgender identity”. The school also reserves the right to expel or refuse to admit students if they or their parents participate in, support, or condone, homosexual or bisexual activity. A policy that seems to chime perfectly with the vice president’s own bigoted worldview – Pence has a long history of homophobia and transphobia. » | Arwa Mahdawi | Saturday, January 19, 2019

Interview: Rahaf Mohammed On Escaping Saudi Arabia to Canada

In her own words, Saudi teen Rahaf Mohammed talks to Susan Ormiston about fleeing her family, how she finally ended up in Canada and what she plans to do next.

John Brennan Agrees: President Donald Trump Is Clear and Present Danger to US | All In | MSNBC

Former CIA director John Brennan concurs with former senior Justice Department official David Laufman’s conclusion that the president is a clear and present danger to the national security of this country.

Theresa May Loses Brexit Deal Vote by Majority of 230

THE GUARDIAN: MPs vote down EU withdrawal agreement in resounding defeat for prime minister

Theresa May has sustained the heaviest parliamentary defeat of any British prime minister in the democratic era after MPs rejected her Brexit deal by a resounding majority of 230.

The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, immediately moved to sieze the initiative, tabling a vote of no confidence in the government.

“This is a catastrophic defeat. The house has delivered its verdict on her deal. Delay and denial has reached the end of the line,” he said.

Brexit-supporting Conservatives joined with opposition parties and the Democratic Unionist party to trounce the government in the “meaningful vote”, which the prime minister delayed before Christmas in the vain hope of winning over waverers.

Following the defeat, May immediately invited a formal vote of no confidence in her own government, which she said would be voted on as soon as Wednesday. » | Heather Stewart, Political editor | Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Saudi Woman Who Fled Family Pledges to Fight for Women Escaping Persecution

THE GUARDIAN: Rahaf Mohammed said she will work in support of ‘the same freedom’ she experienced after arriving in Canada

Rahaf Mohammed, the Saudi teen who shot into the headlines after barricading herself into a Thai hotel room, has pledged to fight for women fleeing persecution after she successfully escaped abuse and the fear of death in her home country.

“Today and for years to come, I will work in support of freedom for women around the world – the same freedom I experienced on the first day I arrived in Canada,” she told reporters at a press conference in Toronto.

After her plans to seek asylum in Australia fell apart and she feared deportation back to Saudi Arabia, UNHCR intervened and granted her refugee status. Canada offered to resettle her and she landed in Toronto on Saturday. » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Ivanka Trump Is Just As Corrupt As Her Father

According to a new report by ProPublica, Ivanka Trump might be as corrupt as Donald Trump, and she routinely defrauded investors on the Trump Organization’s business dealings. This is criminal activity, but it is just now coming to light because investigators and journalists are starting to pay attention to how the Trump family made their money. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins explains what’s happening.

Republican Describes Donald Trump's Handling Of The Shutdown As Total Chaos | The Last Word | MSNBC

Nancy Pelosi and Democrats held their position today- a firm no to the wall- while Donald Trump went to the Capitol to implore Republican lawmakers to hold his position to continue the shutdown. Lawrence discusses with Sam Stein, John Heilemann and Charlie Sykes.

Carl Bernstein: Trump Helped Putin Destabilize US

Veteran journalist Carl Bernstein discusses a report by the Washington Post that says President Donald Trump tried to hide his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin from senior officials in his own administration.

Archbishop of Canterbury Urged to Act over Vatican Envoy Who Questioned Resurrection

THE TELEGRAPH: A row has erupted within the Church of England as senior Anglicans are calling on the Archbishop of Canterbury to force his ambassador to the Vatican to resign because he does not believe Jesus rose from the dead.

It has emerged that Dr John Shepherd, an Australian cleric appointed last week as the new representative to Rome, had delivered a sermon in which he said Christians should be “set free” from the traditional view of the resurrection.

The controversial comments, delivered while he was Dean of Perth Cathedral, have been criticised for flying in the face of the most fundamental Christian doctrines. » | Steve Bird | Saturday, January 12, 2019

Rahaf al-Qunun: Saudi Teen Granted Asylum in Canada

BBC: A Saudi woman who fled her family and became stranded at Bangkok's main airport is flying to Canada after being granted asylum status.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, had been trying to reach Australia via Bangkok, but was initially told to return to Kuwait, where her family were waiting.

She refused to fly back and barricaded herself into her airport hotel room, attracting international attention.

She said she had renounced Islam, which is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. » | BBC | Friday, January 11, 2019

«Gilets jaunes» : les autorités anticipent une mobilisation plus forte samedi 12 janvier

LE FIGARO: À Paris, le préfet de police craint «plus de radicalité» pour «l'acte 9» du mouvement. Sur l'ensemble du territoire, la police nationale prévoit un retour possible à un niveau de mobilisation similaire à celui des rassemblements organisés avant les fêtes. Nous faisons le point sur les rassemblements annoncés.

Plus forte et plus «radicale». Voilà à quoi s'attendent les autorités pour la journée de samedi 12 janvier et l'«acte 9» des «gilets jaunes», à Paris notamment. Après une baisse régulière du nombre de personnes mobilisées au cours des week-ends de la fin du mois de décembre, le samedi 5 janvier dernier a marqué une nouvelle hausse de la participation (environ 50.000 manifestants selon les autorités), émaillée de violences qui ont choqué. Et semble avoir donné lieu, du même coup, à une dynamique nouvelle dans ce mouvement. » | Par Blandine Le Cain | vendredi, 11. Janvier 2019

The New Feudalism

Are Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos the new feudal elite? Anand Giridharadas talks to INET President Rob Johnson about how the titans of Silicon Valley use “philanthropy” to control more of our lives.

New Far-right German Party Adopts Former Secret Nazi Symbol

THE GUARDIAN: AfD politician quits to set up party that uses symbol of 1930s Austrian Nazis in logo

A German politician has left the far-right Alternative for Germany to set up a new party with a logo that uses a symbol adopted as a secret sign by Austrian Nazis in the 1930s.

André Poggenburg resigned from his post as the AfD’s regional leader in eastern Saxony-Anhalt state last year after labelling Turks as “camel drivers” and immigrants with dual nationality a “homeless mob we no longer want”. He announced his resignation from the party in an email sent to the leadership earlier this week. » | Josie Le Blond in Berlin | Friday, January 11, 2019

Shutdown : Trump boude le Forum économique de Davos

LE POINT: Le président américain, en plein bras de fer avec les démocrates au sujet du mur, « annule respectueusement » son déplacement en Suisse.

Donald Trump reste à Washington. Le président américain a annoncé jeudi qu'il ne participerait pas comme prévu au Forum économique mondial de Davos, qui aura lieu du 21 au 25 janvier, mettant en avant la paralysie partielle de l'administration fédérale. « En raison de l'intransigeance des démocrates sur la sécurité aux frontières et de l'importance de la sécurité pour notre pays, j'annule respectueusement mon voyage très important à Davos, en Suisse, pour le Forum économique mondial », a tweeté le président des États-Unis. » | Source AFP | 10 janvier 2019

Schumer: Trump Walked Out of Meeting after Pelosi Said No to Border Wall

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) talk to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump about a deal to end the partial shutdown of the federal government. Schumer told reporters that President Donald Trump walked out of the meeting after Pelosi said she wouldn't support funding a border wall.

Longtime Reporter, William Arkin, Leaves NBC Saying Media Is “Trump Circus” That Encourages Perpetual War

“Prisoners of Donald Trump.” That’s how longtime NBC reporter and analyst William Arkin described the mainstream media in a scathing letter last week announcing he would be leaving the network, accusing the media of warmongering while ignoring the “creeping fascism of homeland security.” He issued the blistering critique after a 30-year relationship with NBC, calling for “Trump-free” media days and a reckoning about how the network encourages a state of perpetual warfare. We speak with Arkin, whose award-winning reporting has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post. He is the author of many books, including “Top Secret America: The Rise of the New American Security State.”

Trump Administration Downgrades EU's Status in US, without Informing Brussels

THE GUARDIAN: Downgrade of diplomatic role seen as a snub reflecting a general antipathy to the EU in the Trump administration

The Trump administration has downgraded the diplomatic status of the EU mission in Washington, without informing the mission or Brussels, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The downgrade from nation state to international organisation status reverses an Obama administration decision in 2016 to grant the EU an enhanced diplomatic role in Washington, and is being seen in Brussels as a snub reflecting a general antipathy to the EU in the Trump administration. The president has supported Brexit and has described the EU as a “foe”.

The change, first reported by the German news agency, Deutsche Welle, potentially means that the EU mission would have less clout and access to US officials. » | Julian Borger in Washington | Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Trump Officials Get Massive Raises As Government Shutdown Continues

Federal workers aren’t getting raises in 2019, thanks to an executive order by Donald Trump. 800,000 federal workers are currently not being paid thanks to the government shutdown. But the people in Trump’s cabinet, including Vice President Mike Pence, are getting raises of up to $13,000 starting today for no apparent reason other than they can. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses what’s happening to our federal government.

Joe: President Donald Trump's Actions Call Into Question Fitness For Office | Morning Joe | MSNBC

During a Wednesday Cabinet meeting, the president appeared to praise the Soviet Union's 1979 invasion of Afghanistan while also managing to get in references to Tom Cruise, President Obama and plane loads of cash. Is the president fit for the position he holds?

Hungarian Foreign Minister: We Are Fed Up with 'Politically Correct, Hypocritical' European Union

Bart Ehrman Freedom From Religion Foundation Lecture

Documentary: Portugal's Moorish Legacy

In this documentary, we uncover the influence that 500 years of Muslim occupation had on Portugal and Portuguese culture. We visit some important sights and hear from Portuguese people regarding their views on this significant part of their history.

While in Spain, the seven centuries of Muslim rule is very well-known, in Portugal it typically goes unnoticed. Despite being overlooked at times, the Islamic occupation, known as its Moorish past, has had a huge impact on Portugal.

The Muslims invaded present-day Portugal in the year 711 and established their capital in what is modern day "Silves". A significant part of this documentary takes us to Silves, which is still one of the best places in Portugal to see the influence of the Muslim period. Silves was the main access route to the inland areas of the Algarve, and the Silves castle, which was built by the Almoravid Arabs in the 11th century, is the best-preserved and most significant castle in the region. One of Portugal's main tourist attractions are its the beautiful beaches in the Algarve region. The name Algarve itself is derived from the Arabic word "al-Gharb", meaning the West. Portugal was the most Western part of the Muslim Empire and it was officially referred to as al-Gharb al-Andalus, meaning West of Al-Andalus. Nowadays Al-Andalus is often referred to as Muslim Spain, or Islamic Iberia.

It is not just the physical monuments which make Portugal’s Muslim past evident, but you can also find it in the country’s language and culture, even though the entire Reconquest centred around getting rid of Islamic influence altogether. Some Arabic words have permanently entered the Portuguese language, words for sugar, rice, olive oil, lettuce, village, the West and many others. Even Portugal’s most popular holiday spot, Albufeira, gets its name from Arabic, having then been called (Albuhayra) which means the lake in Arabic. The journey also takes us to Sintra, among other places, where the massive Moorish Castle stands. It was built by Muslims between the 9th and 10th centuries, the castle was vital in order to protect its population.

The southernmost region of Portugal, was finally conquered by Christians and taken away from the Muslims in 1249, and in 1255 the capital shifted to Lisbon. Neighbouring Spain would not complete its Reconquista until 1492.

Mes voeux 2019 aux Français | Emmanuel Macron

Fidèle à une tradition qui nous est chère, je suis heureux de vous présenter tous mes vœux de vérité, de dignité et d'espoir pour l’année 2019 qui s’ouvre.

Merkel wirbt in Neujahrsansprache für mehr Zusammenhalt

Die Bundeskanzlerin sagte, 2018 sei ein überaus schwieriges politisches Jahr gewesen. Die Herausforderungen unserer Zeit könnten nur durch Zusammenarbeit über Grenzen hinweg gemeistert werden.

Theresa May’s New Year Message: Back Brexit Deal

The prime minister uses her new year message to urge MPs to allow the UK to 'turn a corner' by voting for her Brexit deal. In the video, released late on New Year’s Eve, Theresa May says that after the divisiveness of the EU referendum and its aftermath, she wants 2019 to be 'the year we put our differences aside and move forward together' In 2019 the UK will start a new chapter, says Theresa May

tagesschau 20:00 Uhr, 31.12.2018

Themen der Sendung: Bundeskanzlerin Merkel wirbt in Neujahrsansprache für mehr Solidarität, Tote und Verletzte nach Gasexplosion in russischer Stadt Magnitogorsk, Kulturhaupstädte des Jahres 2019, Vorbereitungen für Silvester in Berlin, Das Wetter

Asia and Australia Usher in New Year with Huge Firework Displays

Hong Kong welcomed the new year with a pyrotechnics show over Victoria Harbour, while Taiwan's capital held a firework display around the Taipei 101 skyscraper. In South Korea, a traditional bell-tolling ceremony was held near City Hall in Seoul, and North Koreans watched fireworks and a music performance in Pyongyang. Sydney Harbour in Australia held its biggest ever show. In New Zealand, colourful fireworks burst from the top of the Auckland Sky Tower

President Trump Approval At Record Low As Country Blames Him For Shutdown | The Last Word | MSNBC

Polls say Pres. Trump is to blame for the shutdown as his approval matches an all-time low. Jason Johnson, Mara Gay and Jennifer Rubin join Ari Melber to discuss the prospects for Trump as he digs in on his unpopular shutdown.

What Is Trump's Strategy for Syria and the Region? l Inside Story

For the first time since he became president two years ago, Donald Trump visited American troops in a conflict zone - Iraq. His surprise three-hour stop was at an air base west of Baghdad the day after Christmas. He didn't meet any of the Iraqi leadership but invited Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to the White House in the New Year.

Trump used the opportunity to defend the withdrawal of troops from Syria saying it was made possible by the defeat of ISIL. But critics have condemned what they see as the president's increasingly isolationist foreign policy saying it will give ISIL a chance to re-group.

Trump says the work of US forces is complete, and regional forces will ensure ISIL remains dismantled. It's reported Trump also wants to reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan from 14,000 to 7,000.

What is Trump's strategy for the region and what message is he trying to send?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom | Guests: Ali Al-Nashmi, Political Analyst; Peter Galbraith, Former U.S. Ambassador; Afzal Ashraf, University of Nottingham

Why I Am Not a Christian by Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Russell first delivered this lecture on March 6, 1927 to the National Secular Society, South London Branch, at Battersea Town Hall.

Saudi King Salman Announces Government Reshuffle | Al Jazeera English

Saudi Arabia's King Salman has announced a major reshuffle of his cabinet. Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has been replaced and a new political and security council has been formed. Marwan Kabalan, head of policy analysis at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, talks to Al Jazeera about what could be behind the shuffle.

The Real Jesus Christ | Biblical Documentary | Timeline

After the death of Jesus, his followers split into two factions. They held radically different views about their leader – his identity, his message and his vision of the future. One of those factions flourished under the guiding genius of St Paul – and eventually wrote its version of the story in the Gospels of the New Testament. The other faction withered and died away, leaving behind no written records. But what if the losers in this power struggle had written their version of the story? The Real Jesus Christ reconstructs that lost biography of Jesus: an alternative version of his life as it would have been told by those who lost the battle for the succession, but who knew him better than anyone else – his closest followers and his family.

Pope Francis Uses Christmas Homily to Decry Modern Consumerism

THE GUARDIAN: Pontiff told pilgrims in the Vatican City that mankind has become ‘greedy and voracious’
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Pope Francis has assailed the “insatiable greed” of today’s consumerism, calling on people in his Christmas homily to make “sharing and giving” more a part of their lives.

“Mankind became greedy and voracious,” the leader of the world’s 1.3bn Catholics said in an address to thousands of followers in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City.

“In our day, for many people, life’s meaning is found in possessing, in having an excess of material objects.”

“An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when, paradoxically, a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive.” » | Agencies | Monday, December 24, 2018

Einsamkeit - wenn keiner da ist | Nachtcafé

Die Adventszeit ist für viele nicht nur die Zeit der Besinnlichkeit, sondern vor allem die Angst vor dem, was unausweichlich kommen wird: Weihnachten alleine! Auch wenn es das Fest der Liebe, der Familie und der Geborgenheit ist: Millionen Deutsche verbringen diese emotional besonders aufgeladenen Feiertage einsam und alleine zu Hause. Während an Heilig Abend aus der Nachbarswohnung glückliches Kinderlachen, fröhliche Lieder und Familientrubel zu hören sind, läuft in den eigenen vier Wänden der Fernseher als Dauerberieselung, um dem unerträglichen Alleinsein etwas entgegenzusetzen..

Markets Stage One of Worst Christmas Eves Ever, Closing Down More Than 600 Points as Trump Blames Fed for Stock Losses in a Tweet

THE WASHINGTON POST: The Dow Jones industrial average followed its worst week in a decade with a 653-point drop Monday, and President Trump once again took to Twitter to interject himself into financial markets.

As blue chips sank even deeper into the red after weeks of chaos, Trump tried to assign sole blame for the sell-off to the Federal Reserve, likening the central bank to a golfer who “can’t putt.”

“The only problem our economy has is the Fed,” the president said in a tweet. “They don’t have a feel for the Market, they don’t understand necessary Trade Wars or Strong Dollars or even Democrat Shutdowns over Borders. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who can’t score because he has no touch — he can’t putt! » | Thomas Heath & Philip Rucker | Monday, December 24, 2018

Clapper Blasts Trump's 'Appalling Arrogance' on ISIS

Former Director of National Security James Clapper says ISIS has not been defeated and blasts President Donald Trump's previous claims that he knows more about ISIS than the generals do.

The Real Problem Is the US-Saudi Relationship, Not Just Crown Prince MBS

Peace activist Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK says US support for the Saudi monarchy must be fundamentally challenged. Some American officials want a cosmetic change, simply replacing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but the problem runs much deeper.

Can the US Be a Dependable Ally? l Inside Story

Retired general James Mattis was seen as a measure of calm and stability in a White House swirling with chaos and unpredictability. Now, he's resigned as US Secretary of Defense, after disagreements on foreign policy with the president.

His departure comes as Donald Trump ordered a withdrawal of US forces from Syria and suggestions he'll pull thousands out of Afghanistan too.

In his resignation letter, Mattis said he believes in treating allies with respect. Trump’s announcement certainly took the US's friends by surprise and left many wondering if the US is a dependable ally.

So with Mattis gone, who will now try and control an unpredictable president?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: David DesRoches, Professor of Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University and Former Director of NATO Operations at the Pentagon; Habib Wardak, Founding Member of Transparency Afghanistan and National Security Analyst; Andreas Krieg, Assistant Professor at the Defence Studies Dept., King's College London and Specialist on Jihadist Groups in the Middle East.

Jim Mattis Resigns as White House Unravels from Within | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announced his resignation Thursday afternoon, sending President Donald Trump a letter that implicitly criticized the president's military judgment. The Morning Joe panel discusses Mattis' resignation and the other major news of the week.

Clapper: Americans Are Less Safe with Mattis' Exit

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper says Americans are less safe after Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced he is stepping down.

Don Lemon: If You Are Worried, You Should Be

CNN's Don Lemon reacts to the announcement that Secretary of Defense James Mattis is stepping down from his role.

Tucker Carlson Begs Advertisers To Stay, Declaring “I Like Immigrants!”

Tucker Carlson went on an angry tirade on Friday evening about immigrants, saying that they make American “poorer, dirtier, and more divided.” This incredibly racist statement has caused advertisers to flee his program, but now he’s begging them to stay by proclaiming that he actually loves immigrants and that he believes the caravan travelers all have good intentions. This is too little, too late, as Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins explains.

The Rogue Crown Prince & the Dangerous US-Saudi-Israel Alliance

Col. Lawrence Wilkerson and Paul Jay discuss the US Senate resolution condemning Mohamed Bin Salman for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi; there is concern amongst the neocons of both major parties that MBS is undermining the strategy to weaken Iran

Imam Tawhidi: The TRUTH About Islam

In this interview with Imam Tawhidi, the Imam discusses his 2018 book The Tragedy of Islam, as well as the debate surrounding the religion’s history, doctrine, stance on women’s rights, Mohammed, and its connections to terrorism and extremism.

Former German FM Sigmar Gabriel: MBS 'Overestimated His Position in Region' | Talk to Al Jazeera