Sunday, April 21, 2019

Marlene Dietrich - Ein Engel in der Dämmerung


Dokumentation über Marlenes letzte Lebensjahre in Paris. Neben diversen Archivaufnahmen von Marlene, werden Maria Riva, Peter Riva, Werner Sudendorf (Filmmuseum Berlin), Marlene's Freund Louis Bozon ua. interviewt. Sehr zu empfehlen, um mal den Blick auf die etwas andere Marlene zu erhaschen.




Mayor Pete


Once a long-shot, Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of Indiana's fourth-largest city has been rising in the polls for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, attracting dollars, attention, and name recognition (if not pronunciation). The Afghanistan War veteran, Rhodes scholar and trained pianist talks with CBS News' John Dickerson about the importance of narratives, coming out, what youth brings to public office, and reanimating his party's values for a new era, including a connection with faith.

(Un)Welcome: Sweden's Rise of the Right


In this installment of CBSN Originals’ ongoing examination at how migration is reshaping the world, Adam Yamaguchi travels to Sweden to examine how a record influx of migrants has coincided with the recently welcoming and politically progressive nation's swift shift to the right.

How Can Stateless People Cross Borders? | DW Documentary


After the end of the First World War, millions of people in Europe became stateless refugees. A newly devised passport created by the League of Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees was their salvation.

In the aftermath of the First World War, more than two million people fled the Russian Revolution and the Armenian massacres. To prevent them from returning to their home countries, their respective governments revoked their citizenships. These permanent exiles had no choice but to start anew elsewhere and spread out around the world. To deal with this fraught situation, Norwegian diplomat Fridtjof Nansen, the League of Nations’ first High Commissioner for Refugees, worked hard to create a passport for these "stateless" persons. The so-called "Nansen Passport" was introduced on 5 July 1922. It was a symbolic document that made history as the first international legal instrument for the protection of refugees. This identity card and travel document allowed them to enter all the member states of the League of Nations at a time when many European states were closing their borders because of fascism, anti-Semitism and war and paying increasing attention to the legal status of both residents and foreigners. Famous artists such as Anna Pavlova, Vladimir Nabokov, Marc Chagall, Igor Stravinsky and Robert Capa, as well as more than a million other stateless persons, mostly refugees from Russia and the Ottoman Empire, received these precious passports. States have not used collective deprivation of citizenship as a weapon since 1945, but the UN General Assembly did not officially ban it until 2012.


The Princesses of Monaco – Intimate Portrait


When Hollywood queen Grace Kelly married Prince Rainer of Monaco, she brought elegance and class to the tiny principality previously known as "a sunny place for shady people." But the couple's daughters, Caroline and Stephanie, became known for rebellious, scandal-seeking behavior, seemingly designed to tarnish their mother's aura of dignity.

Ironically, it was through tragedy - Grace's 1982 death in a terrifying car accident, and later the death of Caroline's husband - that the family finally made peace with itself. Today, Caroline and Stephanie are Princesses on their own terms: out of the public eye and raising families of their own. THE PRINCESSES OF MONACO: the fairy tale faltered; the family endures.


THE GUARDIAN: Prince Rainier of Monaco » | Dennis Barker | Wednesday, April 6, 2005

Greece to Ask Germany for Billions in War Reparations


THE GUARDIAN: MPs vote to put pressure on Berlin as European parliamentary elections loom

Greece is poised to send Germany a formal diplomatic note detailing its demand for billions of euros in wartime reparations after MPs voted overwhelmingly for the emotive issue to be raised officially.

In a move bound to stir sentiment ahead of crucial European parliament elections, Athens vowed to pile pressure on Berlin, taking legal and diplomatic steps that will throw the spotlight on crimes committed during the brutal Nazi occupation.

“It is an open issue that must be resolved,” Greece’s deputy foreign minister, Markos Bolaris, told the Guardian, hitting back at German insistence that compensation claims had been conclusively settled.

“For matters of this kind there is international justice,” he said on Friday. “In all disputes the EU abides by it, on principle. Germany may say it has been resolved but what counts is international law.” » | Helena Smith in Athens | Sunday, April 21, 2019

On Contact: Russiagate & Mueller Report with Aaron Mate


Chris Hedges discusses with Nation reporter Aaron Mate how despite the categorical statement in Robert Mueller’s report that Donald Trump and his campaign did not collude with Russia, the conspiracy theories by the nation’s mainstream media show little sign of diminishing.

Sri Lanka Easter Attacks: Multiple Explosions Hit Churches, Hotels | Al Jazeera English


Sri Lanka was rocked by multiple explosions, including at churches, on Easter Sunday, a police spokesman said. One of the explosions was at St Anthony's Church in the Kochchikade district of the capital, Colombo. Another church in Negombo was also hit. Police also reported explosions at the Shangri-La, Kingsbury, and Cinnamon Grand hotels. Al Jazeera's Minelle Fernandez joins us by phone now from Colombo.


THE GUARDIAN: Sri Lanka imposes curfew after more than 150 killed in attacks » | Jason Burke and Benjamin Parkin in Delhi | Sunday, April 21, 2019

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Millions for Notre Dame – But Nothing for Us, Say Gilets Jaunes


THE GUARDIAN: Yellow vest protesters angry over high taxes and inequality march in Paris days after blaze

Riot police and protesters have fought running battles in the centre of Paris as gilets jaunes anti-government demonstrators in fluorescent yellow vests led street marches over what they called “a crisis” of high taxes and economic inequality.

Less than a week after the fire that destroyed the roof and spire of Notre Dame Cathedral, firefighters rushed to put out multiple small fires around the Place de la République, as motorbikes, bins, bicycles and cars were set alight on roads and pavements. Groups of masked men threw projectiles and police fired teargas. Some rioters in masks smashed the window of a sports shop and ran in to loot it, emerging with bags full of goods. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Saturday, April 20, 2019

How Mayor Pete’s Moments Are Translating Into Big Dollars | Deadline | MSNBC


The Daily Beast’s Sam Stein, Politico’s Anna Palmer, former DOJ spox Matt Miller, and WaPo’s Robert Costa on Mayor Pete’s powerful moments as he rises in the 2020 polls

Robert De Niro Calls Donald Trump a 'Wannabe Gangster'


THE GUARDIAN: Oscar-winning actor says US president has proven himself to be a ‘total loser’ with no morals

Robert De Niro has criticised Donald Trump again, calling the US president a “total loser” and “wannabe gangster”.

The actor has been involved in a long-running dispute with Trump, saying “fuck Trump” at the Tony awards last year.

Trump responded by saying De Niro was “a very low IQ individual”.

During an appearance on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Friday, De Niro told the host he had tried giving Trump a chance. “That’s what I said right after he was elected. Give him a chance. I give everybody the benefit of the doubt. This guy has proven himself to be a total loser.” » | Press Association | Saturday, April 20, 2019


THE GUARDIAN: Robert De Niro wins ovation for 'Fuck Trump' speech at the Tony awards » | Catherine Shoard | Monday, June 11, 2018

Julian Assange: Within Washington's Grasp? | The Listening Post (Full)


The Tobacco Conspiracy – Documentary


This France-Canada co-production goes behind the scenes of the huge tobacco industry, whose economic power has been expanding for five decades at the expense of public health. A gripping investigation covering three continents, Nadia Collot's film exposes the vast conspiracy of a criminally negligent industry that conquers new markets through corruption and manipulation. To confront the tobacco cartel, anti-smoking groups are organizing and scoring points, but the fight remains fierce. With ist diverse viewpoints, shocking interviews and riveting images, The Tobacco Conspiracy deftly defines the issues in a complex situation where private interests and the public good collide. Enlightening and engrossing, this documentary is a hard-hitting critique of an industry gone mad.

UKIP Launch EU Election Campaign amid Candidate Controversy


UKIP have launched their European election campaign with their leader insisting the party is the "true voice" of Brexit.

But just as Gerard Batten unveiled his top candidates, there were calls from some UKIP members to deselect one of them for offensive comments made online.

Carl Benjamin is one of the party's top listed candidates, but he's refused to apologise for a tweet he sent in 2016 to a Labour MP referring to rape. He said it was satirical. And Channel 4 News has learnt he made similar remarks at a comedy show, just last night.

Victoria Macdonald's report, does contain language you may find offensive.


Friday, April 19, 2019

What Does the Mueller Report Mean for President Trump? | Inside Story


U.S President Donald Trump is declaring "total victory" after the release of a censored version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on alleged collusion between his 2016 campaign and Russia. But outside Trump's inner circle, many are reacting very differently.

At a news conference shortly before the report's public release, Attorney General William Barr defended Trump, saying Mueller had cleared the president of any wrongdoing. But once the document was made public, many of Barr's assertions appeared, at best, questionable.

For example, Barr told reporters that the president "co-operated fully" with Mueller's investigation, but the report criticised Trump for refusing to agree to an in-person interview with the Special Counsel and for refusing "to provide written answers to questions on obstruction topics or questions on events during the transition".

Barr also said that Trump had done nothing to obstruct the investigation. But according to the report, Trump ordered a top White House official to fire Mueller and then, when that official refused, ordered him to lie about it.

Perhaps most importantly, Barr repeatedly said that the report showed there had been no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. But it actually says the Russian government tried to help Trump's campaign and that the campaign "expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts".

Congressional Democrats plan to subpoena the full, unedited report along with all of its supporting documentation.

So will the Mueller report change the discussion in Washington? Or has it already become just another partisan talking point?

Richelle Carey reports.

Guests: Joe Watkins, Republican Political Strategist and Former White House Aide to George H. W. Bush; Clyde Wilcox, Professor of Government, Georgetown University; Claire Finkelstein, Professor, University of Pennsylvania Law School


Jesus' Female Disciples | Biblical Documentary | Timeline


Theologians Helen Bond and Joan Taylor embark on a journey around the world in search of evidence of the role played by women in the beginnings of Christianity. Their quest takes them from ancient caves in Israel to catacombs in Italy, and leads them to question centuries of Christian ideology.

'Whimsical, Uninformed': French Ambassador's Parting Verdict on Trump


THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: Gérard Araud compares regime to court of Louis XIV and warns UK over post-Brexit trade

The outgoing French ambassador to the US has compared the Trump administration to the court of King Louis XIV, filled with courtiers trying to interpret the caprices of a “whimsical, unpredictable, uninformed” leader.

Gérard Araud, who retires on Friday after a 37-year career that included some of the top jobs in French diplomacy, said Donald Trump’s unpredictability and his single-minded transactional interpretation of US interests was leaving the administration isolated on the world stage.

“When they say ‘America first’, it’s America alone,” Araud said in an interview with the Guardian. “Basically, this president and this administration don’t have allies, don’t have friends. It’s really [about] bilateral relationships on the basis of the balance of power and the defence of narrow American interest.”

He cautioned the UK against expecting any special treatment from Washington in post-Brexit trade talks, predicting that the administration would force London to accept US imports on US terms, such as looser standards for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). » | Julian Borger in Washington | Friday, April 19, 2019

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Mueller's Report Would Have Signaled the End for Anyone Other Than Trump


THE GUARDIAN: Analysis: activity discovered by Mueller was not, as Trump and his allies falsely insist, standard stuff for a political campaign

For all his bluster about being a master builder, Donald Trump really made his millions through branding. From chewy steaks to failing casinos, Trump has spent decades putting lucrative lipstick on pigs.

So when faced with a sprawling criminal investigation into how Russiaworked to get him elected – and how he then repeatedly tried to obstruct the inquiry – the president devised a brutally effective public relations campaign.

During his two years under investigation by Robert Mueller, Trump repeated his newest slogan ad nauseum: “no collusion”. Some Americans seemed tricked into forgetting that conduct falling short of that bar could be seriously problematic, too.

Mueller’s 448-page report confirms that his investigators did not find any overarching conspiracy between Trump’s team and Russian operatives.

But it also lays out, in damning detail, how senior Trump advisers acquiesced with Russia’s interference, while Trump simultaneously sought the Kremlin’s approval for a property deal in Moscow that could make him millions of dollars. » | Jon Swaine in New York | Thursday, April 18, 2019

Ivanka Trump Says Father Offered To Give Her World Bank Top Job, But She Passed | TIME


Ivanka Trump says father offered to give her world bank top job, but she passed.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — April 18, 2019


Facebook Bans Far-right Groups Including BNP, EDL and Britain First


THE GUARDIAN: Number of organisations and individuals permanently banned for being ‘dangerous’

Facebook has permanently banned a number of far-right organisations and individuals including the British National party (BNP), the English Defence League (EDL) and Britain First under its “dangerous individuals and organisations” policy.

The ban, which came into effect at midday on Thursday, extends beyond the groups and individuals specifically cited as hate organisations: posts and other content that “expresses praise or support” for them will also be banned, as will users who coordinate support for the groups. » | Alex Hern | Thursday, April 18, 2019

Billionaires Face 'Yellow Vest' Scorn over Notre-Dame Pledges


THE TELEGRAPH: Billionaire French tycoons faced a mounting backlash on Wednesday over tax breaks on their huge donations to restore Notre-Dame, as Yellow Vest protestors said the hundreds of millions of euros should be spent on tackling France's social problems.

The contributions to the cathedral's renovation approached €900 million (£780m) on Wednesday as the owners of Chanel and Dior stepped forward with donations along with Disney and the technology giant Apple.

However, the outpouring of cash has angered supporters of France's Yellow Vest movement, which noted that President Emmanuel Macron's "rich friends" stood to receive major tax breaks linked to donations in support of the public good and restoring national treasures.

They also pointed out that the sudden willingness of wealthy businesses to turn out their pockets showed that money was available to boost the French government's coffers. » | James Rothwell and Henry Samuel | Thursday, April 18, 2019

THE TELEGRAPH: Macron plans to shut elite school for future leaders » | Henry Samuel in Paris | Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Pete Buttigieg - Full Interview | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC


Watch Rachel Maddow's full interview with presidential 2020 hopeful Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Mika: Mayor Pete Buttigieg Exposed Hate With Love | Morning Joe | MSNBC


While campaigning in Iowa, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg calmly faced down anti-gay religious protesters during a rally. The Morning Joe panel compares and contrasts how the 2020 candidate and Donald Trump handle heckling.

Pompeo Is "Setting the Stage for a War with Iran"


In recent congressional testimony, Sec. of State Pompeo linked Iran to al Qaeda and 9/11 and would not say whether he would apply the 2001 war authorization (AUMF) to Iran. Col. Larry Wilkerson discusses the implications

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Allocution solennelle suite à l'incendie de la Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris


Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — April 16, 2019


Pete Buttigieg: My Husband Will Be an Amazing Father


Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg discusses marriage and the prospect of becoming a father with CNN's Poppy Harlow and John Avlon.

Meet Mayor Pete Buttigieg: The Millennial Democrat Running for President


In the US, another Democrat has thrown their hat into the ring to become the nominee for President, but it’s a name many Americans won’t recognise.

Pete Buttigieg, or Mayor Pete as he’s known in the Midwest, is hoping to represent the Democrats and take on Donald Trump in 2020. If elected, the 37-year-old outsider would become America’s first ever gay president.


Warum uns Notre-Dame behrüht: „Da werden Untergangsvorstellungen aktiviert“


FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Warum trifft es uns so, wenn ein historisches Gebäude brennt? Eine Kulturwissenschaftlerin erklärt, warum Notre-Dame so ikonisch aufgeladen ist – und woher die Verschwörungstheorien um den Brand rühren.

Frau Horstkotte, als Notre-Dame am Montagabend brannte, standen die Pariser scharenweise auf den Straßen, schauten fassungslos zu. Warum hat das die Menschen so berührt?


Die Zerstörung solch ikonischer Bauwerke, die stark mit Bedeutung aufgeladen sind, ist zunächst einmal visuell sehr eindrucksvoll. Da spielt auch Schaulust eine Rolle, das kennt man von anderen Unfällen. Diese besonders eindrucksvollen Bilder wecken aber besonders starke Emotionen. Die identitätsstiftende Wirkung der Kathedrale Notre-Dame für die Pariser, die französische Nation und für Europa ist dabei auch wichtig. » | von Johanna Dürrholz | Dienstag, 04. April 2019

Notre Dame Cathedral Fire: The World Mourns the Loss of a Paris Icon | DW News


French President Emmanuel Macron is vowing to rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral, after a blaze destroyed much of the 12th-century church late on Monday. The exact cause is still unknown, but firefighters say it is now under control and partially extinguished. Authorities say the cathedral's structure was largely saved, but the fire gutted its roof and caused its spire to collapse. One firefighter was injured during the blaze. Many valuable artworks inside were lost or damaged. And, people around the world are lamenting the devastation of an architectural jewel that has survived well over eight centuries and is a symbol of France's heritage.

Notre-Dame Fire: Pledges to Rebuild Cathedral Pass 600 Million Euros after Donations from French Billionaires - Latest News


THE TELEGRAPH: … Pledges to rebuild Paris's Notre-Dame Cathedral have now topped 600 million euros (£518 million) as French billionaires signalled they would contribute significant donations.

According to AFP, promises made by France's corporations along with the country's richest families have poured in after a devastating fire ravaged the 850-year-old building, leading to fears it could collapse.

Business tycoon Bernard Arnault, and his luxury goods group LVMH, pledged 200 million euros (£173 million) towards the reconstruction of Notre Dame, while a billionaire fashion mogul, Francois Pinault, said he would give 100 million euro (£86 million) to the cause.

French President Emmanuel Macron last night launched a fund-raising campaign to rebuild the national landmark. » | Chris Graham, David Chazan and Jamie Bullen | Tuesday, April 16, 2019

THE NEW YORK TIMES: A France in Turmoil Weeps for a Symbol of Paris’s Enduring Identity » | Michael Kimmelman | Monday, April 15, 2019

On Contact: Assange with Vijay Prashad


The arrest of Julian Assange eviscerates all pretense of the rule of law and the rights of a free press. Joining Chris Hedges to discuss the arrest and pending extradition of Julian Assange is the historian Vijay Prashad.

Insight: Hitler Hunter | UNILAD Original Documentary


Hitler killed himself with his wife Eva Braun in his bunker in 1945 right? Think again. In UNILADs brand new series Insight, we meet investigative journalist Gerrard Williams, known for his appearances on History channels 'Hunting Hitler' and his book 'Grey Wolf: The Escape of Adolf Hitler'. He talks us through his own research and what he's found on the ground in his hunt to find out what happened to Adolf Hitler.

Notre Dame Fire: Paris Mourns as Emmanuel Macron Commits to Rebuilding the Famous Cathedral


French president declares: 'We will rebuild Notre Dame together' as distraught Parisians and stunned tourists gaze in disbelief at inferno in the 850-year-old Gothic cathedral, which sits on the Île de la Cité in the River Seine. Macron hails the courage of firefighters who saved the façade and main towers from the fire's ravages, which caused the spire to collapse and the roof to fall in. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire which may be linked to renovation work.


THE GUARDIAN: Notre Dame is a warning to Europe: don’t take what you value for granted » | Gilles Gressani and Mathéo Malik | Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Monday, April 15, 2019

The Guardian View on the Notre Dame Fire: We Share France’s Terrible Loss


THE GUARDIAN: One of the great symbols of France has suffered terrible fire damage. The whole of Europe is scarred too

It feels as though the very heart of France and the soul of Europe have been suddenly and viciously ripped out. The fire that coursed through large sections of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Monday evening was an act of blind and terrible destruction that causes a great stab of emotional pain to us all.

In a frighteningly short time, it gutted and humbled one of the great buildings of Paris, in an act of annihilation of one of the emblematic places of Europe that had survived the brutality of the French revolution and the world wars of the 20th century.

The fire struck quickly and seemingly uncontrollably. It gathered force with immense power and ferocity, engulfing much of the roof and the central spire as it caught hold. The difficulty of marshalling full and effective firefighting operations to protect the building, which is on a small and historic island in the middle of the Seine, was quickly evident and agonizing. » | Editorial | Monday, April 15, 2019

Grey Wolf: The Escape of Adolf Hitler (2012)


Hitler makes a last minute escape to South America where he lives a quiet and peaceful life until his death in 1962. Based on the 2011 book by Simon Dunstan and Gerrard Williams.

Hitler Of The Andes – Conspiracy Documentary | Timeline


Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — April 15, 2019


Pompeo and Bolton Push Us Closer to War with Iran


With the United States designating a part of Iran’s military as a terror group, the administration is inching even closer towards a war with Iran. And thanks to a law passed by Congress shortly after the 9/11 attacks, they might be able to do it without having to get approval from Congress first. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins explains how this new designation could allow the administration to act unilaterally against Iran.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Sultan of Brunei, Who Passed Anti-LGBT Laws, Owns Slew of Luxury UK Properties


THE GUARDIAN: Hassanal Bolkiah, who believes gay people should be stoned to death, is assisted by leading City auditing firms

The architect of new laws mandating the stoning to death of gay people in Brunei has billions of pounds of property wealth in the UK, shares in a leading tech fund and gets assistance from City auditing firms, a Guardian analysis has found.

Hassanal Bolkiah, the sultan of Brunei, owns a slew of properties in the super-rich enclaves of Kensington and Ascot, including luxury hotels and polo parks. One property alone could be worth an estimated £500m in rent each year.

He has also invested millions of pounds in Draper Esprit, a tech-focused venture capital fund with holdings in Trustpilot and the financial services firm Revolut. Until recently his global hotel empire was audited by the accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Bolkiah has become an international pariah for his implementation of sharia laws, including the stoning to death of people thought to be gay or to have committed adultery, in the country he has ruled as a supreme monarch for decades. » | David Pegg, Hilary Osborne and Caelainn Barr | Sunday, April 14, 2019

Steve Bannon Is Going After Pope Francis | Morning Joe | MSNBC


Former adviser to President Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, along with other conservatives are taking aim at Pope Francis. NBC News' Richard Engel explains what's driving Bannon.

British PM Tony Blair: Brexit or Not, Britain Will Remain a Great Country | Morning Joe | MSNBC


Former British PM Tony Blair discusses the latest in Brexit, his best guess for what happens in October at the end of the extension, the rise of populism and why he says 'if a populism of the left fights a populism of the right, the right wins.'

Duty to Warn: Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess the “Dangerous Case” of President Trump


We revisit our interview with someone who’s led a discussion of mental health professionals who are deeply concerned about President Trump’s psychological instability. Dr. Bandy Lee is a forensic psychiatrist on the faculty of Yale School of Medicine who organized the “Duty to Warn” conference at Yale and edited the best-selling book, “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President.”

Dr. Bandy Lee declares that she is not representing the views of Yale University, Yale School of Medicine or Yale Department of Psychiatry.



World Mental Health Coalition »

Psychiatrist Bandy Lee On What's Wrong With Trump's Mental Health


Trump has been exhibiting some concerning signs of multiple impairments. John Iadarola and Dr. Bandy Lee break it down on The Damage Report.

'We Are Not Going to Shut Up': New York Protesters Demand Freedom for Assange and Manning


Rally was held at the steps of Times Square in New York on Saturday to protest against the recent detention of Julian Assange. Holding banners and delivering speeches criticizing the Pentagon, protesters demanded freedom for Assange. Assange, who was found guilty of breaching his bail at Westminster Magistrates Court, is facing up to 12 months in jail for breaching bail when he is sentenced at the Crown Court, as well as a formal request by US prosecutors that he be extradited on espionage charges.

Geoffrey Robertson QC: Assange's Arrest a Deterrent to Journalists Exposing US War Crimes!


Next we speak to Geoffrey Robertson QC of Doughty Street Chambers on the arrest of Assange, the legality of the revocation of his asylum status, the legality of the UK complying with the US extradition request and what this episode tells journalists around the world.