Österreich: Ex-FPÖ-Chef Heinz-Christian Strache beendet politische Karriere

ZEIT ONLINE: Heinz-Christian Strache hat Konsequenzen aus den Skandalen der vergangenen Monate und der Wahlniederlage der FPÖ gezogen. Seine Parteimitgliedschaft lässt er ruhen.

Der frühere FPÖ-Vorsitzende Heinz-Christian Strache lässt seine Parteimitgliedschaft ruhen. Das teilte er in einer persönlichen Stellungnahme zwei Tage nach der Wahlniederlage für seine Partei mit. Er werde darüber hinaus "jegliche politische Aktivität einstellen und kein Amt mehr anstreben", um eine Spaltung der FPÖ zu verhindern, sagte der frühere Parteivorsitzende. Strache war im Mai wegen der sogenannten Ibiza-Affäre zurückgetreten. » | Quelle: ZEIT ONLINE, zz | Dienstag, 1. Oktober 2019

The Tories Have Lost Their Ideology. Now They Are Merely the Party of Resentment

THE GUARDIAN: After three decades of intellectual decline, the Conservative party stands for nothing but Brexit

What does the Conservative party stand for in 2019? If you survey the central tenets of Tory ideology from the past 50 years, it is hard to find a single one that is still intact.

The party of business is hellbent on undermining access to an export market of half a billion people. The party of law and order is now raging against the judiciary – with senior Tories being regularly asked whether their government intends to obey the law.

The party of “family values” – “back to basics”, as John Major put it – has now fallen for the charms of a famous philanderer, who is currently being dogged by questions about how his “close friend”, Jennifer Arcuri, was awarded £126,000 of grants during his time as London mayor. The party of the establishment is provoking a constitutional crisis, angering the Queen and expelling some of its most distinguished MPs from its benches. » | Tuesday, October 1, 2019

La journée d’hommage à Jacques Chirac en images

Emmanuel Macron a décrété le lundi 30 septembre journée de deuil national, en mémoire de Jacques Chirac. L’ancien président français est mort le 26 septembre, à l’âge de 86 ans.

La journée a commencé avec les honneurs funèbres militaires donnés par Emmanuel Macron aux Invalides en présence de nombreux corps de l’armée. Ensuite, à midi, Mgr Michel Aupetit, archevêque de Paris, a rendu un service solennel dans l’église Saint-Sulpice, la cathédrale Notre-Dame, où sont traditionnellement rendus les services religieux officiels, étant fermée au public depuis l’incendie du 15 avril 2019.

L’ancien chef de l’Etat a ensuite été enterré au cimetière du Montparnasse dans l’après-midi, en présence de sa famille et de ses proches.

Swedish Navy Returns to Vast Underground HQ amid Russia Fears

THE GUARDIAN: Cavernous docks can shelter warships, with miles of tunnels, offices, and a hospital

Sweden’s navy HQ is returning to a vast underground cold war fortress designed to withstand a nuclear attack, in what has been seen as a defensive move against a resurgent Russia.

After a 25-year absence, the navy will once again be commanded from beneath billions of tonnes of granite as the country strives to build up its defences in response to the perceived threat from Moscow. » | David Crouch in Gothenburg | Monday, September 30, 2019

Saudi Prince Warns Regional War with Iran Could Lead to 'Total Collapse of Global Economy'

THE TELEGRAPH: Awar with Iran would lead to “a total collapse of the global economy”, Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has said, as he called for a political solution and endorsed talks between Donald Trump and Iranian leaders.

Speaking two weeks after Iran allegedly bombed major Saudi oil facilities, and as new footage of the attack surfaced, the kingdom’s de-facto ruler said that a full-scale conflict in the Persian Gulf would cause oil prices to jump to “unimaginably high numbers that we haven't seen in our lifetimes”.

“The political and peaceful solution is much better than the military one,” Crown Prince Mohammed told CBS News. » | Raf Sanchez, Middle East correspondent | Monday, September 30, 2019

Outrage as Trump Suggests Key Democratic Foe Face Arrest for 'Treason'

THE GUARDIAN: President unleashes barrage littered with false claims

Donald Trump, already facing impeachment, has provoked fresh outrage by suggesting one of his main political adversaries should be arrested for “treason”.

The US president unleashed a barrage of tweets littered with false claims, incendiary language and a refusal to acknowledge wrongdoing in a July phone call with the president of Ukraine.

Trump singled out Adam Schiff, the Democratic chair of the House intelligence committee, who has been criticised for his opening statement at a hearing last week in which he parodied Trump’s conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Schiff “illegally made up a FAKE & terrible statement, pretended it to be mine as the most important part of my call to the Ukrainian President, and read it aloud to Congress and the American people,” Trump wrote. “It bore NO relationship to what I said on the call. Arrest for Treason?” » | David Smith in Washington and Andrew Roth in Moscow | Monday, September 30, 2019

Harry: The Mysterious Prince – British Royal Family Documentary | Timeline

Who is the 'real' Prince Harry? A feckless playboy partying at nightclubs with a blonde on his lap? Or a physically brave young man destined to distinguish himself in unexpected ways? Despite relentless media scrutiny, much of it negative, Harry remains a tantalising, elusive mystery.

Robert De Niro: Trump Should Not Be President. Period

Actor Robert De Niro tells CNN's Brian Stelter that President Donald Trump has been worse than he "ever could have imagined."

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia | Full Documentary | FRONTLINE

One year after the murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi, FRONTLINE investigates the rise and rule of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) of Saudi Arabia.

In a never before seen or heard conversation featured in the documentary, the Saudi Crown Prince addresses his role in Khashoggi’s murder exclusively to FRONTLINE correspondent Martin Smith. Smith, who has covered the Middle East for FRONTLINE for 20 years, examines MBS's vision for the future, his handling of dissent, and his relationship with the United States.

Serious Questions Raised about Khashoggi’s Murder in Interviews with Saudi Officials | FRONTLINE

FRONTLINE asks Saudi officials how Khashoggi's murder could have been a "rogue operation."

Saudi officials maintain that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had no prior knowledge of the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

But in powerful and occasionally contentious new interviews, FRONTLINE correspondent Martin Smith presses high-ranking Saudi official Adel al-Jubeir about how they could come to such a conclusion while the murder is still being investigated.

Europe Isn’t the Enemy – Demonising Us Is Undermining Britain

THE GUARDIAN: The Tories used to worry about being the nasty party. Now they’re making Britain a difficult country to like

Seventeen years ago Theresa May stunned her fellow Conservatives by telling their annual party conference that they were “just plain unattractive”. The Tories, she said, had become “ the nasty party”. Today, from where I sit in western Europe, Britain itself looks just plain unattractive. It seems to have become “the nasty country”. I’m not saying the British people are any worse, or any better, than any other Europeans. I am saying its ruling political party is nasty, as is much of its press. The leader of the Conservative party, and therefore the prime minister, is a man who has personally taken nastiness to an entirely new level, yet is the country’s most popular politician.

Ever since the UK voted to leave the EU, millions of other Europeans like me have been looking for signs that the country is coming around to its old, pragmatic self. It’s a version of Boris Johnson’s cakeism: you want to love Britain and you want to be honest about the kind of country it is now. These two positions have become impossible to hold at the same time. » | Joris Luyendijk | Sunday, September 29, 2019

James Risen: Whistleblower Complaint Shows “Trump Is a Habitual Criminal” Abusing His Office

Democrats are ramping up efforts to impeach President Trump for pressing the president of Ukraine to investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Nearly 90% of House Democrats now support impeachment. On Thursday, a declassified version of a complaint by an anonymous whistleblower was released, detailing his concerns about Trump’s July phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky. In the complaint, the unnamed whistleblower — who has been identified as a CIA official — accused the president of “using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. election.” The complaint also revealed details about how the White House attempted to “lock down” all records of Trump’s phone conversation with Zelensky by moving a transcript of the call to a standalone computer system reserved for codeword-level intelligence information. The whistleblower wrote in his complaint, “According to White House officials I spoke with, this was 'not the first time' under this Administration that a Presidential transcript was placed into this codeword-level system solely for the purpose of protecting politically sensitive — rather than national security sensitive — information.” For more on the unfolding scandal, we speak with James Risen, senior national security correspondent for The Intercept.

Brexit Anxiety in Ireland's Drummully Polyp | Focus on Europe

People in the Irish enclave of Drummully Polyp fear the introduction of a hard border. Some 200 live in Drummully, which is almost entirely surrounded by Northern Ireland. Many think the return of checkpoints could also lead to a return to violence.

Exclusive Interview with Lady Hale - First 100 Years | November 2017

First 100 Years celebrate the past to change the future for women in law. This is a ground-breaking project, building the only digital platform of stories, videos and artefacts dedicated to the journey of women in law.

In this exclusive interview, Lady Hale, the first female President of the Supreme Court, gives a personal account of her being the 'first' many times over and the role of women in the legal profession.

Lady Hale, President of the UK Supreme Court – BBC HARDtalk

In July 2019, HARDtalk’s Stephen Sackur spoke to Lady Hale, President of the UK Supreme Court. Her role was brought into the spotlight this week when she delivered the verdict of 11 Supreme Court judges which ruled British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's suspension of Parliament was unlawful.

Hommage au Président Jacques Chirac

Suivez l'allocution du Président Emmanuel Macron en hommage au Président Jacques Chirac.

Will Trump Be Impeached?| Inside Story

Details emerge of the White House's efforts to lock down records of a Presidential phone call, leveraging the office of the US President to interfere in the 2020 election.

That's the accusation facing Donald Trump in a whistleblower complaint that's set him on course for an impeachment investigation.

Donald Trump has been accused of trying to persuade the Ukrainian leader to dig up dirt on his rival, Joe Biden. So, will the impeachment effort against Donald Trump intensify? Or will it backfire on the President's opponents?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan | Guests Greg Swenson, Spokesman for Republicans Abroad UK; Rina Shah, Republican Strategist; Arshad Hasan, Democratic Political Strategist

Les fumeurs autrichiens peuvent compter sur l’extrême droite

LE MONDE: Lanterne rouge de la lutte contre le tabagisme en Europe, l’Autriche doit interdire la cigarette dans les bars et les restaurants le 1er novembre. Norbert Hofer, le chef du FPÖ, a fait du combat pour la liberté de fumer un point essentiel de sa campagne pour les élections législatives de dimanche.

S’il fallait une preuve que le Parti de la liberté d’Autriche (FPÖ) est le parti de la cigarette, il suffit de voir le nombre impressionnant de délégués qui se précipitent à l’extérieur de la salle pour en griller une à chaque interruption de séance lors des congrès. Réunis à Graz samedi 14 septembre, les cadres du parti d’extrême droite – très majoritairement des hommes blancs fumeurs – ont pu compter sur leur nouveau chef, Norbert Hofer, pour tout faire afin qu’ils puissent continuer de fumer en paix dans un pays qui reste la lanterne rouge européenne de la lutte contre le tabac.

Officiellement, l’Autriche doit, en effet, enfin interdire la cigarette dans les bars et les restaurants à partir du 1er novembre, une mesure déjà en vigueur depuis des années dans la presque totalité de l’Union européenne. Sauf si… l’extrême droite arrive de nouveau à faire annuler la mesure. En effet, à côté de la lutte contre « l’immigration illégale », M. Hofer a fait du combat pour la liberté de fumer un point essentiel de son programme de campagne pour les élections législatives anticipées qui sont organisées dimanche 29 septembre. » [€] | Par Jean-Baptiste Chastand | vendredi 27 septembre 2019

The Guardian View on Egypt: Sisi Isn’t Everyone’s Favourite Dictator

THE GUARDIAN: While foreign leaders buddy up to Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, his people endure a brutal crackdown on rights

Even before Egyptian authorities warned that they would “decisively confront” any protests that take place on Friday, it was evident that it would require extraordinary courage to answer the call to the streets. Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s regime has repeatedly shown its utter ruthlessness since seizing power six years ago in a coup. Security forces killed thousands of people protesting against the takeover. The country has locked up 60,000 political prisoners. Executions have soared this year. » | Editorial | Thursday, September 26, 2019

MPs of All Parties Must Unite to Rein In This Reckless, Divisive Government

THE GUARDIAN: I fear Boris Johnson will use political chicanery to bypass the anti-no-deal Brexit law. Time for parliament to show its strength

At the moment, our country is more unsettled, more divided, than I can ever recall. Ministers assure us they are moving towards a deal. The European Union tells us they are not – because no new or viable proposals have been put forward by the British government. The prime minister tells us he wishes to have a deal with Europe. But we don’t see him sitting down in Brussels, hammering out an agreement.

Lip service is paid to the unanimous judgment of the supreme court – that it was unlawful to prorogue parliament for five weeks – while the prime minister tells us the court was wrong and he was right. That is the cry of those found guilty of misdemeanours throughout the ages.

Meanwhile, ministers continue to offer fantasy outcomes of what a post-Brexit future holds for people in every corner of our United Kingdom. As day succeeds day, it seems more likely that we will end up leaving the European Union without any deal at all. On Wednesday night, the prime minister wilfully destroyed any hope of cross-party agreement.

The price of such a negotiating failure will be widespread and will affect rich and poor alike – with one difference: the poor will be far less able to protect themselves. » | John Major | Friday, September 27, 2019

Democracy Now! Over 2,000 Arrested in Egypt in Growing Protests Against Sisi, Trump’s “Favorite Dictator”

Demonstrations continued in Egypt Friday, with thousands taking to the streets to demand the resignation of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi over accusations of corruption. Nearly 2,000 people have been arrested over the past week amid protests in Cairo and other cities. The demonstrations were triggered by social media posts by a former army contractor accusing Sisi and other officials of misusing public money. Anti-government protests are rare in Egypt as they’ve been effectively banned since Sisi came to power following the 2013 overthrow of former President Mohamed Morsi and launched a widespread crackdown on dissent. Earlier this week, President Trump praised Sisi as the two leaders met during the U.N. General Assembly here in New York. Trump also recently referred to Sisi as “my favorite dictator.” For more, we’re joined by Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Democracy Now! correspondent and a reporter with the independent, Cairo-based media outlet Mada Masr.

Mada Masr »

Boris Johnson's Sister Says His Language Was 'Tasteless'

The prime minister’s sister, Rachel Johnson, said her brother was wrong to suggest the best way to honour the memory of Jo Cox was to deliver Brexit. She said Johnson’s language used in the Commons on Wednesday was ‘a very tasteless way of honouring the memory of a murdered MP’

US Troops in Saudi Arabia Defend Hegemony, Not Security

Pushback with Aaron Maté

Are New Laws an Assault on Human Rights in Indonesia? | Inside Story

Extra-marital relations outlawed in Indonesia; and jail sentences for insulting the president. These are some of the controversial proposals causing an outcry in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, which are considered disastrous by rights groups.

Thousands of students vented their anger. Coming under pressure, President Joko Widodo postponed the vote on changes to the draft criminal code, but Indonesians still fear it could be passed by parliament.

They're also angry over the passing of another law that weakens Indonesia's anti-corruption organization. The protests have been dismissed by the Indonesian government. So, can the outrage stop the government's plans?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom | Guests: Greg Barton, expert on terrorism at Deakin University: Calvin Dark, former Indonesian Government Campaign Adviser; Damien Kings, conflict resolution specialist

Former French President Jacques Chirac Has Died Aged 86, His Family Says

Trump ‘Must Be Held Accountable,’ Perlosi Says

The Guardian View on Boris Johnson: Guilty but He Won’t Go

THE GUARDIAN: For adherents of a no-deal Brexit the prize of remaking Britain in a reactionary mould was worth dispensing with legislative scrutiny altogether. It took the judges to stop them – for now

he cabinet manual’s rule that the Queen “should not be drawn into party politics” has been broken by Boris Johnson. It was his decision, as prime minister, to advise the monarch to issue an order in council to prorogue parliament for five weeks. That order was declared “unlawful, void and of no effect” by all 11 justices of the highest court in the land in the most significant constitutional judgment in modern times. The government’s decision to disregard convention was taken to evade scrutiny by MPs at a moment of constitutional and political crisis. The Commons will now reconvene. A prime minister found to have acted unlawfully in this manner should not stay in office.

A prime minister with honour would tender their resignation. But Mr Johnson has no honour and no shame. The precedent such an act of defiance sets ought to be unthinkable. The sooner that Britain is rid of him the better. … » | Editorial | Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Breaking News! Trump Ukraine Row: Democrats 'To Launch Trump Impeachment Inquiry'

BBC: Democrats will open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump over claims that he sought political help from Ukraine, US media reports say.

The decision by top Democrat Nancy Pelosi follows growing demands from her party.

Mr Trump has denied impropriety but has acknowledged discussing political rival Joe Biden with the Ukrainian president. » | Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Scharia ohne Peitschenhiebe – Indonesien will sein Strafgesetz verschärfen

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Der Entwurf für ein neues Strafgesetzbuch in Indonesien zeigt, wie stark der Einfluss islamischer Moralprediger geworden ist. Es sieht harte Strafen für Abtreibungen sowie aussereheliche und gleichgeschlechtliche sexuelle Beziehungen vor. Präsident Widodo steht zwischen den Fronten.

Indonesien steht vor einer Reform seines Strafgesetzes, von der Islamisten lange nur träumen konnten. Die neue Gesetzessammlung sieht unter anderem vor, dass vorehelicher Sex, Kontakte unter Gleichgeschlechtlichen, Abtreibungen, obszöne Aktivitäten oder Aufklärung über Verhütungsmittel ausserhalb einer Arztpraxis mit Gefängnis bestraft werden können. Abtreibungen ohne «dringenden medizinischen Grund» könnten demnach bis zu vier Jahre Gefängnis zur Folge haben. Auch an anderer Stelle sind Eingriffe in die persönliche Freiheit geplant, die dem Ruf Indonesiens als relativ liberales Land widersprechen. » | Manfred Rist, Singapur | Montag, 23. September 2019

Boris Johnson: Rücktritt, jetzt!

ZEIT ONLINE: Das Urteil des Supreme Courts zeigt: Boris Johnson ist in dieser Krise der Falsche, um Großbritannien zu führen. Er hat Parlament und Queen belogen und muss gehen.

Der britische Supreme Court hat entschieden, einstimmig – und für Boris Johnson vernichtend. Die von ihm verordnete Zwangspause des britischen Unterhauses ist nicht verfassungskonform. Härter hätten die elf Richter des obersten Gerichtshofes nicht urteilen können. Boris Johnson muss die schwerste Niederlage einstecken, die ein britischer Premierminister seit dem Krieg erlebt hat. Eigentlich bleibt ihm jetzt nur eins: Er muss zurücktreten. » | Ein Kommentar von Bettina Schulz, London | Dienstag, 24. September 2019

Supreme Court Announces Prorogation Is 'Unlawful, Void and of No Effect'

The supreme court has ruled that Boris Johnson’s advice to the Queen that parliament should be prorogued for five weeks at the height of the Brexit crisis was unlawful. The judgment from 11 justices on the UK’s highest court follows an emergency three-day hearing last week that exposed fundamental legal differences over interpreting the country’s unwritten constitution. Lady Hale said 11 justices heard the appeal and the judgment is unanimous.

Donald Trump: Skrupellos bis zum Ende

ZEIT ONLINE: Der Skandalanruf des US-Präsidenten in der Ukraine zeigt: Donald Trump ist eine Gefahr, solange er im Amt ist. So darf es eigentlich nicht weitergehen. Wird es aber.

Donald Trump kann jede Hilfe gebrauchen. Auf die Politik des US-Präsidenten trifft das schon lange zu: Seine mexikanische Grenzmauer gegen Einwanderer, sein Handelskrieg gegen China, überhaupt seine außenpolitische Krawallstrategie in vielen Konflikten, die er zum Teil selbst verschlimmert oder sogar begonnen hat – all das entspringt ja mehr einem leidlich scharfen Instinkt als einer umfassenden Einsicht in komplexe Zusammenhänge. Andere müssen dann sehen, dass sie das Beste daraus machen. Unbestritten ist allerdings Trumps Talent, die Schwächen seiner Gegner oder auch des demokratischen Systems zu erkennen und für sich auszunutzen, wenn es seinen Zielen dient. » | Eine Analyse von Carsten Luther | Dienstag, 23. September 2019

Strategic Importance of Aramco and Politics of Saudi Oil

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani is heading to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he says he will reveal the details of his Gulf security proposal.

Tensions are high in the region after a series of attacks. Most recently, Saudi Arabia's largest oil processing plants have been crippled by Houthi rebel attacks. Saudi Arabia and the United States say Iran is to blame, and US reinforcements are being deployed to the region.

Iran denies involvement in the attacks and has denounced the presence of more foreign troops in the region.

Saudi Arabia may take several months to get their damaged oil facilities back online, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. It contradicts promises by Saudi oil executives of a speedy recovery taking no more than ten weeks.

Aramco's CEO sought to reassure markets in a published letter in which he said the company is "stronger than ever".

Al Jazeera's Osama Bin Javaid joins us live on set.

As

Stevie Wonder: 1976 - Songs in the Key of Life

A Crackdown on Islam Is Spreading Across China

THE NEW YORK TIMES: YINCHUAN, China — In China’s northwest, the government is stripping the most overt expressions of the Islamic faith from a picturesque valley where most residents are devout Muslims. The authorities have destroyed domes and minarets on mosques, including one in a small village near Linxia, a city known as “Little Mecca.”

Similar demolitions have been carried out in Inner Mongolia, Henan and Ningxia, the homeland of China’s largest Muslim ethnic minority, the Hui. In the southern province of Yunnan, three mosques were closed. From Beijing to Ningxia, officials have banned the public use of Arabic script.

This campaign represents the newest front in the Chinese Communist Party’s sweeping rollback of individual religious freedoms, after decades of relative openness that allowed more moderate forms of Islam to blossom. The harsh crackdown on Muslims that began with the Uighurs in Xinjiang is spreading to more regions and more groups. » | Steven Lee Myers | Saturday, September 21, 2019

Trump Admin Threatens to Defund Colleges for Portraying Islam in Positive Light

Donald Trump swears that he doesn’t discriminate against anyone, but the actions of his administration say otherwise. The Department of Education, headed by Betsy DeVos, has warned Duke and UNC that they will cut funding for the colleges if they don’t stop portraying Islam in a positive way. This is a disgusting move by this administration, but sadly, not all that shocking. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

Can the US Guarantee Gulf Security? | Inside Story

Washington has blamed Tehran for the attack on Saudi oil facilities and says it's now building a coalition against Iran.

The Gulf region is on the edge. Who's responsible for last week's attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, has led to accusations from different sides. The US and Saudi Arabia say Iran is behind the Aramco strikes. But the Houthis in Yemen say they are responsible and have warned of more to come.

The US Secretary of State visited allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE to talk to their leaders. Mike Pompeo said Washington was seeking a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but blamed Iran for seeking an 'all-out war.'

Iran's foreign minister says the U.S. is preparing to use the Aramco incident as an excuse to attack his country, and that Tehran's ready to defend itself. So, will tension escalate even further? Or would diplomacy defuse it?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver; Mohammad Marandi, Professor of American Studies at the University of Tehran; Adolfo Franco, Republican strategist and former adviser to Senator John McCain

Verlierer Netanjahu

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Nach dem Patt der jüngsten Knessetwahl sind Israels Parteichefs auf der Suche nach Koalitionspartnern. Sind damit die Tage von Benjamin Netanjahu als Ministerpräsident gezählt?

Ein Jahrzehnt hatte sich die Parteienlandschaft Israels von der säkularen Mitte weg nach rechts ins religiöse Lager verschoben. In der Zeit regierte als Ministerpräsident Benjamin Netanjahu, der mit seiner Demagogie und Verachtung für das Recht das politische Klima in Israel zunehmend vergiftet hat.

Diesen Trend scheint die jüngste Parlamentswahl gebrochen zu haben. Denn sie stärkte erstmals wieder das säkulare Lager. Zudem könnte sie das Ende der politischen Karriere Netanjahus eingeläutet haben. So verlor keine Partei gegenüber der Wahl im April stärker als sein Likud, und er wird sich nun Anklagen wegen Korruption stellen müssen. Niemand sollte Netanjahu aber vorzeitig abschreiben. Denn in Israel vermag es niemand mit dem Taktiker der Macht aufzunehmen. Derzeit ist eine Konstellation, mit der er noch einmal in das rettende Amt des Ministerpräsidenten einziehen könnte, von dem er bei einer Anklage nicht gleich zurücktreten müsste, aber nicht in Sicht. » | Ein Kommentar von Rainer Hermann | Freitag, 20. September 2019

Ben Ali, l’ex-autocrate tunisien renversé par le « printemps arabe », est mort

LE MONDE: L’ex-autocrate, à la tête de son pays de 1987 à 2011, est mort, jeudi, à l’âge de 83 ans en Arabie saoudite, où il vivait en exil depuis la révolution de 2011.

Le président déchu de Tunisie, Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, est mort, jeudi 19 septembre, à l’âge de 83 ans en Arabie saoudite, où il vivait en exil depuis la révolution de 2011, a indiqué à l’Agence France-Presse le ministère tunisien des affaires étrangères. « Nous avons eu la confirmation de sa mort il y a trente minutes », a ajouté le ministère, sans plus de détails.

Après plus de deux décennies d’un pouvoir répressif, Ben Ali avait été renversé début 2011 par un mouvement populaire, point de départ d’une vague de révoltes dans la région connue sous le nom de « printemps arabe ». » | Par Florence Beaugé | jeudi 19 septembre 2019

Has Bibi Lost It? Israel Vote Fails to Deliver Majority for Netanyahu

Could it really be the end for Israel's longest-serving prime minister? Benjamin Netanyahu's gamble of a second snap election to try and rule without hard right rival Avigdor Liberman backfiring. Now the Likud leader could be facing corruption charges. François Picard's panel draws possible scenarios.

US Dials Back Iran Rhetoric and Seeks 'Peaceful Resolution' over Saudi Attack

THE GUARDIAN: Mike Pompeo says goal is to ‘get back on the diplomatic path’ following Trump’s remarks that the US was ‘locked and loaded’

The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has said Washington and its allies were seeking a “peaceful resolution” with Iran in the wake of the attack on Saudi oil facilities, making clear that Washington would limit its initial response to further sanctions.

Pompeo’s remarks, made on his return trip to Washington after visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, mark a significant cooling of rhetoric after Donald Trump had warned the US was “locked and loaded” and Pompeo had said the attack, which he blamed on Iran, was “an act of war”.

The Pentagon said its goal was “to deter conflict and get back on the diplomatic path” and stopped short of definitively blaming Tehran for the air strikes which knocked out half Saudi Arabia’s oil production, deferring to Riyadh to make that assessment. » | Julian Burger in Washington | Thursday, September 19, 2019

Cameron and the Queen: Palace 'Displeasure' over Comments

Sir Paul McCartney: Brexit Vote Probably a Mistake

Iran Foreign Minister: US Strike Would Trigger 'All Out War'

Iran Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tells CNN's Nick Paton Walsh that a US or Saudi strike on its territory would trigger an "all out war." Zarif added that Iran hopes to avoid a military confrontation.

Reflections | Sami Yusuf & Dr Umar Faruq Abd-Allah

Dr Umar Faruq Abd-Allah is an American Muslim who is the Scholar in Residence at the Oasis Initiative based in Chicago, a non-profit organization that educates Muslims in the US about Islamic teachings. He is a respected author and a sought-after teacher and lecturer.

Matters of Faith: Charles Le Gai Eaton Charles Le Gai Eaton: Life and Works (Parts 1 & 2 of 2)

Charles Le Gai Eaton: Life and Works

Should Trump Have the Power to Take Us to War?

Tensions between Iran and the United States are growing thanks to President Trump. But does Trump have the ability to take us to war?

Only Congress can authorize a war. It’s right there in the Constitution. It requires a majority vote of both the House and the Senate to authorize war, and any war that is not authorized by Congress is illegal. The president does not have the power to start a war; that power is exclusively given to Congress. The Founders did this because they did not want any president to ever acquire the king-like power of war-making: they believed it was too much power in the hands of one person, and thus could lead to disaster.

If Donald Trump tries to take us into war with Iran, Congress and massive public opinion must stop him. Call your member of the House and both your senators today.