Charles Le Gai Eaton: Life and Works (2010)

Lina al-Hathloul: 'Most Saudis Know MbS Not a Reformer'

Lina al-Hathloul, sister of Saudi women's rights activist, Loujain al-Hathloul, talks to Christiane Amanpour about her sister's release from prison and says in Saudi Arabia, "activism is considered terrorism"

Welt Hintergrund: Es wird kälter - Warum die Erwärmung der Arktis bei uns einen Kälteschock auslöst

In den USA zieht die Kälte bis nach Texas stürzt den Bundesstaat ins Chaos. In Deutschland haben wir gerade die knallharte Frostperiode überstanden, da kündigt sich schon die nächste, wenn auch nicht ganz so dramatische Kälte welle an. Alexander Hildebrand erklärt uns warum diese Wetterlagen im direkten Zusammenhang mit der Erwärmung der Arktis liegen.

Moment of Truth for Trans-Atlantic Relations? | DW News

The leaders of Germany and France will discuss the future of transatlantic relations with US President Joe Biden during a virtual mini-edition of the Munich Security Conference. DW's Richard Walker gives his take on some potentially thorny issues.

Indonesia: Diversity under Threat | DW Documentary

Indonesia is considered a model state for diversity and tolerance, but there are increasing indications that Islamists are gaining more influence in the most populous Muslim country in the world.

Far more Muslims live in Indonesia than in the Middle East. The archipelago is made up of more than 17,000 islands and home to 270 million people.

Following the end of the brutal Suharto dictatorship in 1998, Indonesia became a model for a democratic Muslim majority state. But in recent years, Islamist groups have gained influence.

The report begins in Aceh. It is only here, in the northernmost province of the island of Sumatra, that a rigid interpretation of Islamic Sharia law applies - including public floggings. The reasons for the humiliating punishments are manifold: sex before or outside marriage, alcohol consumption or homosexuality.

A growing tendency towards a more conservative interpretation of Islam is also noticeable in other parts of secular Indonesia. More women are wearing headscarves in public places. The niqab, the face veil, is becoming increasingly popular. Members of minority groups feel marginalized.

"Unfortunately, Indonesia is not immune to the worldwide increase in intolerance”, says politician Yenny Wahid.

The daughter of the first elected president after the Suharto dictatorship stands for cosmopolitanism and represents a liberal view of Islam. She, too, has observed a slow Islamization of her homeland and the tendency of politicians to make concessions to radical and populist groups.

Student activists blame the corruption of the ruling class for growing radicalism and undermining diversity.

The documentary "Indonesia - Diversity Under Threat" asks whether the country can preserve its religious tolerance.

Biden Seeks to Sideline Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

THE GUARDIAN: The new US administration has signalled it expects the desert kingdom to ‘change its approach’ in a break with Trump policy

The Biden administration has said it expects Saudi Arabia to “change its approach” to the US and signalled that it wants to minimise any direct contact between the president and the country’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The stance marks an abrupt change compared with the Trump administration, which showered the young heir with attention and praise. It comes as intelligence officials are preparing to release – possibly as early as next week – a declassified report to Congress that will describe its assessment of the crown prince’s alleged culpability in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the US-based Washington Post journalist who was killed by Saudi officials in 2018.

The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, this week said Joe Biden intended to “recalibrate” the US relationship with Saudi Arabia, and considered King Salman – not Prince Mohammed – to be his counterpart. While the designation might technically be true, the 35-year-old prince is widely seen as running Saudi Arabia and has direct relations with other foreign leaders. » | Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington | Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Islamic 12th-Century Bathhouse Uncovered in Seville Tapas Bar

THE GUARDIAN: Dazzling geometric motifs dating from Almohad caliphate discovered during renovation of city’s bar

A magnificently decorated 12th-century Islamic bathhouse, replete with dazzling geometric motifs and skylights in the form of eight-pointed stars, has emerged, a little improbably, from the walls and vaulted ceilings of a popular tapas bar in the heart of the southern Spanish city of Seville.

Last summer, the owners of the Cervercería Giralda – which has been pouring cañas and copas near Seville’s cathedral since 1923 – decided to take advantage of local roadworks and the coronavirus pandemic to set about a long-delayed renovation.

Although local legend and the odd historical document had suggested the site may once have been an ancient hammam, most people had assumed the Giralda’s retro look was down to the neomudéjar, or Islamic revival style, in which the architect Vicente Traver built the bar and hotel above it in the early 1920s. » | Sam Jones in Madrid | Thursday, February 18, 2021

Biden's America against Xi's China: Struggle for Supremacy? | To the Point

Who can stop China's surge to global dominance? It's one huge question, and one huge challenge, that the new US president, Joe Biden, is already facing. Biden has inherited a divided and doubt-ridden America from his predecessor Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping 's China is both expansive and authoritarian. It's two rival systems apparently on collision course. So, on "To the Point" we ask: Biden's America against Xi's China: Struggle for supremacy?

Al-Andalus sous la domination des musulmans espagnols (711 – 1492)

ANDALOUSIE: La conquête d’ Al-Andalus par les musulmans, puisque c’est ainsi qu’il nommèrent l’Espagne, se caractérisa par sa rapidité et sa facilité. Au début du 8ème siècle, le royaume wisigoth qui dominait l’Espagne était très affaibli par la corruption et la lutte de ses gouvernants, ce qui supposa que l’occupation des territoires par les musulmansayant traversé le détroit, fut très rapide.

Les communautés chrétiennes et juives furent tolérées en échange de tributs, raison pour laquelle la population d’Al-Andalus fut un tel mélange de races et de croyances.

A priori, il semble difficile de comprendre comment les peuples musulmans, qui tiennent la « guerre sainte » comme un de leurs percepts fondamentaux, permirent à d’autres religions de coexister dans les terres qu’ils occupaient. L’explication en est que les religions juives et chrétiennes sont toutes deux monothéistes, apparentées à l’Islam par le biais d’Abraham (père des trois religions). De plus, pour les musulmans, juifs et chrétiens étaient des « frères » qui se trompaient simplement et qui ne voulaient pas accepter le message d’Allah. Les musulmans appelaient les chrétiens et les juifs Ahl-al-kitab, les « gents du livre » (la Bible), duquel ils assumaient même une partie des traditions et des révélations antérieures. Pour ces raisons, ils leur octroyèrent un statut spécial.

Ce qui caractéristique le séjour des musulmans en Al-Andalus fut la fragmentation et la fragilité de ses territoires, qui firent qu’ Al-Andalus ne connut jamais de domination pacifique. Ce furent des temps de guerres continuelles, tantôt avec les chrétiens, qui petit à petit formaient un siège par le nord ; tantôt avec les musulmans eux-mêmes ; ou encore avec des tribus du nord de l’Afrique, qui tentaient également sans cesse des invasions par le sud. En conséquence, pour pouvoir maintenir la paix sur les territoires, les dominateurs devaient maintenir la paix en ayant recours à des politiques de pactes et d’alliances. Ainsi la domination musulmane en Al-Andalus et Grenade passa par diverses périodes bien distinctes. » | Pas d'attribution d'écriture | Sans date

Leaving the Ultra-Orthodox — Jews Seeking a New Life in Germany | DW Documentary

Increasing numbers of Jews have been leaving ultra-orthodox communities in recent years. Surprisingly, Germany has become a popular refuge for them. Rabbi Akiva Weingarten has been helping them.

More than 1.3 million Jews live in ultra-orthodox communities worldwide. It’s a kind of parallel universe — in which only God’s laws count. Every aspect of everyday life is clearly regulated: The women are responsible for the home and for looking after the children while the men devote their lives to religious study. But some ten percent of ultra-orthodox Jews in Israel go on to quit their communities - and that figure is growing. The majority are young adults and, surprisingly, many come to Germany. Akiva Weingarten was one of them. He grew up in an ultra-orthodox Satmar community in New York State but made a radical break in 2014. He left his wife and children and started a new life in Berlin - without a credit card, a bank account or a job, or any relatives to fall back on. He is now surrounded by a free community of former ultra-orthodox Jews - who turn to the rabbi for practical and religious advice. Moshe Barnett and David Lamberger have only been flat mates in Dresden for a few months now. They are not just seeking a new life, but a new relationship with God.

Princess Latifa: Daughter of Ruler of Dubai Says She Is a Hostage in Secret Message

The daughter of the ruler of Dubai, who tried to flee the emirate in 2018 but was forcibly returned, has used a smuggled phone to send a series of secret video messages taken over the past two years claiming she was being held hostage in a locked villa surrounded by police. The new videos were obtained by BBC Panorama and will be aired in more detail on Tuesday evening in the UK

Harry and Meghan Aim to Avoid Embarrassing Queen in Oprah Interview

THE GUARDIAN: ‘Tell-all’ interview announcement has prompted reports it will lead to couple being stripped of patronages

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not wish to embarrass the Queen despite frenzied speculation over their planned “wide-ranging” interview with Oprah Winfrey, it is understood.

The announcement by CBS of a “tell-all” intimate account by Harry and Meghan of their “Megxit” departure from the UK has led to reports it is the final straw for an exasperated Buckingham Palace who will strip the couple of their royal patronages.

The couple are said to have the greatest respect and love for the Queen and will not say anything to undermine that, according to a source. They are determined to fight to retain their patronages.

Reports that the interview will directly result in Harry being stripped of his honorary military titles, and of Meghan losing her patronage of the National Theatre, personally bestowed by the Queen, are understood to have conflated two issues. Rather, practical considerations, such as the couple living thousands of miles away, are likely to see them being forced to relinquish them under palace pressure. » | Caroline Davies | Tuesday, 16, 2021

Adultery, accusations and walkouts: when royals do TV interviews »

As Fox News Struggles at Home, Murdoch Brings Its Playbook to the U.K.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: His venture and another upstart by a rival group of investors will challenge the BBC and Britain’s efforts to guard against political bias in television news.

LONDON — Beset by declining ratings, upheaval in its on-air ranks and a multibillion-dollar defamation suit related to its election coverage, Fox News is staggering out of the Trump era — blamed by many for seeding the poisonous political culture that brought a violent mob into the halls of the United States Capitol.

Yet in Britain, where television news is regulated to avoid political bias, Rupert Murdoch and a competing group of investors are seizing this moment to create two upstart news services that will challenge the BBC and other broadcasters by borrowing heavily from Mr. Murdoch’s Fox playbook. » | Mark Landler | Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Conservative Lawyer Bruce Fein: Trump’s Acquittal Gives Future Presidents License to Break the Law

The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain | A PBS Documentary

A Short History of the Moors

The Guardian View on Queen's Consent: The Crown Does More Than It Seems

THE GUARDIAN: End the flummery that enables a Queen’s gambit and ministers making moves that suit the monarch

In Britain the Queen is supposed to act on the advice of her government. The monarch, it is said, merely signs the laws that ministers bring her. The charade is conducted in the manner of a magician, with pomp and ceremony shielding the public so they fail to realise what is going on. The Guardian this week pulled back the curtain and let the daylight in. The truth is that the government often acts on the advice of the Queen.

Under our unwritten constitution, the monarch does have the power to withhold royal assent to a bill. It’s never been used. The Queen, wrote the Victorian thinker Walter Bagehot, "must sign her own death-warrant” if parliament sends her a law to that effect. Yet documents in the National Archives reveal that Her Majesty managed, in secret, to get laws changed – in favour of her personal interest – before they were introduced. The Guardian found four instances between 1968 and 1982 where the palace had lobbied to get the law altered. In 1973 the Queen’s lawyers intervened to allow her to hide her private wealth from the public. » | Editorial | Friday, February 12, 2021

Lisbon - What Makes Portugal's Capital City So Attractive? | DW Documentary

Lisbon, Portugal’s "White City", is an old multifaceted city in Europe. Lisbon has experienced many periods of prosperity and has survived many crises.

But what makes Lisbon so attractive today – especially among young people? A film crew met a range of mainly young people in Lisbon, and asked them about their relationship to the Portuguese capital city. Lisbon’s history has been significantly shaped by its harbor, which made it a central hub of trade in Europe and the starting point for voyages of discovery and conquest in the late Middle Ages. Vasco da Gama embarked on his last trip to India from Lisbon, and enjoyed a hero’s welcome on his return in 1499. From Bairro Alto and the National Museum of Ancient Art to the Tower of Belém and countless palaces, churches and hotels, Lisbon has a lot to offer tourists. But what makes the Portuguese capital such an attractive destination for young people in the present day? The friendly and carefree nature of the Portuguese people, says one blogger, who quit his job in a bank in order to photograph his city for an image campaign. The incomparable light of Lisbon, says a city historian committed to the conservation of Portugal’s colorful glazed wall tiles: azulejos. The sense of melancholy, adds a singer, who is just as enthusiastic about modern electronic as she is about the traditional fado, which she herself performs on stage. Culinary specialties made from locally fished seafood are the secret, says an acclaimed chef and craftsman. And for an avid surfer, the city’s appeal lies in the impressive waves along the coastline.

Growing Global Concern over Coronavirus Variants | DW News

In the UK, coronavirus testing is now being stepped up to discover virus variants and stop them from spreading. Up to 10% of positive tests will now be sent on to labs for further genome analysis. It's part of a growing effort to catch the more contagious mutations before they take hold.

Former US Muslims Break Silence, Imam Supports Their Choice (2015)

It’s estimated that more than a quarter of Americans have left the faith they were raised in. And while all major faiths have lost adherents, many of those who abandoned Islam face particular hardships. VOA religion correspondent Jerome Socolovsky went to a support group that helps former Muslims who may feel ostracized or disoriented, and reports.

Margaret Thatcher - Speech to the College of Europe ("The Bruges Speech") [1988]

In this impressive speech in Bruges, Margaret Thatcher spoke strongly in favour of the Single Market. Indeed, the Single Market was Thatcher’s baby. Today’s Conservatives under BoJo have betrayed Thatcher’s legacy. Whilst Maggie was anti-federalism, she was certainly pro-European free trade; and she was certainly very much against erecting barriers to European free trade, which Brexit does. All I can say is this: Thatcher must be turning in her grave! All her hard work has gone up in smoke. – ©Mark Alexander

Leaving the Faith - Former Muslims | People and Politics

A growing number of Muslims in Germany are either converting to another faith or turning their backs on religion altogether. Some have faced intimidation and even death threats. Refusing to be put off, they write blogs and provide advice for others who want to follow them.

Ex-Muslims Share Their Experiences | The Economist

The decision to turn your back on your religion can have huge ramifications. Two women who were shunned by their families and community share a rarely seen perspective on faith—and on losing it.

Saudi Women's Rights Activist Loujain al-Hathloul Released from Prison

THE GUARDIAN: Campaigner was held in custody for 1,001 days on charges denounced as politically motivated

The prominent Saudi dissident and women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has been released from prison after 1,001 days in custody.

Following a concerted campaign by her relatives and global rights groups, Hathloul was granted probation by a judge in Riyadh and released to her family on Wednesday afternoon. Her sister Lina published a photo of a smiling Loujain on Twitter early evening Riyadh time – the first image of the most celebrated political prisoner in the Kingdom since she was detained almost three years ago. “Loujain is at home !!!!!!”, the accompanying message said.

Another sister, Alia, said in a separate post that Hathloul was at their parents’ home in Saudi Arabia, adding “this is the best day of my life”. » | Martin Chulov, Middle East correspondent | Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Die Nazis, die Arbeit und das Geld | Doku | ARTE

Im Juni 1940 führte Hitler Feldzüge in ganz Europa, obwohl Deutschland kaum noch Geld, nur wenige Rohstoffe und keine Devisen mehr hatte. Wie konnten die Nationalsozialisten mit einer solch schwachen Wirtschaft die zerstörerische Maschinerie des Zweiten Weltkriegs in Gang setzen?

Der Dokumentarfilm basiert auf neueren wissenschaftlichen Forschungen der Professoren Adam Tooze von der Columbia University, Richard Overy von der University of Exeter, Frank Bajohr vom Institut für Zeitgeschichte in München und der Privatdozentin Marie-Bénédicte Vincent von der Universität von Angers. Sie zeigen in ihren Forschungen zur NS-Zeit, welch treibende Rolle wirtschaftliche Aspekte für das Familienleben, die Arbeitswelt und die Kriegsführung im Deutschen Reich gespielt haben. Animationen im Stil der Collage-Kunst der 30er Jahre veranschaulichen die außerordentlichen Währungsmanipulationen der Nationalsozialisten. Damit wird der Blick auf einen bisher wenig beachteten Kriegsschauplatz gelenkt, nämlich auf die Fabriken des Deutschen Reichs, auf die Sparbücher der deutschen Familien, die Planungsbüros der Manager und kaum bekannte Protagonisten, die agierten: der Generalfeldmarschall und Staatssekretär in Görings Reichsluftfahrt-Ministerium Erhard Milch(1892-1972) etwa, der die gesamte Flugzeugbau-Industrie umstrukturierte und bereits 1954 aus der lebenslänglichen Haft entlassen wurde, der NSDAP-Gauleiter von Thüringen Fritz Sauckel(1894-1946), der in seiner Funktion als Generalbevollmächtigter für den Arbeitseinsatz für die Zwangsarbeit von Millionen von Menschen verantwortlich war und in Nürnberg hingerichtet wurde, oder SS-General Herbert Backe(1896-1947), der als Reichsminister und Leiter des Ministeriums für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft die rigide kriegswirtschaftlich und rassenideologisch begründete Hungerpolitik in Osteuropa plante und organisierte und sich in Nürnberg durch Suizid der Verantwortung entzog.Der Dokumentarfilm zeigt, wie die Nationalsozialisten ihr rassistisches und antisemitisches Weltbild in allen Bereichen der Großindustrie, der Landwirtschaft und der Finanzwelt implementieren konnten. Sie schufen damit ein abscheuliches, auf Währungsmanipulation, Gewalt, Raub und Völkermord beruhendes Wirtschafts-„Modell“, das nur durch Krieg und Unterdrückung funktionierte und zur Zerstörung Europas führte.

Dokumentarfilm von Gil Rabier (F 2020, 90 Min)

Twitter Says Trump Ban Is Permanent – Even If He Runs for Office Again

THE GUARDIAN: Chief financial officer says ‘when you’re removed, you’re removed … our policies don’t allow people to come back’

Donald Trump’s ban from the social media platform Twitter is going to stick even if he runs for the White House again – and even if he won again, a senior executive said on Wednesday.

The former president’s permanent block from Twitter is permanent, Twitter chief financial officer Ned Segal said during an interview on CNBC when he was asked whether Trump’s tweeting privileges could be restored if he ever returns to power.

“The way our policies work, when you’re removed from the platform, you’re removed from the platform,” Segal said.

He added: “Whether you’re a commentator, you’re a CFO, or you are a former or current public official. Remember, our policies are designed to make sure that people are not inciting violence, and if anybody does that, we have to remove them from the service and our policies don’t allow people to come back.” » | Guardian staff | Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Queen's Consent Is a Constitutional Outrage – Parliament Must Abolish It

THE GUARDIAN: If an MP or peer sought to secretly influence a draft bill in this way, it could lead to a criminal charge

The practice of Queen’s consent, on which the Guardian has shone a welcome light in recent days, is a constitutional outrage. It gives an unelected person the opportunity to require changes to draft legislation in order to benefit herself financially, or to exempt herself from laws she does not like, and to do so in secret without any public accountability.

If an MP or peer sought to secretly influence a draft bill to advantage themselves in this way, it would be called corruption. It could lead to a criminal charge.

The palace likes to pretend that the practice of Queen’s consent is all ceremonial, somehow rather quaint. “Any assertion that the sovereign has blocked legislation is simply incorrect,” they say. This is both accurate and entirely misleading. The Queen does not block legislation because she does not need to. The draft bill is sent to the palace and to her legal advisers. If they have objections, they will ring the Cabinet Office and relay these. Nothing is normally put in writing these days, to avoid a written record. The bill is then altered to meet the Queen’s wishes and the revised version is then sent back and gains her consent. You see? Nothing has been “blocked”. » | Norman Baker | Wednesday, February 10, 2021

What Did Ancient Rome Look Like? (Cinematic Animation)

What Did Ancient Rome Really Look Like? Ancient Rome reconstruction featuring realistic 3D animation.

What Did Ancient Greece Look Like? (Cinematic Animation)

What Did Ancient Greece Really Look Like? Watch this Ancient Greece recreation featuring realistic 3D animation to find out.

What Did Ancient Egypt Look Like? (Cinematic Animation)

Watch this Ancient Egypt recreation featuring realistic 3D animation to find out. Get Ancient Egypt

Reaching for That Pack of Smokes? You Aren’t the Only One

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Lots of people seem to be smoking again or more during the pandemic, if anecdotal evidence and preliminary sales figures for tobacco products are any measure.

“Good quality surveys operate at a lag,” said Vaughan W. Rees, the director of the Center for Global Tobacco Control at Harvard University, referring to reliable smoking studies from institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “But we are seeing interesting blips. The decline in tobacco sales has slowed in the past 10 months.”

While tobacco sales in the United States have generally fallen in recent decades (14 percent of Americans smoked in 2019, compared with nearly 21 percent in 2005, according to an annual report from the C.D.C. that tracks smoking rates), the decline flattened last year.

“The total volume of cigarettes sold in the U.S. typically declines by 3 or 4 percent,” said Adam Spielman, a managing director at Citi who follows the tobacco industry. “But in 2020, volume is flat and that’s a significant change, driven mostly by the fact that people have less things to spend money on right now.” Smokers also cited stress as a reason for lighting up. » | Monica Corcoran Harel | Saturday, February 6, 2021

Fury at Gove as Exports to EU Slashed by 68% since Brexit

THE OBSERVER: Hauliers say Cabinet Office minister ignored warnings, amid fears that worse is to come with introduction of import checks in July

The volume of exports going through British ports to the EU fell by a staggering 68% last month compared with January last year, mostly as a result of problems caused by Brexit, the Observer can reveal.

The dramatic drop in the volume of traffic carried on ferries and through the Channel tunnel has been reported to Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove by the Road Haulage Association after a survey of its international members. In a letter to Gove dated 1 February, the RHA’s chief executive, Richard Burnett, also told the minister he and his officials had repeatedly warned over several months of problems and called for measures to lessen difficulties – but had been largely ignored.

In particular he had made clear throughout last year there was an urgent need to increase the number of customs agents to help firms with mountains of extra paperwork. The number now, around 10,000, is still about a fifth of what the RHA says is required to handle the massive increase in paperwork facing exporters. » | Toby Helm | Saturday, February 6, 2021

Muslim Revert Stories - From Jewish Atheist to Islam

1. A revert to Islam describes his early life born in a Jewish family but strongly atheist and his first encounters with Muslims. 2. Early encounters with Islam. Spiritual awakening and seeking proof Islam is the truth. 3. Born to a Jewish family but throughout life atheist in belief a Muslim revert describes how he finally accepts Islam and becomes Muslim. 4. Muslim revert born to a Jewish family gives advice to Muslims as well as Jews, Christians and other non-Muslims.

The Guardian View on Republican Extremism: Trumpism Flourishes

THE GUARDIAN: Some of the party’s elite may be belatedly awakening to the costs of their cynical choices, but others are doubling down

That someone is ludicrous doesn’t stop them being dangerous, as Donald Trump and now Marjorie Taylor Greene have demonstrated. The new Georgia congresswoman has not only repeatedly spread racist and antisemitic statements; she has suggested a Jewish banking family might have been involved in starting wildfires with “space lasers”, repeatedly endorsed QAnon conspiracy theories and questioned whether the Pentagon was attacked on 9/11. Her views are no less poisonous and extremist for being so bizarre.

The most frightening and extraordinary thing about her, however, is that she is now welcome at the heart of the Republican party. Though Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, has described her “loony lies and conspiracy theories” as “a cancer for the Republican party”, his diagnosis comes much too late. Kevin McCarthy, his counterpart in the House, boasts of a “big tent” – so large that it now includes those who have supported the killing of political opponents. It took Democrats to strip Ms Greene of her committee positions via a House vote on Thursday, an unprecedented move that should never have been necessary. They are happy to seize the opportunity to portray the GOP as Ms Greene’s party. But they are not so wrong to do so. » | Editorial | Friday, February 5, 2021

Biden: Trump Should Not Receive Intelligence Briefings due to His 'Erratic Behavior'

THE GUARDIAN: Biden says predecessor shouldn’t have access to briefings, which are traditionally offered to presidents even after leaving office

Joe Biden has said that he doesn’t believe his predecessor, Donald Trump, should have access to any intelligence briefings due to his “erratic behavior”.

“I think not,” Biden said in a Friday evening interview, when asked by the CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell if Trump should get the briefings.

“Because of his erratic behavior unrelated to the insurrection,” Biden said, referring to the 6 January storming of the US Capitol by Trump’s supporters. Former US presidents traditionally receive some intelligence briefings even after they have left office. » | Reuters | Saturday, February 6, 2021

Fox News Cancels Lou Dobbs Tonight

THE GUARDIAN: Dobbs, who hosted Fox Business Network’s highest-rated show, was a key driver of baseless election fraud claims

Fox Business Network has canceled the show of Lou Dobbs, the ardent Donald Trump supporter with a history of espousing misinformation who promoted baseless conspiracy theories of voting fraud after the election.

Friday evening marked the final airing of Lou Dobbs Tonight, Dobbs’ regular weeknight program. The Fox host was a major contributor to the false narrative that the election was stolen and continued espousing those views on his program even after admitting that they lacked actual proof.

“Eight weeks from the election and we still don’t have verifiable, tangible support for the crimes that everyone knows were committed,” he said on air in January.

Dobbs, 75, has hosted the program since 2011. Trump considered it must-see TV and even reportedly patched the host through during key policy meetings. » | Gabrielle Canon and agency | Saturday, February 6, 2021

Good riddance! – Mark

Die Reise des Gläubigen | IMANTALK

Uns besuchte Martin der Leiter vom Projekt "Betreuung Neuer Muslime". Der Konvertit sprach über seine Shahada im Jahr 2006, warum er den Weg zum Islam gefunden hat und was ihm besonders als Neuer Muslim gefehlt hat. Deswegen betreut Martin jetzt neue Muslime bei IMAN und besucht mit die Reise des Gläubigen, wo neuen Muslime eine persönliche Betreuung angeboten wird. Wie das aussieht erzählt er uns bei #IMANTALK

Dies ist ein interessantes Gespräch mit einem Österreicher aus Wien, der sich vor etlichen Jahren zum Islam bekehrte. Er spricht über sein neues Leben und Glauben als Muslim. – ©Mark

UK Banks Given Six Months to Prepare for Negative Interest Rates

THE GUARDIAN: Bank of England’s monetary policy committee votes to keep rate at 0.1% but gives banks six-month deadline

The Bank of England took a step closer to introducing negative interest rates for the first time on Thursday, after it gave lenders six months to prepare for such a move.

Threadneedle Street’s monetary policy committee (MPC) voted unanimously to keep the official interest rate at historically low levels while it agreed to set the deadline for banks to prepare themselves after policymakers said they were ready to make negative lending rates part of their toolkit.

According to the minutes of the MPC meeting, officials were split over asking lenders to put in place the measures needed to facilitate negative rates on loans and mortgages, with some fearing it would signal to investors that the central bank planned to move ahead in the next few months. » | Phillip Inman | Thursday, February 4, 2021

The Caliph P1: Foundation | Featured Documentary

The Caliph - Part 1: Foundation - Featured Documentary

For almost 13 centuries, from the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 to the overthrow of the last Ottoman caliph in 1924, the Islamic world was ruled by a caliph.

Translated from the Arabic ‘Khalifa’, the word ‘caliph’ means successor or deputy. The caliph was considered the successor to the Prophet Muhammad.

It is a term that has, at times, been abused.

In June 2014, a militant group calling itself the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (known as ISIL or ISIS) declared the establishment of a caliphate and proclaimed its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a caliph. This proclamation was rejected by the overwhelming majority of the world’s Muslims.

ISIL had attempted to appropriate a title imbued with religious and political significance – and in doing so had cast a dark shadow over a rich history.

This is the story of the caliph, a title that originated 1,400 years ago and that spanned one of the greatest empires the world has ever known.

In this episode of the Caliph, Al Jazeera tells the story of the caliphate, providing a fascinating insight into how the first caliphs of Islam built and expanded their empire.

Director: Husein Alrazzaz

Conway: We're Watching Moral Collapse of Republican Party

CNN's Anderson Cooper speaks with conservative lawyer George Conway about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who has pushed continued claims of election fraud and conspiracy theories about school shootings and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Also, CNN's Ryan Nobles reports on what actions the Republican Party may take against Taylor Greene.

Canada Designates Proud Boys as Terrorist Organization beside Isis and Al-Qaida

THE GUARDIAN: Move follows allegations that the rightwing group played a role in the mob attack on the US Capitol in January

Canada has designated the far-right Proud Boys group as a terrorist organization alongside Isis and al-Qaida, amid growing concerns over the spread of white supremacist groups in the country.

On Wednesday Bill Blair, public safety minister, also announced the federal government would designate the white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups the Atomwaffen Division, the Base and the Russian Imperial Movement as terrorist entities. The federal government also added offshoots of al-Qaida, Isis and Hizbul Mujahedin to its list.

“Canada will not tolerate ideological, religious or politically motivated acts of violence,” Blair said. » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Jeff Bezos to Step Down as Amazon Chief Executive

BBC: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is to step down as chief executive of the e-commerce giant that he founded in his garage nearly 30 years ago.

He will become executive chairman, a move he said would give him "time and energy" to focus on his other ventures.

Mr Bezos, the world's richest man, will be replaced by Andy Jassy, who currently leads Amazon's cloud computing business.

The change will take place in the second half of 2021, the company said.

"Being the CEO of Amazon is a deep responsibility, and it's consuming. When you have a responsibility like that, it's hard to put attention on anything else," Mr Bezos said in an [sic] letter to Amazon staff on Tuesday.

"As Exec Chair I will stay engaged in important Amazon initiatives but also have the time and energy I need to focus on the Day 1 Fund, the Bezos Earth Fund, Blue Origin, The Washington Post, and my other passions."

"I've never had more energy, and this isn't about retiring. I'm super passionate about the impact I think these organizations can have," he added. » | BBC | Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Russland: Kreml-Kritiker Nawalny zu mehr als zwei Jahren Straflager verurteilt | WELT Analyse

Der Kreml-Kritiker Alexej Nawalny ist in Russland zu mehr als zwei Jahren Haft in einem Straflager verurteilt worden. Das zuständige Gericht in Moskau entschied am Dienstag, dass der 44-Jährige eine bereits verhängte dreieinhalbjährige Bewährungsstrafe nun in einer Strafkolonie ableisten müsse. Allerdings werde ein früherer Hausarrest von der Zeit abgezogen.

Die im Hausarrest verbrachte Zeit gelte als abgeleistete Haftstrafe, sagte Richterin Natalja Repnikowa. Nach Angaben von Nawalnys Team würde dies etwa zweieinhalb Jahre Haft im Straflager für ihn bedeuten. Das Gericht machte zur genauen Zeitspanne zunächst keine Angaben.

Unmittelbar nach Bekanntgabe des Urteils riefen Anhänger des wichtigsten Widersachers von Präsident Wladimir Putin zu einer sofortigen Demonstration in Moskau auf. "Wir ziehen ins Zentrum von Moskau", schrieben sie im Online-Dienst Twitter und riefen die Menschen auf, sich ihnen anzuschließen.

Nawalny hatte sich in der Anhörung vehement gegen eine drohende Gefängnisstrafe gewehrt und die Russen zum weiteren Widerstand aufgerufen. Hauptziel des juristischen Vorgehens gegen ihn sei es, "Millionen Menschen Angst einzujagen", sagte der 44-Jährige vor Gericht.

Nawalny war 2014 wegen des Vorwurfs der Unterschlagung zu dreieinhalb Jahren Haft verurteilt worden, die Strafe wurde aber zur Bewährung ausgesetzt. Diese Aussetzung auf Bewährung wurde nun zurückgezogen, weil Nawalny gegen Bewährungsauflagen verstoßen haben soll.

Nawalny war direkt nach seiner Rückkehr aus Deutschland in sein Heimatland am 17. Januar am Flughafen in Moskau festgenommen und im Eilverfahren zu 30 Tagen Haft verurteilt worden. Es war eine von bereits mehreren kürzeren Haftstrafen gegen Nawalny, lange Zeitstrecken wie die nun drohenden zweieinhalb Jahre war er aber noch nie in Haft.

Die Festnahme am Moskauer Flughafen hatten die russischen Behörden bereits mit Verstößen gegen Bewährungsauflagen begründet: Nawalny sei unter anderem während seines Aufenthalts in Deutschland seiner Pflicht nicht nachgekommen, sich zweimal monatlich bei den Behörden zu melden. In Deutschland war der 44-Jährige nach einem Giftanschlag in Sibirien behandelt worden, durch den er beinahe getötet worden wäre und für den er den Kreml verantwortlich macht.

Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny Jailed for Two Years and Eight Months

THE GUARDIAN: Court locks up Putin’s foe despite threat of protests and international condemnation

A Moscow court has sentenced Alexei Navalny to two years and eight months in a prison colony in a landmark decision for Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on the country’s leading opposition figure.

Navalny, who has accused the Russian president and his allies of stealing billions, was jailed for violating parole from a 2014 sentence for embezzlement in a case he has said was politically motivated.

The court’s decision makes Navalny the most prominent political prisoner in Russia and may be the most important verdict against a foe of Putin’s since the 2005 jailing of the oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

After a judge read the verdict, subtracting the 10 months he had spent under house arrest from his original three-and-a-half-year sentence, Navalny and his wife Yulia stared at each other across the court room. She took off her mask, smiled, waved, and then shrugged. “Don’t be sad! Everything’s going to be alright!” he yelled to her. She declined to comment as she walked out of the courtroom, looking straight ahead.

Minutes before he had drawn a heart on the glass surrounding the dock as a message to her. » | Andrew Roth in Moscow | Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Impeachment Managers: 'Trump’s Responsibility for the Events of January 6 Is Unmistakable'

THE GUARDIAN: The House impeachment managers have filed a brief outlining their argument for Donald Trump’s conviction ahead of the former president’s second Senate impeachment trial.

“In a grievous betrayal of his Oath of Office, President Trump incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol during the Joint Session, thus impeding Congress’s confirmation of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. as the winner of the presidential election,” the brief says. “President Trump’s responsibility for the events of January 6 is unmistakable.” » | Joan E Greve (now) and Martin Belam (earlier) | Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Americans Smoking More Cigarettes during COVID-19 Pandemic

NEW YORK POST: Smoking has made a comeback as the stress of the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll — with cigarette sales rebounding in 2020.

Sales rose by 0.4 percent last year — reversing a decades-long steady decline — as people in lockdown lit up more often and vapers switched back to tobacco over health concerns, according to data released by Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc.

Bored Americans who weren’t able to travel or dine out regularly also had more disposable income to spend on smoke sticks, the tobacco maker said.

An FDA spokeswoman said changes in cigarette smoking can’t be tied to one specific event, but admitted the pandemic has played a role.

“COVID-19 has created a drastic change in daily life, including increased stress and anxiety, that may contribute to a smaller-than-expected reduction in cigarette sales,” she told the Wall Street Journal. » | Jesse O'Neill | Friday, January 19, 2021

Notturno, Op. 27: No. 2 in D-Flat Major

Notturno, Op. 27: No. 2 in D-Flat Major · Maurizio Mastrini | Chopin & Liszt: Immortal Piano