DOCU | You Don't Know Nicotine

Amidst radical changes in nicotine use globally, one filmmaker's journey through the confusion & fear leads to a startling discovery about Earth's most hated stimulant. Society may be changed forever.

Smokefree: A Better Britain?

Talking Liberties webinar, 10th March 2021: 'Smokefree: A Better Britain?', featuring Andrew Allison, campaigns director, The Freedom Association; Liz Barber, friend of Forest and confirmed smoker; Mark Oates, director, We Vape and the Snus Users Association; tobacco investment analyst Rae Maile; and Simon Hills, former associated editor of The Times Magazine and author 'Strictly No! How We're Being Overrun by the Nanny State'. Is a smoke free Britain achievable let alone desirable? Join the conversation. 73 minutes, including audience interaction.

Angela Merkel kippt Oster-Ruhe und entschuldigt sich

Es sei nur ihr Fehler gewesen, sagte die Kanzlerin Angela Merkel im Bundestag.

Dan Barker | God Does NOT Exist

Dan Barker gives his argument against the existence of God.

COVID-19: Germany Imposes Strict Lockdown over Easter | DW News

Germany is extending the current lockdown through to April 18, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Tuesday. The country will enter an even stricter lockdown from April 1 to April 5, over the Easter holiday period when shops, including grocery stores, will largely have to close. Merkel warned that Germany needed to "break the exponential growth of the third wave." Case numbers have reached levels that authorities say will overburden intensive care units.

Tuesday's announcement marks a reversal from earlier this month when state leaders agreed to begin a cautious reopening process.

Talks between leaders of Germany's 16 federal states and Merkel lasted until the early hours of the morning following a lengthy interruption.

What are the new measures?

As well as prolonging existing measures such as the closure of cultural, leisure and sporting facilities, tougher restrictions will apply over the Easter period.

- Churches will be asked to hold services marking the Christian festival online. - No more than five adults from two households will be able to meet over the five-day period. - Testing and vaccination centers can remain open. - Public gatherings will be prohibited. - Almost all shops will be shut during the five days. Only grocery stores may open on Saturday, April 3. - Anyone from Germany holidaying abroad will have to be tested before boarding a flight back to Germany. - The "emergency brake" will halt further re-openings and will apply to areas exceeding 100 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a seven-day period.

If an area has an incidence rate of over 100 for three consecutive days, harsher lockdown measures will once again apply.

Top Saudi Official Issued Death Threat against UN's Khashoggi Investigator

THE GUARDIAN: Senior official twice threatened to have Agnès Callamard ‘taken care of’ in meeting with UN colleagues in Geneva in January 2020

A senior Saudi official issued what was perceived to be a death threat against the independent United Nations investigator, Agnès Callamard, after her investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In an interview with the Guardian, the outgoing special rapporteur for extrajudicial killings said that a UN colleague alerted her in January 2020 that a senior Saudi official had twice threatened in a meeting with other senior UN officials in Geneva that month to have Callamard “taken care of” if she was not reined in by the UN.

Asked how the comment was perceived by her Geneva-based colleagues, Callamard said: “A death threat. That was how it was understood.” » | Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington | Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Prince Harry Joins $1bn Silicon Valley Startup as Senior Executive

THE GUARDIAN: Duke of Sussex’s first formal role since ending royal duties involves ‘meaty role’ as chief impact officer at BetterUp

Prince Harry has been given a job by a $1bn (£730m) Silicon Valley startup which provides professional coaching, mental health advice and “immersive learning” as its chief impact officer.

The Duke of Sussex said he hoped to be able to “create impact in people’s lives” by working with BetterUp to provide “proactive coaching” for personal development, increased awareness and “an all-round better life”.

It is the Duke’s first formal position at a private company since he stepped down from being a working member of the royal family a year ago.

Harry and his wife, Meghan, have also signed multimillion-dollar deals to provide content for Spotify and Netflix.

As chief impact officer at BetterUp Prince Harry will be expected to help with product strategy decisions, charitable collaborations, and advise on topics related to mental health. Harry has already worked closely with mental health charities. » | Rupert Neate | Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Northern Ireland’s Brexit Act | DW Documentary (November 2020)

The coming months could be a real stress test for Northern Ireland. Though legally it has left the European Union, Northern Ireland will still be subject to many EU laws and regulations. Officially part of the UK but in many ways still in the EU.

What could this new role mean for a country that has struggled for decades to secure lasting peace, stability and economic success? The new situation could reignite old questions about Northern Ireland’s identity. There are currently no border controls on the island of Ireland. Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland which remains a member of the EU have a completely open border, with freedom of travel, trade and a shared electricity grid. And that is supposed to remain unchanged in spite of Brexit, in order not to jeopardize the Good Friday Agreement and the hard-fought peace that has been achieved on the island.

Northern Ireland will effectively remain in the European Single Market, with the customs border officially in the Irish Sea. This poses a huge challenge for port authorities and haulage companies, because that customs border will effectively split Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom. The port will be required to carry out customs checks for goods coming from Britain to Northern Ireland. Haulage contractors will have to fill out customs declarations although it’s actually domestic trade.

On the other hand, some companies - like one sports clothing manufacturer in Belfast - are happy to be able to continue trading closely with the Republic of Ireland and the rest of the EU, despite Brexit. But it’s clear, businesses will have to realign and many fear they will be forced to decide whether to trade with the EU or the rest of the UK.

And that turns Northern Ireland’s special status into a political issue. Could it drive a wedge between Northern Ireland and Britain, making closer ties with the Republic of Ireland seem more attractive? The Unionists, who attach great importance to Northern Ireland being part of the UK, are furious. They rejected all suggestion of a customs border in the Irish Sea right from the start, while the Republicans believe this process will inevitably work in their favor, leading ultimately to the reunification of Ireland. So how is all this affecting ordinary people in the cities of Belfast and Londonderry, who continue to live with the high barriers that separate predominately Unionist neighborhoods from Republican ones?

Rare Ancient Scroll Found in Israel Cave of Horror - BBC News

Fragments of a Biblical scroll and other relics have been found in what officials call an "historic discovery" in desert caves in Israel.

The dozens of pieces of parchment were written in Greek, with just the name of God appearing in Hebrew. The scroll is believed to have belonged to Jewish rebels who fled to the hills following a failed revolt against Roman rule in the 2nd Century.

They were found during an operation to prevent caves in the area being looted.

Covid: Germany Warns of 'Exponential' Rise in Coronavirus Cases

BBC: Coronavirus cases are rising exponentially in Germany, officials warn, as continental Europe braces for a third wave of infections.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was likely that the country would now need to apply an "emergency brake" and re-impose lockdown measures.

France, Poland and other nations are also reintroducing restrictions.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn has said that Europe lacks the vaccines needed to significantly reduce cases.

"We have to be honest about the situation - in Europe we don't have enough vaccines to stop a third wave through vaccinations alone," he told reporters. » | Friday, March 19, 2021

UK Furlough Scheme Pays Out Millions to Foreign States and Tax Exiles

THE GUARDIAN: Qatari owners of Harrods and the Ritz claimed £3m alongside payouts to Saudi royals and British National party from Covid job support scheme

Billionaire tax exiles, the British National party, Saudi royals and oil-rich Gulf states have claimed millions of pounds in taxpayer-funded furlough money, the Guardian can disclose.

The revelations, based on analysis of government information, have sparked dismay among MPs at the use of a scheme designed to support struggling businesses and prevent mass unemployment, with one complaining of public money being scattered “like confetti”.

Beneficiaries behind companies that have drawn on the coronavirus job retention scheme include:

• Members of the Saudi royal family

• Qataris behind Harrods and the Ritz

• The ruler of Dubai

• Tax exiles Jim Ratcliffe and Guy Hands

• Billionaires Evgeny Lebedev, Len Blavatnik and Mohamed Al Fayed

• The British National party » | Rob Davies and Joseph Smith | Friday, March 19, 2021

The foreign royals and billionaire tax exiles collecting UK's furlough millions »

'Takes One to Know One': Putin-Biden Spat Escalates after 'Killer' Accusation

THE GUARDIAN: Officials in Moscow go on offensive after Biden said Russian president would pay price for election meddling

Vladimir Putin has told Joe Biden that “it takes one to know one”, as Kremlin officials promised reprisals if the US president does not apologise for describing his Russian counterpart as a “killer”.

In an escalating diplomatic spat, Russian officials described Biden as “demented and hysterical” after he agreed during a TV interview that Putin had orchestrated murders and said Putin would soon “pay a price” for alleged election meddling.

On Wednesday Moscow recalled its ambassador to Washington in protest at the interview, and on Thursday officials went on the offensive.

Relations had already been pushed to new lows after Washington imposed sanctions over the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and declassified an intelligence report stating that Putin directed interference in the 2020 US presidential election. » | Theo Merz in Moscow | Thursday, March 18, 2021

Russia Erupts in Fury Over Biden’s Calling Putin a Killer »

Russia Recalls US Ambassador after Biden's 'Killer' Comment | DW News

Joe Biden is facing what could be the first major diplomatic crisis of his presidency. Moscow has recalled its ambassador to the US for consultations after Biden confirmed he thought Russian president Putin was 'a killer.' The US president was speaking in an exclusive interview with ABC Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos. He also promised to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for meddling in the US elections and said Russia will soon 'pay a price.' Biden's strong words follow a US intelligence report on foreign interference in last November's elections. The report says Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a campaign of misinformation aimed at sowing discord among voters. Moscow has denied any involvement, just as it has also denied meddling in the 2016 vote which saw the election of Donald Trump.

All NHS and Care Staff in Wales to Get £735 One-off Bonus

WALES ONLINE: It is estimated the payment will benefit 221,945 people in Wales

NHS and social care staff are set to be given a bonus in their next pay packet to recognise their "extraordinary contribution" during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Welsh Government has confirmed that the one-off payment is equivalent to £735 per person to cover the basic rate of tax and national insurance contributions incurred. After deductions most people will receive £500.

It is estimated the payment will benefit 221,945 people in Wales including 103,600 social care staff, 90,000 NHS Wales staff, 2,345 deployed students and 26,000 primary care staff (including pharmacy, GP, dental and optometry staff). » | Mark Smith, Health correspondent | Wednesday, March 17, 2021

The Brexit Deal Was Astonishingly Bad, and Every Day the Evidence Piles Up

THE GUARDIAN: Trade has plummeted and red tape has blocked our borders. Is that what ‘protecting our sovereignty’ meant?

Now we know that British exports to the European Union plummeted by a cataclysmic 41% after Brexit on 1 January, what next? This is not the “slow puncture” predicted, but a big bang. Yet so far, it registers little on the political Richter scale.

It should shake the government to the core, but voters are well protected from this unwelcome news by our largely pro-Brexit press. Nor does BBC news, under Brexiteer mortar fire, dare do enough to rebalance the misinformation. Saturday’s Financial Times splashed that killer trade figure on its front page, but the Daily Express splashed “Flying start for US trade deal”. There is no “flying start”. Meanwhile, an EU legal action against Boris Johnson is starting this week, for his reneging on the Northern Ireland protocol and thereby imperilling the Good Friday peace agreement.

The Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Express and Daily Telegraph barely cover the EU trade fiascos, says Dr Andrew Jones, part of an Exeter University team monitoring Brexit media stories since the referendum. Currently, Jones says, those papers’ main Brexit story is Britain’s triumph over the EU on vaccines. That trope always omits the fact the UK could have purchased the same volume while in the EU, but it has become the Brexiters’ clinching case. » | Polly Toynbee | Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Ghada - The Toxic Modesty of the Hijab

Alexei Navalny Moved to ‘Concentration Camp’ Known for Strict Control

THE GUARDIAN: Kremlin critic reveals on Instagram he has arrived in penal colony north-east of Moscow and has a ‘freshly shaven head’

The Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is being held in a prison camp in the Vladimir region of Russia north-east of Moscow known for its strict control of inmates, a message posted on the opposition politician’s Instagram account confirmed on Monday. » | Staff and agencies in Moscow | Monday, March 15, 2021

In The News: Conversions to Judaism in Israel

Israel's Supreme Court recognized Reform and Conservative conversions carried out in Israel. Hence, such converts will be considered Jews for citizenship purposes, under Israel’s Law of Return. Journalist Ben-Dror Yemini discusses the decision's background and implications. With Shahar Azani.

”Awesome Without Allah” – Seth Andrews

"I was able to generate my own sense of purpose instead of having my life spoon-fed to me." For Seth Andrews, between the safety of the “religious cocoon” and the “goodness, love and beauty” he discovered upon leaving it?

Third Covid Wave Sweeps across EU and Forces New Restrictions

THE OBSERVER: New variants blamed as Italy, France, Germany and Poland see infection rates surge

A third wave of the Covid pandemic is now advancing swiftly across much of Europe. As a result, many nations – bogged down by sluggish vaccination campaigns – are witnessing sharp rises in infection rates and numbers of cases.

The infection rate in the EU is now at its highest level since the beginning of February, with the spread of new variants of the Covid-19 virus being blamed for much of the recent increase.

Several countries are now set to impose strict new lockdown measures in the next few days – in contrast to the UK, which is beginning to emerge slowly from its current bout of shop and school closures and sports bans.

In Italy, authorities recorded more than 27,000 new cases and 380 deaths on Friday. “More than a year after the start of the health emergency, we are unfortunately facing a new wave of infections,” said prime minister Mario Draghi. “The memory of what happened last spring is vivid, and we will do everything to prevent it from happening again.”

From Monday most of Italy will be placed under lockdown and people will only be allowed to leave their homes for essential errands. Most shops will be closed, along with bars and restaurants. » | Sunday, March 14, 2021

Cross-dressing among Nazi-era German Wehrmacht Soldiers | DW Feature

Homosexuality was a crime in Nazi Germany. Still, artist Martin Dammann found so many Nazi-era photos of Wehrmacht soldiers in drag that he published an entire book of them. What do the photos tell us about sexuality in the Wehrmacht? Why was cross-dressing so prevalent among Nazi-era soldiers?

Live on Live - Saudi Author in Exile, Rana Ahmad

RFI's Sarah Elzas talks to activist and author Rana Ahmad about her childhood in Saudi Arabia, why she fled - and what life's like as an athiest in Germany. Ahmad's first book, "Women Aren’t Allowed to Dream Here" has been published in both German and French.

Harry et Meghan ébranlent Buckingham

LE MONDE – ÉDITORIAL: Bien au-delà du psychodrame familial, le couple princier lance un redoutable défi institutionnel à la monarchie britannique, en envoyant une flèche empoisonnée aux deux successeurs potentiels de la reine Elizabeth.

Editorial du « Monde ». Difficile pour les citoyens d’une République de saisir la véritable nature de la monarchie britannique. Une survivance anachronique ? Une extravagance inutile et coûteuse ? Un « business » familial ? Un symbole d’unité nationale et un lien avec l’histoire longue chers aux Britanniques ? Un peu de tout cela en réalité.

Si l’interview explosive donnée par le prince Harry et son épouse Meghan Markle a suscité des audiences record, si elle alimente les conversations, c’est non seulement par l’intérêt très humain que suscite un tel déballage de (beau) linge sale familial, par le dérivatif qu’il constitue en pleine crise sanitaire et sociale, mais aussi parce que la monarchie britannique, instrument central du soft powerbritannique, s’en trouve affaiblie. » | Le Monde | jeudi 11 mars 2021

Amazon to Stop Selling Books That Frame LGBTQ+ Identities as Mental Illness

THE GUARDIAN: Retail giant announces decision in letter to Republican US senators about removal of book by conservative academic

Amazon will no longer sell books that frame gay, lesbian, transgender and other sexual identities as a mental illness.

The company made the announcement public in a letter sent to Republican senators who had asked why Amazon had stopped selling When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment, a book by the conservative academic Ryan Anderson, best known for his opposition to same-sex marriage.

In the letter, first obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Amazon writes: “As a bookseller, we provide our customers with access to a variety of viewpoints, including books that some customers may find objectionable.

“That said, we reserve the right not to sell certain content. All retailers make decisions about what selection they choose to offer, as do we. As to your specific question about When Harry Became Sally, we have chosen not to sell books that frame LGBTQ+ identity as a mental illness.”

The letter came in response to criticism from the rightwing senators Marco Rubio, Mike Lee, Mike Braun and Josh Hawley who wrote to the Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, criticizing the book’s removal and calling it a signal “to conservative Americans that their views are not welcome on its platforms”. » | Dominic Rushe | Friday, March 12, 2021

What Did the Pope Know about the Holocaust? | DW Documentary

The Vatican opened once-secret records on Pope Pius XII on March 2020. This gave researchers a brand new insight into the Catholic Church during the Nazi era. What did the Pope know about the Holocaust?

Pius XII, born Eugenio Pacelli, is one of the most controversial figures in recent church history. New archive material sheds light on his career and politics. As ambassador of the Holy See in Germany and Cardinal Secretary of State of the Vatican, Pacelli witnessed Hitler’s rise to power. He was elected Pope in 1939, just months before the start of World War II. But what role did he play during the Holocaust? Many accuse him of shirking his responsibilities; of complicit silence while minorities were murdered, especially the Jewish.

Just days after the archives opened, church historian Hubert Wolf discovered a document describing the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto. Pope Pius XII read the paper on 27 September 1942, but its contents were never published. Nor were the notes in the margins by members of the Secretariat of State. But the Vatican claimed for decades that nothing was kept from the public.

Defenders of Pius XII say he acted in secret to save the lives of many Jews. Thousands were hidden in church institutions, and the Roman Curia helped them to escape abroad. But the credibility of the Roman Curia during the Holocaust is now at stake, with many still unanswered questions. Why did Pius XII not join the Allies’ protest in December 1942 against the extermination of the Jews?

Piers Morgan Speaks to Journalists about Meghan Row and Good Morning Britain (GMB) Exit

A day after leaving his job at Good Morning Britain, Piers Morgan said the Duchess of Sussex's interview with Oprah Winfrey was a 'diatribe of bilge' and that he doesn't 'believe almost anything that comes out of her mouth'. Morgan came under fire after making critical remarks about the Duchess of Sussex’s mental health, prompting an on-air row with a colleague and more than 40,000 complaints to Ofcom. During the interview, Meghan said her mental health had deteriorated while she was pregnant amid a barrage of negative and racist press coverage and alleged a lack of support from 'the firm' – the apparatus surrounding the royal household

Switzerland to Ban Wearing of Burqa and Niqab in Public Places

THE GUARDIAN: Muslim groups criticise move, which they say will further stigmatise and marginalise their community

Switzerland will follow France, Belgium and Austria after narrowly voting in a referendum to ban women from wearing the burqa or niqab in public spaces.

Just over 51% of Swiss voters cast their ballots in favour of the initiative to ban people from covering their face completely on the street, in shops and restaurants.

Full facial veils will still be allowed to be worn inside places of prayer and for “native customs”, such as carnival.

Face coverings worn for health and safety reasons are also exempt from the ban, meaning face masks worn because of the Covid-19 pandemic will not be affected by the new law. » | Philip Oltermann in Berlin | Sunday, March 7, 2021

Queen Hails Togetherness in Commonwealth Day Address

Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday praised the 'courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty' of frontline healthcare and public service workers across the Commonwealth in their response to the pandemic. The broadcast replaces the annual service at Westminster Abbey, which was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, and comes hours before the airing of a two-hour special hosted by Oprah Winfrey in which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to tell the story behind their tumultuous departure from royal duties. Harry and Meghan stir public debate ahead of Oprah interview

Global Homophobia – The Roots of Hatred | DW Documentary

This hard-hitting documentary reveals the abuse suffered by the gay community all over the world. France, despite having legalized gay marriage in 2013, has seen a rise in homophobic violence in recent years.

In Tunisia, gay people can be sentenced to three years in prison, simply for their sexual orientation. When arrested by the police, they are subject to an "anal examination," a humiliating procedure of no scientific value. Uganda is one of the 27 sub-Saharan countries in which homosexuality is suppressed, with active government encouragement of homophobia, and where homosexuality is punishable by life imprisonment.

In the United States, more progressive laws have not translated into progressive attitudes. In a desperate attempt to change their sexual orientation, around 700,000 Americans have visited therapists who claim to be able to "transform any homosexual into a heterosexual."

The Observer View on Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince

THE OBSERVER: How can the west continue to do business with the man who approved Jamal Khashoggi’s murder?

As details emerged of the gruesome 2018 murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul of the exiled dissident and journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, most observers became convinced it could not have happened without the approval of the all-powerful Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. The US intelligence report, published last week, definitively supports that conclusion.

Joe Biden is to be commended for making the CIA’s findings public after they were blocked by Donald Trump. The US sanctions imposed on Saudi government employees involved in the killing, and new measures to curb foreign agents who harass dissidents abroad, are welcome. But Biden’s too-pragmatic decision not to penalise Salman himself, the plot’s ringleader, and, in effect, let him off the hook, is dismaying.

The reasoning behind this shabby act of realpolitik is obvious enough. Saudi Arabia is an important western ally. Its cooperation is needed if Iran’s destabilising regional activities and nuclear programme are to be curbed. Hopes that Riyadh will follow the UAE and Bahrain in normalising ties with Israel are a factor, too. Saudi Arabia remains a key energy producer. And the crown prince, 35, is likely to lead the country for decades to come. » | Observer editorial | Sunday, February 28, 2021

Justin Welby Condemns Nigerian Archbishop's Gay 'Virus' Comments

THE GUARDIAN: Archbishop of Canterbury says Henry Ndukuba’s comments that homosexuality should be ‘expunged’ are unacceptable

The archbishop of Canterbury has issued a rare public condemnation of a fellow Anglican primate who described homosexuality as a “deadly virus” which should be “radically expunged and excised”.

Justin Welby, who is the leader of the global Anglican church, said the comments made by Henry Ndukuba, the archbishop of Nigeria, were unacceptable and dehumanising.

His criticism was endorsed by senior Church of England colleagues, including Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, and Sarah Mullally, the bishop of London.

In response to a statement on the pastoral care of gay people issued by the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) in January, Ndukuba said: “The deadly ‘virus’ of homosexuality has infiltrated ACNA. This is likened to a yeast that should be urgently and radically expunged and excised lest it affects the whole dough.” » | Harriet Sherwood | Saturday, March 6, 2021

Buckingham Palace Opens Investigation into Duchess Meghan Bullying Allegations l Good Morning America (GMA)

Plus, ABC News royal contributor Robert Jobson discusses the timing of Buckingham Palace’s statement ahead of Harry and Meghan’s Oprah Winfrey interview.

Whitney Houston - Hold Me

Winston Churchill - Zurich Speech - "United States of Europe" - September 1946

Speech of Winston Churchill - United States of Europe Zurich, 19th September 1946

The words of a great man! “Let Europe arise!” Are you listening, Boris? – ©Mark

Eating Meat 'Raises Risk of Heart Disease, Diabetes and Pneumonia'

THE GUARDIAN: UK researchers find link between regular meat intake and nine non-cancerous illnesses

Eating meat regularly increases someone’s risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, pneumonia and other serious illnesses, research has found.

It is already known that intake of red and processed meat heightens the risk of being diagnosed with bowel cancer. But these findings are the first to assess whether meat consumption is linked to any of the 25 non-cancerous illnesses that most commonly lead to people being admitted to hospital in the UK.

The academics from Oxford University who have published the study found that consumption of red meat, processed meat and poultry meat such as chicken and turkey, either alone or together, at least three times a week was linked to a greater risk of nine different illnesses. » | Denis Campbell, Health policy editor | Tuesday, March 2, 2021

If you believe this, you’ll believe anything! How can the consumption of meat or poultry possibly lead to diabetes, still less pneumonia? In German, the original word for diabetes is Zuckerkrankheit, or sugar illness or disease. The original word for pneumonia in German is Lungenentzünding, or inflammation of the lungs. How can the consumption of meat and poultry possibly lead to these illnesses? This is total nonsense! It is a perfect example of fake news! – ©Mark

Supporters of Detained Saudi Princess Call for UK to Help Secure Release

THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: letters to Dominic Raab and Lady Scotland say Princess Basmah requires urgent medical treatment

Supporters of a prominent Saudi Arabian princess detained with her daughter in Riyadh have appealed to the British government to help secure their release.

In two letters to both foreign secretary Dominic Raab and Commonwealth general secretary Patricia Scotland, the princess’s supporters urged them to intervene on behalf of Princess Basmah bint Saud bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and her daughter Souhoud Al Sharif, arrested in Jeddah two years ago.

They said that the princess suffers from a heart condition that requires urgent medical treatment. “We believe her life depends on her release,” said the family’s legal adviser Henri Estramant and Lucy Rae of the British human rights organisation Grant Liberty in the letter. » | Ruth Michaelson in Dubai | Monday, March 1, 2021

Saudi Crown Prince Approved Killing of Jamal Khashoggi, US Report Says

THE GUARDIAN: New sanctions expected as a declassified intelligence assessment says Mohammed bin Salman had hand in journalist’s death

The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, approved the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a declassified assessment of the killing released to the Congress by US intelligence agencies.

The four-page report confirmed the long-suspected view that the 35-year-old future king had a personal hand in the violent and premeditated murder of one of his most prominent critics, a columnist and former Saudi insider who was living in exile in the US and used his platform to decry the prince’s crackdown on dissent.

Friday’s release of the assessment was expected to be accompanied by further actions from the Biden administration, which are expected to be unveiled by the State Department. »| Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington | Friday, February 26, 2021

Nazi Princesses – The Fates of Top Nazis' Wives & Mistresses

What happened to the wives and girlfriends of Hitler's inner circle when the war ended? Find out about Emmy Goering, Gretl Braun, Gerda Bormann, Margarete Himmler and several others.

Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found here

New Record as Estimated 18m Americans Identify as LGBTQ, Poll Finds

THE GUARDIAN: Gallup finds increase ington | reflection of ‘the way society is changing’

Polling released Wednesday confirmed that more Americans than ever before identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. The number of Americans who self-identify this way increased by 60% between 2012 and 2020, according to Gallup.

Researchers say the findings are partly due to an emerging generation of young people who have chosen to live openly with an identity other than heterosexual.

“It reflects what we are seeing in society and the way society is changing,” Gallup senior editor Jeff Jones said, later telling NBC News that “younger people are growing up in an environment where being gay, lesbian or bisexual is not as taboo as it was in the past”. » | Kenya Evelyn in Washington | Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Boris Johnson 'a Liar' Who Will Blame Brexit Costs on Covid, Says Diplomat

THE GUARDIAN: Sylvie Bermann, former French ambassador, puts PM’s handling of pandemic alongside Donald Trump’s

Boris Johnson is “an unrepentant and inveterate liar” who feels he is not subject to the same rules as others, Sylvie Bermann, the former French ambassador to the UK during the Brexit vote, says in a new book.

She also claims some Brexiters are consumed with hatred for Germany and gripped by a myth that they liberated Europe on their own, describing Brexit as a triumph of emotion over reason, won by a campaign full of lies in which negative attitudes to migration were exploited by figures such as Johnson and Michael Gove.

Bermann, who served as the French ambassador to the UK from 2014 to 2017 and has been one of the most senior diplomats in the French diplomatic service, including as ambassador to China and to Russia, assesses the British handling of the Covid pandemic as among the worst in the world alongside that of Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil. She predicts Johnson will seek to use Covid to mask the true economic cost of Brexit on the UK economy.

Johnson, she says, comes from an Eton and Oxford University class that believes they are entitled to use language to provoke. Describing him as intelligent and charming, she says he uses “lies to embellish reality, as a game and as instrument of power. The ends justify the means. He has no rules.” » | Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic editor | Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Jamal Khashoggi: US Report Expected to Name Saudi Crown Prince as Complicit in Murder

THE GUARDIAN: President Biden to call King Salman as his administration prepare to release intelligence report in ‘long awaited step’

Joe Biden is expected to call Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Wednesday, as his administration prepares to release an unclassified intelligence report that many experts expect will name the royal’s son and heir as complicit in the grisly murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

Biden’s plan to call to the 85-year-old ruler was reported on Tuesday night by Axios.

The decision comes as the White House is facing calls by human rights activists and Saudi dissidents to “strike a blow” against Saudi human rights violations with new sanctions that they say could help rein in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s crackdown on dissidents and turn the page on the Trump administration’s “embrace of despots”. » | Stephanie Kirchgaessner | Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Peter Hayes – Why Did the Holocaust Happen?

Peter Hayes, Professor Emeritus of Holocaust Studies at Northwestern University and author of Why? Explaining the Holocaust, discusses crucial questions in Holocaust Studies. From the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, at the JCC of Harrison, NY.

Brexit Is a Machine to Generate Perpetual Grievance. It's Doing Its Job Perfectly

THE GUARDIAN: The story of plucky Britain standing up to bullying Brussels spares leavers the discomfort of admitting they voted for a con

Brexit has changed everything about Britain’s relationship with the European Union, and also nothing. For anyone trying to do business across borders newly gummed with bureaucracy, the comparison is stark and painful. But in politics, an old pattern is playing out – a cycle of suspicion and self-sabotage that began long before the 2016 referendum.

It starts with the belief that Britain does not depend on its neighbours for trade or anything else. That leads to neglect of the diplomacy required to make the partnership work. Going against the grain of economics and geography escalates every negotiation into a test of national self-esteem. Each adjustment for reality is resented as a surrender of sovereignty.

Euroscepticism is a machine for generating perpetual grievance. It works by making Brussels the enemy, spoiling relations and serving up the soured mood to a domestic audience as proof that the other side does not want to be friends. » | Rafael Behr | Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Brexit Britain is a country going to the dogs being run by the dogs! – ©Mark Alexander

Elon Musk No Longer World’s Richest Person as Tesla Shares Fall

THE GUARDIAN: Electric carmaker’s CEO falls behind Amazon founder Jeff Bezos after tweet saying bitcoin price ‘seems high’

Elon Musk, the maverick boss of Tesla, is no longer the world’s richest person after shares in the electric car company dropped 8.6% on Monday, wiping $15.2bn (£10.8bn) off his fortune.

Musk, who last month leapfrogged Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to take the title of the world’s wealthiest person, dropped back into second place with a $183bn estimated fortune behind Bezos’ $186.3bn.

The 8.5% drop in Tesla’s share price on Monday – the sharpest one-day fall since September – was partly fuelled by Musk tweeting that the prices of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies “do seem high”. Tesla’s shares were down a further 6% in pre-market trading on Tuesday. » | Rupert Neate, Wealth correspondent | Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Dr. Peter Hayes: "German Corporate Complicity in the Holocaust"

Brought to you by the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas, the Burton C. Einspruch Holocaust Lecture Series speaker Dr. Peter Hayes and his lecture "German Corporate Complicity in the Holocaust" on Monday, October 29, 2018.

Inside Nazi Germany

Private amateur films capturing life under the Nazi regime from the inside include footage shot by Hitler's secret mistress of Nazi officials at leisure, Hitler greeting jubilant crowds in Vienna upon the German annexation of Austria in March 1938, and the violent backlash against Jews there, and the Nazi invasion of Poland.

Wie der harte Brexit die Reichen noch reicher machen soll | WDR Doku

Am 1. Januar 2021 ist Großbritannien den letzten, endgültigen Schritt seines Brexit-Prozesses gegangen und hat die Zollunion und den Binnenmarkt der EU verlassen. Auch wenn das komplette Chaos eines Austritts ohne Anschlussabkommen in letzter Minute verhindert wurde, so handelt es sich doch um einen harten Bruch zwischen Großbritannien und der EU. Einen Hard Brexit also – mit Auflagen für Handel und Dienstleistungen sowie Wirtschaftseinbußen in Milliardenhöhe, die Experten für beide Seiten vorhersagen. In wessen Interesse ist das? Die Dokumentation folgt der Frage, wer die Akteure sind, die den Hard Brexit um jeden Preis wollten, und zeigt, mit welchen Mitteln sie dieses Ziel verfolgt haben. Es ist eine investigative Reise, bei der diskrete Londoner Adressen, neoliberale Think Tanks und eine Partei, die eigentlich eine Firma ist, eine Rolle spielen.

Der britische Premier Boris Johnson bezeichnet das Referendum über den Brexit gerne als Sternstunde der direkten Demokratie, als Rebellion der „kleinen Leute“ gegen die gesichtslose EU-Bürokratie. Doch was, wenn es beim Brexit letztlich gar nicht um den „Willen des Volkes“ ging, sondern um die Interessen einer kleinen britischen Elite?

Dieser Film zeigt bislang unbekannte Hintergründe des Brexit- Prozesses. Er belegt, dass es innerhalb und außerhalb der Tory-Partei von Anfang an eine Kampagne für einen harten Brexit gab, die mit Geld aus den tiefen Taschen der britischen Finanzelite wurde. Hat diese kleine Gruppe gut vernetzter Geschäftsleute und Finanzinvestoren tatsächlich bestimmt, was „Brexit“ jetzt für Großbritannien und die EU bedeutet? Frances Coppola, eine Wirtschaftsexpertin, die den Brexit intensiv beobachtet hat, sagt, das Ziel der Verfechter eines vollständigen Austritts aus dem EU-Binnenmarkt und der Zollunion sei es von Anfang an gewesen, aus Großbritannien „eine Art Singapur des Westens“, eine komplett deregulierte Steueroase, zu machen. Das habe mit der tatsächlichen EU-Skepsis vieler Briten und den öffentlich propagierten Zielen des Brexit, „die Kontrolle über das eigene Land zurückzugewinnen“, nur wenig zu tun. Sonia Sodha, prominente Autorin des „Observer“, urteilt: „Es besteht eine massive Diskrepanz zwischen der politischen Elite, die für den Brexit ist, und den Menschen, die für den Brexit gestimmt haben.“

Die Story von Tom Costello schildert diese bislang verborgene Seite des Brexit mit den Einschätzungen von britischen und EU-Politikern, investigativen Journalisten und Ökonomen und wirft Licht auf ein Milieu aus geheimnisvollen Think-Tanks, scheinbaren Graswurzelbewegungen und geschickt agierenden Lobbyisten, die mit allen Mitteln versucht haben, ihre Vision für die Zukunft Großbritanniens durchzusetzen.