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Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Gay Farmers Call for Help
Read more HERE »
The Right-wing Extremists Plot to Overthrow the German Government | DW Documentary
Jul 7, 2020 • Amid reports of right-wing extremist activity in the German police and armed forces, radical groups are said to be preparing a coup against the government. The federal Interior Ministry has promised to crack down on right-wing groups.
Concerns are growing about reports of right-wing extremist activity in the German police and armed forces -- but senior officers and politicians seem reluctant to deal with the situation.
Journalist Dirk Laabs has found evidence that far-right conspirators illegally received ammunition from government warehouses, stockpiled weapons, and made concrete plans for a coup attempt -- to be known as "Day X."
The attempt was supposedly to be carried out during a time of national emergency -- like the current coronavirus crisis. Some domestic security experts, including the Left Party’s Martina Renner, are worried about these developments. Renner says this may be the moment that the alleged plotters were waiting for.
In June 2019, several current and former officers of an elite police unit in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were arrested, suspected of supplying one of these far-right conspirators with large quantities of ammunition. Investigators say that the ammo came from military and police units from all over Germany, including the states of Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia. Authorities in those two states have not yet been able to explain how the ammunition ended up in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Fears about right-wing activity among the German police and military have been growing for years. In December 2019, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer announced plans to expand and strengthen federal police agencies that are involved in the effort to combat right-wing extremism and terrorism.
Concerns are growing about reports of right-wing extremist activity in the German police and armed forces -- but senior officers and politicians seem reluctant to deal with the situation.
Journalist Dirk Laabs has found evidence that far-right conspirators illegally received ammunition from government warehouses, stockpiled weapons, and made concrete plans for a coup attempt -- to be known as "Day X."
The attempt was supposedly to be carried out during a time of national emergency -- like the current coronavirus crisis. Some domestic security experts, including the Left Party’s Martina Renner, are worried about these developments. Renner says this may be the moment that the alleged plotters were waiting for.
In June 2019, several current and former officers of an elite police unit in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were arrested, suspected of supplying one of these far-right conspirators with large quantities of ammunition. Investigators say that the ammo came from military and police units from all over Germany, including the states of Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia. Authorities in those two states have not yet been able to explain how the ammunition ended up in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Fears about right-wing activity among the German police and military have been growing for years. In December 2019, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer announced plans to expand and strengthen federal police agencies that are involved in the effort to combat right-wing extremism and terrorism.
‘A Form of Brainwashing’: China Remakes Hong Kong
HONG KONG — With each passing day, the boundary between Hong Kong and the rest of China fades faster.
The Chinese Communist Party is remaking this city, permeating its once vibrant, irreverent character with ever more overt signs of its authoritarian will. The very texture of daily life is under assault as Beijing molds Hong Kong into something more familiar, more docile.
Residents now swarm police hotlines with reports about disloyal neighbors or colleagues. Teachers have been told to imbue students with patriotic fervor through 48-volume book sets called “My Home Is in China.” Public libraries have removed dozens of books from circulation, including one about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
Hong Kong had always been an improbability. It was a thriving metropolis on a spit of inhospitable land, an oasis of civil liberties under iron-fisted rule. A former British colony that returned to China in 1997, the city was promised freedoms of speech, assembly and the press unimaginable in the mainland, in an arrangement Beijing called “one country, two systems.” » | Vivian Wang and Alexandra Stevenson | Tuesday, June 29, 2021
What Neo-Nazis Have Inherited from Original Nazism | DW Documentary (Neo-Nazi Documentary)
Sep 21, 2019 • What resemblance do today’s ethnonationalistic ideologies bear to those which surged during the rise of the Nazis in the Weimar-era? Quite a lot, this documentary shows. Germany’s far-right neo-nazi scene is now bigger than at any time since National Socialism.
History may not repeat itself, but one can still learn from it. The years of the Weimar Republic were scarred by post-war trauma, political extremism, street fighting, hyper-inflation and widespread poverty. But they also saw economic boom, the establishment of a liberal democratic order and a parliamentary party system. Nobody could really imagine that the Nazis would brush aside the achievements of this young democracy just a few years later. But there were signs, warnings even that all was not well.
So how does that resonate today? How do today’s right-wing populist movements and parties achieve their political aims? Which slogans, images and stereotypes played a role then, and which ones are playing a role now?
The film also looks beyond Germany’s borders. How has Europe changed in the last few years and how have far-right movements been able to gain such influence? In the interwar period, democracies across the continent collapsed one after the other like a house of cards. What about today? Riding on the coat-tails of the political party the Alternative for Germany (AfD) the far-right has become a factor in both national and state parliaments, united by nationalist and often racist ideologies directly linked to those of the 1930s. At that time, global economic crisis and mass unemployment drove people straight into the fascists’ arms. So what will happen if crisis strikes now? Are our democracies and their achievements today any more stable than they were in the years before the Second World War?
History may not repeat itself, but one can still learn from it. The years of the Weimar Republic were scarred by post-war trauma, political extremism, street fighting, hyper-inflation and widespread poverty. But they also saw economic boom, the establishment of a liberal democratic order and a parliamentary party system. Nobody could really imagine that the Nazis would brush aside the achievements of this young democracy just a few years later. But there were signs, warnings even that all was not well.
So how does that resonate today? How do today’s right-wing populist movements and parties achieve their political aims? Which slogans, images and stereotypes played a role then, and which ones are playing a role now?
The film also looks beyond Germany’s borders. How has Europe changed in the last few years and how have far-right movements been able to gain such influence? In the interwar period, democracies across the continent collapsed one after the other like a house of cards. What about today? Riding on the coat-tails of the political party the Alternative for Germany (AfD) the far-right has become a factor in both national and state parliaments, united by nationalist and often racist ideologies directly linked to those of the 1930s. At that time, global economic crisis and mass unemployment drove people straight into the fascists’ arms. So what will happen if crisis strikes now? Are our democracies and their achievements today any more stable than they were in the years before the Second World War?
Deadly Extreme Heatwave in Canada | DW News
Jun 30, 2021 • A slew of sudden deaths is being blamed on a record-breaking heatwave sweeping British Columbia and Alberta. Temperatures hit a record high for a third straight day on Tuesday, reaching 49.5 Celsius (121 Fahrenheit) in the village of Lytton.
Police in Vancouver said they had responded to 65 sudden-death calls between Friday and Tuesday. The deaths were still under investigation and many of the deceased were seniors.
British Columbia closed schools and educational institutions due to the record-breaking temperatures. Prior to the weekend, the historical high in Canada was 45 Celsius, set in Saskatchewan in 1937.
Police in Vancouver said they had responded to 65 sudden-death calls between Friday and Tuesday. The deaths were still under investigation and many of the deceased were seniors.
British Columbia closed schools and educational institutions due to the record-breaking temperatures. Prior to the weekend, the historical high in Canada was 45 Celsius, set in Saskatchewan in 1937.
Opinion – Guest Essay: Northern Ireland Is Coming to an End
THE NEW YORK TIMES: BELFAST, Northern Ireland — It was meant to be a year of celebration.
But Northern Ireland, created in 1921 when Britain carved six counties out of Ireland’s northeast, is not enjoying its centenary. Its most ardent upholders, the unionists who believe that the place they call “our wee country” is and must forever remain an intrinsic part of the United Kingdom, are in utter disarray. Their largest party has ousted two leaders within a matter of weeks, while an angry minority has taken to the streets waving flags and threatening violence. And the British government, in resolving Brexit, placed a new border in the Irish Sea.
It’s harsh reward for what Northern Ireland’s first prime minister, James Craig, called “the most loyal part of Great Britain.” But the Protestant statelet is not what it was. Well on its way to having a Catholic majority, the country’s once dominant political force — unionism — now finds itself out of step with the community that traditionally gave it uncritical support. And for all his talk of the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made clear his government would cheerfully ditch this last little fragment of Britain’s empire if it continues to complicate Brexit. » | Susan McKay* | Wednesday, June 30. 2021
* Ms. McKay is an Irish journalist who writes extensively about the politics and culture of Northern Ireland.
But Northern Ireland, created in 1921 when Britain carved six counties out of Ireland’s northeast, is not enjoying its centenary. Its most ardent upholders, the unionists who believe that the place they call “our wee country” is and must forever remain an intrinsic part of the United Kingdom, are in utter disarray. Their largest party has ousted two leaders within a matter of weeks, while an angry minority has taken to the streets waving flags and threatening violence. And the British government, in resolving Brexit, placed a new border in the Irish Sea.
It’s harsh reward for what Northern Ireland’s first prime minister, James Craig, called “the most loyal part of Great Britain.” But the Protestant statelet is not what it was. Well on its way to having a Catholic majority, the country’s once dominant political force — unionism — now finds itself out of step with the community that traditionally gave it uncritical support. And for all his talk of the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made clear his government would cheerfully ditch this last little fragment of Britain’s empire if it continues to complicate Brexit. » | Susan McKay* | Wednesday, June 30. 2021
* Ms. McKay is an Irish journalist who writes extensively about the politics and culture of Northern Ireland.
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Far-Right Group Was Preparing for "Day X" | "Germany's Neo-Nazis & the Far Right" | FRONTLINE
Jun 29, 2021 • Nordkreuz, a German far-right group, stockpiled weapons and prepped for violence. Its alleged leader wasn’t tried on terror charges. An excerpt from FRONTLINE's "Germany's Neo-Nazis & the Far Right."
“If you had an Islamist, a jihadi, doing the same thing, he would go to jail,” journalist Dirk Laabs tells FRONTLINE's Evan Williams of Nordkreuz's alleged leader.
The documentary includes photos found on a hard drive obtained by investigative journalist Dirk Laabs, showing members of the secret group of soldiers, police and civilians practicing military maneuvers and believed to be preparing for something they called Day X: a future moment when the German state would collapse in chaos, and the far right could step in and take control.
The documentary, which explores the rise of far-right and neo-Nazi violence in modern-day Germany and whether authorities are doing enough to stop it, is supported by "Exploring Hate," a multiplatform public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York aimed at offering an in-depth understanding of the rising tide of hatred, hate crimes, antisemitism and racism.
“If you had an Islamist, a jihadi, doing the same thing, he would go to jail,” journalist Dirk Laabs tells FRONTLINE's Evan Williams of Nordkreuz's alleged leader.
The documentary includes photos found on a hard drive obtained by investigative journalist Dirk Laabs, showing members of the secret group of soldiers, police and civilians practicing military maneuvers and believed to be preparing for something they called Day X: a future moment when the German state would collapse in chaos, and the far right could step in and take control.
The documentary, which explores the rise of far-right and neo-Nazi violence in modern-day Germany and whether authorities are doing enough to stop it, is supported by "Exploring Hate," a multiplatform public media initiative from The WNET Group in New York aimed at offering an in-depth understanding of the rising tide of hatred, hate crimes, antisemitism and racism.
I Had to De-Gay My Voice for Work. I'm Not Alone.
When we adopted our first child in 2011, the State of Georgia did not allow us to adopt him as a couple. We each had to adopt him individually, and separately. Today, and together with my husband and two sons, I live in a neighborhood with no other families with same-sex parents. We proudly fly our rainbow flag in front of our home each June in celebration of Pride Month and how far we’ve personally come, with the support and love of our neighbors and community. » | Rick McMurty | Monday, June 28, 2021
Record-breaking Heatwave Hits Western Canada
Monday, June 28, 2021
Australien fürchtet sich vor der Delta-Variante
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINER ZEITUNG: In dem Land mit den bisher stets besonders niedrigen Infektionszahlen müssen gleich mehrere Regionen in den Lockdown. Jetzt rächt sich, dass Australien mit seiner Impfstrategie so zögerlich war.
Ob Darwin im Norden, Queensland im Osten oder Perth im Westen: In Australien lässt sich gerade beobachten, wie die hochansteckende Delta-Variante fast ein ganzes Land in kurzer Zeit in einen Ausnahmezustand stürzen kann. Australien war dank früher Grenzschließungen und strenger Quarantänemaßnahmen bisher relativ gut durch die Pandemie gekommen. Die meisten Australier konnten trotz Pandemie und punktueller regionaler Ausgangssperren ein vergleichsweise normales Leben führen. Dann kam Delta, und zunächst wurden in der Metropole Sydney vergangene Woche einige zentrale Stadtviertel in den Lockdown geschickt. Doch damit ließ sich die Ausbreitung der zuerst in Indien nachgewiesenen Corona-Variante nicht aufhalten. » | Von Till Fähnders, Singapur | Montag, 28. Juni 2021
Ob Darwin im Norden, Queensland im Osten oder Perth im Westen: In Australien lässt sich gerade beobachten, wie die hochansteckende Delta-Variante fast ein ganzes Land in kurzer Zeit in einen Ausnahmezustand stürzen kann. Australien war dank früher Grenzschließungen und strenger Quarantänemaßnahmen bisher relativ gut durch die Pandemie gekommen. Die meisten Australier konnten trotz Pandemie und punktueller regionaler Ausgangssperren ein vergleichsweise normales Leben führen. Dann kam Delta, und zunächst wurden in der Metropole Sydney vergangene Woche einige zentrale Stadtviertel in den Lockdown geschickt. Doch damit ließ sich die Ausbreitung der zuerst in Indien nachgewiesenen Corona-Variante nicht aufhalten. » | Von Till Fähnders, Singapur | Montag, 28. Juni 2021
Australie : avec le variant Delta, « 100 % de transmission au sein des foyers »
LE POINT : L’île fait face à une résurgence de l’épidémie. Trois États ont décrété des confinements éclairs, dont la Nouvelle-Galles du Sud qui dénombre 130 cas.
Confinement, port du masque, jauge en intérieur et extérieur… Des millions d'Australiens démarrent la semaine sous de nouvelles restrictions sanitaires. En cause, un rebond de l'épidémie de coronavirus – dû au variant Delta – sur l'ensemble du pays. En Nouvelle-Galles du Sud, la métropole de Sydney s'est confinée pour au moins deux semaines. Dix-huit nouvelles contaminations y ont été recensées au cours des dernières 24 heures, portant à 130 le nombre de cas positifs. À l'origine de ce cluster, un chauffeur effectuant la navette entre l'aéroport de Sydney et des hôtels de quarantaine. « Nous devons nous préparer à ce que les chiffres augmentent considérablement. Avec ce variant (Delta, NDLR), nous assistons à près de 100 % de transmission au sein des foyers », s'est inquiétée la Première ministre de Nouvelle-Galles du Sud, Gladys Berejiklian, lors de son dernier point presse tenu lundi midi, heure australienne. » | Marianne Murat, correspondante du Point à Melbourne | lundi 28 juin 2021
Confinement, port du masque, jauge en intérieur et extérieur… Des millions d'Australiens démarrent la semaine sous de nouvelles restrictions sanitaires. En cause, un rebond de l'épidémie de coronavirus – dû au variant Delta – sur l'ensemble du pays. En Nouvelle-Galles du Sud, la métropole de Sydney s'est confinée pour au moins deux semaines. Dix-huit nouvelles contaminations y ont été recensées au cours des dernières 24 heures, portant à 130 le nombre de cas positifs. À l'origine de ce cluster, un chauffeur effectuant la navette entre l'aéroport de Sydney et des hôtels de quarantaine. « Nous devons nous préparer à ce que les chiffres augmentent considérablement. Avec ce variant (Delta, NDLR), nous assistons à près de 100 % de transmission au sein des foyers », s'est inquiétée la Première ministre de Nouvelle-Galles du Sud, Gladys Berejiklian, lors de son dernier point presse tenu lundi midi, heure australienne. » | Marianne Murat, correspondante du Point à Melbourne | lundi 28 juin 2021
Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines Likely to Produce Lasting Immunity, Study Finds
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Immune cells are still organizing to fight the coronavirus months after inoculation, scientists reported.
The vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna set off a persistent immune reaction in the body that may protect against the coronavirus for years, scientists reported on Monday.
The findings add to growing evidence that most people immunized with the mRNA vaccines may not need boosters, so long as the virus and its variants do not evolve much beyond their current forms — which is not guaranteed. People who recovered from Covid-19 before being vaccinated may not need boosters even if the virus does make a significant transformation.
“It’s a good sign for how durable our immunity is from this vaccine,” said Ali Ellebedy, an immunologist at Washington University in St. Louis who led the study, which was published in the journal Nature. » | Apoorva Mandavilli | Monday, June 28, 2021
The vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna set off a persistent immune reaction in the body that may protect against the coronavirus for years, scientists reported on Monday.
The findings add to growing evidence that most people immunized with the mRNA vaccines may not need boosters, so long as the virus and its variants do not evolve much beyond their current forms — which is not guaranteed. People who recovered from Covid-19 before being vaccinated may not need boosters even if the virus does make a significant transformation.
“It’s a good sign for how durable our immunity is from this vaccine,” said Ali Ellebedy, an immunologist at Washington University in St. Louis who led the study, which was published in the journal Nature. » | Apoorva Mandavilli | Monday, June 28, 2021
Gladiator • Now We Are Free • Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard
It Got Better Featuring Portia De Rossi | L/Studio Created By Lexus
Will You Marry Me? Australian Politician Proposes in Parliament (2017)
This proposal is truly priceless! I hope that these two gentlemen live "happily ever after"! – Mark
Russia in Grips of Third COVID Wave as Delta Variant Takes Hold | DW News
Jun 28, 2021 • Russia is in the grip of a third wave of the coronavirus that is threatening to overwhelm the country's health service. The capital, Moscow, recorded 144 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours on Sunday – that's the highest rate since the beginning of the pandemic. And an average 20,000 new infections are being reported across the country each day.
Authorities are imposing strict new measures to counter the surge. St. Petersburg's city beach couldn't be busier. With temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, thousands of Russians have come to the Gulf of Finland to escape the hot weather - and social distancing.
Russia is in the middle of its third coronavirus wave - thanks to the rapidly spreading Delta variant. The authorities are sounding the alarm: The new mutation accounts for almost 90 percent of new cases. Officials are talking about more than 20,000 new infections every day, most of them in Moscow.
To get the situation under control, the Russian capital has re-opened field hospitals and built medical stations especially for coronavirus. All hospitals are quickly being re-equipped to handle COVID-19 patients. But their main goal is to get more citizens vaccinated against COVID-19.
Russia was the first country in the world to get a vaccine to market - with Sputnik Vee. So far, however, only 10 percent of the population has been vaccinated. The government wants that to change - by decree. From now on, all companies in Moscow must have at least 60 percent of their workforce vaccinated.
Restaurants are still open, if only until 11 p.m. But in the future, only people who have been vaccinated, or who have a medical certificate showing they have recovered, or who have a negative PCR test, will be allowed to eat there. They will have to scan a QR code issued by the Moscow health authority. That means all service-sector employees must get the jab. Anyone who refuses will be fired. Those who take part will be rewarded.
But even these unprecedented measures are a far cry from the tough lockdown the government imposed last year as infections began to rise. Virologists say it's a case of too little, too late - and that the third wave could be Russia's most devastating yet. DW's Juri Rescheto reports.
Authorities are imposing strict new measures to counter the surge. St. Petersburg's city beach couldn't be busier. With temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, thousands of Russians have come to the Gulf of Finland to escape the hot weather - and social distancing.
Russia is in the middle of its third coronavirus wave - thanks to the rapidly spreading Delta variant. The authorities are sounding the alarm: The new mutation accounts for almost 90 percent of new cases. Officials are talking about more than 20,000 new infections every day, most of them in Moscow.
To get the situation under control, the Russian capital has re-opened field hospitals and built medical stations especially for coronavirus. All hospitals are quickly being re-equipped to handle COVID-19 patients. But their main goal is to get more citizens vaccinated against COVID-19.
Russia was the first country in the world to get a vaccine to market - with Sputnik Vee. So far, however, only 10 percent of the population has been vaccinated. The government wants that to change - by decree. From now on, all companies in Moscow must have at least 60 percent of their workforce vaccinated.
Restaurants are still open, if only until 11 p.m. But in the future, only people who have been vaccinated, or who have a medical certificate showing they have recovered, or who have a negative PCR test, will be allowed to eat there. They will have to scan a QR code issued by the Moscow health authority. That means all service-sector employees must get the jab. Anyone who refuses will be fired. Those who take part will be rewarded.
But even these unprecedented measures are a far cry from the tough lockdown the government imposed last year as infections began to rise. Virologists say it's a case of too little, too late - and that the third wave could be Russia's most devastating yet. DW's Juri Rescheto reports.
Bangladesh: Tens of Thousands Flee Dhaka amid COVID Surge | DW News
Jun 28, 2021 • Tens of thousands of migrants are fleeing Bangladesh's capital Dhaka amid a surge in coronavirus infections. The spike has prompted the government to tighten restrictions beginning Monday. The lockdown will curtail most economic activity and confine people to their homes.
Now those who moved to Dhaka for work are rushing to return to their home villages before the lockdown takes effect. Thousands are cramming onto ferries hoping for a spot to get home.
Being so close to others in a pandemic isn't ideal, but they face a tough choice - stay in locked down Dhaka with no work or support, or go back to their home villages, to be with family.
Ferries have been operating 24 hours a day, trying to clear the backlog and get people home. Authorities say they try to stop overcrowding, but people's desperation means they don't listen. The exodus from Dhaka was sparked by a surge in coronavirus infections. Case numbers have reached six thousand a day. In response Bangladesh's government is issuing a stay-at-home order with shops, transportation and offices to close, meaning many will lose their jobs with no way to pay for food or rent. That leaves people with few options, other than to cram onto ferries, in an effort to find support in their hometowns.
Now those who moved to Dhaka for work are rushing to return to their home villages before the lockdown takes effect. Thousands are cramming onto ferries hoping for a spot to get home.
Being so close to others in a pandemic isn't ideal, but they face a tough choice - stay in locked down Dhaka with no work or support, or go back to their home villages, to be with family.
Ferries have been operating 24 hours a day, trying to clear the backlog and get people home. Authorities say they try to stop overcrowding, but people's desperation means they don't listen. The exodus from Dhaka was sparked by a surge in coronavirus infections. Case numbers have reached six thousand a day. In response Bangladesh's government is issuing a stay-at-home order with shops, transportation and offices to close, meaning many will lose their jobs with no way to pay for food or rent. That leaves people with few options, other than to cram onto ferries, in an effort to find support in their hometowns.
Lebanon Economic Crisis among World's Worst in 150 Years | DW News
Jun 28, 2021 • Inflation has driven Lebanon's currency to historically low values in recent weeks. The crash of the Lebanese pound is playing its part in the country’s grave economic crisis, which has left half the population living below the poverty line.
Fire and fury have hit the streets of Beirut. Lebanon is descending fast into an economic crisis that the World Bank says will likely rank among the world's worst of the last 150 years. Where some streets witness protests, others host long lines of cars queuing for a share of Lebanon's insufficient supply of gasoline.
Shortages are pushing up the costs of many essentials. The price of subsidized bread has been hiked five times this year alone. Citizens are also getting much less for their money because of record inflation.
The Lebanese pound has been trading at an all-time high on the black market - at over 10 times its official rate against the US dollar.
The crisis is largely the result of three decades of financial mismanagement by successive governments, following Lebanon's civil war. But it's been made even worse by a global pandemic, and the billions of dollars of damage caused by last year's deadly blast in Beirut port.
‘This is the end of times’: Lebanon struggles to find political path through its crisis »
Fire and fury have hit the streets of Beirut. Lebanon is descending fast into an economic crisis that the World Bank says will likely rank among the world's worst of the last 150 years. Where some streets witness protests, others host long lines of cars queuing for a share of Lebanon's insufficient supply of gasoline.
Shortages are pushing up the costs of many essentials. The price of subsidized bread has been hiked five times this year alone. Citizens are also getting much less for their money because of record inflation.
The Lebanese pound has been trading at an all-time high on the black market - at over 10 times its official rate against the US dollar.
The crisis is largely the result of three decades of financial mismanagement by successive governments, following Lebanon's civil war. But it's been made even worse by a global pandemic, and the billions of dollars of damage caused by last year's deadly blast in Beirut port.
‘This is the end of times’: Lebanon struggles to find political path through its crisis »
There's No Safe Amount of Alcohol, Study Says (2018)
'Trump Deserves to Go to Jail': Ex-Trump Org. Exec on Looming Criminal Charges
It Got Better Featuring Nate Berkus | L/Studio Created By Lexus
Nate Berkus »
Sunday, June 27, 2021
Stelter: I Watched Hannity's Show for a Week. Here's What I Found
Xavier Bettel: Luxemburgs Premierminister nach EU-Gipfel positiv auf Corona getestet
Luxemburgs Premierminister Xavier Bettel ist nach dem EU-Gipfel in Brüssel positiv auf Corona getestet worden. Dies teilte die luxemburgische Regierung am Sonntagabend mit. Der 48 Jahre alte Politiker habe milde Symptome wie Fieber und Kopfschmerzen, werde seine Arbeit aber von zuhause aus fortsetzen. Es sind zehn Tage Quarantäne vorgesehen. Zuvor hatten die Zeitung „Luxemburger Wort“ und das Portal „Politico“ darüber berichtet. » | Quelle: dpa | Sonntag, 27. Juni 2021
Gay Pride and the Battle for LGBTQI+ Rights – Where It All Began | DW Documentary
Jun 27, 2021 • The battle for the rights of LGBTQI+ people began over half a century ago in New York City. A police raid on a gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, in June 1969, triggered days of rioting. A year later, the first Gay Pride parade made its way through the streets of Manhattan.
Since 1970, June has been considered Gay Pride Month. In many countries the LGBTQI+ community celebrates Christopher Street Day, which is named after the street where the Stonewall Inn was located. Loud and proud demonstrators mark the anniversary of when lesbians, gays, queers, transsexuals, transgender people, and drag queens took to the streets to fight for their rights. Back then, they wanted to be freed from the taint of illegality straight society had imposed on their sexual orientation. They wanted to be themselves and no longer be forced to live on the fringes of society. During the Stonewall riots, street children, residents, lesbians, gays and drag queens took part in the unrest. They occupied the bar and Christopher Street. A movement grew from this incident that changed society over the course of the decades, in Western democracies at least. Nevertheless, the fight is far from over, with homosexuality still deemed a crime - even a capital offense - in some countries.
Since 1970, June has been considered Gay Pride Month. In many countries the LGBTQI+ community celebrates Christopher Street Day, which is named after the street where the Stonewall Inn was located. Loud and proud demonstrators mark the anniversary of when lesbians, gays, queers, transsexuals, transgender people, and drag queens took to the streets to fight for their rights. Back then, they wanted to be freed from the taint of illegality straight society had imposed on their sexual orientation. They wanted to be themselves and no longer be forced to live on the fringes of society. During the Stonewall riots, street children, residents, lesbians, gays and drag queens took part in the unrest. They occupied the bar and Christopher Street. A movement grew from this incident that changed society over the course of the decades, in Western democracies at least. Nevertheless, the fight is far from over, with homosexuality still deemed a crime - even a capital offense - in some countries.
Italy Tackles Rural Exodus | DW Documentary
Jun 26, 2021 • More Italians are migrating to big cities, and every year around 200,000 leave to go abroad. Entire villages now stand empty. So small towns are providing incentives for incomers - like rent-free homes in Campania or one euro house prices in Sicily.
The Italian countryside is full of hilly landscapes, breathtaking panoramas and picturesque hamlets. Yet small towns and villages are dying out. Lack of jobs and poor infrastructure are driving people to leave. In the coming years, some 2,500 places could become ghost towns, although the Coronavirus pandemic has slowed this development.
During the strict lockdown, the Vittoria family from Naples decided to escape the confines of the big city. In the fall of 2020 they packed their belongings and moved to Teora in Campania. Here mayor Stefano Farina is trying to repopulate his small town by paying newcomers‘ rent for two years if they enroll their children in the local school. That’s also enticed the Greenwoods to move from Manchester, in the UK, to Teora with their four children. The town has acquired some thirty new residents from around the world and ensured the survival of its school.
Seven hundred kilometers to the south, Mussomeli in Sicily is selling abandoned homes in its old town for just one euro. Here, too, more than half of the buildings stand empty. The initiative has proved so successful an agency had to be founded to deal with prospective foreign buyers. They must commit to renovating the house within the next three years, but are not obliged to reside in Italy. Mussomeli is most concerned with saving its dilapidated town center.
The Italian countryside is full of hilly landscapes, breathtaking panoramas and picturesque hamlets. Yet small towns and villages are dying out. Lack of jobs and poor infrastructure are driving people to leave. In the coming years, some 2,500 places could become ghost towns, although the Coronavirus pandemic has slowed this development.
During the strict lockdown, the Vittoria family from Naples decided to escape the confines of the big city. In the fall of 2020 they packed their belongings and moved to Teora in Campania. Here mayor Stefano Farina is trying to repopulate his small town by paying newcomers‘ rent for two years if they enroll their children in the local school. That’s also enticed the Greenwoods to move from Manchester, in the UK, to Teora with their four children. The town has acquired some thirty new residents from around the world and ensured the survival of its school.
Seven hundred kilometers to the south, Mussomeli in Sicily is selling abandoned homes in its old town for just one euro. Here, too, more than half of the buildings stand empty. The initiative has proved so successful an agency had to be founded to deal with prospective foreign buyers. They must commit to renovating the house within the next three years, but are not obliged to reside in Italy. Mussomeli is most concerned with saving its dilapidated town center.
Fabled Booksellers in Paris Latin Quarter Face Extinction | Focus on Europe
UK Health Minister Matt Hancock Resigns over Kiss Pics | DW News
Will Vaccines Protect Us against the Delta Variant?
THE OBSERVER: The virus’s behaviour will be a key factor in how it affects the UK and the wider world, with further mutations almost certain
What is the Delta variant?
The Delta variant, also known as lineage B.1.617.2, is a version of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. It was first detected in India late last year and contains mutations in the gene that codes for the spike protein which the virus uses to enter cells in the body. According to Public Health England (PHE), this has provided the Delta variant with a transmissibility that is 50%-60% higher than the virus’s Alpha variant. Professor Wendy Barclay of Imperial College London says the Delta variant appears to allow increased amounts of the virus to build up in infected people so they expel more to infect other individuals. » | The Observer | Sunday, June 27, 2021
What is the Delta variant?
The Delta variant, also known as lineage B.1.617.2, is a version of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. It was first detected in India late last year and contains mutations in the gene that codes for the spike protein which the virus uses to enter cells in the body. According to Public Health England (PHE), this has provided the Delta variant with a transmissibility that is 50%-60% higher than the virus’s Alpha variant. Professor Wendy Barclay of Imperial College London says the Delta variant appears to allow increased amounts of the virus to build up in infected people so they expel more to infect other individuals. » | The Observer | Sunday, June 27, 2021
Saturday, June 26, 2021
Church of England Should Recognise Same-sex Marriage, Says Bishop
A senior bishop has said the Church of England should recognise marriage between people of the same sex and allow such ceremonies in church, a move that would break with centuries of Christian teaching.
Paul Bayes, the bishop of Liverpool, called for a “gender-neutral marriage canon” in a controversial and hard-hitting speech on Saturday, making him the most senior figure in the C of E to explicitly back a change in church law and teaching.
The “world beyond the church” has found it to be offensive, oppressive and hypocritical, he said.
Issues of sexuality, gender and same-sex marriage have caused deep and bitter divisions within the C of E in recent decades. Conservatives have sought to uphold traditional teaching that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Campaigners for change say the bible teaches inclusivity and equality. » | Harriet Sherwood | Saturday, June 26, 2021
Abigail Disney: Dynasties Are Very Bad for Democracy | Amanpour and Company
Würzburg Stabbings: German Police Investigate Possible Islamist Terror Motive | DW News
Jun 26, 2021 • In Germany, a suspect is in custody after a mass stabbing. Three people died from their wounds and at least five others were seriously injured. Police say they are investigating a possible Islamist terror motive. Witnesses said the man shouted the Islamic phrase "Allahu Akbar."
The attack took place in the southern state of Bavaria - in a plaza in the center of the city of Würzburg. Pedestrians tried to stop the attacker and may have prevented more bloodshed.
The knifeman struck in the historic center of Würzburg, which was crowded with shoppers on a sunny afternoon. Authorities say the attacker was a 24-year-year old Somali man with a history of mental illness. Witnesses said he started stabbing people for no apparent reason - but was confronted by passers-by.
Police shot the man in the leg before arresting him. Officials say the attacker was known to have violent tendencies and was undergoing compulsory psychiatric treatment. Police at the scene were quick to reassure the public that they were in no further danger. Bavaria's premier, Markus Söder, says the state is grieving for the victims and their families.
The attack took place in the southern state of Bavaria - in a plaza in the center of the city of Würzburg. Pedestrians tried to stop the attacker and may have prevented more bloodshed.
The knifeman struck in the historic center of Würzburg, which was crowded with shoppers on a sunny afternoon. Authorities say the attacker was a 24-year-year old Somali man with a history of mental illness. Witnesses said he started stabbing people for no apparent reason - but was confronted by passers-by.
Police shot the man in the leg before arresting him. Officials say the attacker was known to have violent tendencies and was undergoing compulsory psychiatric treatment. Police at the scene were quick to reassure the public that they were in no further danger. Bavaria's premier, Markus Söder, says the state is grieving for the victims and their families.
It Got Better Featuring Ian McKellen | L/Studio Created by Lexus
Sydney Australia On Lockdown over COVID Delta Variant Outbreak | DW News
Jun 26, 2021 • A two-week lockdown has been imposed in Sydney to contain an outbreak of the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant. The new restrictions affect more than five million people in and around the Australian city.
At least 80 cases have been reported so far. Most have been linked to a limousine driver who was infected while taking an international flight crew to a quarantine hotel.
The country remains largely unvaccinated. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: "A few days ago I said this was the scariest time that she felt since the pandemic started and that's proven to be the case. We should brace ourselves for more cases. We're finding that all household contacts, unfortunately, are getting the virus. Transmissibility is at least double what previous variants have been, so we do need to brace ourselves for potentially larger number of cases in the following days, and that is why it's so important we take action now."
Sydney, Australia, enters full lockdown for the first time in the pandemic to fight the Delta variant »
At least 80 cases have been reported so far. Most have been linked to a limousine driver who was infected while taking an international flight crew to a quarantine hotel.
The country remains largely unvaccinated. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: "A few days ago I said this was the scariest time that she felt since the pandemic started and that's proven to be the case. We should brace ourselves for more cases. We're finding that all household contacts, unfortunately, are getting the virus. Transmissibility is at least double what previous variants have been, so we do need to brace ourselves for potentially larger number of cases in the following days, and that is why it's so important we take action now."
Sydney, Australia, enters full lockdown for the first time in the pandemic to fight the Delta variant »
Three Dead and 10 Wounded in Stabbing Attack in Germany
Three people have been killed and several wounded in a stabbing attack in the southern German town of Würzburg, Bavarian authorities said on Friday afternoon, adding that police had stopped the suspected perpetrator with a shot to the leg.
The suspected attacker is believed to be a 24-year-old Somali man who has lived in Würzburg since 2015, Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann said in a statement.
He added that the perpetrator had in recent months drawn the attention of authorities because of a number of violent altercations, and had been taken into psychiatric care a few days ago.
Herrmann said the attacker appeared to have chosen his targets at random and the injured included a young boy, whose father was probably among the dead. The fatal victims are understood to also include two women of different ages. » | Philip Oltermann in Berlin | Friday, June 25, 2021
Ein Abend, der Würzburg lähmt »
Why the Deadly Black Fungus Is Ravaging COVID Patients in India | DW News
NSW Covid Outbreaks: Gladys Berejiklian Locks Down Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Wollongong
THE GUARDIAN: New South Wales premier says lockdown will last two weeks and new restrictions will be in place for rest of state
All of greater Sydney, the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong regions will enter a two-week coronavirus lockdown until 9 July and new restrictions will be in place for the remainder of New South Wales.
The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, announced the expanded lockdown – the first lockdown of greater Sydney since last year – would commence at 6pm Saturday, following crisis talks due to the growing number of exposure sites associated with the Sydney outbreak of the Delta Covid-19 variant.
The state recorded 29 cases up to 8pm on Friday, including 17 that had been announced Friday morning. Only 12 of those had been in isolation while infectious.
“We’re never afraid to take a decision we need to keep our citizens safe,” Berejikilan said on Saturday afternoon. “Unfortunately this is a situation where we absolutely have to.” » | Lisa Cox | Saturday, June 26, 2021
Covid-19 : la métropole de Sydney entièrement reconfinée pour contrer le variant Delta »
All of greater Sydney, the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong regions will enter a two-week coronavirus lockdown until 9 July and new restrictions will be in place for the remainder of New South Wales.
The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, announced the expanded lockdown – the first lockdown of greater Sydney since last year – would commence at 6pm Saturday, following crisis talks due to the growing number of exposure sites associated with the Sydney outbreak of the Delta Covid-19 variant.
The state recorded 29 cases up to 8pm on Friday, including 17 that had been announced Friday morning. Only 12 of those had been in isolation while infectious.
“We’re never afraid to take a decision we need to keep our citizens safe,” Berejikilan said on Saturday afternoon. “Unfortunately this is a situation where we absolutely have to.” » | Lisa Cox | Saturday, June 26, 2021
Covid-19 : la métropole de Sydney entièrement reconfinée pour contrer le variant Delta »
US Pacific North-west Braces for ‘Unprecedented’ Sweltering Heatwave
THE GUARDIAN: Oregon, Washington and Idaho could surpass their all-time heat records for June in unusual weather event
The Pacific north-west is gearing up for a potentially record-setting heatwave this weekend and into next week, with temperatures in some areas expected to heat up to the triple digits and beyond.
The blazing heat is highly unusual in a region typically known for its moderate climate.
“It’s going to be unprecedented,” said Nick Bond, a Washington state climatologist. “Probably both in terms of the maximum temperatures that are reached, especially Sunday and Monday, the minimum temperatures that are going to occur for a few nights like that, and then the duration of extremely high temperatures.”
Last week, the National Weather Service issued excessive heat warnings for Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In a statement Friday, the agency cautioned that “the hot daytime temperatures, combined with warm overnight lows, will result in high heat risk and heat related stress.”
All three states could surpass their all-time heat record for June (113F for Washington and Oregon, and 114F for Idaho), according to the National Weather Service. » | Hallie Golden in Seattle | Friday, June 25, 2021
The Pacific north-west is gearing up for a potentially record-setting heatwave this weekend and into next week, with temperatures in some areas expected to heat up to the triple digits and beyond.
The blazing heat is highly unusual in a region typically known for its moderate climate.
“It’s going to be unprecedented,” said Nick Bond, a Washington state climatologist. “Probably both in terms of the maximum temperatures that are reached, especially Sunday and Monday, the minimum temperatures that are going to occur for a few nights like that, and then the duration of extremely high temperatures.”
Last week, the National Weather Service issued excessive heat warnings for Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In a statement Friday, the agency cautioned that “the hot daytime temperatures, combined with warm overnight lows, will result in high heat risk and heat related stress.”
All three states could surpass their all-time heat record for June (113F for Washington and Oregon, and 114F for Idaho), according to the National Weather Service. » | Hallie Golden in Seattle | Friday, June 25, 2021
Friday, June 25, 2021
Western US in Grips of Hottest, Driest Summer in 1000 Years? | DW News
Jun 21, 2021 • It may be the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but for some 50 million people in the US summer has arrived early and hotter than ever before. In just the last week, high temperature records have been shattered all across the western half of the US. Salt Lake City, Utah, just saw its hottest day since record keeping began in 1870: 107 degrees Fahrenheit. 42 degrees Celsius.
Wyoming also saw new records. In Nevada, Las Vegas continues to flirt with its all-time high of 47 degrees Celsius.
But the US city melting most is Phoenix, Arizona, which just set an all-time record of five consecutive days of 115 degrees or higher. That is 46 degrees Celsius.
The heat is making severe droughts across the western US go from bad to worse. The federal government is already planning to declare an official water shortage at Lake Mead in August. Lake Mead's waters power Hoover Dam. As of last week, Lake Mead's water level is at a record low, and there is no relief in sight.
The Western US is in what scientists describe as a climate-change induced megadrought. Some even say this summer could be the hottest and driest in a millennium. And less water means more fire. 2020 saw a record number of wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington. 2021 is expected to be worse.
Wyoming also saw new records. In Nevada, Las Vegas continues to flirt with its all-time high of 47 degrees Celsius.
But the US city melting most is Phoenix, Arizona, which just set an all-time record of five consecutive days of 115 degrees or higher. That is 46 degrees Celsius.
The heat is making severe droughts across the western US go from bad to worse. The federal government is already planning to declare an official water shortage at Lake Mead in August. Lake Mead's waters power Hoover Dam. As of last week, Lake Mead's water level is at a record low, and there is no relief in sight.
The Western US is in what scientists describe as a climate-change induced megadrought. Some even say this summer could be the hottest and driest in a millennium. And less water means more fire. 2020 saw a record number of wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington. 2021 is expected to be worse.
Are We Seeing a Repeat of the Indian COVID Tragedy in Africa? | COVID-19 Special
Jun 25, 2021 • South Africa, the worst-hit country in the African continent, has entered a third COVID wave. New daily cases more than doubled over the past two weeks. In the province around Johannesburg, hospitals are already reaching their capacity. Despite the rising numbers and low vaccination rates, the country still only has rather relaxed lockdown regulations in place.
More than a dozen nations are reporting the worst levels of infections. In Uganda, hospitals are already reaching capacity and oxygen is in short supply. The situation is becoming dire in many regions - are we seeing a repeat of the Indian tragedy in Africa?
More than a dozen nations are reporting the worst levels of infections. In Uganda, hospitals are already reaching capacity and oxygen is in short supply. The situation is becoming dire in many regions - are we seeing a repeat of the Indian tragedy in Africa?
Australien: Politiker macht Partner Heiratsantrag im Parlament (2017)
Rutte fordert Orbán heraus: „Viktor, warum bleibst Du in der EU?“
Emotional ging es zu, als die Regierungschefs am Donnerstagabend zum Thema Ungarn kamen, so emotional wie selten. Xavier Bettel aus Luxemburg, selbst schwul, erzählte seine eigene Geschichte. Fast jeder habe da Tränen in den Augen gehabt, sagte Mark Rutte, der Niederländer hinterher. Und es ging mit voller Wucht gegen Viktor Orbán. Er hatte das Gesetz, das Kinder vor Homosexualität und anderen Orientierungen „schützen“ soll, noch schnell in Kraft setzen lassen, bevor er in Brüssel eintraf. Rutte selbst ritt die härteste Attacke. Wie Teilnehmer berichten, wandte er sich direkt an den ungarischen Regierungschef: „Viktor, wenn Du das machst, warum bleibst Du dann in der EU?“ Das war ein Einschnitt. Er könnte gravierende Folgen für Orbán nach sich ziehen.
Der belgische Premierminister Alexander De Croo sprach nach der Sitzung, die erst am frühen Morgen zu Ende ging, von einem „entscheidenden Moment“: „Eine solche Konfrontation haben wir noch nicht erlebt.“ Fast einstimmig habe der Europäische Rat gesagt: „Bis hierhin und nicht weiter.“ Auf die Frage, ob es noch einen Platz für Ungarn in der Europäischen Union gebe, antwortete De Croo erst mit ein paar Sekunden Verzögerung: „Ich hoffe, dass Herr Orbán mit dieser Frage heute nach Hause geht oder wenigstens schlafen geht. Ich denke, er hatte nicht damit gerechnet, dass das Treffen diese Wendung nimmt.“ » | Von Thomas Gutschker, Brüssel | Freitag, 25. Juni 2021
L’Etat de droit, meilleure protection pour les droits LGBT en Europe
LE MONDE : Editorial. L’adoption, le 15 juin par le Parlement hongrois, d’un projet de loi assimilant de fait homosexualité, pornographie et pédophilie, et le refus de l’UEFA d’illuminer le stade de Munich aux couleurs arc-en-ciel ont mis en évidence une fracture entre les membres de l’UE.
Editorial du « Monde ». L’arc-en-ciel est dans toutes les têtes, mais l’orage n’est pas près de se dissiper. Les foudres que se sont attirées, depuis mardi 22 juin, le premier ministre hongrois, Viktor Orban, puis, par ricochet, l’UEFA, l’organisation qui supervise le championnat de football Euro 2021, à propos des droits des communautés LGBT, montrent à quel point ce sujet cristallise les fractures sociétales intra-européennes.
Le projet de loi adopté le 15 juin par le Parlement hongrois, contrôlé par le parti nationaliste de M. Orban, a provoqué un profond malaise au sein de l’Union européenne. Ce texte, qui prévoit de rendre inaccessibles aux moins de 18 ans les « contenus qui montrent ou encouragent la sexualité en elle-même, le changement de genre ou l’homosexualité », assimile de fait homosexualité, pornographie et pédophilie. » | Éditorial | jeudi 24 juin 2021
Editorial du « Monde ». L’arc-en-ciel est dans toutes les têtes, mais l’orage n’est pas près de se dissiper. Les foudres que se sont attirées, depuis mardi 22 juin, le premier ministre hongrois, Viktor Orban, puis, par ricochet, l’UEFA, l’organisation qui supervise le championnat de football Euro 2021, à propos des droits des communautés LGBT, montrent à quel point ce sujet cristallise les fractures sociétales intra-européennes.
Le projet de loi adopté le 15 juin par le Parlement hongrois, contrôlé par le parti nationaliste de M. Orban, a provoqué un profond malaise au sein de l’Union européenne. Ce texte, qui prévoit de rendre inaccessibles aux moins de 18 ans les « contenus qui montrent ou encouragent la sexualité en elle-même, le changement de genre ou l’homosexualité », assimile de fait homosexualité, pornographie et pédophilie. » | Éditorial | jeudi 24 juin 2021
The Standard American Diet Promotes Cancer!
Blood test that finds 50 types of cancer is accurate enough to be rolled out »
Brexit: It's Been Five Years Since the UK Voted to Leave the EU | DW News
June 23, 2021 – It was five years ago today when voters in the UK decided to leave the European Union. That's the day Brexit began and the end is nowhere in sight. Concern is growing for at least 150,000 Europeans living in the UK and tens of thousands of Britons residing in the EU who are on the verge of being classed as undocumented migrants.
In another post-Brexit fallout, they're expected to lose their citizens' rights, including the right to work, study and rent property, while some could even face deportation. That’s because they haven’t applied for post-Brexit residency in the countries where they're living. The deadline for many of those programs is next week.
In another post-Brexit fallout, they're expected to lose their citizens' rights, including the right to work, study and rent property, while some could even face deportation. That’s because they haven’t applied for post-Brexit residency in the countries where they're living. The deadline for many of those programs is next week.
Beautiful Minds: Professor Richard Dawkins
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