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