Monday, January 09, 2023

Le prince Harry accusé d’affaiblir la monarchie britannique avec son autobiographie, « Spare »

LE MONDE : Le déballage sans précédent lancé par le « royal rebel » fragilise davantage la famille royale avant le couronnement de Charles III.

Elle ne sort officiellement en librairies que mardi 10 janvier. Toutefois, Spare, la sensationnelle autobiographie du prince Harry – second fils du roi Charles III, cinquième dans l’ordre de succession – fait déjà les gros titres de la presse britannique. Il faut dire que des libraires espagnols ont (« par erreur », assurent-ils) mis en rayon l’ouvrage dès le 5 janvier, ruinant les plans de communication du prince – quatre interviews exclusives à la chaîne américaine CBS ou à la britannique ITV diffusées à partir de ce dimanche – en amont de la publication officielle. Les correspondants des journaux britanniques se sont empressés d’acquérir le livre et de le traduire. » | Par Cécile Ducourtieux (Londres, correspondante) | dimanche 8 janvier 2023

Article réservé aux abonnés

Julian Assange Denied Permission to Attend Vivienne Westwood Funeral

THE GUARDIAN: Westwood’s family say they are ‘deeply disappointed’ WikiLeaks founder was not given temporary release from prison

Vivienne Westwood, who was a prominent supporter of the WikiLeaks founder, died last month. Photograph: Niklas Halle’n/AFP/Getty Images

Julian Assange has been denied permission to leave prison to attend the funeral of Dame Vivienne Westwood, according to her family.

Westwood’s family said they were “deeply disappointed that we were unable to fulfil Vivienne’s wishes but are unsurprised by the decision, which is unjust and in keeping with the inhumane treatment [Assange] has received from the UK authorities up to this point”.

They added: “Julian has not been convicted of any crime, yet he is treated as if he is a terrorist, the only thing he is guilty of is publishing the truth.” » | Ben Quinn | Monday, January 9, 2023

Sunday, January 08, 2023

Prince Harry’s Book Could Be ‘Beginning of End’ for Royals, Warns Charles’s Biographer

THE OBSERVER: Catherine Mayer says anger over racism, misogyny and wealth in the royal family can undermine public consent for a monarchy

Prince Harry, William, Meghan and Catherine at Westminster Abbey in 2020 with Charles, before he became king. Photograph: Phil Harris/AP

The “absolutely catastrophic” implications of attacks on the behaviour of the royal family in the new memoir from the Duke of Sussex are being ignored, according to Catherine Mayer, the royal analyst and biographer of King Charles.

Early publication of the Spanish edition of Spare has put the focus on personality clashes, some of it fed by the royal publicity machine, and this could threaten the constitutional monarchy, whether or not the British public is calling for such a change, Mayer believes.

“It is possibly something that will mark the beginning of the end of the monarchy, and that is what we should discuss. It is important, given the lack of trust in the state at the moment and an upsurge in rightwing politics. Members of the royal family have become our proxies for anger about racism, misogyny and wealth. This is, after all, an institution that stands for inequality, so there are huge things at stake.” » | Vanessa Thorpe | Sunday, January 8, 2023

Drugs, sex and killings: six explosive revelations from Prince Harry’s book: The early Spanish publication of the memoir reveals a scuffle with William and lost virginity behind a pub »

'Meghan Markle Is a Bad Apple That Has Rotted All the Royals'

Jan 6, 2023 | The Duke of Sussex has admitted he was “probably bigoted” before his relationship with Meghan Markle. In a new teaser for the CBS News interview which is due to air this Sunday, Harry tells interviewer Anderson Cooper he was “incredibly naive” about how the British press would treat his relationship with the American actress. “The race element” to the couple’s relationship had been “jumped on straight away” by the British press, he tells the programme, adding that he had no idea how “bigoted” the UK media was until his wife and their relationship were thrust into the spotlight. “What Meghan had to go through was similar in some part to what Kate and what Camilla, went through – very different circumstances,” the duke says in the 30-second clip released on Thursday. “But then you add in the race element, which was what the press – (the) British press jumped on straight away. “I went into this incredibly naive. I had no idea the British press were so bigoted. Hell, I was probably bigoted before the relationship with Meghan.”

Rishi Sunak Refuses to Say If He Uses Private GP

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has repeatedly refused to say whether he uses private healthcare, insisting it is "not really relevant".

Read the article here.

Sunak gives us the answer in his display of tetchiness and obfuscation. Were he to use the NHS for his medical needs, he would be only too willing to tell us, to admit that he does. – © Mark Alexander

US Condemns Iran for Hanging Anti-government Protesters - BBC News

Jan 8, 2023 | Two men have been hanged in Iran for killing a member of the security forces during nationwide protests against the government last year. Mohammad Mahdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini had appealed against their sentences, saying they had been tortured into making false confessions.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the executions were "abhorrent". The total number of protesters known to have been executed in the aftermath of the unrest is now four.

Demonstrations against the clerical establishment erupted in September following the death in custody of a woman detained by morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab, or headscarf, "improperly".


Saturday, January 07, 2023

The Observer View on How Prince Harry’s Stream of Revelations Will Benefit No One

THE OBSERVER – EDITORIAL: The desire to tell all after a lifetime of imposed secrecy is understandable, but it will not produce the catharsis he seeks

‘Encouraged and emboldened by his wife, Harry appears to have become besotted by truth-telling.’ Photograph: Loïc Venance/AFP/Getty Images

Accounts of the psychology of the Duke of Sussex tend to focus on the trauma of following his mother’s coffin along the Mall in 1997. Less attention is paid to the effect of the lurid details of his parents’ horrific marriage that were aired so publicly when he was at prep school in London.

The scandalous leaked phone conversations between Diana and her lover James Gilbey, and Charles and Camilla, no doubt infect Harry’s earliest memories – his formative understanding of the shameless instinct of the tabloid press. The tit-for-tat TV interviews that followed, with Jonathan Dimbleby and with Martin Bashir, meanwhile, gave him profoundly troubling insights into the management and confession of family secrets and lies. » | Observer editorial | Saturday, January 7, 2023

Harry Has Increased Risk of UK Terrorist Attack, Including at Coronation, Say Security Experts

Jan 7, 2023 | Historian and Royal Broadcaster Rafe Heydel-Mankoo discusses the latest revelations from Prince Harry's memoirs, including ill-advised comments made about killing fighters in Afghanistan.

Rafe cites comments made by Kim Darroch, former National Security adviser, and Dai Davies, the former head of Royal Protection. Dai Davies has not been this fearful of royal security for 25 years, particularly with the Coronation just 4 months away.


Prince Harry Revelations ‘Like Those of B-list Celebrity’

THE GUARDIAN: Former royal biographer Jonathan Dimbleby says Duke of Sussex ‘is clearly a very troubled man’

Prince Harry’s highly anticipated book is due to be published on Tuesday. Photograph: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

A former royal biographer has said he is “perplexed” by the Duke of Sussex’s memoirs and says it contains the kind of revelations you would expect from a “B-list celebrity”.

Jonathan Dimbleby said Prince Harry had “constructed a narrative of his life which goes right back to the death of his mother”, as his highly anticipated book, Spare, is due to be released on Tuesday.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Dimbleby, who interviewed Charles when, as Prince of Wales, he revealed his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, said: “I am perplexed. I am at a loss. He is clearly a very troubled man.

“I’m concerned incidentally that everyone uses the word revelations. Yes, there are obviously revelations about how he lost his virginity, taking drugs, and how many people he feels he might have shot down from his Apache. But those are the kind of revelations, in part, that you would expect, I suppose, from a B-list celebrity.” » | Tobi Thomas | Saturday, January 7, 2023

Zwei weitere Demonstranten in Iran hingerichtet

GNADENGESUCH ABGELEHNT

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Im Dezember sorgte Iran mit Hinrichtungen von Demonstranten weltweit für Entsetzen. Nun wurden nach offiziellen Angaben zwei weitere Todesurteile vollstreckt.

In Iran sind zwei weitere Demonstranten hingerichtet worden. Die iranische Justizbehörde gab am Samstag bekannt, dass Mohammed-Mehdi K. und Sejed-Mohammed H. in den frühen Morgenstunden gehängt worden seien. Sie sollen während der systemkritischen Proteste im November für den Tod eines Sicherheitsbeamten verantwortlich gewesen sein, so die Justiz auf ihrem Webportal Mizan. Damit steigt die Zahl der hingerichteten Demonstranten im Zuge der mehr als dreimonatigen systemkritischen Proteste auf vier. » | Quelle: dpa | Samstag, 7. Januar 2023

Royaume-Uni : les syndicats mènent leurs plus grandes grèves depuis 30 ans et redécouvrent leur pouvoir de négociation

LE MONDE : Après avoir connu un profond déclin, ils se coordonnent désormais et commencent à obtenir des résultats, portés par la sortie de la pandémie et le choc de l’inflation au Royaume-Uni.

Les Britanniques n’avaient pas connu ça depuis trois décennies. Depuis l’été dernier, de grandes grèves secouent régulièrement le pays, en particulier dans les services publics. Pour aider les usagers à s’y retrouver, les médias ont dû mettre en place des calendriers des grèves.

Cette semaine, du 3 au 7 janvier, deux syndicats se sont relayés pour immobiliser les trains, avec certaines journées pratiquement sans trafic ; vendredi, les agents des autoroutes ont aussi débrayé, ainsi que les inspecteurs du permis de conduire ; mardi 10 janvier, ce sera au tour des instituteurs en Ecosse, puis, le lendemain, des ambulanciers en Angleterre. La semaine suivante, les infirmières reprennent leur mouvement historique : en décembre 2022, elles avaient effectué leur première grève depuis la création de leur syndicat en 1906, et elles ont prévu deux nouvelles journées d’action.

Les syndicats ne cachent pas qu’ils se coordonnent pour que les grèves se succèdent. « L’objectif est d’atteindre une perturbation maximum », explique un syndicaliste, sous couvert d’anonymat. » | Par Eric Albert (Londres, correspondance) | samedi 7 janvier 2023

Article réservé aux abonnés

Prince Harry Criticised by Military and Taliban over 'Crimes against Humanity' | 9 News Australia

Jan 7, 2023 | Royal editor at the Daily Mirror Russell Myers said Prince Harry has drawn criticism by some members of the British Army and an angry rebuke from the Taliban - after he admitted to killing 25 people in his memoir while serving in Afghanistan, which he described as “chess pieces removed from the board.”

Hope for Labour as Sunak Shows Tories Are Out of Ideas

Jan 7, 2023 | This week prime minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer both gave speeches aimed at outlining their policies and strategies for the coming year. Whilst Sunak's speech contained many vague, vacuous and meaningless aspirations, Starmer's speech included plenty of new ideas. Sunak barely mentioned Brexit, in a single sentence referring to the agility of UK regulations post exiting the EU as being an opportunity to seize. Starmer reminded us that he had been a 'Remainer' but that he had been unable to disagree with those who had voted to leave. Whilst Starmer mentioned global warming, AI and an ageing population, Sunak failed to mention any of these major issues. Sunak presented his five pledges including legislation to stop small boats crossing the Channel whilst Starmer outlined his proposals to devolve powers from an over-centralised Westminster.

Friday, January 06, 2023

Immer wieder Ärger mit Harry

BRITISCHES KÖNIGSHAU

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Die Beichte des Herzogs von Sussex schlägt noch vor der Veröffentlichung ein wie eine Bombe: Seine Autobiographie ist eine Ansammlung an Vorwürfen. Niemand wird geschont.

Bruderneid ist so alt wie die Menschheit. Den bislang aus Spanien durchgesickerten und übersetzten Einzelheiten aus der explosiven Enthüllungsschrift von Prinz Harry, die dort aus Versehen vorzeitig für kurze Zeit zum Verkauf stand, geht hervor, dass das Kain-und-Abel-Motiv in dem geronnenen Verhältnis zwischen den beiden britischen Königssöhnen eine dramatische, moderne Wendung genommen hat.

Die Geschichte des britischen Königshauses ist unendlich, was familiären Zwist angeht, von Herrschern oder Thronrivalen, die ihre eigenen Brüder, Väter, Söhne, Neffen oder Frauen ermordeten oder kaltstellten, wie dies zuletzt bei der Seelenverwandten zu erkennen meint wie Shakespeares Prinz Hal, alias der junge Henry V. » | Von Gina Thomas, London | Freitag, 6. Januar 2023

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Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.2 Op.18 - Anna Fedorova | Complete Live Concert - HD | Reupload

Sep 2, 2013 | Views on YouTube: 37,256,440 | Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie led by Martin Panteleev

Harry Has Turned against Military, Says Ex-commander

Harry served as a helicopter pilot in 2012-13 | WPA POOL

BBC: A retired commanding officer has accused Prince Harry of "turning against" his military family after "having trashed his birth family".

In his memoir, the Duke of Sussex describes killing 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan as "chess pieces taken off the board".

Ex-colonel Tim Collins said that was "not how you behave in the army".

Prince Harry gives details about his time as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan in his memoir Spare.

BBC News has obtained a copy of the book after it was put on sale early in Spain. In it, Prince Harry reveals for the first time that he killed 25 enemy fighters - which is perfectly possible after two tours in the Helmand region of the country.

"It wasn't a statistic that filled me with pride but nor did it make me ashamed," he writes.

"When I was plunged into the heat and confusion of battle, I didn't think about those as 25 people. You can't kill people if you see them as people.

"In truth, you can't hurt people if you see them as people. They were chess pieces taken off the board, bad guys eliminated before they kill good guys.

"They trained me to 'other' them and they trained me well."

Responding to the prince's comments, a senior Taliban leader Anas Haqqani tweeted: "Mr Harry! The ones you killed were not chess pieces, they were humans; they had families who were waiting for their return...

"I don't expect that the (International Criminal Court) will summon you or the human rights activists will condemn you, because they are deaf and blind for you." » | Andre Rhoden-Paul and defence correspondent Jonathan Beale, BBC News | Friday, January 6, 2023

Military Men Make Great Boyfriends

Les militaires font de bons « boyfriends » / Militärs machen tolle « Boyfriends »


This is why: 10 Reasons Why Gay Military Men Are Great Boyfriends! »

With many thanks to jamielynnm for this lovely, espressive photo.

«Versehentlich» ist die Autobiografie von Prinz Harry zu früh an die Öffentlichkeit gelangt. Sie ist brisant und dürfte dafür sorgen, dass er weiter an Sympathien verliert

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: «The Spare» kam in Spanien fünf Tage vor dem eigentlichen Erscheinungstermin in den Laden. Nun verabreichen «Leaks» und andere mysteriöse Quellen tröpfchenweise einen Vorgeschmack auf Harrys Memoiren. Ein geschicktes Versehen?

Die Memoiren von Prinz Harry sollen am 10. Januar erscheinen. In Spanien taten sie das bereits fünf Tage vorher. | Max Mumby / Indigo / Getty

Strengste Geheimhaltung war angesagt. Eigentlich hätte es erst am Dienstag, dem 10. Januar, erscheinen sollen. Auch für die Rezensenten gab es keine Vorausexemplare. Prinz Harrys gross angekündigtes Erinnerungsbuch «The Spare» (deutscher Titel: «Reserve») wurde gehütet wie ein Schatz. Was einen Hype schüren sollte. Die Rechnung ging in Grossbritannien auf. Spekulationen über die Memoiren des englischen Prinzen mehrten sich. Ein Fernsehinterview mit ihm wurde für Sonntag angekündigt, um zwei Tage vor dem weltweiten Erscheinen auch die letzten Uneingeweihten über das Ereignis zu informieren. Was die durch Werbung erzeugte Spannung betraf, fühlte man sich an den Erwartungsrausch erinnert, den ein neues «Harry Potter»-Buch jeweils generierte. Alles war so genau, so lückenlos geplant.

Bis dann durch ein Versehen die spanischen Verleger aus der Reihe tanzten und das Buch schon in dieser Woche publizierten. Was für ein geschicktes Versehen das war. Eilig wurden Übersetzungen der mehr als vierhundert Seiten umfassenden Erinnerungen verfasst. Oder wenigstens von Teilen davon. Die grössten Hits und Enthüllungen gehen um die Welt » | Marion Löhndorf | Freitag, 6. Januar 2023

Neuer Streit um die Laizität in Frankreich: An den Schulen sorgen Mädchen in bodenlangen Kleidern für Unruhe

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Offiziell gilt die Abaya nicht als religiöses Kleidungsstück, doch viele Lehrer empfinden das Tragen des Gewands an den Schulen als Verstoss gegen die Laizität. Der Bildungsminister stärkt ihnen zwar den Rücken – aber für viele tut er nicht genug.

Anders als das Kopftuch gilt die Abaya in Fran kreich bisher nicht als religiöses Symbol und ist daher an den Schulen auch nicht verboten. | Viktoryia Vinnikava / EyeEm / Getty

Es ist in den letzten Wochen beinahe zu einem Ritual geworden: Bei der wöchentlichen Fragestunde im Parlament wird Frankreichs Bildungsminister regelmässig auf die Zustände an den französischen Schulen angesprochen. Vorwiegend Abgeordnete des rechtsnationalen Rassemblement national und der Konservativen wollen von Pap Ndiaye hören, was er unternimmt, um Lehrer und Lehrerinnen vor Drohungen zu schützen und das Prinzip der Laizität zu wahren.

Den Anlass für diese Fragen hat Ndiaye selbst geliefert: Sein Ministerium publizierte im Oktober zum ersten Mal monatliche Zahlen zu den Verstössen gegen das Prinzip der Laizität. Laizität bedeutet die Trennung von Staat und Religion und verpflichtete ursprünglich vor allem den Staat und seine Vertreter zur weltanschaulichen Neutralität. » | Nina Belz, Paris | Mittwoch, 4. Januar 2023

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines — January 6, 2023