#Ex cabinet secretary - country news

[mariacallous]

When Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga resigned abruptly last month, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán lost one of his star protégés. 

The media-savvy Varga had been due to lead Orbán’s right-wing Fidesz party into the European election and was one of the best-known Hungarian politicians in Brussels. 

But as she has retreated from the spotlight, her ex-husband, former Fidesz official Péter Magyar, has emerged as a real thorn in Orbán’s side.

On Tuesday, after weeks of attacking Orbán online and in public, Magyar released a tape of his ex-wife Varga apparently incriminating members of Orbán’s inner circle in a corruption scandal. 

Magyar claims the two-minute recording, taped last year, proves that Orbán’s powerful Cabinet chief Antal Rogán tampered with documents related to a sprawling corruption dispute involving Pál Völner, a former state secretary in the justice ministry when Varga was minister. Völner resigned in 2021 after prosecutors accused him of taking bribes. 

The sensational release of the tape — which Magyar presented to the prosecutor’s office in Budapest before a sea of cameras Tuesday — is the latest twist in a drama that has transfixed Hungary and provided a rare moment of dissent against Orbán’s iron grip on the country’s political system. 

“This shows that the justice system is under political influence, that key figures tampered with the investigations, and that Varga knew this,” said opposition politician Katalin Cseh, a Hungarian member of the European Parliament.

“This is very clear evidence that the Hungarian justice system is not free and not independent,” she added. “It is also one of the first cases when someone from Orbán’s inner circle has spoken out.” 

A spokesman for the Hungarian government, Zoltán Kovács, dismissed Magyar’s claims, accusing the former Fidesz official of harrassing his ex-wife.

Varga, who said in February that she was retiring from public life, issued a statement on social media Tuesday saying she was “appalled” by Magyar’s release of the tape, accusing him of blackmail and domestic violence. 

She said she had been “terrorized” by her then-husband, and had told him what he wanted to hear on the tape.

Orbán’s new nemesis 

Magyar, a former Fidesz apparatchik and trained lawyer, is best known as Varga’s ex-husband.

The couple, who share three children, was often cast as a model nuclear family in glossy magazine features in a country whose government prizes “traditional” family values. Magyar, who served on state boards and worked in various roles for the administration, including in Brussels during Hungary’s last EU presidency, previously spoke about stepping back from his career to look after their young children when Varga’s career was taking off. 

Following their divorce last year, Varga had been expected to move to Brussels as an MEP after the European election. 

But since the double resignation of Varga and President Katalin Novák in February over a disputed sex-abuse pardon case, Magyar has emerged as a major voice of dissent in Hungary, and has announced plans to form a new political party. 

In February he resigned from the board of MBH Bank, accusing Orbán’s government of “hiding behind the skirts of women” by effectively scapegoating Varga and Novák. The former president had pardoned a man who had forced children to retract allegations of abuse by the director of a children’s home, while Varga had signed off on the pardon.

On March 15, Hungary’s national day, Magyar held an anti-government rally in central Budapest attended by thousands of people, where he accused Fidesz of spending the equivalent of hundreds of millions of euros annually on propaganda. 

Magyar said he had tried to convince Varga to accompany him to the prosecutor’s office; he was slated to give media interviews and hold another rally following the tape’s release later on Tuesday. 

Despite Magyar’s rapid emergence as a political force, Hungary’s opposition has until now failed to dent Orbán’s grip on the country’s politics. In the last parliamentary election in April 2022, its disparate opposition forces rallied around a single figure, Péter Márki-Zay, who ran on an anti-Fidesz platform. Orbán’s party was ultimately returned for a fourth consecutive term.

According to opposition MEP Cseh, Magyar’s intervention could signal a broader push against Orbán.

“Many people are beginning to think that something is starting to crumble within the system,” she said. “I hope that more former government insiders speak out and embrace the fact that there is life outside the system. There is a great need for them to take this risk.”

[sunnyuto]

Journalists also aren’t supposed to use names in headlines unless the person is HOUSEHOLD name. People who get named in headlines are celebrities, politicians, and well-known suspects in high-profile crimes. Not naming someone in a headline isn’t an act of erasure, it’s just how headlines work.

For example:

Celebrities:

- Brad Pitt is always going to be named in a headline.

- Alex Brightman is going to be named in headlines in publications aimed toward people who know who he is - so mostly theater publications and papers based in New York - but not necessarily in a national source unless it’s specifically in the arts section.

- Donald Gummer might be named in headlines within his field (art/sculpting) but in any large publication will probably be referred to as Meryl Streep’s ex-husband.

- Michael Polansky might get referred to by name in incredibly specific trade publications, but in anything more general would be called Lady Gaga’s fiancé.

Politicians:

- the President, Vice President, Secretary of State, pretty much any prominent cabinet member, any Supreme Court justice, and high ranking Members of Congress (i.e. Speaker of the House, Senate Majority Leadet) will always be referred to by name in domestic publications. Whether or not international publications will name them depends on their title, what country they lead, and what country the publication is in (i.e. pretty much any publication worldwide will name Joe Biden, but the NYT probably won’t name the president of South Africa.)

- well-known members of Congress will usually be referred to by name, with the exception of in local publications in areas far from their location (i.e. Chris Murphy would probably be referred to as a Conn. senator by an Oregon based state level newspaper)

- other members of Congress and statewide politicians like Governors will be referred to by name in their state and by title in other states/national publications

- regional politicians (i.e. your state reps and senators, your mayor) will be referred to by name in local publications, by title and town in statewide publications, and by title and state in national publications

Criminals:

- high profile terrorist leaders like Osama bin Laden will always be named, but there are very few of these

- members of high profile terrorism cells will usually be referred to by the name of that group (i.e. Taliban member) regardless of the size of the attack they carry out (think: do you know the actual names of any of the 9/11 hijackers?)

- celebrities indicted in higher level crimes will be named - this is BECAUSE they’re celebrities (i.e OJ Simpson and Aaron Hernandez were named because they were football players, not because of the notoriety of their crimes)

- perpetrators of incredibly high profile crimes who ARE KNOWN are referred to by whatever name the media has given the crime or the criminal in national news and by name in more localized news to where the crime happened, including state level (i.e. the Tsarnaev brothers in northeast US media aka Boston Marathon bombers nationally, Adam Lanza in CT media aka Sandy Hook shooter nationally). This is because people who live near the crime are likely paying more attention to the actual proceedings and investigation than people living across the country.

- both the victim and perpetrator of sensationalized* crimes are often named - both Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman are well-known names because the crime “went viral.” Jumpy white men shooting unarmed black kids happens way more than we realize, but it almost never reaches the level of recognition as this case did because it didn’t catch the right ears. Same with the Casey Anthony situation or the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case. (*I am using sensationalized here to refer to cases that have received media attention disproportionate to other similar or identical cases - the notoriety here doesn’t come from the crime or the criminal being particularly high profile but instead from the story getting picked up by dateline that gained a disproportionate amount of attention.)

Gentle reminder that newspapers can’t call incidents “murders” or “kidnappings” if no trial has taken place. They CAN say “suspected murder” or “possible kidnapping”, but they can’t outright call stuff murder etc. because that’s up to a court to decide. So yeah, they tend to use words like “missing” and “killed” instead. This isn’t a conspiracy theory, this isn’t intentional erasure, this is just honestly in journalism.

[starseedfxofficial]

Forget AI Limits, Let Innovation Reign: Bowman Spills the Tea Forget AI Limits, Let Innovation Reign: Bowman Spills the Tea Imagine AI in finance is like your new credit card, but someone keeps telling you, "Only use it for groceries." It’s like putting the AI equivalent of Michael Jordan in a library—tons of potential, but held back by a narrow purpose. Well, thankfully, the Fed’s Bowman is no fan of those limits. She’s urging against the temptation to restrict AI in the banking sector, warning it could freeze up some much-needed innovation. Bowman’s call isn’t just about letting the tech breathe—she believes AI has the potential to massively improve data reliability and be a powerhouse in anti-fraud efforts. This is like upgrading from dial-up to high-speed—all while keeping the bad guys from raiding your digital wallet. Trump’s New Picks: A Hedge Fund Guy, A Ranch Expert, and A Wild Card Now, buckle up, because U.S. politics is serving up an eclectic cocktail of cabinet appointments. President-elect Trump has picked some head-turning nominees for key roles—like hedge fund CEO Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary. It’s like hiring Gordon Ramsay to organize a food bank—you’re bound to get some spice. But Bessent is about more than that; his priority is delivering those sweet, sweet tax cuts we heard about, and keeping the dollar as the reigning heavyweight champion of global currencies. He’s all about making first-term tax cuts permanent and nixing those pesky taxes on tips, Social Security, and overtime pay. It's a "let the people keep their dough" approach—at least, as long as they’re tipping well. But wait, there’s more: Brooke Rollins for Agriculture Secretary. Seems like Trump went full yee-haw with this pick, looking to stir things up in the farming sector. And rounding it out is Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Labor Secretary. It’s like assembling the Avengers, but with economic and labor policy skills instead of superpowers (though some would say charisma is a superpower in politics). Bessent’s Budget Plan: Cut Taxes, Drill More Oil, and ‘Make America Grow’ For traders watching U.S. fiscal policy like a hawk (or perhaps, like a trader watching the GBP/USD pair on NFP Friday), here’s what’s in store. Treasury nominee Scott Bessent is laying out a game plan that involves pushing for 3% U.S. GDP growth while slashing the budget deficit to 3% of GDP by 2028. That’s a lot of threes, and if you’re a numerologist, it might feel like the universe is trying to tell you something. He’s also planning to pump up oil production by an additional three million barrels per day. Basically, the goal here is to make America grow—and then make it grow some more, with a little energy self-reliance sprinkled on top for good measure. Confronting the IEA: Trump vs. Green Energy Focus In other headline-grabbing news, President-elect Trump seems ready to knock on the IEA’s door, but not with roses. No, this is more like showing up to an ex’s place demanding to "talk things out." Trump’s main beef? The IEA’s green energy focus. Instead of staying stuck in eco-talk, Trump is looking to lift the pause on new LNG export permits—like someone finally unpausing Netflix when the popcorn is ready—and wants to move swiftly on pending permits. Plus, he’s going to be asking Congress to replenish the strategic petroleum reserve. Think of it as the country’s "rainy day" stash of oil, and apparently, it’s starting to drizzle. What's the Takeaway for Traders? Okay, let’s break this all down with some actionable insights for Forex traders. First off, Bowman’s stance on AI points to a more innovation-friendly environment in U.S. finance. This could lead to quicker, more accurate economic data—which means less market hesitation and more decisive trading moves when numbers hit the wire. If you’re a data-dependent trader (aren’t we all?), this is like getting your favorite pizza delivered faster, with extra cheese—good for everyone. Then there’s Scott Bessent, ready to take the Treasury reins with a pro-growth agenda. His plan to boost GDP, cut taxes, and raise oil production could point toward a stronger USD—at least in the short term. Remember, higher oil production might weigh on oil prices, potentially benefitting the dollar through lower energy costs. This all suggests some possible bullish moves on USD crosses, especially against currencies dependent on energy imports. Lastly, Trump’s planned confrontation with the IEA is about shifting the focus away from green energy and back to good ol’ fossil fuels. How does this impact the markets? Well, increased oil production could push WTI and Brent prices down, which often correlates with USD strength. It's also a headwind for oil-exporting currencies like CAD and NOK, so keep an eye out for some volatility there. As always, look at how traders react to the news rather than just the news itself—as market sentiment can often overshadow pure logic. Wrapping Up with a Smile And there you have it. Bowman says let AI thrive, Bessent wants to grow, drill, and cut (taxes, not spending), and Trump is off to shake up energy policies. For traders, it’s all about finding the hidden gems—those little nuggets of news that give you a strategic edge. As always, look beyond the obvious, stay curious, and remember—the market is like a stand-up comedy act. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it bombs, but the real pros keep on swinging. If this article had you nodding your head, intrigued by the news, or laughing at the pizza analogy, then we might just be the community for you. Join us over at StarseedFX for expert analysis, live trading tips, and a community that loves to dive into the deep end of Forex—and make sure you swim back with a smile. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated   Read the full article

[darkmaga-returns]

Ukraine has fired Storm Shadows at Russia. Michael Flynn calls for urgent removal of Biden. Germany readying for NEW WAR with Russia. Trump’s latest cabinet pick Dr. Oz. AI robot leads REVOLUTION.

Lioness of Judah Ministry

Nov 21, 2024

Ukraine has fired UK-supplied ‘Storm Shadows’ at Russia – Bloomberg

London has reportedly joined Washington in approving long-range missile strikes

The Ukrainian military has launched UK-supplied ‘Storm Shadow’ missiles at Russia’s Kursk Region and Krasnodar Region, according to Bloomberg News. The reported attacks come after Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky claimed to have received permission from multiple Western countries to deploy their long-range rockets against targets deep inside Russia. Moscow has warned that such attacks would amount to NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict. “We as a nation and as a government are doubling down on our support for Ukraine and determined to do more,” British Defense Secretary John Healey said in Parliament on Wednesday.

Bracing For Retaliation, US Shuts Embassy In Kiev Over Air Attack Risk

shelter in place orders given as several Western embassies close...

Washington appears fully aware it has poked the Russian bear, after President Biden greenlighted Ukraine striking Russian territory with long-range missiles. US officials have warned Wednesday that "potential significant air attack" on Kiev is likely coming, and have announced the closure of the US Embassy in the capital "out of an abundance of caution". This follows immediately on the heels of Ukrainian forces having struck an arms depot inside Russia with U.S.-supplied weapons, specifically the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), on Tuesday.

Violating His Own Policy, Biden OKs Antipersonnel Mines For Ukraine

As if his legacy wasn't going to be bloody enough

Determined to leave an even bloodier legacy, President Biden has violated his own policy and approved the shipment of antipersonnel mines to Ukraine, two US officials have told the Washington Post. The move -- which threatens to cause civilian injuries and deaths even after the war ends -- comes in the face of months of Russian battlefield success in which its army has posted the fastest pace of territorial gains since 2022.  The land-mine approval is Biden's second intensification of US military support in just the last few days: Acting very much like a man whose life in politics and life on Earth are both rapidly nearing their ends, Biden over the weekend approved Ukraine's use of long-range, US-supplied, ATACMS missiles against targets deep inside Russia.

Ex-US general calls for ‘urgent’ early removal of Biden

Donald Trump’s former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, wants to “stop the madness before WWIII is irreversible”

Retired US Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn has urged Vice President Kamala Harris to invoke the 25th Amendment to prevent President Joe Biden from “sleepwalking” into World War III after he allegedly permitted Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles to strike deep inside Russian territory. While Washington has neither confirmed nor denied the anonymously sourced reports, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that Kiev has already used the US-supplied missiles to target Russia’s Bryansk region. Additionally, Biden abruptly decided to supply Ukraine with anti-personnel landmines, breaking his 2022 promise to restrict their use.

[bllsbailey]

Trump Says Nikki Haley, Mike Pompeo Will Not Be Invited To Be Part Of His New Cabinet

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks during a Get Out the Vote Rally March 2, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. Sixteen states, including Virginia, will vote during Super Tuesday on March 5.

President-elect Donald Trump has announced he will not be inviting ex-Cabinet officials Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo to his new administration.

On Saturday, Trump took to Truth Social and said Haley (R-S.C.) and Pompeo would not be participating in his new cabinet. 

“I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation,” the president-elect posted on Truth Social early Saturday evening. 

“I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country,” he continued. “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Following Trump’s post, Haley took to X issuing a response and wishing Trump success for his upcoming term. 

“I was proud to work with President Trump defending America at the United Nations,” she wrote in a X post Saturday. “I wish him, and all who serve, great success in moving us forward to a stronger, safer America over the next four years.” 

Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts

[warningsine]

ROME (AP) — Giorgio Napolitano, the first former Communist to rise to Italy’s presidency and the first person to be elected twice to the mostly ceremonial post, died on Friday, the presidential palace said. He was 98.

A statement issued Friday night by the presidential palace confirmed Italian news reports of the death of Napolitano, who had been ailing in a Rome hospital for weeks.

The current president, Sergio Mattarella, in a message hailed his predecessor as head of state, saying that Napolitano’s life “mirrored a large part of (Italy’s) history in the second half of the 20th century, with its dramas, its complexity, its goals, its hopes.”

As a prominent member of what had long been the largest Communist party in the West, Napolitano had advocated positions that often veered from party orthodoxy. He sought dialogue with Italian and European socialists to end his party’s isolation, and he was an early backer of European integration.

Turin daily La Stampa once wrote of Napolitano: “He was the least communist Communist that the party ever enlisted.”

In a condolence telegram to Napolitano’s widow, Clio, Pope Francis said the late president “showed great gifts of intellect and sincere passion for Italian political life as well as strong interest for the fates of nations.”

The pontiff, who is on a pilgrimage to France, noted he had had personal meetings with Napolitano, “during which I appreciated his humanity and long-range vision in assuming with rectitude important choices, especially in delicate moments for the life of the country.”

During the first Gulf War, Napolitano broke with the position of the leader of the Italian Communist Party to oppose the withdrawal of Italy’s tiny contingent.

That amounted to a radical evolution for a Communist politician, who at the time of the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary had hailed the suppression as necessary. Ultimately, his political reputation was shaped by his reformist views.

A former U.S. ambassador to Italy, Richard Gardner, in comments to The Associated Press in 2006, when Napolitano was first elected to be head of state, called him “a true believer in democracy, a friend to the United States.” As ambassador, Gardner had helped arrange secret meetings with Napolitano at a time when any public meeting would have been seen as embarrassing for Italian Communists as well as U.S. politicians.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Napolitano was among the staunchest supporters of his party’s reform path, which would eventually lead to changing its name and dropping the hammer-and-sickle symbol.

Premier Giorgia Meloni, whose far-right party is at the opposite end of the political spectrum of the late president, expressed condolences in the name of her government.

Like many other future politicians of his generation, Napolitano fought against the Italian Fascists and Nazi occupiers during World War II. When the war ended, he joined the Communist Party, and in 1953, he was elected to Parliament, an office he would hold for 10 straight legislatures.

In 1989, he went to the United States with the party secretary for the first-ever visit by a Italian Communist leader.

While the presidential role is mostly ceremonial, the head of state can send Parliament packing sooner than its normal five-year term if it is hopelessly squabbling, a not-rare occurrence in Italy’s long history of short-lived governments.

The president also taps someone to attempt to form a new government and can reject some of the premier’s Cabinet choices or refuse to sign legislation as a way to encourage Parliament to improve a law.

Supposed to be above the political fray, Italy’s president also can serve as a sort of moral compass for the country and a guardian of the values laid out in Italy’s post-war Constitution.

During his long career, Napolitano also served as speaker of Parliament’s lower Chamber of Deputies and for five years as a lawmaker in the European Parliament.

In 2005, his predecessor in the Quirinal palace, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, conferred on him one of Italy’s greatest honors, making him a senator-for-life.

A year later, Parliament would make him president of Italy, the first former Communist — and so far the only one — to serve as head of state.

Admirers praised Napolitano’s balanced attitude and gentlemanly ways. He was sometimes dubbed “King Giorgio.” But critics pointed to what they saw as excessive caution.

Still, when at the end of his first, seven-year term as head of state, bickering lawmakers couldn’t reach consensus on his successor, he broke with tradition and agreed to be elected to a second term — with the proviso that he wouldn’t serve a full term due to advancing age. He was then 80.

In April 2013, Napolitano pardoned a U.S. Air Force colonel convicted in an Italian trial based on the U.S. extraordinary rendition practice that had resulted in a Muslim cleric being abducted from a street in Milan in 2003 and hustled off to Egypt where he was tortured, before eventually being released.

Napolitano said he granted the pardon in hopes of keeping U.S.-Italian relations strong, especially on security matters. The United States had considered the trial and convictions unprecedented because a U.S. military officer had been convicted for deeds committed on Italian territory.

Napolitano resigned in January 2015, paving the way for Mattarella, a former Christian Democrat, to be elected. Mattarella would go on to be himself twice elected to the presidency, again after renewed political gridlock in Parliament thwarted the election of a fresh candidate in 2022.

Beside his wife, whom he married in 1959, Napolitano is survived by two sons, Giovanni and Giulio.

[newstfionline]

Monday, February 13, 2023

US jets down 4 objects in 8 days, unprecedented in peacetime (AP) A U.S. fighter jet shot down an “unidentified object” over Lake Huron on Sunday on orders from President Joe Biden. It was the fourth such downing in eight days and the latest military strike in an extraordinary chain of events over U.S. airspace that Pentagon officials believe has no peacetime precedent. Part of the reason for the repeated shootdowns is a “heightened alert” following a spy balloon from China that emerged over U.S. airspace in late January, Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said in a briefing with reporters. Since then, fighter jets last week also shot down objects over Canada and Alaska. Pentagon officials said they posed no security threats, but so little was known about them that Pentagon officials were ruling nothing out—not even UFOs.

‘My Watch Thinks I’m Dead’ (NYT) On a recent sunny Sunday morning, following a night of fluffy snowfall, tens of thousands of skiers flocked to the resorts of Summit County. Just minutes after the lift lines opened, sirens began blaring in the 911 emergency service center, where four staff members were taking calls and dispatching help. Each jarring alert was a new incoming call, heralding a possible car crash, heart attack or other life-threatening situation. Often, the phone operators heard a chilling sound at the far end of the line: silence, perhaps from a caller too incapacitated to respond. At 9:07 a.m., one dispatcher, Eric Betts, responded to such a call that originated from a slope at the Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. Mr. Betts tried calling back. A man picked up. “Do you have an emergency?” Mr. Betts asked. No, the man said, he was skiing—safely, happily, unharmed. Slightly annoyed, he added, “For the last three days, my watch has been dialing 911.” Winter has brought a decent amount of snowfall to the region’s ski resorts, and with it an avalanche of false emergency calls. Virtually all of them have been placed by Apple Watches or iPhone 14s under the mistaken impression that their owners have been debilitated in collisions. Their newly ugraded technology keeps mistaking skiers, and some other fitness enthusiasts, for car-wreck victims.

Corruption Trial of Mexican Ex-Lawman Ripples Beyond Courtroom (NYT) As the prosecution of Genaro García Luna, Mexico’s former top security official, starts winding down, a jury will be called on to answer the central question in the case: whether Mr. García Luna, who once served as the public face of his country’s war on drugs, led a double life and took millions in bribes from the very cartels he was supposedly pursuing. But the trial’s outcome will also send ripples far beyond the Brooklyn federal courthouse where the jurors have heard stories about boatloads of cocaine, a cartel civil war and vast cash payments made to Mr. García Luna in places like a drug-filled warehouse and a carwash owned by a gangster. An acquittal in the case could spark a firestorm in Mexico, casting doubt on the ability of U.S. authorities to collect convincing evidence about top-level Mexican corruption, which has traditionally received less scrutiny than the crimes of cartel kingpins. A conviction could have an equally serious but quieter effect, leaving unresolved a question mostly unanswered during the trial: What did American officials know about Mr. García Luna’s ties to Mexico’s biggest crime group, the Sinaloa drug cartel, when he served as director of Mexico’s equivalent of the F.B.I. and then as the country’s public security secretary, a powerful cabinet-level post? Whatever the outcome, one thing is certain: It is unlikely to affect the dismal spiral of cartel bloodshed in Mexico or stem the flow of drugs into the United States.

Bolsonaro says he may return to Brazil in the coming weeks (AP) Former President Jair Bolsonaro said Saturday he intends to return to Brazil “in the following weeks.” The comment during an event at an evangelical church in Florida was the first time that Bolsonaro has made a statement in public about returning home. The far-right politician has been in the U.S. since arriving in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 31, the eve of the inauguration of his leftist rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as Brazil’s current president. For the first time in his more than three-decade political career as a lawmaker and then as president, Bolsonaro no longer enjoys the special legal protection that requires any trial be held at the Supreme Court. Bolsonaro is being investigated in four inquiries, which had been in the Supreme Court and were sent to trial court this past week.

Portugal teachers take to streets as wave of discontent intensifies (Reuters) Tens of thousands of teachers took to Lisbon’s streets on Saturday in one of the biggest protests in Portugal in recent years as the Socialist government faces a wave of discontent over the cost of living crisis. It was the third time in less than a month that teachers and school workers have held mass demonstrations in Portugal. Teachers on the lowest pay scale make around 1,100 euros ($1,174.25) per month but even teachers in higher bands typically earn less than 2,000 euros. “I feel robbed every day of my life,” said special needs teacher Albertina Baltazar. “(We want) respect for our profession.” A year after Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa won a majority in parliament, he is facing a slump in popularity and street protests not just by teachers but by other professionals.

Peace talks ‘out of the question,’ Ukrainian official says (Washington Post) Peace talks with Russia remain “out of the question,” a senior Ukrainian official said Saturday. Only a Ukrainian victory would end “the war in Europe,” presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said, as he accused Russia of being unwilling to leave territory it had occupied or take responsibility for the almost year-long conflict.

As Anger Swells Over Quake, Turkey Detains Building Contractors (NYT) Turkish officials on Saturday began detaining dozens of contractors they blamed for some of the building collapses in Monday’s devastating earthquake, as anger swelled over the government’s slow rescue effort and the death toll in the country surpassed 24,000. More than 100 people were detained across the 10 provinces affected by the quake, the state-run Anadolu News Agency reported on Saturday, as the Turkish Justice Ministry ordered officials in those provinces to set up “Earthquake Crimes Investigation Units.” It also directed them to appoint prosecutors to bring criminal charges against all the “constructors and those responsible” for the collapse of buildings that failed to meet existing codes, which had been put in place after a similar disaster in 1999. The arrests were the first steps by the Turkish state toward identifying and punishing people who may have contributed to the deaths of their fellow citizens in the quake. Across the earthquake zone, residents expressed outrage at what they contended were corrupt builders who cut corners to fatten their profits and the government’s granting of “amnesties” to builders who put up apartment complexes that failed to meet the new codes.

Earthquake in Turkey is only the latest tragedy for refugees (AP) When war broke out in Ukraine, Aydin Sisman’s relatives there fled to the ancient city of Antakya, in a southeastern corner of Turkey that borders Syria. They may have escaped one disaster, but another found them in their new home. They were staying with Sisman’s Ukrainian mother-in-law when their building collapsed last Monday as a 7.8 magnitude earthquake leveled much of Antakya and ravaged the region in what some in Turkey are calling the disaster of the century. As rescuers dig through heaps of rubble, Sisman appeared to have lost hope. Millions of refugees, like Sisman’s relatives, have found a haven in Turkey, escaping from wars and local conflicts from countries as close as Syria to as far afield as Afghanistan. There are at least 3.6 million Syrians who have fled their homeland’s war since 2011, arriving in trickles or en masse, sometimes overrunning the border, to seek safety from punishing bombardments, chemical attacks and starvation. Over 300,000 others have come to escape their own conflicts and hardships, according to the United Nations. For them, the earthquake was just the latest tragedy.

Fraud claims targeting Gautam Adani provoke nationalist backlash in India (Washington Post) A scathing report by an American research firm targeting the Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has prompted a nationalist backlash from his partisans in India, who have characterized the allegations of extensive corporate fraud by him as an onslaught against the country as a whole. A former member of Parliament called the report by New York-based Hindenburg Research a “conspiracy” to “destabilize our Nation.” A former solicitor general of India called it a “wholesale assault on India and Indians.” A retired army lieutenant general called it “classic” information warfare. The outpouring of nationalist outrage came after Hindenburg released a lengthy report late last month taking aim at Adani—a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s and, until recently, Asia’s richest man. The allegations triggered a massive sell-off of shares in Adani’s companies. The reaction in India reflects in part how closely intertwined the reputations and ideologies of politicians and companies have become in recent years.

New Zealand cancels flights as deluge from cyclone looms (AP) New Zealand’s national carrier canceled dozens of flights Sunday as Aucklanders braced for a deluge from Cyclone Gabrielle, two weeks after a record-breaking storm swamped the nation’s largest city and killed four people. Air New Zealand said it was canceling all domestic flights to and from Auckland through midday Tuesday as well as many international flights. Cyclone Gabrielle was already affecting the northern part of New Zealand on Sunday. On Monday, it was expected to dump up to 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain on Auckland. Gusts of about 130 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour) were expected.

Iran marks anniversary of Islamic Revolution amid protests (AP) Iran on Saturday celebrated the 44th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution amid nationwide anti-government protests and heightened tensions with the West. Thousands of Iranians marched through major streets and squares decorated with flags, balloons and placards with revolutionary and religious slogans. The military put on display its Emad and Sejjil ballistic missiles and cruise missiles as well as its Shahed-136 and Mohajer drones. Protesters began pouring into the streets in September after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, an Iranian-Kurdish woman detained by the country’s morality police. Those demonstrations, initially focused on Iran’s mandatory headscarf, or hijab, soon morphed into calls for a new revolution. The Islamic Revolution began with widespread unrest in Iran over the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The shah, terminally and secretly ill with cancer, fled Iran in January 1979. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini then returned from exile and the government fell on Feb. 11, 1979, after days of mass demonstrations and confrontations between protesters and security forces.

[brazilianism]

What’s going on in Brazil?

I don’t know which version this is anymore but it was written as of the 30th of March of 2021. 

Long story short, a third of the government or whatever (I don’t do math) quit or was fired this week.

Early Monday the Minister of Defense was fired. This led to five more secretaries and ministers quitting (among them the ministry for justice and public safety, the attorney general, and the international relationships minister, but that last one was already on it’s way since he got involved in a nazi scadal the week before [yeah] [we do not have the time to get into this on this post]). 

This morning the heads of the Army, the Navy and the Airforce also all resigned. 

Brazilians are all very anxious about this because we do not know what it means or how it will affect politics from now on. 

Let’s turn back a few days to understand the situation: the Bolsonaro government is under the biggest pressure it has ever faced. Today, there have been more than 3700 deaths by covid, and they have been above the 3k for over a week. The economy is bad - inflation is high, and if you turn on the television you will see campaigns for food donation, as we are officially back to people-are-starving-times. The government neglected and refused offers to buy vaccines when they were offered early last year, and we are far, far behind on the amount of doses that are needed, and the hospitals are full in most States. There were no hospital beds available in over 80% of the cities last week for anything. 

So, to say the least, they did not handle being a government well. But they could have gotten away with it, tbh, it wouldn’t even have been hard. What really changed the game in Brazilian politics this month was that our ex-president, Lula, is now apt to run for re-election in 2022. His judgment and condemnation were recently ruled as unfair and are being recalled (for those of you who don’t know, long story short: he was accused of corruption and was in prison so he couldn’t run in the 2018 elections, we can discuss this in a longer post if y’all are curious).

“Wait, wait, do you guys wanna elect a guy who was in prison????” 

well. here’s the thing. at this point I personally would elect ANYONE because it has become obvious that a horse holding a paint brush while ice-skating would make better decisions than our current president. But here’s the thing about Lula: he is beloved. This guy left the presidency with over 80% of approval. This was the man who took the country out of the lists of “countries with people starving” (yeah the ones we’re back into now). And while the corruption trials DID tarnish his image a lot (and i’m not even saying he’s innocent), he is still the most popular candidate to beat Bolsonaro.

So Bolsonaro is nervous, right? The men is a wreck, his approval is lower than ever (although still in the 30%’s), the country is in shambles and he now has a REAL political adversary. 

So we wake up to the news that he’s firing people. 

And we’re all fucking nervous because rumors on the capitol have it that the Minister for Defense was fired after what? after refusing orders to impose military orders on congress and/or on the supreme court. Oh, did I not mention that half the people the president named for cabinets and ministries are military, as is he? 

My bad. Yeah, it’s a government mostly composed by people from the military, also. 

Political analysts now have been seeing the situation in two different ways: (1) either everyone is quitting the boat and the government is melting down, or (2) this man is surrounding himself with loyal people to attempt a coup. And to be fair, if people are leaving because the government is dying (1), that also left a bunch of new spaces for Bolsonaro to do as he pleases with the seats, and maybe get more loyal people involved in whatever is on his head (2). 

To calm the waters, the vice-president [who is also a General] has claimed today that the Military is solid and “would not embark on any coup attempts”, which........ while semi-tranquilizing, has not been true in history. Tomorrow, March 31st, marks the anniversary of our last (official) military coup-d’etat. It was only 57 years ago.   

So. I’m not saying there FOR SURE is gonna be a coup soon, or even that we are sure this is the plan, or that it would be successful (or that Bolsonaro has or hasn’t got the support to do it) - at this point it really is very hard to see through the mess and the chaos that the government purposefully very often creates as distraction. There are other theories, there are other opinions, and there are more details to this story, but one thing is certain: Bolsonaro is now a cornered animal, and those are the most dangerous. Perhaps this is why half his cabinets are emptying, perhaps it is not, but regardless, we will all have to keep our eyes very much open tomorrow and for the rest of his term. 

TLDR: Half the Bolsonaro government quit or was fired and we’re all fucking scared this is gonna somehow lead to a coup attempt but who the fuck knows. 

[evienyx]

DSMP Citizens POV- Part 1

I've seen a lot of the memes going around, but I'm not funny enough to write that, so here's my addition to the trend :p

This is part one, because I had a lot of fun with this and want to do it more.

- - -

DSMP Citizen POV Masterlist

- - -

Sometimes, it was odd for the residents of the Dream SMP to be reminded of the fact that the constant state of chaos that their server was in was not, in fact, reflective of every server.

"Why did we move here?" One woman in Snowchester whispers to another as the sirens go off for yet another nuke test and they duck down into their bunker.

The other shrugs. She doesn't have an answer. No one does.

Things started out all right, the people supposed. There weren't any wars, at least. Some of those who lived on the server before the Revolution could remember back far enough to tell you about the first true conflict, between Dream, the creator of their home, and TommyInnit, a sixteen-year-old who could yell shockingly loud, even for a teenager. Dream fought against Tommy and Tubbo (yet another teenager), and it seemed to all be in good fun.

Some will tell you now, though, that the signs of tension were already there, and when Wilbur Soot joined, those tensions only escalated.

One moment, things on the server were normal, the next, there was a Revolution.

"Did anyone else hear Dream shouting about 'white flags' this morning?" One person would ask their friends, and receive nods in return. "Anyone know what it's about?"

"A Revolution," one would respond. "Wilbur Soot and TommyInnit are starting a new country."

"Oh," the first would hum. "How long until they get completely crushed?"

"Eh, I give 'em a week."

It was only a week, but it did not end the way anyone thought it would. Instead, L'Manburg gained its independence after TommyInnit gave up his discs once he lost a duel with Dream.

"Is the L'Manburg cabinet missing someone?"

"No, I don't think so. Anyway, did you hear that Dream just declared that Eret is to be crowned king?"

"...Can he do that?"

"He's Dream. He can do whatever he wants."

After the Revolution, when the server finally had more than one ruling faction, more than one place to live, things seemed to pick up a bit. President Soot, with Vice President Innit (VP Tommy, the people called him), ruled over L'Manburg, and called it a place of freedom. When word spread to other servers, people came to see for themselves.

And often, they stayed.

It was peaceful, for a while.

"President Soot announced he's holding an election," one man said to his wife one day.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Said it was for democracy." The man snorted. "He and Innit are the only party running, though. Sounds like a bunch of bullshit to me."

"Darling, I know you're still salty about losing the war, but there's no reason to talk bad about a child," his wife said.

The man wrinkled his nose. "Still."

It was peaceful during the campaign.

For a while.

Then, though, Quackity announced that he was running for president, with GeorgeNotFound, best friend of Dream himself, as his running mate.

"This feels like a sitcom," one girl says as she watches the debate reruns with her friends.

"At least it's entertaining," her friend replies, shoving popcorn into his mouth.

And, for the people of the Dream SMP, from both L'Manburg and the Greater SMP, it was entertaining.

Until the election results came in, Schlatt was declared the winner, and President Soot and VP Tommy were banished.

"Dude, dude!" One teen says to their friends, running up to meet them on the Prime Path.

"What is it?"

"I just saw Technoblade join the server!"

The arrival of the Blood God shifted something in the people of the Dream SMP. When he joined Pogtopia, the rebellion being led by the two ex-leaders of the country, the people felt something settle within themselves.

All of a sudden, choosing sides wasn't as simple as where you live.

It was what you care about.

As the son of the ex-president burned down the old flag, the people of the Dream SMP, of (L')Manburg and of the Greater SMP, realized suddenly that they had to make a choice.

Without even wanting to, without doing anything to deserve it, they would have to fight.

Some people went to Pogtopia, some stayed in Manburg, some in the Greater SMP. Those in the latter two stayed where they were because they wanted to stay out of it.

It didn't change anything, in the end.

In Manburg, they watched their president (Emperor) fall further and further into alcohol, yelling at his cabinet and talking of expanding into territory that they had no right to.

In the Greater SMP, murmurs of King Eret's attempts to assist the Pogtopia rebels filled the alleyways.

In Pogtopia, people sat and watched the decline of the man that they had all once believed in. As Wilbur Soot slowly devolved until he was no longer recognizable as the man who had once led people to freedom, the residents of Pogtopia ate potatoes farmed by a man famous for his bloodlust and pretended that they were sleeping somewhere warm.

The day of the Manburg Festival, though, things felt better. Other than ex-president Soot and ex-VP Tommy (Wilbur and Tommy, the two insisted. No one listened), everyone, even the rebels in Pogtopia, were invited to attend. The people wandered through the stalls playing games, watching as Soot's son attempted (in vain) to drown Technoblade, buying food, and chatting with people from other factions, friends and family that they hadn't spoken to in weeks.

When the time came for the speeches, before the true festivities were set to begin, everyone was feeling good about the day. People congratulated Secretary Tubbo for a successful event, and offered him small words of encouragement for his speech coming up. The teenager would grin at all who spoke to him, and looked (rightfully) proud of how well he organized and decorated the festival.

Secretary Tubbo gave his speech, and people clapped, and then fell silent as President (Emperor) Schlatt laughed, asked for his Vice-President's assistance, and encased the teenager in a cage of concrete.

And then he called Technoblade to the stage.

And then, in front of the people of the Dream SMP, a teenager was executed in a spray of color that shot toward the sky.

Fireworks rained down on the people in the stands, then, and, regardless of where they were from, the people of the Dream SMP ran.

The Pogtopia ranks grew that day, and a nineteen-year-old who claimed to be a doctor without showing any credentials forced four other people to help her heal VP Tommy after he fought Technoblade in a pit, egged on by a man who once might have called himself his brother.

"How is this kid not dead yet?" One of the helpers asked, looking at the unconscious teenager's face.

"Pure spite?"

The first hummed. "Sounds about right."

One day, a bit after the festival, the people of Pogtopia woke to find Vice President Quackity walking through the ravine as if he owned the place.

One resident was noted to rub his eyes, blink three times, and then say, "It's too early for this shit," before heading back to bed.

A surprising number of people followed his lead.

Finally, the day of November 16th came, when Wilbur Soot and TommyInnit vowed to take their country back.

"I heard President Soot is planning to blow up L'Manburg," one Pogtopian woman mentioned to her friend as they suited up and prepared to fight, as they had signed up to be part of the forces.

"That's stupid," her friend replied.

"Bet you ten diamonds he blows something up."

"Fine."

As the country of L'Manburg blew sky-high, one woman was seen following another, screaming that she wanted her diamonds.

When Pogtopia won the war, the forces from both sides sat outside of the remains of the van as President Soot, VP Tommy, Secretary Tubbo, Dream, Technoblade, and many more, all piled inside to confront Emperor Schlatt.

They emerged fifteen minutes later, and Dream announced to the crowd that Schlatt was dead.

There was no time for the news to sink in, as they played hot potato with the presidency, going from VP Tommy to Wilbur Soot to Secretary Tubbo.

"President Soot is leaving, do you see that?"

"Probably going to the river to celebrate the win, if you know what I mean."

"Literally shut up. Never speak again. I hate you."

As the newly-inaugurated President Tubbo finished his speech, the people felt a wave of relief wash over them. Maybe the server could finally be peaceful once more.

Then, there was the tell-tale hiss of explosives under their feet, and the people ran as the ground beneath them fell away.

Stories of what happened next are conflicting, to say the least.

Words of President Soot dying in the explosion, of him turning the blade on himself, of another man killing him.

"He had wings," people who saw the man said. "Blonde hair, a green hat and robes. He stabbed Soot with the guy's own sword."

Technoblade apparently gave an incredible speech, and anyone who was there to witness it lamented that they hadn't recorded it.

Then, two Withers flew through the sky, and blood ran down the newly-exposed stones, and people who had never experienced death on the server before finally knew what it was like to die.

Afterward, though, when the anarchist had fled and the ex-President lay dead, President Tubbo, with VP Tommy by his side, stood and addressed the people, and made promises of a brighter future, and the hope and determination in his eyes was enough for the people to hope that maybe he was right.

("Whoa, cool wings, dude," a resident of L'Manburg said to their newest neighbor, a man in green with wings, burned across all the feathers, sprouting from his back. "Wait, what happened to them?"

"Oh, I was protecting my son from the explosion," the new resident replied.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Is your son all right at least?"

"No, he died just a few minutes afterward. His last life, too." The man sighed. "As much as I hate to admit it, he probably deserved it."

A beat. "What did he do?"

"Well, you may have heard of him. Wilbur Soot? He was the president here before Schlatt, I believe."

"...Holy shit, you're the bird man that killed President Soot!"

"Yeah, mate, that's me."

"...He was your son?"

"...Yeah."

"...What the fuck is wrong with your family?")

[mrmrswales]

Introducing THE EARTHSHOT PRIZE, the most prestigious global environment prize in history.

“The Earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet, or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve. People can achieve great things. The next ten years present us with one of our greatest tests – a decade of action to repair the Earth.“ - Prince William

Five, one million-pound prizes will be awarded each year for the next ten years, providing at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest environmental problems by 2030.

The Earthshot Prize is about much more than awarding achievement – it is a decade of action to convene the environmental world with funders, businesses and individuals to maximise impact and take solutions to scale, to celebrate the people and places driving change; and to inspire people all over the world to work together to repair the planet.

The Earthshot Prize is centred around five ‘Earthshots’ – simple but ambitious goals for our planet which if achieved by 2030 will improve life for us all, for generations to come. Each Earthshot is underpinned by scientifically agreed targets including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and other internationally recognised measures to help repair our planet.

Together, they form a unique set of challenges rooted in science, which aim to generate new ways of thinking, as well as new technologies, systems, policies and solutions. By bringing these five critical issues together, The Earthshot Prize recognises the interconnectivity between environmental challenges and the urgent need to tackle them together.

THE EARTHSHOTS:

Protect & Restore Nature

Species all over the world face extinction as their homes are destroyed, but destroying nature threatens our lives too.

Forests and natural land are vital to human health and happiness, helping to prevent global warming and producing oxygen that we breathe. We must act now to protect our future.

We choose to repair and preserve the habitats that our animals need to live, from rainforests and grasslands, to wetlands, lakes and rivers.

We will award The Earthshot Prize to the most outstanding efforts to meet this challenge. To the conservationists who put a stop to poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking; to the landowners who create job opportunities for people who look after natural land; and to the entrepreneurs who help scale solutions for planting billions more trees that will secure the health and safety of generations to come.

Clean Our Air

Millions of children all over the world breathe toxic air every day, causing countless deaths that could be prevented.

We refuse to accept this – clean air and healthy lives are within our reach.We choose to end outdated transport that emits toxic fumes, remove pollution from the air using both technology and nature, and eliminate the burning of fossil fuels, choosing 100% renewable energy for everyone – from big cities to rural villages.

We will award The Earthshot Prize to the most outstanding efforts to meet this challenge. To the innovators who create job opportunities in green transport and clean energy; to the businesses who remove more pollution from the air than they put into it; and to the communities who let us heat our homes, travel to work and feed our families without polluting the air that we breathe.

Revive Our Oceans

Warmer temperatures, pollution and harmful fishing practices are having devastating impacts on the ocean, putting life underwater in jeopardy.

But this decade we can choose to make our ocean healthy.

We refuse to accept a world where turtles, dolphins and coral reefs vanish from our seas.We choose to bring forward a new era where everyone uses the ocean sustainably.

We will award The Earthshot Prize to the most outstanding efforts to meet this challenge. To the innovators who revolutionise our understanding of life underwater; to the leaders who end criminal and unsustainable fishing practices; and to the technologists who repair coral reefs and show us how to remove pollution from the ocean on a global scale.

We choose a future where our children can enjoy the ocean for years to come, and where the ocean can continue to sustain and enrich all life on Earth.

Build A Waste-Free World

The world we have built is not like this; we throw everything away, and this is harming our planet.But we have the power to build something better.

We choose to eliminate food waste, single-use packaging, and inspire a new generation of people, companies, and industries to reuse, repurpose, and recycle.

We will award The Earthshot Prize to the most outstanding efforts to meet this challenge. To the organisations that are eliminating single-use products and packaging; to the cities that revolutionise their waste management systems; and to the innovators who give new life to things destined for landfill.We choose to build a system that can work forever, where people everywhere can live safe, healthy and happy lives, without waste.

Fix Our Climate

Carbon in the atmosphere is making our planet warmer, to levels which threaten all life on Earth.

But it is not too late; if we act now, we can make the world a better, more sustainable home for everyone.We will combat climate change by removing more carbon from the atmosphere than we put into it and ensuring all countries reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. We will build defences to protect innocent people from climate driven disasters and crises.

We will award The Earthshot Prize to the most outstanding efforts to meet this challenge. To the cities or countries who reach net-zero emissions; to the leaders who create millions of new jobs in a carbon neutral economy; to the technologists who remove carbon from the atmosphere on a global scale, whilst protecting human life and nature.

We choose to fix our climate so that life everywhere can thrive for generations to come.

The Prize

Every year, The Earthshot Prize will be awarded to five inspiring solutions to each of the five Earthshots – simple but ambitious goals, underpinned by scientifically agreed targets, which if achieved by 2030 will improve life for us all, for generations to come.

Nominations will open on 1st November, with over 100 nominating partners from across the world being invited to submit nominations of those individuals, communities, businesses and organisations who could win The Earthshot Prize. Nominators will include our Global Alliance but also academic and non-profit institutions from across the world who have been selected for their ability to identify the most impactful solutions to the Earthshots.

The 5-stage prize process to select a winner for each Earthshot has been designed in partnership with the Centre for Public Impact and a range of international experts.

Nominations: The nominators will seek out solutions from across the globe that will help reach our Earthshots.

Screening: Nominations will be screened as part of an independent assessment process run by Deloitte, the implementation partner.

Shortlist: A distinguished panel of experts will support the judging process, making recommendations to The Earthshot Prize Council.

Selection: Prince William and The Earthshot Prize Councill select five winners.

Award Ceremony: The winners of The Earthshot Prize are announced at an awards ceremony which will take place in different cities across the world each year between 2021 and 2030.

The Earthshot Council:

Prince William, an advocate for conserving the natural world, he has led international efforts to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade, through United for Wildlife, helped deliver an ivory ban in the UK.

Shakira, Colombian singer-songwriter and multi-GRAMMY award winner

Sir David Attemborough, British broadcaster, writer, and naturalist.

Indra Nooyi, former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo.

Daniel Alves Da Silva, world renowned Brazilian football player.

Christina Figueres, Costan Rican citizen and an internationally recognized leader on climate change.

Yao Ming, founder of Yao Ming Foundation, global Ambassador for Special Olympics.

Cate Blanchett, internationally acclaimed and multi award-winning actress, producer, humanitarian, and dedicated member of the arts community.

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, internationally human rights advocate.

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, enviromental activist and member of Chad’s pastoralist Mbororo community.

Naoko Yamazaki, ex Astronaut, member of Space Policy Committe of Cabinet Office.

Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba group. He has been appointed by the United Nations Secretary as Co-chair of the UN High-Level panel on Digital Cooperation since 2018.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, economist and international development expert.

[mariacallous]

“Thank God Suella Braverman is back,” writes one Telegraph columnist. “Her determination to crack down on crime and illegal immigration undoubtedly chimes with the views of the country, and especially voters in the Red Wall. Thank God there is someone in the Cabinet to put forward those views.”

Her return is not an oddity, not a pantomime joke, but proves how deeply Rishi Sunak is in hock to the hard right, like every Tory leader from John Major onwards. The party will rewrite the past week’s knife-edge drama as a smooth and inevitable coronation of its princeling, but his frantic scramble for the wrong votes tells another story. Restoring Braverman to the Home Office and boasting of party “unity” unites him with the obnoxious wing that drove the Tories to this post-Brexit dead end. The Express, closest to that faction, reveals that in the last hours battling with Boris Johnson, Sunak was so needy for rightwing support that he called Braverman no fewer than six times begging for her backing and that of the wing she represents; Keir Starmer called that out in PMQs as “a grubby deal”. The first heady days are a leader’s moment of maximum power with every job in their gift – and yet Sunak emerges as another Tory PM too weak to face down those old wrecking “bastards”.

Braverman is their missile. When she stood for leader, Steve Baker instantly stood aside, tweeting: “Happily I no longer need to stand. @SuellaBraverman will deliver these priorities and more.” Yesterday, ex-party chair Jake Berry told TalkTV that far from committing what she described as a “technical infringement of the rules”, “from my own knowledge, there were multiple breaches of the ministerial code”. The cabinet secretary, Simon Case, is reportedly “livid” at her reappointment after six days, as Labour’s Yvette Cooper rightly calls for an investigation to see what she leaked, who to and how often.

Fellow rightwingers rush to her defence: MP Bernard Jenkin defended her reappointment, saying he could “vouch for the highest integrity of my right honourable friend the home secretary”. Here is an early hard landing for Sunak’s rashly boasted integrity, accountability, professionalism, seriousness and competence.

Her blunder exposed more than her failure to follow security rules. She attempted to send a confidential document to, among others, Sir John Hayes: known as her mentor, a rather less fascinating svengali. His Common Sense Group, launched two years ago in the wake of Black Lives Matter with about 40 MPs and reviving the old Cornerstone Group (faith, flag and family), inhabits the shifting sands of rightwing diehards. “Common Sense” is a useful catchphrase suggesting anything less than hard right is nonsense, just as canvassers recognise that when someone says “I’m not political”, they usually vote Tory: any other politics is abnormal.

If she regularly sent policy for approval from the Hayes faction, it’s worth knowing who he is: he was knighted along with Sir John Redwood and Sir Edward Leigh in Theresa May’s frantic wooing of troublesome rightwingers against her Brexit deal. Here are his views, unpopulist as none of them are very popular these days: a Brexiter, he has voted to restrict access to abortion, and is against equal marriage and onshore wind turbines. He’s for standing up in football stadiums and capital punishment. One of his outside jobs is as strategic adviser to BB Energy, a global energy trader. In the middle of the summer heatwave, Hayes condemned “a cowardly new world where we live in a country where we are frightened of the heat. It is not surprising in snowflake Britain.”

Braverman ran wild at the Tory conference, declaring that “a plane taking off to Rwanda … That’s my dream. That’s my obsession.” Her glee at longer prison terms for peaceful climate protesters is repugnant: “We’ll keep putting you behind bars,” she says. If Sunak cuts benefits yet again, he has an ally; she said this month: “I want to cut welfare spending. We have far too many people in this country who are fit to work, who are able to work … the benefit street culture is a feature of modern Britain”, needing “a bit more stick” to get people back to work.

But she will be blamed for the near collapse of the Home Office: from passport chaos to police recruitment in England and Wales that is still 7,000 below the number of officers cut since 2010. The more she promises impossibly few asylum-seekers and refugees, the more glaring are Home Office failures, processing virtually none of the rising numbers, with the shameful squalor of their living conditions revealed by a chief inspector who said he was left “speechless”.

Labour can weaponise Sunak’s dependence on the Tory right. That’s real, unlike the constant tired refrain at PMQs that Starmer served in the shadow cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn, a man now deprived of the Labour whip, while Braverman is Sunak’s personal choice as home secretary. Sunak is handcuffed to his hard right – no one thinks Starmer is in hock to the hard left.

ConservativeHome’s assistant editor, William Atkinson, suggests there’s political method in the danger of this appointment. Culture wars whipped up by Braverman and her allies will hide the new austerity. Sunak will stand by as they let rip on immigration, on the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the online safety bill and the green wokerati. He hopes their foghorns on statues, colonialism, museums and immigration will drown out everything else. But people feeling the pain of a 17% rise in food prices, doubling energy bills and soaring mortgages and rents are not easily distracted. As for Braverman’s “obsession” with immigration, that now sits just eighth on the Ipsos list of public concerns.

[theotherjourney7]

“The Week In Tory:

1. The government launched a “Fix your bike” voucher website, only to break in less than an hour.

2. The government said we should all lose weight, yet is still issuing vouchers to help us buy burgers.

3. It was revealed the government spent £400m buying a bankrupt satellite company, OneWeb, to replace the Euro GPS system we lose due to Brexit. Months before, a study by MIT found that OneWeb’s tech is 6x less efficient than the EU solution: the worst of the technologies studied.

4. In June the government merged the Dept for International Development into the Foreign Office, and said the move "guaranteed there would be no cuts in International Aid". Only this week the government cut International Aid by £2.9bn.

5. And the government quietly granted permission for your health records to be given to Palantir, a controversial data-mining company said to have worked with Cambridge Analytica on Brexit.

6. It did both these things (numbers 4 & 5) the day parliament broke up, so there couldn’t be any questions.

7. In answer to questions about the Russia Report, the government’s suggested solution is to (I'm not making this up) to ask Russia to tell us who their spies are!

8. Ex-Russian intelligence staff say 85% of their work is not spying, but “political funding and misinformation".

9. Which brings us to Funding and Misinformation news:

1) Since 2012, the Tory party has had almost £3m in donations from members of Putin’s cabinets.

2) 14 current government ministers have received donations from individuals or companies connected to the Russian leadership.

3) Home Secretary Priti Patel said the Russia Report could be ignored because it was now 9 months old and “out of date”! The reason for the report being “out of date” as Ms. Patel claims is the government as it delayed the release of the report for 9 months, and the reasons given were described as “simply not true” (aka "misinformation") by the Intelligence Committee.

10. Now Covid news where Health Secretary Matt Hancock boasted he had met the targets on his “Six tests” on Covid 19. Well Full Fact found 4 of the 6 targets were missed, one target couldn’t be met because it had never been defined, and 1 “relied on a definition [that] does not reflect practice”.

11. The cross-party Media & Culture Committee found that the government’s support for arts was “vague and slow-coming” and “jeopardised UK culture”

12. The cross-party Public Accounts Committee found : 1)there was an “astonishing failure to plan for the economic impact” of Covid 19

2) It also said the policy of discharging patients into care homes was a “reckless and appalling policy error”

3) It called the government “slow, inconsistent [and] negligent”

4) The chair of the Committee said “A competent government does not run a country on the hoof”.

13. More on-the-hoof news: the government quarantined tourists returning from Spain because Spain was a danger! Yet only the day before, Spain had 2 Covid deaths. Britain had 114! Side note the transport secretary was on holiday in Spain, so was effectively trapped by his own department’s decision.

14. Which brings us to Brexit, and a report from London School of Economics showed a WTO Brexit will permanently shrink 16 out of the UK's 24 industry sectors by up to 15% each. Permanently!!!! This report lead to: 1) A Tory MP tweeted “👍🏼WTO here we come!”

2) Another pro-Brexit Tory MP with a grasp of what's to come tweeted “my strong advice is: take the opportunity to live abroad”

3) Dominic Cummings (chief adviser to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and considered to be the main engineer for Brexit) tweeted that leaving the EU "could be an error”!!!!

15. And now PPE contracts, so prepare to begin eternal screaming:

1) £252m to Ayanda Capital, registered in Mauritius for tax purposes. PPE not delivered.

2) £186m to Uniserve. PPE not delivered.

3) £116m to P14 Medical Supplies, with assets of just £145. PPE not delivered.

4) £108m to PestFix, with just 16 employees. PPE not delivered.

5) £107m to Clandeboye Agencies, a sweet wholesaler. Yes, a sweet wholesaler. PPE not delivered.

6) £40m to Medicine Box Ltd, with assets of just £6000. PPE not delivered.

7) £48m to Initia Ventures Ltd, which registered itself as “dormant” in March. PPE not delivered.

8) £28m to Monarch Acoustics, which makes shop furniture. PPE not delivered.

9) £25m to Luxe Lifestyle, which has no employees, no assets, and no turnover. PPE not delivered.

10) £18m to Aventis Solutions, which has total assets of £332. Not a typo, £332. PPE not delivered.

11) £10m to Medco Solutions, incorporated just 3 days after lockdown, with share capital of (not a typo) £2. PPE not delivered.

In all, approximately £1bn to inexplicable suppliers for PPE that hasn’t been delivered!!!!!

The government still polls well for economic competence. Go figure.

16. Meanwhile a Nuffield Health study found after 10 years of "chronic underinvestment", UK is at the bottom of the league table for health resources; and diagnostics and surgery by the NHS will take 4 years to return to pre-Covid levels! But £1bn for non-existent PPE.

17. The government’s “world beating” test-and-trace programme was described as “scandalous” by the British Medical Journal, and found to miss its 80% target in every Covid hotspot announced this week.

18. And finally, Boris Johnson refused a public enquiry into government handling of Covid 19....”-Russ

[josefavomjaaga]

Helfert, Joachim Murat, Chapter 2, Part 4

(Sorry, just a short piece today as I've been somewhat distracted. But hey, guess who is mentioned: Pépé!)

**

The King had also recently become irritated with Austria on learning that she had transferred decisions on the claims of ex-Queen Maria Luisa of Etruria and on the succession to the throne of Savoy from his hands to those of England, Russia and Prussia; "this proves," Gallo said to Count Mier in the second half of December, "that Austria no longer adheres to the principle which she herself has expressed: that she does not wish to allow any other power to interfere in the affairs of Italy. Must this not make the King uneasy?" In the question of the Marches, Metternich and Consalvi pressed the Duke of Campochiaro until the latter, in the best opinion of making his master more favourably disposed to the sentiments of these two powers, came to the concession that the Neapolitan troops should withdraw from the Marches, provided the Pope would commit himself to the strictest neutrality between Joachim and Ferdinand. But the king refused. "How could Campochiaro make such a promise," he exclaimed in conversation with Count Mier, "when he had the strictest mandate to make the recognition of me as king a conditio sine qua non for the evacuation?! The Pope may easily promise that he will observe strictest neutrality between me and King Ferdinand, but he will not keep it. He promised me in Bologna, and then again in Cesena, to send me an envoy and to accept one from me as soon as he arrived in Rome. Did he do it? On the contrary, he has conspired with my enemies to my downfall, he has allowed himself to be drawn completely into Ferdinand's interest. Does he want to postpone my recognition until after the end of the Congress? Once I have the recognition of the Congress, I will not stand for his recognition, which will then be a given. Let him do it now, I will be grateful to him for it and then he will also get his stamps out. I hear he wants to banish me for occupying territories which, as he thinks, are the property of the church ? My Lord Count, he would have to start with you; for you occupy the Legations just as I occupy the Marches." [Footnote 1]

Footnote 1: Mier to the 20th of December. Some time later, Lucian Buonaparte wrote to his sister that he would come to Naples on behalf of the Pope in order to reach an agreement about the Marches; but he was given to understand that he was not to interfere in matters that did not concern him.

**

To the Vienna Congress, as to the world in general, Joachim understandably wanted to spread the opinion that no one was better suited for the throne of Naples, that no one was more popular than he with all classes of the population, and this gave rise to a flood of addresses which arrived in Naples from all parts of the country, mostly ordered, often literally prescribed, and there found their way into the capital newspapers and with them to Vienna, to be used by Cariati and Campochiaro as evidence in favour of the king. But there were also more independent manifestations among them, and an address from a part of the Neapolitan nobility was particularly noticeable at court because in it, with barely concealed allusion to Sicily, the demand for constitutional institutions was expressed. Even if the king did not find himself in a position to comply with this demand for the moment, he was perhaps not entirely displeased with this manifestation because it touched on a matter that could win him numerous and widespread sympathies.

For he was more than ever anxious to make himself popular and, in contrast to the measured or defensive attitude of the old cabinets, to win public opinion in his favour. The only thing that got in the way of his efforts were his country's carbonari, about whose secret activities new signs were constantly appearing. Of course, as we know, the more educated associates often had constitutional desires in mind, and these would have challenged the king just as little as the ideas of Italian unification, which also enjoyed great support in these circles. But the evil for him lay in the pronounced old-royal sympathies and tendencies by which the great mass of the Carbonari allowed themselves to be dominated; and even of those in frock coats many placed their hopes in the return of the Bourbons, because they attributed to the Crown Prince Franz a preference for constitutional institutions. For the sake of those wishes and ideas, the sect had zealous supporters even in Joachim's immediate surroundings. Maghella, who had been freed by the capture of Paris from the distrustful bonds in which Napoleon's police had held him since his recall from Naples in 1811, one does not know for what reason, and who was now once more in King Joachim's confidence, was considered a friend of the Carbonari, and the same was the case with several of the national generals. But the king could not be dissuaded from his suspicions. "You want me to show mercy to the Carbonari," he said one day to Guglielmo Pepe, "people who in their assemblies at Lanciano declare me a tyrant?" At his meeting with Pius VII at the foot of the last campaign, Joachim had asked him to condemn such a dangerous sect also from the ecclesiastical point of view; the Pope had answered evasively: "this had already been done in the earlier bulls against secret societies". When he returned to Rome, however, a new edict appeared, signed by the pro-state secretary Cardinal Pacca, against the Freemasons and other such associations and cooperatives; only the Carbonari were not expressly mentioned, and the King of Naples therefore saw himself dependent solely on his own decrees and courts, which diligently performed their duties. One of the sect's headquarters was now the Abruzzi, where the military commissions passed one death sentence after another.

In the capital, hardly anything was noticeable about these bloody events. At the royal court, things were cheerful and glamorous, even if the expense had been somewhat reduced compared to earlier times. Entertainments and cercles, hunts and carousels alternated with military spectacles on the Field of Mars and attracted onlookers from all over the world, among whom, as always, the English played the leading role and received the greatest attention.The London Cabinet was troubled by the naivety of some of the sons of Albion who, like Lord Sligo, marvelled at the King of Naples as one of the greatest men of his time, assured him of the sympathy of their countrymen, wrote home that England had no more loyal friend than he, and so on. Things were brought to a head in this direction by the Princess Caroline of Wales, who was met by the King in person at Aversa on 8 November and brought to the capital in his carriage, he on the left and she on the right, where she declined however to stay in the royal palace. But she paid visits to the queen and received those of Caroline, appeared at the festivities of the court and hosted such in her palace, and was not in the least disturbed by the fact that her government had no envoy or diplomatic agent, not even a certified consul in Naples. The king, his fame and bravery, were the perpetual object of her homage. Among the living images that were sometimes performed at her house, one evening one saw the bust of Joachim crowned with laurels under a palm tree; two ladies of the Neapolitan aristocracy presented Hebe and Fama, while the princess, as Parthenope, inscribed Murat's name in the Book of Immortality. At last the extravagant lady fell quite seriously in love with the handsome Gascon, did not exert the least compulsion to let him notice it on every occasion and in every conceivable way, and, when she did not see her passion reciprocated, threw her hatred on the queen, whom she sought to divide with her husband; in short, she behaved in such a way that all the world took offence at her conduct, most of all the English, who made loud comments about her.

If Joachim remained impervious to Princess Caroline's displays of affection, he found himself all the more seduced by the political flattery with which she pricked his ears and which he believed to be confirmed by various other quarters. In the London Parliament many voices of opposition, especially Lord Oxford and General Wilson, had risen in his favour, and now he imagined that his recognition by the British was as much as settled, so that he had no further need of Austria. An English doctor, Griffith by name, presented himself to the King as a close acquaintance of a friend of the Prince-Regent, offered to help him in London and elicited political secrets of the most delicate kind from the gullible man.

The fires of war blazed anew in Joachim's veins and external circumstances helped to stoke them. He was now almost at war with his territorial neighbour the Pope. In the first days of February 1815, he showed Count Mier the letter of one of his generals commanding in the Marches, which spoke of an unusual accumulation of papal military, of the formation of volunteer armies in the border regions: "everything pointed to an imminent invasion and he requested instructions and supplies of troops from the king". Murat complied with the last request by reinforcing the border cordon against the Roman by the Velite regiment of the Guard, 9 February. Postal traffic between the two neighbouring states was disrupted and soon ceased altogether, so that Naples had to think of opening a new line through the Abruzzi via Ancona and Bologna for the dispatch of letters to the north. Bad news also came from France: in Franche-Comté Dauphiné Provence an army force of 30,000 men was assembled, which seemed to have no other goal than Naples. Murat took this as a pretext for getting ready to march and sent word to Vienna that he intended to lead an army of 80,000 men against the French border, for which purpose he would be allowed to march through central and upper Italy, his troops would keep to strict discipline and pay everything in due time. However, Emperor Francis was far from agreeing to such a far-reaching request. Austria, he told the Neapolitan plenipotentiary, could not allow the peace of the peninsula to be disturbed by such a military development and would also inform the Cabinet of Versailles of this negative answer (25 and 26 February). At the same time, orders were given in Vienna to reinforce the troops in Lombardy and in the Venetian region in order to counter any hostile undertakings planned by the other side.

[End of Chapter 2. The Hundred Days are coming.]

[jed-thomas]

Ministers with and without Portfolios

When you want to demonstrate your sincerity, you write a letter.

The summer is nearing its summit and 1982 is disappearing in a confused fog. Somewhere, Micheal Foot opens up an envelope. An ambitious young candidate, recently selected in some leafy suburb of London, has written to him. You can feel the youth in his writing - and, regrettably, a palpable eagerness to impress. Nevertheless, there are some admirable phrases:

Socialism ultimately must appeal to the better minds of the people. You cannot do that if you are tainted overmuch with a pragmatic period in power.

For men like Foot, members of a modern British tradition, politics and oratory are not separable. Even the timbre of your voice comes into it. On some cold picket-line, at some bored union congress, or against the baying of the other half of the House, you have to fill the air and rouse the spirits. In so many ways, the tradition of British socialism is a poetic tradition.

Maybe, then, he spots it a mile away. A lack of inspiration, the absence of a real perspective. That faint sense of pantomime. Or otherwise, Michael Foot, soon to be an ex-leader of the Labour Party, dimly registers the writer’s display of party-loyalty and just puts the letter aside. This man had crashed the party’s vote-share in Beaconsfield. Tony Blair is saving face.

X

Last Friday, it was announced that the constituency of Hartlepool would return its first Conservative MP in 62 years. Labour’s vote-share crashed by 16%. Perhaps most astonishingly, the Conservative victory in Hartlepool is only the second time in 40 years that a party in government has taken a seat from their opposition.

In immediate response, Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer MP moved to reorganise the Labour Party’s campaign office. Importantly, Deputy Leader Angela Rayner MP was removed from her position as Chair of the Labour Party, the position ultimately responsible for election campaigns. As the Deputy Leader is elected separately, Starmer’s decision has been criticised as an attempt to undermine the influence of a senior elected official. However, as the days have passed, Rayner has emerged with a new position - or, more accurately, a few new positions. Angela Rayner MP now shadows Michael Gove MP as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and occupies the newly-created, elegantly-titled office of Shadow Secretary for the Future of Work.

Former MP for Hartlepool and Minister without Portfolio under Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson has been named by sources within the party to Guardian columnist Owen Jones. According to Jones, Mandelson signed off the press strategy for Shadow Cabinet members following the result in his former constituency.

X

It’s raining in Stockport. The King Street bridge is abandoned. Looking at the slow river, she knows that she is a cliché, a tired punchline. And she knows that she’ll have to leave school. Other girls have done it, so she’ll get through it, too. But it’s an abrupt and unceremonious change to whatever path she was on before. 16 and pregnant. A joke. Then again, wasn’t this always the intended outcome, in one way or another? Cornered. It was going to be a long time before she understood that there was anything that could be done about that.

The wind takes a few of the leaflets out from under his armpit and scatters them all over the carpark of Oxted station. A favour, he thinks. It’s 8 in the morning, they’re all commuters. No-one’s taking them. As if some serious city lawyer is going to read about the future of proletarian resistance, let alone in a pamphlet handed to him by a spotty adolescent. East Surrey Young Socialists. He isn’t blind to the humour of that. Some preachy privately-educated Surrey boy. He had tried to explain that he’d gotten into Reigate fairly and squarely, that it’d only just started asking for fees in the last few years. Much to his chagrin, by the way. People around here don’t listen. If they did, they’d see that there was nothing to be scared of. But they’re closed off, rigid. It’s enough to make you want to pack it all in, honestly.

His father was staring out at the snow falling on the houses of Hampstead Garden in one of his attitudes of preparation. He had an abiding sense of danger, of impending calamity. Peter always attributed that to his religiosity. Eschatology. The End Times. “Have you compiled your application yet?” “Of course, Dad.” Peter knew the counterpoint melody. Your mother and I have worked too hard. He would say it like that because his mother is the real concerned party. Descendants of the Labour Party aristocracy are obsessed with elite education. He is pretty sure that he will get in. He’s clever, goes to a good grammar. And when he gets in, he is going to have fun, the sort of fun you can only have at a place like Oxford. Judgement Day is a long way off.

The Hampstead Garden Suburb was the brain-child of two idealist architects, Raymond Unwin and Barry Parker. The pair were disciples of the Arts and Crafts movement, an aesthetic philosophy with global reach that found particular purchase among British socialists; indeed, Unwin was a life-long and active member of various socialist organisations. Hampstead Garden was to be spacious, communal and open to all social classes. It was built on land purchased from Eton College by a wealthy patron. The Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust Ltd., established in 1906, executed Parker and Unwin’s designs.

Peter Mandelson was born in 1953 to an advertising manager and the daughter of Herbert Morrison, the Leader of the House of Commons under Clement Attlee. He was raised in the Hampstead Garden Suburb, attended a local grammar school and then, studied at Oxford. As a teenager, he was a member of the Young Communist League. At university, he joined the Oxford University Labour Club.

As a veteran in public relations by the time of Tony Blair’s bid for leadership of the Labour Party in 1994, Mandelson, distrusted by trade union representatives within the party, played his part in the successful campaign in near anonymity, being referred to by staff only as “Bobby”. In his acceptance speech, Blair used the moniker when expressing gratitude to his campaign team. After running Blair’s successful general election campaign a few years later, Mandelson was appointed to the office of Minister without Portfolio, allowing him to attend Cabinet meetings without having any formal obligations. Critics have likened it to a sinecure. In 1998, Mandelson resigned from government, having failed to declare dealings with millionaire Cabinet colleague, Geoffrey Robinson. He is now a peer, happy to be part of the club.

Oxted is an incredibly old town. When William the Conqueror ordered a survey in 1086, Oxted had its various assets - hides, churches, ploughs - recorded. It remained a sleepy time-capsule until it was reached by the new railway system in 1884 and run-off trade from London began to bring money into the town. At the beginning of the last decade, it was the twentieth richest town in Britain by income.

Born to a nurse and a toolmaker in 1962, Keir Starmer was named for the first parliamentary leader of what would become the Labour Party, Keir Hardie. He attended a grammar school and was the first in his family to graduate from university, obtaining an undergraduate degree in law from the University of Leeds. As a result, he undertook postgraduate study at Oxford and became a barrister in 1987. During this time, he edited Socialist Alternative, a controversial magazine associated with various factions on the Marxist left.

Starmer is a relatively green politician, having only been selected as a candidate for Holborn and St. Pancras in 2014. The majority of his life has been spent working in the legal system. In 2010, Starmer successfully prosecuted 3 Labour MPs and a Conservative peer on charges of false accounting. In 2011, he encouraged the rapid prosecution of several rioters, sometimes on the testimony of undercover police officers. In 2012, Starmer brought a case against former Energy Secretary Chris Huhne which resulted in the only resignation of a Cabinet Minister over legal proceedings in British parliamentary history. In 2020, as Leader of the Opposition, Starmer ordered Labour MPs to abstain on the third reading of the Covert Human Intelligence Sources Bill, which granted undercover police officers full legal immunity for all actions undertaken on duty. Desperate to be heard, Starmer re-tweeted a Guardian column by Angela Rayner MP, adding: ‘We’ll make sure you know Labour is on your side.’

Stockport lies just south-east of the City of Manchester at the point where the Rivers Tame and Goyt become the Mersey. Although bisected by the feudal borders of the counties Cheshire and Lancashire, it belongs to a different epoch. Stockport is a town with almost 300 years of industrial history, home to one of the first mechanised silk factories in the entire British Isles. Surveying all of England for his 1845 history ‘The Condition of the English Working Class’, Friedrich Engels remarked that Stockport was ‘renowned as one of the duskiest, smokiest holes’ to be found in the industrial heartlands.

By the time Angela Rayner was born on a Stockport council estate in 1980, the country seemed eager to be free of this history. This eagerness sometimes manifested as a disdain for trade unionists and benefit claimants. Both of Rayner’s parents were eligible for benefits. And at 31, Angela Rayner was a senior official for the public-sector union Unison.

Having left school at 16 to raise her first son, she got her GCSEs by studying part-time at Stockport College, where she eventually qualified as a social care worker. At work, she clashed with management, discovering a flair for negotiation that would get her elected as a union steward. Finally, after years and years of confusion and uncertainty, someone was being made to answer.

[betsypaige22]

This is such a great interview....god, I miss Bobby. I’ve posted this because otherwise you need to be a subscriber...

I have to be honest, picturing Bobby doing this particular yoga pose makes me need to take a cold shower, lol. The part about his kids asking if he’s going to leave them is heartbreaking ....😭😭. I do love that he’s still baking...

************************

Every Sunday morning the actor Robert Carlyle grabs his mat and heads off for a session of “restorative yoga” in the Canadian port city of Vancouver, where he lives. There is one particular pose — called a “chest-opener”; you lie back, arms supported by bolsters, and release stress and feelings through the abdomen — that has produced remarkable results.

“You hold the pose for up to nine minutes and it releases emotions,” he says. “Out of nowhere I remembered this old lady leading me through the streets of Drumchapel in Glasgow when I was about seven years old, to go to see some wrestling. I hadn’t remembered her since I was a kid. I just lay there crying.”

Carlyle was brought up by his father, Joe, after his mother, Elizabeth, walked out to be with another man when he was four. His father was a painter and decorator, and the pair lived an itinerant existence around the UK in communes, shared houses and even tents. They lived in almost 100 homes. The old woman was his grandmother, Jean, who stepped in to help sometimes.

“That’s what set me off,” Carlyle says. “The realisation that this old woman was my dad’s mum, born in 1895 and survivor of two world wars. And here she was in her seventies, looking out for me when my dad was struggling to get to work.”

Carlyle left school at 16 and followed his father into painting and decorating. Aged 22, he discovered acting and, without formal training, appeared in The Hard Man, Tom McGrath’s play about the notorious Glasgow gangster Jimmy Boyle. After this he was encouraged to enrol at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland).

In the early 1990s he made a name for himself in the ITV detective series Cracker, as well as playing Begbie, the charismatic psycho in the screen adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel Trainspotting. Carlyle was lauded as a raw talent able to articulate a new “dirty realism”, although it was his role in the 1997 stripper comedy The Full Monty and as James Bond’s ex-KGB nemesis Renard in the 1999 film The World is Not Enough that catapulted him to international stardom.

“I went through a stage of being very angry about my mother, and that helped to fuel some of those roles,” he says. “As for Begbie in Trainspotting, that was partly me and partly the odd genuine psycho I had encountered in Glasgow.”

At the height of his fame in the 1990s Carlyle was at the centre of Cool Britannia and simultaneously friends with Damon Albarn from Blur and Noel Gallagher, then in Oasis (Carlyle appeared in the video for the single Little By Little). Tony Blair even recommended him for an OBE in the 1998 new year’s honours list. And yet, while at drama school Carlyle feared he might never get work because he wasn’t “posh”.

Now he has come full circle because he is about to play the fictional British prime minister Robert Sutherland in the new six-part Sky drama series Cobra. “Before I opened the script, I actually thought it was about a snake,” he says. “That’s what living away from home does to you.”

Cobra in fact refers to the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms, the government’s crisis centre where national emergencies from terrorist attacks to natural disasters are handled. In this case the threat comes from a geomagnetic storm resulting from a solar flare that is threatening the worldwide electrical infrastructure. Kettles stop boiling. Cities go dark. Planes drop from the sky.

Carlyle is rigorous in his preparation for roles. When cast as a bus driver in Ken Loach’s 1996 film Carla’s Song he qualified as one. “For a working-class guy from Glasgow, being a prime minister was always going to be challenging,” he says. “I listened to tapes of posh Scottish MPs like [the former foreign secretary] Sir Malcolm Rifkind. He’ll sound like a Scot most of the time, but there are certain turns of phrase when you think, ‘Are you sure this guy is for real?’”

Keen-eyed viewers will have seen Carlyle in the BBC’s adaptation of HG Wells’s The War of the Worlds as the “potentially gay” astronomer Ogilvy. But perhaps only true aficionados will have spotted him as John Lennon in the Beatles tribute film Yesterday. He appeared as a counterfactual, 78-year-old Lennon enjoying his dotage in a bungalow by the sea. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr approved, but Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono wasn’t happy. “She didn’t like the idea of people seeing John get old, which I understand, but [the director] Danny Boyle argued that John is revered public property,” Carlyle says.

Carlyle wouldn’t accept a credit for the role. “That felt like too much. The chance to play a hero was enough. I don’t think it hurts to occasionally do things for love.”

Lennon’s relationship with his mother, Julia, was fractured too of course, and after a turbulent adolescence and having reached the top of his professional game, Carlyle came to yearn for a family. “I could go anywhere and have anything. [The 1990s] were an extraordinary time. But even then, I was quite a shy person, and I wanted kids and a home and a wife. Every day I am thankful that I found the most fantastic woman to do that with.”

Carlyle met his wife, the make-up artist Anastasia Shirley, while working on Cracker, and they have three children: Ava, 17, Harvey, 15, and Pearce, 13. After ten years in Vancouver, where Carlyle was making the US series Once Upon a Time, his children consider themselves Canadian. Sometimes they ask about his upbringing, an era referred to as his “black and white years”. “‘Dad, tell us about the black and white years,’ they say. It’s pretty heavy telling children about your mother leaving because they look frightened and say, ‘Are you going to bugger off as well?’ When I’ve reassured them, they just look sad. So I say to them, ‘Don’t be sad for me, I got all the love I ever needed. I don’t feel angry or aggrieved. It was her that missed out.’”

Carlyle’s father died of a heart attack in 2006, and in an attempt to work through his grief Carlyle embarked on a tour of the homes they shared together. “That tour was about confirming I had lived that life,” he says. “I’ve been honoured at Buckingham Palace. I’ve done a Bond movie. But I’ve also slept rough with my old man under Brighton pier. It can mess with your head. Going back reminded me where I’m from. I sat in the car weeping.”

For now the family remain in Canada while the children complete their schooling. At weekends he takes them to football, bakes bread (Carlyle taught himself after discovering that Lennon was an accomplished home baker) and the family sometimes go for walks in a local forest.

He celebrated New Year’s Eve in Scotland with his old friend Robert del Naja from Massive Attack and, sooner or later, the family will return for good. It’s striking that Carlyle has not lost his accent. “You don’t lose the accent unless you want to,” he says with a smile. “I love our life in Canada. It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people. But I only have to do a couple of yoga poses to know I’ve got a lot of Britain still inside of me.”

All episodes of Cobra are available from January 17 on Sky One and NOW TV

ROBERT CARLYLE’S PERFECT WEEKEND

Trainspotting or stamp collecting?

Neither — football

Independence or unity?

Unity and collaboration, always

Glasgow or Sheffield?

Glasgow

Green juice for breakfast or the full monty?

Full monty

Night in or night out?

Night in

Last film you saw?

Joker

Country walk or personal trainer?

Country walk

How many unread emails in your inbox?

Around 2,000

What’s your signature dish?

Pasta

I couldn’t get through my weekend without . . .

Football

[howwelldoyouknowyourmoon]

Illegal Aliens joining the Moonies in San Francisco

The Pittsburg Press   December 20, 1982

By Katherine Ellison

On a recent autumn evening, in a spacious living room in San Francisco, a former South Vietnamese army commander, four former Cuban and Nicaraguan businessmen and one former Salvadoran soldier munched on cheddar cheese and crackers and listened to a handsome young man in prep-school clothes encourage them to: “Be like a fisherman; just be patient.”

“Cast your lines,” said the young man, Mike Cardone. “It hasn’t happened yet, but when it does, we’ll be ready.”

Smiling down on the group from a shelf above the fireplace was a photograph of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the leader of the South Korean-based Unification Church.

And in the darkness outside, federal immigration agents were recording license plate numbers from cars parked near the house.

The discussions at that evening’s meeting did not directly involve Moon or his controversial church.

But the meeting – organized by a Moon-affiliated group – underscored the church’s keen interest and increasing participation in right-wing politics.

That interest has drawn the attention of San Francisco immigration investigators, who fear Moon’s followers, known as “Moonies,” are using political causes to entice illegal aliens into their church.

It has also raised the curiosity of San Francisco police, who are concerned that political meetings and rallies sponsored by Moon-affiliated groups might erupt in violence.

“They believe they can setup a world government,” said officer Sandy Gallant, a San Francisco police investigator specializing in cult group activities. “That’s where we’ve really got to take a hard look at what they’re doing.”

The evening meeting in San Francisco last month was sponsored by the Coalition for a Free World, formed nearly a year ago. The group counts among its San Francisco Bay area members emigré Nicaraguans, Cubans, Poles, Ukrainians, Vietnamese, Salvadorans and Afghanis as well as Eldridge Cleaver, a former Black Panther turned “born-again” patriot and Unification Church supporter.

The coalition was organized by CARP, the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles. Dan Fefferman, CARP’s national president in New York, describes the group – founded 28 years ago in South Korea – as “a Reverend Moon organization, but not a Unification Church organization.”

“CARP is legally separate from the church, and primarily educational.” Fefferman said.

Both former Moonies and police, however, contend that CARP is a major recruiting arm of the church.

Local events sponsored by CARP members and, more recently, the coalition, have included twice-monthly political discussions, a May flag-burning ceremony in front of the Soviet Consulate in San Francisco, a march last year to honor visiting then-President José Napoleón Duarte of El Salvador, and a September news conference with militarist Nicaraguan exile José “Chicano” Cardenal.

The march in support of Duarte ended with 11 people injured when marchers clashed with opponents of the Salvadoran regime.

An internal directory for the Coalition for a Free World shows many of its members have become newsmakers in their own right.

One affiliate is the National Unified Front for the Liberation of Vietnam, which has organized rallies and fund-raising activities in several U.S. cities. The front’s leaders claim to have sent men as well as money to aid resistance efforts in Vietnam.

Nguyen Ngan, who said he was a military police officer in Vietnam, is listed as the front’s contact for the coalition in Oakland.

“We join together to fight for freedom, we join with anyone who fights the communists,” he said in broken English when asked about his involvement in the group. Ngan added that he has attended coalition meetings since last May, but knew nothing about the group’s association with Moon.

Cardone, a member of both CARP and the Unification Church, said he has been trying to unite two rival Nicaraguan exile factions in the San Francisco Bay area.

One, represented by Cardenal and with U.S. political headquarters in Miami, includes ex-members of deposed dictator Anastasio Somoza’s national guard, who are currently carrying out raids into Nicaragua from bases in Honduras. That group, the Nicaraguan Democratic Front, reportedly has been receiving clandestine aid in Honduras from the Honduran military and the CIA.

The other group is led by dissident members of the Nicaraguan Sandinista government who have repeatedly refused to deal with Somoza’s ex-followers, the Somocistas.

Describing the intent of the Coalition for a Free World, Cardone said: “We’re trying to create a platform where (the exiles) can express their ideology – we’d like them to have a clear idea of how and why we’re fighting.

“We’re not promoting violence,” he added. “I mean, granted, (Cardenal’s) got an army. But what are his motivations, his ideals? The guy’s coming from somewhere, and we want to help him explain to the American public what his problem is.”

In Washington, spokesmen for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service insist they are not paying special attention to Unification Church activities in this country.

In San Francisco, however, immigration agents have become increasingly interested in – and outspoken about — Moonie activities.

“I foresee the recruitment (into the church) of more Spanish-speaking people,” INS assistant district director Robert Moschorak said when asked about the Coalition for a Free World. He added that he believes recruiters may be using some Spanish-speaking converts to attract others.

The church, Moschorak said, is “absolutely recruiting illegal aliens.”

INS agents in San Francisco say they are studying more than 100 cases of suspected illegal aliens associated with the Unification Church. Many of these are tourists who overstayed their visas after joining the church. Efforts to find them, however, have been hindered, Moschorak said, by Church attempts to “thwart” the INS.

Last March, seven Moonie illegal aliens were arrested in an INS raid in San Francisco. Among them was John Biermans, the former executive secretary to a Canadian Cabinet minister. INS agents say Biermans came to the United States eight years ago on what relatives said was a planned 10-day vacation, but which apparently became an indefinite stay alter he became involved with the church.

Investigators’ concerns about the church have been heightened by evidence of Moon’s broad range of activities around the world, testimony of former Moonies, and the church leader’s own public speeches – primarily his pledge to “conquer and subjugate the world.”

“I don’t think they really can take over the world – but they believe they can – and that’s where they’re scary.” said San Francisco officer Gallant.

Church officials claim about 3 million members, active in 127 nations. Critics, however, say the membership is much smaller. Gallant estimates that worldwide church membership is only 50,000.

However, those scaled-down estimates have not reduced concern about the church’s activities.

For more than a decade, the Unification Church has actively recruited members and raised money in the United States. Church members have stirred controversy with both their techniques and their goals – an alchemy of religion, commerce and politics.

Travelers have complained of being harassed by young flower vendors in airports. Parents have claimed that their children have been brainwashed. A profession of “deprogrammers” has sprung up to coax recruits back to their families.

At the same time, the church has been branching out into a wide range of industries around the world.

Recruits are believed to plow their earnings from selling flowers, toys and pins into Moon’s personal business empire – a multinational network that includes Tong Il Industries, a major South Korean defense contractor producing rifles, anti-aircraft guns and other weapons; Korean pharmaceutical and industrial companies; and, in the United States, a vast number of newspapers, restaurants, bands, fishing companies and cultural foundations.

Moon also bankrolled the $46 million “Inchon,” one of the most expensive films ever made. The U.S. Army in South Korea assisted in production and rental of military equipment, Army spokesman Donald Baruch said. But after officials discovered Moon’s name was to be featured prominently in the credits, the Army insisted that reference to the help be deleted – to avoid “embarrassment” Baruch said.

“The public does not have a clear understanding of the covert activities going on,” said Steve Hassan, a former church official and now president of Ex-Moon Inc., an association of dissident former members.

Within the United States, Hassan said, Moonies use groups such as the San Francisco coalition both to recruit new members and to help the church infiltrate communities around the world.

CARP president Fefferman said coalition rallies and meetings in the San Francisco Bay area tie in with CARP’s aims to expand into Africa and South America in this decade.

At the same time, the church has been expanding its commercial presence in Latin America. Last year, the Moonies invested $65 million in a five-star hotel and gambling casino in Montevideo, Uruguay. They also established a new Moonie newspaper and an anti-communist civic group in the Uruguayan capital.

▲ The tall extension building behind the hotel contains the casino.

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Suicide of Japanese ‘Moon money mule’ in Uruguay. She was the mother of three children

Sun Myung Moon organization activities in Central & South America

1. Introduction 2. ‘Illegal Aliens Joining Moonies’ – The Pittsburg Press 3. Moon’s ‘Cause’ Takes Aim At Communism in the Americas – Washington Post 4. Moon in Latin America: Building the Bases of a World Organisation – Guardian 5. Guatemala 6. Nicaragua 7. Honduras 8. Costa Rica 9. Bolivia 10. Uruguay 11. Paraguay 12. Brazil

Atrocities in Nicaragua: In 1981 the Moonies sponsored a news conference for Contra chief “Chicano” Cardenal

Robert Parry’s investigations into Sun Myung Moon

Sun Myung Moon: The Emperor of the Universe, transcript and links