Independence Day in Poland, 11 Nov 2017
US Embassy & Consulate in Poland | Advisory
"U.S. Embassy Warsaw informs U.S. citizens that multiple scheduled demonstrations and events will take place in Warsaw and Krakow on Friday, November 11, 2016, in celebration of Polish Independence Day."
Bloomberg | Leader of Warsaw Seeks to Ban Fringe Party After Racist Rally
"In the days since, the government has accused media of focusing on 'fringe incidents,' said unspecified 'provocateurs' stoked unrest and praised the police for restraining 45 people who sought to disrupt the 60,000-strong march."
WSJ | Polish Nationalist Youth March Draws Thousands in Capital
"The largely young crowd shot off roman candles and many chanted "fatherland," carrying banners that read "White Europe," "Europe Will be White," and "Clean Blood."
PressTV | 60,000 attend far-right march on Poland's Independence Day
"Meanwhile, a smaller counter-rally by an anti-fascist movement also drew some 2,000 participants from left-wing parties, with police and organizers keeping the two groups apart to avoid the possibility of violence."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

I was elected to represent my constituents and act in the country's best interest. Silly headlines from a discredited newspaper will not stop me from doing my duty. pic.twitter.com/aOjlt1FEy5

— Stephen Hammond MP (@S_Hammond) November 15, 2017

Macron's party launches zealous ["]training["] on the EU

The speech the French president gave in September 2017 on reforming Europe appears several times in the chapters, where it is presented as a central event in European politics today.

"The election of Emmanuel Macron, the bearer of a proposal for the future of the EU, has been widely received, beyond the borders of France, as the hope of a new balance and a European renaissance."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

euractiv

The European Central Bank (ECB) challenged an attempt by the European Court of Auditors (ECA), the watchdog of EU finances, to examine the Bank's role in the Greek bailout and reform programmes and refused to provide access to some requested information, citing banking confidentiality.

BBC

In his  [Davis] speech to an economic conference organised by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, he said trade between Germany and the UK was worth 176bn euros a year or "more than a thousand euros to every man, woman and child in each of our countries".

He said the "close economic ties" with the EU "should continue, if not strengthen" after Brexit, and he warned: "Putting politics above prosperity is never a smart choice".

Does this mean that he's now against Brexit?

Health and social care spending cuts linked to 120,000 excess deaths in England

The squeeze on public finances since 2010 is linked to nearly 120,000 excess deaths in England, with the over 60s and care home residents bearing the brunt, reveals the first study of its kind, published in the online journal BMJ Open. The critical factor in these figures may be changes in nurse numbers, say the researchers, who warn that there could be an additional toll of up to 100 deaths every day from now on in.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

Book Review: Playing with Fire: Deepened Financial Integration and Changing Vulnerabilities of the Global South

Playing with Fire, published by the Oxford University Press in collaboration with the South Centre, brings together several essays written by Akyuz on the theory and practice of the development of countries of the global South. He gives a detailed analysis of the integration, since early 1990s, of the economies of the emerging and developing economies (EDEs) into a globalised system of production, trade and finance.  What did this involve?

archived: Yash Tandon | Revival of the ACP group to negotiate with the EU: Hopes & Challenges

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

H.R. 438 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. introduced by Brad Sherman (CA-D) 12 JUL, 1 co-sponsor Al Green

In his conduct while President of the United States, Donald John Trump, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has prevented, obstructed and impeded the administration of justice during a Federal investigation ... In all of this, Donald John Trump has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.

Five articles of impeachment against Trump introduced by House Democrats

A half-dozen Democrats on Wednesday [15 NOV] introduced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, accusing him of obstruction of justice and other offenses, in a long-shot effort that stands little chance in the Republican-led House....

This resolution has not yet entered the record. They must be on Bernie-Medicare-for-All time.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

Exclusive: How Saudi Arabia turned on Lebanon's Hariri - Reuters

From the moment Saad al-Hariri's plane touched down in Saudi Arabia on Friday Nov. 3, he was in for a surprise.

There was no line-up of Saudi princes or ministry officials, as would typically greet a prime minister on an official visit to King Salman, senior sources close to Hariri and top Lebanese political and security officials said. His phone was confiscated, and the next day he was forced to resign as prime minister in a statement broadcast by a Saudi-owned TV channel.

The move thrust Lebanon back to the forefront of a struggle that is reshaping the Middle East, between the conservative Sunni monarchy of Saudi Arabia and Shi`ite revolutionary Iran.

(...)

Multiple Lebanese sources say Riyadh hopes to replace Saad Hariri with his older brother Bahaa as Lebanon's top Sunni politician. Bahaa is believed to be in Saudi Arabia and members of the Hariri family have been asked to travel there to pledge allegiance to him, but have refused, the sources say.

AP | After 37 Years, Rule of Zimbabwe's Mugabe Appears Over
"Felix Tsanganyiso, who sells mobile airtime vouchers in Harare, said he was following the developments on WhatsApp."
All Africa | Zimbabwe: What Led to Situation in Zimbabwe?

Mugabe and his wife Grace launch a scathing attack on Mnangagwa, accusing him of fanning factionalism within the ruling Zanu-PF party. 'Angry' Grace says she wants Mugabe's VP Mnangagwa 'gone before extraordinary congress' in December.

Mugabe fires Mnangagwa

Mugabe exercises his powers to relieve Emmerson Mnangagwa of his position as vice president, accusing him of "disloyalty" and plotting to oust the 93-year-old ruler.

War veterans back Mnangagwa

DW | Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe under house arrest
"British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the British Parliament: 'nobody wants simply to see the transition from one unelected tyrant to a next. (...) We want to see proper, free and fair elections.'"

archived: an empty suit and irrational voters

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

Independent

An Ohio lawmaker who routinely touted his Christian faith and anti-LGBT views has resigned after being caught having sex with a man in his office.

Wes Goodman, who is the Republican state legislator for Ohio, is married to a woman who is assistant director of an annual anti-abortion rally known as March for Life.

The right-wing legislator, who pushed "family values", was reportedly witnessed having sex with a man inside his office who was not employed by the legislator.

If he had been employed by the legislator, all would have been fine.

The 33-year-old, who has been branded the "conscience of the conservative movement", resigned for "inappropriate conduct" shortly after the meeting took place.

Mr Goodman, whose Twitter biography describes him as "Christian. American. Conservative. Republican. Husband to @Beth1027", has regularly claimed "natural marriage" occurs between a man and a woman.

What's the problem? He wasn't married to the man, was he?

Keystone Pipeline closed through several states after 200,000-gallon leak in South Dakota

Thursday's leak is about 12 times the size of the last major leak on a Keystone line, in April 2016 in Hutchinson County, South Dakota.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

NY Magazine

One of the defining features of millennials is that they have better opinions than the generations who came before them. More precisely, those born between 1982 and 2000 are uniquely adept at discerning when something that many people believe to be good is actually, objectively, very bad indeed. Studies have consistently shown that millennials are more likely to have the right opinions about such empirically bad things as Donald Trump, Budweiser, marriage, and finance capitalism.

And now NBC's past two weeks of prime-time ratings reveal that millennials are also right about the Olympics. Bloomberg reports that among 18- to- 49-year-olds, prime-time broadcast viewership of the Olympic Games declined by roughly 25 percent compared to four years ago. That drop can be attributed, in part, to the higher concentration of millennials in that age bracket.

"Sports is less ingrained in the younger demographic," Brandon Ross, an analyst at BTIG Research, told Bloomberg. "It has been replaced by other things like video games and e-sports and Snapchat feeds."

In other words, millennials' mastery of technology has made them disproportionately aware that the Olympics are, in truth, boring and lame.

This reminds me a bit of SYRIZA dating "Kremilin-linked" bureaucrats after the elections in '15 ... for money
`Democracy will prevail' - Puigdemont defiant on Alex Salmond's new RT show (VIDEO)
and a double dose of Scottish National "defiance."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

Yesterday -100: November 15, 1917: Of underwear. And other stuff.

Sociologist Émile Durkheim dies. The NYT doesn't notice.

My favorite Durkheim debate is ceremoniously but retrospectively hosted by the master of marbles (Chap.1), Piaget, in The Moral Judgement of the Child. I think it amazing that in 1932 Piaget felt obliged to critique (or dispel) the thrall of "sociology" cast by Durkheim over the prior century. Yet here we are a century later still flagellating ourselves with mysterious "rules of the game."

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.