Wegen fragwürdiger Anklagen, Urteile und Ernennungen gerät die spanische Justiz zunehmend ins Zwielicht. Die politischen Parteien haben zu grossen Einfluss auf die Ernennung der Richter.


«Gerechtigkeit!» Spaniens Justiz gerät ins Zwielicht, etwa durch die Kehrtwende des obersten Gerichts im Fall der Grundbuchgebühren. (Bild: Susana Vera / Reuters)

Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and five other separatist leaders from the region have appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva, denouncing what they call the “suspension” of their political rights by Spanish authorities.

SWISSINFO

Decembrer 20, 2018

(© KEYSTONE / MARTIAL TREZZINI)

Speaking to journalists in the Swiss city on Thursday, Puigdemont said that the joint appeal to the rights body aimed to denounce the “serious violation of rights and freedoms in Spain, something unacceptable in the framework of European Union law”.

Puigdemont, Oriol Junqueras, Raul Romeva, Josep Rull, Jordi Sanchez, and Jordi Turull are all members of Catalonia’s parliament, but were charged and suspended from taking office by the Spanish Supreme Court for their role in organizing an October 2017 independence referendum in Catalonia in northeast Spain.

“Six people, democratically-elected and not yet convicted – five of whom have been detained for over a year – cannot exercise their rights,” said Puigdemont.

Having been accused of rebellion and sedition by Spanish authorities after the unauthorized referendum, Puigdemont has since lived in Belgium. An international arrest warrant against him was withdrawn last July.

Puigdemont and Sanchez, president of the independent association ANC, had already filed a separate complaint to the same UN rights body in March 2018 to denounce their "impossibility of running for president of the Generalitat” [the Catalan government]. The UN committee has yet to take any decision on the complaints.

+ Puigdemont said the Swiss federal model could offer a vision for Spain

It’s not the first time the emblematic Catalan figure has visited Geneva; an international human rights film festival hosted him for a debate on self-determination in March, a visit from which cantonal authorities distanced themselves.

Several other ‘wanted’ separatists, including Anna Gabriel and Marta Rovira, have sought exile in Switzerland following their condemnation in Spain.

Thursday’s action in Geneva comes as the Catalan separatist row shows no signs of ending. This week, four imprisoned leaders of the movement ended an almost three-week hunger strike, while Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has chosen to hold this Friday’s cabinet meeting in Barcelona – a deliberate “provocation”, for some Catalan supporters.

The alcohol-free beer garden comes from Dray Drinks, Boston's first NA bottle shop.

The post A non-alcoholic beer garden pops up in Brighton this weekend appeared first on Boston.com.

For a millennial couple buying their first home, on an island in the Puget Sound, the cost of humanely resolving the bat problem was more than they expected.

The post They thought they found their dream home — so did thousands of bats appeared first on Boston.com.

While philosophers and scholars of the pre-modern era kept studying music from a harmonic point of view and often delved deeper into the concept “musica ... Read more

The post Here is What Great Philosophers Thought of Music appeared first on CMUSE.

Your guide to some of the best scary movies to watch streaming from your couch.

The post 23 must-watch horror movies streaming right now appeared first on Boston.com.

The bands paired up to take the house down on their Take Me Home Tour Thursday night.

The post Review & setlist: Little Big Town and Sugarland brought their harmonies home to TD Garden appeared first on Boston.com.

“This looks a lot more like 2016 to me than 2020,” NBC’s Chuck Todd said, a reference to Trump’s victory that year over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The post Unexpectedly, news outlets wind up having a relatively traditional election night experience appeared first on Boston.com.

"I'm interpreting the results tonight as the revenge of just the regular ole working-class American, the anonymous American," Jennings said on CNN at 3:38 a.m. Wednesday, in a clip that's been shared widely on social media.

The post CNN pundit Scott Jennings’s election night defense of Trump supporters goes viral appeared first on Boston.com.

NOAA advises those who hope to see the northern lights to get away from city lights.

The post What’s behind the northern lights that dazzled the sky farther south than normal appeared first on Boston.com.

“While an increase in population is hopeful, the North Atlantic right whales washing up dead on our shores speak for themselves — we must stop killing them."

The post Right whale population grows 4 percent but extinction remains a threat appeared first on Boston.com.

Some health groups have said it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology.

The post Daylight saving time ends this weekend. This is how to prepare for the potential health effects. appeared first on Boston.com.

The sale ends on Thursday.

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The audience devised much of the setlist, but Folds was very much in command at a stellar Cabot Theatre concert.

The post Review & setlist: Ben Folds reaches new heights during Paper Airplane Request Tour in Beverly appeared first on Boston.com.

Fright Fest opens on Sept. 21.

The post Six Flags New England to debut a new haunted attraction for Fright Fest appeared first on Boston.com.

We speak with Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, who is advocating on behalf of Syrian refugees as other American politicians try to turn them away. Then, we sit in on a cooking class that teaches people in Boston how to eat healthier with traditional African dishes. And, the US wants to give peanuts to malnourished kids in Haiti — we find out why that idea is so controversial.

Plus: a US army officer sues President Obama over the legality of the war against Islamic State; Italy’s most prominent transgender politician weighs in on North Carolina’s controversial ‘bathroom bill’; and a Sudanese human rights activist finds inspiration in America's civil rights movement.

Image: A refugee mother and son from the Syrian town of Kobani walk beside their tent in a camp in Sanliurfa, Turkey. October 19, 2014. (Credit: Gokhan Sahin/Getty Images)

We speak with Daniel Torres, a former US Marine who was deported to Mexico. Then, we look back at a deadly 1942 U-boat attack in the Gulf of Mexico. And we take a bus ride with the children of Sudanese immigrants in California.

Plus, a group of American teenagers cause an uproar when they try to take part in World Hijab Day. A journalist learns the proper use for bananas in Somali cuisine. And an Ethiopian-American band records its own version of a Japanese folk song.

Image: Daniel Torres grew up in the US, but after a stint in the Marines he was deported to Mexico. (Credit: PRI’s The World)

“People are absolutely losing it. Some they go to their work. Some they pluck them right out of bed from their families."

Why Iraqis in the US are getting sent back to Iraq; what it means for one immigrant to get to stay; the fight for paid leave for victims of domestic violence in Canada; a Ukrainian physicist who always tries to keep politics and science separate fails yet again; and the two comedians who started ArmComedy, their country’s first satirical news programme, explain what Armenians find funny. (Photo: An Iraqi owned restaurant in Detroit. Credit: Shirin Jaafari)

Former homeland security adviser Fran Townsend says we need new methods of addressing gun violence.

Also: we learn how the gun lobby brought gun violence research to a halt in one US agency; a constitutional scholar puts America’s right to bear arms in a global context; Russian bots seize on the Parkland shooting to amplify divisions; gun rights supporters say Israel could serve as a model for the US but some Israelis disagree; and what does a year of mass shootings sound like ... in piano notes? Listen here.

(Image: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez speaks at a rally for gun control at the Broward County Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 17, 2018. Credit: Rhona Wise/Getty Images)

President Trump has promised to help America’s soya bean farmers, who have found themselves caught in the middle of the US-China trade war. But will his help be enough?

Also: an ice-cream maker in Philadelphia exports his product to China, for people with expensive tastes; a newcomer to Mexico City learns that quesadillas don’t always come with cheese; two entrepreneurs take Korean-Mexican fusion cuisine to Seoul; plus we remember restaurant critic Jonathan Gold and the effect he had on food culture in Los Angeles.

(Image: Corn and soya beans grow on a farm near Tipton, Iowa. Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

It's almost been 20 years since the war in Afghanistan started. The Afghan people want a solution and the US is trying to make a deal. Everyone wants to forge a pathway towards peace and stop the threat of nearly daily violence. Currently, peace talks between the US and the Taliban are developing and could be at an important stage.

Also, a cache of previously unpublished documents, including interviews with top US policy makers, describe many of the failures from the war in Afghanistan. The White House’s former top advisor on Afghanistan, Douglas Lute, and a former anti-corruption officer at the US Embassy in Kabul, Sarah Peck, share their thoughts on the Afghanistan papers; As a US military veteran, author CJ Chivers shares his unique perspective on the Afghan war; and Feroza Mushtari grew up during the Taliban era, but she has become a force for change in the country's maternal health system.

(US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad attends the Intra Afghan Dialogue talks in the Qatari capital Doha. Credit: Karim Jaafar/Getty Images)

"SNL" returned for the fifth episode of its 50th season on Nov. 2 with host John Mulaney, musical guest Chappell Roan, and a guest appearance from Vice President Kamala Harris.

The post ‘SNL’ recap: Best moments from John Mulaney hosting ‘Saturday Night Live’ appeared first on Boston.com.

The Mass. native got snatched up by Snoop Dogg during blind auditions on the hit NBC series.

The post Mary McAvoy might’ve sung at your wedding. She competes Monday on ‘The Voice.’ appeared first on Boston.com.

"I promise you, this is not the end," "The Daily Show" host said late Tuesday night.

The post Here was Jon Stewart’s election night takeaway appeared first on Boston.com.

The best of what's new streaming on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and more.

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Standup comic and actor Bill Burr will host for the second time with Mk.gee as musical guest.

The post ‘Saturday Night Live’ to take on a second Trump term after focusing on Harris appeared first on Boston.com.

"SNL" returned for the sixth episode of its 50th season on Nov. 9 with host Bill Burr playing into his Boston-area roots.

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“My body has changed a little bit, but I weigh the same.”

The post Needham native on International Space Station says she’s healthy after media report that she’s dropped weight appeared first on Boston.com.

When I started my ministry career 18 years ago, I never thought I would ever type the title of this entry: Thoughts from a Pastoral Team Strategist. I definitely wasn’t desiring to fill that role on a pastoral team. I wanted to see my dreams fulfilled in much different ways. I am still convinced that Jesus has called me to something completely different than strategist. I am a worship pastor/worship leader/singer/songwriter/artist. Jesus and I are still arguing about this. Turns out He is just as stubborn as the Son of God should be.

I started falling into the role of systems/strategy guy on pastoral teams because it was a very obvious need on the staffs I was part of. Turns out that a lot of pastors lean towards hiring very talented people with specialized, but limited, skill sets. Administration isn’t sexy…and is hard to put on a visible platform. Many church staffs find themselves comprised of really talented speakers, Bible scholars, personalities, musicians, media gurus and kids' creative types. There is a huge gap in a lot of churches and that gap isn't in the visionary/dreamer category. 

Administration isn’t sexy…and is hard to put on a visible platform.

The global church is packed full of people that have the vision and the dream but is lacking on willing people called to set aside their personal dreams to help another pastor make a bigger impact. This is where I come in. I’m sure I have the capacity to be a visionary on some things, but I know I am called to serve my lead pastor. I am called to help him be the healthiest pastor possible and to create environments in which his vision can come to life. I am called to bring a strategy to his vision. I am called to be one of his No. 2’s. I am not called to push my agenda or make the next coolest worship recording that would distract our church from the bigger picture. (Even though we do and will make cool recordings, my heart is to resource the church with stories of what God is doing at my church.) 

Being a pastoral team strategist has been an interesting and stretching journey. I have navigated this role for a while now. But only for the last 4 years have I been given the authority to go with the burden. I serve my lead pastor as one of his executive pastors. I am loving this role and, to my surprise, it feels like a good fit. I connect really well with other leaders in this field. I feel fulfilled, for the most part, helping our ministries align with values, culture and best practices. When the team wins, I win. I have grown in my ability to love our pastoral team and respect them. I wasn’t expecting this when I said yes to the position, but when you pray for your team every day, you see people differently. God has been rewiring me from the inside out and that has its joys and pains (more on that later).

When the team wins, I win.

I feel the onus of giving 150% of myself to this role because I think it is the difference maker in a successful organization. There is a delicate balance between vision and strategy. I have made some notes along the way that may help you if you ever find yourself in a systems/strategy rut. I have numerous influences in my life when it comes to organizational leadership and vision/strategy; ( you probably do too)—Rick Lorimer (my pastor), Bill Hybels, Andy Stanley, Chris Sonksen, Dan Reiland, Jim Collins and Henry Cloud. (Just ask me if you’d like a specific resource recommendation.) I am sure most of my musings are not original but maybe my commentary has a different spin on it. Just a few things to chew on:

 Vision without strategy is just a good idea.

• This is a personal conviction of mine. I believe God is speaking all the time and that He has anointed and appointed our lead pastors as the CVO’s (chief visionary officer) of our organizations. I have been a part of small and large, Christian and non-Christian organizations that never fell short of having incredible ideas. The problem is, sometimes you can become so enamored about a really great idea that you don’t think about practicality. You can easily forget about the capacity of the team. You can find yourself being so excited, with good intentions, but you accidentally “out punt your coverage.” Some leaders won’t agree with me on this point, but I don’t think it is the lead pastor’s job to carry this burden. I believe the role of the executive pastor is to have an open relationship with the lead pastor to help process his or her vision. Is this vision for now or later? Is it obtainable/ sustainable? Does this complicate anything? Can we pay for it and how? What do we need to change to make this vision happen? Do we say yes to this or do we keep praying? Not every vision or burden is meant to be developed. Just like a songwriter, a visionary must never stop dreaming. For every good song I’ve written, there are ten others I threw away and no one will ever hear them. (Maybe that song was just for Jesus.) It is my job to make sure my lead pastor has the freedom to keep dreaming.

Vision made public invites accountability.

• I remember when I felt God tell me to share that in 2011 we were going to make a worship recording. We didn’t have the talent or experience. I had no idea how this was gong to happen. I closed my eyes and vision cast this in front of our worship department. I was scared to death, but knew I needed accountability if this was going to happen. Strategy came later, but this was an essential move to make sure that I would take the risk and make a bold move. Strategy or no strategy, if you share your vision publicly, people will expect something from you. Use that public share momentum to develop strategy and to shepherd buy-in. You don’t need a strategy in place to share a vision; you just need to be committed to develop one. It is so easy for charismatic (likeable) personalities to get distracted by accusations of manipulation when they don’t have a strategy. But when people hear a great vision, they should ask questions, like, “How can I get involved?”  “What’s next?”  “What are you asking me to do?” Don’t miss an opportunity to develop onramps to your vision because you haven’t identified a next step. People often allow themselves to feel “satisfied” by just feeling excited or inspired. Our job as pastors is to equip people to do kingdom work. Vision cast to inspire God’s people but commit to developing a strategy, and then empower them to be part of the mission as well.

 Strategy or no strategy, if you share your vision publicly, people will expect something from you.

 Never allow lack of strategy to kill the vision.

• I believe that God is in the dream and the devil is in the details. Commit to developing a strategy but don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t come right away. Keep working at it and inviting the right people into the conversation. Some of the best, most impacting visions are accompanied by resistance. When it comes to your vision, there is nothing the devil loves more than to discourage you and steal your confidence. If he succeeds at this, then he stops you from dreaming.  

Some of the best, most impacting visions are accompanied by resistance.

One of my favorite quotes from John Maxwell is: “He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only out for a walk.”  Strategy is simply a vehicle to allow people to follow your God-given vision.  A simple tweak in your leadership conviction could be the difference between walking alone or leading an army.  

When Igor Sikorsky was 12, his parents told him that competent authorities had already proved human flight impossible.  He went on to build the first helicopter. In his American plant, he posted this sign:

According to recognized aero-technical tests, the bumblebee cannot fly because of the shape and weight of his body in relation to the total wing area.  The bumblebee does not know this, so he goes ahead and flies anyway.

Have you ever had someone tell you that something you are trying to accomplish is impossible?  They name a dozen reasons why you won't be able to pull it off. Maybe you don't have the skills, or the tools, or the passion.  Maybe you are too small, too young, too prideful or too timid. Isn't it amazing how easily words slow us down in our progress towards the things we know God has called us to. It may be a friend, a family member, someone in leadership or even a stranger but no matter who it is the words seem to form like a wall in front of you and it tries to hinder forward movement.

David faced this type of opposition before he faced Goliath.  Here are the words his brother spoke to him when he inquired about fighting the giant.

But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!”  - 1 Samuel 17:28

David’s own brother opposed him by calling him out in front of everyone. It could have been easy for David to be discouraged but scripture tells us that he continued to inquire about how to get into the fight.

Don't be surprised if some of your greatest opposition comes in the form of a brother or sister.  It may be flesh and blood or it may be a spiritual brother and sister but those closest to you may have the hardest time seeing the calling of God on your life.  Like Eliab, many brothers have revealed their own insecurities when they see their brother pursuing what God has called them to. Eliab said David just showed up to watch the battle but the truth was there was no battle to watch because Eliab refused to fight and he let Goliath rule the day.

David also encountered opposition from Saul.  The King was not so quick to send a boy out to fight Goliath until he heard of David’s accomplishments in the fields fighting a lion and a bear.  But even after hearing of those great feats Saul made David try on his armor. But if Saul’s armor was so great why didn't he go out and fight with it?  All it did was weigh David down and would have gotten in his way. Don't let people who are avoiding the fight tell you the best way to fight. If they knew the best way to fight they would already be standing in victory.  It's almost like an 800 hundred pound man trying to tell me the best way to diet. The proof is in the pudding...which he probably ate.

Everyone loves the story of David and Goliath but few people realize how much opposition David faced before taking on Goliath.  Just a reminder that sometimes on your way to fight the giant you may have to overcome opposition from some of those closest to you.  

Have you ever had a worship team member that just goes too far?  We have.  And one of them may be on this show!

Join Dustin, James and special guest, Erica, as we talk about how to best manage your worship teams in the most dire situations. Being a worship leader means working with people and people aren't always perfect! How do you handle those issues?  How do you keep things right on your team with God, but also care about the individuals?  We talk through hypotheticals, but for some of you listening, these circumstances might not be hypothetical.  Have a listen and see if you can relate.

We'd love to hear from some of our listeners about situations you've found yourselves in, and how you handled them with your team!

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A COP KNOCKED ON MY DOOR AND TOLD ME MY DOGS WERE CHASING PEOPLE ON BIKES.

MY DOGS DON’T EVEN OWN BIKES...

Laughter. Is. Important.

I love to laugh. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’M HILARIOUS. OK, kinda kidding, but I WILL go out of my way (sometimes to crazy lengths) to lighten up any situation.  That started me thinking about the power of laughter, not just to ourselves, but to those around us. Strap in.

First, a crazy stat. “An adult, on average laughs around 15 times a day. Compare this a child, who on average, laughs around 300 times per day.” Now some will say this is extreme at best, but however you look at it, kids do seem to enjoy life more than most adults I know. Of course, as adults, we all have to endure the stresses of family, church, peers, finances, etc. and those can weigh us down. But I believe we all want to laugh more. I haven’t met one person in life that hates laughing.

So, here are 6 facts about laughter you may not know and may help you live a long laugh-filled life:

1. You’re More Likely to Laugh Around Others – Not Because of Jokes

If you're laughing, you're far more likely to be surrounded by others, according to research by laughter expert Dr. Robert Provine. The critical laughter trigger for most people is another person, not a joke or funny movie. Selah.

After observing 1,200 people laughing in their natural environments, Dr. Provine and his team found that laughter followed jokes only about 10-20 percent of the time. Social laughter occurs 30 times more frequently than solitary laughter.

In most cases, the laughter followed a banal comment or only slightly humorous one, which signals that the person is more important than the material in triggering laughter.

2. Laughter Is Contagious

The saying "laugh and the whole world laughs with you" is more than just an expression: laughter really is contagious. The sound of laughter triggers regions in the premotor cortical region of your brain (I looked that up), which is involved in moving your facial muscles to correspond with sound and prepare to join in.

3. Laughing Burns Calories

The International Journal of Obesity found that laughter increases both heart rate and calorie expenditure by up to 20%. In real terms, this means that laughing just 15 minutes per day could help you burn anywhere between 10 and 40 calories, depending on the intensity of your laugh. And this equals up to 1 to 4 lbs of weight-loss per year. Helllllo new year

4. Laughing Is Good for Your Relationships

Research shows that people who use laughter and smile when discussing a touchy subject feel better in the immediacy and report higher levels of satisfaction in their relationships. They also tend to stay together longer.

5. Laughter Is Attractive

The ability to make someone laugh often correlates with their intelligence; ie. the funnier someone is, the more intelligent they’re likely to be. And this has been used as a premise as to why we find funny people more attractive.

6. Laughter Improves Your Emotional Health

When you laugh, your brain releases a cocktail of chemicals that make you feel good. Dopamine allows you to feel pleasure and process emotional responses. Serotonin puts you in a good mood. Meanwhile, endorphins regulate pain and stress while making you feel generally good. And together, these hormones alongside other physical responses from laughter are effective in reducing stress and anxiety.

This is all SUPER INTERESTING. In summary, sometimes you have to get around the right people to be healthy! If you tend to isolate yourself, and are feeling down in the dumps, then get around people! Preferably happy people and see how laughter can affect your everyday life. Even help you lose some of those Thanksgiving pounds...amiright??

I’ll end this with some of what the bible says about laughter. Hopefully you’ll have a more joyous holiday season knowing that God himself is all about joy and laughter. Now, go out, and have some gosh darn good belly laughing fun!

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."   Psalm 126:2 (NIV)

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.   Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

But look, God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he lend a hand to the wicked. He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.  Job 8: 20-21 (NLT)

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.   Proverbs 31:25  (NLT)

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance  Ecclesiastes 3:4 (ESV)

God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.   Luke 6:21 (NLT)

The Red Sox need to add a right-handed-hitting slugger or two to balance out their left-handed-heavy lineup. Here are the top 10 right-handed hitters set to hit free agency.

This week Zorba and Karl look at a study about how kids benefit more when parents step back and let them take the lead, and they talk discuss how laughter […]

For active shows, the Previous Episode and Next Episode sections are now moved above Show Info. Also, on desktop - Next Episode is now on the left and Previous Episode is on the right (swapped them). It'll probably take some getting used to, but I think this arrangement makes more sense. Thoughts?

Southern California's Fast-Moving Mountain Fire Out of Control as 800 Firefighters Battle Inferno

The fighting between Israel and Lebanon has reached a dangerous new phase.

Zixian's heart condition left her frail and weak with high fevers and infections. Her family could not afford surgery to help her. They could only stand by and watch her die. Then God showed up in an amazing way.

Jason carried $100,000 of debt and felt as though he could barely breathe. That's when he followed a life-changing principle that led to a debt-free life and financial freedom. You can be free too!

'Brought Me to Tears': Operation Blessing's Gift of Clean Drinking Water a Game-Changer in NC