Some political monkey business and links to other interesting news and views

Hot Air in Germany: Coalition Talks Stalling on Climate Targets - Der Spiegel

Germany is way behind on its emissions reduction goals, but coalition talks currently underway in Berlin aren't likely to help. Instead of embracing the shift to renewables as an economic opportunity, wariness of future technologies remains.

Himachal elections: now, getting a monkey off the back - The Hindu

If there is one election promise that both rival parties make in Himachal Pradesh, it is action against monkeys. The voters are only too happy, harassed as they are by attacks and crop raids. As many as 2,000 villages across the hill State are affected by attacks by monkeys.

Saudi Prince, Asserting Power, Brings Clerics to Heel - New York Times

For decades, Saudi Arabia’s religious establishment wielded tremendous power, with bearded enforcers policing public behavior, prominent sheikhs defining right and wrong, and religious associations using the kingdom’s oil wealth to promote their intolerant interpretation of Islam around the world.
Now, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is curbing their power as part of his drive to impose his control on the kingdom and press for a more open brand of Islam.

Saudi Arabia Just Arrested the World's Richest Arab - Key Investor in Twitter, Lyft, Four Seasons - Haaretz

Trump, who once sold a yacht to Prince Alwaleed bin Talal in 1991 and part of New York’s Plaza Hotel to him in 1995, called him 'dopey' and claimed he wanted to 'control our U.S. politicians with daddy’s money'

Sexual Harassment Scandals Abound In Statehouses Across The U.S. - NPR

In the weeks since allegations of sexual harassment and assault against movie producer Harvey Weinstein became public, a number of other stories of abuse have come to light: in Hollywood, in newsrooms (including NPR's), and now, in statehouses across the country.

Is 'Natural Flavor' Healthier Than 'Artificial Flavor'? - NPR

These ingredient appears in the nutrition labels of all kinds of foods. But what, exactly, is the difference between them? It turns out the biggest distinction may be in the marketing.

‘Looking blankly at absurdity’: inside the world of Private Eye’s cartoonists

Every fortnight the satirical magazine chooses a selection of the best topical cartoons, but as the artists tell us, the competition can be brutal…

The big story of the week had become the spreadsheet of sleaze disclosing MPs’ sexual harassment. Robert Thompson came up with the best gag, which made it on to the prime slot on the Eye’s Street of Shame page: a Tory MP and his assistant are looking in a sex-shop window displaying several large dildos. The dildos are labelled “Black Rod”, “Big Ben”, and “the Honourable Member”. 

What to read into a growing alliance between China and Pakistan - Reuters

Pakistan holds a unique position in Chinese diplomatic circles. The Chinese state media describes Pakistan as China’s only “all-weather strategic cooperation partner.” Though it is the largest beneficiary of Beijing’s investment, it is not a client state, as North Korea is. Rather, in a neighborhood where many countries either distrust China, feel beholden to it or both, Pakistan is the closest thing to a real ally and friend that Beijing possesses.