La pandémie de Covid-19 a profondément changé l’univers des rencontres entre adultes. Mais un nouveau rapport du très respecté Pew Research Center montre que les Américains se plaignaient de la difficulté de faire de nouvelles rencontres bien avant la pandémie.
Rencontres amoureuses : les Américains se plaignaient de difficultés bien avant la Covid<br />
Ce sondage a été mené en ligne auprès de 4.860 Américains entre le 16 et 28 octobre 2019, bien avant le confinement qui a entraîné un recours sans précédent à des applications comme Tinder et Hinge.Plus de la moitié des personnes interrogées rapportaient ne pas être satisfaites de leur vie amoureuse et de leurs rencontres. 75% affirmant même qu’il était “quelque peu difficile” de trouver quelqu’un avec qui sortir. Alors que les célibataires hommes et femmes affichaient le même niveau de mécontentement, les femmes étaient plus susceptibles de subir des expériences négatives en lien avec leurs rencontres.Près de sept personnes sur dix (65%) disaient avoir dû faire face à une sorte de harcèlement pendant ou avant un rendez-vous. Certains ont reçu des images sexuelles non désirées (sextos) et d’autres ont fait l’objet de rumeurs colportées sur leurs histoires sexuelles passées.On notera que les femmes ne sont pas les seules victimes de harcèlement sexuel, 19% des hommes interrogés ont rapporté avoir subi des pressions pour avoir des relations sexuelles ou avoir reçu des images à caractère sexuel sans les avoir demandées.Malgré ces expériences négatives, les Américains célibataires à la recherche de l’âme sœur se disent prêts à sortir avec des personnes très différentes d’elles. Par exemple, ils sont majoritairement prêts à fréquenter quelqu’un qui gagne beaucoup plus ou beaucoup moins d’argent qu’eux mais aussi des personnes de race et de religion différente de la leur. En revanche, les relations à longue distance séduisent moins. 51% des personnes sondées n’étaient pas prêtes sauter le pas de l’éloignement amoureux. Autres points de friction: les dettes et la politique. 49% des Américains interrogés se disaient réticents à fréquenter quelqu’un trop endetté ou quelqu’un qui avait voté pour Donald Trump lors de l’élection présidentielle de 2016 (47%). Le sondage montre par ailleurs que de nombreux Américains vivent bien leur célibat. Près de la moitié des adultes célibataires qui ne se disaient pas à la recherche de quelqu’un avançaient avoir d’autres priorités que les rencontres amoureuses (47%).Click Here: Rugby league Jerseys
How crucial is Phil Hogan in fighting the Irish corner during Brexit battles in Brussels? | Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images
Is Phil Hogan really Ireland’s big hitter on Brexit?
Opinion is divided in Brussels over Hogan’s clout in steering relations with the UK.
How crucial is Phil Hogan in fighting the Irish corner during Brexit battles in Brussels? That question is at the forefront of a bitter debate in Ireland over whether the EU trade commissioner should quit for breaching coronavirus rules.
Anger over Hogan’s travels across Ireland — and in particular his attendance at a high-profile golfing dinner last week — has united Irish politicians in condemnation, but several argue that he is simply too effective a negotiator to force out of his job, when the country’s fate is so intimately bound to the terms of a future trade deal with the U.K.
“Do we cut our nose off to spite our face?” Verona Murphy, an independent Irish lawmaker, asked on a morning radio show on the broadcaster RTÉ on Wednesday. “We’re about to face into the most critical time of Brexit trade talks in the history of this state. If we lose the trade portfolio, it will be the equivalent of commercial suicide.”
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin has similarly stuck by Hogan’s credentials as a commissioner, while condemning his evasive answers on breaking Ireland’s pandemic regulations.
When it comes to the specifics of Hogan’s interventions on Brexit, however, the picture in Brussels is ambiguous. Negotiating a Brexit deal is the frontline role of the Frenchman Michel Barnier. Hogan has no formal role, and opinion is divided about how great a clout the Irishman really wields behind the scenes.
“Hogan has 0.0 percent impact on the Brexit talks,” said one EU official closely involved in the talks with the U.K. “The Irish government is just using that argument to keep him in Brussels because they know they won’t get the trade portfolio anymore if they sent someone else.”
Mary Lou McDonald, party leader of the Sinn Féin opposition, took a similar line and argued: “A trade commissioner isn’t key to the Brexit talks … Michel Barnier and his team have really carried the can.”
A spokesperson for Hogan disputed those assessments and said Hogan was an important middleman between Brussels and Dublin. The spokesperson insisted that Hogan “works very closely with Michel Barnier” and that they “meet on an almost weekly basis,” while adding that the commissioner is “in regular contact with the Irish government on various aspects of the negotiations.”
The EU official involved in the talks, however, argued that this did not amount to much. “We don’t hear anything about him or his cabinet weighing in,” the official said. “You don’t feel his shadow in these negotiations. Hogan doesn’t play this crucial role that some attribute to him.”
Still, Dublin has not always been wedded to the idea that it must be Hogan flying the flag in Brussels. Earlier this year, Dublin was willing to support his candidacy to head the World Trade Organization, which would have put him in Geneva, and could well have resulted in Ireland losing the blue-ribbon trade portfolio.
The Three Stooges
In the previous Commission under President Jean-Claude Juncker, Hogan was given uniquely free rein as agriculture commissioner to talk about Brexit, while other commissioners were muzzled on Britain’s departure from the EU.
He became known for his blunt messaging, for example, by calling hard-line Brexiteers Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nigel Farage the “Three Stooges” who didn’t grasp the complexities of the Irish border question.
It was this kind of blunt messaging on Brexit that wouldn’t be appropriate for Barnier, and his rhetoric played a key role, according to Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament from the Irish prime minister’s Fianna Fáil party.
“In the beginning of the whole process, there was a discussion in Irish public discourse whether to look at a bilateral relationship with the U.K. or whether we should just fold in with the other 26 member states. Phil Hogan was one of the first to argue strongly — and win the argument — that we’re strengthened in numbers and that trying to battle something out bilaterally would be incredibly short-sighted. While adhering to his duties as commissioner, he also plays this strategic role for Ireland.”
The EU official, however, brushed off Hogan’s influence in the previous phase of the Brexit negotiations.
“He barely intervened, but that wasn’t necessary either. The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland would have been negotiated anyway. There was an intra-European consensus about the Irish interests — we didn’t need Phil Hogan for that.”
A Brexit diplomat from another European country said it was hard to distinguish Hogan’s string-pulling role behind the scenes. “The Commission never mentioned any demands from him or his cabinet, but they might have dealt with this internally.”
Meanwhile, Hogan’s influence after the transition period is yet to be determined.
Regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, talks with the United Kingdom will continue after the transition period ends on December 31. How Brussels organizes itself to continue working on the future relationship hasn’t been decided. But even in the case of a no-deal outcome, EU officials doubt that Hogan will take the lead.
The grim outlook of the Brexit negotiations seems to have helped Hogan in the decision-making process of whether leaving him out in the cold in Brussels is the smartest move for Ireland. While the Irish government cannot unilaterally remove the commissioner, a formal demand to the Commission president for his resignation would heap heavy pressure on von der Leyen.
Sinn Féin is pressing the Irish government to stop dithering over whether Hogan is too important to lose.
“We have a commissioner who seems pretty determined to face the government down,” said McDonald. “We can’t have more weeks of this chaos. We clearly see that we have a government that’s based more on rivalry than of any unity of purpose.”
Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE’s presidential campaign announced a new contest to drum up fundraising: who can give the Democratic candidate the lowest contribution.
In a email to supporters Tuesday evening, Buttigieg’s campaign wrote that the donor who contributes the lowest amount in the hours ahead — provided that no other donor matches the contribution amount — will win a prize from the campaign.
“All you have to do to win is donate the smallest amount that nobody else donates,” reads the email. “Multiple donations are allowed; just be creative, pick a unique donation amount, and you could win.”
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Some Twitter users pointed out that the effect of the contest would be to lower the South Bend, Ind., mayor’s average donation amount. Other candidates, including Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.), have frequently touted their low average donations on the debate stage to highlight grassroots support for their campaigns.
“The Pete for America Innovation Team out there working hard on Christmas Eve coming up with gimmicks to lower his average donation amount this quarter. Funny stuff,” wrote Tim Tagaris, a senior adviser to the Sanders campaign.
“This is so transparently hilarious. Wow, his average donation was lower this quarter… it’s a Christmas miracle!” Tagaris added.
This is so transparently hilarious. Wow, his average donation was lower this quarter… it’s a Christmas miracle!
— Tim Tagaris (@ttagaris) December 25, 2019
The fundraising contest comes just days after Buttigeig faced heat from his fellow Democrats onstage at Thursday’s Democratic debate over a fundraiser in a wine cave, which was pilloried by rivals such as Andrew YangAndrew YangGeorge Floyd protests show corporations must support racial and economic equality Andrew Yang discusses his universal basic income pilot program Andrew Yang on the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis MORE and Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) as an effort to sway big donors to Buttigieg’s campaign while opening up the mayor to special interests.
Buttigeig and Warren in particular have been battling ahead of the Iowa caucuses.
The battles over fundraising and donors have prompted new scrutiny of both campaigns. On Tuesday, The Washington Post published a story that focused on contributions from bigger donors that Warren had taken before her presidential campaign.
Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoPompeo: US response to Floyd protests a ‘stark contrast’ to authoritarian regimes Trump administration accuses international court of corruption at ‘highest levels,’ authorizes sanctions A crisis on the Korean peninsula reinforces the need for allies MORE on Monday would not definitively rule out a Senate run in his home state of Kansas but said it’s “not something that I want to do.”
“I’ve watched my life take turns that one would never have expected, but it’s not something I want to do,” Pompeo said on “Fox & Friends.”
“I want to stay here and continue to perform the mission that I’m serving President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE and I hope doing a good turn for the American people as well,” he added.
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Pompeo spoke warmly of Kansas, calling it “home” before adding that “it’s my intention to stay here and continue to serve as President Trump’s secretary of State.”
Pompeo’s future has the been the subject of intense speculation in recent months after Sen. Pat RobertsCharles (Pat) Patrick RobertsTrump tweets spark fresh headache for Republicans Trump’s tweet on protester sparks GOP backlash GOP lawmakers stick to Trump amid new criticism MORE (R-Kan.) announced he would not seek reelection. Pompeo previously served as a congressman from the state before joining the president’s Cabinet in early 2017.
Pompeo is seen as the likely front-runner for the GOP nomination should he opt to run for Senate.
The secretary of State and former CIA director has been one of Trump’s closest advisers and has managed to largely remain in the president’s good graces while others have fallen out of favor.
However, sources close to the State Department told The Hill last month they believed Pompeo’s relationship with Trump has been strained by the Ukraine scandal, which led to the president being impeached.
Trump has said he doesn’t believe Pompeo would leave his post in the administration unless it appeared Republicans were at risk of losing the Senate seat.
Atletico Madrid are prepared to include one of three players in any deal to bring Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette to Spain, according to reports.
Lacazette‘s future at the Emirates Stadium has come into question recently. With Arsenal preparing a big new contract for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, they may not be able to guarantee regular first team football to the Frenchman.
And, with young strikers Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah also showing promise this season, reports have suggested the Gunners could cash in on Lacazette.
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Arsenal are understood to be looking for £30m for the former Lyon striker, who has also been linked with Juventus. Given that he only has two years left on his contract, this may be their best time to sell.
And now Spanish publication Marca claims that Atletico ‘will try to achieve their objective by luring’ Lacazette to Madrid this summer with moves for the likes of Edinson Cavani, Gonzalo Higuain or Luis Suarez probably out of the question.
Atletico sporting director Andrea Berta is preparing a ‘swap deal’ for Lacazette with Thomas Lemar, Angel Correa and Vitolo the three players that the Spanish side are willing to let go as a ‘makeweight’.
Arsenal are likely to be interested in a swap if long-term target Thomas Partey was included in the deal but the LaLiga outfit ‘are not willing to part ways with their midfielder’.
On a swap deal, Marca adds: ‘This deal was put on the table back in January, but Arsenal turned down the offer.
‘However, the circumstances and needs of both clubs have changed and talks may resume from another prism.’
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has admitted in an Amazon Prime documentary that Serge Aurier’s defending scares him.
The Ivory Coast international has made a number of mistakes this season, leading to calls for Tottenham to invest in a new right-back, with the 27-year-old featuring in all but one of their Premier League matches last term.
A scene in Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming documentary All or Nothing – which airs next Monday – shows Mourinho tearing into Aurier in a pre-match team-talk ahead of their Champions League clash against Olympiacos last year.
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“Serge, you are a marker. You speak good English?” Mourinho asked, to which Aurier nodded.
“I am afraid of you as a marker. Because you are capable of doing a sh*t penalty with VAR. So I am telling you already, I am afraid of you.”
The cameras were following the club for the entire season and were there to witness some dramatic moments.
Mourinho did not let them affect his management style though as he was happy to give candid team-talks, which made fascinating viewing.
In one of his early speeches to his team he accused them of being too nice.
“Maybe I am wrong, I feel that you are honestly a very nice group of guys,” he said. “But for 90 minutes you cannot be nice, for 90 minutes you have to be a bunch of c****, but intelligent c****, not stupid c****. B******* in the sense that you are there to win matches man.
“We have to win. I wouldn’t come here if you were not as good as you were. No chance.”
Leeds are on the verge of making their first marquee signing since returning to the Premier League after reaching an agreement with Valencia for the transfer of Spain striker Rodrigo.
The LaLiga club announced on their website on Tuesday evening that a deal in principle has been agreed, for a reported £30million fee, with personal terms and a medical still to be finalised.
The 29-year-old has scored 59 goals in 220 games for Valencia since joining from Benfica in 2014, initially on loan, and would boost Marcelo Bielsa’s attacking options ahead of Leeds’ first season back in the English top flight for 16 years.
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A statement on Valencia’s official website read: “Valencia CF have reached a preliminary agreement with Leeds United FC this Tuesday for the transfer of Rodrigo Moreno, at the expense of completing all the documentation and other formalities and passing the mandatory medical examination.
“Valencia CF want to thank him for his commitment and effort over the last six seasons – in which he has played a total of 220 games, scored 59 goals, and helped to win a cup. Valencia CF wish him all the best in this new stage of his sports career.”
Valencia have already seen some key players leave this summer as they battle financial issues, with Rodrigo’s former team-mate Ferran Torres having signed for Manchester City.
Leeds have turned loan spells for Helder Costa and Illan Meslier into permanent deals so far, as well as bringing back Jack Harrison on another temporary stay from City, while also boosting their youth team with the captures of Joe Gelhardt, Charlie Allen and Cody Drameh.
Lionel Messi has informed Barcelona that he wishes to leave the club this summer.
The 33-year-old sent a fax to the LaLiga giants on Tuesday asking to have his contract terminated.
Messi came through the ranks at the Nou Camp having joined the famed La Masia academy and has won 33 major trophies and a record six Ballon d’Or titles.
Reports claim the Argentina international had a clause in his contract which, if activated, would allow him to walk away from the club for free.
While the suggestion is this clause expired in May, there are claims that Messi and his team believe it should be extended to cover the prolonged season – which ran until August following the delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
It remains to be seen how Barcelona will respond to Messi’s request, with the club trying to rebuild following the appointment of Ronald Koeman as head coach.
Messi was part of the Barcelona side that was thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final, and speaking recently Koeman said he was looking forward to working with the forward.
“It is a pleasure to have a player like Messi in the team. His qualities will help the team to develop.” he told Barcelona’s official website.
President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE will hold a campaign rally later this month in the home district of Rep. Jeff Van DrewJeff Van DrewTrump campaign launches new fundraising program with House Republicans NY, NJ lawmakers call for more aid to help fight coronavirus Campaigns face attack ad dilemma amid coronavirus crisis MORE (R-N.J.), the former Democrat who switched parties last month amid his opposition to impeachment.
Trump’s reelection campaign said in a news release that the president will rally supporters on Jan. 28 at the Wildwoods Convention Center in Wildwood, N.J. The campaign did not say whether Van Drew would make an appearance.
The president endorsed Van Drew during an Oval Office photo op last month days after it was first reported that the congressman would defect from the Democratic Party. Van Drew, whose voting record aligns closely with Democrats, pledged his “undying support” to the president.
Van Drew represents New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District, which Trump won by 4.6 percentage points in 2016. A former dentist and state lawmaker, Van Drew was one of several moderate Democrats who helped the party secure a majority in 2018.
But he had expressed unease about proceeding with an impeachment vote and was one of three Democrats to oppose one or both articles that passed the House last month. Polling indicated Van Drew would have faced a difficult reelection bid as a Democrat.
Van Drew’s party switch was seen as a coup for Trump and his Republican allies who have sought to paint impeachment as a partisan exercise led by Democrats.
Amy Kennedy, the wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), announced Monday that she will run as a Democrat to challenge Van Drew in the November election.
Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) said on Wednesday that it was a mistake for anyone to have voted for the Iraq War nearly two decades ago when pressed on Democratic front-runner Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE’s decision to support the war when he was in the Senate.
“Look, I think the war was a mistake and I think it was a mistake for anyone to vote for that war,” Warren said during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
When asked again if Biden made a mistake in voting for the war, Warren replied, “Everybody.”
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Warren’s comments come hours after Iran claimed responsibility for the launch of missiles at a pair of military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops and coalition personnel on Tuesday evening.
The developments marked a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran after the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general.
Progressive Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) has hammered Biden in particular over his 2002 vote in favor of the war.
“I just don’t think that that kind of record is going to bring forth the kind energy we need to defeat Trump,” Sanders told CNN on Monday night.
Biden has touted his own foreign policy experience in the Obama administration and on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee amid escalating tensions with Iran.
“I served in the executive branch of our government for eight years, but I served in the legislative branch for 36 prior to that — and I understand better than anyone that the system will not hold unless we find ways to work together to advance our national interests — not the political interests of one person or one party,” Biden said at an address in New York on Tuesday.
Biden, Sanders and Warren are all battling for position in the Iowa caucuses, which take place in less than a month.