A Speech to Europe 2026 by Anne Applebaum

May 13, 2026 | For A Speech To Europe 2026, historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Applebaum will address whether Europe’s time has come and what characterises this historic moment in her lecture:

»The European Moment«. Applebaum is among the most prominent voices on the rise of authoritarianism and the fragility of liberal democracy, and she puts the challenge squarely to her audience:

»This is the hour of Europe — but do the Europeans even know it?«

Since 2019, A Speech to Europe, initiated by the ERSTE Foundation, has provided a fundamental reflection on the present and future of Europe. The venue is Vienna’s Judenplatz, which serves as a reminder that Europe can only be understood in the mirror of its history. The speech will be held in English. This event is free of charge and takes place outdoors at the Judenplatz Vienna.


A wonderful and very important speech. Erudite, hard-hitting, informative, interesting, and inspiring. Thank you, Anne Applebaum! — © Mark Alexander

Face à un Donald Trump pressé par le temps, la Chine joue la montre

LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Xi Jinping reçoit avec faste son homologue américain enlisé au Moyen-Orient, pour arracher un répit stratégique et des garanties sur Taïwan.

À Pékin, Xi Jinping offre un accueil impérial à Donald Trump, sans jamais déroger. Le président chinois accompagnera son hôte jeudi sur les dalles de pierre du Temple du Ciel, là où les empereurs accomplissaient jadis les rites confucéens en quête de récoltes propices et de certitudes face au chaos du monde.

Après la Cité interdite, en 2017, la Chine déroule à nouveau le tapis rouge au président américain, dans un autre haut lieu de son histoire, à l’occasion de la première visite d’un président américain depuis près d’une décennie, sur fond de rivalité stratégique au long cours.

Face aux caméras, la promenade des dirigeants projettera la force tranquille d’une seconde puissance mondiale tenant tête au trublion de l’Amérique d’abord, en pleine convulsion géopolitique au Moyen-Orient. La Chine entend travailler avec les États-Unis « sur un pied d’égalité » afin de développer la coopération, de gérer les différends et d’injecter « plus de certitude dans un monde instable et interdépendant », a déclaré Guo Jiakun, un porte-parole du ministère des Affaires étrangères, à la veille de cette visite qui débute ce 13 mai. » | Par Sébastien Falletti, correspondant en Asie | mercredi 13 mai 2026

Réservé aux abonnés

Is the US Empire in the Middle of a Long Decline? | The Bottom Line

May 11, 2026 | When the United States threatens to take over countries and destroy civilisations, “these are the wild gesticulations of a sinking enterprise”, argues Richard Wolff, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts.

Wolff tells host Steve Clemons that US leaders refuse to face the reality that the US empire is in decline. Around the world, he adds, people are “deeply internalising” the lessons from the US's inability to defeat Iran.

The people in the US are becoming “bitterly angry” at their situation, where the richest 10 percent of Americans own 80 percent of corporate stocks, making the stock market “utterly irrelevant” to the masses.


Trump is a dunce in clown’s clothing! — © Mark Alexander

Violent Tobacco Black Market Wipes $6b from Federal Budget

FINANCIAL REVIEW: The booming illicit tobacco market has wiped $6 billion from the federal budget bottom line in just five months and revenue from tobacco excise is now forecast to plummet to just over $2 billion a year by 2030.

The government raked in more than $16 billion from tobacco taxes in 2020, but the continued raising of the excise sparked a violent black market trade run by criminal gangs that has decimated the legitimate market and resulted in a massive fall in revenue.

The government is now spending hundreds of millions of dollars on dealing with the fallout, including $14 million in the budget to boost the ability of states to disrupt the illicit tobacco and e-cigarette markets.

In the mid-year budget update, the government expected to raise $5.5 billion in tobacco excise in 2025-26. Five months later, that figure is now $4.1 billion, or 24 per cent lower than expected, and will fall to $2.1 billion by June 2030.

Legal cigarettes cost about $50, of which $34 is tax and excise, while the readily available illicit product is priced at about $15. NSW Premier Chris Minns in 2025 called on Chalmers to consider lowering the excise, saying it was contributing to the illegal tobacco industry, while economist Chris Richardson has labelled the continued raising of the excise one of the worst policies this century.

“We’ve cratered the tax take, stalled the fall in smoking rates, and invited organised crime into the everyday lives of more than a million Australians,” Richardson wrote in The Australian Financial Review in April.

The budget expert said the failure by successive governments to do anything about the issue meant it would now be much harder to fix.

“Organised crime will fight tooth and nail,” he said. “They’ve been a huge success at that already: after all, they fought the law, and the law lost. Given we’re now handing them a tasty $5 billion a year in risk-free revenue, they’ll be cashed up and cranky if serious efforts are made to reverse course.” » | Ronald Mizen | Political correspondent | Wednesday, May 13, 2026

And so it will be here in the UK with Starmer's stupid, undemocratic, illiberal, and ridiculous generational smoking ban! Mark my words! That law will have to be REVERSED, REPEALED! Free up the people! You will enchain them at society's PERIL. — © Mark Alexander

Steve Rosenberg: "Powerful Missiles" & "Downgraded Growth Forecasts" in Today's Russian Papers

May 13, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: • “The world's most powerful missile”; • Russia downgrades economic growth forecast; • Russians turn to cash due to mobile internet shutdowns & “rumours” regarding bank deposits.

Has the Iran War Destroyed Saudi Arabia’s Mega Project "Vision 2030"? | DW News

May 12, 2026 | Saudi Arabia promised its citizens a new kingdom - glass cities in the desert, ski slopes in the mountains, and an economy no longer dependent on oil. But one by one, the mega projects are being scaled back, suspended, or quietly buried. Now, with the Iran war closing the Strait of Hormuz and oil exports down, the kingdom is bleeding revenue while its deficits grow. Ole Alsaker talks to Karen Elliott House, a journalist who knows the Kingdom better than almost anyone - to ask whether Vision 2030 was ever real, and what happens if it fails.

US Borrowing Exceeds GDP: What Does It Mean for the Economy? | This Is America

May 6, 2026 | For the first time since World War II, the United States national debt has exceeded the size of its economy.

Now standing at around $39tn, decades of deficit spending have pushed borrowing to historic levels. The government is spending about $1tn a year just on interest payments. Economists warn the debt trajectory is unsustainable, with projections showing it will continue to rise.

Higher borrowing costs are already affecting Americans through mortgages and loans. There are also concerns that global investors could lose confidence in US debt markets. If that happens, it could trigger a financial crisis with far-reaching consequences. So, how serious is the risk, and can Washington bring the debt under control?

The US Empire Just Hit a Dangerous Turning Point | Jeffrey Sachs

May 12, 2026

Steve Schmidt: Trump Will Accelerate America's Decline

May 12, 2026 | Donald Trump is headed to China for the first time since 2017 to meet with Xi Jinping. Steve Schmidt explains why America has never been weaker and Trump bears the blame.

How Americans could have been so stupid and reckless as to elect, and even re-elect, this most unsuitable man into the White House is beyond belief! As I have said many times before, the man belongs in clink. And if Americans cannot bring themselves to incarcerate him, the least they should do is gag him, and enchain him to a rocking chair with a view over the ocean! Whilst this man holds the reins of power in the Occident, the Orient, and actually the whole wide world will remain unstable. — © Mark Alexander

Inflation Accelerates After Weeks of War in Iran

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The Consumer Price Index rose 3.8 percent in April from a year earlier, as increasing energy costs replaced tariffs as the driver of higher prices for Americans.

Consumer prices in the United States rose last month at the fastest rate since May 2023, as sharp increases in energy costs caused by war in the Middle East made life more expensive for American consumers.

The Consumer Price Index rose 3.8 percent in April from a year earlier, the Labor Department reported on Tuesday, up from a 2.4 percent annual increase before the conflict started in February and a 3.3 percent increase in March.

The increase was driven largely by energy prices, up 3.8 percent since the previous month. But the “core” index, stripping out volatile food and energy prices, also rose 2.8 percent over the year in April, up from 2.6 percent in March. Live Updates » | Lydia DePillis | Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Gericht stoppt Trump-Zölle: US-Regierung fürchtet Rückzahlungswelle

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Ein Urteil stoppt die globale Zehn-Prozent-Abgabe bislang nur für drei Kläger. Doch das US-Justizministerium warnt vor tausenden Erstattungsanträgen.

Die US-Regierung will das Urteil gegen Präsident Donald Trumps globale Zehn-Prozent-Zölle bis zum Ende des Berufungsverfahrens aussetzen lassen. Einen entsprechenden Antrag stellte das Justizministerium am Montag beim US-Außenhandelsgericht in New York. Darüber berichtet die Nachrichtenagentur Reuters. Wird dem Antrag stattgegeben, müssen die drei vom Urteil begünstigten Kläger die Zölle weiter zahlen, bis ein Berufungsgericht entschieden hat.

Urteil gilt bislang nur für drei Kläger

Das Außenhandelsgericht hatte die Zölle am 7. Mai mit zwei zu einer Stimme für rechtswidrig erklärt. Die Erhebung stoppte es zunächst aber nur für drei Kläger: die Importeure Basic Fun! und Burlap & Barrel sowie den Bundesstaat Washington. Für alle anderen Importeure gelten die Zölle laut Reuters weiter. » | Peter Steiniger | Dienstag, 12. Mai 2026

Britain’s Starmer Says He Will Not Resign

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to continue in office as he met with cabinet members. Dozens of Labour Party lawmakers had urged him to step down after heavy losses in local elections.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain dared his critics on Tuesday to formally challenge him if they had the support to do so, opening a high-stakes cabinet meeting by telling ministers that he intends to get on with the business of governing.

“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered,” Mr. Starmer said, according to a statement from his office. “The country expects us to get on with governing. That is what I am doing and what we must do as a cabinet.”

Mr. Starmer was facing a fast-moving rebellion within his party after it suffered major losses in last week’s local elections in England, and in parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales. Dozens of Labour Party lawmakers have publicly urged him to set out a timetable for his resignation to allow a contest to find his successor.

Miatta Fahnbulleh, a junior minister, resigned from the government just as the cabinet meeting started, writing in a post directed at Mr. Starmer on social media that “the public does not believe that you can lead this change — and nor do I.”

But the prime minister appears unwilling to go quietly. In his remarks to his cabinet, he repeated comments from a speech on Monday in which he warned that a leadership fight would not be good for the country.

If Mr. Starmer refuses to quit under pressure, his critics would need to gather at least 81 Labour lawmakers to coalesce around a potential rival. That would formally trigger a leadership contest. It was unclear on Tuesday morning whether they had enough support to make that happen.

Some of Mr. Starmer’s fiercest critics do not want him to leave office immediately, but rather to announce that he will step down in the fall. That would give the party time to organize a contest to succeed him that might include Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, who appears to have political momentum behind him. But Mr. Burnham would need to win a seat in Parliament first in a special election, something that was certain to take weeks if not months. Live Updates » | Michael D. Shear and Stephen Castle | Reporting from London | Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Putin Hints Ukraine War "Is Coming to an End." Do Today's Russian Papers Agree?

May 12, 2026 | On Saturday Vladimir Putin seemed to suggest the war in Ukraine was “coming to an end.” Today one Russia paper claims that “trying to interpret what he meant is like fortune-telling.” And will there, or won’t there, be talks with Europe...?

Pressure on Starmer Mounts as Dozens of Labour Lawmakers Call on Him to Quit

THE NEW YOTK TIMES: The chances of a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer appeared to rise sharply on Monday as several government aides announced their resignations.

Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Monday. “I get it. I feel it. And I take responsibility,” he said of last week’s results. | Carl Court/Getty Images
Dozens of Labour Party lawmakers called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign on Monday, effectively rejecting their leader’s efforts to quell a mutiny in the party ranks and raising the likelihood of a bruising leadership battle.

Mr. Starmer began the day with a speech he hoped would quiet the brewing rebellion, acknowledging the anger expressed by voters last week when they overwhelmingly rejected Labour Party candidates in elections across England, Scotland and Wales.

“That hurts and it should hurt,” he said. “I get it. I feel it. And I take responsibility.”

But the speech appears to have done little to appease Labour Party members who blame Mr. Starmer’s deep unpopularity with voters for historic defeats in the contests for municipal council seats and control of the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.

By the end of the day on Monday, news organizations had tallied more than 70 Labour lawmakers who publicly said they wanted a fresh start. Several junior government aides resigned to protest his decision to stay on. » | Michael D. Shear | Reporting from London | Monday, May 11, 2026

What They Don't Teach You about the Roman Empire

Dec 20, 2011 | Michael Parenti on Lies, War and Empire at ‘The Center for Creative Change’, Antioch University, Seattle, WA. This video explores how empires, particularly the Roman Empire, are often portrayed in a positive light within literature and film, focusing on their perceived achievements. We examine common narratives that praise ancient Rome and its supposed peace and stability. The speaker encourages viewers to critically analyze this history of Rome and question the true impact of such vast powers.

The years have past by, but the core of Mr Parenti's message is just as valid today. It is well worth listening to this video all the way through. Listening to Mr Parenti's message helps to clarify and bring into sharp focus exactly what is going on with those who have a grip on the levers of power.

Die Jahre sind vergangen, doch die Kernaussage von Herrn Parenti ist heute genauso aktuell wie eh und je. Es lohnt sich, dieses Video vollständig anzuhören. Das Hören von Herrn Parentis Botschaft trägt dazu bei, die Machenschaften derer, die die Machthebel in der Hand halten, zu verdeutlichen und klarzumachen.

Les années ont passé, mais le message de M. Parenti reste d'une actualité brûlante. Il est donc essentiel d'écouter cette vidéo jusqu'au bout. Le message de M. Parenti permet de comprendre et de mettre en lumière les agissements de ceux qui détiennent le pouvoir. — © Mark Alexander

Former Republican Turned Anti-fascist Activist, Paul Lance exposes Trump’s Authoritarianism

May 11, 2026 | Former Republican turned anti-fascist activist, Paul Lance, joins Anthony Davis to expose Trump’s authoritarianism, racism and violence that attracts half of American voters to vote against their own best interests in their quest to ‘own the Libs’ - only on The Weekend Show.

ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

The Lure of St. Moritz - From Sleepy Mountain Village to Luxury Resort | DW Documentary

May 9, 2026 | St. Moritz is the birthplace of alpine winter tourism, as well of many winter sports. The village, with its magnificent location in the Swiss Engadin mountains, was already attracting celebrities in the last century.

St. Moritz is one of the most exclusive winter sports resorts in the world, with a burnished history. Located in the picturesque Swiss Engadin mountains, the village attracted many celebrities in the last century: including Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, Gunter Sachs, Andy Warhol and Herbert von Karajan. Coco Chanel sought refuge here, during the war. Alfred Hitchcock was inspired to write his first classic in one of St. Moritz’s grand hotels, and returned many times over the decades. The Shah of Persia temporarily ruled his empire from a chalet on the Suvretta slope.

Just 150 years ago, St. Moritz was still a simple mountain village. Then, adventurous Englishmen arrived, invented new winter sports and laid the foundation for the town's fame.

Five-star hotels sprang up in the village of 5,000 inhabitants, which suddenly became a winter hotspot for the rich and famous.

Numerous winter sports originated here, some of which are unique to this location: in Cresta, participants race headfirst down into the valley on low sleds - on the longest natural ice track in the world. The Cresta Club, founded over 100 years ago by Englishmen, is still one of the most exclusive clubs in the world.

In skijoring, skiers are pulled across the frozen Lake St. Moritz by horses. Winter sports, tradition and sophisticated lifestyle, luxury and cosmopolitanism characterize the history of St. Moritz.

Mass Layoffs in Iran as Businesses Buckle Under Wartime Pressures

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Iran was already struggling economically before 2026 brought widespread instability. A government-imposed internet shutdown has crippled an entire sector.

In mid-March, Babak, a 49-year-old Iranian product designer at a tech company in Tehran, was called into his boss’s office and told that his position was being eliminated.

Iran’s government had shut down the internet two weeks earlier, at the outset of U.S.-Israeli war on the country, throwing the country’s tech industry into chaos and making Babak’s job impossible.

“Throughout my career, I have worked hard, continuously learned, and tried to grow,” said Babak, who sent voice messages to The New York Times, and asked to be identified only by his first name to avoid government reprisal. “Yet at this stage of my life, I find myself in an uncertain and ambiguous position,” he said.

Babak’s experience has become increasingly common throughout Iran as companies have instituted round after round of layoffs in recent weeks, according to interviews with businesses and employees and Iranian news reports.

For the Trump administration, Iran’s severe economic struggles are part of a strategy to pressure the country into submission. “I hope it fails,” President Trump told reporters this month, of Iran’s economy. “You know why? Because I want to win.” Iranian officials insist that pressure will not work and that the country will not surrender. » | Leily Nikounazar. Photographs by Arash Khamooshi | Sunday, May 10, 2026

There is one quick, sure-fire solution to this tragedy: Remove the worst, cruellest, most egocentric president ever from office, and imprison him! That will stop all this suffering. — © Mark Alexander

Saudi Arabia Is Lifting the Alcohol Ban for Wealthy Foreigners

BBC: Saudi Arabia has quietly started to allow wealthy foreign residents to buy alcohol, a huge change after a 73-year ban. Commentators expect that the relaxation will eventually be extended to tourists, as Sameer Hashmi reports from Riyadh.

For decades, Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter has stood apart from the rest of the capital city – an affluent enclave of embassies and upscale residences, with shaded walkways, greenery and a café culture that draws young Saudis and expatriates alike.

Now, tucked inside a discreet, unmarked beige complex within the exclusive neighbourhood, a small store has become a discrete testing ground for one of Saudi Arabia's most sensitive policy shifts – the controlled sale of alcohol to wealthy non-Muslim foreigners.

Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's two holiest sites, banned the sale of alcohol in 1952. But as part of a broader effort to reshape its image, the kingdom has rolled out sweeping social and economic reforms in recent years, presenting itself as a more moderate and investment-friendly society.

Under the leadership of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, the kingdom has reopened cinemas, hosted major music festivals, lifted the ban on women driving, and curtailed the powers of the once-feared religious police.

But the quiet expansion of legal alcohol sales is arguably the boldest experiment yet.

The liquor shop first opened in Riyadh in January 2024, but entry was initially restricted to non-Muslim diplomats. Under new rules introduced without announcement at the end of 2025, wealthy, non-Muslim foreign residents can now also go there to purchase beer, wine and spirits.

To be eligible, an expat must either hold a Premium Residency permit, which costs 100,000 Saudi riyals ($27,000; £19,300) a year; or show that he or she earns at least 50,000 riyals per month.

The Premium Residency scheme has varying eligibility criteria, and is typically open to senior foreign executives, investors, and professionals with specialised skills.

In both the case of permit holders and those without, they will have to show their residence ID card to security guards at the door. This details their religion and residency status. » | Sameer Hashmi | Thursday, February 5, 2026

Iran-Krieg leert weltweite Ölreserven in Rekordtempo

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Wie lange reichen die Vorräte noch, bevor an den Zapfsäulen und Flughäfen das Öl knapp wird? US-Analysten nennen konkrete Termine.

Der Iran-Krieg lässt die globalen Ölvorräte nach einem Bericht des Finanzdienstes Bloomberg so schnell schrumpfen wie nie zuvor. Die weltweiten Ölbestände seien zwischen dem 1. März und dem 25. April um rund 4,8 Millionen Barrel pro Tag gesunken, berichtete Bloomberg unter Berufung auf Schätzungen der US-Bank Morgan Stanley.

Das sei der stärkste Quartalsrückgang in den Daten der Internationalen Energieagentur (IEA). Rohöl mache knapp 60 Prozent des Rückgangs aus, raffinierte Kraftstoffe den Rest. Hintergrund ist die seit zwei Monaten weitgehend blockierte Straße von Hormus, durch die ein Großteil der Lieferungen aus dem Persischen Golf fließt. In mehreren asiatischen Staaten könnten demnach bereits in wenigen Wochen kritische Versorgungsengpässe auftreten. » | Sophie Barkey | Sonntag, 10. Mai 2026