September 20, 2026
Russia: Pessimism, Rising Prices and Voices from the Street
September 19, 2026
Black Smoke Seen Near Riyadh amid Air Raid Alerts in Saudi Arabia • FRANCE 24 English
Hoekstra Reacts to Plan on Making Canada EU's First Associate Member
Macron Heir Invites Britain to Join ‘United States of Europe’
THE TELEGRAPH Centrist candidate for the French presidency suggests UK should be part of a unified tax area
Screenshot taken from this Telegraph article. | Gabriel Attal believes the EU’s 27-country model has ‘reached its limits’ Credit: AFP via Getty Images/Sameer Al-Doumy
Emmanuel Macron’s protégé has invited Britain to join a “United States of Europe” in a de facto reversal of Brexit.
Gabriel Attal, a contender to succeed Mr Macron in 2027, wants a group of perhaps eight or 10 countries to bind themselves together with common debt, common taxes and labour rules and, in effect, a single economy.
The bloc would operate under a directly elected president and be protected by France’s nuclear deterrent.
Mr Attal, who has previously argued that Britain should rejoin the EU, is now offering a route back into something considerably more integrated than the bloc it left.
“I hope that one day the United Kingdom will find its place again in this adventure, if it freely chooses to join it,” he said. » | Henry Samuel Paris Correspondent. James Crisp Europe Edito | Friday, September 18, 2026
This is music to my ears, of course. I never expected such encouraging news so late on a Friday night! God bless M. Attal! Vive la France ! Vive le Royaume-Uni ! Vive l'Union européenne — © Mark Alexander
Emmanuel Macron’s protégé has invited Britain to join a “United States of Europe” in a de facto reversal of Brexit.
Gabriel Attal, a contender to succeed Mr Macron in 2027, wants a group of perhaps eight or 10 countries to bind themselves together with common debt, common taxes and labour rules and, in effect, a single economy.
The bloc would operate under a directly elected president and be protected by France’s nuclear deterrent.
Mr Attal, who has previously argued that Britain should rejoin the EU, is now offering a route back into something considerably more integrated than the bloc it left.
“I hope that one day the United Kingdom will find its place again in this adventure, if it freely chooses to join it,” he said. » | Henry Samuel Paris Correspondent. James Crisp Europe Edito | Friday, September 18, 2026
This is music to my ears, of course. I never expected such encouraging news so late on a Friday night! God bless M. Attal! Vive la France ! Vive le Royaume-Uni ! Vive l'Union européenne — © Mark Alexander
September 18, 2026
September 17, 2026
"Fast Food Nation," Mystery Meat & Trump's Dismantling of U.S. Food Safety System: Eric Schlosser
Sep 17, 2026 | Amid growing concerns over food safety in the United States, President Donald Trump last month authorized the duty-free importation of 660 million pounds of cheap beef trimmings that will get mixed in with other cuts to make ground beef. Imported beef and pork were once labelled with their country of origin, but Congress voted in 2015 to end that requirement, so customers at the grocery store will have no way to identify this "mystery meat," which is coming mostly from Brazil.
President Trump's proclamation in August came just a day after he met in the White House with Joesley Batista, whose family controls the Brazilian company JBS, the largest beef producer in the world. JBS is notorious for food safety violations and admitted in 2017 to bribing thousands of Brazilian officials for favourable treatment.
"It smells like a pretty corrupt deal," says investigative journalist Eric Schlosser. He says Trump's move is "basically screwing over American ranchers," and the imported beef is "some of the meat most likely to be contaminated."
Schlosser is author of the landmark book Fast Food Nation, first published in 2001. He says that in the 25 years since then, the United States has developed "two food systems." While affluent and well-educated people increasingly favor sustainable, organic foods and care deeply about how food is grown and consumed, working people and the poor are relegated to the "fast-food industrial system" of cheap, mass-produced food of dubious safety.
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
President Trump's proclamation in August came just a day after he met in the White House with Joesley Batista, whose family controls the Brazilian company JBS, the largest beef producer in the world. JBS is notorious for food safety violations and admitted in 2017 to bribing thousands of Brazilian officials for favourable treatment.
"It smells like a pretty corrupt deal," says investigative journalist Eric Schlosser. He says Trump's move is "basically screwing over American ranchers," and the imported beef is "some of the meat most likely to be contaminated."
Schlosser is author of the landmark book Fast Food Nation, first published in 2001. He says that in the 25 years since then, the United States has developed "two food systems." While affluent and well-educated people increasingly favor sustainable, organic foods and care deeply about how food is grown and consumed, working people and the poor are relegated to the "fast-food industrial system" of cheap, mass-produced food of dubious safety.
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
« Personne ne dictera au Canada avec qui il peut signer des accords » : Mark Carney, favorable au rapprochement avec l’UE, répond à Donald Trump
LE FIGARO : Sur fond de désamour avec les États-Unis, la présidente de la Commission européenne a proposé mercredi que le Canada puisse devenir le premier pays « membre associé » de l’UE, en s’adressant à Mark Carney.
Le premier ministre canadien Mark Carney a salué jeudi l’idée que son pays devienne le premier membre associé de l’Union européenne, jugeant que le Canada et l’UE étaient « plus forts ensemble ». « Le Canada accueille favorablement cette ambition, et je peux vous dire que les sondages montrent qu’une écrasante majorité de Canadiens soutient des liens beaucoup plus étroits avec l’Europe », a-t-il déclaré devant le Parlement européen à Strasbourg, où il a été longuement applaudi. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 17 September 2026
Le premier ministre canadien Mark Carney a salué jeudi l’idée que son pays devienne le premier membre associé de l’Union européenne, jugeant que le Canada et l’UE étaient « plus forts ensemble ». « Le Canada accueille favorablement cette ambition, et je peux vous dire que les sondages montrent qu’une écrasante majorité de Canadiens soutient des liens beaucoup plus étroits avec l’Europe », a-t-il déclaré devant le Parlement européen à Strasbourg, où il a été longuement applaudi. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 17 September 2026
Could Australia Join the European Union?
Sep 17, 2026 | When Donald Trump announced his so-called Liberation Day tariffs in April last year, one question seemed to dominate: which country would suffer the most economic pain?
But since then, one country after the next seems to have awoken to a starkly hopeful realisation: the United States accounts for only 15 per cent of total global imports and trade. So, could these countries join a newly powerful trading bloc?
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on recent moves by Canada to possibly join the European Union, and if Australia could follow suit.
But since then, one country after the next seems to have awoken to a starkly hopeful realisation: the United States accounts for only 15 per cent of total global imports and trade. So, could these countries join a newly powerful trading bloc?
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on recent moves by Canada to possibly join the European Union, and if Australia could follow suit.
Kanada und die EU | 🌍 tagesschau24 Top-Thema, 16.9.2026
September 16, 2026
Osborne Claims Britain Has ‘Fallen Off a Cliff’ Since Leaving Europe
THE TELEGRAPH: Former Tory chancellor urges Andy Burnham to re-enter EU customs union after Brexit’s ‘devastating impact’ on trade
George Osborne has said Britain should rejoin the EU customs union, claiming that the country has “gone off a cliff” since Brexit.
The former Tory chancellor, who resigned hours after Lord Cameron following the referendum, said rejoining the trading bloc would be a “straightforward decision” for Andy Burnham.
He told The Independent: “Britain has basically gone off a cliff. It has had a huge impact on the British economy. It is clearly poorer than it would otherwise be.”
His suggested solution was to rejoin the customs union. “It’s a quite simple thing to do. That was never part of the Brexit debate.
“No one knew we were leaving it and it has had a devastating impact on trade,” he said.
He added that Brexiteers had backed leaving the customs union because of “these great trade deals we were going to strike with America”, which he said “looks pretty fanciful now”.\
The former chancellor said: “If I was Andy Burnham, I don’t see why you wouldn’t rejoin the customs union. » | Genevieve Holl-Allen Political Correspondent | Wednesday, September 13, 2026
I see that the ‘great and the good’ are all coming around to my way of thinking now! The UK’s place is, and always has been, inside the European Union. We Britons are Europeans, and the European Union is our home. It is a wonderful, supranational union which has evolved and grown since World War II in order to ensure that there will not be another horrendous war in Europe and to bring about peace, harmony, good relations, and security within Europe, and to foster human rights for ALL. And, very importantly, to bring about prosperity to all in Europe. We Europeans are a family with similar values, similar hopes, and similar dreams and aspirations. — © Mark Alexander
George Osborne has said Britain should rejoin the EU customs union, claiming that the country has “gone off a cliff” since Brexit.
The former Tory chancellor, who resigned hours after Lord Cameron following the referendum, said rejoining the trading bloc would be a “straightforward decision” for Andy Burnham.
He told The Independent: “Britain has basically gone off a cliff. It has had a huge impact on the British economy. It is clearly poorer than it would otherwise be.”
His suggested solution was to rejoin the customs union. “It’s a quite simple thing to do. That was never part of the Brexit debate.
“No one knew we were leaving it and it has had a devastating impact on trade,” he said.
He added that Brexiteers had backed leaving the customs union because of “these great trade deals we were going to strike with America”, which he said “looks pretty fanciful now”.\
The former chancellor said: “If I was Andy Burnham, I don’t see why you wouldn’t rejoin the customs union. » | Genevieve Holl-Allen Political Correspondent | Wednesday, September 13, 2026
I see that the ‘great and the good’ are all coming around to my way of thinking now! The UK’s place is, and always has been, inside the European Union. We Britons are Europeans, and the European Union is our home. It is a wonderful, supranational union which has evolved and grown since World War II in order to ensure that there will not be another horrendous war in Europe and to bring about peace, harmony, good relations, and security within Europe, and to foster human rights for ALL. And, very importantly, to bring about prosperity to all in Europe. We Europeans are a family with similar values, similar hopes, and similar dreams and aspirations. — © Mark Alexander
Ursula von der Leyen Invites Canada to Be EU's First 'Associate Member' | DW News
EU Chief Says Canada Should Become First "Associate Member’
Related article and my comment here »
Canada Could Become the E.U.’s First ‘Associate Member’
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the bloc’s executive arm, has invited Ottawa closer as both sides look to navigate complicated geopolitical challenges.
Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, and Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday. Credit: Yves Herman/Reuters
The European Union has invited Canada to work toward becoming the bloc’s first “associate member,” a title meant to underscore Canada’s growing closeness to the 27-nation union in a world of rising geopolitical risk.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Union’s executive arm, announced the plan on Wednesday during a speech in Strasbourg, France. Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, was at the event and seated directly to Ms. von der Leyen’s left as she made her address.
During the speech, Ms. von der Leyen said, “We must urgently reimagine our partnerships.” Directing her next line to Mr. Carney himself, she added, “I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the European Union.”
The declaration was met with a standing ovation from lawmakers, and Mr. Carney and Ms. von der Leyen shook hands warmly as she made the announcement.
Ms. von der Leyen said the proposal was “not a partnership against anyone else, but for our common strength.” » | Jeanna Smialek and Matina Stevis-Gridneff | Reporting from Strasbourg, France | Wednesday, September 16, 2026
This is wonderful news! Canada is a wonderful country, and the European Union is a wonderful supranational union. This is the best political and economic news I have heard in a very long time. The only pity—and shame—is that my own country, the UK, stupidly voted to leave the European Union. It is to be hoped that this folly will be reversed as soon as possible.
Footnote: This development shows just how stupid and ridiculous all of Trump’s policies have been. That goes for his ‘war’ on the friendly and honourable Canadians and his ridiculous tariff obsession. Trump is a failure, and the longer it goes on, the more his failures will become evident! That goes for his disruption of international trade with tariffs, his ‘war’ on, and alienation of his closest neighbour, Canada, and his unwinnable, illegal war on Iran.
Americans would do themselves a great favour to be more careful when choosing their leaders. — © Mark Alexander
À LIRE AUSSI : Ursula von der Leyen propose de faire du Canada le « premier membre associé » de l’UE : La présidente de la Commission européenne a proposé, dans son discours au Parlement européen ce mercredi, de renforcer les liens entre l’Union européenne et le Canada en lui accordant un statut inédit. »
LESEN SIE AUCH:
Von der Leyen präsentiert EU-Pläne: Kanada soll „assoziiertes Mitglied“ werden – Nato-ähnlicher Verteidigungsmechanismus für Europa: Die EU-Kommissionspräsidentin betont außerdem, dass das EU-Handelsdefizit mit China wieder ins Gleichgewicht gebracht werden müsse, und schlägt ein Social-Media-Verbot für Kinder unter 13 Jahren vor. »
The European Union has invited Canada to work toward becoming the bloc’s first “associate member,” a title meant to underscore Canada’s growing closeness to the 27-nation union in a world of rising geopolitical risk.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Union’s executive arm, announced the plan on Wednesday during a speech in Strasbourg, France. Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, was at the event and seated directly to Ms. von der Leyen’s left as she made her address.
During the speech, Ms. von der Leyen said, “We must urgently reimagine our partnerships.” Directing her next line to Mr. Carney himself, she added, “I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the European Union.”
The declaration was met with a standing ovation from lawmakers, and Mr. Carney and Ms. von der Leyen shook hands warmly as she made the announcement.
Ms. von der Leyen said the proposal was “not a partnership against anyone else, but for our common strength.” » | Jeanna Smialek and Matina Stevis-Gridneff | Reporting from Strasbourg, France | Wednesday, September 16, 2026
This is wonderful news! Canada is a wonderful country, and the European Union is a wonderful supranational union. This is the best political and economic news I have heard in a very long time. The only pity—and shame—is that my own country, the UK, stupidly voted to leave the European Union. It is to be hoped that this folly will be reversed as soon as possible.
Footnote: This development shows just how stupid and ridiculous all of Trump’s policies have been. That goes for his ‘war’ on the friendly and honourable Canadians and his ridiculous tariff obsession. Trump is a failure, and the longer it goes on, the more his failures will become evident! That goes for his disruption of international trade with tariffs, his ‘war’ on, and alienation of his closest neighbour, Canada, and his unwinnable, illegal war on Iran.
Americans would do themselves a great favour to be more careful when choosing their leaders. — © Mark Alexander
À LIRE AUSSI : Ursula von der Leyen propose de faire du Canada le « premier membre associé » de l’UE : La présidente de la Commission européenne a proposé, dans son discours au Parlement européen ce mercredi, de renforcer les liens entre l’Union européenne et le Canada en lui accordant un statut inédit. »
LESEN SIE AUCH:
Von der Leyen präsentiert EU-Pläne: Kanada soll „assoziiertes Mitglied“ werden – Nato-ähnlicher Verteidigungsmechanismus für Europa: Die EU-Kommissionspräsidentin betont außerdem, dass das EU-Handelsdefizit mit China wieder ins Gleichgewicht gebracht werden müsse, und schlägt ein Social-Media-Verbot für Kinder unter 13 Jahren vor. »
The Billionaire Who Manufactured JD Vance
The OAP Triple Lock Isn’t a Problem. The Cost of Pension Tax Relief Is
Sep 16, 2026 | The old age pension triple lock is under attack again. The Financial Times wants it scrapped. The Resolution Foundation wants it ended. The Tony Blair Institute says it is unaffordable. But they are all looking at the wrong pension subsidy to criticise.
The UK spends around £154 billion a year on state pensions. The accumulated additional cost attributed to the triple lock is estimated at around £16 billion. That money has helped protect pensioners' incomes, including those of the many people who depend almost entirely on the state pension.
There is, however, another pension subsidy that receives far less attention: tax relief on private pensions. The total cost of private pension tax reliefs is around £83.9 billion a year, with 71% of that tax relief going to higher and additional-rate taxpayers. Most strikingly, the cost of higher-rate pension tax relief, over and above the basic rate everyone can enjoy, is around £15 billion a year, which is remarkably close to the £16 billion cost attributed to the pension triple lock. So why is the political debate focused on restraining the incomes of pensioners rather than on reducing tax subsidies for people already able to accumulate substantial private wealth?
This isn’t fundamentally an affordability question. It is about inequality, political priorities and whose interests government chooses to protect.
I think the triple lock should stay, and higher-rate pension tax relief should go. You may, of course, disagree.
The UK spends around £154 billion a year on state pensions. The accumulated additional cost attributed to the triple lock is estimated at around £16 billion. That money has helped protect pensioners' incomes, including those of the many people who depend almost entirely on the state pension.
There is, however, another pension subsidy that receives far less attention: tax relief on private pensions. The total cost of private pension tax reliefs is around £83.9 billion a year, with 71% of that tax relief going to higher and additional-rate taxpayers. Most strikingly, the cost of higher-rate pension tax relief, over and above the basic rate everyone can enjoy, is around £15 billion a year, which is remarkably close to the £16 billion cost attributed to the pension triple lock. So why is the political debate focused on restraining the incomes of pensioners rather than on reducing tax subsidies for people already able to accumulate substantial private wealth?
This isn’t fundamentally an affordability question. It is about inequality, political priorities and whose interests government chooses to protect.
I think the triple lock should stay, and higher-rate pension tax relief should go. You may, of course, disagree.
No Right to Clean Drinking Water? How Trump's EPA Rollbacks Are Poisoning American Towns & Cities
Sep 16, 2026 | Is access to clean drinking water a fundamental human right? In a landmark decision, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee a right to lead-free water or truthful public health information.
In this video, we break down the ongoing Jackson, Mississippi water crisis, the Trump administration’s sweeping rollbacks to the Clean Water Act, and how federal deregulation leaves lower-income communities to bear the physical and financial toll of toxic exposure.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
In this video, we break down the ongoing Jackson, Mississippi water crisis, the Trump administration’s sweeping rollbacks to the Clean Water Act, and how federal deregulation leaves lower-income communities to bear the physical and financial toll of toxic exposure.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
September 15, 2026
The UK Is a Voluntary Union, So There Must Be a Mechanism to Leave | Stephen Gethins
Sep 14, 2026 | “Let’s figure out what the mechanism [to leave the UK] is so we can get on with the debate about the substance.”
The last Scottish independence vote was “a long time ago” and the current union doesn’t properly serve the people of Scotland, says minister for Europe, external affairs and energy for the SNP Stephen Gethins.
The last Scottish independence vote was “a long time ago” and the current union doesn’t properly serve the people of Scotland, says minister for Europe, external affairs and energy for the SNP Stephen Gethins.
Shadow Hearing Exposes Trump’s Billions & Foreign Deals as First Family Loots the US Treasury
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
An excellent synopsis of Dementia Don's corruption. — © Mark Alexander
September 14, 2026
September 13, 2026
Steve Rosenberg: Russia: a 'Holy War', a Subway Station and the Mood on the Street
I'm Extremely Worried by Extremists That Win Elections in Europe: Luxembourg's PM Luc Frieden
Crypto Billionaire's £36 Million Donation to Reform
September 11, 2026
These Are the 10 Richest People in Switzerland
BLUE NEWS: The "Bilanz" shows in its new richest list: Switzerland's super-rich have once again increased their wealth - to a total of 851.5 billion Swiss francs, more than ever before. Only those who own at least around 15 billion francs make it into the top ten.
Switzerland will continue to be a magnet for great fortunes in 2025. The new "Bilanz" rich list shows: The total wealth of the 300 richest people has never been as high as it is today. If you want to make it to the top, you need sums that command respect even among billionaires.
The entry threshold for the top ten is around CHF 15 billion. And at the top are entrepreneurial dynasties that dominate very different sectors of the economy - from luxury cosmetics to container shipping. » | Blue News | Undated
Switzerland will continue to be a magnet for great fortunes in 2025. The new "Bilanz" rich list shows: The total wealth of the 300 richest people has never been as high as it is today. If you want to make it to the top, you need sums that command respect even among billionaires.
The entry threshold for the top ten is around CHF 15 billion. And at the top are entrepreneurial dynasties that dominate very different sectors of the economy - from luxury cosmetics to container shipping. » | Blue News | Undated
Houthis Gain 'Absolute Control’ of Crucial Shipping Route | Iona Craig
Sep 11, 2026 | “It’s in the interests of both the Houthis and Iran for this to be happening.”
The Houthis have made their most significant territorial gains in Yemen since 2021, and now have effective control over a crucial shipping route, says The Times’s former Yemen correspondent Iona Craig.
The Houthis have made their most significant territorial gains in Yemen since 2021, and now have effective control over a crucial shipping route, says The Times’s former Yemen correspondent Iona Craig.
Insiders Reveal What Really Happened at Trump's Convention
Sep 11, 2026 | Katy Balls reports from the Republican midterm convention in Dallas where President Trump made a pledge that every adult will get a $5,000 dividend if the Republicans win the House and the Senate. That adds up to about $1.2 trillion.
Golden balloons were dropped, and the crowd joined the president in repeating a vow to vote for "the greatest president in the history of the United States that loves us so much he can't even breathe".
JD Vance's speech was received well, and the audience chanted "48", suggesting they'd like the vice-president to become the 48th president of the United States. Is he pulling ahead of Marco Rubio as the bookies' favourite to be the Republican candidate for 2028?
Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times
Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
Audio: Reuters
Golden balloons were dropped, and the crowd joined the president in repeating a vow to vote for "the greatest president in the history of the United States that loves us so much he can't even breathe".
JD Vance's speech was received well, and the audience chanted "48", suggesting they'd like the vice-president to become the 48th president of the United States. Is he pulling ahead of Marco Rubio as the bookies' favourite to be the Republican candidate for 2028?
Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times
Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal
Producer: Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness
Picture: Getty Images
Audio: Reuters
Is the Tide Turning on Billionaires? | DW News
Michael Llambert: We Took Back Control Whilst Giving It All Away
Sep 11, 2026 | We were promised we'd take back control. So why does someone else own almost everything?I
Start with my own visit to Battersea Power Station — a British icon, redeveloped with Malaysian money, full of Apple, luxury flats and tourists — and ask a bigger question about the UK economy.
From Thames Water to Heathrow, Royal Mail to our supermarkets and 58.8% of our shares, so much of Britain is now foreign-owned.
Is this investment, or have we just given it all away after Brexit?
Very well said. Succinct and absolutely true. To use the vernacular, we're up a creek without a paddle! — © Mark Alexander
Start with my own visit to Battersea Power Station — a British icon, redeveloped with Malaysian money, full of Apple, luxury flats and tourists — and ask a bigger question about the UK economy.
From Thames Water to Heathrow, Royal Mail to our supermarkets and 58.8% of our shares, so much of Britain is now foreign-owned.
Is this investment, or have we just given it all away after Brexit?
Very well said. Succinct and absolutely true. To use the vernacular, we're up a creek without a paddle! — © Mark Alexander
It's All a Scam: US Politicians Are Robbing Their Own Supporters
Why Are Albanians Calling for Revolution? | On the Ground
Sep 10, 2026 | Thousands of protesters are flooding the streets of Tirana in the biggest unrest Albania has seen since the collapse of communism.
It began as the “flamingo revolution”, sparked by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump’s plans for a luxury mega-resort on a public nature reserve island. But the protests have since grown into a wider challenge to Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government, which is accused of selling off Albania’s coastline to the elites.
Matthew Cassel travels to Albania to see how an environmental fight over one island has escalated into a political battle over the country’s future.
It began as the “flamingo revolution”, sparked by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump’s plans for a luxury mega-resort on a public nature reserve island. But the protests have since grown into a wider challenge to Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government, which is accused of selling off Albania’s coastline to the elites.
Matthew Cassel travels to Albania to see how an environmental fight over one island has escalated into a political battle over the country’s future.
Bernie Sanders: 'You’ve Got to Be a Moron Not to Say Slow AI Down''
How can any American politician—and many do—assert that the USA is the wealthiest nation on earth when the country's national debt stands at more than FORTY TRILLION DOLLARS? That sounds to me like a country on its arse! — © Mark Alexander
September 10, 2026
Nach AfD-Wahl: Ist Merz angezählt?
Die AfD wird bei der Landtagswahl in Sachsen-Anhalt mit 43,8 Prozent stärkste Kraft. Die CDU stürzt auf 17,2 Prozent ab. Für Friedrich Merz ist das eine bittere Bilanz – schließlich hatte er einst versprochen, die AfD zu halbieren. ‚@ Mr Wissen 2 go‘ Mirko Drotschmann schaut in diesem Video, wie gefährlich das Ergebnis für den Kanzler Friedrich Merz wirklich werden könnte.
Wie hart trifft das Ergebnis die Bundes-CDU?
Das Ergebnis ist für die CDU verheerend und es trifft die Bundespartei ausgerechnet zu einem Zeitpunkt, an dem ihre Beliebtheitswerte ohnehin im Keller sind. Merz erntete zuletzt viel Kritik für seine angekündigten Reformen. Auch aus den eigenen Reihen wird der Ton schärfer: CDA-Vorsitzender Dennis Radtke etwa fordert einen Kurswechsel hin zu mehr Arbeitnehmerinteressen.
Warum ist ein Rücktritt von Friedrich Merz trotzdem unwahrscheinlich?
Dafür gibt es mehrere Gründe. Es fehlt der CDU einer echten Alternative, eine Ablösung bräuchte Mehrheiten im Bundestag, und ein Nachfolger würde die Grundprobleme der Union kaum automatisch lösen. Denkbar wäre höchstens ein Modell wie einst bei Angela Merkel: Parteivorsitz abgeben, Kanzleramt behalten.
Was passiert als Nächstes?
Bis zu den Wahlen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern und Berlin am 20. September dürfte die CDU laut Politikwissenschaftlerin Andrea Römmele eher zusammenhalten – die eigentliche Personaldebatte könnte danach erst richtig beginnen.
Wie hart trifft das Ergebnis die Bundes-CDU?
Das Ergebnis ist für die CDU verheerend und es trifft die Bundespartei ausgerechnet zu einem Zeitpunkt, an dem ihre Beliebtheitswerte ohnehin im Keller sind. Merz erntete zuletzt viel Kritik für seine angekündigten Reformen. Auch aus den eigenen Reihen wird der Ton schärfer: CDA-Vorsitzender Dennis Radtke etwa fordert einen Kurswechsel hin zu mehr Arbeitnehmerinteressen.
Warum ist ein Rücktritt von Friedrich Merz trotzdem unwahrscheinlich?
Dafür gibt es mehrere Gründe. Es fehlt der CDU einer echten Alternative, eine Ablösung bräuchte Mehrheiten im Bundestag, und ein Nachfolger würde die Grundprobleme der Union kaum automatisch lösen. Denkbar wäre höchstens ein Modell wie einst bei Angela Merkel: Parteivorsitz abgeben, Kanzleramt behalten.
Was passiert als Nächstes?
Bis zu den Wahlen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern und Berlin am 20. September dürfte die CDU laut Politikwissenschaftlerin Andrea Römmele eher zusammenhalten – die eigentliche Personaldebatte könnte danach erst richtig beginnen.
Hoping to Salvage Midterms, Trump Makes Dubious Pledge to Give Every US Adult $5,000 • FRANCE 24
Sap 10, 2026 | President Donald Trump pledged Wednesday to send every American adult $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections, an extraordinary gambit to reverse his party's sagging fortunes in November.
The dubious promise would likely cost more than $1 trillion and require congressional approval and would further exacerbate the country’s nearly $1.8 trillion annual budget deficit and concerns about inflation.
FRANCE 24's International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert tells us more.
The dubious promise would likely cost more than $1 trillion and require congressional approval and would further exacerbate the country’s nearly $1.8 trillion annual budget deficit and concerns about inflation.
FRANCE 24's International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert tells us more.
Inside the Far-right Blueprint for Germany’s Eurasian Future | DW Analysis
Sep 6, 2026 | Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is surging, with breakthroughs in regional and EU-wide elections. Party leader Alice Weidel says her goal is national power, eyeing the 2029 federal elections.
Despite its growing support, the AfD’s vision of foreign policy remains little known around the world. So in this new special report, DW takes a forensic microscope to the party’s blueprint for Germany’s future.
What this reveals is the party’s profound skepticism about the key Western alliances — NATO and the EU — and an outspoken openness to a Eurasian outlook, fostering deeper relations with Russia and China and the international institutions they lead, from the Belt and Road Initiative to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union: prime sources of prestige for Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Xi Jinping in Beijing.
In exclusive interviews with Alice Weidel, foreign policy spokesman Matthias Moosdorf and powerful ideologue Björn Höcke, DW’s Richard Walker and Rosalia Romaniec scrutinize the AfD’s views on Germany’s alliances and NATO Article 5 commitments to the Baltic states and Poland, its skepticism of the United States, possible future architectures for European defense, who should have nuclear weapons, future ties with Russia and China, and how Germany should act in a Taiwan conflict scenario.
Includes analysis from leading international experts on Russia, China, the US and Europe: Alexander Gabuev (Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center), Amanda Hsiao (International Crisis Group), Katarzyna Pisarska (Warsaw Security Forum), Peter Rough (Hudson Institute), and Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Europe).
Despite its growing support, the AfD’s vision of foreign policy remains little known around the world. So in this new special report, DW takes a forensic microscope to the party’s blueprint for Germany’s future.
What this reveals is the party’s profound skepticism about the key Western alliances — NATO and the EU — and an outspoken openness to a Eurasian outlook, fostering deeper relations with Russia and China and the international institutions they lead, from the Belt and Road Initiative to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union: prime sources of prestige for Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Xi Jinping in Beijing.
In exclusive interviews with Alice Weidel, foreign policy spokesman Matthias Moosdorf and powerful ideologue Björn Höcke, DW’s Richard Walker and Rosalia Romaniec scrutinize the AfD’s views on Germany’s alliances and NATO Article 5 commitments to the Baltic states and Poland, its skepticism of the United States, possible future architectures for European defense, who should have nuclear weapons, future ties with Russia and China, and how Germany should act in a Taiwan conflict scenario.
Includes analysis from leading international experts on Russia, China, the US and Europe: Alexander Gabuev (Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center), Amanda Hsiao (International Crisis Group), Katarzyna Pisarska (Warsaw Security Forum), Peter Rough (Hudson Institute), and Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Europe).
Steve Rosenberg: "Hole in Russia's State Budget" Bigger Than Expected
September 09, 2026
Historiker Marco Jorio hinterfragt die Neutralitätsinitiative
Sep 9, 2026 | Die Neutralitätsinitiative verspricht Klarheit – doch Historiker Marco Jorio befürchtet, dass dadurch eher neue Verwirrung entsteht.
Was ist Neutralität wirklich? Schützt sie die Schweiz vor Krieg? Und was würde die Initiative konkret ändern?
Im NZZ-Interview analysiert der Historiker für Schweizer Geschichte die Fakten hinter dem Mythos – und erklärt, warum die geostrategische Lage die Schweiz im Zweiten Weltkrieg schützte und nicht die Neutralität allein.
Was ist Neutralität wirklich? Schützt sie die Schweiz vor Krieg? Und was würde die Initiative konkret ändern?
Im NZZ-Interview analysiert der Historiker für Schweizer Geschichte die Fakten hinter dem Mythos – und erklärt, warum die geostrategische Lage die Schweiz im Zweiten Weltkrieg schützte und nicht die Neutralität allein.
Can Dubai’s Luxe Image Survive the War with Iran? | BBC News
Sep 8, 2026 | As the summer holiday season draws to a close, foreigners travelling to and from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates are facing delays, cancellations and severe travel warnings.
The disruption comes as a result of the UAE’s position in the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran. Throughout the conflict, Iran has attacked the UAE more times than any other country, including Israel.
Until the war with Iran began, Dubai was a major tourist destination, famous for its modern skyscrapers, luxurious beaches and low crime rate.
For decades, the Gulf city has promised residents and tourists alike safety, security and stability – so has that promise fallen apart? And what could that mean for the city’s future?
The Global Story’s Asma Khalid speaks to Sameer Hashmi, an independent journalist based in Dubai, about how Brand Dubai is weathering a major regional war.
The disruption comes as a result of the UAE’s position in the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran. Throughout the conflict, Iran has attacked the UAE more times than any other country, including Israel.
Until the war with Iran began, Dubai was a major tourist destination, famous for its modern skyscrapers, luxurious beaches and low crime rate.
For decades, the Gulf city has promised residents and tourists alike safety, security and stability – so has that promise fallen apart? And what could that mean for the city’s future?
The Global Story’s Asma Khalid speaks to Sameer Hashmi, an independent journalist based in Dubai, about how Brand Dubai is weathering a major regional war.
September 08, 2026
Wieso China so gefährlich, aber zerbrechlich ist | Marcus Keupp
Global Ripples from a Small German Election | DW News
September 07, 2026
How Will the Far-right AfD's Electoral Rise Impact Germany? | Inside Story
Sep 7, 2026 | The Alternative for Germany is on top in Sunday's election in the east German state of Saxony-Anhalt, with about 44 percent of the vote. It's benefited from voters' economic concerns and anger over immigration. The party is also leading in national polls. But Germany's domestic intelligence agency has classified its branch in Saxony-Anhalt as a proven right-wing extremist group, a label the AfD rejects. Chancellor Friedrich Merz insists there can be no co-operation with the AfD, and mainstream German parties have been maintaining a 'firewall' against forming coalitions with the far-right. But it's not clear if the strategy will hold.
Presenter: Rishaad Salamat
Guests:
Olaf Boehnke - Berlin Director of the political consultancy Rasmussen Global and former Senior Advisor in the German Bundestag
Max Otte - Founder of Privatinvestor Capital and a 2022 German presidential candidate
Ulrich Brueckner - Professor of European Studies at Stanford University in Berlin
Presenter: Rishaad Salamat
Guests:
Olaf Boehnke - Berlin Director of the political consultancy Rasmussen Global and former Senior Advisor in the German Bundestag
Max Otte - Founder of Privatinvestor Capital and a 2022 German presidential candidate
Ulrich Brueckner - Professor of European Studies at Stanford University in Berlin
Steve Rosenberg: Diplomacy of the Doomed": What the Russian Papers Are Saying about US Talks with Putin
September 06, 2026
Richard Wolff: America Is Trying to Rebuild Its Empire
They Lost Their Life Savings
Steve Rosenberg: Russia: Change, Apples and a National Idea
September 05, 2026
Dr Richard Wolff: "Say Goodbye to the American Dream" | August 19, 2026
READ THE GE ARTICLE: Americans are NOT wealthy: The truth about the US economy: Media outlets often claim Americans are wealthier than Europeans, but it’s not true. Average wealth looks high, but is skewed by extreme inequality. US median wealth is quite low. This is the real data. »
September 04, 2026
Was hat Deutschland bloß so ruiniert? | Maurice Höfgen
Why Is the Netherlands Moving Its Gold Out of America? | The Palki Sharma Show | India Global Review
Guerre en Ukraine : les États-Unis vont réclamer à l’Europe le remboursement des aides versées à Kiev, affirme Donald Trump
LE FIGARO : Le président américain a également critiqué les informations, dans un message publié sur les réseaux sociaux, faisant état d’une forte diminution des stocks de munitions américains dans le contexte d’un autre conflit en Iran.
Le président américain Donald Trump a déclaré jeudi qu’il demanderait aux pays européens de rembourser aux États-Unis l’aide militaire et les munitions précédemment envoyées à l’Ukraine dans le cadre de la guerre en cours avec la Russie, et a semblé laisser entendre un arrêt des ventes aux pays alliés. Dans un message publié sur les réseaux sociaux, Donald Trump a également critiqué les informations faisant état d’une forte diminution des stocks de munitions américains dans le contexte d’un autre conflit en Iran, tout en ajoutant que les États-Unis intensifiaient leur production et constituaient des stocks de munitions. » | Par Le Figaro avec Reuters | vendredi 4 septembre 2026
September 03, 2026
September 02, 2026
Is the World Giving Up on the US Dollar? | The Global Story
Sep 2, 2026 | America’s national debt recently hit a new milestone of $40 trillion. It is estimated that interest payments on the national debt are now the second largest expense in the US government budget, trailing only Social Security. How was the US able to borrow so much and for so long? One answer according Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff is the US dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency.
In this episode, Rogoff - former Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund - explains how the US dollar came to enjoy this hegemonic status, what being the world’s reserve currency actually means in practice, and why he believes the dollar is now in decline.
In this episode, Rogoff - former Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund - explains how the US dollar came to enjoy this hegemonic status, what being the world’s reserve currency actually means in practice, and why he believes the dollar is now in decline.
Camilla Tominey, Ed Conway & Jenny Chapman Debate Andy Burnham's Take on Britain's "Wrong Turns"
Related link here »
Global Bond Sell-off Deepens as US Launches Fresh Attacks on Iran • FRANCE 24 English
Democracy Now! US Empire in Decline: Richard Wolff on Iran War, Rising Inequality, $40 Trillion National Debt & More
Sep 2, 2026 | We speak to Richard Wolff, a prominent Marxist economist, about the economic fallout from the war on Iran, which recently reached the six-month mark.
"Because it's only been going on for a few months, the impact on the prices we pay is about to unload itself," says Wolff. The US national debt, which recently topped $40 trillion, is "one of the many signs of an economy and of an empire that is now in decline," says Wolff. "
There is an enormous increase in defense spending, or now war spending, that is scheduled, and no comparable increase in revenue."
Wolff also discusses how a global sell-off of US government bonds means increasing borrowing costs for everyday consumers.
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
"Because it's only been going on for a few months, the impact on the prices we pay is about to unload itself," says Wolff. The US national debt, which recently topped $40 trillion, is "one of the many signs of an economy and of an empire that is now in decline," says Wolff. "
There is an enormous increase in defense spending, or now war spending, that is scheduled, and no comparable increase in revenue."
Wolff also discusses how a global sell-off of US government bonds means increasing borrowing costs for everyday consumers.
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
Treibt Trump die USA in den Kollaps? | Sandra Navidi
Burnham Blames Brexit and Thatcher: Is He Right about Britain’s Problems? | Jeremy Vine
September 2, 2026 | In his first Commons address as Prime Minister, Burnham blamed both for years of low growth, saying Britain needs more substantial change on the economy and cost of living.
Supporters say he has a point. They argue Brexit damaged trade, investment and confidence, while decades of privatisation and underinvestment left Britain with weak growth, poor infrastructure and squeezed public services.
Critics say Burnham is looking backwards. They argue Margaret Thatcher left office more than 35 years ago, Brexit happened a decade ago, and the new Prime Minister now needs to focus on solutions rather than blame.
There is also the question of delivery. With bills, food prices, mortgages and energy costs still putting pressure on households, can Burnham really make people feel better off?
So is Burnham right to blame Brexit and Thatcher, or should he stop pointing to the past and prove he can fix the future?
Distance lends perspective. As a one-time huge fan of Thatcher, I have the following to say…
Margaret Thatcher was the architect of many of our economic problems today. She did some things that were very good; it’s true. But it must also be said that she harmed the British economy as well, especially by selling off so many of this country’s valuable assets. As Harold Macmillan said: Thatcher sold off the family silver. This is his actual quote:
Further, Thatcher (and her buddy, Reagan, in the States) were the root cause of the huge wealth gap that we have today.
So much for Thatcherism; so much for Reaganomics! — © Mark Alexander
Supporters say he has a point. They argue Brexit damaged trade, investment and confidence, while decades of privatisation and underinvestment left Britain with weak growth, poor infrastructure and squeezed public services.
Critics say Burnham is looking backwards. They argue Margaret Thatcher left office more than 35 years ago, Brexit happened a decade ago, and the new Prime Minister now needs to focus on solutions rather than blame.
There is also the question of delivery. With bills, food prices, mortgages and energy costs still putting pressure on households, can Burnham really make people feel better off?
So is Burnham right to blame Brexit and Thatcher, or should he stop pointing to the past and prove he can fix the future?
Distance lends perspective. As a one-time huge fan of Thatcher, I have the following to say…
Margaret Thatcher was the architect of many of our economic problems today. She did some things that were very good; it’s true. But it must also be said that she harmed the British economy as well, especially by selling off so many of this country’s valuable assets. As Harold Macmillan said: Thatcher sold off the family silver. This is his actual quote:
“The sale of assets is common with individuals and states when they run into financial difficulties. …At the time, it seemed that she was working miracles with the UK economy, but those apparent miracles turned out to be short-term fixes — short-term dreams, but long-term nightmares.
First of all the Georgian silver goes, and then all that nice furniture that used to be in the saloon. Then the Canalettos go.” — Harold Macmillan, November 8, 1985
Further, Thatcher (and her buddy, Reagan, in the States) were the root cause of the huge wealth gap that we have today.
So much for Thatcherism; so much for Reaganomics! — © Mark Alexander
September 01, 2026
Google Surrenders to Trump, Renames Lake Ontario | The Palki Sharma Show
Trump’s 100-year Plan for Venezuela’s Oil | The Palki Sharma Show
September 1, 2026 | US President Donald Trump is pushing deeper into Venezuela’s oil industry under a new agreement with Caracas. Reports say a US-linked joint venture would receive drilling rights across 17 fields containing 65 billion barrels of confirmed reserves. The US could also buy 20% of production at cost and receive first refusal over the remainder.
Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez describes the project as an investment that will create jobs, production. and government revenue. But the arrangement could significantly expand Washington’s influence over Venezuela’s biggest asset and put existing Chinese and Russian oil interests in the country under pressure.
That woman, Delcy Rodríguez, in Venezuela is either ectremely naïve which I very much doubt, very stupid, which I also very much doubt, or complicit in this Trump-favourable deal. How the Venezuelans are tolerating this is beyond my comprehension. Basically, Trump is stealing Venezuela’s most valuable asset: oil! — © Mark Alexander
Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez describes the project as an investment that will create jobs, production. and government revenue. But the arrangement could significantly expand Washington’s influence over Venezuela’s biggest asset and put existing Chinese and Russian oil interests in the country under pressure.
That woman, Delcy Rodríguez, in Venezuela is either ectremely naïve which I very much doubt, very stupid, which I also very much doubt, or complicit in this Trump-favourable deal. How the Venezuelans are tolerating this is beyond my comprehension. Basically, Trump is stealing Venezuela’s most valuable asset: oil! — © Mark Alexander
Is MBS Out of Money as Saudi Seeks Loan to Cover Costs due to Iran War? | Vantage on Firstpost
September 1, 2026 | The Gulf spent years building an economic fortress on the back of oil wealth, diversification and a promise of stability. But the Iran war is putting that model under unprecedented pressure.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly exploring billions of dollars in fresh borrowing, Qatar is facing a severe LNG shock, while Bahrain and Kuwait are seeing mounting financial stress. Even the UAE, the region’s most diversified economy, has taken a hit.
Growth forecasts for the GCC have been sharply downgraded. The message is clear: the Gulf may have enormous financial reserves, but when war disrupts energy, trade and transport, even the region’s deepest pockets can feel the strain.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly exploring billions of dollars in fresh borrowing, Qatar is facing a severe LNG shock, while Bahrain and Kuwait are seeing mounting financial stress. Even the UAE, the region’s most diversified economy, has taken a hit.
Growth forecasts for the GCC have been sharply downgraded. The message is clear: the Gulf may have enormous financial reserves, but when war disrupts energy, trade and transport, even the region’s deepest pockets can feel the strain.
The Biggest Oil Deal or Theft at Gunpoint? US Claims Majority Control of Venezuela's Oil Reserves
September 1, 2026 | The U.S. has struck a deal to take majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's oil reserves, nine months after the U.S. military abducted President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a raid on Caracas and two months after The New York Times revealed that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has become the de facto viceroy of Venezuela, effectively controlling Venezuela's finances, the distribution of its natural resources and its government. The new oil deal gives the Department of Defense a 35% stake in a joint U.S.-Venezuelan private company that now holds 100-year leases to 17 oil fields. It also gives the U.S. the right to buy some of the oil produced at cost — a major triumph for the Trump administration as the war on Iran depletes the United States' strategic oil reserves. Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez claims U.S. investment in Venezuela's oil industry will jumpstart the country's floundering economy, but critics, including Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodríguez, say the deal is not only "unfavorable to Venezuela" but also appears to violate the Venezuelan Constitution.
"The whole history around this is extremely shady," adds Rodríguez, who previously led Venezuela's Congressional Budget Office and now teaches at the University of Denver. "It's clear that this is not a deal that any Venezuelan government would have entered into unless this country had been subject to an invasion, and unless its authorities had been held at gunpoint. So, I think we've replaced gunboat diplomacy now for gunpoint diplomacy."
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
As I have said before, the poor Venezuelans appear to have been shafted by the Trump regime! — © Mark Alexander
"The whole history around this is extremely shady," adds Rodríguez, who previously led Venezuela's Congressional Budget Office and now teaches at the University of Denver. "It's clear that this is not a deal that any Venezuelan government would have entered into unless this country had been subject to an invasion, and unless its authorities had been held at gunpoint. So, I think we've replaced gunboat diplomacy now for gunpoint diplomacy."
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
As I have said before, the poor Venezuelans appear to have been shafted by the Trump regime! — © Mark Alexander
The Last Days of Europe’s Most Paranoid Communist State | 60 Minutes Australia
Aug 31, 2026 | For nearly half a century, Albania operated as Europe's most isolated, secretive, and paranoid communist state under the iron-fisted rule of Marxist-Leninist leaders.
In 1990, just before the regime collapsed, 60 Minutes reporter Jennifer Byrne gained rare access to "The Land Time Forgot," exploring a bizarre society where foreign debt and contraceptives were banned, and the average citizen earned just sixty dollars a month.
In 1990, just before the regime collapsed, 60 Minutes reporter Jennifer Byrne gained rare access to "The Land Time Forgot," exploring a bizarre society where foreign debt and contraceptives were banned, and the average citizen earned just sixty dollars a month.
The Brexit Campaign | BBC Newscast
Sep 1, 2026 | Today, we hear what it was like to be inside the leave and remain camps from those who managed the campaigns behind the scenes.
Sir Craig Oliver, who was in charge of communications for the Remain campaign, and chief executive of Vote Leave Matthew Elliott meet for the first time in the Newscast studio.
Sir Craig Oliver, who was in charge of communications for the Remain campaign, and chief executive of Vote Leave Matthew Elliott meet for the first time in the Newscast studio.
Steve Rosenberg: Modi Calls on Putin to Move towards Peace. How Should We Interpret the Response?
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