Witkoff telling Putin that he’s a “humanitarian” is enough to make any decent person want to vomit! — © Mark Alexander
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
October 22, 2026
Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines
Witkoff telling Putin that he’s a “humanitarian” is enough to make any decent person want to vomit! — © Mark Alexander
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
October 21, 2026
Europe’s Far Right Seizes on Protest Violence to Push Authoritarian Anti-immigration Agenda
THE GUARDIAN: Nationalist leaders are framing unrest as consequence of failed liberal governance and open borders
A fire burns as police officers in riot gear stand guard in Paris. Photograph: Abdul Saboor/Reuters
Europe’s far-right leaders have jumped on the violence that rocked numerous cities last weekend, framing it as the inevitable consequence of failed liberal governance and open-border policies and insisting only they can restore law and order.
Months away from key elections in Spain, France and Italy, authoritarian nationalists are eager to weaponise the wave of street unrest, originating in peaceful protests over the cost of living and deteriorating public services but hijacked by violent rioters.
Those in opposition have not held back. In France, where cities such as Paris, Marseille and Lyon faced widespread rioting and looting, the far-right National Rally (RN) has denounced centrist incompetence and promised a crackdown.
The party’s president, Jordan Bardella, said the government was “impotent”. The RN leader, Marine Le Pen, said on Wednesday the state was “collapsing” and had “lost control of everything” amid “migratory, budgetary and security chaos”.
Ahead in presidential polls and seeking voters beyond her base, Le Pen has resisted explicitly racialising the unrest, but has framed it more broadly as a result of state and policy failures leading to “anarchic immigration” and “a total loss of authority”.
In Germany – where there were no major protests – the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has stoked fears rioting could spill over the border. Its co-leader Alice Weidel said France’s “violent excesses” were a “warning for Germany”.
Weidel also linked the unrest to immigration, posting: “The dangerous mix of mass migration and leftwing extremism threatens to lead to civil war-like conditions here too … There will only be a turnaround on migration with the AfD!” » | Jon Henley and Guardian correspondents | Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Europe’s far-right leaders have jumped on the violence that rocked numerous cities last weekend, framing it as the inevitable consequence of failed liberal governance and open-border policies and insisting only they can restore law and order.
Months away from key elections in Spain, France and Italy, authoritarian nationalists are eager to weaponise the wave of street unrest, originating in peaceful protests over the cost of living and deteriorating public services but hijacked by violent rioters.
Those in opposition have not held back. In France, where cities such as Paris, Marseille and Lyon faced widespread rioting and looting, the far-right National Rally (RN) has denounced centrist incompetence and promised a crackdown.
The party’s president, Jordan Bardella, said the government was “impotent”. The RN leader, Marine Le Pen, said on Wednesday the state was “collapsing” and had “lost control of everything” amid “migratory, budgetary and security chaos”.
Ahead in presidential polls and seeking voters beyond her base, Le Pen has resisted explicitly racialising the unrest, but has framed it more broadly as a result of state and policy failures leading to “anarchic immigration” and “a total loss of authority”.
In Germany – where there were no major protests – the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has stoked fears rioting could spill over the border. Its co-leader Alice Weidel said France’s “violent excesses” were a “warning for Germany”.
Weidel also linked the unrest to immigration, posting: “The dangerous mix of mass migration and leftwing extremism threatens to lead to civil war-like conditions here too … There will only be a turnaround on migration with the AfD!” » | Jon Henley and Guardian correspondents | Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
When Trump was talking about Ilhan Omar, I thought he must surely be talking about himself! 😊 — © Mark Alexander
Brexit: Der größte Fehler der Briten, Ulrike Herrmann?
The Billionaires Have Enough Money to Buy Both Sides' — Interview with Gil Durán | DW News
AfD’s Alice Weidel on Ukraine, Migration and Germany’s Future | The Economist
Oct 21, 2026 | Alice Weidel is one of the most important politicians in Europe today. She is the co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the right-wing populist party which is leading in Germany’s national polls and came top in two recent state elections. Ms Weidel is skilled at voicing Germans’ frustrations with mainstream political parties. Less clear is her alternative vision for the country. What does she really believe in? And how would she govern?
In conversation with Zanny Minton Beddoes, The Economist’s editor-in-chief, in the Bundestag in Berlin, Ms Weidel discusses the AfD’s economic plan, its stance on Russia and Ukraine, and whether she supports—or even recognises—the extreme elements in her party.
In conversation with Zanny Minton Beddoes, The Economist’s editor-in-chief, in the Bundestag in Berlin, Ms Weidel discusses the AfD’s economic plan, its stance on Russia and Ukraine, and whether she supports—or even recognises—the extreme elements in her party.
Steve Rosenberg: What Are the Russian Papers Saying ahead of Steve Witkoff's Meeting with Vladimir Putin?
October 20, 2026
Putin’s ‘Stuck in a Dangerous Place’ as Ukraine Scorches Russian Economy | Bill Browder
Oct 20, 2026 | “The Ukrainians have a way of fighting back to scorch his economy.”
Putin is “stuck” in a “dangerous place” as he finds himself fighting against a resilient and adaptive Ukraine, says Sir William Browder.
You have been watching Frontline, with Kate Gerbeau, Philip Ingram, Louis Sykes and Laura Martinez-Williams, produced by Times Radio.
Putin is “stuck” in a “dangerous place” as he finds himself fighting against a resilient and adaptive Ukraine, says Sir William Browder.
You have been watching Frontline, with Kate Gerbeau, Philip Ingram, Louis Sykes and Laura Martinez-Williams, produced by Times Radio.
Trump’s Push for Deals With Russia Powers His Frustration With Ukraine
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The series of recent steps by the president that seem to favor Vladimir Putin reflect his intensifying desire to normalize the relationship with Moscow even if it means further undercutting Ukraine.
President Trump with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine at Mar-a-Lago in December. Credit: Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times
He shunted aside a bipartisan law, signed just weeks ago, imposing new tariffs on Russia. He cut a deal to purchase diesel from Moscow. His negotiators agreed on the vague outlines of a deal for much of Lukoil, a battered Russian energy firm. And he called for the replacement of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, whose success in taking the fight inside Russia deeply frustrates him.
President Trump’s intensifying effort in the past few weeks to rehabilitate Russia and usher President Vladimir V. Putin back into diplomatic society is remarkable for its speed, its characterization of Mr. Zelensky as the primary obstacle to peace, and its brazen denial that Russia is continuing the war that Mr. Trump says he is trying to end.
“Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine,” Mr. Trump said on Monday, speaking to reporters outside the White House as he left for a campaign rally. “They haven’t been doing much,” he said, making no mention of the Russian missiles and jet-powered drones that have been targeting apartment buildings in Kyiv and Ukraine’s surviving electricity grid.
Mr. Trump’s disdain for Mr. Zelensky is hardly new. Nor is his willingness to give the benefit of the doubt to Mr. Putin, for whom he has often expressed respect and even admiration.
But what is different now is Mr. Trump’s increased determination to force a deal on Mr. Zelensky, telling him that holding out to retain occupied portions of the country’s eastern provinces is not worth it — and that there is money to be made for Ukraine, as well, if it would only drop its objections to an accord, even one written largely on Russia’s terms. » | David E. Sanger | David E. Sanger has covered five American presidents in over four decades at the Times. He often writes about the re-emergence of superpower conflict, the subject of his most recent book. | Monday, October 18, 2026
What a disreputable bloody man the West is being led by! Trump is totally and utterly without honour. But that’s not all; it gets even worse: As we all know, he is also incompetent, self-enriching, greedy, corrupt, cruel, megalomaniacal, lacking in compassion, and much else negative besides. He is everything the West doesn’t need to lead it. Moreover, in Trump, we find all the worst that is to be found in American society: greed, self-love, lack of restraint, lack of principle, and an insatiable desire and drive for profit and money. ‘Gimme more, more, more! Gimme all you got! I wan’ it all!’
Trump went into politics with the express desire to enrich himself. He couldn’t give a tinker’s toss about the welfare of his country or its people. What Trump cares about is his bottom line: profit. He struggled to make it in business, but by God he found a cash cow in American politics. All he had to be was bent; and that comes as second nature to Trump. So, no problem there!
But let us be fair to the man... his father left him only in excess of $413m (adjusted for inflation). How could he possibly have been expected to get by with such a paltry sum of money? He was almost forced to find another very profitable pursuit in his dotage! After all, prices are high in America, and you must to keep up with them if your lifestyle is to be maintained adequately.
The man I feel sorry for is Volodymyr Zelenksyy. He has a major problem on his hands. Spare a thought for that brave man, our hero. He’s got not only ONE SHITBAG to deal with; but TWO: Trump and Putin! Just imagine!
May the Good Lord bless Zelenskyy with strength, wisdom, and continued fortitude. He needs all the help he can get, all the support. The decent world must stick with him. Slava Ukraini! (Glory to Ukraine!) — © Mark Alexander
He shunted aside a bipartisan law, signed just weeks ago, imposing new tariffs on Russia. He cut a deal to purchase diesel from Moscow. His negotiators agreed on the vague outlines of a deal for much of Lukoil, a battered Russian energy firm. And he called for the replacement of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, whose success in taking the fight inside Russia deeply frustrates him.
President Trump’s intensifying effort in the past few weeks to rehabilitate Russia and usher President Vladimir V. Putin back into diplomatic society is remarkable for its speed, its characterization of Mr. Zelensky as the primary obstacle to peace, and its brazen denial that Russia is continuing the war that Mr. Trump says he is trying to end.
“Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine,” Mr. Trump said on Monday, speaking to reporters outside the White House as he left for a campaign rally. “They haven’t been doing much,” he said, making no mention of the Russian missiles and jet-powered drones that have been targeting apartment buildings in Kyiv and Ukraine’s surviving electricity grid.
Mr. Trump’s disdain for Mr. Zelensky is hardly new. Nor is his willingness to give the benefit of the doubt to Mr. Putin, for whom he has often expressed respect and even admiration.
But what is different now is Mr. Trump’s increased determination to force a deal on Mr. Zelensky, telling him that holding out to retain occupied portions of the country’s eastern provinces is not worth it — and that there is money to be made for Ukraine, as well, if it would only drop its objections to an accord, even one written largely on Russia’s terms. » | David E. Sanger | David E. Sanger has covered five American presidents in over four decades at the Times. He often writes about the re-emergence of superpower conflict, the subject of his most recent book. | Monday, October 18, 2026
What a disreputable bloody man the West is being led by! Trump is totally and utterly without honour. But that’s not all; it gets even worse: As we all know, he is also incompetent, self-enriching, greedy, corrupt, cruel, megalomaniacal, lacking in compassion, and much else negative besides. He is everything the West doesn’t need to lead it. Moreover, in Trump, we find all the worst that is to be found in American society: greed, self-love, lack of restraint, lack of principle, and an insatiable desire and drive for profit and money. ‘Gimme more, more, more! Gimme all you got! I wan’ it all!’
Trump went into politics with the express desire to enrich himself. He couldn’t give a tinker’s toss about the welfare of his country or its people. What Trump cares about is his bottom line: profit. He struggled to make it in business, but by God he found a cash cow in American politics. All he had to be was bent; and that comes as second nature to Trump. So, no problem there!
But let us be fair to the man... his father left him only in excess of $413m (adjusted for inflation). How could he possibly have been expected to get by with such a paltry sum of money? He was almost forced to find another very profitable pursuit in his dotage! After all, prices are high in America, and you must to keep up with them if your lifestyle is to be maintained adequately.
The man I feel sorry for is Volodymyr Zelenksyy. He has a major problem on his hands. Spare a thought for that brave man, our hero. He’s got not only ONE SHITBAG to deal with; but TWO: Trump and Putin! Just imagine!
May the Good Lord bless Zelenskyy with strength, wisdom, and continued fortitude. He needs all the help he can get, all the support. The decent world must stick with him. Slava Ukraini! (Glory to Ukraine!) — © Mark Alexander
October 19, 2026
Trump Needs a Scapegoat, and That Scapegoat Is Zelenskyy | Wider View from Brussels
Donald Trump disgusts me; indeed, he should disgust all decent, principled people. I therefore hope and trust that he disgusts you, too. — © Mark Alexander
Argentina in Turmoil: University Protest Turns Violent Outside Congress in Buenos Aires
Oct 16, 2026 | BUENOS AIRES — Violent clashes erupted outside Argentina’s National Congress in Buenos Aires as thousands of students, university lecturers, and trade union workers staged a nationwide protest demanding President Javier Milei’s administration implement the University Financing Law.
Federal security forces deployed water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators protesting against real-terms education spending cuts and rising living costs.
The fifth major federal mobilization since Milei took office highlighted escalating political friction over his fiscal zero-deficit policy, with university unions demanding inflation-linked wage adjustments and opposition lawmakers attempting to repeal sweeping executive decrees.
Local authorities confirmed at least 25 arrests and several law enforcement injuries as police moved to clear blockades around the congressional plaza.
Federal security forces deployed water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators protesting against real-terms education spending cuts and rising living costs.
The fifth major federal mobilization since Milei took office highlighted escalating political friction over his fiscal zero-deficit policy, with university unions demanding inflation-linked wage adjustments and opposition lawmakers attempting to repeal sweeping executive decrees.
Local authorities confirmed at least 25 arrests and several law enforcement injuries as police moved to clear blockades around the congressional plaza.
„Davos in der Wüste“: Saudi-Arabien verschiebt sein wichtigstes Wirtschaftsforum
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Saudi-Arabiens wichtigstes Investorenforum soll kommende Woche nicht vor Ort stattfinden. Finanzkonzerne haben Sicherheitsbedenken geäußert.
Die Aramco-Zentrale in Dhahran am 14. Oktober. Die Huthi-Miliz erklärte, Anlagen des saudischen Ölkonzerns angegriffen zu haben. | © AFP
Saudi-Arabien hat nach Medienberichten entschieden, sein als „Davos in der Wüste“ bekanntes Investorenforum kommende Woche nicht als Präsenzveranstaltung abzuhalten. Wie das US-Nachrichtenportal Semafor am Montag unter Berufung auf informierte Personen berichtete, teilen die Veranstalter Teilnehmern eine Verschiebung auf 2027 mit. Hintergrund sind die eskalierenden Angriffe der Huthi-Miliz auf das Königreich und Sicherheitsbedenken internationaler Finanzkonzerne.
Auch das Wall Street Journal berichtete, dass die Future Investment Initiative (FII) nicht wie geplant vor Ort stattfinden werde. Nach dessen Informationen stehen eine vollständige Onlineveranstaltung oder eine Verschiebung zur Wahl. Eine öffentliche Bestätigung der Veranstalter lag zunächst nicht vor. » | Sophie Barkey | Montag, 19. Oktober 2026
Saudi-Arabien hat nach Medienberichten entschieden, sein als „Davos in der Wüste“ bekanntes Investorenforum kommende Woche nicht als Präsenzveranstaltung abzuhalten. Wie das US-Nachrichtenportal Semafor am Montag unter Berufung auf informierte Personen berichtete, teilen die Veranstalter Teilnehmern eine Verschiebung auf 2027 mit. Hintergrund sind die eskalierenden Angriffe der Huthi-Miliz auf das Königreich und Sicherheitsbedenken internationaler Finanzkonzerne.
Auch das Wall Street Journal berichtete, dass die Future Investment Initiative (FII) nicht wie geplant vor Ort stattfinden werde. Nach dessen Informationen stehen eine vollständige Onlineveranstaltung oder eine Verschiebung zur Wahl. Eine öffentliche Bestätigung der Veranstalter lag zunächst nicht vor. » | Sophie Barkey | Montag, 19. Oktober 2026
Steve Rosenberg: Russian Press Dubs Trump "a Magician" for Making Some Sanctions Disappear.
Andrew Neil Explains the French Protests In 9 Minutes
France’s Far Right Seizes the Moment as Rioting Stuns the Country
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The National Rally, already ahead in the polls, presented itself as the party best placed to restore law and order.
The aftermath of protests in central Bordeaux on Sunday. Credit: Philippe Lopez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
After riots erupted this weekend in cities across France, its centrist government blamed the main far-left party, accusing its politicians of inciting the violence. That party blamed the government, accusing it of stirring public anger through years of bad governance and heavy-handed policing.
What did the main far-right party do? It blamed both, and launched into campaign mode. >br />
“We are paying for decades of being soft on crime, of weak authority, of the moral, psychological, and material disarmament of our internal security forces,” Jordan Bardella, the president of the far-right National Rally party, said after emerging from a police station in central Paris on Sunday. He said had gone there to support police officers.
Then he addressed France’s “honest citizens” who were stunned on Sunday by the smashed storefronts and burned-out businesses destroyed by rioters the night before. He said they had a vital role to play in reinstating national stability. And that would be by voting in the coming election for his party.
“People need to wake up now,” Mr. Bardella said. “They need to make the right political choices, and in any case, we stand ready to restore order in the country.”
Sunday was a day of mourning, shock and finger pointing in France. The day before, huge peaceful protests for better school conditions and against rising living costs were overshadowed by black-clad and often masked agitators of unclear affiliation who attacked government buildings and shops across the country, sometimes stealing wine or electronics.
For the National Rally, which bills itself as the party of law and order as well as an advocate for expelling unauthorized immigrants, Sunday was also a day of political opportunity. It is six months before a presidential election that the party’s candidate, Marine Le Pen, is the favorite to win. » | Catherine Porter | Reporting from Paris | Monday, October 18, 2026
After riots erupted this weekend in cities across France, its centrist government blamed the main far-left party, accusing its politicians of inciting the violence. That party blamed the government, accusing it of stirring public anger through years of bad governance and heavy-handed policing.
What did the main far-right party do? It blamed both, and launched into campaign mode. >br />
“We are paying for decades of being soft on crime, of weak authority, of the moral, psychological, and material disarmament of our internal security forces,” Jordan Bardella, the president of the far-right National Rally party, said after emerging from a police station in central Paris on Sunday. He said had gone there to support police officers.
Then he addressed France’s “honest citizens” who were stunned on Sunday by the smashed storefronts and burned-out businesses destroyed by rioters the night before. He said they had a vital role to play in reinstating national stability. And that would be by voting in the coming election for his party.
“People need to wake up now,” Mr. Bardella said. “They need to make the right political choices, and in any case, we stand ready to restore order in the country.”
Sunday was a day of mourning, shock and finger pointing in France. The day before, huge peaceful protests for better school conditions and against rising living costs were overshadowed by black-clad and often masked agitators of unclear affiliation who attacked government buildings and shops across the country, sometimes stealing wine or electronics.
For the National Rally, which bills itself as the party of law and order as well as an advocate for expelling unauthorized immigrants, Sunday was also a day of political opportunity. It is six months before a presidential election that the party’s candidate, Marine Le Pen, is the favorite to win. » | Catherine Porter | Reporting from Paris | Monday, October 18, 2026
October 18, 2026
Is American Democracy Safe? | Martin Wolf on the US Midterms
Oct 17, 2026 | As Americans prepare to vote in the November 3 midterm elections, FT chief economics commentator Martin Wolf asks what the result will mean for Donald Trump, the future of US democracy and America's place in the world.
In the first of a six-part series of interviews with leading historians and political analysts, Martin speaks to the scholar and former Republican adviser Robert Kagan, who has spent a decade warning about Trump's authoritarian ambitions.
They discuss how Trump has accumulated so much power, whether America's democratic institutions can still constrain him, and what might happen if Republicans lose control of Congress.
Could these elections mark a turning point for American democracy or has the country already gone too far down the road towards authoritarianism?
In the first of a six-part series of interviews with leading historians and political analysts, Martin speaks to the scholar and former Republican adviser Robert Kagan, who has spent a decade warning about Trump's authoritarian ambitions.
They discuss how Trump has accumulated so much power, whether America's democratic institutions can still constrain him, and what might happen if Republicans lose control of Congress.
Could these elections mark a turning point for American democracy or has the country already gone too far down the road towards authoritarianism?
Steve Rosenberg: “A Beautiful Deal”, “A Rotten Fish” and My Long Journey Back to Russia
October 17, 2026
Mitten in der Versorgungskrise: Russische Lieferung von 750 Tonnen Speiseöl erreicht Kuba
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Die Lieferung über das UN-Welternährungsprogramm ist für bedürftige Familien, Schwangere und Kranke bestimmt. Auch aus Japan, China und von den Bahamas erreichen Hilfsgüter die Insel.
Treibstoffmangel und Stromausfälle schränken in Kuba auch den öffentlichen Verkehr und die Versorgung der Bevölkerung ein. | © Angelo Mastrascusa/imago
Russland hat Kuba mehr als 750 Tonnen Sonnenblumenöl als humanitäre Hilfe geliefert. Die symbolische Übergabe fand am Freitag in Havanna statt, wie die kubanische Tageszeitung Granma und die russische Nachrichtenagentur Tass berichteten. Das mit den Vitaminen A und D angereicherte Öl gelangte demnach über das Welternährungsprogramm der Vereinten Nationen (WFP) auf die Insel.
Nach Angaben der russischen Botschaft in Havanna stammt die Lieferung aus Mitteln des russischen Katastrophenschutzministeriums. Rund 211 Tonnen seien bereits entladen, eine zweite Charge von mehr als 500 Tonnen warte im Hafen darauf, meldete Granma. Bereits 2025 hatte Moskau in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Welternährungsprogramm mehr als 800 Tonnen Sonnenblumenöl nach Kuba geschickt, wie die russische Botschaft mitteilte. » | Peter Steiniger | Samstag, 17. Oktober 2026
Russland hat Kuba mehr als 750 Tonnen Sonnenblumenöl als humanitäre Hilfe geliefert. Die symbolische Übergabe fand am Freitag in Havanna statt, wie die kubanische Tageszeitung Granma und die russische Nachrichtenagentur Tass berichteten. Das mit den Vitaminen A und D angereicherte Öl gelangte demnach über das Welternährungsprogramm der Vereinten Nationen (WFP) auf die Insel.
Nach Angaben der russischen Botschaft in Havanna stammt die Lieferung aus Mitteln des russischen Katastrophenschutzministeriums. Rund 211 Tonnen seien bereits entladen, eine zweite Charge von mehr als 500 Tonnen warte im Hafen darauf, meldete Granma. Bereits 2025 hatte Moskau in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Welternährungsprogramm mehr als 800 Tonnen Sonnenblumenöl nach Kuba geschickt, wie die russische Botschaft mitteilte. » | Peter Steiniger | Samstag, 17. Oktober 2026
The Conditions of a Third World War Have Already Been Met | Volodymyr Yelchenko
Oct 16, 2026 | “I'm trying to put it correctly, we are already living, under conditions of the Third World War. It is simply very different from the second and the first.”
Donald Trump doesn’t realise the “full extent” of the damage he could cause if he continues with his current stance on Ukraine, says former Ukrainian ambassador to the US and Russia Volodymyr Yelchenko.
Donald Trump doesn’t realise the “full extent” of the damage he could cause if he continues with his current stance on Ukraine, says former Ukrainian ambassador to the US and Russia Volodymyr Yelchenko.
Trump Signs Order Exempting Russia From Sanctions Law
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The sanctions were part of a measure that was named after Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died in July.
President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia last year in Alaska. Credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times
President Trump signed an executive order on Friday night exempting Russia from a new sanctions measure that Congress passed last month, offering another economic lifeline to Russian President Vladimir V. Putin as the United States turns to Russia for help in lowering gas prices.
The sanctions were intended to target Russian officials, oligarchs and financial institutions, and were part of a law that was named after Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died in July after spending more than a year building support for the measure.
The law, which is intended to squeeze the financial lifelines sustaining Russia’s war against Ukraine, also provided Mr. Trump with additional tariff authority that he could use to punish countries that continue to trade with Russia.
The White House has broad authority to issue sanctions exemptions or waivers, and the new law requires Mr. Trump to notify Congress only if he opts against imposing the economic restrictions on Russia. Two days before the law is set to take effect, Mr. Trump exercised that power.
“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” Mr. Trump said in the order. “I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States.”
The order does not explain why waiving the sanctions is in the interests of the United States or what rationale Mr. Trump is providing to Congress for the waivers. » | Alan Rappeport | Reporting from Washington | Published: Friday, October 16, 2026. Updated: Saturday, October 17, 2026
This bromance is heating up apace! We can now be in no doubt where Trump’s affections lie! We can also no longer be in any doubt about the direction Trump is taking America. Trump is now one step closer to turning America’s back on its traditional allies and, instead, is pivoting America over to the other side. The Western alliance is now all but dead in its current form. From now on, America will grow ever closer with Moscow, the Kremlin, and his very close buddy, Vladimir.
The implications of this shift are GARGANTUAN. Naturally, it shifts power. And in a colossal way. But it is also indicative of what is going to happen to Americans’ human rights. If this continues, gay rights, for example, will be severely diminished. Just take a look at the lamentable circumstances of gays in Russia. Trump will surely wish to follow Vlad now. After all, Vlad is the puppeteer and Trump, the marionette. In common parlance, Vlad is pulling the strings.
However, the greatest change henceforward will be felt in the American political set-up itself. America has never been a true democracy, but it had tried to play that part out. It played a good game.
Just for those doubting my words… There has always been far too much money in American politics for it to be a true democracy. A true democracy is based on the wishes of all the people, regardless of financial means. Not just the wishes of the rich. Further, there is far too much corporate wealth in American politics for it ever to be a proper democracy. If you want to see true democracy in action, look to Switzerland, not the USA.
But all that will now fade into the past. Donald J Trump is taking America on a journey to autocratic rule. To dictatorship, if you will. The world’s dictators are Trump’s role models. He is determined and intent on emulating them and their way of doing business and conducting affairs.
The America the world once knew and loved is being inhumed; it is being laid to rest. Put another way, it is being consigned to the dustbin of history.
Sad indeed, and extremely disturbing! — © Mark Alexander
President Trump signed an executive order on Friday night exempting Russia from a new sanctions measure that Congress passed last month, offering another economic lifeline to Russian President Vladimir V. Putin as the United States turns to Russia for help in lowering gas prices.
The sanctions were intended to target Russian officials, oligarchs and financial institutions, and were part of a law that was named after Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died in July after spending more than a year building support for the measure.
The law, which is intended to squeeze the financial lifelines sustaining Russia’s war against Ukraine, also provided Mr. Trump with additional tariff authority that he could use to punish countries that continue to trade with Russia.
The White House has broad authority to issue sanctions exemptions or waivers, and the new law requires Mr. Trump to notify Congress only if he opts against imposing the economic restrictions on Russia. Two days before the law is set to take effect, Mr. Trump exercised that power.
“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” Mr. Trump said in the order. “I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States.”
The order does not explain why waiving the sanctions is in the interests of the United States or what rationale Mr. Trump is providing to Congress for the waivers. » | Alan Rappeport | Reporting from Washington | Published: Friday, October 16, 2026. Updated: Saturday, October 17, 2026
This bromance is heating up apace! We can now be in no doubt where Trump’s affections lie! We can also no longer be in any doubt about the direction Trump is taking America. Trump is now one step closer to turning America’s back on its traditional allies and, instead, is pivoting America over to the other side. The Western alliance is now all but dead in its current form. From now on, America will grow ever closer with Moscow, the Kremlin, and his very close buddy, Vladimir.
The implications of this shift are GARGANTUAN. Naturally, it shifts power. And in a colossal way. But it is also indicative of what is going to happen to Americans’ human rights. If this continues, gay rights, for example, will be severely diminished. Just take a look at the lamentable circumstances of gays in Russia. Trump will surely wish to follow Vlad now. After all, Vlad is the puppeteer and Trump, the marionette. In common parlance, Vlad is pulling the strings.
However, the greatest change henceforward will be felt in the American political set-up itself. America has never been a true democracy, but it had tried to play that part out. It played a good game.
Just for those doubting my words… There has always been far too much money in American politics for it to be a true democracy. A true democracy is based on the wishes of all the people, regardless of financial means. Not just the wishes of the rich. Further, there is far too much corporate wealth in American politics for it ever to be a proper democracy. If you want to see true democracy in action, look to Switzerland, not the USA.
But all that will now fade into the past. Donald J Trump is taking America on a journey to autocratic rule. To dictatorship, if you will. The world’s dictators are Trump’s role models. He is determined and intent on emulating them and their way of doing business and conducting affairs.
The America the world once knew and loved is being inhumed; it is being laid to rest. Put another way, it is being consigned to the dustbin of history.
Sad indeed, and extremely disturbing! — © Mark Alexander
October 16, 2026
UK Could Quickly Re-enter EU with ‘Switzerland Plus’ Deal, Senior MEP Says
THE GUARDIAN: Bernd Lange, who was involved in Brexit talks, says deal could be negotiated within months of any decision to deepen ties
Andy Burnham has said he is looking at all options for the UK’s relationship with the EU. Photograph: Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images
The UK could re-enter the EU in a “Switzerland plus” package that could be negotiated within months of any decision to deepen ties with the bloc, the head of a European parliament committee has said.
Bernd Lange, who was heavily involved in Brexit negotiations, said: “I would love to see the UK back.” He said the EU missed the UK in decision-making because of its strong history of promoting open markets and democracy.
A Swiss style arrangement is often considered a halfway house to full membership of the bloc but involves free movement and regulatory alignment.
Switzerland is not a member of the EU but it struck a deal last year cementing its “frictionless access” to the single market across more than 100 agreements with a new framework deal.
This gives it access to the EU’s electricity market, space programmes, Erasmus and the Digital Europe research programme, and participation in the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
In exchange, Switzerland agreed to the free movement of people and to pay €375m (£326m) a year into the EU’s economic and cohesion funds. » | Lisa O’Carroll Senior correspondent | Friday, October 16, 2026
The UK could re-enter the EU in a “Switzerland plus” package that could be negotiated within months of any decision to deepen ties with the bloc, the head of a European parliament committee has said.
Bernd Lange, who was heavily involved in Brexit negotiations, said: “I would love to see the UK back.” He said the EU missed the UK in decision-making because of its strong history of promoting open markets and democracy.
A Swiss style arrangement is often considered a halfway house to full membership of the bloc but involves free movement and regulatory alignment.
Switzerland is not a member of the EU but it struck a deal last year cementing its “frictionless access” to the single market across more than 100 agreements with a new framework deal.
This gives it access to the EU’s electricity market, space programmes, Erasmus and the Digital Europe research programme, and participation in the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
In exchange, Switzerland agreed to the free movement of people and to pay €375m (£326m) a year into the EU’s economic and cohesion funds. » | Lisa O’Carroll Senior correspondent | Friday, October 16, 2026
Derrière le deal entre les États-Unis et la Russie, les bonnes affaires de Donald Trump et de ses proches
LE FIGARO : RÉCIT - Les négociations de contrats au bénéfice du président de la première puissance mondiale, ou de son cercle proche, sont au cœur de la diplomatie américaine. Dernier exemple en date, un accord pétrolier profitant à Steve Witkoff et Jared Kushner, en marge des discussions avec Vladimir Poutine.
La stratégie américaine évoque un mélange de Risk et de Monopoly. De la Russie au Moyen-Orient, du Venezuela à Cuba, la diplomatie de la première puissance mondiale voit de plus en plus fréquemment les intérêts patrimoniaux du président américain et de sa famille se mêler aux considérations géopolitiques, avec des conséquences stratégiques majeures. Échappant dorénavant largement au Congrès et au Département d’État, les affaires étrangères sont gérées de façon opaque par Jared Kushner et Steve Witkoff, le gendre et l’ami du président.
Se déroulant généralement sans témoins ni traces écrites, les discussions sur les affaires internationales incluent les négociations de fructueux contrats dont bénéficient les intéressés ou leurs familles, ou bien des groupes financiers leur étant liés. Et au lieu de constituer des à-côtés lucratifs aux discussions, elles en deviennent l’élément central. L’accélération du pivot américain en faveur de Moscou dans le conflit russo-ukrainien au cours du week-end s’est accompagnée d’un extraordinaire tournant dans les négociations avec la Russie. » | Par Adrien Jaulmes, correspondant à Washington | jeudi 15 octobre 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
October 15, 2026
Peter Stevanic: “There Is Not a Single Sign of Any Overall Economic Damage Done by Brexit,” Says Nigel Farage
That charlatan—Farage—has done untold damage to the UK economy; furthermore, he has robbed UK citizens of their rights as European citizens, which they once had. That intolerable man is full of hot air. Further, he lacks all and any substance, just like all snake oil salesmen do. — © Mark Alexander
Brésil : le Parlement approuve la réduction du temps de travail, promise par Lula
LE FIGARO : Le président de gauche Lula mise sur cette réforme pour combler son retard sur le sénateur conservateur Flavio Bolsonaro, en vue du second tour de la présidentielle.
Le Parlement brésilien a adopté mercredi la réduction du temps de travail par le biais d'une réforme constitutionnelle sur laquelle le président de gauche Lula mise pour combler son retard sur le sénateur conservateur Flavio Bolsonaro, en vue du second tour de la présidentielle.
Cette réforme, défendue par le gouvernement de Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva depuis des mois, permet à de nombreux Brésiliens de bénéficier de deux jours de repos hebdomadaires, contre un seul actuellement, et réduit de 44 à 40 heures le nombre d'heures de travail par semaine. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 15 octobre 2026
Poland’s Ascent from Communist State to Top 20 Economy Reverses the Brain Drain
THE GUARDIAN: In the final part of our series on the country, Poles tell how wages have soared – along with the cost of living
A view of Warsaw from the observation deck of Varso Tower, the tallest building in the EU at 310 metres. In the background, the Palace of Culture and Science, built in the 1950s as a symbol of the postwar socialist era. Photograph: Anna Liminowicz/The Guardian
Above the rain-soaked streets of Warsaw, the observation deck of the Varso tower overlooks Joseph Stalin’s gift to Poland that has divided opinion for decades.
For some, the Soviet-era Palace of Culture and Science is a drunk confectioner’s nightmare; standing as a relic of oppression that should have been demolished. For others, it is an icon on the skyline and a monumental warning from history.
For the managers of the Varso – completed four years ago, as the tallest building in the EU – with its 310m-high spire rising symbolically above its Stalinist neighbour, it is a waypoint on Poland’s rapid path to economic prosperity.
“We look down on it,” says Cezary Błaszczyk, the managing director of HB Reavis in Poland, which owns the tower, gesturing at the palace opposite. A few months ago a slackline walker traversed the 500m gap between the buildings. “It was a symbolic walk from the past to the future,” says his colleague Natalia Kasperska.
“Since we are higher and taller than the Palace of Culture, we treat it as: ‘We got over communism, and now we are a country with a strong economy,’” Błaszczyk says.
Over the four decades since regaining its independence from Soviet-dominated rule, Poland has been transformed. Excluding oil-exporting states and financial hubs, incomes have converged with western levels at the fastest rate in the world; from 40% of the EU average in the mid-1990s to 81% last year. » | Richard Partington in Warsaw | Thursday, October 15, 2026
Above the rain-soaked streets of Warsaw, the observation deck of the Varso tower overlooks Joseph Stalin’s gift to Poland that has divided opinion for decades.
For some, the Soviet-era Palace of Culture and Science is a drunk confectioner’s nightmare; standing as a relic of oppression that should have been demolished. For others, it is an icon on the skyline and a monumental warning from history.
For the managers of the Varso – completed four years ago, as the tallest building in the EU – with its 310m-high spire rising symbolically above its Stalinist neighbour, it is a waypoint on Poland’s rapid path to economic prosperity.
“We look down on it,” says Cezary Błaszczyk, the managing director of HB Reavis in Poland, which owns the tower, gesturing at the palace opposite. A few months ago a slackline walker traversed the 500m gap between the buildings. “It was a symbolic walk from the past to the future,” says his colleague Natalia Kasperska.
“Since we are higher and taller than the Palace of Culture, we treat it as: ‘We got over communism, and now we are a country with a strong economy,’” Błaszczyk says.
Over the four decades since regaining its independence from Soviet-dominated rule, Poland has been transformed. Excluding oil-exporting states and financial hubs, incomes have converged with western levels at the fastest rate in the world; from 40% of the EU average in the mid-1990s to 81% last year. » | Richard Partington in Warsaw | Thursday, October 15, 2026
October 14, 2026
Ukraine Found Russia’s Weakness. Trump Is Protecting It, Browder Argues
Oct 14, 2026 | Could Donald Trump’s diesel deal help protect Russia’s oil infrastructure from Ukrainian attacks? Bill Browder, an investor and long-time sanctions advocate, argues that the deal resulted from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plea to Trump to help protect Russia’s energy infrastructure from Ukrainian drone strikes. Browder argues that Russia’s dependence on oil revenues makes its energy infrastructure a critical vulnerability – and for the same reason, Ukraine should keep up the pressure.
The Kyiv Independent’s Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with Browder about Trump’s deal to allow Russian diesel supplies to the U.S., the implications for Ukraine and Western policy, and whether sanctions can force Russia to negotiate. Browder explains why he believes sanctions on Russian crude oil could significantly weaken Moscow’s ability to fund the war.
The Kyiv Independent’s Tim Zadorozhnyy speaks with Browder about Trump’s deal to allow Russian diesel supplies to the U.S., the implications for Ukraine and Western policy, and whether sanctions can force Russia to negotiate. Browder explains why he believes sanctions on Russian crude oil could significantly weaken Moscow’s ability to fund the war.
Allemagne : droite et gauche radicales s’allient pour un appel à cesser l’aide à l’Ukraine et à normaliser les relations avec la Russie
LE FIGARO : « Le soutien financier à l’Ukraine dépassant le cadre de l’aide humanitaire doit être immédiatement arrêté », est-il écrit dans le texte voté mercredi, qui exhorte aussi à la levée « immédiate » des sanctions contre la Russie.
Le Parlement de Saxe-Anhalt, désormais dominé par l'extrême droite, soutenue par une formation de gauche radicale, a adopté mercredi un appel à cesser l'aide militaire à l'Ukraine et à normaliser les relations avec la Russie.
Formation prorusse et antimigrants, l'Alternative pour l'Allemagne (AfD), après sa victoire écrasante aux élections régionales de septembre dans cette région d'ex-Allemagne de l'Est, domine l'assemblée mais elle a besoin des cinq élus du BSW pour disposer de la majorité absolue. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 14 octobre 2026
Le Parlement de Saxe-Anhalt, désormais dominé par l'extrême droite, soutenue par une formation de gauche radicale, a adopté mercredi un appel à cesser l'aide militaire à l'Ukraine et à normaliser les relations avec la Russie.
Formation prorusse et antimigrants, l'Alternative pour l'Allemagne (AfD), après sa victoire écrasante aux élections régionales de septembre dans cette région d'ex-Allemagne de l'Est, domine l'assemblée mais elle a besoin des cinq élus du BSW pour disposer de la majorité absolue. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 14 octobre 2026
Do We Need to Talk About Brexit?
The 2026 Midterm Illusion: Why Trump’s Executive Coup Is Already Unstoppable
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, traditional political commentators are treating the moment like business as usual. But behind the scenes, historical norms no longer apply.
In this video, we break down how Donald Trump’s rolling, inside-out coup against American democracy has evolved from the events of January 6 into a permanent shift toward autocratic rule. From governing almost exclusively through executive decree to expanding domestic deportation forces and pivoting toward Moscow, the formal structures of democracy are rapidly giving way.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
In this video, we break down how Donald Trump’s rolling, inside-out coup against American democracy has evolved from the events of January 6 into a permanent shift toward autocratic rule. From governing almost exclusively through executive decree to expanding domestic deportation forces and pivoting toward Moscow, the formal structures of democracy are rapidly giving way.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
Saudi Energy Giant Struck as War Spikes Between Houthis and Saudi Arabia
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The attack came after the Yemeni militia warned it would attack the headquarters of Aramco. The Saudi-led coalition said it was targeting Houthi capabilities.
A man looking over the skyline of Sanaa, Yemen, on Tuesday. Credit: Mohammed Huwais/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
A building owned by the energy giant Aramco was set ablaze late Tuesday in a strike on the Saudi city housing its headquarters, the kingdom’s energy ministry said, as war spiked between the Houthi militia in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis had threatened earlier in the day to attack the Aramco headquarters in the eastern city of Dhahran, but did not immediately take responsibility for the strike. It came after the Iranian-backed militia reported that two major oil facilities in Yemen had been attacked by Saudi forces on Tuesday.
The Saudi energy ministry said in a statement that the strike in Dhahran had hit an Aramco administrative building and caused “a limited fire” and no injuries.
By late Tuesday, residents of both countries were on edge as explosions were repeatedly heard in their capital cities. A Saudi-led coalition said it was targeting Yemeni facilities that support the Houthi war effort, while the Houthis vowed to retaliate against comparable sites in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi authorities issued warnings of an aerial threat in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. And Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said four cruise missiles fired toward Riyadh and southern Saudi Arabia had been intercepted, along with two drones.
Mr. al-Maliki also reported that a ballistic missile launched toward the city of Damman [sic] in the eastern part of the kingdom by the Houthis had been intercepted, and that shrapnel fell in a residential area of neighboring Dhahran. » | Ismaeel Naar and Pranav Baskar | Reporting from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. | Tuesday, October 13, 2026
A building owned by the energy giant Aramco was set ablaze late Tuesday in a strike on the Saudi city housing its headquarters, the kingdom’s energy ministry said, as war spiked between the Houthi militia in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis had threatened earlier in the day to attack the Aramco headquarters in the eastern city of Dhahran, but did not immediately take responsibility for the strike. It came after the Iranian-backed militia reported that two major oil facilities in Yemen had been attacked by Saudi forces on Tuesday.
The Saudi energy ministry said in a statement that the strike in Dhahran had hit an Aramco administrative building and caused “a limited fire” and no injuries.
By late Tuesday, residents of both countries were on edge as explosions were repeatedly heard in their capital cities. A Saudi-led coalition said it was targeting Yemeni facilities that support the Houthi war effort, while the Houthis vowed to retaliate against comparable sites in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi authorities issued warnings of an aerial threat in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. And Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said four cruise missiles fired toward Riyadh and southern Saudi Arabia had been intercepted, along with two drones.
Mr. al-Maliki also reported that a ballistic missile launched toward the city of Damman [sic] in the eastern part of the kingdom by the Houthis had been intercepted, and that shrapnel fell in a residential area of neighboring Dhahran. » | Ismaeel Naar and Pranav Baskar | Reporting from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. | Tuesday, October 13, 2026
October 13, 2026
The Dark Truth behind Your Cheap Cigarettes - Behind the Investigation | BBC News
Oct 13, 2026 | One in every six cigarettes smoked in the UK is counterfeit. In this episode of BBC News Behind the Investigation, Melanie Stewart-Smith talks to File on 4 Investigates reporter Jane Deith about how the team uncovered the global criminal networks flooding Britain with fake cigarettes, and the human cost behind every cheap pack.
Jane explains how the team traced the supply chain from secret factories in Belgium to corner shops, minimarts and cash and carries across the UK.
We also look at why gangs are moving from drugs to fake cigarettes.
A former senior Europol official says they now make as much money as they do from drugs, with far lower prison sentences if they're caught.
The profits are being used to fund weapons, people smuggling and even terrorism. Do people really know what they're funding when they buy cheap cigarettes?
Is there any wonder that there are so many counterfeit cigarettes being sold when the cost of genuine cigarettes is so high because of taxes? The government will never be able to put a stop to this whilst they insist on hiking the price of legit cigarettes all the time. This isn't rocket science. Burst the bubble by substantially lowering the price of legal cigarettes. This will go a long way to solve the problem. — © Mark Alexander
Jane explains how the team traced the supply chain from secret factories in Belgium to corner shops, minimarts and cash and carries across the UK.
We also look at why gangs are moving from drugs to fake cigarettes.
A former senior Europol official says they now make as much money as they do from drugs, with far lower prison sentences if they're caught.
The profits are being used to fund weapons, people smuggling and even terrorism. Do people really know what they're funding when they buy cheap cigarettes?
Is there any wonder that there are so many counterfeit cigarettes being sold when the cost of genuine cigarettes is so high because of taxes? The government will never be able to put a stop to this whilst they insist on hiking the price of legit cigarettes all the time. This isn't rocket science. Burst the bubble by substantially lowering the price of legal cigarettes. This will go a long way to solve the problem. — © Mark Alexander
Little Things
Oct 13, 2026 | JD Vance says this isn’t the time to “gripe about all the little things" like gas, groceries, rent, your mortgage.
The Lincoln Project is a leading pro-democracy organization in the United States — dedicated to the preservation, protection, and defense of democracy. Our fight against Trumpism is only beginning. We must combat these forces everywhere and at all times — our democracy depends on it.
The Lincoln Project is a leading pro-democracy organization in the United States — dedicated to the preservation, protection, and defense of democracy. Our fight against Trumpism is only beginning. We must combat these forces everywhere and at all times — our democracy depends on it.
Paris' Oldest Food Market Destroyed by Fire, Locals Heartbroken
Oct 13, 2026| Paris residents and visitors are mourning the loss of the city's oldest covered food market after a fire broke out on Monday, October 12.
Established in 1615 during the reign of Louis XIII, the historic market in the Marais district was a beloved neighbourhood landmark. Locals described the damage as heartbreaking and expressed fears that reopening could take years.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Established in 1615 during the reign of Louis XIII, the historic market in the Marais district was a beloved neighbourhood landmark. Locals described the damage as heartbreaking and expressed fears that reopening could take years.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
October 12, 2026
October 11, 2026
Andy Burnham Says It Is Clear Russia Interfered in Brexit Referendum
THE GUARDIAN: PM says he asked question upon entering No 10 but does not reveal who gave him ‘clear answer’ that Russia meddled
Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Andy Burnham: ‘We haven’t informed people sufficiently about the extent to which people are seeking to disrupt the political process from overseas.’ Photograph: Christopher Furlong/AFP/Getty Images
Andy Burnham has said it is clear Russia interfered in the Brexit referendum, after seeking answers on the Kremlin’s involvement in the 2016 vote when he entered Downing Street.
Burnham said he had asked whether Moscow had attempted to influence the referendum and received a confirmation that it had.
Speaking on the podcast The Rest is Politics, Burnham said: “I asked the question coming to Downing Street: well, was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia? I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was.”
His comments mark a significant departure from the position taken by past Conservative governments, which insisted there was no evidence of successful interference by Russia in the hugely consequential referendum vote.
Burnham did not disclose who had given him the assessment, what evidence it was based on or whether any interference had affected the result of the vote.
A report by parliament’s intelligence and security committee in 2020 criticised the government and intelligence agencies for failing to properly investigate potential Russian interference in the referendum. » | Aletha Adu Political correspondent | Sunday, October 11, 2026
At last! A prime minister willing and courageous enough to tell us the truth! It was as clear as crystal to the wide-awake that Russia was behind that ridiculous Brexit referendum. What must be done now is simple: Brexit must be reversed. ASAP — © Mark Alexander
Andy Burnham has said it is clear Russia interfered in the Brexit referendum, after seeking answers on the Kremlin’s involvement in the 2016 vote when he entered Downing Street.
Burnham said he had asked whether Moscow had attempted to influence the referendum and received a confirmation that it had.
Speaking on the podcast The Rest is Politics, Burnham said: “I asked the question coming to Downing Street: well, was there interference in the 2016 referendum from Russia? I’ve had the clear answer that yes, there was.”
His comments mark a significant departure from the position taken by past Conservative governments, which insisted there was no evidence of successful interference by Russia in the hugely consequential referendum vote.
Burnham did not disclose who had given him the assessment, what evidence it was based on or whether any interference had affected the result of the vote.
A report by parliament’s intelligence and security committee in 2020 criticised the government and intelligence agencies for failing to properly investigate potential Russian interference in the referendum. » | Aletha Adu Political correspondent | Sunday, October 11, 2026
At last! A prime minister willing and courageous enough to tell us the truth! It was as clear as crystal to the wide-awake that Russia was behind that ridiculous Brexit referendum. What must be done now is simple: Brexit must be reversed. ASAP — © Mark Alexander
At Least 12 Killed in Houthi Attack on Saudi Airport
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The Iran-backed Houthi militia launched a deadly attack on an international airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital on Saturday that Saudi officials said killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300 others. | Julie Yoon | Saturday, October 11, 2026
Watch the short NYT video here »
Trump May Join Saudi War after Houthi Strike Kills 12
THE TELEGRAPH: US citizen among dead in attack on Riyadh airport in deadliest assault on Gulf Arab country since Iran war began
Donald Trump is considering joining Saudi strikes on the Houthis after a missile attack on Riyadh airport killed 12 people, including a US national.
The Houthi strike, the deadliest attack in a Gulf Arab country since the US began its war with Iran, hit a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport on Saturday.
Riyadh’s civil aviation authority confirmed that an American was among those killed in the strike and that 309 others were injured. Four Saudis, two Bangladeshis and one person each from Palestine, Jordan, Sudan, Syria and Egypt were also killed in the attack. Operations at the airport have been suspended.
The Saudi-led military coalition blamed the Houthis for the attack, which they called a “war crime,” and vowed to respond. It was the deadliest attack in the kingdom since May 2015.
The Houthis said the group had “shut down” the airport in a post on X, and threatened to carry out more strikes on Saudi Arabia. » | Emily Smith | Foreign Breaking News Reporter | Published: Saturday, October 10, 2026. Updated: Sunday, 11 October 2026
World War III is progressing nicely! Just as one would expect. — © Mark Alexander
Donald Trump is considering joining Saudi strikes on the Houthis after a missile attack on Riyadh airport killed 12 people, including a US national.
The Houthi strike, the deadliest attack in a Gulf Arab country since the US began its war with Iran, hit a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport on Saturday.
Riyadh’s civil aviation authority confirmed that an American was among those killed in the strike and that 309 others were injured. Four Saudis, two Bangladeshis and one person each from Palestine, Jordan, Sudan, Syria and Egypt were also killed in the attack. Operations at the airport have been suspended.
The Saudi-led military coalition blamed the Houthis for the attack, which they called a “war crime,” and vowed to respond. It was the deadliest attack in the kingdom since May 2015.
The Houthis said the group had “shut down” the airport in a post on X, and threatened to carry out more strikes on Saudi Arabia. » | Emily Smith | Foreign Breaking News Reporter | Published: Saturday, October 10, 2026. Updated: Sunday, 11 October 2026
World War III is progressing nicely! Just as one would expect. — © Mark Alexander
Trump's Putin Deal Prompts Fresh Questions over Support for Ukraine | DW News
One thing is CERTAIN: The USA needs a NEW PRESIDENT — and with dispatch! What a disgrace Trump is! — © Mark Alexander
À LIRE AUSSI :
Volodymyr Zelensky «mérite d'être soutenu»: les réactions se multiplient après les propos de Trump en faveur d’un nouveau président ukrainien : Donald Trump s’est prononcé pour le remplacement de son homologue ukrainien samedi depuis la Maison-Blanche, afin qu’un «accord» de paix puisse survenir avec Moscou. »
October 10, 2026
Trump’s Russian Fuel Deal: Strategic Masterstroke or Dangerous Betrayal?
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
Rob Groves: The Tories Are Dying and the Numbers Prove It
Even though an ex-colleague once called me a “dyed-in-the-wool” Conservative voter, I finished voting for that party long ago. After the fiasco of Brexit, I shall never vote for them again. I am a European with every fibre of my being, and that party took my European rights away from me (and everyone else, of course), and has impoverished my home country in so doing. So, as far as I am concerned, the curtains have closed on that party.
Then, after that disastrous Brexit referendum, along came Rishi Sunak, spending public money like a drunken sailor! He also introduced the undemocratic idea of a “generational smoking ban”, which I vehemently disagree with and for a number of good reasons. However, in short, one can say that it is not the job of government to tell people how to live their lives. Doing so is both illiberal and undemocratic. Furthermore, there are far more important things for governments to concentrate on if people’s health is their goal. But in fact, I don’t really think that politicians give a tinker’s toss about people’s health. What they care about is money. How much is smoking costing the NHS in treatment. But I have news for them: smokers contribute approximately £12 billion to the state coffers. To treat smoking-related diseases in the UK, it costs the treasury between £1.9 and £2.5 billion per annum. Clearly, smokers more than pay for any treatment they get on the NHS.
But I digress… another reason why I would never vote Tory again is because the party is so anti-EU. AND because the party wants to exit the ECHR. Leaving the ECHR would be a disaster.
Kemi Badenoch radiates neither magic nor sparkle for me, I’m afraid. Her vision for this country is diametrically opposed to mine. What she wants to do with this country is re-hash Thatcher’s policies. But it is high time that the Tories retired her policies. It is time for them to get creative. In any case, it was Thatcher and her sidekick Reagan, who sowed the seeds of the ginormous wealth gap in the West. So, do we really want to increase the gap between the have-nots and the superrich even more?
In my opinion, once upon a time, the Conservative Party was the only sensible party to vote for. But then the party started destroying itself, it started committing suicide in slow motion. The self-harm continues apace! — © Mark Alexander
October 09, 2026
Constantin Schreiber — Gesellschaft: Das Zeitalter des Westens endet
Le commissaire européen au Commerce veut du « concret » de ses entretiens en Chine
LE FIGARO : Le commissaire européen au commerce Maros Sefcovic attend des « résultats concrets » lors des entretiens qu'il a engagés jeudi à Pékin sur le déséquilibre des échanges commerciaux entre la Chine et l'Union européenne, a-t-il dit sur les réseaux sociaux. Maros Sefcovic a redit sur X jeudi soir œuvrer « activement à rééquilibrer les relations commerciales », objet d'un dialogue en cours depuis plusieurs mois entre Bruxelles et Pékin. Il dit « crucial » que cette phase des discussions « débouche sur des résultats concrets », à la suite d'entretiens avec le ministre chinois du Commerce Wang Wentao. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 9 octobre 2026
October 08, 2026
It's 'Appalling' How US Treats Allies, Yellen Says
Trump doesn’t care about the ‘little people’; Trump cares only about the people at the top, and he cares most especially about himself, his family, and his cronies. In addition, he sucks up to dictators, especially to Vladimir Putin — he loves him, and is determined to destroy any semblance of democracy in the USA. Most of it has already been destroyed anyway. Furthermore, Trump has turned his back on America’s traditional allies for a purpose: it is part of his covert plan to destroy totally the world order status quo ante. Donald Trump, apart from being geopolitically ignorant, is the most dangerous US president in my not-too-short lifetime. The sooner Americans wake up to what Trump is up to and rid themselves of him, the better for them and the better for the rest of the civilized world. — © Mark Alexander
October 07, 2026
‘Another Coup d’état’: Fears Grow as Flávio Bolsonaro Vows to ‘Re-democratise’ Brazil
THE GUARDIAN: After a surprise first-round victory, critics suggest son of disgraced ex-president could seek to continue his father’s authoritarian project
Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Flávio Bolsonaro 45, goes into the 25 October runoff as favourite after a first-round win against Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday. Photograph: André Borges/EPA
Flávio Bolsonaro, the far-right frontrunner to become Brazil’s next president, has vowed to “re-democratise” the South American country, increasing fears about a move into authoritarian rule if he wins power.
Brazil was re-democratised in the 1980s after a brutal 21-year dictatorship that Flávio’s father, the disgraced ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, has long praised.
Last year, Jair Bolsonaro, a former soldier who served under that military regime, was jailed for 27 years for trying to engineer a coup after he lost the 2022 election to the current leftwing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Flávio, 45, beat Lula, 80, in Sunday’s presidential election first round and goes into the runoff on 25 October as favourite. On Tuesday, the rightwinger vowed to capitalise on the hugely increased far-right presence in congress after the election to change the constitution and “re-democratise this country”.
“The only thing standing in the way of Brazil becoming a barbarity is called Flávio Bolsonaro as president,” he claimed at a campaign event in Goiânia, a city near the capital, Brasília.
The incendiary comments caused outrage among historians and opponents of Bolsonaro’s radical populist movement, who have accused him of co-opting the language of democracy to disguise an illiberal shift. » | Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro | Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Flávio Bolsonaro, the far-right frontrunner to become Brazil’s next president, has vowed to “re-democratise” the South American country, increasing fears about a move into authoritarian rule if he wins power.
Brazil was re-democratised in the 1980s after a brutal 21-year dictatorship that Flávio’s father, the disgraced ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, has long praised.
Last year, Jair Bolsonaro, a former soldier who served under that military regime, was jailed for 27 years for trying to engineer a coup after he lost the 2022 election to the current leftwing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Flávio, 45, beat Lula, 80, in Sunday’s presidential election first round and goes into the runoff on 25 October as favourite. On Tuesday, the rightwinger vowed to capitalise on the hugely increased far-right presence in congress after the election to change the constitution and “re-democratise this country”.
“The only thing standing in the way of Brazil becoming a barbarity is called Flávio Bolsonaro as president,” he claimed at a campaign event in Goiânia, a city near the capital, Brasília.
The incendiary comments caused outrage among historians and opponents of Bolsonaro’s radical populist movement, who have accused him of co-opting the language of democracy to disguise an illiberal shift. » | Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro | Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Brazil: Between Violence and Lust for Life | ARTE.tv Documentary
Steve Rosenberg: Russian Papers Silent on the 20th Anniversary of Journalist's Murder
October 06, 2026
It Never Made Any Sense’ | Justin Wolfers Tears into Trump’s ‘Foolish’ Trade Wars
Trump’s Recent Statements on the Economy Are Even More Bonkers Than Usual
THE GUARDIAN: Our ‘genius’ president is revealing his ignorance of economics, fueling concerns about the threat he poses to the world
Donald Trump recently made a bold claim about his abilities, writing on Truth Social: “The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!”
But in the days before and after that post, Trump made one mind-boggling statement after another, including one that raised the possibility of cutting off all trade with dozens of the US’s trading partners. The president’s statements had many experts questioning not just his intelligence, but also whether he – and the outlandish policies he was proposing – were a clear and present danger to both the US economy and the world economy. Public respect for Trump’s economic sense has fallen so low that just 7% of Americans think he should take the lead in regulating AI, according to a recent WSJ poll.
Responding to Trump’s reckless statements, one prominent advocacy group, Republicans Against Trump, derided him as “Dumbest. President. Ever.”
Economists and corporate executives were especially alarmed by two Trump statements. First, he wrote on Truth Social: “I’ll stop trading with countries with which we have a deficit” if the Federal Reserve doesn’t cut interest rates.
The second disconcerting statement was: “If we stopped Trading with every country that we have a Deficit with, which is most of them, we would make, at least, 1.5 Trillion Dollars a year.”
Not only is Trump’s arithmetic childishly silly here, but any college student who took Econ 101 knows that if a trade-dependent nation like the US suddenly ended all trade with dozens of countries, that would lead to economic disaster. What’s more, it was worrisome that Trump views himself as almighty emperor with the power to singlehandedly halt hundreds of billions of dollars in trade. » | Steven Greenhouse | Monday, October 5, 2026
Donald Trump recently made a bold claim about his abilities, writing on Truth Social: “The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!”
But in the days before and after that post, Trump made one mind-boggling statement after another, including one that raised the possibility of cutting off all trade with dozens of the US’s trading partners. The president’s statements had many experts questioning not just his intelligence, but also whether he – and the outlandish policies he was proposing – were a clear and present danger to both the US economy and the world economy. Public respect for Trump’s economic sense has fallen so low that just 7% of Americans think he should take the lead in regulating AI, according to a recent WSJ poll.
Responding to Trump’s reckless statements, one prominent advocacy group, Republicans Against Trump, derided him as “Dumbest. President. Ever.”
Economists and corporate executives were especially alarmed by two Trump statements. First, he wrote on Truth Social: “I’ll stop trading with countries with which we have a deficit” if the Federal Reserve doesn’t cut interest rates.
The second disconcerting statement was: “If we stopped Trading with every country that we have a Deficit with, which is most of them, we would make, at least, 1.5 Trillion Dollars a year.”
Not only is Trump’s arithmetic childishly silly here, but any college student who took Econ 101 knows that if a trade-dependent nation like the US suddenly ended all trade with dozens of countries, that would lead to economic disaster. What’s more, it was worrisome that Trump views himself as almighty emperor with the power to singlehandedly halt hundreds of billions of dollars in trade. » | Steven Greenhouse | Monday, October 5, 2026
October 05, 2026
Dr Bandy Lee Deconstructs Trump's Insane TIME Magazine Interview
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
Steve Rosenberg: What Are Russian Newspapers Saying about Reports of a Potentially "Dangerous Infection" in Irkutsk?
October 04, 2026
Can Yemen Turn the Tide against the Houthis? | DW News
“The Bottom Is Falling Out in the US” w/ Ryan Grim
Brazil Heads to General Election with Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro as Front-runners | BBC News
Oct 4, 2026 | Brazilians have begun voting in a general election, where the most prominent candidates are current president, left-wing leader Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva, and right-wing Flávio Bolsonaro.
The election has raised questions about US influence, trade tariffs, organised crime and Brazil’s sovereignty.
Here’s what you need to know about Brazil’s general election, and the two candidates leading the polls.
The election has raised questions about US influence, trade tariffs, organised crime and Brazil’s sovereignty.
Here’s what you need to know about Brazil’s general election, and the two candidates leading the polls.
U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine Now Involve an Oil Deal Tied to Trump Allies
THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Vladimir V. Putin brought up a sale of Russian energy assets with President Trump’s envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, pushing a deal that raises new questions about conflicts of interest.
The Trump administration’s talks with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine have expanded to include a multibillion-dollar oil deal that would benefit Middle Eastern business executives with ties to the two main U.S. negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The deal, which is contingent on approval from the U.S. government and the Kremlin, is for a sprawling set of oil fields, refineries and gas stations around the world owned by Lukoil, one of Russia’s biggest energy companies.
The leading group seeking the deal includes an American investor, Todd Boehly, who has donated $2 million to President Trump’s political causes; two Middle Eastern groups that have done business with Mr. Kushner or Mr. Witkoff’s family; and an arm of the U.S. government itself.
The monthslong negotiations, which were described by eight people familiar with them, shed new light on Mr. Trump’s latest approach to settling a four-year war that has killed hundreds of thousands. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. » | Anton Troianovski and Eric Lipton | Reporting from Washington | Saturday, October 3, 2026
LESEN SIE AUCH:
Ölfelder, Tankstellen, Raffinerien: Putin soll Trump-Unterhändlern Lukoil-Deal angeboten haben: An dem möglichen Käuferkonsortium sind laut einem Bericht ein milliardenschwerer Trump-Spender, Investoren aus Katar und Abu Dhabi sowie eine US-Entwicklungsbank beteiligt. »
The Trump administration’s talks with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine have expanded to include a multibillion-dollar oil deal that would benefit Middle Eastern business executives with ties to the two main U.S. negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The deal, which is contingent on approval from the U.S. government and the Kremlin, is for a sprawling set of oil fields, refineries and gas stations around the world owned by Lukoil, one of Russia’s biggest energy companies.
The leading group seeking the deal includes an American investor, Todd Boehly, who has donated $2 million to President Trump’s political causes; two Middle Eastern groups that have done business with Mr. Kushner or Mr. Witkoff’s family; and an arm of the U.S. government itself.
The monthslong negotiations, which were described by eight people familiar with them, shed new light on Mr. Trump’s latest approach to settling a four-year war that has killed hundreds of thousands. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. » | Anton Troianovski and Eric Lipton | Reporting from Washington | Saturday, October 3, 2026
LESEN SIE AUCH:
Ölfelder, Tankstellen, Raffinerien: Putin soll Trump-Unterhändlern Lukoil-Deal angeboten haben: An dem möglichen Käuferkonsortium sind laut einem Bericht ein milliardenschwerer Trump-Spender, Investoren aus Katar und Abu Dhabi sowie eine US-Entwicklungsbank beteiligt. »
Donald Trump propose de verser 90 dollars aux 20 millions de personnes âgées, inscrites au programme d’assurance maladie Medicare
LE FIGARO : À l’approche des élections de mi-mandat de novembre, le parti républicain détient une courte majorité au Sénat comme à la Chambre des représentants, mais sa cote de popularité est faible.
Donald Trump a annoncé ce vendredi soir sur son réseau Truth Social que le gouvernement américain verserait 90 dollars à plus de 20 millions d’Américains inscrits à Medicare, le programme d’assurance maladie destiné aux personnes âgées. Il propose de les aider à compenser le coût de leurs cotisations mensuelles d’assurance.
Le président américain a indiqué que ces versements proviendraient du Fond d’amélioration de Medicare, auquel, selon lui, le Congrès avait alloué 2 milliards de dollars. Cette annonce s’inscrit dans une série de promesses financières faites par le dirigeant républicain aux électeurs à l’approche des élections de mi-mandat de novembre, lors desquelles le contrôle du Congrès sera en jeu. » | Par Le Figaro avec Reuters | dimanche 4 octobre 2026
C'est lamentable ! Des milliards pour les ultra-riches, et 90 dollars pour les personnes âgées ! C'est sûrement une blague. Et une blague de très mauvais goût, qui plus est ! Vu la hausse des prix en Amérique, les personnes âgées ont besoin de bien plus que 90 dollars pour compenser leurs pertes. — © Mark Alexander
Announcement
MARK ALEXANDER: For your information, my blogs were hacked tonight. All manner of strange things have been going on on the blog: some posts have been doubled; several posts were deleted. As a result, I have had to repost many items which I had posted earlier today. I have also had to make a number of other changes, too.
I wish these awful, pesky people would run away and play with their toys instead!
Sorry about this. Let us hope that everything will settle down now.
Best wishes to all.
Mark
I wish these awful, pesky people would run away and play with their toys instead!
Sorry about this. Let us hope that everything will settle down now.
Best wishes to all.
Mark
October 03, 2026
The $20 Trillion Lie? The Real Reason US Job Growth Just Collapsed
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
Trump is so FULL of BULLSHIT! — © Mark Alexander
The Economic Rights Americans Never Got But Desperately Need (w/ Susan Neiman)
Even though I, until now, have never voted for a socialist government believe this, or not, but at the time, I was one of Thatcher’s greatest fans!—but in my opinion, America needs a good dose of socialism to begin to try and correct the damage that Trump has done. It needs socialism badly! The best man for the White House, in my opinion, would be Bernie Sanders who, by European standards, is moderate indeed. Just a little left of centre. —© Mark Alexander
Rob Groves: Andy Burnham Just Changed the Brexit Conversation
Oct 3, 2026 | Andy Burnham has done what no prime minister has done in ten years: he's admitted Brexit has done more harm than good, and put full EU membership back on the table. Nigel Farage claims it's the biggest boost of his career. So why do more than half of Reform UK's own voters think Britain has drifted too far from Europe?
In this video, I look at how Burnham has wrong-footed Farage, and then take a hard, honest look at what it would really take to get Britain back into the EU. That covers how warm the welcome from Brussels, Paris and Madrid really is, the barriers in the way, the price of readmission, and a realistic best-case timeline.
Well said. What I want is a full return. Farage must be quaking in his little boots and puffing away like crazy! 😊 — © Mark Alexander
In this video, I look at how Burnham has wrong-footed Farage, and then take a hard, honest look at what it would really take to get Britain back into the EU. That covers how warm the welcome from Brussels, Paris and Madrid really is, the barriers in the way, the price of readmission, and a realistic best-case timeline.
Well said. What I want is a full return. Farage must be quaking in his little boots and puffing away like crazy! 😊 — © Mark Alexander
October 02, 2026
Michael Lambert: Andy Burnham's Great Ideas but How Will He Pay for Them?
Oct 2, 2026 | Andy Burnham's speech to the Labour Conference promised a 10-year plan to fix Britain - but how will it be paid for?
In an excellent speech Andy Burnham set out tougher controls on water companies and renationalisation, if needed, more council houses, an end to rough sleeping, proper reform and investment in social care to save the NHS, further devolution, electoral reform - and a hint at a return to the EU.
Britain is broke. We have the highest energy prices in Europe, the highest rail fares, the lowest state pension, plus massive waste on Hinkley Point and HS2.
You only get money by growing businesses, building new ones and increasing economic activity - and there was nothing in the speech about how to do that.
In an excellent speech Andy Burnham set out tougher controls on water companies and renationalisation, if needed, more council houses, an end to rough sleeping, proper reform and investment in social care to save the NHS, further devolution, electoral reform - and a hint at a return to the EU.
Britain is broke. We have the highest energy prices in Europe, the highest rail fares, the lowest state pension, plus massive waste on Hinkley Point and HS2.
You only get money by growing businesses, building new ones and increasing economic activity - and there was nothing in the speech about how to do that.
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