On Cusp of Renewed War, More Iranians are Calling for Nuclear Weapons

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Some Iranian clerics and officials argue the country must rebuild deterrence by dropping its longstanding pledge not to build a nuclear bomb.

Portraits of former Iranian supreme leaders and the current supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in Tehran this month. Credit: Atta Kenare/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
From pulpits at Friday prayers to street rallies, Iranian clerics and officials are increasingly urging the country’s leaders to reverse their longtime pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons.

This demand, once seen as a fringe position held by hard-liners, is moving into mainstream public debate, and the shift could have dramatic consequences for Iran, whose government has for decades argued that its nuclear program was solely for peaceful purposes.

“We must be equipped with nuclear weapons — so that we can fight the criminal America with strength, God willing,” Ali Sepahvand, the Friday prayer leader in Iran’s western city of Kuhdasht, said last week, according to a widely distributed video.

As his voice echoed through a prayer hall, covered in photographs of commanders killed in the war with the United States and Israel this past year, the congregants chanted: “Nuclear deterrence is our inalienable right!” » | Erika Solomon | Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Little wonder that more and more Iranians are crying out for Iran to have nuclear weapons! America and Israel won’t stop trying to bully the Iranians into submission. It would be a different story if Iran had nuclear weapons! It is clear that Trump and Netanyahu’s policies are making the world a very much more dangerous place.

Ukraine should never have relinquished its nuclear arsenal back in 1994. On the basis of the Budapest Understanding on Security Assurances, the then Ukrainian government relinquished the country’s nuclear arms, handing over in 1996 its last nuclear warhead to Russia for dismantlement! The denuclearization process was finished in 2001. I bet that Ukrainians regret their country’s denuclearization. The war with Russia today would look very different had they not done that.

In an ideal world, I would not be in favour of countries possessing nuclear weapons. Alas this is not an ideal world. So, countries want nuclear weapons to ensure that they won’t be attacked by stronger countries which possess them, countries like Israel and the USA. It should be remembered that it was the balance of nuclear arsenals that ensured ultimate peace during the Cold War. Weaker countries will always be the target of stronger countries with malign designs. — © Mark Alexander

“Musk”: Alex Gibney on New Film, Legal Threats & Elon Musk Spending $366M to Help GOP in Midterms

Oct 13, 2026 | We speak with the Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney about his new documentary Musk, an expansive, nearly four-hour examination of the world’s first trillionaire and how he has amassed unprecedented power in business, technology and politics. The film traces Elon Musk’s early ventures and the rise of SpaceX and Tesla, examining the role of government support in their growth. It also explores his acquisition of Twitter, now X; his alliance with President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement; and his role in the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, whose cuts devastated federal programs, including USAID.

Gibney says Musk has carefully crafted an image of a “polymath” who can solve the world’s most pressing problems, but that he is really “kind of a ruthless businessman” willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, including “a series of elaborate cons” to win government support for his companies.


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November 2, 2026

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Steve Rosenberg: Drones, Enemies & “the Longest Investment Crisis in Modern Russian History.”

Nov 3, 2026 | “There’s a war on!” I notice the word ‘war’ increasingly in the Russian press, though officially Moscow still refers to its ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine. In today’s Russian papers: external enemies, drone attacks & what may be “the longest investment crisis in modern Russian history.”

Preisschock im Gasthaus - Wird essen gehen unbezahlbar? | SWR Doku

Oct 26, 2026 | Die SWR Doku untersucht, wie stark Restaurantpreise seit 2019 gestiegen sind und welche Folgen das für Gäste und Betriebe hat. Anhand tausender Speisekarten geht es um die Frage, ob Aufschläge von teils mehr als 50 Prozent gerechtfertigt sind. Steigende Kosten für Personal, Energie und Lebensmittel treffen auf Betriebe, die um ihre Existenz kämpfen, während andere höhere Gewinne anstreben.

Wie stark haben sich die Restaurantpreise seit 2019 erhöht und welche Folgen hat das? Sind Preissteigerungen von teils mehr als 50 Prozent gerechtfertigt? Die SWR Autor:innen vergleichen Speisekarten von 2019 mit aktuellen und werten tausende Datensätze aus. Werden Gäste abgezockt oder sind die Preissteigerungen legitim? Personal, Energie und Lebensmittel sind teurer geworden. Immer mehr Restaurants schließen deshalb. Andere Gastronom:innen wollen höhere Gewinne machen. Die SWR Doku begleitet drei Gastronomen, die offen über Preisstrategien und Belastungen sprechen. Ein Mann aus Baden-Württemberg führt eine Statistik: mehr als 300 verkostete Rostbraten und deren Preise. Sein Lieblingsgericht kostet zwischen unter 20 und knapp 40 Euro. 2019 gilt als letztes "normales" Jahr der Gastronomie vor Pandemie und Inflation. Warum haben manche Restaurants seit damals ihre Preise um mehr als 50 Prozent angehoben? Außerdem geht es um "Shrinking"- kleinere Portionen bei steigenden Preisen.

Trump Headed for a Bloody Nose in Midterms Promising More Political Lash-outs | Andrew Neil

Nov 2, 2026 | "Those hoping for a more settled, more reliable, more quiescent relationship with the Trump administration are likely to have such hopes quickly dashed."

As polls indicate, Donald Trump is headed for a miserable midterm outcome as the mood in the White House becomes grim, says Times Radio presenter Andrew Neil.

Nouvelles cyberattaques contre des supermarchés : ces inquiétantes vulnérabilités sur les réseaux numériques européens

Les réfrigérateurs de plusieurs supermarchés européens ont été visés par des cyberattaques, notamment en Belgique ou au Luxembourg. Stephanie Lecocq / REUTERS
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Comme en France il y a trois semaines, des attaquants ont saboté lundi les systèmes de réfrigération. La recrudescence des actes de piratage inquiète les autorités, qui n’ont pas désigné de responsables.

L’attaque est massive à défaut d’être sophistiquée. Des supermarchés en Belgique, en Estonie, en Finlande, en Irlande, au Luxembourg ou en Suède ont été victimes lundi d’une cyberattaque contre leurs réfrigérateurs. Exactement comme celle qui avait touché la France il y a trois semaines : en augmentant la température des réfrigérateurs, les attaquants avaient détruit des tonnes de denrées alimentaires. « La répétition de ces cyberattaques est extrêmement préoccupante », s’est inquiété lundi le Commissaire européen à l’Agriculture, Christophe Hansen. Les opérations malveillantes se multiplient, facilitées par la diffusion d’outils d’intrusion numérique ou la découverte, grâce à des IA, de nouvelles vulnérabilités.

« Il s’agit d’une tentative délibérée de perturber notre chaîne d’approvisionnement alimentaire et de saper la confiance des consommateurs - un avertissement que nous devons prendre au sérieux », a-t-il commenté avant de tenter de se montrer plus rassurant : « Notre sécurité alimentaire n’est pas menacée pour l’instant, mais le gaspillage alimentaire et ses répercussions sur les entreprises sont bien réels ». Si les auteurs des différentes attaques n’ont pas été identifiés, leur objectif n’était visiblement pas l’appât du gain. Il s’agissait d’une démonstration de savoir-faire... Ou d’une volonté de destruction. » | Par Nicolas Barotte | lundi 2 vovembre 2026

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Steve Rosenberg: Why Is Moscow Closely Watching the US Midterm Elections?

Nov 2, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: reaction to the evacuation from Oleshky, cuts to social spending in Russia (but increased spending on ‘defence’) & why Moscow has an eye on the US midterms.

This $520 Billion Family Owns America — Even Donald Trump Fears Them

Oct 3, 2026 | Think politicians run America? Think again. Behind the scenes, a highly exclusive club of billionaire families pulls the strings, controlling what you eat, read, buy, and even the laws that govern the country. Some of these empires are so powerful and deeply entrenched in the US economy that even the world's most famous billionaires don't mess with them. In this documentary deep dive, we expose the top 10 richest and most secretive families in the United States. We uncover how these dynasties operate in the shadows to build unbreakable monopolies across food, energy, media, and finance.

Ireland Becomes Refuge for Anti-Trump Americans • FRANCE 24 English

Oct 29, 2026 | They have left everything behind to get away from US President Donald Trump's America. Entrepreneurs, academics, scientists and students: tens of thousands of US citizens have moved to Ireland in recent years. Last year alone, some 10,000 Americans settled there and nearly 100 even applied for asylum – citing political, racial or gender persecution.

Liz Truss Doubles Down on Crashing the Economy | Josh Glancy

Nov 1, 2026 | “Her argument is: 'I was right, everyone else was wrong.'”

Speaking to The Sunday Times’s associate editor Josh Glancy about her new book, Liz Truss says her former parliamentary colleagues were "weak" and "treacherous" for “criticising and undermining” her.

Why Plastic Recycling May Come to a Halt in Australia | 60 Minutes Australia

This facility in NSW looks busy helping the environment by turning plastic waste into reusable material. But as with several other recycling plants in the country, it may cease its business following the government retracting its own packaging reform promise.
Click here for details on the story.
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Make America Teuer Again - Navidi: Trump könnte sagen "Nach mir die Sintflut"

Nov 1, 2026 | Lebensmittel, Sprit, Miete: In Trumps Amerika ist wieder alles great, vor allem die Preise. Und der Präsident? Erklärt das Zahlen laut Navidi kurzerhand zur Patriotenpflicht. Kurz vor den Midterms könnte ihm das teuer zu stehen kommen. Für die Zeit danach hat Navidi einen bösen Verdacht. 30.10.2026

Carney Commits Canada to Becoming European Union’s First ‘Associate Member’

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The move is part of the Canadian prime minister’s effort to reduce American influence over Canada and expand trade to other parts of the world.

Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday during the 21st E.U.-Canada summit in Montreal, Quebec. Credit: Pool photo by Christopher Katsarov
In the few months since Prime Minister Mark Carney made closer ties between Canada and Europe a priority as an alternative to the United States, the continent could be considered a less appealing partner.

In France, demonstrations have left thousands of buildings burned or looted and at least 1,000 police officers injured. A far-right political party that wants to rethink France’s relationship with the European Union is leading in the polls. Investors are shunning French debt as credit rating agencies sound warnings about its high level.

In Germany this month, a far-right party began overseeing a state’s legislature, a first since the Nazi era. Across much of Europe, centrist parties are losing ground to populist movements on the far right or the far left.

Despite all that, Mr. Carney appeared undeterred with his plans on Friday after hosting what was billed as a summit meeting in Montreal with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and António Costa, president of the European Council.

Mr. Carney announced that the parties would conclude talks on making Canada an “associate member” of the European Union by June 2027. More important, those negotiations will also define that affiliation, which does not currently exist within the group.

Until Friday, Mr. Carney had shied away from using “associate member” or any other name to describe closer relations with Europe.

“We are working towards the deepest possible partnership — short of accession because of our geography — with Canada becoming the European Union’s first associate member,” Mr. Carney said at a news conference after the meetings. “We’re leveraging and complementing each other’s strengths and building our resilience. Creating more choice, ensuring that we are not beholden to others. In fact, we are building a trans-Atlantic age between Canada and the European Union.” » | Ian Austen | Reporting from Montreal | Friday, October 30, 2026

Das wird für Trump jetzt gefährlich | Sandra Navidi im Interview

Sep 15, 2026 | Die USA befinden sich an einem besonderen Moment. Mit einem Sommer hinter uns und Zwischenwahlen im Herbst vor uns, die Washington verändern werden. Von den Debatten über KI-Regulierung - bis zum Krieg im Nahen Osten. Die Politik, die in den USA gemacht wird, wirkt sich auch auf uns aus. Trump-Kennerin Sandra Navidi war deshalb zur Lage der US-amerikanischen Nation in dieser Folge zu Gast. Die Juristin und Finanz-Expertin hat den ORF in Wien besucht.

Redaktion: Stefan Lenglinger
Kamera: Gerhard Zwiauer
Schnitt: Nicolas Hofbauer

Warum Putin nicht aufhören wird

Die Ukraine steht vor dem fünften Kriegswinter. Schafft es Kiew neuerlich, die russischen Angriffe zu überstehen? Und wie realistisch sind die Bemühungen um Frieden in diesem Konflikt? In dieser Folge des „ZIB erklärt“ Podcasts ist der Militärökonom Markus Keupp zu Gast.

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Rob Groves: Russia's Secret War on the UK Has Already Started

Oct 31, 2026 |In this video, I assess how much danger we are truly in, why a Russian test of NATO is a real possibility, why the question of Brexit interference remains unanswered, and who has been welcoming Russia’s friends into British politics.

US Cancels G20 ‘Family Photo’ after Australia, UK and Others Refuse to Appear with Russia

THE GUARDIAN: Marco Rubio pulls plug on traditional photo op at meeting of foreign ministers after about one-third of countries threaten boycott

US secretary of state Marco Rubio speaks at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Photograph: Megan Varner/Pool Reuters/AP
The traditional “family photo” to open the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting has been abruptly cancelled in the US after a host of nations – including Australia and the UK – refused to appear beside the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, pulled the plug after several European officials, the UK and Australia made it known they would boycott or walk out of the snapshot that often kicks off such international gatherings.

Rubio still opened the talks in Atlanta with an appeal for unity on the issues that threaten international security and trade.

“We are in a critical moment,” Rubio told his colleagues. “We are facing a series of interconnected economic and geopolitical crises.”

About one-third of countries at the talks made it known they would not appear beside any Russian representatives.

European Union nations had made clear they would boycott any photo with the Russians. “In no case will there be a family photo with European partners and Mr Lavrov together because … there is no normality with Russia,” Germany’s foreign affairs minister, Johann Wadephul, warned ahead of Friday’s session.

The UK foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, promised similar. “We do not engage in that way with the Russians and have not for a number of years,” he said. » | Ben Doherty and Associated Press | Saturday, October 31, 2026