September 20, 2026
Russia: Pessimism, Rising Prices and Voices from the Street
September 19, 2026
Black Smoke Seen Near Riyadh amid Air Raid Alerts in Saudi Arabia • FRANCE 24 English
Hoekstra Reacts to Plan on Making Canada EU's First Associate Member
Macron Heir Invites Britain to Join ‘United States of Europe’
THE TELEGRAPH Centrist candidate for the French presidency suggests UK should be part of a unified tax area
Screenshot taken from this Telegraph article. | Gabriel Attal believes the EU’s 27-country model has ‘reached its limits’ Credit: AFP via Getty Images/Sameer Al-Doumy
Emmanuel Macron’s protégé has invited Britain to join a “United States of Europe” in a de facto reversal of Brexit.
Gabriel Attal, a contender to succeed Mr Macron in 2027, wants a group of perhaps eight or 10 countries to bind themselves together with common debt, common taxes and labour rules and, in effect, a single economy.
The bloc would operate under a directly elected president and be protected by France’s nuclear deterrent.
Mr Attal, who has previously argued that Britain should rejoin the EU, is now offering a route back into something considerably more integrated than the bloc it left.
“I hope that one day the United Kingdom will find its place again in this adventure, if it freely chooses to join it,” he said. » | Henry Samuel Paris Correspondent. James Crisp Europe Edito | Friday, September 18, 2026
This is music to my ears, of course. I never expected such encouraging news so late on a Friday night! God bless M. Attal! Vive la France ! Vive le Royaume-Uni ! Vive l'Union européenne — © Mark Alexander
Emmanuel Macron’s protégé has invited Britain to join a “United States of Europe” in a de facto reversal of Brexit.
Gabriel Attal, a contender to succeed Mr Macron in 2027, wants a group of perhaps eight or 10 countries to bind themselves together with common debt, common taxes and labour rules and, in effect, a single economy.
The bloc would operate under a directly elected president and be protected by France’s nuclear deterrent.
Mr Attal, who has previously argued that Britain should rejoin the EU, is now offering a route back into something considerably more integrated than the bloc it left.
“I hope that one day the United Kingdom will find its place again in this adventure, if it freely chooses to join it,” he said. » | Henry Samuel Paris Correspondent. James Crisp Europe Edito | Friday, September 18, 2026
This is music to my ears, of course. I never expected such encouraging news so late on a Friday night! God bless M. Attal! Vive la France ! Vive le Royaume-Uni ! Vive l'Union européenne — © Mark Alexander
September 18, 2026
September 17, 2026
"Fast Food Nation," Mystery Meat & Trump's Dismantling of U.S. Food Safety System: Eric Schlosser
Sep 17, 2026 | Amid growing concerns over food safety in the United States, President Donald Trump last month authorized the duty-free importation of 660 million pounds of cheap beef trimmings that will get mixed in with other cuts to make ground beef. Imported beef and pork were once labelled with their country of origin, but Congress voted in 2015 to end that requirement, so customers at the grocery store will have no way to identify this "mystery meat," which is coming mostly from Brazil.
President Trump's proclamation in August came just a day after he met in the White House with Joesley Batista, whose family controls the Brazilian company JBS, the largest beef producer in the world. JBS is notorious for food safety violations and admitted in 2017 to bribing thousands of Brazilian officials for favourable treatment.
"It smells like a pretty corrupt deal," says investigative journalist Eric Schlosser. He says Trump's move is "basically screwing over American ranchers," and the imported beef is "some of the meat most likely to be contaminated."
Schlosser is author of the landmark book Fast Food Nation, first published in 2001. He says that in the 25 years since then, the United States has developed "two food systems." While affluent and well-educated people increasingly favor sustainable, organic foods and care deeply about how food is grown and consumed, working people and the poor are relegated to the "fast-food industrial system" of cheap, mass-produced food of dubious safety.
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
President Trump's proclamation in August came just a day after he met in the White House with Joesley Batista, whose family controls the Brazilian company JBS, the largest beef producer in the world. JBS is notorious for food safety violations and admitted in 2017 to bribing thousands of Brazilian officials for favourable treatment.
"It smells like a pretty corrupt deal," says investigative journalist Eric Schlosser. He says Trump's move is "basically screwing over American ranchers," and the imported beef is "some of the meat most likely to be contaminated."
Schlosser is author of the landmark book Fast Food Nation, first published in 2001. He says that in the 25 years since then, the United States has developed "two food systems." While affluent and well-educated people increasingly favor sustainable, organic foods and care deeply about how food is grown and consumed, working people and the poor are relegated to the "fast-food industrial system" of cheap, mass-produced food of dubious safety.
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
« Personne ne dictera au Canada avec qui il peut signer des accords » : Mark Carney, favorable au rapprochement avec l’UE, répond à Donald Trump
LE FIGARO : Sur fond de désamour avec les États-Unis, la présidente de la Commission européenne a proposé mercredi que le Canada puisse devenir le premier pays « membre associé » de l’UE, en s’adressant à Mark Carney.
Le premier ministre canadien Mark Carney a salué jeudi l’idée que son pays devienne le premier membre associé de l’Union européenne, jugeant que le Canada et l’UE étaient « plus forts ensemble ». « Le Canada accueille favorablement cette ambition, et je peux vous dire que les sondages montrent qu’une écrasante majorité de Canadiens soutient des liens beaucoup plus étroits avec l’Europe », a-t-il déclaré devant le Parlement européen à Strasbourg, où il a été longuement applaudi. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 17 September 2026
Le premier ministre canadien Mark Carney a salué jeudi l’idée que son pays devienne le premier membre associé de l’Union européenne, jugeant que le Canada et l’UE étaient « plus forts ensemble ». « Le Canada accueille favorablement cette ambition, et je peux vous dire que les sondages montrent qu’une écrasante majorité de Canadiens soutient des liens beaucoup plus étroits avec l’Europe », a-t-il déclaré devant le Parlement européen à Strasbourg, où il a été longuement applaudi. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 17 September 2026
Could Australia Join the European Union?
Sep 17, 2026 | When Donald Trump announced his so-called Liberation Day tariffs in April last year, one question seemed to dominate: which country would suffer the most economic pain?
But since then, one country after the next seems to have awoken to a starkly hopeful realisation: the United States accounts for only 15 per cent of total global imports and trade. So, could these countries join a newly powerful trading bloc?
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on recent moves by Canada to possibly join the European Union, and if Australia could follow suit.
But since then, one country after the next seems to have awoken to a starkly hopeful realisation: the United States accounts for only 15 per cent of total global imports and trade. So, could these countries join a newly powerful trading bloc?
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher on recent moves by Canada to possibly join the European Union, and if Australia could follow suit.
Kanada und die EU | 🌍 tagesschau24 Top-Thema, 16.9.2026
September 16, 2026
Osborne Claims Britain Has ‘Fallen Off a Cliff’ Since Leaving Europe
THE TELEGRAPH: Former Tory chancellor urges Andy Burnham to re-enter EU customs union after Brexit’s ‘devastating impact’ on trade
George Osborne has said Britain should rejoin the EU customs union, claiming that the country has “gone off a cliff” since Brexit.
The former Tory chancellor, who resigned hours after Lord Cameron following the referendum, said rejoining the trading bloc would be a “straightforward decision” for Andy Burnham.
He told The Independent: “Britain has basically gone off a cliff. It has had a huge impact on the British economy. It is clearly poorer than it would otherwise be.”
His suggested solution was to rejoin the customs union. “It’s a quite simple thing to do. That was never part of the Brexit debate.
“No one knew we were leaving it and it has had a devastating impact on trade,” he said.
He added that Brexiteers had backed leaving the customs union because of “these great trade deals we were going to strike with America”, which he said “looks pretty fanciful now”.\
The former chancellor said: “If I was Andy Burnham, I don’t see why you wouldn’t rejoin the customs union. » | Genevieve Holl-Allen Political Correspondent | Wednesday, September 13, 2026
I see that the ‘great and the good’ are all coming around to my way of thinking now! The UK’s place is, and always has been, inside the European Union. We Britons are Europeans, and the European Union is our home. It is a wonderful, supranational union which has evolved and grown since World War II in order to ensure that there will not be another horrendous war in Europe and to bring about peace, harmony, good relations, and security within Europe, and to foster human rights for ALL. And, very importantly, to bring about prosperity to all in Europe. We Europeans are a family with similar values, similar hopes, and similar dreams and aspirations. — © Mark Alexander
George Osborne has said Britain should rejoin the EU customs union, claiming that the country has “gone off a cliff” since Brexit.
The former Tory chancellor, who resigned hours after Lord Cameron following the referendum, said rejoining the trading bloc would be a “straightforward decision” for Andy Burnham.
He told The Independent: “Britain has basically gone off a cliff. It has had a huge impact on the British economy. It is clearly poorer than it would otherwise be.”
His suggested solution was to rejoin the customs union. “It’s a quite simple thing to do. That was never part of the Brexit debate.
“No one knew we were leaving it and it has had a devastating impact on trade,” he said.
He added that Brexiteers had backed leaving the customs union because of “these great trade deals we were going to strike with America”, which he said “looks pretty fanciful now”.\
The former chancellor said: “If I was Andy Burnham, I don’t see why you wouldn’t rejoin the customs union. » | Genevieve Holl-Allen Political Correspondent | Wednesday, September 13, 2026
I see that the ‘great and the good’ are all coming around to my way of thinking now! The UK’s place is, and always has been, inside the European Union. We Britons are Europeans, and the European Union is our home. It is a wonderful, supranational union which has evolved and grown since World War II in order to ensure that there will not be another horrendous war in Europe and to bring about peace, harmony, good relations, and security within Europe, and to foster human rights for ALL. And, very importantly, to bring about prosperity to all in Europe. We Europeans are a family with similar values, similar hopes, and similar dreams and aspirations. — © Mark Alexander
Ursula von der Leyen Invites Canada to Be EU's First 'Associate Member' | DW News
EU Chief Says Canada Should Become First "Associate Member’
Related article and my comment here »
Canada Could Become the E.U.’s First ‘Associate Member’
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the bloc’s executive arm, has invited Ottawa closer as both sides look to navigate complicated geopolitical challenges.
Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, and Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday. Credit: Yves Herman/Reuters
The European Union has invited Canada to work toward becoming the bloc’s first “associate member,” a title meant to underscore Canada’s growing closeness to the 27-nation union in a world of rising geopolitical risk.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Union’s executive arm, announced the plan on Wednesday during a speech in Strasbourg, France. Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, was at the event and seated directly to Ms. von der Leyen’s left as she made her address.
During the speech, Ms. von der Leyen said, “We must urgently reimagine our partnerships.” Directing her next line to Mr. Carney himself, she added, “I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the European Union.”
The declaration was met with a standing ovation from lawmakers, and Mr. Carney and Ms. von der Leyen shook hands warmly as she made the announcement.
Ms. von der Leyen said the proposal was “not a partnership against anyone else, but for our common strength.” » | Jeanna Smialek and Matina Stevis-Gridneff | Reporting from Strasbourg, France | Wednesday, September 16, 2026
This is wonderful news! Canada is a wonderful country, and the European Union is a wonderful supranational union. This is the best political and economic news I have heard in a very long time. The only pity—and shame—is that my own country, the UK, stupidly voted to leave the European Union. It is to be hoped that this folly will be reversed as soon as possible.
Footnote: This development shows just how stupid and ridiculous all of Trump’s policies have been. That goes for his ‘war’ on the friendly and honourable Canadians and his ridiculous tariff obsession. Trump is a failure, and the longer it goes on, the more his failures will become evident! That goes for his disruption of international trade with tariffs, his ‘war’ on, and alienation of his closest neighbour, Canada, and his unwinnable, illegal war on Iran.
Americans would do themselves a great favour to be more careful when choosing their leaders. — © Mark Alexander
À LIRE AUSSI : Ursula von der Leyen propose de faire du Canada le « premier membre associé » de l’UE : La présidente de la Commission européenne a proposé, dans son discours au Parlement européen ce mercredi, de renforcer les liens entre l’Union européenne et le Canada en lui accordant un statut inédit. »
LESEN SIE AUCH:
Von der Leyen präsentiert EU-Pläne: Kanada soll „assoziiertes Mitglied“ werden – Nato-ähnlicher Verteidigungsmechanismus für Europa: Die EU-Kommissionspräsidentin betont außerdem, dass das EU-Handelsdefizit mit China wieder ins Gleichgewicht gebracht werden müsse, und schlägt ein Social-Media-Verbot für Kinder unter 13 Jahren vor. »
The European Union has invited Canada to work toward becoming the bloc’s first “associate member,” a title meant to underscore Canada’s growing closeness to the 27-nation union in a world of rising geopolitical risk.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Union’s executive arm, announced the plan on Wednesday during a speech in Strasbourg, France. Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, was at the event and seated directly to Ms. von der Leyen’s left as she made her address.
During the speech, Ms. von der Leyen said, “We must urgently reimagine our partnerships.” Directing her next line to Mr. Carney himself, she added, “I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the European Union.”
The declaration was met with a standing ovation from lawmakers, and Mr. Carney and Ms. von der Leyen shook hands warmly as she made the announcement.
Ms. von der Leyen said the proposal was “not a partnership against anyone else, but for our common strength.” » | Jeanna Smialek and Matina Stevis-Gridneff | Reporting from Strasbourg, France | Wednesday, September 16, 2026
This is wonderful news! Canada is a wonderful country, and the European Union is a wonderful supranational union. This is the best political and economic news I have heard in a very long time. The only pity—and shame—is that my own country, the UK, stupidly voted to leave the European Union. It is to be hoped that this folly will be reversed as soon as possible.
Footnote: This development shows just how stupid and ridiculous all of Trump’s policies have been. That goes for his ‘war’ on the friendly and honourable Canadians and his ridiculous tariff obsession. Trump is a failure, and the longer it goes on, the more his failures will become evident! That goes for his disruption of international trade with tariffs, his ‘war’ on, and alienation of his closest neighbour, Canada, and his unwinnable, illegal war on Iran.
Americans would do themselves a great favour to be more careful when choosing their leaders. — © Mark Alexander
À LIRE AUSSI : Ursula von der Leyen propose de faire du Canada le « premier membre associé » de l’UE : La présidente de la Commission européenne a proposé, dans son discours au Parlement européen ce mercredi, de renforcer les liens entre l’Union européenne et le Canada en lui accordant un statut inédit. »
LESEN SIE AUCH:
Von der Leyen präsentiert EU-Pläne: Kanada soll „assoziiertes Mitglied“ werden – Nato-ähnlicher Verteidigungsmechanismus für Europa: Die EU-Kommissionspräsidentin betont außerdem, dass das EU-Handelsdefizit mit China wieder ins Gleichgewicht gebracht werden müsse, und schlägt ein Social-Media-Verbot für Kinder unter 13 Jahren vor. »
The Billionaire Who Manufactured JD Vance
The OAP Triple Lock Isn’t a Problem. The Cost of Pension Tax Relief Is
Sep 16, 2026 | The old age pension triple lock is under attack again. The Financial Times wants it scrapped. The Resolution Foundation wants it ended. The Tony Blair Institute says it is unaffordable. But they are all looking at the wrong pension subsidy to criticise.
The UK spends around £154 billion a year on state pensions. The accumulated additional cost attributed to the triple lock is estimated at around £16 billion. That money has helped protect pensioners' incomes, including those of the many people who depend almost entirely on the state pension.
There is, however, another pension subsidy that receives far less attention: tax relief on private pensions. The total cost of private pension tax reliefs is around £83.9 billion a year, with 71% of that tax relief going to higher and additional-rate taxpayers. Most strikingly, the cost of higher-rate pension tax relief, over and above the basic rate everyone can enjoy, is around £15 billion a year, which is remarkably close to the £16 billion cost attributed to the pension triple lock. So why is the political debate focused on restraining the incomes of pensioners rather than on reducing tax subsidies for people already able to accumulate substantial private wealth?
This isn’t fundamentally an affordability question. It is about inequality, political priorities and whose interests government chooses to protect.
I think the triple lock should stay, and higher-rate pension tax relief should go. You may, of course, disagree.
The UK spends around £154 billion a year on state pensions. The accumulated additional cost attributed to the triple lock is estimated at around £16 billion. That money has helped protect pensioners' incomes, including those of the many people who depend almost entirely on the state pension.
There is, however, another pension subsidy that receives far less attention: tax relief on private pensions. The total cost of private pension tax reliefs is around £83.9 billion a year, with 71% of that tax relief going to higher and additional-rate taxpayers. Most strikingly, the cost of higher-rate pension tax relief, over and above the basic rate everyone can enjoy, is around £15 billion a year, which is remarkably close to the £16 billion cost attributed to the pension triple lock. So why is the political debate focused on restraining the incomes of pensioners rather than on reducing tax subsidies for people already able to accumulate substantial private wealth?
This isn’t fundamentally an affordability question. It is about inequality, political priorities and whose interests government chooses to protect.
I think the triple lock should stay, and higher-rate pension tax relief should go. You may, of course, disagree.
No Right to Clean Drinking Water? How Trump's EPA Rollbacks Are Poisoning American Towns & Cities
Sep 16, 2026 | Is access to clean drinking water a fundamental human right? In a landmark decision, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee a right to lead-free water or truthful public health information.
In this video, we break down the ongoing Jackson, Mississippi water crisis, the Trump administration’s sweeping rollbacks to the Clean Water Act, and how federal deregulation leaves lower-income communities to bear the physical and financial toll of toxic exposure.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
In this video, we break down the ongoing Jackson, Mississippi water crisis, the Trump administration’s sweeping rollbacks to the Clean Water Act, and how federal deregulation leaves lower-income communities to bear the physical and financial toll of toxic exposure.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
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