More Than Half of Britons Support Rejoining EU 10 Years On from Brexit Vote

THE GUARDIAN: Experts say Labour’s ‘halfway house’ approach risks losing support from progressives and ‘red wall’ voters

Support for rejoining the EU rather than simply rejoining the single market is growing among British voters, with more than 80% of Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green party supporters favouring this option, according to research mapping voter attitudes 10 years after the Brexit referendum.

Labour’s “muted” approach to the issue means it risks losing support among progressive voters and in “red wall” constituencies, experts have said as part of research by Best for Britain.

While 61% of all voters supported the government’s current approach to EU relations, only 19% did so “strongly”, the research showed.

A full return to the EU was supported by 53% of all voters with support at 83% among Labour voters, 84% Liberal Democrat and 82% Green, the polling found.

Of Conservative and Reform voters, 39% and 18% backed the policy respectively, Best for Britain found. » | Lisa O’Carroll | Friday, April 17, 2026

Stocks Extend ‘Astonishing’ Rally as Middle East Tensions Ease Further

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The S&P 500’s rise on Friday caps a striking three-week streak, powered by investors’ optimism about the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and strong corporate earnings.

The stock market continued its record-setting rally on Friday, after Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz had reopened to commercial shipping, bolstering investors’ optimism that the conflict in the Middle East was nearing an end.

The S&P 500, which set a record high on Wednesday, rose an additional 1.2 percent on Friday, notching its best streak of daily gains so far this year.

Already this month, the S&P 500 has climbed almost 10 percent, which would be the best monthly gain since 2020 when markets were rebounding from the pandemic-induced sell-off. The index is nearly 4 percent higher than it was before the United States and Israel started attacking Iran on Feb. 28.

The Nasdaq Composite index, which is filled with technology stocks, has staged an even more ferocious rally. The index posted its 13th consecutive day of gains, its best run since 1992. » | Joe Rennison | Friday, April 17, 2026

Brazil Is One Step Ahead of Rising Oil Prices, Thanks to Sugarcane

Apr 14, 2026 | Brazil's ethanol industry, born out of an oil crisis in the 1970s and rooted in decades of sugarcane cultivation, is experiencing a new moment in the spotlight as rising oil prices driven by Middle East conflict once again highlight the value of energy independence.

All gasoline sold in the country contains 30 percent ethanol, and most Brazilian cars run on flex-fuel engines, a locally developed technology that lets drivers choose between gasoline and ethanol at the pump. The industry's backers say consumers have saved more than 40 billion dollars over the past three decades thanks to that flexibility.

Now, the next chapter is taking shape: Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, including BYD, are working to integrate Brazil's flex-fuel system into hybrid EVs, with the first ethanol-compatible hybrid set to launch in the coming weeks. Advocates argue ethanol and electrification are not rivals but partners in reducing fossil fuel dependence, pointing to both the environmental and economic benefits of a fuel that Brazil produces domestically.

More than 40 years after launching one of the world's most ambitious biofuel programs, Brazil finds itself ahead of the curve once again. Paulo Cabral reports from São Paulo.

Trump Can’t Dictate What Private Companies Do: Why We Should ‘Call His Bluff’ | Lord Vaizey

Apr 16, 2026 | “We live in a world where the Danish sent troops and blood banks to Greenland at the prospect of a possible invasion, so please can we start telling it like it is.”

We should “call Trump’s bluff”, says Times Radio’s Lord Vaizey as US-UK tensions persist.

Steve Rosenberg: In Russia, Botox Booming. But Economic Situation "Worse Than Forecast," Russian Papers Warn

Apr 17, 2026 | Today’s Russian papers report on Russia’s economic problems: “Managed cooling has turned into accelerating decline”; “economic situation worse than forecast”; “in a few months the IT industry may be in ruins.” But Botox foot injections are booming.

Stocks Approach Record High as Wall St. Looks Beyond War

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Investors appear to be treating an end to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran as a foregone conclusion.

The S&P 500 approached a fresh record high on Wednesday, reflecting investors’ optimism that a peace deal would be reached before the war in Iran could inflict significant damage on corporate America, even as a spike in oil prices has led to a gloomier economic outlook.

In early afternoon trading, the S&P 500 rose 0.4 percent, putting the widely watched index on track to end the day above its previous peak, reached in January. The index had already erased its losses during the war in Iran and now sits nearly 2 percent higher than it was before the fighting began in late February.

Investors have been embracing signals in recent days that the United States and Iran could restart talks that ended last weekend in Pakistan without a deal but with comments from President Trump that he believed the war was nearing an end.

The mere posture toward peace has helped to placate the stock market. Since the cease-fire took hold last week, investors have noted a shift in tone by the Trump administration that reflects a desire to end the conflict soon. » | Joe Rennison | Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Krieg als „Geschäftsmodell“: Tod und Eskalation – wie die Trump Familie persönlich profitiert

Apr 15, 2026 | Der Irankrieg eskaliert, während Donald Trumps Vermögen wächst. Jede Äußerung von Trump beeinflusst Öl-, Rüstungs- und Kryptomärkte. Auffällig ist, dass Trumps Familie dort mitzumischen scheint, mit Investitionen, die direkt von seinen Entscheidungen profitieren. Dabei geht es nicht mehr nur um Geld, sondern um Menschenleben, die Nahrungsmittelversorgung von Millionen und die wirtschaftliche Existenz ganzer Länder. Diese Kolumne zeigt, wie der US-Präsident Politik zu seiner persönlichen Gelddruckmaschine gemacht hat – und was das über die amerikanische Werteordnung verrät.

Wunderbar ausgedrückt! Danke schön! — © Mark Alexander

How Hungary’s Election Result Could Change Europe | The Economist

Apr 13, 2026 | How could Hungary’s election result reshape Europe? Matt Steinglass, The Economist’s Europe editor and Rosie Blau, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, discuss how Viktor Orban was ousted after 16 years in power, by Peter Magyar, the leader of the opposition, and what the resounding result means for Hungary’s economy, democracy and its relationship with Vladimir Putin and the EU.

Steve Rosenberg: How Are Russian Newspapers Reacting to Viktor Orbán's Defeat?

Apr 12, 2026 | Here’s a look at what this morning’s Russian papers are saying about the Hungarian election and the defeat of Viktor Orbán. Plus, reports of “layoffs, production cuts” in Russia.

Orban Loss in Hungary Is a Big Moment for the E.U. Here’s Why.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stymied the European Union for years, and particularly in recent months. Peter Magyar’s election could change that, if only so much.

Viktor Orban has long been a challenge and a frustration for the European Union, and his concession in Sunday’s Hungarian election was greeted by top E.U. leaders as a potential moment for sea change after years of clashes between Brussels and Budapest.

“Europe’s heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight,” Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Union’s executive arm, posted on social media as the votes came in.

Mr. Orban has often stood in the way of critical policy goals for the European Union, including blocking a loan to Ukraine and sanctions packages targeting Russia. His administration has long been viewed as a security risk at sensitive meetings because of its comparatively cozy ties to the Kremlin. With the victory of Hungary’s opposition party, led by Peter Magyar, that could begin to change.

Mr. Magyar and his Tisza party have struck a friendlier tone toward the European Union and NATO alike. As voting was underway, he pointed out that it was taking place on the anniversary of a 2003 vote in favor of Hungary joining the European Union — a potential signal that he wanted to break with Mr. Orban’s animosity toward Brussels.

Most immediately, the new leadership is widely expected to clear the path for a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine that has been frozen for weeks because of Mr. Orban’s objections.

“The election result is a game changer for Europe,” said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at the Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy. » | Jeanna Smialek | Reporting from Brussels | Monday, April 13, 2026

NYT: What Orban’s Defeat Means for the Rest of the World »

Four Ways Trump’s War Is Weakening America

THE NEW YORK TIMES — OPINION: When President Trump attacked Iran on Feb. 28, we called his decision reckless. He went to war without seeking congressional approval or the support of most allies. He offered thin and contradictory justifications to the American people. He failed to explain why this naïve attempt at regime change would end better than earlier attempts by the United States in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

In the six weeks since, the recklessness of his war has become clearer yet. He has disdained careful military planning and acted on gut instinct and wishfulness. After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel predicted to Mr. Trump that the attacks would inspire a popular uprising in Iran, the director of the C.I.A. countered that the notion was “farcical,” The Times reported. Mr. Trump proceeded nonetheless. He was so confident that he assembled no plan to respond to an obvious countermove available to Iran: causing a spike in oil prices by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Nor did he develop a feasible strategy for securing the enriched uranium that Iran can use to rebuild its nuclear program.

Last week he careened from illegal and immoral threats about erasing Iranian civilization to a last-minute cease-fire that accomplishes few of his announced war aims. Iran continues to defy a central part of the deal and block most traffic from crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Mr. Trump’s irresponsibility has left the United States on the cusp of a humiliating strategic defeat.

As we have emphasized, Iran’s regime deserves no sympathy. It has spent decades oppressing its people and sponsoring terrorism elsewhere. And the current war, combined with the June attacks by the United States and Israel and other Israeli operations since 2023, weakened Iran in important ways. Its navy, air force and air defenses have been degraded, and its nuclear program has been set back. Its murderous network of regional allies — including Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria’s fallen government — has been eroded.

Yet these successes cannot mask the ways in which the war has weakened the United States. We count four main setbacks for America’s national interests that are the direct result of Mr. Trump’s carelessness. These setbacks likewise weaken global democracy when authoritarians in China, Russia and elsewhere were already feeling emboldened. » | The Editorial Board | The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values. It is separate from the newsroom. | Sunday, April 12, 2026

Leer en español.

Brit in Germany: Europe's Immigration Paradox

Apr 12, 2026 | Europe is entering a demographic transition. Birth rates are falling, populations are ageing, and labour shortages are emerging across many industries.

Immigration appears to be the obvious solution, yet it has also become one of the most contested issues in modern European politics.

This video explores the deeper structural forces behind Europe’s immigration paradox.

Spain's Pedro Sánchez Attacks Israel: "Suspend the Agreement with the EU."

Apr 11, 2026 | In his speech at the European Pulse Forum 2026 in Barcelona, Pedro Sánchez takes a clear stance on the Middle East crisis, calling on the European Union to suspend the Association Agreement with Israel for violations of international law.

Jung, frustriert, verschuldet – Generation Z im Check

Apr 9, 2026 | Viele junge Menschen denken laut einer Studie darüber nach, Deutschland zu verlassen. Was ist da los? Mirko Drotschmann, MrWissen2Go, erklärt in diesem Video, wie ihr, wie die junge Generation tickt.

Laut der Trendstudie „Jugend in Deutschland“ können sich 41 Prozent der 14- bis 29-Jährigen vorstellen, aus Deutschland auszuwandern. Ungefähr ein Fünftel spricht sogar von konkreten Auswanderungsplänen. In der Studie ist von einer Generation im „Dauerkrisenmodus“ die Rede. Als größte Sorgen nennen junge Menschen Krieg, Inflation, teuren Wohnraum, Spaltung der Gesellschaft, Trump als US-Präsident oder Klimawandel. Bei Wahlen und Umfragen zeigt sich: Der Trend geht weg von der politischen Mitte. Die Linke schneidet bei den Jungen am besten ab, dahinter folgt die AfD.

Fast die Hälfte hält es für unrealistisch, eine gute, bezahlbare Wohnung zu finden und fürchtet, sich die Miete in Zukunft nicht mehr leisten zu können. Viele Studierende und Auszubildende wohnen noch bei den Eltern. Immer mehr verschulden sich, Anfang 2026 waren es 23 Prozent. Dabei spielen Konsumschulden für Einkäufe auf Raten oder mit „Buy Now Pay Later“-Modellen die größte Rolle.

Fast ein Drittel der jungen Generation hat das Gefühl, wegen psychischer Belastung eine Behandlung zu benötigen. Ein weiteres verbreitetes Problem: Viele junge Menschen fühlen sich einsam – mehr als in allen anderen Altersgruppen und mehr als jemals zuvor. Allen anderen Altersgruppen etwas voraus haben die Jungen dagegen bei der Nutzung von Künstlicher Intelligenz. Die gehört für viele längst zum Alltag. Studien zeigen einen selbstbewussten, aber auch reflektierten Umgang mit KI.

Carney Confronts Trump Policies in Explosive Canada-First Speech

April 12, 2026

Mark Carney is a great leader. — © Mark Alexander

Russian Hackers Are Using Your Wi-Fi Router to Spy: Here’s How You Can Protect Yourself

Apr 8, 2026 | “There’s absolutely no doubt that not only are they in our edge devices, like Wi-Fi routers, but they’re in our infrastructure.”

Russian hackers are using home Wi-Fi routers as spying devices, giving them access inside the UK and potentially enabling them to carry out attacks, says cybersecurity and fintech specialist Mike Godfrey.

Rob Groves: BREXIT - 63% Now Want Back In. Thanks, Trump!

Apr 11, 2026 | Ten years ago, 52% of voters chose to leave the European Union, on the basis of lies painted on a bus and a campaign bankrolled by dodgy money. A decade on, the bill keeps arriving. Haulage companies going bust at twice the pre-Brexit rate, food prices rising, trade barriers grinding away at the economy, and a so-called special relationship with America that turned out to be a vassal state telling itself a flattering story.

Meanwhile, the latest YouGov polling shows 63% of Britons would now vote to rejoin the EU. Among 18-25 year olds, that figure is 86%. Even among retirees, 60% say they'd vote to rejoin. The tide has turned. The argument has been won. The question now is: what happens next?

Sandra Navidi zur Hormus-Maut | ntv

Apr 11, 2026 | Die Gebühren, die der Iran für die Passage der Straße von Hormus verlangen will, lösen beim US-Präsidenten zunächst Empörung aus. Kurze Zeit später heißt es, man wolle mitverdienen. Für Sandra Navidi ist das keine Überraschung: "Es geht um Erpressung. Da ist Donald Trump natürlich ganz vorne dabei."

Steve Rosenberg: "Forecasts of a Deeper, More Protracted Recession in Russia": Russian Paper

Aug 10, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: latest data “rules out stabilisation or economic growth [in Russia]…forecasts of a deeper & more protracted recession.” Plus, Russian kindergartens to teach “traditional values” via games. And watch to the end for a Russian joke that’s a real puzzle...

France Moves 129 Tonnes of Gold from New York Federal Reserve

Apr 8, 2026 | France's central bank has pulled its remaining gold deposit out of the US with a capital gain of $15 billion. Over the past year and a half, 129 tonnes of gold has been moved from New York back to France, while other gold stocks were sold off at record prices. The value of gold has more than quadrupled over the last decade.‬ ‪

Why does gold still matter so much in 2026? International business commentator Vicky Pryce talks with CGTN about the move.‬