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It seems pretty clear to me that the Venezuelans have been shafted by Trump and his regime with this oil deal! — © Mark Alexander
August 31, 2026
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It seems pretty clear to me that the Venezuelans have been shafted by Trump and his regime with this oil deal! — © Mark Alexander
‘Trump Pushes Canada Out of NATO?’: Mark Carney Drops Stunning Europe Bomb Amid Tariff War
Steve Rosenberg: “The Destruction of the World Order Can No Longer Be Stopped,” Warns Russian Paper
August 30, 2026
En Islande, les eurosceptiques l’emportent lors du référendum sur l’UE après une nuit sous tension
LE FIGARO : Les Islandais ont rejeté ce dimanche la reprise des négociations avec l’Union européenne. Le « non » s’est imposé au terme d’un scrutin très serré, marqué par une forte mobilisation.
La bataille électorale s’annonçait serrée. Elle l’a été jusqu’au petit matin. Au bout d’une course haletante, le «non» a fini par l’emporter avec 52,8% des voix, contre 47,2% au « oui ». Appelés samedi aux urnes pour se prononcer sur la reprise des négociations avec l’Union européenne, les Islandais se sont déplacés massivement.
Vers 22 heures, pourtant, rien ne laissait encore présager le naufrage du « Jár ». Au Musée d’Art de Reykjavik, où plusieurs centaines de partisans de l’adhésion à l’UE s’étaient retrouvés pour suivre les résultats. Bières, DJ set, parties d’Uno entre sympathisants… L’ambiance est légère. En attendant les premiers chiffres, la soirée vire au rendez-vous politique. » | Par Louis Dubar et Victor Di Bartolo, envoyés spéciaux à Reykjavik | dimanche 30 août 2026
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LESEN SIE AUCH:
Island lehnt neue EU-Beitrittsverhandlungen ab: Die Isländer stimmen über die Wiederaufnahme von EU-Beitrittsverhandlungen ab. Das Nein-Lager setzte sich bei dem Referendum durch. »
ALSO READ:
Iceland Votes to Steer Clear of European Union Talks: After a divisive national debate, Icelanders rejected a proposal to resume negotiations on joining the bloc, according to the national broadcaster. »
The Iran War Is the Biggest Strategic Blunder in US History (w/ John Mearsheimer) | TCHR
August 29, 2026
Iran unter wachsendem Druck: Handel bricht ein, Hormus-Streit dauert an
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Teheran gibt die wachsende wirtschaftliche Not im Land zu – weicht im Konflikt mit den USA aber keinen Schritt zurück.
Dieses Foto stammt aus diesem Artikel. | Junge Männer fahren mit Motorrädern am Ufer entlang, während ein Traktor Geräte aus dem Wasser zieht und Handelsschiffe in der Straße von Hormuz vor Anker liegen. | © Razieh Poudat/ISNA/AP/dpa
Sechs Monate nach Beginn des Krieges mit den USA und Israel gerät Irans Wirtschaft zunehmend unter Druck. Präsident Masoud Pezeshkian zufolge ist der Außenhandel infolge amerikanischer Sanktionen und der Blockade iranischer Häfen um fast 35 Prozent eingebrochen. Die jährliche Inflationsrate erreichte zuletzt 66 Prozent, berichtet Reuters. Dennoch signalisiert die Führung in Teheran weder militärisch noch politisch einen Rückzug.
Die Regierung bezeichnete die Bewältigung der wirtschaftlichen Belastungen durch Krieg und Sanktionen in einer über Staatsmedien verbreiteten Erklärung als zentrale Aufgabe. Genannt wurden der Kampf gegen die Inflation, die Stabilisierung der Märkte, die Schaffung von Arbeitsplätzen und Investitionen in die heimische Produktion. Zudem soll Iran schrittweise unabhängiger vom US-Dollar werden.
Auch der neue oberste Führer Ajatollah Mojtaba Khamenei forderte die Regierung schriftlich auf, sich ernsthaft mit Inflation, Arbeitslosigkeit und steigenden Lebenshaltungskosten zu befassen.
Öffentlich gesehen wurde er seit dem amerikanisch-israelischen Angriff vom 28. Februar nicht mehr. Dabei war sein Vater und Amtsvorgänger Ali Khamenei getötet worden. Mojtaba Khamenei soll bei dem Angriff verletzt worden sein. » | Sophie Barkey | Samstag, 29. August 2026
Sechs Monate nach Beginn des Krieges mit den USA und Israel gerät Irans Wirtschaft zunehmend unter Druck. Präsident Masoud Pezeshkian zufolge ist der Außenhandel infolge amerikanischer Sanktionen und der Blockade iranischer Häfen um fast 35 Prozent eingebrochen. Die jährliche Inflationsrate erreichte zuletzt 66 Prozent, berichtet Reuters. Dennoch signalisiert die Führung in Teheran weder militärisch noch politisch einen Rückzug.
Die Regierung bezeichnete die Bewältigung der wirtschaftlichen Belastungen durch Krieg und Sanktionen in einer über Staatsmedien verbreiteten Erklärung als zentrale Aufgabe. Genannt wurden der Kampf gegen die Inflation, die Stabilisierung der Märkte, die Schaffung von Arbeitsplätzen und Investitionen in die heimische Produktion. Zudem soll Iran schrittweise unabhängiger vom US-Dollar werden.
Auch der neue oberste Führer Ajatollah Mojtaba Khamenei forderte die Regierung schriftlich auf, sich ernsthaft mit Inflation, Arbeitslosigkeit und steigenden Lebenshaltungskosten zu befassen.
Öffentlich gesehen wurde er seit dem amerikanisch-israelischen Angriff vom 28. Februar nicht mehr. Dabei war sein Vater und Amtsvorgänger Ali Khamenei getötet worden. Mojtaba Khamenei soll bei dem Angriff verletzt worden sein. » | Sophie Barkey | Samstag, 29. August 2026
How The Welfare State and the NHS Has Changed Since 1945 | Andrew Seaton
Aug 28, 2026 | "To begin with, everything was free, including prescriptions, dentistry services and so on. But in 1949, they brought this act in that would allow them to put a shilling charge on prescriptions."
As the expensive welfare state holds court in parliament proceedings on most days, historian Andrew Seaton takes us back to the advent of the universal welfare state between 1945 and 1948.
As the expensive welfare state holds court in parliament proceedings on most days, historian Andrew Seaton takes us back to the advent of the universal welfare state between 1945 and 1948.
Canadians Laugh Off a Lake Name Change - But What about an Ocean? | DW News
Trump Announces New US Oil Agreement with Venezuela
THE GUARDIAN: US president says US will have ‘majority’ control of 65bn barrels of proven oil reserves
Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | A Venezuelan flag in front of an oil tanker in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on 27 July. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Donald Trump announced Friday a new US oil agreement with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, saying the US will have “majority” control of 65bn barrels of proven oil reserves.
The terms of the agreement remain to be seen, but the US president said on his social-media platform that it had been brokered “through a partnership with private business” by his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.
The administration, Trump wrote, has “secured majority U.S. control of more than 65 BILLION BARRELS of proven Oil Reserves in Venezuela, at no cost to the American Taxpayer”.
Trump said the agreement would more than double American oil reserves.
“This deal is a huge win for both the American and Venezuelan people,” Rubio wrote on social media. » | Guardian staff and agencies | Saturday, August 29, 2026
Donald Trump announced Friday a new US oil agreement with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, saying the US will have “majority” control of 65bn barrels of proven oil reserves.
The terms of the agreement remain to be seen, but the US president said on his social-media platform that it had been brokered “through a partnership with private business” by his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.
The administration, Trump wrote, has “secured majority U.S. control of more than 65 BILLION BARRELS of proven Oil Reserves in Venezuela, at no cost to the American Taxpayer”.
Trump said the agreement would more than double American oil reserves.
“This deal is a huge win for both the American and Venezuelan people,” Rubio wrote on social media. » | Guardian staff and agencies | Saturday, August 29, 2026
August 28, 2026
Is the UK Prepared for a National Emergency? Crisis Expert Says "The Threats Have Got Far Worse"
Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines
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Am I right in concluding that Trump is the most disgusting president America has ever had? — © Mark Alexander
Six Months In, Iran’s Regime Stands, U.S. Goals Remain Unmet
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Trump’s replacement of a military war with a heightened economic one is not expected to alter Iran’s strategy, while further impoverishing its people.
It was supposed to be quick.
Still, six months after the U.S. and Israel launched massive airstrikes on Iran, the conflict drags on. The Trump administration has replaced its military war with an economic one, but the result is likely to be no different, analysts said, with a lack of American clarity about goals, a decline in American credibility and a strategic defeat.
One thing remains constant, however. The ordinary people of Iran are bearing the brunt of the war, victims of both the United States and their own leaders.
On the first day of the war, Feb. 28, President Trump promised Iranians that “the hour of your freedom is at hand.” Six months later, his administration is trying to impoverish them further, hoping against hope that they will revolt against a repressive, militarized regime and overthrow it.
The Iranian leadership, increasingly dominated by military men, sees its own survival as the nation’s, and it considers the sacrifices of ordinary Iranians as a necessary act of patriotism and even martyrdom. It has been ever more ruthless in stamping out the slightest signs of dissent. » | Steven Erlanger | Steven Erlanger, based in Berlin, has covered Iran and the diplomacy around it for many years. | Friday, August 28, 2026
The World's Billionaires Keep Getting Richer, But What Does This Mean for Democracy? | DW News
Aug 28, 2026 | Billionaires are richer than ever. Their combined wealth has exploded from less than one trillion dollars in 2000 to more than 20 trillion dollars today. But alongside that rise in wealth comes a growing debate over power, influence and democracy.
DW reporter Tomi Oladipo speaks with economist Professor Paul Segal, who argues that today's ultra-wealthy have access to technologies, media platforms and political networks that give them unprecedented influence over society. He says growing inequality is reshaping economies and raising questions about who really benefits from economic growth.
We also meet German entrepreneur Sebastian Klein, who gave away 90 percent of his personal fortune after concluding that extreme wealth concentration threatens democracy. As billionaire fortunes continue to grow and calls for higher wealth taxes gain momentum, the discussion explores whether extreme wealth and democratic equality can coexist, and what governments can do to address a widening gap between the richest citizens and everyone else.
DW reporter Tomi Oladipo speaks with economist Professor Paul Segal, who argues that today's ultra-wealthy have access to technologies, media platforms and political networks that give them unprecedented influence over society. He says growing inequality is reshaping economies and raising questions about who really benefits from economic growth.
We also meet German entrepreneur Sebastian Klein, who gave away 90 percent of his personal fortune after concluding that extreme wealth concentration threatens democracy. As billionaire fortunes continue to grow and calls for higher wealth taxes gain momentum, the discussion explores whether extreme wealth and democratic equality can coexist, and what governments can do to address a widening gap between the richest citizens and everyone else.
Geburtenrückgang Schweiz: Die unangenehme Wahrheit zu den Zahlen
Aug 28, 2026 | Die Geburtenrate in der Schweiz sinkt seit Jahren – ab 2031 sterben laut Bundesamt für Statistik erstmals mehr Menschen, als geboren werden. Was bedeutet der Geburtenrückgang für Fachkräftemangel, Rentensystem und Pflege?
In diesem Video ordnen wir die aktuellen Zahlen zur Geburtenrate in der Schweiz ein, erklären die wichtigsten Ursachen – von Vereinbarkeit Familie und Beruf bis zu Kinderbetreuungskosten – und zeigen, welche politischen Massnahmen in Europa bisher wirken (oder nicht).
In diesem Video ordnen wir die aktuellen Zahlen zur Geburtenrate in der Schweiz ein, erklären die wichtigsten Ursachen – von Vereinbarkeit Familie und Beruf bis zu Kinderbetreuungskosten – und zeigen, welche politischen Massnahmen in Europa bisher wirken (oder nicht).
Steve Rosenberg: Russia’s Anti-drone Cages for Buildings: What Are They Like?
August 27, 2026
Iran and Oman Announce Hormuz Deal - What Does This Mean for Trump’s ‘Economic Onslaught’
August 27, 2026 | Pakistan is the latest country to hit back after the White House threatened countries who trade with Iran.
China has already said it won’t be taking orders from America.
So is this another failed bid by Donald Trump to bend Iran and its backers to his will? Or could this actually work?
Several senior Iranian leaders have recently acknowledged the economic pain that the country and its people are feeling.
On this episode of The Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy speaks to Mohammed Marandi, a professor at Tehran University and a former adviser to Iran’s nuclear negotiating team to get a view from inside Iran.
China has already said it won’t be taking orders from America.
So is this another failed bid by Donald Trump to bend Iran and its backers to his will? Or could this actually work?
Several senior Iranian leaders have recently acknowledged the economic pain that the country and its people are feeling.
On this episode of The Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy speaks to Mohammed Marandi, a professor at Tehran University and a former adviser to Iran’s nuclear negotiating team to get a view from inside Iran.
Canada Stands Up to America as Trump Imposes 50% Tariffs on Its Closest Ally
Aug 27, 2026 | Donald Trump’s ludicrous tariff policy has become a defining feature of his second term, imposing costs on American businesses and consumers while raising serious questions about the limits of presidential power.
His escalating trade dispute with Canada, which has chosen to resist rather than submit to American pressure, highlights both the economic and constitutional consequences of his approach.
With courts challenging the legality of his tariffs, Congress and the judiciary now face a crucial test of whether they will enforce constitutional limits and prevent the president from using trade policy to punish American workers and consumers.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
His escalating trade dispute with Canada, which has chosen to resist rather than submit to American pressure, highlights both the economic and constitutional consequences of his approach.
With courts challenging the legality of his tariffs, Congress and the judiciary now face a crucial test of whether they will enforce constitutional limits and prevent the president from using trade policy to punish American workers and consumers.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here »
Germany’s Second Richest Man Died – What Happens to the Money? | DW News
Trump’s Iran Gamble: Will It Backfire? | The Global Story
August 26, 2026
China Hits Out at 'Illegal' US Sanctions on Iran and Trading Partners | BBC News
Aug 26, 2026 | China has vowed to protect its interests after the US announced plans to widen economic sanctions against Iran and its trading partners, which include Beijing.
Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said China was firmly opposed to what it called "illegal unilateral sanctions" and would take "all necessary measures" to safeguard its rights.
US President Donald Trump has said that the US Navy has removed or detonated all mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan say talks with Iranian leaders on the path to peace are making progress.
Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said China was firmly opposed to what it called "illegal unilateral sanctions" and would take "all necessary measures" to safeguard its rights.
US President Donald Trump has said that the US Navy has removed or detonated all mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan say talks with Iranian leaders on the path to peace are making progress.
"Most Americans Are Getting Poorer": Robert Reich on Inequality & the Failures of Corporate Dems
Aug 26, 2026 | Earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly attacked the former labor secretary under President Clinton, Robert Reich.
Reich wrote in a post online that “Trump Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week the K-shaped economy — the widening economic gap between the rich and the poor — is 'dead.'
Hogwash. Not only is the K-shaped economy very much alive, even CEOs are admitting it’s a problem.” The treasury secretary went on to suggest the University of California, Berkeley should fire Reich.
“There’s something in this administration,” says Reich. “It’s almost a kind of testosterone poisoning in which everybody has to be really nasty, put down everybody else.”
Reich goes on to discuss economic inequality, pointing out that while inflation is on the rise, “most Americans are finding that their wages are stagnant … which means that most Americans are getting poorer.”
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
Reich wrote in a post online that “Trump Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week the K-shaped economy — the widening economic gap between the rich and the poor — is 'dead.'
Hogwash. Not only is the K-shaped economy very much alive, even CEOs are admitting it’s a problem.” The treasury secretary went on to suggest the University of California, Berkeley should fire Reich.
“There’s something in this administration,” says Reich. “It’s almost a kind of testosterone poisoning in which everybody has to be really nasty, put down everybody else.”
Reich goes on to discuss economic inequality, pointing out that while inflation is on the rise, “most Americans are finding that their wages are stagnant … which means that most Americans are getting poorer.”
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
„Das frisst einen auf“: Alltag im Iran unter Wirtschaftskrise
August 25, 2026
Guerre commerciale : Donald Trump veut rebaptiser le « lac Ontario » en « lac d'Amérique »
LE FIGARO : « Les États-Unis réfléchissent sérieusement à changer le nom du lac Ontario en lac d’Amérique, car nous ne comptons plus faire beaucoup de business avec l’Ontario », a écrit le président américain sur son réseau Truth Social.
Donald Trump, cible d'attaques virulentes du dirigeant de la province canadienne de l'Ontario, a dit mardi vouloir changer le nom du lac Ontario, frontalier des États-Unis et du Canada, en « lac d'Amérique ». Cette idée, lancée en pleine reprise des hostilités commerciales entre Washington et Ottawa, rappelle évidemment l'une des premières décisions du président américain après son retour au pouvoir, à savoir changer le nom du « golfe du Mexique» en «golfe d'Amérique ». » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 25 août 2026
China Responds to US Sanctions: "Illegal" Threat over Iran Trade Branded ‘Operation Economic Outcast’
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.
It doesn’t matter what scheme or ‘operation’ these ineffective people dream up, they are destined to lose this war with Iran. Iranians are an extremely intelligent and very well-educated people. They are also wily. If I am not greatly mistaken, victory is Iran’s for the taking. — © Mark Alexander
Trump’s Trade War with Canada Could Get ‘Very Nasty’ | Sarah Baxter
Aug 25, 2026 | “It could get very nasty indeed, economically, for both sides.”
Trump’s latest attack on Canada is “particularly farcical”, with threats to increase tariffs on Canadian car imports. However, a trade war could damage both countries, says Sarah Baxter, director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting.
Trump’s latest attack on Canada is “particularly farcical”, with threats to increase tariffs on Canadian car imports. However, a trade war could damage both countries, says Sarah Baxter, director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting.
« Ça a toujours irrité les Américains » : pourquoi la langue française s'invite dans le bras de fer commercial entre le Canada et les États-Unis
LE FIGARO : Le premier ministre Mark Carney a rompu les négociations vendredi pour défendre l’exception culturelle québécoise et notamment l’usage du français, remis en cause par l’administration Trump.
Le Canada monte au créneau pour défendre le français. La défense de la culture québécoise et de la langue de Molière s'est imposée comme l'un des principaux points d'achoppement des négociations commerciales entre Ottawa et Washington, selon Mark Carney, qui affirme avoir refusé de transiger face aux exigences américaines. « Il y a un écart énorme entre les perspectives canadiennes et les perspectives américaines » en matière de culture, a souligné lundi le premier ministre canadien, à qui il a pourtant été souvent reproché un manque de sensibilité au français.
Mark Carney, qui poursuit son apprentissage de la langue française, a ainsi fustigé les demandes introduites « dans les dernières heures » par la partie américaine, qui remettaient en cause les subventions à la culture francophone, la place des médias francophones en ligne et l'obligation d'étiquetage bilingue des produits vendus au Canada. C'est aussi une question de « découvrabilité » des productions québécoises, a ajouté lundi le premier ministre canadien, c'est-à-dire de « disponibilité (du contenu) en ligne et (de) sa capacité à être repéré parmi un vaste ensemble », comme l'indique le gouvernement du Québec sur son site internet officiel. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 25 août 2026
Le Canada monte au créneau pour défendre le français. La défense de la culture québécoise et de la langue de Molière s'est imposée comme l'un des principaux points d'achoppement des négociations commerciales entre Ottawa et Washington, selon Mark Carney, qui affirme avoir refusé de transiger face aux exigences américaines. « Il y a un écart énorme entre les perspectives canadiennes et les perspectives américaines » en matière de culture, a souligné lundi le premier ministre canadien, à qui il a pourtant été souvent reproché un manque de sensibilité au français.
Mark Carney, qui poursuit son apprentissage de la langue française, a ainsi fustigé les demandes introduites « dans les dernières heures » par la partie américaine, qui remettaient en cause les subventions à la culture francophone, la place des médias francophones en ligne et l'obligation d'étiquetage bilingue des produits vendus au Canada. C'est aussi une question de « découvrabilité » des productions québécoises, a ajouté lundi le premier ministre canadien, c'est-à-dire de « disponibilité (du contenu) en ligne et (de) sa capacité à être repéré parmi un vaste ensemble », comme l'indique le gouvernement du Québec sur son site internet officiel. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 25 août 2026
Steve Rosenberg: Russians "Withdrew More Cash Than They Deposited"
Mark Carney Says Canada Can’t Accept US Trade Deal That Would Weaken French Language
THE GUARDIAN: Prime minister praised for rejecting US trade proposal as Trump shows little interest in retreating from dispute
Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Canada-US trade minister Dominic LeBlanc at a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Saturday. Photograph: Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press via AP
Mark Carney said on Monday that while American negotiators saw the French language in Canada as an “irritant … in Quebec, these are rights,” days after receiving widespread praise from political leaders for rejecting a US trade proposal that many perceived as weakening the country’s Francophone culture.
The prime minister’s remarks came hours after the US president, Donald Trump, showed little interest in retreating from the spat, posting on social media that Canada had been “ripping off the United States of America for years” and threatening a swath of new, economically devastating tariffs on cars and trucks.
Carney instructed his negotiators to walk away from trade talks last week. Tariffs on an array of Canadian products took effect over the weekend, affecting around 5% of Canada’s exports to the US, and Canada said it will retaliate in early September.
On Monday, Carney toured a shipyard with Quebec’s premier, telling attendees Canada “could not accept” a proposed trade deal that would have weakened French language protections after trade talks collapsed between the two countries last week, adding that his government “will not give what they have asked”.
The prime minister’s decision to abandon trade talks with the US spurred declarations from political leaders and pundits in Canada that the country is now fully locked into an economic war with its longtime ally. » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Monday, August 24, 2026
How lucky Canadians are! They are being led by a cultured gentleman with oodles of refinement, sophistication, intelligence, and class. Americans, by contrast, are being led by a philistine! — © Mark Alexander
ALSO READ:
From ‘Fortress North America’ to All-Out Trade War: How the U.S.-Canada Talks Collapsed: Detailed accounts of the final hours of the negotiations show that, while the United States offered Canada what it said was the best deal of any country, what Canada had to give up in exchange was seen as unthinkable. »
U.S. Tariffs Could Price Canadian Firms Out of U.S. and Threaten Thousands of Jobs: The 50 percent tariffs President Trump imposed on Canadian exports to the United States will make it impossible for many Canadian companies to continue to sell to the U.S. market, economists say. »
Mark Carney said on Monday that while American negotiators saw the French language in Canada as an “irritant … in Quebec, these are rights,” days after receiving widespread praise from political leaders for rejecting a US trade proposal that many perceived as weakening the country’s Francophone culture.
The prime minister’s remarks came hours after the US president, Donald Trump, showed little interest in retreating from the spat, posting on social media that Canada had been “ripping off the United States of America for years” and threatening a swath of new, economically devastating tariffs on cars and trucks.
Carney instructed his negotiators to walk away from trade talks last week. Tariffs on an array of Canadian products took effect over the weekend, affecting around 5% of Canada’s exports to the US, and Canada said it will retaliate in early September.
On Monday, Carney toured a shipyard with Quebec’s premier, telling attendees Canada “could not accept” a proposed trade deal that would have weakened French language protections after trade talks collapsed between the two countries last week, adding that his government “will not give what they have asked”.
The prime minister’s decision to abandon trade talks with the US spurred declarations from political leaders and pundits in Canada that the country is now fully locked into an economic war with its longtime ally. » | Leyland Cecco in Toronto | Monday, August 24, 2026
How lucky Canadians are! They are being led by a cultured gentleman with oodles of refinement, sophistication, intelligence, and class. Americans, by contrast, are being led by a philistine! — © Mark Alexander
ALSO READ:
From ‘Fortress North America’ to All-Out Trade War: How the U.S.-Canada Talks Collapsed: Detailed accounts of the final hours of the negotiations show that, while the United States offered Canada what it said was the best deal of any country, what Canada had to give up in exchange was seen as unthinkable. »
U.S. Tariffs Could Price Canadian Firms Out of U.S. and Threaten Thousands of Jobs: The 50 percent tariffs President Trump imposed on Canadian exports to the United States will make it impossible for many Canadian companies to continue to sell to the U.S. market, economists say. »
August 24, 2026
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Launches Operation Economic Outcast
August 24, 2026 | Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a sweeping new US economic campaign against Iran and warned countries, banks, and companies around the world that helping the Iranian regime could cost them access to the US dollar system.
Bessent unveiled "Operation Economic Outcast," a campaign aimed at severing Iran's financial connections and revenue sources around the globe. Treasury announced new sectoral sanctions targeting digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping, while the Office of Foreign Assets Control is sanctioning more than 60 entities, individuals, and vessels linked to Iranian oil revenue, nuclear and missile procurement, and cyber operations.
Bessent said the US will pursue a "zero leakage" approach, warned that no country or entity is beyond the reach of US sanctions, and said nations enabling Iran are being given defined timelines to stop identified activities. He also said a major financial institution could face sanctions by the end of the week.
During questions, Bessent addressed potential sanctions against Chinese banks and shipping firms, pressure on countries doing business with Iran, Treasury bond yields and buybacks, the US-Canada relationship, and why the administration is giving Iran's economic partners an opportunity to change course before imposing additional secondary sanctions.
LESEN SIE AUCH:
USA wollen Iran wirtschaftlich „erdrosseln“: Bessent verkündet Start von Operation „Economic Outcast“: Die USA hatten einen „ökonomischen D-Day“ gegen den Iran angekündigt. US-Finanzminister Bessent droht nun Handelspartnern weltweit. Welche neuen Sanktionen kommen? »
À LIRE AUSSI :
Nouvelles sanctions, ultimatum aux pays partenaires, menace sur le système dollar... Washington lance son offensive économique contre l’Iran : Les États qui laisseraient des entités « faciliter le blanchiment d’argent au nom de l’Iran » se verront « expulsés du système dollar », a prévenu lundi lors d’une conférence de presse le secrétaire américain au Trésor, Scott Bessent, ajoutant que « le compte à rebours (avait) commencé ». »
Bessent unveiled "Operation Economic Outcast," a campaign aimed at severing Iran's financial connections and revenue sources around the globe. Treasury announced new sectoral sanctions targeting digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping, while the Office of Foreign Assets Control is sanctioning more than 60 entities, individuals, and vessels linked to Iranian oil revenue, nuclear and missile procurement, and cyber operations.
Bessent said the US will pursue a "zero leakage" approach, warned that no country or entity is beyond the reach of US sanctions, and said nations enabling Iran are being given defined timelines to stop identified activities. He also said a major financial institution could face sanctions by the end of the week.
During questions, Bessent addressed potential sanctions against Chinese banks and shipping firms, pressure on countries doing business with Iran, Treasury bond yields and buybacks, the US-Canada relationship, and why the administration is giving Iran's economic partners an opportunity to change course before imposing additional secondary sanctions.
LESEN SIE AUCH:
USA wollen Iran wirtschaftlich „erdrosseln“: Bessent verkündet Start von Operation „Economic Outcast“: Die USA hatten einen „ökonomischen D-Day“ gegen den Iran angekündigt. US-Finanzminister Bessent droht nun Handelspartnern weltweit. Welche neuen Sanktionen kommen? »
À LIRE AUSSI :
Nouvelles sanctions, ultimatum aux pays partenaires, menace sur le système dollar... Washington lance son offensive économique contre l’Iran : Les États qui laisseraient des entités « faciliter le blanchiment d’argent au nom de l’Iran » se verront « expulsés du système dollar », a prévenu lundi lors d’une conférence de presse le secrétaire américain au Trésor, Scott Bessent, ajoutant que « le compte à rebours (avait) commencé ». »
Democracy Now! “Most Stupid Trade Fight in History”: US & Canadian Workers Lose in Trump’s New Tariff War
August 24, 2026 | The US-Canada trade war is deepening after talks collapsed without a deal on Friday. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused the Trump administration of issuing demands that would compromise Canada’s sovereignty and undermine key industries.
On Saturday, the United States slapped 50% tariffs on around $20 billion worth of imports from Canada, and Carney announced retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion of US products set to go into effect on September 8.
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
On Saturday, the United States slapped 50% tariffs on around $20 billion worth of imports from Canada, and Carney announced retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion of US products set to go into effect on September 8.
Democracy Now! can be supported here »
Steve Rosenberg: Russian Paper: Fuel Crisis Won't End If Russia Can't Protect Its Refineries from Drone Attacks
August 23, 2026
U.S. Treasury Secretary's Total Fail on Iran
Scott Bessent thinks that America can grow its way out of its $40 trillion national debt! Who the hell is he trying to kid? A country would need one hell of a lot of economic growth to be able to grow its way out of a debt as big as that! That man is living in Cloud-cuckoo-land! He is also talking tosh! — © Mark Alexander
US-Canada Trade War: The Cost of Fighting Back | DW News
Droits de douane : Donald Trump empêtré dans sa croisade tarifaire mondiale
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Le locataire de la Maison-Blanche a réussi à tordre le bras à l’Europe et à d’autres pays pour obtenir des conditions avantageuses. Alors que le bras de fer avec le Canada est relancé, l’annulation, il y a six mois, d’une grosse partie des tarifs par la Cour suprême fragilise largement sa politique.
Œil pour œil, dent pour dent. Après l’échec des négociations commerciales avec Washington, le Canada a choisi la riposte. Dans la nuit de samedi à dimanche, Ottawa a annoncé à son tour des droits de douane d’un montant équivalent aux 20 milliards de dollars d’importations canadiennes ciblées par la Maison-Blanche. Un nouveau front de la guerre commerciale tous azimuts du président américain se rouvre.
Depuis son retour au pouvoir, Donald Trump a fait des droits de douane le principal instrument de sa politique étrangère, frappant tour à tour la quasi-totalité des partenaires économiques des États-Unis. Mais en l’espace de dix-huit mois maintenant, à force d’accords et de revirements, d’exemptions sectorielles, de pauses tarifaires, de petits arrangements ainsi que de dispositifs invalidés par la Cour suprême, la politique commerciale américaine est devenue un maquis insondable. » | Par Lucas Mediavilla | dimanche 23 août 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Trump s'est mis dans un sacré pétrin ! Il a entraîné ses compatriotes et lui-même dans une guerre contre l'Iran qu'il ne peut tout simplement pas gagner. Il est également engagé dans une guerre commerciale avec le Canada — qu'il ne peut pas remporter non plus — qui coûte cher à de nombreux acteurs américains, notamment aux producteurs de spiritueux et autres boissons alcoolisées.
Qui plus est, l'économie sous l'ère Trump bat de l'aile et les prix s'envolent. Pourtant, Trump continue de s'enfoncer dans un trou toujours plus profond !
Pour couronner le tout, la dette nationale américaine a explosé, dépassant les quarante mille milliards de dollars. La seule guerre contre l'Iran coûte environ un milliard de dollars par jour !
Voilà bien toute la maîtrise dont fait preuve Trump en matière d'économie et de géopolitique ! — © Mark Alexander
Iran Warns Gulf States Against Joining Trump’s Economic War, or Else
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Iran’s new hard-line national security adviser, Mohsen Rezaei, vowed to prevent “a single drop of oil” from leaving the region.
Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s new security chief, last month in Tehran. Though hostilities have largely ceased, the United States and Iran are locked in an economic standoff. Credit: Mohammed Salem/Reuters
President Trump has warned that “Economic D-Day” is coming for Iran. This weekend, Tehran promised to fight back, threatening any nation that helps the United States.
Iran’s new security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, on Saturday vowed to strike the interests of oil-rich neighbors if they joined U.S. efforts to further isolate Iran, whose economy is already in free fall. He warned that Tehran would seek to prevent “even a single drop of oil” from leaving the region.
“Any country that becomes a partner in creating economic restrictions against us will be regarded by us as an enemy,” he said in an interview with Iran’s state broadcaster.
Mr. Razaei is a political hard-liner and former head of the Revolutionary Guards. The interview offered his first extensive comments since taking up his new post two weeks ago — and struck an aggressive tone in line with Iran’s increasingly uncompromising regional strategy. At one point, he asked whether Iran should pursue building a nuclear bomb, which Tehran has previously insisted it has no intention of doing. » | Erika Solomon | Sunday, August 23, 2026
President Trump has warned that “Economic D-Day” is coming for Iran. This weekend, Tehran promised to fight back, threatening any nation that helps the United States.
Iran’s new security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, on Saturday vowed to strike the interests of oil-rich neighbors if they joined U.S. efforts to further isolate Iran, whose economy is already in free fall. He warned that Tehran would seek to prevent “even a single drop of oil” from leaving the region.
“Any country that becomes a partner in creating economic restrictions against us will be regarded by us as an enemy,” he said in an interview with Iran’s state broadcaster.
Mr. Razaei is a political hard-liner and former head of the Revolutionary Guards. The interview offered his first extensive comments since taking up his new post two weeks ago — and struck an aggressive tone in line with Iran’s increasingly uncompromising regional strategy. At one point, he asked whether Iran should pursue building a nuclear bomb, which Tehran has previously insisted it has no intention of doing. » | Erika Solomon | Sunday, August 23, 2026
What the Collapse of Trade Talks Means for U.S. Alcohol Sales
Richard Wolff: The Decline of the US Empire Is Accelerating Fast
Canadian PM Carney Reveals What Trump Demanded from Canada for a Trade Deal
Canada ‘at War’ With U.S. After Trade Talks Collapse, Carney Says
August 22, 2026
Broken DUBAI: 10 Areas Turning Into Ghost Zones as Tourism Collapses in 2026
July 25, 2026 | What is really happening across Dubai in 2026?
After years of record-breaking tourism, some of Dubai's most famous destinations began experiencing quieter streets, changing visitor patterns, and growing economic uncertainty. But is Dubai really in decline, or is the reality more complex?
In this documentary, we explore 10 areas across Dubai that have sparked discussion about the city's future, including Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Business Bay, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), DIFC, Global Village, and The World Islands.
After years of record-breaking tourism, some of Dubai's most famous destinations began experiencing quieter streets, changing visitor patterns, and growing economic uncertainty. But is Dubai really in decline, or is the reality more complex?
In this documentary, we explore 10 areas across Dubai that have sparked discussion about the city's future, including Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Business Bay, Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), DIFC, Global Village, and The World Islands.
Conflit au Moyen-Orient: Téhéran dit considérer comme un « ennemi » tout pays participant à la « guerre économique » de Washington
LE FIGARO : Le secrétaire du Conseil suprême de sécurité nationale iranien a appelé les pays du monde à ne pas se ranger derrière les États-Unis.
« Tout pays participant à la mise en place de restrictions économiques » à l’encontre de l’Iran est « considéré comme un ennemi »>i>, a déclaré samedi le secrétaire du Conseil suprême de sécurité nationale iranien, Mohsen Rezaï. « Nous déclarons à tous les pays autour de nous et tous les pays du monde: ne vous joignez pas à la guerre économique menée par les États-Unis », a déclaré Rezaï à la télévision d’État, après l’annonce par Washington d’un renforcement des sanctions économiques destinées à accentuer la pression sur Téhéran.
Si les pays concernés refusaient de « prendre leurs distances » avec les États-Unis, l’Iran porterait « atteinte à leurs intérêts », a-t-il ajouté. « Nous n’avons encore attaqué aucun intérêt économique américain » et « jusqu’à présent, nous n’avons ciblé que des bases militaires, mais s’ils veulent nous imposer des sanctions économiques, les États-Unis possèdent des entreprises pétrolières et économiques autour de l’Iran et ailleurs, et nous les frapperons », a poursuivi Mohsen Rezaei. Si Donald Trump « mène une action (contre nous), notre confrontation sera comme un séisme », a-t-il encore menacé. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | samedi 22 août 2026
« Tout pays participant à la mise en place de restrictions économiques » à l’encontre de l’Iran est « considéré comme un ennemi »>i>, a déclaré samedi le secrétaire du Conseil suprême de sécurité nationale iranien, Mohsen Rezaï. « Nous déclarons à tous les pays autour de nous et tous les pays du monde: ne vous joignez pas à la guerre économique menée par les États-Unis », a déclaré Rezaï à la télévision d’État, après l’annonce par Washington d’un renforcement des sanctions économiques destinées à accentuer la pression sur Téhéran.
Si les pays concernés refusaient de « prendre leurs distances » avec les États-Unis, l’Iran porterait « atteinte à leurs intérêts », a-t-il ajouté. « Nous n’avons encore attaqué aucun intérêt économique américain » et « jusqu’à présent, nous n’avons ciblé que des bases militaires, mais s’ils veulent nous imposer des sanctions économiques, les États-Unis possèdent des entreprises pétrolières et économiques autour de l’Iran et ailleurs, et nous les frapperons », a poursuivi Mohsen Rezaei. Si Donald Trump « mène une action (contre nous), notre confrontation sera comme un séisme », a-t-il encore menacé. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | samedi 22 août 2026
US-Schulden außer Kontrolle? Sandra Navidi: „Es wird langsam gefährlich“ | ntv
Trump's Put a 'Bandaid on a Bullet Hole' | Bond Expert Explains US Debt
Aug 22, 2026 | “We need higher growth and some kind of fiscal reform.”
The US “is in the midst of an innovation revolution” while also carrying a very large debt burden, but it is the “average household” that gets hurt, says Mohamed El-Erian, one of the world’s most respected bond-market experts and chief economic adviser at Allianz.
The US “is in the midst of an innovation revolution” while also carrying a very large debt burden, but it is the “average household” that gets hurt, says Mohamed El-Erian, one of the world’s most respected bond-market experts and chief economic adviser at Allianz.
Canada-U.S. Trade War Escalates as Talks Collapse
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Intense negotiations to stave off new levies by the Trump administration ended in an impasse as Mark Carney suspended talks. U.S. tariffs on Canada, and retaliatory tariffs on the U.S., will come into effect.
Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada said he suspended the trade talks because the American side introduced last-minute terms that ”called into question the reliability of any deal.” Credit: Greg Locke/Reuters
Crucial trade talks between the United States and Canada to stave off punishing new tariffs by the Trump administration on Canadian goods collapsed late Friday, with Canada saying it would retaliate “dollar for dollar.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada said he had decided to suspend the talks because the American side had introduced last-minute terms that were “unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal.”
He added that the talks, which had been going on for weeks and had intensified in the past few days, had marked important progress but had ultimately “not been enough to meet our objectives for Canadians.”
United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters that Canada had walked away from the negotiating table, minutes before a deadline ushering in new 50 percent tariffs by the Trump administration on a broad range of Canadian goods. » | Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Ian Austen and Ana Swanson | Matina Stevis-Gridneff reported from Toronto and Ian Austen from Ottawa. Ana Swanson reported from Washington | Published: Friday, August 21, 2016. Updated: Saturday, August 22, 2026
ALSO READ:
Carney Stands Up to Trump in Trade War Despite the Risks: Canada’s prime minister walked away from what he thought was a bad trade deal with the United States. Many Canadians are behind him, but it will be costly. »
Crucial trade talks between the United States and Canada to stave off punishing new tariffs by the Trump administration on Canadian goods collapsed late Friday, with Canada saying it would retaliate “dollar for dollar.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada said he had decided to suspend the talks because the American side had introduced last-minute terms that were “unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal.”
He added that the talks, which had been going on for weeks and had intensified in the past few days, had marked important progress but had ultimately “not been enough to meet our objectives for Canadians.”
United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters that Canada had walked away from the negotiating table, minutes before a deadline ushering in new 50 percent tariffs by the Trump administration on a broad range of Canadian goods. » | Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Ian Austen and Ana Swanson | Matina Stevis-Gridneff reported from Toronto and Ian Austen from Ottawa. Ana Swanson reported from Washington | Published: Friday, August 21, 2016. Updated: Saturday, August 22, 2026
ALSO READ:
Carney Stands Up to Trump in Trade War Despite the Risks: Canada’s prime minister walked away from what he thought was a bad trade deal with the United States. Many Canadians are behind him, but it will be costly. »
August 21, 2026
Professor Marandi: Iran Will Outweigh the United States
Aug 21, 2026 | On Thursday's episode of The Grand Standoff: Iran and the World, Professor Mohammad Marandi warned that Western economic warfare against Iranian civilians will yield direct consequences for regional regimes aligning with the United States.
Marandi emphasizes that if Western sanctions seek to choke off Iranian commerce, Tehran will apply reciprocal pressure to US assets and host nations across the region. Marandi further questioned the long-term viability of regimes that have sacrificed their stability to enable American policy, asserting that Iran possesses the endurance and strategic depth to outlast Washington’s siege tactics.
Marandi emphasizes that if Western sanctions seek to choke off Iranian commerce, Tehran will apply reciprocal pressure to US assets and host nations across the region. Marandi further questioned the long-term viability of regimes that have sacrificed their stability to enable American policy, asserting that Iran possesses the endurance and strategic depth to outlast Washington’s siege tactics.
How the US Is Using Iran’s Economy to Fight the War in the Middle East | BBC News
Aug 21, 2026 | US Vice President JD Vance says the Iran War is in a ‘new phase’ of economic pressure.
It comes as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said: “You are either with us or against us," as he urged US allies to support Washington's efforts to "squash" the Iranian economy.
But the Iranian Foreign Ministry has called the measures ‘economic terrorism’. The BBC has also heard from people inside Iran on what life is like for them.
It comes as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said: “You are either with us or against us," as he urged US allies to support Washington's efforts to "squash" the Iranian economy.
But the Iranian Foreign Ministry has called the measures ‘economic terrorism’. The BBC has also heard from people inside Iran on what life is like for them.
Was Clacton Fiasco Beginning of the End for Farage and Reform?
August 21, 2026 | Farage has gone missing since the Clacton by-election — and the party he built is falling apart around him.
I wasn't going to talk about Farage this week, but after the Clacton by-election he's done a disappearing act and Reform UK appears to be in complete meltdown.
n this video I look at why calling that by-election was the first major unforced error of Farage's career — the moment he realised he'd made a classic mistake and went to ground.
From the poll slump (27% down to 24%) to the pressers from Richard Tice and Bob Jenrick, the £50 billion benefit cut plan, and the long list of scandals and fallings-out — the £5 million gift, the tax investigations, the convictions — this is a party beginning to look like a complete rabble.
I also ask the bigger question: Is this finally it for the man who brought us Brexit? …
I wasn't going to talk about Farage this week, but after the Clacton by-election he's done a disappearing act and Reform UK appears to be in complete meltdown.
n this video I look at why calling that by-election was the first major unforced error of Farage's career — the moment he realised he'd made a classic mistake and went to ground.
From the poll slump (27% down to 24%) to the pressers from Richard Tice and Bob Jenrick, the £50 billion benefit cut plan, and the long list of scandals and fallings-out — the £5 million gift, the tax investigations, the convictions — this is a party beginning to look like a complete rabble.
I also ask the bigger question: Is this finally it for the man who brought us Brexit? …
$40 Trillion 'Time Bomb’': Is Trump about to Break the Global Economy?
Aug 21, 2026 | Is Donald Trump driving the world economy off a cliff while you’re on your summer holiday?
America has just passed $40 trillion of debt. Trump’s tariffs are pushing up prices, his tax cuts are adding to the deficit, and his war with Iran has sent oil prices soaring. Now bond markets are turning on him. The US treasury has tried to step in and calm the bond markets, but it doesn’t appear to have worked. So what exactly is going on?
Is this just a wobble in the bond markets - or a sign of something much worse to come?
On this episode of The Fourcast, Ciaran Jenkins is joined by Pippa Malmgren, who served as an economic adviser to President George W. Bush, and The Economist’s economics editor Archie Hall.
America has just passed $40 trillion of debt. Trump’s tariffs are pushing up prices, his tax cuts are adding to the deficit, and his war with Iran has sent oil prices soaring. Now bond markets are turning on him. The US treasury has tried to step in and calm the bond markets, but it doesn’t appear to have worked. So what exactly is going on?
Is this just a wobble in the bond markets - or a sign of something much worse to come?
On this episode of The Fourcast, Ciaran Jenkins is joined by Pippa Malmgren, who served as an economic adviser to President George W. Bush, and The Economist’s economics editor Archie Hall.
Warum ist Nordkorea plötzlich so reich? | Rüdiger Frank
Aug 21, 2026 | Wir sprechen mit dem Nordkorea Experten Rüdiger Frank über den beispiellosen Wirtschaftsboom, den Nordkorea gerade erlebt.
Nordkorea erlebt gerade einen Wirtschaftsboom? Also jenes Land, das wie der Fiebertraum sozialistischer Diktaturen wirkt, in dem Menschen hungern und regelmäßig in gigantischen Paraden ihrem Führer huldigen müssen? Es klingt absurd, aber die Anzeichen für einen Aufschwung häufen sich. Neue Stadtviertel und Luxusresorts entstehen dort, wo bis vor einigen Jahren noch gar nichts war. Wir schauen uns heute an, was hinter diesen Schlagzeilen steckt und sprechen mit dem renommierten Korea-Experten Rüdiger Frank von der Universität Wien.
Und wenn ich mich nicht irre, ist genau dieser Wirtschaftsboom der Hauptgrund dafür, dass Donald Trump Kim Jong Un schmeichelt! Trump will mindestens einen „Trump Tower“ in Nordkorea errichten lassen. Wahrscheinlich sogar noch viel mehr. Trump sieht in Nordkorea Dollarzeichen! — G Mark Alexander
Nordkorea erlebt gerade einen Wirtschaftsboom? Also jenes Land, das wie der Fiebertraum sozialistischer Diktaturen wirkt, in dem Menschen hungern und regelmäßig in gigantischen Paraden ihrem Führer huldigen müssen? Es klingt absurd, aber die Anzeichen für einen Aufschwung häufen sich. Neue Stadtviertel und Luxusresorts entstehen dort, wo bis vor einigen Jahren noch gar nichts war. Wir schauen uns heute an, was hinter diesen Schlagzeilen steckt und sprechen mit dem renommierten Korea-Experten Rüdiger Frank von der Universität Wien.
Und wenn ich mich nicht irre, ist genau dieser Wirtschaftsboom der Hauptgrund dafür, dass Donald Trump Kim Jong Un schmeichelt! Trump will mindestens einen „Trump Tower“ in Nordkorea errichten lassen. Wahrscheinlich sogar noch viel mehr. Trump sieht in Nordkorea Dollarzeichen! — G Mark Alexander
Trump Has Put the US In a ‘Vicious Cycle’ as Debt Hits $40 Trillion
Aug 21, 2026 | “The deficit is only likely to increase.”
Republicans are “squealing” about America’s debt, which has just hit $40 trillion, but nobody in MAGA wants to “stand up to Trump” and do something about it, says director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting, Sarah Baxter.
Republicans are “squealing” about America’s debt, which has just hit $40 trillion, but nobody in MAGA wants to “stand up to Trump” and do something about it, says director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting, Sarah Baxter.
August 20, 2026
China Evergrande Founder Hui Ka Yan Sentenced to Life in Prison for Financial Crimes
ALSO READ:
China Sentences Evergrande Founder to Life in Prison: Hui Ka Yan’s punishment caps the downfall of a property empire whose collapse set off a prolonged crisis in the Chinese economy. »
Trump’s Approach to Foreign Policy Is Upending Traditional Alliances, Institutions and Norms
Australian Tells Americans Why They’re Hated by the Rest of the World in Fiery Rant
Very strong language alert!
I have said it before and I will say it again: Trump is TRASH. So what does that say about the Americans who re-elected him into office? I’ll let you decide. — © Mark Alexander
U.S. Debt Hits $40 Trillion as America’s Borrowing Binge Continues
THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Trump’s promises to restore fiscal order and reduce the amount of America’s debt burden have been undercut by spending on the Iran war, tax cuts and tariff refunds.
America’s gross national debt topped $40 trillion for the first time on Wednesday, an ominous milestone for an economy that sits on a shaky fiscal foundation after decades of borrowing to pay for the rising costs of the military, social safety net programs and President Trump’s tax cuts.
This year alone, the United States is on track to borrow more than $2 trillion to help pay for its obligations, including spending on the war in Iran and the sweeping tax cuts that Republicans enacted in 2025. Soaring interest payments to investors who have purchased America’s debt now make up about half of that red ink, pushing the United States into a deeper financial hole.
Whether the mounting debt load is a problem to be solved or a function of America’s economic strength remains a matter of debate. Deficits are also a point of political gamesmanship, with Republicans most passionate about eliminating them when they are out of power.
“The scariest thing about this is how we’re starting to see the debt spiral begin,” said Marc Goldwein, senior policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which supports deficit reduction, referring to interest on the debt.
The inability of lawmakers to confront the debt comes with long-term risks. While the United States remains the world’s largest economy, its mounting debt load could lead investors to demand higher interest rates for U.S. bonds or raise questions about the nation’s creditworthiness, which could erode confidence in the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. » | Alan Rappeport | Reporting from Washington | Wednesday, August 19, 2026
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America’s gross national debt topped $40 trillion for the first time on Wednesday, an ominous milestone for an economy that sits on a shaky fiscal foundation after decades of borrowing to pay for the rising costs of the military, social safety net programs and President Trump’s tax cuts.
This year alone, the United States is on track to borrow more than $2 trillion to help pay for its obligations, including spending on the war in Iran and the sweeping tax cuts that Republicans enacted in 2025. Soaring interest payments to investors who have purchased America’s debt now make up about half of that red ink, pushing the United States into a deeper financial hole.
Whether the mounting debt load is a problem to be solved or a function of America’s economic strength remains a matter of debate. Deficits are also a point of political gamesmanship, with Republicans most passionate about eliminating them when they are out of power.
“The scariest thing about this is how we’re starting to see the debt spiral begin,” said Marc Goldwein, senior policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which supports deficit reduction, referring to interest on the debt.
The inability of lawmakers to confront the debt comes with long-term risks. While the United States remains the world’s largest economy, its mounting debt load could lead investors to demand higher interest rates for U.S. bonds or raise questions about the nation’s creditworthiness, which could erode confidence in the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. » | Alan Rappeport | Reporting from Washington | Wednesday, August 19, 2026
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August 19, 2026
UAE Accuses Iran of Ballistic Missile Attacks | The Palki Sharma Show | IGR | India Global Review
Andy Burnham Offers Beds for Homeless for Christmas in National Drive to End Rough Sleeping
August 19, 2026 | Andy Burnham has declared ending rough sleeping his moral mission as he announces a national drive to give everyone on the streets an offer of a bed this winter.
The new Prime Minister said the scheme will "get everyone in for Christmas" with emergency accommodation and help rolled out in England later this year.
Downing Street said under the support - backed by £442million - areas with the greatest need will receive the largest share in order to get people out of the cold in winter.
Mr Burnham will also convene a "first of its kind" national summit in the autumn months on ending rough sleeping, officials added. They said it would bring together leaders from business, finance, health and faith communities to ask how they can all play a role.
The new Prime Minister said the scheme will "get everyone in for Christmas" with emergency accommodation and help rolled out in England later this year.
Downing Street said under the support - backed by £442million - areas with the greatest need will receive the largest share in order to get people out of the cold in winter.
Mr Burnham will also convene a "first of its kind" national summit in the autumn months on ending rough sleeping, officials added. They said it would bring together leaders from business, finance, health and faith communities to ask how they can all play a role.
Geneva Super-rich Rocked by Luxury Home Burglary Spree
SWI: The Lake Geneva region is fighting a growing number of violent home robberies of its wealthiest residents, which threaten the area’s reputation as a haven for the ultra-rich and have inflamed suspicions across the border with France.
Swiss authorities are turning to video footage, number-plate recognition and tougher border policing as they try to crack down on the “homejackings”, which have shocked the normally peaceful area.
The attacks typically involve intruders breaking into occupied homes and threatening residents – sometimes at gunpoint – before escaping with watches, jewellery and other valuables across the border to France.
Private bankers, commodities traders and other wealthy executives are among those who have been targeted, fuelling concern in a region that is home to some of the world’s biggest banks and trading houses. Companies including Pictet and Trafigura have raised concerns about the attacks with authorities, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The extreme violence of the attacks has prompted some politicians to call for targeted checks at the French border and prompted many wealthy communities to hire private security.
“This trend has recently become much more organised, targeted and common,” said Florence Bettschart-Narbel, a member of the legislature in the canton of Vaud, on the north side of Lake Geneva. “We are concerned about the impact on Switzerland’s attractiveness to foreigners and companies.” » | Mercedes Ruehl, Financial Times | Monday, August 17, 2026
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2026
ALSO READ:
Switzerland’s super-rich: essential contributors or a social threat?: Switzerland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. However, its wealth is distributed very unevenly: the richest 1% own 45% of total assets. At the same time, this elite group contributes a significant share of the country’s tax revenue. Swiss public broadcaster, SRF, takes a closer look. »
Steve Rosenberg: Swan Lake and a Coup: Russian Papers Remember August 1991
August 18, 2026
August 17, 2026
Democracy Now! "The Nerd Reich": Author Gil Durán on Big Tech Fascism, Peter Thiel, JD Vance & the War on Democracy
Democracy Now! can be supported here.
August 16, 2026
August 15, 2026
Trump Threatens to Declare Strait of Hormuz ‘Territory of the United States’
THE GUARDIAN: Seriousness of remark made in New York on Friday, and whether it signaled new policy position, not clear
Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Donald Trump at the David S Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City, New York, on Friday. Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Donald Trump has threatened to declare the strait of Hormuz as “a territory of the United States” as his administration struggles to conclude the war with Iran.
During a speech at a police academy on Long Island, New York, on Friday, the US president said he would “pretty soon” designate the waterway – a crucial chokepoint for global trade, through which about a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies typically pass – a US territory.
The comment came as peace talks with Iran remain at an impasse following failed negotiations, with Tehran refusing to reopen the strait, which has been all but closed since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran in February.
Almost six months into the war, there is little indication that negotiations will soon yield peace, as Iranian officials continue to defy Trump’s demands. The US has been blockading Iranian shipping and ports in recent months in an effort to pile economic pressure on Tehran.
“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz strait a territory of the United States,” Trump said on Friday. “Essentially, that’s what it is. We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to.”
The seriousness of Trump’s remark, and whether it signaled a new policy position for his administration, was not immediately clear. » | Maya Yang | Friday, August 14, 2026
Trump wants it all: Venezuela, Panama, Cuba, Canada, Greenland, the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s rare earth minerals, and all the billions he can filch, pilfer, and steal! This dude works on one simple principle: what mine is mine, and what’s yours is mine also! Trump is a natural born schemer! — © Mark Alexander
Donald Trump has threatened to declare the strait of Hormuz as “a territory of the United States” as his administration struggles to conclude the war with Iran.
During a speech at a police academy on Long Island, New York, on Friday, the US president said he would “pretty soon” designate the waterway – a crucial chokepoint for global trade, through which about a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies typically pass – a US territory.
The comment came as peace talks with Iran remain at an impasse following failed negotiations, with Tehran refusing to reopen the strait, which has been all but closed since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran in February.
Almost six months into the war, there is little indication that negotiations will soon yield peace, as Iranian officials continue to defy Trump’s demands. The US has been blockading Iranian shipping and ports in recent months in an effort to pile economic pressure on Tehran.
“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz strait a territory of the United States,” Trump said on Friday. “Essentially, that’s what it is. We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to.”
The seriousness of Trump’s remark, and whether it signaled a new policy position for his administration, was not immediately clear. » | Maya Yang | Friday, August 14, 2026
Trump wants it all: Venezuela, Panama, Cuba, Canada, Greenland, the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s rare earth minerals, and all the billions he can filch, pilfer, and steal! This dude works on one simple principle: what mine is mine, and what’s yours is mine also! Trump is a natural born schemer! — © Mark Alexander
August 14, 2026
« Ils font plus de 50 % de la fréquentation des hôtels de la Côte d’Azur » : comment les touristes américains sont devenus une clientèle en or pour la France
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Les visiteurs étrangers, en particulier américains, sont de plus en plus nombreux dans l’Hexagone et permettent de dynamiser l’été.
À Nice, la promenade des Anglais a de plus en plus un air d’Amérique. Pour le plus grand bonheur des professionnels du tourisme. Disposant d’un fort pouvoir d’achat, les Américains sont la nouvelle coqueluche de la Côte d’Azur : les palaces ne peuvent plus s’en passer; les restaurateurs adorent leurs généreux pourboires. « En juillet et août, leurs arrivées progressent de 14% par rapport à l’année dernière, devant les Canadiens (+12%) et les Chinois (+9%), confie François de Canson, président du Comité régional de tourisme Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Les visiteurs internationaux les plus nombreux restent les Allemands. Mais les Américains contribuent le plus aux retombées économiques. Ils apprécient notre patrimoine, la gastronomie et notre art de vivre. En plus, ils viennent toute l’année, et pas seulement l’été ». » | Par Mathilde Visseyrias | vendredi 14 août 2026
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Powerball-Jackpot geknackt: Spieler aus Illinois räumt 1,04 Milliarden Dollar ab
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Ein Los aus einer Kleinstadt am Mississippi holt den achtgrößten Jackpot in der Geschichte von Powerball. Der Gewinner hat ein Jahr Zeit, sich zu melden.
Dieser Screenshot stammt aus diesem Artikel. | Powerball-Lotteriescheine liegen in einem Lebensmittelgeschäft zum Ausfüllen aus. | © Jenny Kane/AP
Ein Lottospieler mit einem im US-Bundesstaat Illinois im Mittleren Westen der USA verkauften Los hat den Powerball-Jackpot von 1,04 Milliarden Dollar gewonnen. Das teilte die staatliche Lotteriegesellschaft Illinois Lottery am Donnerstag in Chicago mit. Es handelt sich nach ihren Angaben um den zweitgrößten Lotteriegewinn in der Geschichte des Bundesstaates.
Das Gewinnlos wurde demnach in einer Filiale der Supermarktkette Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh in der Stadt Quincy verkauft, rund 200 Kilometer nördlich von St. Louis am Fluss Mississippi gelegen. Bei der Ziehung am Mittwoch tippte der Spieler alle sechs Gewinnzahlen richtig. Der Verkäufer des Loses erhält nach Angaben der Lotteriegesellschaft eine Prämie von 500.000 Dollar. » | Peter Steiniger | Donnerstag, 13. August 2026
Ein Lottospieler mit einem im US-Bundesstaat Illinois im Mittleren Westen der USA verkauften Los hat den Powerball-Jackpot von 1,04 Milliarden Dollar gewonnen. Das teilte die staatliche Lotteriegesellschaft Illinois Lottery am Donnerstag in Chicago mit. Es handelt sich nach ihren Angaben um den zweitgrößten Lotteriegewinn in der Geschichte des Bundesstaates.
Das Gewinnlos wurde demnach in einer Filiale der Supermarktkette Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh in der Stadt Quincy verkauft, rund 200 Kilometer nördlich von St. Louis am Fluss Mississippi gelegen. Bei der Ziehung am Mittwoch tippte der Spieler alle sechs Gewinnzahlen richtig. Der Verkäufer des Loses erhält nach Angaben der Lotteriegesellschaft eine Prämie von 500.000 Dollar. » | Peter Steiniger | Donnerstag, 13. August 2026
August 13, 2026
August 12, 2026
He Realised He Doesn't Have to Abide by the US System' | Maggie Haberman on Trump & Executive Power
« Le gouvernement de Delcy nous a totalement abandonnés » : le Venezuela entre dans une timide transition démocratique sous contrôle américain
LE FIGARO : REPORTAGE - Les États-Unis et le pouvoir chaviste pilotent une feuille de route de transition démocratique amorcée début août, mais la principale figure de l’opposition, la prix Nobel Maria Corina Machado est marginalisée.
À La Guaira, on n’entend plus de prénoms hurlés dans la pénombre. Dans les semaines qui ont suivi les secousses du double séisme du 24 juin dernier, la côte détruite n’était éclairée que par la lueur des lampes torches. On n’entendait pas de larmes, mais des cris. Puis la nuit a tout avalé. Il y a eu certaines fois ce silence glacial des secouristes figés sous la poussière des décombres, qui criaient « Fermez-la tous ! », retenant leur souffle pour tenter d’écouter le moindre bruit, l’appel à l’aide imperceptible d’un survivant sous les millefeuilles de ciment. Aujourd’hui, tout ce bruit tragique des recherches s’est tu, remplacé par les détonations sourdes et mécaniques des démolitions entamées fin juillet. Plus le moindre espoir, pour certains, de retrouver les corps des leurs. Des milliers de deuils sans sépultures.
« J’aurais aimé retrouver même un seul de leurs bras », pleure Ramón Motomayor, les yeux calcinés fixés en désignant les dalles broyées. Il y a perdu ses deux filles et sa femme, mais aussi son négoce. « Pendant qu’on cherchait à mains nues nos familles, aplaties sous le béton, Maria Corina était à l’abri en Espagne, et le gouvernement de Delcy nous a totalement abandonnés », dit-il avec colère à propos des deux figures de la politique vénézuélienne : l’opposante Maria Corina Machado, qui vit hors du pays depuis qu’elle a reçu le prix Nobel de la paix, et la présidente par intérim, Delcy Rodriguez, à la tête du Venezuela depuis l’exfiltration de Nicolas Maduro, en janvier. » | Par Florence Tomasi, Caracas | mardi 12 août 2026
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À LIRE AUSSI :
Maria Corina Machado, figure de l’opposition vénézuélienne au Figaro : « Seul le peuple peut garantir la transition » : ENTRETIEN - Grande absente de la transition voulue par les États-Unis, Maria Corina Machado réaffirme son refus de tout accord passé sans l’avis des citoyens. »
Pauvreté, immobilisme, investissements massifs... Le Venezuela dans le brouillard de l’après-Maduro : REPORTAGE - Huit mois après la capture de Nicolas Maduro par les forces américaines, le bilan est mitigé : la production de brut remonte, quelques îlots privés se stabilisent, la répression est moins dure, mais l’immense majorité des Vénézuéliens voit ses conditions de vie s’aggraver. »
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