THE GUARDIAN: The former Fox host has misled the public, prayed for violence and clashed with the press. This is not a serious military leader
With his jawline firm and his hair coiffed, Pete Hegseth was a good fit as a Fox News personality.
As the defense secretary – or secretary of war, as his boss, Donald Trump would have it – he’s disastrous.
His most consequential test, America’s misguided war with Iran, has proven that beyond legitimate argument.
But for those who watched him for years as a rightwing cable news figure, it’s not exactly surprising.
“Hegseth’s distinguishing characteristic on Fox was his fervent support for American service members who had been accused of war crimes,” recalled Matt Gertz, senior fellow at Media Matters, whose job it is to track the relationship between rightwing media and the Trump-led Maga world.
Trump, who watches Fox as if it’s his primary job, liked what he saw in Hegseth. And so, what Gertz calls “a B-level demogogue” jumped from co-host of the weekend Fox & Friends talkshow to the person sixth in line for the US presidency. » | Margaret Sullivan | Friday,April 10, 2026
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Friday, April 10, 2026
Why Vienna’s Coffee Houses Are a Real Institution! | Cheers & Chats Ep. 1
Whitney Houston : Run To You | Official HD Video | Reupload
Steve Schmidt: Trump Misplayed the War in Iran. Melania Lied about Epstein.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t Melania an illegal immigrant? Didn’t she work in America before obtaining her proper papers? — © Mark Alexander
Democracy Now! Ahead of Hungary Election, JD Vance Campaigns with Orbán in Show of Support for Far Right in Europe
Aug 10, 2026 | Amid strains in U.S.-European relations, the Trump administration has worked to strengthen ties with Hungary and its far-right leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is facing his biggest challenge in 16 years. With just days to go before parliamentary elections, Orbán's Fidesz party is trailing the center-right pro-EU Tisza party led by Péter Magyar. U.S. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Budapest this week and appeared alongside Orbán to openly campaign for his reelection.
"This election is really crucial, not just for Hungary, but for the international right wing," says Kim Lane Scheppele, professor of sociology and international affairs at Princeton University. "There's been a lot of American signaling that the U.S. would really love to have Viktor Orbán be reelected. The problem is the Hungarian people don't seem to agree."
Scheppele also discusses the role of Sebastian Gorka, a top counterterrorism official in the Trump administration, who has longstanding ties to the far right in Hungary and has been instrumental in forging closer ties between the two governments. According to a recent New York Times investigation, Gorka is also leading an effort to target left-wing groups in the United States and abroad as "terrorist organizations."
Viktor Orbán, JD Vance, Donald Trump et al — all are birds of a feather! If Hungarians are wise, they will kick the corrupt Orbán out of office and take their country back. Just as Americans need to do with Trump. — © Mark Alexander
Democracy Now! can be supported here.
"This election is really crucial, not just for Hungary, but for the international right wing," says Kim Lane Scheppele, professor of sociology and international affairs at Princeton University. "There's been a lot of American signaling that the U.S. would really love to have Viktor Orbán be reelected. The problem is the Hungarian people don't seem to agree."
Scheppele also discusses the role of Sebastian Gorka, a top counterterrorism official in the Trump administration, who has longstanding ties to the far right in Hungary and has been instrumental in forging closer ties between the two governments. According to a recent New York Times investigation, Gorka is also leading an effort to target left-wing groups in the United States and abroad as "terrorist organizations."
Viktor Orbán, JD Vance, Donald Trump et al — all are birds of a feather! If Hungarians are wise, they will kick the corrupt Orbán out of office and take their country back. Just as Americans need to do with Trump. — © Mark Alexander
Democracy Now! can be supported here.
Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey : When You Believe | Official HD Video | Reupload
Giovanni Siracusa: How to Cook Eggplant (Aubergine) Caponata: It’s Sicily in a Pan! — Caponata di melanzane
Jan 17, 2026 | Eggplant caponata is full of flavo[u]r. This is how to make it the traditional way.
This authentic eggplant dish is a Sicilian staple found alongside fresh arancini and bread. It's the perfect Italian appetizer or side dish that brings the Mediterranean to your kitchen.
Whatever you do, don’t buy caponata in a can! This one-pot recipe is a naturally vegan and vegetarian dish, making it a fantastic option for anyone looking for plant-based Italian recipes.
Once you see how simple it is to prepare, you’ll never go back to store-bought.
Click here for the full recipe. Then click on ‘more’
This authentic eggplant dish is a Sicilian staple found alongside fresh arancini and bread. It's the perfect Italian appetizer or side dish that brings the Mediterranean to your kitchen.
Whatever you do, don’t buy caponata in a can! This one-pot recipe is a naturally vegan and vegetarian dish, making it a fantastic option for anyone looking for plant-based Italian recipes.
Once you see how simple it is to prepare, you’ll never go back to store-bought.
Click here for the full recipe. Then click on ‘more’
The Guardian View on Trump’s Civilisational Threats: The Words That Fuel War Must Be Condemned
THE GUARDIAN — OPINION: Military euphemisms can be deadly. Yet the brutal rhetoric of the US and Israel is proving still more lethal
“Metaphors can kill,” the linguist George Lakoff wrote in an influential essay on the Gulf war. “The use of a metaphor with a set of definitions becomes pernicious when it hides realities in a harmful way.” He described the effects of the US employment of business cost-and-benefit analogies, sporting comparisons and the fairytale of the just war with heroes and villains.
All veiled the reality of conflict. Euphemism was long the preferred choice for the US military. Spokespeople discussed “collateral damage” rather than civilian deaths and “surgical strikes”, framing destruction as both precise and part of a necessary and ultimately healing process. Donald Trump chooses naked menace instead. This week he issued a genocidal threat against Iran, having previously threatened to bomb it “back to the stone age” and destroy bridges and power plants – schools and medical facilities having already been pulverised. He said that he was “not at all” concerned about potential war crimes. » | Editorial | Friday, April 10, 2026
I condemn Donald Trump in the strongest possible terms. I also condemn the clueless Americans who put Donald Trump into office. When it comes to politics, economics, and geopolitics, Donald Trump is totally clueless. He is also a know-nothing. When did he last read a book? Has he ever read a book? As for his disgusting comments on Iran, they show us all how depraved Donald Trump is.
Iran can boast of its civilisation being more than 7,000 year old! Please remind me… What is America celebrating this year? Ah! That’s it… Its 250th anniversary! Hardly a comparison can be made between these two at all! The USA is a mere upstart when it comes to civilisation.
After those dreadful comments made by Donald Trump about the annihilation of Iran/Persia, the powers-that-be in America should start thinking about removing this dangerous man from office. For the sake of the world, and also for the sake of America. Only a person with diminished mental faculties would utter something so crass and awful about a nation and its people. — © Mark Alexander
“Metaphors can kill,” the linguist George Lakoff wrote in an influential essay on the Gulf war. “The use of a metaphor with a set of definitions becomes pernicious when it hides realities in a harmful way.” He described the effects of the US employment of business cost-and-benefit analogies, sporting comparisons and the fairytale of the just war with heroes and villains.
All veiled the reality of conflict. Euphemism was long the preferred choice for the US military. Spokespeople discussed “collateral damage” rather than civilian deaths and “surgical strikes”, framing destruction as both precise and part of a necessary and ultimately healing process. Donald Trump chooses naked menace instead. This week he issued a genocidal threat against Iran, having previously threatened to bomb it “back to the stone age” and destroy bridges and power plants – schools and medical facilities having already been pulverised. He said that he was “not at all” concerned about potential war crimes. » | Editorial | Friday, April 10, 2026
I condemn Donald Trump in the strongest possible terms. I also condemn the clueless Americans who put Donald Trump into office. When it comes to politics, economics, and geopolitics, Donald Trump is totally clueless. He is also a know-nothing. When did he last read a book? Has he ever read a book? As for his disgusting comments on Iran, they show us all how depraved Donald Trump is.
Iran can boast of its civilisation being more than 7,000 year old! Please remind me… What is America celebrating this year? Ah! That’s it… Its 250th anniversary! Hardly a comparison can be made between these two at all! The USA is a mere upstart when it comes to civilisation.
After those dreadful comments made by Donald Trump about the annihilation of Iran/Persia, the powers-that-be in America should start thinking about removing this dangerous man from office. For the sake of the world, and also for the sake of America. Only a person with diminished mental faculties would utter something so crass and awful about a nation and its people. — © Mark Alexander
Quitting Smoking: Today Is My Fourth Anniversary
MARK ALEXABDER: For those who are interested, today, April 10th, marks exactly four years since I smoked my last cigarette.
Even though I had smoked twenty cigarettes a day for most of my adult life, and even though I derived a great deal of pleasure from my smoking habit, it was a HABIT. It WAS NOT an ADDICTION! For this reason, quitting was relatively easy for me. I quit cold turkey.
Have I ever craved cigarettes since quitting? No, definitely not! But have I missed it occasionally? Certainly, I have. Just like you miss a friend when he/she goes away, or passes on. Because in many ways, cigarettes are like friends; they keep one company.
So many people complain about the smell of the smoke emanating from another’s burning cigarette. I wouldn’t. In fact, since quitting, I have hardly ever smelt cigarette smoke, because I no longer know anyone in my circle of friends who still indulges in the habit. In fact, I would love to smell cigarette smoke one day to remind me of my past pleasure.
Despite having quit, this blog remains a welcoming space for smokers from all over the world. Smoking, to me, is actually one of life’s great pleasures. The western world has grown far too intolerant of the pleasurable habit. I look back fondly on my smoking years.
© Mark Alexander
All Rights Reserved
Even though I had smoked twenty cigarettes a day for most of my adult life, and even though I derived a great deal of pleasure from my smoking habit, it was a HABIT. It WAS NOT an ADDICTION! For this reason, quitting was relatively easy for me. I quit cold turkey.
Have I ever craved cigarettes since quitting? No, definitely not! But have I missed it occasionally? Certainly, I have. Just like you miss a friend when he/she goes away, or passes on. Because in many ways, cigarettes are like friends; they keep one company.
So many people complain about the smell of the smoke emanating from another’s burning cigarette. I wouldn’t. In fact, since quitting, I have hardly ever smelt cigarette smoke, because I no longer know anyone in my circle of friends who still indulges in the habit. In fact, I would love to smell cigarette smoke one day to remind me of my past pleasure.
Despite having quit, this blog remains a welcoming space for smokers from all over the world. Smoking, to me, is actually one of life’s great pleasures. The western world has grown far too intolerant of the pleasurable habit. I look back fondly on my smoking years.
© Mark Alexander
All Rights Reserved
Benyamin Netanyahou accuse l'Espagne d'« hostilité » et l'exclut du mécanisme de surveillance de la trêve à Gaza
LE FIGARO : «L’Espagne a choisi d’être contre Israël de façon répétée (...) Ceux qui attaquent l’État d’Israël au lieu de s’en prendre aux régimes terroristes ne seront pas nos partenaires pour façonner l’avenir de la région», a déclaré le premier ministre israélien.
Le premier ministre israélien Benyamin Netanyahou a accusé vendredi l'Espagne d'« hostilité » envers son pays et a annoncé l'exclusion de Madrid du mécanisme de surveillance international de la trêve dans la bande de Gaza. « L'Espagne a choisi d'être contre Israël de façon répétée (...) Ceux qui attaquent l'Etat d'Israël au lieu de s'en prendre aux régimes terroristes ne seront pas nos partenaires pour façonner l'avenir de la région », a déclaré Benyamin Netanyahou dans un message vidéo.
Il a accusé Madrid, avec qui Israël entretient des relations exécrables, de faire preuve d'« hypocrisie » et d'« hostilité », et de « diffamer les soldats de l'armée israélienne ». « J’ai donc ordonné aujourd'hui d'exclure les représentants espagnols du centre de coordination de Kiryat Gat », mis en place sous supervision américaine pour surveiller le cessez-le-feu entré en vigueur le 10 octobre entre Israël et le mouvement islamiste palestinien Hamas à Gaza. Le Centre de coordination militaro-civile (CCMC) est un organisme de surveillance sous supervision américaine de la fragile trêve. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 10 avril 2026
Le premier ministre israélien Benyamin Netanyahou a accusé vendredi l'Espagne d'« hostilité » envers son pays et a annoncé l'exclusion de Madrid du mécanisme de surveillance international de la trêve dans la bande de Gaza. « L'Espagne a choisi d'être contre Israël de façon répétée (...) Ceux qui attaquent l'Etat d'Israël au lieu de s'en prendre aux régimes terroristes ne seront pas nos partenaires pour façonner l'avenir de la région », a déclaré Benyamin Netanyahou dans un message vidéo.
Il a accusé Madrid, avec qui Israël entretient des relations exécrables, de faire preuve d'« hypocrisie » et d'« hostilité », et de « diffamer les soldats de l'armée israélienne ». « J’ai donc ordonné aujourd'hui d'exclure les représentants espagnols du centre de coordination de Kiryat Gat », mis en place sous supervision américaine pour surveiller le cessez-le-feu entré en vigueur le 10 octobre entre Israël et le mouvement islamiste palestinien Hamas à Gaza. Le Centre de coordination militaro-civile (CCMC) est un organisme de surveillance sous supervision américaine de la fragile trêve. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 10 avril 2026
Die Straße von Hormus ist nur bedingt geöffnet, trotz Trumps martialischem Getöse | ntv
Apr 10, 2026 | Chaos und eine ominöse Liste
Vor der Waffenruhe droht Trump dem Iran mit martialischem Getöse. Zentrale Bedingung: die Öffnung der Straße von Hormus. Das ist nur bedingt passiert - und doch kommt vom US-Präsidenten seither vor allem Schweigen. ntv-US-Korrespondent Gordian Fritz erkennt darin die Hilflosigkeit Trumps.
Vor der Waffenruhe droht Trump dem Iran mit martialischem Getöse. Zentrale Bedingung: die Öffnung der Straße von Hormus. Das ist nur bedingt passiert - und doch kommt vom US-Präsidenten seither vor allem Schweigen. ntv-US-Korrespondent Gordian Fritz erkennt darin die Hilflosigkeit Trumps.
Can Viktor Orbán Lose Power after 16 Years in Charge of Hungary? | DW News
Apr 10, 2026 | Hungary votes on Sunday in a parliamentary election that could end Viktor Orbán’s 16 year grip on power. Once dominant, the nationalist prime minister is now trailing in opinion polls amid economic stagnation and growing frustration among voters. The election pits Orbán’s vision of a more authoritarian Hungary with closer ties to Russia against an opposition promising a return to a pro European course.
Zsuzsanna Végh, programme officer at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, explains why Orbán is suddenly vulnerable — and what the outcome could mean for Hungary’s democracy and its place in Europe.
Zsuzsanna Végh, programme officer at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, explains why Orbán is suddenly vulnerable — and what the outcome could mean for Hungary’s democracy and its place in Europe.
Himmlers Enkel: Das Blut eines Massenmörders | SPIEGEL TV
Iran Will Not Back Down on Maximum Control over Strait of Hormuz Demands
Apr 10, 2026 | “They will be trying to secure confirmation of Iran’s ability, or right, to do whatever it wants in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran is “an extremely tough negotiator” and will likely try to secure “maximum advantage” over the Strait of Hormuz, including imposing tolls, says former British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould.
Iran is “an extremely tough negotiator” and will likely try to secure “maximum advantage” over the Strait of Hormuz, including imposing tolls, says former British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould.
US-Iran War | It’s a Defeat for the US: Jeffrey Sachs Slams Trump over Iran Ceasefire
Cuba : le président dit qu'il ne démissionnera pas sous la pression américaine
LE FIGARO : « Nous sommes un État libre et souverain, un État libre. Nous jouissons d’autodétermination et sommes indépendants, nous ne sommes pas soumis aux intentions des États-Unis », a déclaré le président cubain Miguel Diaz-Canel.
Le président cubain Miguel Diaz-Canel a affirmé jeudi qu'il ne démissionnera pas sous la pression des États-Unis, appelant au dialogue avec le gouvernement de Donald Trump, dans sa première interview à une chaîne américaine. « Nous sommes un État libre et souverain, un État libre. Nous jouissons d'autodétermination et sommes indépendants, nous ne sommes pas soumis aux intentions des États-Unis », a-t-il déclaré selon la transcription en anglais de son entretien avec la chaîne NBC News.
« Le gouvernement américain qui a mis en œuvre cette politique hostile à l'égard de Cuba, n'a pas le droit moral de demander quoi que ce soit de Cuba », a déclaré le dirigeant. Les relations entre les États-Unis et Cuba ont connu récemment un regain de tensions. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 10 avril 2026
Le président cubain Miguel Diaz-Canel a affirmé jeudi qu'il ne démissionnera pas sous la pression des États-Unis, appelant au dialogue avec le gouvernement de Donald Trump, dans sa première interview à une chaîne américaine. « Nous sommes un État libre et souverain, un État libre. Nous jouissons d'autodétermination et sommes indépendants, nous ne sommes pas soumis aux intentions des États-Unis », a-t-il déclaré selon la transcription en anglais de son entretien avec la chaîne NBC News.
« Le gouvernement américain qui a mis en œuvre cette politique hostile à l'égard de Cuba, n'a pas le droit moral de demander quoi que ce soit de Cuba », a déclaré le dirigeant. Les relations entre les États-Unis et Cuba ont connu récemment un regain de tensions. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 10 avril 2026
"The War Is Turning Iran into a Major World Power": U. of Chicago Professor Robert Pape
Trump Says Iran's Handling of Strait of Hormuz Is 'Not the Agreement We Have' | BBC News
Apr 10, 2026 | US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of doing a "very poor job" in handling oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz, arguing it was "not the agreement we have".
It comes as the ceasefire between the US and Iran was agreed earlier this week, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aiming to begin direct talks with Lebanon for peaceful relations.
A US State Department official confirmed it would host a meeting next week in Washington "to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon".
After Israeli strikes continued in Lebanon throughout Thursday, Trump said that Israel would be "scaling back" its strikes in the country to support peace talks.
It comes as the ceasefire between the US and Iran was agreed earlier this week, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aiming to begin direct talks with Lebanon for peaceful relations.
A US State Department official confirmed it would host a meeting next week in Washington "to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon".
After Israeli strikes continued in Lebanon throughout Thursday, Trump said that Israel would be "scaling back" its strikes in the country to support peace talks.
Melania Trump Made ‘Personal Decision’ to Publicly Deny Epstein Ties
Apr 10, 2026 | “We have heard from people around Melania that she really felt a personal need and desire to do this herself. This decision really came from her personally.”
The White House was “certainly surprised” after the First Lady Melania Trump made a public address denying any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, reports Trevor Hunnicutt.
The White House was “certainly surprised” after the First Lady Melania Trump made a public address denying any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, reports Trevor Hunnicutt.
"She Was Separating Herself from Him" | Melania Trump's Biographer Analyses Her Epstein Comments
NYT: Melania Trump Says She Was Not Associated With Jeffrey Epstein:
Had Bush and Blair Been Punished for Iraq War Crimes, Iran Might Have Been Spared | MEE Opinion
Apr 10, 2026 | Peter Oborne, associate editor of Middle East Eye, argues that on the 23rd anniversary of the Iraq War, the US-Israeli campaign against Iran is a “war of aggression” that mirrors the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Referring to the Nuremberg Tribunal’s definition of aggression as the “supreme international crime,” Oborne points out that both the Iraq War and the conflict with Iran lack a legal basis and result in widespread devastation and human suffering.
He further suggests that these wars are not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader ongoing strategy of Western or US-led military interventions. Oborne condemns Western leaders for failing to learn from decades of “bloodstained” interventions throughout the Middle East.
America is a warmongering, bellicose nation. Just imagine how peaceful the world would be if America’s wings were clipped and its power curtailed! — © Mark Alexander
Referring to the Nuremberg Tribunal’s definition of aggression as the “supreme international crime,” Oborne points out that both the Iraq War and the conflict with Iran lack a legal basis and result in widespread devastation and human suffering.
He further suggests that these wars are not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader ongoing strategy of Western or US-led military interventions. Oborne condemns Western leaders for failing to learn from decades of “bloodstained” interventions throughout the Middle East.
America is a warmongering, bellicose nation. Just imagine how peaceful the world would be if America’s wings were clipped and its power curtailed! — © Mark Alexander
Steve Rosenberg: "Forecasts of a Deeper, More Protracted Recession in Russia": Russian Paper
Wahlen in Ungarn: Orbán vor dem Aus? | ARTE Europa - Die Woche
Apr 10, 2026 | Seit Jahren blockiert Viktor Orbán wichtige Entscheidungen, etwa wenn es um die Unterstützung der Ukraine geht. Zudem geht er in Ungarn gegen freie Medien, Justiz sowie Minderheiten vor und versteht sich blendend mit Wladimir Putin. Die EU-Kommission hat deshalb bereits Fördergelder für Ungarn eingefroren, abgeschwächt hat Orban seinen Kurs deshalb aber nicht. Durch die Wahlen am Sonntag könnten die Karten jetzt neu gemischt werden.
Video verfügbar bis zum 08/07/2026
Hoffentlich jagen die ungarischen Wähler diesen korrupten Mann aus dem Amt. Das Trump-Regime pflegt eine enge Beziehung zu Orbán. Wir alle wissen, dass Trump korrupt ist, daher sollte es uns nicht überraschen, dass Orbán so gut mit ihm auskommt. Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern! – © Mark Alexander
Video verfügbar bis zum 08/07/2026
Hoffentlich jagen die ungarischen Wähler diesen korrupten Mann aus dem Amt. Das Trump-Regime pflegt eine enge Beziehung zu Orbán. Wir alle wissen, dass Trump korrupt ist, daher sollte es uns nicht überraschen, dass Orbán so gut mit ihm auskommt. Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern! – © Mark Alexander
Trump Has Committed the Biggest Geopolitical Blunder in History | Former US Army General
Apr 9, 2026 | “Anybody who thinks we’re better off today than we were 40 days ago… is obviously delusional.”
Trump’s war in Iran has damaged the US’s relationship with its allies, pushed Iranians further into the hands of the regime, and meant that “America’s status has gone way down”, says former chief logistician for all US and Coalition forces under General Petraeus during the Iraq War, General Steven Anderson.
Trump’s war in Iran has damaged the US’s relationship with its allies, pushed Iranians further into the hands of the regime, and meant that “America’s status has gone way down”, says former chief logistician for all US and Coalition forces under General Petraeus during the Iraq War, General Steven Anderson.
Thursday, April 09, 2026
Steve Schmidt: The Dangerous Alliance between MAGA and Europe’s Far Right
It is to be hoped that Hungarian voters find it within themselves to kick that repugnant, objectionable, loathsome and corrupt Viktor Orbán OUT OF OFFICE. People like Viktor Orbán, JD Vance, and Donald Trump are so odious. They seem to be competing with each other to steal the ‘crown of odiousness’! Fact is, when it comes to odiousness, it would be difficult to slip a cigarette paper between them! — © Mark Alexander
Seong-Jin Cho – Mozart: Rondo in A Minor, K. 511
Trump stellt Europa Ultimatum: USA verlangen Militärpläne für Straße von Hormus
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Donald Trump setzt die europäischen Nato-Partner unter Zugzwang. Europäische Staaten sollen binnen weniger Tage konkrete Militärpläne vorlegen.
Die USA verlangen von europäischen Verbündeten kurzfristig konkrete militärische Pläne zur Sicherung der Straße von Hormus. Das berichtet die Nachrichtenagentur Bloomberg unter Berufung auf einen hochrangigen Nato-Vertreter. Demnach sollen die Staaten innerhalb weniger Tage darlegen, wie sie die Schifffahrt durch die strategisch wichtige Meerenge absichern wollen. Die Forderung sei bei Gesprächen zwischen US-Regierungsvertretern und der Nato im Weißen Haus sowie im Pentagon und im Außenministerium vorgebracht worden.
US-Präsident Donald Trump hatte gestern bei einem Treffen im Weißen Haus mit Nato-Generalsekretär Mark Rutte darüber gesprochen, heißt es. Der Nato-Chef bestätigte nach dem Gespräch dem US-Sender CNN, Trump sei „eindeutig enttäuscht“. » | Alexander Schmalz | Donnerstag, 9. April 2026
Die USA verlangen von europäischen Verbündeten kurzfristig konkrete militärische Pläne zur Sicherung der Straße von Hormus. Das berichtet die Nachrichtenagentur Bloomberg unter Berufung auf einen hochrangigen Nato-Vertreter. Demnach sollen die Staaten innerhalb weniger Tage darlegen, wie sie die Schifffahrt durch die strategisch wichtige Meerenge absichern wollen. Die Forderung sei bei Gesprächen zwischen US-Regierungsvertretern und der Nato im Weißen Haus sowie im Pentagon und im Außenministerium vorgebracht worden.
US-Präsident Donald Trump hatte gestern bei einem Treffen im Weißen Haus mit Nato-Generalsekretär Mark Rutte darüber gesprochen, heißt es. Der Nato-Chef bestätigte nach dem Gespräch dem US-Sender CNN, Trump sei „eindeutig enttäuscht“. » | Alexander Schmalz | Donnerstag, 9. April 2026
Kein Deal in Sicht: Bereiten sich Iran und die USA auf den großen Krieg vor?
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Beide Seiten könnte die Waffenruhe als Atempause sehen. Israel will weiterkämpfen. Die große Frage: Greift China aktiv in den Krieg ein?
Die Waffenruhe zwischen den USA und dem Iran erweist sich als brüchig. Es ist unklar, ob eine der beiden Seiten oder beide die Pause lediglich nutzen wollen, um sich auf eine neue Runde der militärischen Auseinandersetzung vorzubereiten. Vordergründig ist Israel das größte Hindernis.
Israel erklärte, dass die Waffenruhe nicht für den Libanon gelte, und griff dort am Mittwoch mehr als 100 Ziele an. Libanesische Behörden berichteten von 180 Toten und 900 Verletzten. Die israelische Luftwaffe bombardierte auch das Stadtzentrum von Beirut, ein eindeutig ziviles Ziel. Die Hisbollah teilte am Donnerstag mit, sie habe Israel als Vergeltung mit einem Raketenangriff beschossen und werde ihre Angriffe fortsetzen, bis die israelische Aggression gegen den Libanon beendet sei. Auch Vizepräsident JD Vance erklärte am Mittwoch, dass der Libanon nicht Teil der Vereinbarung sei. » | Michael Maier | Donnerstag, 9. April 2026
Die Waffenruhe zwischen den USA und dem Iran erweist sich als brüchig. Es ist unklar, ob eine der beiden Seiten oder beide die Pause lediglich nutzen wollen, um sich auf eine neue Runde der militärischen Auseinandersetzung vorzubereiten. Vordergründig ist Israel das größte Hindernis.
Israel erklärte, dass die Waffenruhe nicht für den Libanon gelte, und griff dort am Mittwoch mehr als 100 Ziele an. Libanesische Behörden berichteten von 180 Toten und 900 Verletzten. Die israelische Luftwaffe bombardierte auch das Stadtzentrum von Beirut, ein eindeutig ziviles Ziel. Die Hisbollah teilte am Donnerstag mit, sie habe Israel als Vergeltung mit einem Raketenangriff beschossen und werde ihre Angriffe fortsetzen, bis die israelische Aggression gegen den Libanon beendet sei. Auch Vizepräsident JD Vance erklärte am Mittwoch, dass der Libanon nicht Teil der Vereinbarung sei. » | Michael Maier | Donnerstag, 9. April 2026
Fillet Steak with Bordelaise Done Right with Pierre Koffmann | Meet Your Maestro | BBC Maestro
Pope at Odds with Trump after ‘Very Strange’ Pentagon Meeting, Says Confidante of Pope Leo
Apr 9, 2026 | “It is a fragile moment between the Holy See and the United States.”
A reported Pentagon meeting perceived as a “threat” by the Vatican has deepened tensions between Pope Leo and the Trump, amid wider disagreements over war and diplomacy, says confidante of Pope Leo Christopher Hale.
This wonderful pope is a blessing for a very troubled world. — © Mark Alexander
A reported Pentagon meeting perceived as a “threat” by the Vatican has deepened tensions between Pope Leo and the Trump, amid wider disagreements over war and diplomacy, says confidante of Pope Leo Christopher Hale.
This wonderful pope is a blessing for a very troubled world. — © Mark Alexander
L’éditorial de Philippe Gélie : « Trêve en Iran, les trois défis de Donald Trump »
LE FIGARO : Le fossé entre les interprétations américaines et iraniennes, contradictoirement triomphales, ouvre un espace à de funestes malentendus.
Entre une escalade militaire majeure aux conséquences considérables et une trêve temporaire destinée à donner sa chance à la diplomatie, nul ne saurait reprocher à Donald Trump d’avoir choisi la seconde option. Mais il serait naïf de croire que la première a totalement disparu de l’horizon.
La guerre d’Iran n’est pas finie. Après quarante jours de frappes aériennes, le conflit déclenché par le président américain a acquis sa dynamique propre, qu’une ébauche d’entente n’a pas instantanément enrayée. À peine annoncée, la « trêve fragile », comme la qualifie son maître d’œuvre, le vice-président JD Vance, a été malmenée par toutes les parties, au Liban et dans le Golfe. Le fossé entre les interprétations américaines et iraniennes, contradictoirement triomphales, ouvre un espace à de funestes malentendus. … » | Par Philippe Gélie | mercredi 8 avril 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Entre une escalade militaire majeure aux conséquences considérables et une trêve temporaire destinée à donner sa chance à la diplomatie, nul ne saurait reprocher à Donald Trump d’avoir choisi la seconde option. Mais il serait naïf de croire que la première a totalement disparu de l’horizon.
La guerre d’Iran n’est pas finie. Après quarante jours de frappes aériennes, le conflit déclenché par le président américain a acquis sa dynamique propre, qu’une ébauche d’entente n’a pas instantanément enrayée. À peine annoncée, la « trêve fragile », comme la qualifie son maître d’œuvre, le vice-président JD Vance, a été malmenée par toutes les parties, au Liban et dans le Golfe. Le fossé entre les interprétations américaines et iraniennes, contradictoirement triomphales, ouvre un espace à de funestes malentendus. … » | Par Philippe Gélie | mercredi 8 avril 2026
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Les Français rejettent massivement Donald Trump et sa guerre contre l’Iran
LE FIGARO : SONDAGE - Une majorité estime que Téhéran sort vainqueur d’un conflit qui renforce le régime et fragilise la paix dans le monde, selon le sondage Odoxa-Backbone pour Le Figaro.
La France semble pour le moins sceptique sur l’issue de la guerre en Iran. Alors que Donald Trump revendique une victoire totale après le cessez-le-feu proclamé mardi, 58 % des Français estiment que l’Iran en sort en fait comme le vainqueur (contre 41 % pour les États-Unis) selon un sondage réalisé par Odoxa-Backbone pour Le Figaro*. » | Par Tanguy Berthemet et Service Infographie | jeudi 9 avril 2026
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La France semble pour le moins sceptique sur l’issue de la guerre en Iran. Alors que Donald Trump revendique une victoire totale après le cessez-le-feu proclamé mardi, 58 % des Français estiment que l’Iran en sort en fait comme le vainqueur (contre 41 % pour les États-Unis) selon un sondage réalisé par Odoxa-Backbone pour Le Figaro*. » | Par Tanguy Berthemet et Service Infographie | jeudi 9 avril 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
JD Vance’s Claims about Orbán, the EU and Hungary Fact-checked
THE GUARDIAN: US vice-president said bloc tried to ‘destroy’ country’s economy, despite it being a net recipient of EU funds
During his visit to Budapest, where he heaped praise on the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, days before the country’s decisive election, JD Vance claimed the EU was responsible for “one of the worst examples of election interference” he had ever seen.
Standing alongside Orbán on Tuesday, the US vice-president said: “The bureaucrats in Brussels have tried to destroy the economy of Hungary. They have tried to make Hungary less energy-independent. They have tried to drive up costs for Hungarian consumers. And they’ve done it all because they hate this guy.”
How do these claims stand up? » | Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Thursday, April 9, 2026
JD Vance must be just as ill-informed as his boss. He is certainly just as odious. — © Mark Alexander
During his visit to Budapest, where he heaped praise on the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, days before the country’s decisive election, JD Vance claimed the EU was responsible for “one of the worst examples of election interference” he had ever seen.
Standing alongside Orbán on Tuesday, the US vice-president said: “The bureaucrats in Brussels have tried to destroy the economy of Hungary. They have tried to make Hungary less energy-independent. They have tried to drive up costs for Hungarian consumers. And they’ve done it all because they hate this guy.”
How do these claims stand up? » | Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Thursday, April 9, 2026
JD Vance must be just as ill-informed as his boss. He is certainly just as odious. — © Mark Alexander
Zionism: From an Idea to Genocide
Steve Rosenberg: Russian Paper: "Only the Feverish Mind of the US President Can Consider This a Triumphant Victory"
New Deadline Looms for U.S. and Iran as Truce Wavers
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Fractures were already emerging in the limited cease-fire. Vice President JD Vance will lead a U.S. delegation in talks this weekend.
President Trump faces new diplomatic tests as he prepares for weekend talks with Tehran amid doubts about the durability of his day-old cease-fire with Iran and the prospects for building it into a broader peace settlement.
A White House official said on Wednesday that Vice President JD Vance would lead a U.S. delegation to Pakistan for a meeting on Saturday with Iranian officials. Mr. Vance will be joined in the capital, Islamabad, by Mr. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner as they work to bridge huge political differences, some dating back decades, under a two-week clock set by the cease-fire agreement.
But even as Trump officials finalized the Saturday meeting, fractures were already emerging in the limited cease-fire brokered by Pakistan on Tuesday night, just ahead of Mr. Trump’s deadline for a threatened “civilization”-ending attack on Iran.
Robert Malley, who served as President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s special envoy for Iran, said the cease-fire was filled with ambiguities. The United States and Iran are already arguing over them, he said, and that will complicate the path forward.
“It’s hard to know not just where you go from here, but where you are to begin with,” he said. “The talks are starting on very weak grounds.” » | Michael Crowley | Reporting from Washington | Wednesday, April 8, 2026
With Threat to Wipe Out Iran’s Civilization, Trump’s Rhetoric Goes Beyond Bluster: The president’s violent rhetoric risks damaging his credibility as a negotiator and the country’s standing in the world. »
President Trump faces new diplomatic tests as he prepares for weekend talks with Tehran amid doubts about the durability of his day-old cease-fire with Iran and the prospects for building it into a broader peace settlement.
A White House official said on Wednesday that Vice President JD Vance would lead a U.S. delegation to Pakistan for a meeting on Saturday with Iranian officials. Mr. Vance will be joined in the capital, Islamabad, by Mr. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner as they work to bridge huge political differences, some dating back decades, under a two-week clock set by the cease-fire agreement.
But even as Trump officials finalized the Saturday meeting, fractures were already emerging in the limited cease-fire brokered by Pakistan on Tuesday night, just ahead of Mr. Trump’s deadline for a threatened “civilization”-ending attack on Iran.
Robert Malley, who served as President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s special envoy for Iran, said the cease-fire was filled with ambiguities. The United States and Iran are already arguing over them, he said, and that will complicate the path forward.
“It’s hard to know not just where you go from here, but where you are to begin with,” he said. “The talks are starting on very weak grounds.” » | Michael Crowley | Reporting from Washington | Wednesday, April 8, 2026
With Threat to Wipe Out Iran’s Civilization, Trump’s Rhetoric Goes Beyond Bluster: The president’s violent rhetoric risks damaging his credibility as a negotiator and the country’s standing in the world. »
Ben Hodges: This Is Already a Strategic Defeat | DW News
Apr 8, 2026 | In a crucial moment in history, Deutsche Welle’s Washington Bureau Chief Ines Pohl sits down with retired three-star General Ben Hodges.
From escalating tensions with Iran to questions about U.S. leadership, Hodges delivers a stark warning — calling recent rhetoric "appalling" and raising concerns about America’s credibility, alliances, and strategic direction.
From escalating tensions with Iran to questions about U.S. leadership, Hodges delivers a stark warning — calling recent rhetoric "appalling" and raising concerns about America’s credibility, alliances, and strategic direction.
Wednesday, April 08, 2026
"Daddy" (Short Film)
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