Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Jon Ossoff Calls Trump ‘Uniquely Despicable’ over Handling of Iran War in Rousing Atlanta Speech.

August 18, 2026 | FULL SPEECH: Georgia Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff sharply criticized Donald Trump’s handling of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, describing it as "uniquely despicable" and alleging that the president is "re-rigging" a corrupt system for personal gain. As Ossoff campaigns for re-election in Georgia this November, his persistent attacks against the Trump administration have fueled growing speculation that he is building momentum for a potential 2028 presidential run.


ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

Islamophobia’s Rise in Texas: ‘I Won’t Rest Until Every Muslim Is Gone’

Partial screenshot taken from this NYT article. | Morning prayer at the Valley Ranch Islamic Center in Irving, Texas. Credit: Desiree Rios for The New York Times

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Muslim communities have been growing for decades, particularly around Dallas. Now, conservatives want to roll up the welcome mat.

Ghulam Kehar rose before dawn in early June to attend the day’s first prayer at his local mosque in Irving, Texas, before heading off for a monthslong deployment with the U.S. Coast Guard.

He had been deployed before, but this time was different. He felt apprehensive about leaving his wife and four children behind in Texas, even for a short while.

Rhetorical attacks on Muslims by top Texas leaders had become more pronounced, and seemed to be trickling down. At his mosque, the Valley Ranch Islamic Center, and others across the state, congregants and religious leaders swapped stories of ugly comments directed at them while praying in public or sitting in public parks.

In recent months, a man was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat at a major new Islamic center in Houston. Not far away, in Conroe, a woman told Muslim shoppers at a grocery store they were “not welcome in this state or this country” — after losing her job, she received nearly $250,000 from supporters after video of her comments circulated widely. In McKinney, a Dallas suburb, a woman grabbed a former mayor and stuffed paper with an anti-Muslim message down his shirt during a heated City Council hearing over a mosque expansion. » | J. David Goodman, Lauren McGaughy, Jesus Jiménez and Ruth Graham | The reporters, based in Houston, Austin and Dallas, conducted more than 45 interviews at mosques, businesses and political events around Texas for this article | Monday, August 17, 2026

Monday, August 17, 2026

Trump Betrays Allies with Threat to Bomb Oman and Reduced Protections Against a Nuclear North Korea.

August 17, 2026 | Donald Trump has threatened to bomb long-time diplomatic mediator Oman and unilaterally reduce joint military exercises with South Korea—demonstrating a severe breakdown in foreign policy strategy. By severing critical diplomatic backchannels and catering to authoritarian leaders, these uncoordinated actions drastically heighten the risk of accidental global conflict and nuclear escalation.

Why Has US President Donald Trump Threatened to Bomb Oman? | BBC Newscast

August 17, 2026

How Donald Trump's Relationships with North and South Korea Are Changing | BBC News

Aug 17, 2026 | President Donald Trump has said the US will "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea.

He cited his "very good relationship" with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, and noted that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the "denuclearisation" of Iran.

So what does this mean for the future of his relationships with the Koreas?


A New American Leader | Steve Schmidt

August 17, 2026 | Donald Trump is systematically attempting to dismantle the Constitution. Steve Schmidt explains how Jon Ossoff and a new generation of Democrats are the antidote to Trump's poison and why MAGA must be voted out of power from coast to coast in November.

Trump Sends Son-in-law to Israel, Tells Iran to Surrender and Threatens to Bomb Ally

Aug 17, 2026 | Donald Trump is not having much luck in the Middle East - such is the US President’s frustration that today he even threatened to bomb Oman, America's ally, if they got in the way of peace talks with Iran.

And almost 11 months after the Gaza ceasefire deal was signed, the Strip is still a tent city amongst the rubble, caught between Trump’s impatience and Benjamin Netanyahu’s need for political survival.

Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was dispatched to the Middle East to meet with the leadership of Hamas and then to huddle with the Israeli prime minister along with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

A spokesman for Netanyahu, who flatly rejected the 15-point Gaza peace plan last week, described the talks as "deep and constructive." But the next step still depends on Hamas agreeing to surrender its arms and Israeli troops to withdraw.

Meanwhile, Trump has apparently opened up a whole new front in his war with Iran threatening to bomb Oman if they "got in the way" of his peace talks, while Tehran has threatened to go on the offensive.


Péter Magyar regiert seit 100 Tagen Ungarn: „Es hat sich wahnsinnig viel verändert im Alltag“

TAGESSPIEGEL: Nach der historischen Niederlage von Rechtspopulist Viktor Orbán versprach Wahlsieger Péter Magyar: „An den Sommer 2026 wird man sich zurückerinnern.“ Ist das so? Eine erste Bilanz.

Noch vor einem halben Jahr hatte Csaba Lukács andere Probleme: Würde Viktor Orbán die Wiederwahl gelingen und das umstrittene „Transparenzgesetz“ durchbringen, wäre das vermutlich der Todesstoß für seine Wochenzeitung „Ungarische Stimme“.

Bekanntlich kam es anders: Die neue Regierung von Ministerpräsident Péter Magyar brachte ein Gesetz zur Wiederherstellung der Pressefreiheit auf den Weg; sie stoppte Propaganda-Sendungen auf öffentlich-rechtlichen Kanälen und kündigte Presseförderungen an. » | Markus Schönherr | Montag, 17. August 2026

Trump Lashes Out at Oman as the Preliminary Deal with Iran Expires.

Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | President Trump lashed out at Oman while he spoke to Fox News. Credit: Al Drago for The New York Times

THE NEW YORK TIMES: As a crumbling truce with Iran officially collapsed on Monday, President Trump signaled his frustration at his inability to resolve a war that he started but cannot seem to end.

In an interview with Fox News, the president lashed out at an American ally, Oman, that has been trying to mediate negotiations with Iran.

“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them,” Mr. Trump said in a phone interview, according to Fox News’s Trey Yingst.

The latest threat toward Oman, which has facilitated talks between the United States and Iran for years and maintains that it is still a neutral mediator, came as Mr. Trump found himself without much leverage to reach the goals he set out at the start of the war.

Hostilities have now stretched past the six-month mark in a conflict that began with the United States and Israel launching strikes across Iran in February. Administration officials pledged at the time that the war would be over in four to six weeks. » | Luke Broadwater | Monday, August 17, 2026

Vulgar man; vulgar president; foul mouth! — © Mark Alexander

ALSO READ:

Houthis Claim Strike on Saudi Vessel as Red Sea Violence Escalates: The armed group, based in Yemen and backed by Iran, said it had launched missiles near the vital maritime trade route, in a conflict that shows no sign of abating. »

Iran Is Bracing for Conflict Abroad and at Home: Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment of hard-line loyalists to top jobs suggests he is prepared to keep the country on a war footing and to quash domestic dissent. »

CURATING THE TABLE: Chicken Tikka Masala | The Proper Way to Make the UK's Favourite Curry

February 15, 2026


Click here for the full recipe. Then click on ‘more’.

Sana Siddiqui and her husband can be supported here »

Fans Gather with Friends and Family in Swansea for Bonnie Tyler's Funeral

Aug 17, 2026 | Fans have gathered to pay tribute to Bonnie Tyler as the singer's funeral took place in Swansea.

The Total Eclipse of the Heart singer, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died in Portugal last month.




LESEN SIE AUCH:

Bestattung von Sängerin: Abschied von Bonnie Tyler: Gänsehaut-Momente bei Trauerfeier: Letzter Applaus für einen Weltstar: Fans, Freunde und Familie verabschieden sich in Wales von Sängerin Bonnie Tyler. Wegbegleiter erinnern sich in emotionalen Reden an die Sängerin. »

Hunderte Fans nehmen Abschied: Bewegende Trauerfeier für Sängerin Bonnie Tyler in Wales: Hunderte Fans von Bonnie Tyler haben in ihrer walisischen Heimat Abschied von der Rocksängerin genommen. Die Trauerfeier in einer Kirche in Swansea wurde auch im Internet übertragen. »

À LIRE AUSSI :

Au Pays de Galles, dernier adieu à Bonnie Tyler sur l'air de "Total eclipse of the heart" : Une star internationale restée une "fille simple": les fans de la chanteuse britannique Bonnie Tyler, décédée en juillet, lui ont rendu un dernier hommage lundi à Swansea, dans son Pays de Galles natal, entonnant ses tubes et racontant des anecdotes savoureuses. / Quand les funérailles ont débuté à l'église St Mary avec "It's a heartache", des fans à l'extérieur n'ont pas hésité à faire entendre leur voix, parfois à pleins poumons. »

ALSO READ :

‘She never forgot where she came from’: Bonnie Tyler mourners turn out for Swansea service: Many in the crowd watching on screen outside minster have stories of meeting or knowing singer, who died in July »

Emotional farewell to 'global, iconic superstar' Bonnie Tyler: Fans travelled to Wales to pay an emotional tribute to legendary singer Bonnie Tyler as her funeral was held in the city she was "a fantastic ambassador for". / A celebration of life service was held at Swansea Minster ahead of a private family funeral in the village where she was born and grew up. »

Bonnie Tyler: Familie und Fans begleiten sie auf ihrem letzten Weg | ntv

Aug 17, 2026 | Bewegender Abschied von Bonnie Tyler: Zahlreiche Fans versammeln sich in Wales, um der Sängerin die letzte Ehre zu erweisen. Reporterin Katharina Delling berichtet von der emotionalen Trauerfeier, bewegenden Momenten und dem Abschied der Familie.

Democracy Now! "The Nerd Reich": Author Gil Durán on Big Tech Fascism, Peter Thiel, JD Vance & the War on Democracy

Aug 17, 2026 | A new book by longtime Bay Area journalist Gil Durán investigates “tech fascism” and its mounting influence on U.S. politics. The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy follows the rise of Vice President JD Vance, the former venture capitalist whose “outsider” campaign for Senate was bankrolled by the billionaire co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, Peter Thiel. Durán traces the ideological lineage of the current Trump administration back from Vance to Thiel and the far-right-wing monarchist Curtis Yarvin, whose “right-libertarian” political theory has long made the rounds among Silicon Valley elite. “These guys were never libertarians,” says Durán. “Now that they are the government, we see their true face: They’re fascists, and they’re authoritarians.”


The Nerd Reich YouTube channel can be found here »

Democracy Now! can be supported here.

Die Küche Siziliens: Ein aromatischer Mix der Kulturen - Dokumentation von NZZ Format (2013)

Apr 23, 2020 | Griechen, Araber, Normannen, Schwaben, Spanier und Franzosen haben Sizilien im Lauf der Jahrhunderte erobert und regiert und Spuren ihrer Kultur hinterlassen, auch in der Küche.

Streetfood in Palermo: Auf den Märkten isst man frittierte Reiskugeln, rohe Seeigel und Kutteln. Spanisch beeinflusst sind die Empanadas, die gefüllten Teigtaschen. Die süß-saure Caponata aus Gemüse, Kapern und Oliven ist ein Mix aus allen mediterranen Kochkünsten. In San Vito Lo Capo, der Hochburg des sizilianischen Couscous, ist die Nähe zu Nordafrika deutlich spürbar.

Die Insel Favignana war einst Schauplatz der Thunfischerei. Peppe bereitet einen Salat aus rohem Thunfisch, Aloe Vera, Früchten und aromatischen Kräutern zu. Bei Modica produziert die Familie Floridia den geschützten "Ragusano"-Käse. Der "fliegende Chefkoch" Carmelo Chiaramonte philosophiert auf dem Fischmarkt von Catania. Eine Gruppe von jungen, ehrgeizigen Köchen glänzt mit Interpretationen der tradtionellen Küche.

Originaltitel: Kulinarische Reise durch Sizilien


Week Ahead 17/08/2026 – A Very Different Week Ahead – Met Office Weather Forecast UK

Aug 17, 2026 | This is the Met Office UK Weather forecast for the week ahead 17/08/2026. The weather turns wet across many parts of the UK with low pressure influencing conditions. Bands of rain then showers with thunder and hail will sink south. Turning fresher from the north with a northerly wind. Bringing you this week’s weather forecast is Clare Nasir

Bonnie Tyler

Date of birth: June 8, 1951. Date of death: July 8, 2026 | Place of birth: Skewen, Swansea, Wales. Place of death: Faro, Portugal. Real name: Gaynor Hopkins

The photo above is a still taken from this German video on Bonnie Tyler’s life. [Source: YouTube]

Why Are So Many African Nations Enacting Homophobic Laws?

August 14, 2026

"While Americans Preach about Nonsense, China Lifts People Out of Poverty" | Steve Keen

August 15, 2026

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Thieves Steal Four Renaissance Paintings From Italian Museum in Brazen Heist

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The works, by Antonello da Messina, were taken as the Sicilian city of Messina held a religious celebration.

The five surviving panels of Antonello da Messina’s 1473 “San Gregorio Polyptych,” three of which were stolen from the Accascina Regional Museum in Messina, Italy. Credit: Museo Regionale Accascina Messina, via Reuters

Four paintings by the Renaissance master Antonello da Messina were stolen from a museum in Messina, Sicily, on Saturday, Italian officials said.

Taking advantage of an annual religious celebration that brings tens of thousands to Messina’s streets, thieves made off with three of five panels that constitute the Polyptych of San Gregorio as well as a small double-sided devotional painting. They are the only works by Antonello da Messina, commonly called Antonello, that remained in his native city.

The celebration, the Procession of the Vara, is a religious ritual that takes places every Aug. 15. Some 100,000 people attended the celebration and the city’s law enforcement officials were focused on maintaining order there, city officials said. “Coinciding with la Vara, it was certainly a planned theft,” Mayor Federico Basile said in a telephone interview.

Commissioned in the 15th century for the church of San Gregorio, which was destroyed during a devastating earthquake in 1908, the San Gregorio altarpiece originally consisted of six panels. Only five remain and were housed at Messina’s Accascina Regional Museum. » | Elisabetta Povoledo | Reporting from Rome | Sunday, August 16, 2026

Trump réduit les exercices militaires avec Séoul au nom de sa relation avec Kim Jong Un

Cette image provient de cet article du Figaro. | Le président américain Donald Trump prononce un discours au David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence, à Garden City, dans l’État de New York, le 14 août 2026. Ken Cedeno / REUTERS

LE FIGARO : Le président américain juge ces manœuvres conjointes « coûteuses » et « hostiles » envers la Corée du Nord, qu’il estime désormais « non menaçante ».

Donald Trump a annoncé dimanche « réduire considérablement » la participation des États-Unis à des exercices militaires conjoints avec son allié historique sud-coréen, en raison de sa « très bonne relation avec Kim Jong Un », le dirigeant de la Corée du Nord.

Le président américain a dénoncé sur sa plateforme Truth Social des exercices « non seulement coûteux » et qui selon lui « envoient un signal totalement inapproprié et hostile » envers la Corée du Nord, qui, « depuis que Donald Trump est président, s’est montrée non menaçante et respectueuse ». » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | dimanche 16 août 2026

Thousands of Bonnie Tyler Fans Gather to Pay Respects as Coffin Brought Home

August 16, 2026 | Thousands of Bonnie Tyler fans gathered in Swansea to pay their final respects as the beloved Welsh singer's coffin was brought home.

The emotional procession through Mumbles became a powerful tribute as mourners lined the streets, shared memories, and even sang one of her most iconic songs.

Known around the world for legendary hits including Total Eclipse of the Heart, It's a Heartache, and Holding Out for a Hero, Bonnie Tyler built a career spanning more than five decades while remaining deeply connected to her Welsh roots.

Her journey from South Wales to international stardom made her one of the most recognizable voices in music. Fans travelled from across Europe to witness her final journey, while floral tributes appeared outside her home.

The scenes in Swansea showed just how deeply her music had touched generations of people. Her passing at the age of 75 left millions of fans heartbroken, but the massive public tribute demonstrated that her voice and legacy will continue to live on.

From her early days as Gaynor Hopkins to becoming an international music icon, Bonnie Tyler's extraordinary story has left an unforgettable mark on the world.

This video looks at the emotional homecoming, the fans who gathered to honor her, her incredible career, and the final tributes planned in her memory.



Related video and article here »

ALSO READ:

Thousands of Bonnie Tyler fans line the streets as coffin taken to Swansea home: Legendary singer Bonnie Tyler has made a final journey to her Mumbles home, with thousands of emotional fans lining the streets to pay their respects. »

'She was just Gaynor from up the road' - villagers ready for emotional Bonnie Tyler goodbye: There aren't many villages where you can walk into a jewellers, a hardware shop, or a cafe, and hear stories about one of the world's biggest music icons. »

LESEN SIE AUCH:

Emotionaler Trauerzug durch Mumbles: Fans ehren Bonnie Tyler: Unter Tränen und Applaus verabschieden sich zahlreiche Fans in Mumbles von Sängerin Bonnie Tyler. Zu ihren Ehren singt die Menge einen weltberühmten Song. »

Abschied von Bonnie Tyler: Tausende Fans säumen in Wales die Straßen, als der Sarg von Sängerin Bonnie Tyler durch die Stadt gefahren wird. Ein Abschied, kurz bevor die Popikone am Montag endgültig beerdigt wird. »

Gänsehaut bei Abschied von Bonnie Tyler: Tausende Fans singen Welthit bei bewegender Trauerprozession: Tausende Menschen säumten die Straßen von Mumbles – und sangen gemeinsam. Der Abschied von Bonnie Tyler wurde zu einem unvergesslichen Moment. »

À LIRE AUSSI :

Mort de Bonnie Tyler : des milliers de fans chantent « Total Eclipse of the Heart » pour ses adieux : VIDÉO - Plusieurs milliers de fans de Bonnie Tyler se sont rassemblés samedi à Mumbles, au Pays de Galles, pour rendre un dernier hommage à la chanteuse morte le 8 juillet. »

Au Pays de Galles, des milliers de fans accompagnent le cercueil de la chanteuse Bonnie Tyler : Quelques milliers de fans de la chanteuse britannique Bonnie Tyler, star des années 80 décédée en juillet à 75 ans, se sont rassemblés samedi dans les rues de Mumbles, son village au Pays de Galles, applaudissant au passage de son cercueil, avant ses funérailles lundi. »

Christopher Hitchens Says Women Shouldn't Work If They Don’t Want To

Jun 1, 2017 | Christopher Hitchens debates a feminist on the issue of women working.


I agree with him! — © Mark Alexander

Peter Hitchens: “Britain Is Finished. Get Out While You Can”

Aug 11, 2026 | Can Britain recover, or is it already too late for meaningful national renewal? Peter Hitchens delivers a characteristically uncompromising verdict on Britain, faith and the future on

Unbelievable - The Interview with Luke Martin. From free speech and Islam to marriage, education, justice and the power of the state, this is a provocative, deeply personal interview with one of Britain’s most controversial commentators.

Hitchens argues that Britain is “post-revolutionary” and nearing catastrophe, tracing its decline through weakened families, collapsing institutions, cultural amnesia and the loss of Christian conscience.


CURATING THE TABLE: Indo-Chinese Chow Mein | The Ultimate Street Food Fusion

July 20, 2026


Click here for the recipe. Then click on 'more'.

Sana Siddiqui and her husband can be supported here »

Builders Discover €9m Gold Stash Sealed in Walls of Belgian Property

August 14, 2026

Is Britain Really Giving Up on Alcohol?

August 16, 2026 | Britain’s enthusiastic — and occasionally problematic — relationship with alcohol is well-documented. It was Britain, after all, that invented the pub and the pint.

However, recent data has shown that the average Briton consumed 10.2 alcoholic drinks per week last year. Although that may sound high, it is actually the lowest since records began in 1990.

Those in midlife and older people are by far the biggest drinkers these days, as younger people turn to running clubs and non-alcoholic alternatives.

The Sunday Times’s Daniel Woolfson looks at why Britain’s relationship with alcohol could be on the rocks.


Hitlers Familie - Geheimnisse des Dritten Reichs

January 22, 2014

Steve Rosenberg: Russia: Petrol Queues, Pickles and an Anti-war Party Barred from the Election

August 16, 2026 | A look at how the Russian papers have covered the Supreme Court's decision to remove the anti-war Yabloko party from the ballot ahead of the parliamentary election. Plus, petrol queues return to Moscow. And biting social comment from the joke pages of the newspapers.

Nigel Farage Has Had ‘A Complete Change of Character’ | Michael Crick

Aug 16, 2026 | “Gone is the affable character, affable Farage of old, who you know, gets on with people, laughs at himself, has a bit of fun. Now we've got the snarling man of continuous grievance who makes ridiculous claims against the media.”

Nigel Farage’s biographer, Michael Crick says that over the past few months the Reform UK leader has had “a complete change of personality.”


Peter Thiel's Anti-Human Plan Is Pure Evil

August 15, 2026


It's because of "progressivism" that Peter Thiel could marry his husband and have children through surrogacy. What a dork! He is also against welfare and government handouts, except, of course, handouts for himself and his companies. How many billions has he received from the US Treasury? The man is a walking bundle of hypocrisy. He is also dangerous. — © Mark Alexander

LGBTQ Journalist Takes on Christian Nationalist Pastor Doug Wilson | Secular Spotlight

Aug 12, 2026 | FFRF’s Nancy Noet and Matt Kenyon speak with Spencer Macnaughton, editor-in-chief of Uncloseted Media, about his revealing interview with Christian nationalist pastor Doug Wilson, whose extremist views on LGBTQ+ rights, women, marriage and the role of religion in government have gained greater visibility through his ties to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They examine Wilson’s support for patriarchal rule and disturbing views on homosexuality and marital rape, and discuss the growing normalization of Christian nationalist rhetoric in American politics.

Le Liechtenstein met fin à la primogéniture masculine pour la succession au trône

Cette photo provient de cet article du Figaro. | Le prince héréditaire du Liechtenstein Alois à Vaduz, Liechtenstein, le 15 août 2026. Romina Amato / REUTERS

LE FIGARO : L’aîné des enfants du souverain, qu’il s’agisse d’une fille ou d’un garçon, sera désormais appelé à devenir prince ou princesse du pays.

La Maison princière du Liechtenstein a annoncé samedi, jour de fête nationale, l'instauration de l'égalité entre les genres dans la succession au trône, faisant désormais de l'aîné des enfants, fille ou garçon, l'héritier puis le prince ou la princesse du pays.

« L'ordre de succession au trône passe de la primogéniture masculine à la primogéniture absolue. Cela signifie qu'à l'avenir, l'aîné des enfants - quel que soit son genre - deviendra l'héritier du trône et, par la suite, princesse ou prince de Liechtenstein », a indiqué la Maison princière dans un communiqué. La décision a été prise par la Maison princière elle-même. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | samedi 15 août 2026

Espagne : la ville de Grenade secouée par un rare séisme de magnitude 5

LE FIGARO : Les pompiers ont reçu 300 appels et effectué 85 interventions. Des dégâts isolés sont en cours d’évaluation.

La ville très touristique de Grenade, dans le sud de l'Espagne, était sous le choc samedi après un rare séisme de magnitude 5 qui a réveillé les habitants en pleine nuit et endommagé des bâtiments, sans faire de victimes.

La secousse s'est produite peu après 1 heure du matin (23 heures GMT vendredi), avec un épicentre situé dans la commune d'Alhendin, à 10 kilomètres au sud de Grenade, selon l'Institut géographique national (IGN). » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | samedi 15 août 2026

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Assomption : pourquoi le mystère de la Vierge Marie continue de fasciner le monde

Cette capture d'écran provient de cet article du Figaro. | Procession du 15 août à Lourdes. (Photo by Valentine CHAPUIS / AFP) VALENTINE CHAPUIS / AFP

LE FIGARO : ANALYSE - Plus de 1,4 milliard de catholiques s’apprêtent à célébrer l’Assomption ce samedi 15 août. La piété populaire mariale prospère même si le Vatican a récemment émis une mise en garde.

La Vierge Marie demeure l’un des grands mystères du catholicisme. Elle est particulièrement honorée en cette fête de l’Assomption par 1,4 milliard de fidèles dans le monde. En France, le sanctuaire de Lourdes sera comble samedi, avec près de 21.000 personnes attendues pour le 153e pèlerinage national, présidé cette année par le cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, archevêque d’Alger, un religieux dominicain franco-algérien. La Vierge Marie sera aussi priée avec ferveur dans des centaines d’autres lieux, dans la dynamique du regain de piété populaire de ces dernières années.

Marie compte vraiment dans l’Église catholique. Pourquoi Léon XIV consacrerait ainsi deux journées à Lourdes - plus de temps que pour Paris et Metz - lors de sa visite en France prévue pour fin septembre ? Samedi, le pape américain célébrera l’Assomption avec dévotion dans l’église de la paroisse de Castel Gandolfo, où il a pris ses quartiers d’été. Cette fête demeure l’un des cinq grands rendez-vous spirituels de l’année liturgique - avec Pâques, Noël, la Toussaint et la Pentecôte -, où les catholiques témoignent de leur attachement profond pour celle qui est la « mère de Jésus » selon la tradition chrétienne. » | Par Jean-Marie Guénois | samedi 15 août 2026

Réservé aux abonnés

Trump's Authority Collapses in the Face of Unhinged Military Announcements.

August 15, 2026 | Donald Trump’s leadership strategy is failing to deliver tangible, meaningful benefits for everyday people. Instead of stability or progress, the public is treated to erratic rhetoric, impulse-driven policy, and declarations that defy basic logic. Across foreign diplomacy, military leadership, and defense strategy, personal whim and unvetted gut reactions have replaced hard-earned expertise—leaving working families and service members to foot the bill.


ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

Fans Say Goodbye to Bonnie Tyler as Coffin Is Brought Home

Aug 15, 2026 | Hundreds of people have lined the streets in Mumbles to pay tribute to Bonnie Tyler as her hearse is driven to her home.

The Total Eclipse of the Heart singer, born Gaynor Hopkins, died in a Portuguese hospital on July 8 at the age of 75. On Saturday, members of the public lined Newton Road in Mumbles as the cortège travelled from William Pressdee Funeral Care in Mumbles, returning to her home in Llwynderw.

Some fans had travelled from as far as the US to watch the procession pass through the Mumbles.

A celebration of Bonnie's life, for family and friends, will take place at Swansea Minster on Monday, before the singer makes a final journey through her hometown of Skewen.




ALSO READ:

Thousands of Bonnie Tyler fans gather to pay respects as coffin brought home: Fans line streets, singing Total Eclipse of the Heart ahead of Welsh singer’s Swansea funeral »

How the Taliban Have Changed Afghanistan Five Years Later

Aug 15, 2026 | The west spent 20 years, thousands of lives and more than $2 trillion replacing the Taliban in Afghanistan with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Five years later, armoured vehicles took part in a parade through the capital Kabul to celebrate their "victory day".

The Taliban says it has brought back security, but Afghan women tell us they are being erased from education, jobs, and hope itself.

With the Taliban's rule have come a deepening humanitarian crisis and isolation from much of the rest of the world. Women face comprehensive repression, with millions excluded from school and almost completely erased from public life.

Warning - This report includes details some viewers may find distressing.


Sir András Schiff: Finding Your Path

Aug 14, 2026 | Sir András Schiff joins Living the Creative Life and host Zsolt Bognár on location at the Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria, for a conversation about life and music. He shares his love of different pianos, humor, the music of Robert Schumann, what he learned from his teachers, and how he finds larger meaning.

Filmed September 2025
Video: Katalog-film.de


Son of Anti-Muslim MP Rupert Lowe 'Marries Libyan Woman at Halal Wedding'

THE NEW ARAB: The son of anti-Muslim MP Rupert Lowe has allegedly married a woman of Libyan descent, at a wedding where halal options were available, prompting ridicule

Screenshot taken from this article in The New Arab. | Rupert Lowe, formerly of Reform UK, has built a parliamentary career on Islamophobic and anti-immigrant rhetoric [Getty/file photo]

The son of British right-wing politician Rupert Lowe has reportedly married a Muslim woman of Libyan descent, raising eyebrows given the Restore Britain founder’s frequent anti-Muslim and anti-immigration pronouncements.

Reports in legacy and social media have suggested that the wedding of Angus Lowe to Yasmin Mezran took place last week. She is the daughter of Karim Mezran, a Libyan academic and senior fellow at the Washington, DC-based Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East.

Social media posts also suggested that the wedding ceremony offered halal options for guests, which also surprised social media users, as Lowe had made numerous "pledges" to end halal slaughter in the UK, as part of his anti-Muslim campaign.

A repost on X by Karim Mezran, whose account is verified on the social networking site, also seemingly confirmed that his daughter's wedding to Lowe's son took place.

Lowe has commented on the marriage, but did not disclose the bride’s identity or background.

Instead, in a post on X on Monday, Lowe posted an image of the two, with the caption: "A young couple setting out on their life adventure. I am a very proud father." » | Sofia Aboudari | Tuesday, May 26, 2026

CURATING THE TABLE: Rajma | North India’s Rich, Creamy & Deeply Satisfying Red Kidney Bean Curry

June 28, 2026


For the full recipe, please click here. Then click on ‘more’.

Sana Siddiqui and her husband can be supported here »

HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN: Biber Dolması - Turkish-style Stuffed Peppers

January 16, 2021 | Amsterdam | Biber Dolmasi, Turkish stuffed peppers, is a classic dish in Turkey and easy to make at home. Usually served with yogurt, this dolma dish has an incredibly satisfying taste and texture with the spicy rice and beef filling.

Learn how to make stuffed peppers the Turkish way and surprise your next guest!



Click here for a full list of the ingredients. Then click on ‘more’.

HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN can be supported on Patreon here.

Real Doctor Analyzes Trump's Worst Speech Ever (More Evidence of Amphetamine Use)

August 14, 2026 | From sweat-soaked, paranoid rants in Vegas to nodding off on live television, Trump's escalating behavior points to a dangerous, repeating pattern. In this breakdown, we examine the physical telltales of amphetamine intoxication, including jaw clenching, severe agitation, and zero disinhibition. Former Apprentice insider Noel Casler exposed the habit years ago, so why hasn't Trump’s legal team touched him? Watch as we break down the clinical evidence, reveal the projection behind his attacks, and pose the ultimate question: how much longer can his body take this?

Trump's $10billion BBC Lawsuit Gets Even Funnier Because... Fewer Than 300 Watched It in the US

August 14, 2026 | Donald Trump is still suing the BBC despite his lawyers admitting fewer than 300 people saw the programme he's suing over.

The US President has taken the broadcaster to court over an episode of Panorama that aired in the UK a week before the 2024 election.

In a right-wing media meltdown earlier this year, it emerged the introduction of the episode truncated a series of things Trump said at his speech to the "Stop the Steal" rally on January 6 2021, shortly before his followers tried to storm the US Capitol Building to prevent the lawful certification of his election loss to Joe Biden.

The BBC has acknowledged the programme may have led viewers to believe Trump said the sentences one after the other, which he did not. But Congress and US courts have ruled repeatedly that Trump did use the speech to inspire his followers to march on the Capital, in what became the bloodiest insurrection in modern American history.


Accusé de plagiat, l’ancien professeur de Cambridge Jason Arday retrouvé mort, quelques jours après sa démission

Cette capture d'écran de Jason Arday est une image figée extraite de la vidéo qui accompagne cet article du Figaro.

LE FIGARO : Quelques jours après avoir annoncé son départ de la prestigieuse institution britannique, l’universitaire a été retrouvé sans vie vendredi après-midi dans un logement du sud de Londres.

L’affaire avait fait la Une des médias britanniques et a été abondamment commentée par la presse anglo-saxonne. Jason Arday, ancien professeur de sociologie de l’éducation à l’université de Cambridge, a été retrouvé mort vendredi à Londres, quelques jours après avoir annoncé sa démission dans un contexte de controverse autour de son parcours universitaire. Âgé de 41 ans, il a été découvert « sans vie » dans un logement du quartier de Battersea, dans le sud de la capitale britannique. Les secours ont été alertés à 15h12, avant que son décès ne soit constaté sur place.

La police londonienne a précisé que la mort était pour l’heure considérée comme « inattendue », mais qu’elle ne semblait pas suspecte. « Malheureusement, un homme de 41 ans a été déclaré mort sur les lieux. Ses proches ont été informés et bénéficient du soutien de policiers », a indiqué un porte-parole de la police britannique. » | Par Maxime Dubernet de Boscq et AFP agence | Publié : vendredi 14 août 2026. Mis à jour : samedi 15 août 2026

ALSO READ :

Professor’s Death Leaves Behind Hard Questions for Cambridge on Race and Hiring: Jason Arday, the school’s youngest Black professor, was found dead on Friday. The school ignored a series of warnings about his life story and his work. »

Jason Arday, professor at centre of Cambridge plagiarism row, found dead: Academic was pronounced dead at his home in south London after police called to address after 3pm on Friday »

Trump Wants US Carrier to Stay Longer Despite Navy Families Sounding the Alarm

Aug 15, 2026 | “Unless they get to port soon, people are going to start losing their minds.”

Navy families have raised concerns about alleged food shortages, broken plumbing and serious mental-health incidents aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth insists the reports have been “completely misrepresented”, while Donald Trump says the deployment “hasn’t been long enough”, says US reporter Harriet Alexander.


Sarah Ferguson Exposes Andrew: “He Has Millions Hidden in Secret Bank Accounts”

August 11, 2026 | In this video, we dive into the dramatic details surrounding Sarah Ferguson’s financial crisis, the origins of Andrew’s alleged offshore wealth—from the infamous £15 million Sunninghill Park deal to high-stakes international business arrangements—and why Sarah feels she has no choice but to give him an ultimatum.

We also look back at her past in Switzerland, her connections to late F1 tycoon Paddy McNally, and what happens if her silence is no longer guaranteed.


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