Monday, June 22, 2026
'Significantly Hotter than 1976': How Long Will This Heatwave Last?
Steve Rosenberg: What Are Russian Papers Reporting about Fuel Shortages and Ukrainian Drone Strikes?
Churchill's Zurich Speech | 19 September 1946
Aug 29, 2016 | "We must build a kind of United States of Europe. In this way only will hundreds of millions of toilers be able to regain the simple joys and hopes which make life worth living.
The process is simple. All that is needed is the resolve of hundreds of millions of men and women to do right instead of wrong, and gain as their reward, blessing instead of cursing."
The process is simple. All that is needed is the resolve of hundreds of millions of men and women to do right instead of wrong, and gain as their reward, blessing instead of cursing."
Starmer Announces He Will Resign as Labour Party Leader
THE NEW YORK TIMES: A sagging economy and policy flip-flops had fueled demands for Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain to step down. The announcement means he has set out a timetable for his departure as prime minister.
This screenshot is from this NYT article. | Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain outside 10 Downing Street in London on Monday. | Jaimi Joy/Reuters
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain announced his resignation on Monday, bowing to a mutiny inside his party and a challenge to his leadership of the country.
Mr. Starmer said he would remain as prime minister until a new party leader is selected, likely by September, rather than fight to remain in the job he won almost two years ago.
The announcement makes Andy Burnham, who won a seat in Parliament on Thursday, the most likely candidate to win control of the Labour Party and become the prime minister.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester, Mr. Burnham is Labour’s most popular politician. His resounding victory last week in a special election, where he received almost 55 percent of the vote, energized his bid to oust the prime minister.
Mr. Starmer’s tenure as Britain’s leader began with Labour’s election victory in 2024, when the party won a large parliamentary majority. But it was on a record-low vote share of 34 percent, prompting analysts to call the victory a “loveless landslide.”
His time in office was increasingly defined by political decline, which left him looking weak, indecisive and not in command of his own party.
In recent weeks, Mr. Starmer had repeatedly vowed to fight any challenge to his position — by Mr. Burnham or anyone else — saying he was unwilling to walk away from his responsibility to Britain.
But in the end, he appeared to accept the political reality that came with being one of the least popular prime ministers in modern British history. U.K. Live Updates » | Michael D. Shear | Reporting from London | Monday, June 22, 2026
LESEN SIE AUCH:
Nur zwei Jahre nach Erdrutschsieg: Britischer Premier Starmer tritt zurück: Keir Starmer zieht nach wachsendem Druck aus der Labour-Partei die Konsequenzen. Bis zur Wahl eines Nachfolgers im September will er Regierungschef Großbritanniens bleiben. »
À LIRE AUSSI :
Royaume-Uni : le premier ministre britannique Keir Starmer annonce sa demission : Le premier ministre, très impopulaire, avait répété vendredi qu’il se battrait pour rester au pouvoir mais la pression a continué de monter ce week-end. Andy Burnham, le maire du Grand Manchester, est le grand favori pour lui succéder. »
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain announced his resignation on Monday, bowing to a mutiny inside his party and a challenge to his leadership of the country.
Mr. Starmer said he would remain as prime minister until a new party leader is selected, likely by September, rather than fight to remain in the job he won almost two years ago.
The announcement makes Andy Burnham, who won a seat in Parliament on Thursday, the most likely candidate to win control of the Labour Party and become the prime minister.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester, Mr. Burnham is Labour’s most popular politician. His resounding victory last week in a special election, where he received almost 55 percent of the vote, energized his bid to oust the prime minister.
Mr. Starmer’s tenure as Britain’s leader began with Labour’s election victory in 2024, when the party won a large parliamentary majority. But it was on a record-low vote share of 34 percent, prompting analysts to call the victory a “loveless landslide.”
His time in office was increasingly defined by political decline, which left him looking weak, indecisive and not in command of his own party.
In recent weeks, Mr. Starmer had repeatedly vowed to fight any challenge to his position — by Mr. Burnham or anyone else — saying he was unwilling to walk away from his responsibility to Britain.
But in the end, he appeared to accept the political reality that came with being one of the least popular prime ministers in modern British history. U.K. Live Updates » | Michael D. Shear | Reporting from London | Monday, June 22, 2026
LESEN SIE AUCH:
Nur zwei Jahre nach Erdrutschsieg: Britischer Premier Starmer tritt zurück: Keir Starmer zieht nach wachsendem Druck aus der Labour-Partei die Konsequenzen. Bis zur Wahl eines Nachfolgers im September will er Regierungschef Großbritanniens bleiben. »
À LIRE AUSSI :
Royaume-Uni : le premier ministre britannique Keir Starmer annonce sa demission : Le premier ministre, très impopulaire, avait répété vendredi qu’il se battrait pour rester au pouvoir mais la pression a continué de monter ce week-end. Andy Burnham, le maire du Grand Manchester, est le grand favori pour lui succéder. »
Swiss Ski Resort Closes because of Climate Change
SWISSINFO.CH: The Glarus mountain village of Braunwald needs to reinvent itself: skiing operations are being discontinued owing to climate change. A forward-looking initiative is now set to create new opportunities for tourism.
The Glarus mountain village of Braunwald needs to reinvent itself: skiing operations are being discontinued owing to climate change. A forward-looking initiative is now set to create new opportunities for tourism.
Sportbahnen Braunwald is adapting its services to changing climatic and economic conditions, the company announced on Friday in conjunction with Visit Glarnerland and other stakeholders. High costs and changing demand patterns had rendered the previous business model unsustainable.
The decision was preceded by a comprehensive review. The conclusion was clear: continuing “as before” was no longer possible. The key element of the strategic reorientation is the discontinuation of traditional ski operations from the 2026/27 winter season onwards. » | Keystone-SDA | Friday, June 19, 2026
Dieser Artikel ist hier auf Deutsch verfügbar.
The Women Running Businesses Under Taliban Rules
THE NEW YORK TIMES: With secondary education and most jobs out of reach, thousands of Afghan women have turned to entrepreneurship as the only path to make money and maintain a social life.
The Taliban have imposed some of the world’s toughest restrictions on women and girls, but to ward off economic collapse and isolation, they have let women start businesses in Afghanistan, as long as they comply with a cascade of debilitating rules.
More than 10,000 Afghan women have business licenses — a tenfold increase in the past five years, according to the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. With another estimated 120,000 working without licenses, small businesses are the largest employers of Afghan women, according to the World Bank.
But that apparent boom does little to hide the shrinking horizons for women’s lives.
Those who dreamed of becoming lawyers, engineers or university professors have turned to carpet weaving, cosmetics or vocational training because they cannot work in government administration or for many nonprofits.
They also cannot run beauty salons, study midwifery or nursing, or speak with male clients, suppliers or banking officials.
The vast majority of Afghan women do not work at all — less than 7 percent of Afghan women were employed as of 2024, according to the U.N. Development Programme.
Those who do work have faced growing hurdles. The harassment and arrests of dozens of women by the morality police in June led to a rare public protest.
Still, as the Taliban approach the five-year anniversary of their return to power, Afghan women have turned to entrepreneurship as one of the last ways they can support their households and find a semblance of social life.
“The only remaining hope for women in Afghanistan is business,” said Behnaz Saljughi, a representative for female business owners in the province of Herat. » | Elian Peltier | Visuals by Kiana Hayeri | Elian Peltier interviewed a dozen female entrepreneurs, business owners and trade representatives across Afghanistan’s largest cities for this story. | Sunday, June 21, 2026
‘We Want a New Albania’: Protests against Jared Kushner-backed Resort Turn Anger on Government
THE GUARDIAN: Opposition to plans for ‘small paradise’ island of Sazan becomes wave of dissent against establishment
For Ina Shkurti, like so many Albanians, the island of Sazan has played an outsized role. As a child she bathed in its “always calm and emerald green” waters, as a teenager it figured in her dreams and as an adult it was an indelible part of the memory and desire that drew her back, every summer, to Vlore, her home town across the sea.
What Shkurti never imagined was that plans to build a mega-resort on Sazan – one of two luxurious complexes on Albania’s southern coast backed by Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner – would trigger a revolt, an uprising that has convulsed the Balkan state in a spasm of disgust over the perceived excesses of “a rotten oligarchic class” just as it hopes to complete accession talks with the EU.
“Am I outraged? Of course I am,” the cartographer said as the contours of the uninhabited outcrop came into view from a speedboat scudding towards its shores. “Sazan is our only island. It’s a small paradise that holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Albanians. Having some rich couple come in, develop it, and then deny us access, would be a crime.”
Not since the collapse of communism, more than three decades ago, has Albania been shaken by such collective fury. At 32, Shkurti, whose family emigrated to the US when she was 11, is typical of the tens of thousands, both in and outside the country, who have taken to the streets in what has become known as the “flamingo revolution” because of the threat posed by the proposed resorts to wildlife and delicate ecosystems on the sites.
“This government no longer represents us,” she said. “It has chosen to represent oligarch investors like Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. These protests are not going to stop, even if they’re no longer exclusively about them.”
Every day, she said, friends from Albania’s diaspora were flying in to join the rallies. In the biggest so far, thousands converged on Tirana at the weekend, many travelling from the US and other parts of Europe, to add their voices to the wave of dissent. » | Helena Smith in Vlore and Tirana | Monday, June 22, 2026
Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union: Operation Barbarossa (1/2) | DW Documentary
Jun 19, 2026 | On 22 June 1941, the German Wehrmacht launched a war of aggression against the Soviet Union. Under the code name ‘Operation Barbarossa’, the campaign aimed to bring the vast country in the east to its knees. Millions of people died as a result.
At the beginning of the Second World War, the Nazi regime celebrated a series of military successes: boosted by rapid victories in Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, the Wehrmacht prepared a secret manoeuvre in the east, firmly convinced that troops would be back home after a few months. But the period of unimaginable violence unleashed by Hitler would claim millions of lives.
Without declaring war and with more than three million soldiers battle-ready, the Wehrmacht attacked on a broad front between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. In the first hours of the meticulously prepared military invasion, the Luftwaffe rained bombs on Soviet bases near the border, catching the Soviets completely off-guard.
The force of the attack was seen as a continuation of the German troops’ successful ‘Blitzkrieg’ campaigns. In his instructions to the Chief of Operations in the Armed Forces High Command, written in March 1941, Hitler had already stated: ‘This upcoming campaign is more than just a battle of arms, it’s also a clash between two worldviews. The Jewish-Bolshevik intelligentsia, as the previous oppressor of the people, must be eliminated.’
Another aim: the economic exploitation of conquered territories. Many of those involved and affected by this tragedy - Germans and Soviets, soldiers and civilians alike - recorded their harrowing experiences in amateur films, letters and diaries. These vivid descriptions of the German war of aggression in the East are a far cry from official war reporting and state propaganda. These accounts, by men and women fighting for survival, document the horror on both sides of the conflict.
At the beginning of the Second World War, the Nazi regime celebrated a series of military successes: boosted by rapid victories in Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, the Wehrmacht prepared a secret manoeuvre in the east, firmly convinced that troops would be back home after a few months. But the period of unimaginable violence unleashed by Hitler would claim millions of lives.
Without declaring war and with more than three million soldiers battle-ready, the Wehrmacht attacked on a broad front between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. In the first hours of the meticulously prepared military invasion, the Luftwaffe rained bombs on Soviet bases near the border, catching the Soviets completely off-guard.
The force of the attack was seen as a continuation of the German troops’ successful ‘Blitzkrieg’ campaigns. In his instructions to the Chief of Operations in the Armed Forces High Command, written in March 1941, Hitler had already stated: ‘This upcoming campaign is more than just a battle of arms, it’s also a clash between two worldviews. The Jewish-Bolshevik intelligentsia, as the previous oppressor of the people, must be eliminated.’
Another aim: the economic exploitation of conquered territories. Many of those involved and affected by this tragedy - Germans and Soviets, soldiers and civilians alike - recorded their harrowing experiences in amateur films, letters and diaries. These vivid descriptions of the German war of aggression in the East are a far cry from official war reporting and state propaganda. These accounts, by men and women fighting for survival, document the horror on both sides of the conflict.
The Life and Art of Gustav Klimt: Art History Explained
Jun 20, 2026 | Gustav Klimt led one of the most extraordinary lives in the history of Western art. Born the son of a struggling goldsmith in 1862, Klimt went from poverty-stricken beginnings on the outskirts of Vienna to the heights of European artistic fame.
He painted the grand halls of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, before throwing it all aside in pursuit of a far more radical vision.
In this video, we trace the full arc of Klimt's life and work: from his early days as a celebrated architectural muralist, through the founding of the Vienna Secession, to the scandalous university paintings that turned the establishment against him, and the remarkable Golden Phase that produced a new generation of masterpieces.
Creating a visual language unlike anything seen before, Klimt's legacy leaves a vivid, gilded, and unflinching world which has never stopped speaking to us.
He painted the grand halls of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, before throwing it all aside in pursuit of a far more radical vision.
In this video, we trace the full arc of Klimt's life and work: from his early days as a celebrated architectural muralist, through the founding of the Vienna Secession, to the scandalous university paintings that turned the establishment against him, and the remarkable Golden Phase that produced a new generation of masterpieces.
Creating a visual language unlike anything seen before, Klimt's legacy leaves a vivid, gilded, and unflinching world which has never stopped speaking to us.
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Great Progress' at US-Iran Says US Vice-President JD Vance | BBC News
Jun 21, 2026 | Switzerland has hosted a first round of talks on a long-term peace deal between the United States and Iran.
The US Vice President, JD Vance, called them 'historic' and said that great progress had been made.
Iranian media are reporting that the delegation from Tehran refused to share a photo opportunity ahead of the negotiations, and they've been angered by renewed threats from President Trump to bomb Iran if it fails to rein in Hezbollah, its proxy in Lebanon.
Israel is insisting its troops will continue to occupy southern Lebanon to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah attack.
When it comes to peace deals, the Trump regime seem to be such amateurs. — © Mark Alexander
The US Vice President, JD Vance, called them 'historic' and said that great progress had been made.
Iranian media are reporting that the delegation from Tehran refused to share a photo opportunity ahead of the negotiations, and they've been angered by renewed threats from President Trump to bomb Iran if it fails to rein in Hezbollah, its proxy in Lebanon.
Israel is insisting its troops will continue to occupy southern Lebanon to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah attack.
When it comes to peace deals, the Trump regime seem to be such amateurs. — © Mark Alexander
Scott and Kip | Gay Love Story (Crazy Daddy)
How come all the beautiful people are queer? It must surely be one of God’s blessings! 😊 — © Mark Alexander
The Secret Gay Republican Subculture They Never Talk About | Rick Wilson & Stuart Stevens
Strong language alert!
Waleed Asadi: Fire-roasted Eggplant [Aubergine] Dip: Mutabal or Baba Ghanoush | متبل أو بابا غنوج
Click here for the full recipe.
Waleed’s very own selection of spices can be found here. Don’t forget to use the code ZAWI10 for 10% off your first order.
Waleed’s favourite Lebanese olive oil, Les Cousines, can be found here. Don’t forget to use Waleed’s very own special introductory code for 15% off your first order.
According to Google AI, mutabal (متبل) and baba ghanoush (بابا غنوج) are indeed different. Both are made with eggplant (aubergine). But mutabal is made with tahini and is smooth and creamy. Baba ghanoush, on the other hand, is a chunky relish, rather like a vegetable salad. — Mark
Israel’s Extremists: The Radical Men Pushing the Region Toward Chaos | ENDEVR Documentary
June 7, 2026 | In the space of a year, Israeli democracy has faltered. From the judicial reforms that deeply divided the country in the first nine months of 2023, to the war against Hamas that followed the tragedy of the 7 October massacre,
Benyamin Netanyahu’s government, the most right-wing in the country’s history, has continued to deepen Israel’s internal divisions and led the country to face the worst existential threat in its history.
Two men embody the radical initiatives of this government, two leading ministers who occupy regalian functions: internal security and finance. Their names: Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Both are complete unknowns on the international scene, brought into the spotlight by the events of recent months. They are the heirs of two ideological currents that were once marginal: Kahanism and religious Zionism.
Today, they are throwing all their weight behind their ideological agenda: imposing Jewish supremacist legislation, in the case of the former, and re-founding biblical Israel, in the case of the latter.
Who are they? What do they want? What is their background?
This documentary investigates two men whose strategy is to sow chaos in order to advance their ultimate project: imposing Jewish law on “Greater Israel”, from the sea to the Jordan River, and thus definitively annexing the West Bank, Gaza and even beyond.
This documentary originally aired in 2024
Benyamin Netanyahu’s government, the most right-wing in the country’s history, has continued to deepen Israel’s internal divisions and led the country to face the worst existential threat in its history.
Two men embody the radical initiatives of this government, two leading ministers who occupy regalian functions: internal security and finance. Their names: Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Both are complete unknowns on the international scene, brought into the spotlight by the events of recent months. They are the heirs of two ideological currents that were once marginal: Kahanism and religious Zionism.
Today, they are throwing all their weight behind their ideological agenda: imposing Jewish supremacist legislation, in the case of the former, and re-founding biblical Israel, in the case of the latter.
Who are they? What do they want? What is their background?
This documentary investigates two men whose strategy is to sow chaos in order to advance their ultimate project: imposing Jewish law on “Greater Israel”, from the sea to the Jordan River, and thus definitively annexing the West Bank, Gaza and even beyond.
This documentary originally aired in 2024
Trump and Meloni Are in Open Feud, and It’s Escalating | DW News
The Terrifying Reason Peter Thiel Escaped the US
Jun 19, 2026 | Peter Thiel moved his family to Buenos Aires just as California weighed a billionaires’ tax, sparking headlines about secret escape plans and a crumbling West. But his companies are raking in record US government cash, and his fortune remains rooted in America.
This video exposes why Thiel really chose Argentina, the loopholes that shelter his wealth, and what it reveals about how the world’s richest dodge taxes and borders while the rest of us are stuck in place.
This video exposes why Thiel really chose Argentina, the loopholes that shelter his wealth, and what it reveals about how the world’s richest dodge taxes and borders while the rest of us are stuck in place.
Tabaksteuer steigt: Zigarettenpreise könnten bis 2027 auf 11,40 Euro klettern
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Der Bund rechnet mit Milliarden-Mehreinnahmen. Auch andere Tabakprodukte sollen teurer werden.
Dieses Bild stammt aus diesem Artikel. | Das Finanzministerium plant eine deutliche Verteuerung von Zigaretten. | © Sven Hoppe/dpa
Das Bundesfinanzministerium hat einen Entwurf für eine schrittweise deutliche Erhöhung der Tabaksteuer vorgelegt. Der Durchschnittspreis für eine 20er-Packung Zigaretten könnte demnach von rund 8,80 Euro im Jahr 2027 auf etwa 11,40 Euro im Jahr 2030 steigen, wie aus dem Entwurf hervorgeht, der der Deutschen Presse-Agentur vorliegt.
Der Steueranteil am Päckchenpreis würde sich nach den Plänen von rund 4,40 Euro auf 5,75 Euro erhöhen. Die Verteuerung soll auch für andere gängige Tabakprodukte gelten.
Ein Sprecher des Finanzministeriums erklärte auf Anfrage, der Entwurf diene „auch dem Schutz der öffentlichen Gesundheit und steht im Einklang mit dem Ziel, die Raucherquote von Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen zu senken“. Zudem sei es eine zentrale Aufgabe, den Haushalt zu konsolidieren und die Einnahmeseite zu stärken. „Dazu gehört unter anderem, die Tabaksteuer zu erhöhen.“ » | Stephanie Lehner | Samstag, 20. Juni 2026
Der Krieg gegen Raucher und das Rauchen ist unaufhörlich. Raucher stehen immer wieder im Visier westlicher Politiker, die vorgeben, sich um ihre Gesundheit zu kümmern, in Wirklichkeit aber nur an den Kosten des Rauchens interessiert sind und die Staatskassen mit Steuereinnahmen füllen wollen. — © Mark Alexander
Das Bundesfinanzministerium hat einen Entwurf für eine schrittweise deutliche Erhöhung der Tabaksteuer vorgelegt. Der Durchschnittspreis für eine 20er-Packung Zigaretten könnte demnach von rund 8,80 Euro im Jahr 2027 auf etwa 11,40 Euro im Jahr 2030 steigen, wie aus dem Entwurf hervorgeht, der der Deutschen Presse-Agentur vorliegt.
Der Steueranteil am Päckchenpreis würde sich nach den Plänen von rund 4,40 Euro auf 5,75 Euro erhöhen. Die Verteuerung soll auch für andere gängige Tabakprodukte gelten.
Ein Sprecher des Finanzministeriums erklärte auf Anfrage, der Entwurf diene „auch dem Schutz der öffentlichen Gesundheit und steht im Einklang mit dem Ziel, die Raucherquote von Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen zu senken“. Zudem sei es eine zentrale Aufgabe, den Haushalt zu konsolidieren und die Einnahmeseite zu stärken. „Dazu gehört unter anderem, die Tabaksteuer zu erhöhen.“ » | Stephanie Lehner | Samstag, 20. Juni 2026
Der Krieg gegen Raucher und das Rauchen ist unaufhörlich. Raucher stehen immer wieder im Visier westlicher Politiker, die vorgeben, sich um ihre Gesundheit zu kümmern, in Wirklichkeit aber nur an den Kosten des Rauchens interessiert sind und die Staatskassen mit Steuereinnahmen füllen wollen. — © Mark Alexander
Iran : une chanteuse et son groupe condamnés à 74 coups de fouet chacun pour un concert
LE FIGARO : En Iran, les femmes n’ont pas le droit de chanter en public. Elles sont en outre tenues de porter des tenues couvrantes ne révélant pas leurs formes et de porter le voile.
Un tribunal iranien a condamné la chanteuse Parastoo Ahmadi et sept autres artistes à 74 coups de fouet chacun pour avoir diffusé un concert sur YouTube, selon sa vidéaste et un média local.
Dans cette prestation, retransmise en direct en décembre 2024 et en ligne depuis, Parastoo Ahmadi interprétait des chansons empreintes de force et de mélancolie devant une salle vide, sur une scène faiblement éclairée et décorée d'un simple tapis persan, dans l'enceinte d'un caravansérail traditionnel.
Elle était accompagnée d'un pianiste, d'un batteur, d'un guitariste et d'un bassiste, tous vêtus de noir, tandis qu'elle portait une longue robe à bretelles, les lèvres maquillées en rouge. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | dimanche 21 juin 2026
Un tribunal iranien a condamné la chanteuse Parastoo Ahmadi et sept autres artistes à 74 coups de fouet chacun pour avoir diffusé un concert sur YouTube, selon sa vidéaste et un média local.
Dans cette prestation, retransmise en direct en décembre 2024 et en ligne depuis, Parastoo Ahmadi interprétait des chansons empreintes de force et de mélancolie devant une salle vide, sur une scène faiblement éclairée et décorée d'un simple tapis persan, dans l'enceinte d'un caravansérail traditionnel.
Elle était accompagnée d'un pianiste, d'un batteur, d'un guitariste et d'un bassiste, tous vêtus de noir, tandis qu'elle portait une longue robe à bretelles, les lèvres maquillées en rouge. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | dimanche 21 juin 2026
Two-thirds of EU Citizens Back UK Rejoining Bloc, Survey Finds
THE GUARDIAN: Poll also finds three quarters of people in Britain want closer ties, with majority accepting free movement
Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Activists hold EU flags during the weekly anti-Brexit and pro-EU protest in London’s Parliament Square this week, calling on the UK government to rejoin the EU. Photograph: Vuk Valcic/Sopa Images/Shutterstock
Two-thirds of EU citizens would back Britain rejoining the bloc, while most UK voters say Brexit has been bad for the issues they care about and want closer ties, including levels of integration – such as free movement – long seen as toxic, a survey has found.
Ten years after the Brexit referendum, the polling by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), a thinktank, found 66% of respondents across 15 countries felt UK membership was a very good, good or “neither a good nor a bad” idea.
The average comfortably exceeded those favouring a closer relationship (59%) or the status quo (46%). Support for rejoin ranged from lows of 56% in Bulgaria and 59% in France and Italy to highs of 75% in the Netherlands and Denmark.
Even voters for far-right and EU-critical parties said they would support closer relations between the bloc and the UK, including a majority of backers of Poland’s Confederation (71%), Germany’s AfD (58%) and France’s National Rally (58%). » | Jon Henley | Europe correspondent | Sunday, June 21, 2026
HALLELUJAH! – Mark
ALSO READ:
Brexit isn’t working: British voters are ready for a European future »
Two-thirds of EU citizens would back Britain rejoining the bloc, while most UK voters say Brexit has been bad for the issues they care about and want closer ties, including levels of integration – such as free movement – long seen as toxic, a survey has found.
Ten years after the Brexit referendum, the polling by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), a thinktank, found 66% of respondents across 15 countries felt UK membership was a very good, good or “neither a good nor a bad” idea.
The average comfortably exceeded those favouring a closer relationship (59%) or the status quo (46%). Support for rejoin ranged from lows of 56% in Bulgaria and 59% in France and Italy to highs of 75% in the Netherlands and Denmark.
Even voters for far-right and EU-critical parties said they would support closer relations between the bloc and the UK, including a majority of backers of Poland’s Confederation (71%), Germany’s AfD (58%) and France’s National Rally (58%). » | Jon Henley | Europe correspondent | Sunday, June 21, 2026
HALLELUJAH! – Mark
ALSO READ:
Brexit isn’t working: British voters are ready for a European future »
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, Accusing US and Israel of Violating Ceasefire Deal | BBC News
Jun 20, 2026 | Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, accusing US and Israel of violating ceasefire deal | BBC News
Iran has said it is closing the Strait of Hormuz and accuses the US and Israel of violating the ceasefire deal, after Israel continued strikes on Lebanon.
The news comes as roughly two dozen people were reportedly killed by Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, less than 24 hours after a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei says his country's attendance at talks in Switzerland will be aimed at "demanding that the other side fulfil its commitments".
US Vice-President JD Vance tells Fox News that the Strait of Hormuz remains fully open, after being asked about reporting in the Wall Street Journal suggesting the Iranian navy were turning away ships.
Iran has said it is closing the Strait of Hormuz and accuses the US and Israel of violating the ceasefire deal, after Israel continued strikes on Lebanon.
The news comes as roughly two dozen people were reportedly killed by Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, less than 24 hours after a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei says his country's attendance at talks in Switzerland will be aimed at "demanding that the other side fulfil its commitments".
US Vice-President JD Vance tells Fox News that the Strait of Hormuz remains fully open, after being asked about reporting in the Wall Street Journal suggesting the Iranian navy were turning away ships.
My Sincere Apologies
MARK ALEXANDER: Please accept my sincere apologies for the disruption in my blogging this weekend. The disruption has been caused by the transfer of details from my old computer to my new one. The process has taken far longer than I had imagined, and it has caused far more disruption than I could ever have imagined as well.
Rest assured that I will be back with you, giving you and this blog my full attention at the earliest possible convenience, which should be very soon.
So many glitches to iron out!
Warm wishes,
Mark
Rest assured that I will be back with you, giving you and this blog my full attention at the earliest possible convenience, which should be very soon.
So many glitches to iron out!
Warm wishes,
Mark
Espagne : un tribunal interdit à l'épouse du premier ministre Pedro Sanchez de quitter le pays
LE FIGARO : En avril dernier, Begoña Gomez a été inculpée pour corruption au terme de deux ans d’enquête.
Un tribunal espagnol a ordonné que l'épouse du premier ministre Pedro Sánchez, Begoña Gómez, soit jugée pour corruption et lui a interdit de quitter le pays, selon une ordonnance rendue publique samedi.
Le juge Juan Carlos Peinado a ordonné à Mme Gómez de remettre son passeport et de se présenter aux autorités deux fois par mois jusqu'au prononcé du jugement, selon la même source. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | samedi 20 juin 2026
ALSO READ:
Spanish PM’s wife to stand trial on corruption charges and banned from leaving country: Begoña Gómez has been ordered to surrender her passport as her husband, Pedro Sánchez, says the case is politically motivated »
Un tribunal espagnol a ordonné que l'épouse du premier ministre Pedro Sánchez, Begoña Gómez, soit jugée pour corruption et lui a interdit de quitter le pays, selon une ordonnance rendue publique samedi.
Le juge Juan Carlos Peinado a ordonné à Mme Gómez de remettre son passeport et de se présenter aux autorités deux fois par mois jusqu'au prononcé du jugement, selon la même source. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | samedi 20 juin 2026
ALSO READ:
Spanish PM’s wife to stand trial on corruption charges and banned from leaving country: Begoña Gómez has been ordered to surrender her passport as her husband, Pedro Sánchez, says the case is politically motivated »
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Extreme Heat Will Continue to Intensify in UK and Europe | BBC News
Jun 20, 2026 | The Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat warning for parts of southern and eastern England and south Wales. The warning is valid for Monday and Tuesday and warns of temperatures peaking at 35C (95F). The nights will also be hot, remaining above 20C in some locations.
It brings the risk of impacts to health, especially for vulnerable people, and the danger of sunburn and heat exhaustion in the wider population.
This is only the sixth amber extreme heat warning that has been issued by the Met Office since they were introduced in 2021 - and the first since August 2022.
Heat has also been building across Europe this week and will continue to intensify over the next few days.
À LIRE AUSSI :
Jusqu’à 43 °C attendus lundi : suivez en cartes l’évolution de la vague de chaleur : Une intense vague de chaleur s’est installée sur la France, avec des températures pouvant dépasser localement les normales de saison de près de 18 °C. Tour d’horizon des prévisions. »
It brings the risk of impacts to health, especially for vulnerable people, and the danger of sunburn and heat exhaustion in the wider population.
This is only the sixth amber extreme heat warning that has been issued by the Met Office since they were introduced in 2021 - and the first since August 2022.
Heat has also been building across Europe this week and will continue to intensify over the next few days.
À LIRE AUSSI :
Jusqu’à 43 °C attendus lundi : suivez en cartes l’évolution de la vague de chaleur : Une intense vague de chaleur s’est installée sur la France, avec des températures pouvant dépasser localement les normales de saison de près de 18 °C. Tour d’horizon des prévisions. »
The Tech Billionaire Plan to Destroy Democracy | Gil Duran | TMR
People like Peter Thiel may WANT to live forever, but even though I am no doctor, I can assure him that he will not. Just look at how much and how quickly Peter Thiel has aged in just a few years! Peter Thiel and people like him are living in a land of make-believe. They are totally and utterly delusional. — © Mark Alexander
What We Know about Billionaire Peter Thiel’s Secret 'Dialog’ Society
Read the full story on Forbes here »
Here we go again! First, we had the Epstein secret society; now, it’s Peter Thiel’s. I hope these people behave themselves better than the Epstein clan did; but I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you! One way or the other, it looks as if democracy has bitten the dust! From now on, to be anyone and to have any influence, you will have to be a multi-billionaire — at least! — © Mark Alexander
Geschenk aus Katar: Trump präsentiert neue Air Force One – „fliegendes Weißes Haus“
BERLINER ZEITUNG: US-Präsident Trump enthüllt das neue Präsidentenflugzeug und bezeichnet es als „fliegendes Weißes Haus“. Das Geschenk aus Katar hatte auch für Kritik gesorgt.
Dieses Foto stammt aus diesem Artikel. | US-Präsident Donald Trump verlässt nach einem Rundgang das neu ausgewiesene Präsidentenflugzeug „Air Force One“. | © Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP/dpa
US-Präsident Donald Trump hat die neue Präsidentenmaschine Air Force One präsentiert. Das Flugzeug vom Typ Boeing 747, ein Geschenk aus Katar, soll laut New York Times die seit 1990 genutzten hellblauen Vorgänger ersetzen.
Bei einer Zeremonie auf dem Militärstützpunkt Joint Base Andrews bezeichnete Trump die Maschine als „fliegendes Weißes Haus“ mit einem Maß an Luxus, das es so noch nie gegeben habe. Die Lackierung in Rot, Weiß und Blau sei „die eleganteste Variante“, sagte er laut der Zeitung.
Trump kündigte an, das Flugzeug werde voraussichtlich an den Feierlichkeiten zum Unabhängigkeitstag am 4. Juli mit einem Überflug teilnehmen. Die Maschine soll laut New York Times eine Lücke bis zur Lieferung von zwei Boeing 747-8 Flugzeugen schließen, deren Lieferung sich verzögere. Es sei „sehr freundlich“ von Katar, das Flugzeug zur Verfügung zu stellen, sagte Trump laut New York Times. » | Anika Schlünz | Samstag, 20. Juni 2026
Was für ein billiger Kerl Trump doch ist! Für Profit und Gewinn tut er alles. Der Mann kennt weder Scham noch Stolz. Hätte sich die USA nicht ein eigenes „fliegendes Weißes Haus“ leisten können? Bei all den Milliarden, die die USA in diesem verlorenen Krieg gegen den Iran verschwendet haben, hätten sie sich sicherlich ein eigenes Flugzeug kaufen können. So hat Trump Amerika billig aussehen lassen, wie eine billige Prostituierte!
Dieses Geschenk Katars hat seinen Preis: eine enorme Verschuldung. Katar wird dafür große Gegenleistungen erwarten. Nichts ist umsonst!
Trumps Präsidentschaft hat Amerika in neue Tiefpunkte geführt. — © Mark Alexander
US-Präsident Donald Trump hat die neue Präsidentenmaschine Air Force One präsentiert. Das Flugzeug vom Typ Boeing 747, ein Geschenk aus Katar, soll laut New York Times die seit 1990 genutzten hellblauen Vorgänger ersetzen.
Bei einer Zeremonie auf dem Militärstützpunkt Joint Base Andrews bezeichnete Trump die Maschine als „fliegendes Weißes Haus“ mit einem Maß an Luxus, das es so noch nie gegeben habe. Die Lackierung in Rot, Weiß und Blau sei „die eleganteste Variante“, sagte er laut der Zeitung.
Trump kündigte an, das Flugzeug werde voraussichtlich an den Feierlichkeiten zum Unabhängigkeitstag am 4. Juli mit einem Überflug teilnehmen. Die Maschine soll laut New York Times eine Lücke bis zur Lieferung von zwei Boeing 747-8 Flugzeugen schließen, deren Lieferung sich verzögere. Es sei „sehr freundlich“ von Katar, das Flugzeug zur Verfügung zu stellen, sagte Trump laut New York Times. » | Anika Schlünz | Samstag, 20. Juni 2026
Was für ein billiger Kerl Trump doch ist! Für Profit und Gewinn tut er alles. Der Mann kennt weder Scham noch Stolz. Hätte sich die USA nicht ein eigenes „fliegendes Weißes Haus“ leisten können? Bei all den Milliarden, die die USA in diesem verlorenen Krieg gegen den Iran verschwendet haben, hätten sie sich sicherlich ein eigenes Flugzeug kaufen können. So hat Trump Amerika billig aussehen lassen, wie eine billige Prostituierte!
Dieses Geschenk Katars hat seinen Preis: eine enorme Verschuldung. Katar wird dafür große Gegenleistungen erwarten. Nichts ist umsonst!
Trumps Präsidentschaft hat Amerika in neue Tiefpunkte geführt. — © Mark Alexander
HAUSER : The Swan | Reupload
HAUSER : Nocturne in C Sharp Minor
Friday, June 19, 2026
Italy Doesn’t ‘Beg,’ Giorgia Meloni Tells Trump
THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Trump said the Italian leader had “begged” him to take a photo together at the Group of 7 summit in France. The remarks come as their once-friendly relationship has frayed.
It looks as if the Italian prime minister’s teetering relationship with President Trump may have just fallen off a cliff.
For weeks, tensions have been rising. Mr. Trump has grown publicly frustrated with Giorgia Meloni, the right-leaning Italian prime minister, who had been one of his closest political friends on the international stage, for failing to support the war in Iran and for criticizing his broadside against Pope Leo XIV. On Friday, she seemed to have had enough.
After the president told an Italian journalist on Thursday that Ms. Meloni had “begged” him to take a photo together at the Group of 7 summit meeting in France this week, according to an English-language transcript shared by the TV reporter, Ms. Meloni called Mr. Trump’s statements “totally invented.”
“Italy and I never beg,” she proclaimed in a video posted on social media.
Ms. Meloni, who took office in 2022, had cast herself as the European leader who had the best relationship with the American president. Even as relations have deteriorated, she has tried to smooth over ruffled feathers. » | Motoko Rich and Josephine de La Bruyère | Reporting from Rome | Friday, June 19, 2026
It looks as if the Italian prime minister’s teetering relationship with President Trump may have just fallen off a cliff.
For weeks, tensions have been rising. Mr. Trump has grown publicly frustrated with Giorgia Meloni, the right-leaning Italian prime minister, who had been one of his closest political friends on the international stage, for failing to support the war in Iran and for criticizing his broadside against Pope Leo XIV. On Friday, she seemed to have had enough.
After the president told an Italian journalist on Thursday that Ms. Meloni had “begged” him to take a photo together at the Group of 7 summit meeting in France this week, according to an English-language transcript shared by the TV reporter, Ms. Meloni called Mr. Trump’s statements “totally invented.”
“Italy and I never beg,” she proclaimed in a video posted on social media.
Ms. Meloni, who took office in 2022, had cast herself as the European leader who had the best relationship with the American president. Even as relations have deteriorated, she has tried to smooth over ruffled feathers. » | Motoko Rich and Josephine de La Bruyère | Reporting from Rome | Friday, June 19, 2026
Entre l’Iran et les États-Unis, un accord qui bat déjà de l’aile
LE FIGARO : La cérémonie de signature prévue en Suisse vendredi a été annulée par les Iraniens, qui utilisent déjà le détroit d’Ormuz pour obliger Trump à faire pression sur les Israéliens pour qu’ils se retirent du Sud-Liban.
Les premières fissures dans l’accord irano-américain sont apparues avant même la signature officielle. La reprise des combats au Liban entre Israël et le Hezbollah a servi de prétexte à l’Iran pour annuler sa participation à la rencontre prévue vendredi en Suisse, et fermer de nouveau le détroit d’Ormuz. Le vice-président américain, JD Vance, qui devait représenter les États-Unis lors de la cérémonie à Bürgenstock, au-dessus du lac de Lucerne, a renoncé à son déplacement. Les Iraniens ont dénoncé la riposte israélienne à des attaques du Hezbollah contre ses forces au Sud-Liban comme une violation du protocole d’accord. Ils ont montré qu’ils étaient prêts à utiliser de nouveau le détroit d’Ormuz comme moyen de pression.
« Étant donné que le retrait d’Israël du Liban , la levée totale du blocus naval et le retrait des forces terroristes américaines du golfe Persique et de la région figurent parmi les principales conditions de l’accord entre l’Iran et les États-Unis, le détroit d’Ormuz restera fermé jusqu’à ce que ces conditions soient remplies », ont annoncé les gardiens de la révolution dans un message diffusé par radio maritime. » | Par Adrien Jaulmes, correspondant à Washington | vendredi 19 juin 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Michael Lambert: Britain's 7th Prime Minister In 10 Years — Can Burnham Succeed Where All Others Failed?
Jun 19, 2026 | Britain is about to get its 7th Prime Minister in just ten years. Cameron ran away. May triggered Article 50 too early and locked us out of the Single Market. Johnson's charm couldn't hide the lies. Truss crashed the economy in 49 days. Sunak did his best on a sinking ship. And Starmer — a ditherer, lacking charisma, with lamentable judgement from day one. Now Andy Burnham waits in the wings — and the question is whether he will be any different.
In this video I look at why every Prime Minister since 2015 has failed the British people, what they all had in common, and why the answer, as it always has been, comes back to Brexit.
Burnham has charm, real experience and the communication skills his predecessor so sorely lacked. But his success depends on two things: a credible plan to grow the economy through investment and productivity — and, most importantly of all, the courage to declare that Britain will begin the process of rejoining the European Union. If he fails to do that, he will join a very long and undistinguished queue.
With a new Prime Minister change, the UK faces its seventh leader in ten years. I analyze if this transition can actually improve government effectiveness.
This video examines the rapid turnover in political leadership that has defined the last decade of British politics. We trace the timeline back to the referendum held nearly ten years ago to understand why the country has cycled through so many heads of state in such a short window. It is essential context for anyone trying to make sense of the current political climate.
Beyond just the numbers, I provide my perspective on whether this latest Prime Minister change offers a genuine path toward stability. We break down the challenges facing the new administration and evaluate the potential for different outcomes compared to previous leaders.
By the end of this analysis, you will have a clearer view of the structural issues impacting political leadership and what effectiveness might actually look like in this new term.
A fine assessment of the situation which no sensible person could argue with. Like Michael Lambert, I am very keen for Brexit to be reversed at the very earliest convenience. Brexit has been a very big negative influence on this country's economy, and it has robbed us Britons of many European rights.as well. It has brought us no discernible benefits.
How just a few troublemakers can turn the fortunes of a nation around. The gift of the gab in the wrong person with the wrong ideas can be fatal! — © Mark Alexander
In this video I look at why every Prime Minister since 2015 has failed the British people, what they all had in common, and why the answer, as it always has been, comes back to Brexit.
Burnham has charm, real experience and the communication skills his predecessor so sorely lacked. But his success depends on two things: a credible plan to grow the economy through investment and productivity — and, most importantly of all, the courage to declare that Britain will begin the process of rejoining the European Union. If he fails to do that, he will join a very long and undistinguished queue.
With a new Prime Minister change, the UK faces its seventh leader in ten years. I analyze if this transition can actually improve government effectiveness.
This video examines the rapid turnover in political leadership that has defined the last decade of British politics. We trace the timeline back to the referendum held nearly ten years ago to understand why the country has cycled through so many heads of state in such a short window. It is essential context for anyone trying to make sense of the current political climate.
Beyond just the numbers, I provide my perspective on whether this latest Prime Minister change offers a genuine path toward stability. We break down the challenges facing the new administration and evaluate the potential for different outcomes compared to previous leaders.
By the end of this analysis, you will have a clearer view of the structural issues impacting political leadership and what effectiveness might actually look like in this new term.
A fine assessment of the situation which no sensible person could argue with. Like Michael Lambert, I am very keen for Brexit to be reversed at the very earliest convenience. Brexit has been a very big negative influence on this country's economy, and it has robbed us Britons of many European rights.as well. It has brought us no discernible benefits.
How just a few troublemakers can turn the fortunes of a nation around. The gift of the gab in the wrong person with the wrong ideas can be fatal! — © Mark Alexander
Andrew: A Royal Shame | Full Film
Today, We Have Reached Over Ten Million Visitors
MARK ALEXANDER: I have just checked my Google visitor counter and, to my great delight, I found that we have reached 10,010,056 visitors to this blog.
This is great news for me, and for it, I would like to thank you all for your continued support and loyalty. This couldn’t have been achieved without YOU. Thank you so much. Your loyalty and support is greatly appreciated. Actually, more than words can easily express.
Naturally, I shall look forward to achieving the next landmark.
Kind regards to you all,
Mark
This is great news for me, and for it, I would like to thank you all for your continued support and loyalty. This couldn’t have been achieved without YOU. Thank you so much. Your loyalty and support is greatly appreciated. Actually, more than words can easily express.
Naturally, I shall look forward to achieving the next landmark.
Kind regards to you all,
Mark
Inside Elon Musk's Empire | BBC Americast
The US economy backs Elon Musk’s vision for sending people to Mars, the moon and beyond with SpaceX. Elon Musk’s rocket, telecommunications and artificial intelligence company SpaceX has listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange with a value of $2.2 trillion; making him the world’s first trillionaire in the process.
Other AI companies, including Open AI and Anthropic have plans to follow suit but what does that mean for the US economy and global financial stability?
In this episode, Justin speaks to Ryan Mac - an investigative technology reporter for the New York Times who has extensive experience covering Elon Musk and other leaders in the AI field.
SpaceX’s public valuation has made millionaires of many of its past and current employees and generated around $85 billion for the company; money that Elon Musk says is essential to fulfil the company’s plans to build bases on the Moon, put data centres into orbit and send human beings to Mars.
But what happens if those plans remain unfulfilled?
As more companies offer shares to investors and the general public, Justin and Ryan explore whether America is gambling on the promise of AI? And is the US economy becoming dangerously reliant on one industry?
Being generous of spirit, I hope Elon goes to Mars. I also hope that he stays there! 😊 — © Mark Alexander
Other AI companies, including Open AI and Anthropic have plans to follow suit but what does that mean for the US economy and global financial stability?
In this episode, Justin speaks to Ryan Mac - an investigative technology reporter for the New York Times who has extensive experience covering Elon Musk and other leaders in the AI field.
SpaceX’s public valuation has made millionaires of many of its past and current employees and generated around $85 billion for the company; money that Elon Musk says is essential to fulfil the company’s plans to build bases on the Moon, put data centres into orbit and send human beings to Mars.
But what happens if those plans remain unfulfilled?
As more companies offer shares to investors and the general public, Justin and Ryan explore whether America is gambling on the promise of AI? And is the US economy becoming dangerously reliant on one industry?
Being generous of spirit, I hope Elon goes to Mars. I also hope that he stays there! 😊 — © Mark Alexander
Donald Trump Will Face Consequences | Steve Schmidt
Meloni Delights World Leaders by Revealing She Has Quit Smoking
THE TELEGRAPH: Italian PM kicks the habit months after warning she would ‘kill’ without cigarettes
When Giorgia Meloni told G7 leaders on Monday that she had given up smoking, their reactions ranged from delight to surprise.
At last year’s summit, the Italian prime minister had declared that she would probably kill someone if she had to quit tobacco.
But she broke the news that she had successfully kicked the habit in Évian-les-Bains, eastern France.
Ms Meloni is heard on video saying she had to “take some coffee” as fellow leaders chatted while they waited for Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky to join them.
“This morning? To wake up?” asked Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president. Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, asked: “And a cigarette?”
“You stopped it. Bravo,” said Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s prime minister, a heavy smoker who has forged a close friendship with Ms Meloni, a political soulmate.
Mrs Von der Leyen, a medical doctor by training, declared: “Good.” » | James Crisp | Tuesday, June 16, 2026
People are like sheep!
Moreover, people these days make such a big deal about someone enjoying a humble cigarette! These days, you can get yourself tattooed all over the place. Ditto getting yourself pierced. Even cannabis and ketamine don't raise eyebrows. But for God's sake don't ask where you can smoke! People have truly become such bores! Childish really!
It's a pity Meloni has quit smoking. That was what made her particularly likeable and human. We'll see how long she'll last as a non-smoker. If she manages to stay smokefree, I hope to God she's not going to become another self-satisfied, self-righteous, anti-smoking bore! — © Mark Alexander
When Giorgia Meloni told G7 leaders on Monday that she had given up smoking, their reactions ranged from delight to surprise.
At last year’s summit, the Italian prime minister had declared that she would probably kill someone if she had to quit tobacco.
But she broke the news that she had successfully kicked the habit in Évian-les-Bains, eastern France.
Ms Meloni is heard on video saying she had to “take some coffee” as fellow leaders chatted while they waited for Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky to join them.
“This morning? To wake up?” asked Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president. Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, asked: “And a cigarette?”
“You stopped it. Bravo,” said Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s prime minister, a heavy smoker who has forged a close friendship with Ms Meloni, a political soulmate.
Mrs Von der Leyen, a medical doctor by training, declared: “Good.” » | James Crisp | Tuesday, June 16, 2026
People are like sheep!
Moreover, people these days make such a big deal about someone enjoying a humble cigarette! These days, you can get yourself tattooed all over the place. Ditto getting yourself pierced. Even cannabis and ketamine don't raise eyebrows. But for God's sake don't ask where you can smoke! People have truly become such bores! Childish really!
It's a pity Meloni has quit smoking. That was what made her particularly likeable and human. We'll see how long she'll last as a non-smoker. If she manages to stay smokefree, I hope to God she's not going to become another self-satisfied, self-righteous, anti-smoking bore! — © Mark Alexander
Starmer Facing Pressure from Ministers and Labour Grandees to Prepare for ‘Orderly Exit’
THE GUARDIAN: Prime minister said to be calling cabinet members but faces growing consensus that his time in Downing Street is over
Cabinet ministers and Labour grandees are to urge Keir Starmer not to fight a leadership challenge and to prepare for an “orderly exit,” the Guardian understands.
Andy Burnham, who won a compelling majority in the Makerfield byelection overnight, is expected to travel to London on Monday to meet MPs in the expectation of becoming prime minister within weeks.
One MP said they believed there were about 200 Labour MPs prepared – if necessary – to sign Burnham’s nomination papers for a challenge.
Starmer was said to be calling members of the cabinet on Friday afternoon to set out his determination to fight on. At least two, Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood, have previously suggested to the prime minister that he should set out a timetable for his departure. » | Jessica Elgot and Rowena Mason | Friday, June 19, 2026
Cabinet ministers and Labour grandees are to urge Keir Starmer not to fight a leadership challenge and to prepare for an “orderly exit,” the Guardian understands.
Andy Burnham, who won a compelling majority in the Makerfield byelection overnight, is expected to travel to London on Monday to meet MPs in the expectation of becoming prime minister within weeks.
One MP said they believed there were about 200 Labour MPs prepared – if necessary – to sign Burnham’s nomination papers for a challenge.
Starmer was said to be calling members of the cabinet on Friday afternoon to set out his determination to fight on. At least two, Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood, have previously suggested to the prime minister that he should set out a timetable for his departure. » | Jessica Elgot and Rowena Mason | Friday, June 19, 2026
Elon Musk: Wie gefährlich ist der erste Billionär der Welt? | Sandra Navidi
Kein anderer Tech-Gigant hat so viel Kapital, Macht und Einfluss wie Musk. Geht das für die Welt nach hinten los?
Der Börsengang von SpaceX hat Elon Musk zum ersten Billionär der Welt gemacht. Damit spielt der Tech-Titan in einer neuen Liga der individuellen Macht. Aber wie reich, mächtig und gefährlich ist Elon Musk wirklich? Darüber sprechen wir mit US-Expertin Sandra Navidi.
Der Börsengang von SpaceX hat Elon Musk zum ersten Billionär der Welt gemacht. Damit spielt der Tech-Titan in einer neuen Liga der individuellen Macht. Aber wie reich, mächtig und gefährlich ist Elon Musk wirklich? Darüber sprechen wir mit US-Expertin Sandra Navidi.
En frappant le Liban, Benyamin Netanyahou défie l’accord iranien de Donald Trump
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Marginalisé par l’accord entre Washington et Téhéran, le premier ministre israélien tente de préserver son image de chef de guerre. Mais ce choix, largement soutenu par l’opinion israélienne, menace de devenir le principal point de friction avec la Maison-Blanche.
Le dossier libanais continue d’empoisonner l’accord américano-iranien. Les dernières frappes israéliennes sur le Liban du Sud ont conduit la délégation iranienne à annuler au dernier moment sa venue en Suisse pour signer le mémorandum d’entente entre les États-Unis et l’Iran, censé ouvrir soixante jours de négociations vers un accord plus durable.
Car si Benyamin Netanyahou a perdu la main sur le dossier iranien, le premier ministre israélien, en difficulté politique à quelques mois des élections, tente de la garder au Liban. Alors que Donald Trump veut transformer son accord avec Téhéran en victoire diplomatique, Benyamin Netanyahou défie son parrain américain en poursuivant ses bombardements contre le Hezbollah au Liban. Vendredi, les frappes israéliennes ont causé au moins 18 morts selon le ministère de la Santé libanais, tandis que quatre soldats israéliens ont été tués par le groupe armé chiite. Le premier ministre israélien a affirmé que ses troupes resteraient dans le sud du Liban « aussi longtemps que nécessaire. »
Depuis la signature du mémorandum d’entente, le front libanais concentre toutes les ambiguïtés du moment. Sur le papier, Washington veut obtenir une désescalade régionale : suspension des hostilités, relance du dialogue nucléaire, stabilisation des fronts liés à l’Iran – dont le Liban. Sur le terrain, Israël entend conserver une liberté d’action complète contre le Hezbollah, qu’il accuse de reconstruire ses capacités militaires au sud du Litani. » | Par Stanislas Poyet Correspondant à Jérusalem | vendredi 19 juin 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Poulet sauté Bercy | ‘Chicken Bercy’ — A French Bistro Classic
June 14, 2026 | 🇫🇷 Poulet sauté Bercy is a forgotten Parisian classic. It is named after the historic wine markets of the Bercy quarter in Paris.
This dish is pure French elegance in one pan. Crispy golden chicken in a silky white wine and shallot sauce, finished with butter and parsley — nothing more, nothing less.
This is the recipe Auguste Escoffier codified in Le Guide Culinaire (1903), and it remains one of the most underrated classics in all of French cuisine.
This dish is pure French elegance in one pan. Crispy golden chicken in a silky white wine and shallot sauce, finished with butter and parsley — nothing more, nothing less.
This is the recipe Auguste Escoffier codified in Le Guide Culinaire (1903), and it remains one of the most underrated classics in all of French cuisine.
US-Iran Ceasefire Under Strain as Fighting Flares in Lebanon | DW News
Steve Rosenberg: How Are Russian Newspapers Reacting to the Ukrainian Drone Strike on Moscow?
Cuba under Siege, with Ben Norton
Jun 17, 2026 | The US embargo on Cuba has been in place for nearly 70 years and getting tighter by the day, devastating the lives of millions on the island. Ben Norton, founder and editor-in-chief of the Geopolitical Economy Report, has "seen the consequences with his own eyes."
He joins CGTN to break down how the US has weaponized the international financial system by levying sanctions, in violation of international law, to cause "hunger, desperation and overthrow of government."
He joins CGTN to break down how the US has weaponized the international financial system by levying sanctions, in violation of international law, to cause "hunger, desperation and overthrow of government."
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