BERLINER ZEITUNG: Kuba will über 2000 Gefangene begnadigen, die ersten wurden bereits am Freitag entlassen. Was steckt hinter der größten Freilassung seit Jahren?
Die kubanische Regierung hat mit der Freilassung von 2010 Häftlingen begonnen – die größte Massenentlassung des Landes seit Jahren. Laut der Parteizeitung Granma handelt es sich um eine „humanitäre und souveräne Geste“ anlässlich der Karwoche. Die Begnadigung betrifft Jugendliche, Frauen, über 60-Jährige und Ausländer. Ausgeschlossen sind Verurteilte wegen Mord, Sexualdelikten oder Drogenhandel, wie CNN berichtet. » |
Lea Brüggemann | Samstag, 4. April 2026
Saturday, April 04, 2026
Guerre au Moyen-Orient : les forces armées iraniennes rejettent le nouvel ultimatum de Donald Trump
LE FIGARO : « Le président américain agressif et belliqueux, après avoir subi des défaites successives, a entrepris, de façon impuissante, instable, énervée et stupide, de menacer les infrastructures et les biens » de l’Iran, a affirmé le général Ali Abdollahi, chef du commandement des forces armées iraniennes, cité par la télévision d’État sur Telegram. EN DIRECT » | Par Ségolène Forgar, Amaury Coutansais-Pervinquière et Clara Hidalgo | samedi 4 avril 2026
Israel Carries Out Strikes on Beirut and Tyre | BBC News
Apr 4, 2026 | Officials in Lebanon say a hospital in the city of Tyre has been damaged in Israeli airstrikes on nearby buildings, leaving 11 people injured.
Tens of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes, with an evacuation order in place.
There have also been reports of Israeli strikes in the capital city Beirut, and the US government has urged all Americans to leave Lebanon immediately, following a similar warning for those in Iraq.
The advisory follows recent developments, including a US fighter jet reportedly being shot down over Iran and strikes by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on parts of Beirut.
Tens of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes, with an evacuation order in place.
There have also been reports of Israeli strikes in the capital city Beirut, and the US government has urged all Americans to leave Lebanon immediately, following a similar warning for those in Iraq.
The advisory follows recent developments, including a US fighter jet reportedly being shot down over Iran and strikes by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on parts of Beirut.
As Team Trump Wage Unceasing War on Iran, Evangelical Nationalists Are Destroying Any Moral World Order We Once Had
THE GUARDIAN — OPINION: The brutalisation of global norms by figures like Pete Hegseth must be seen as an ethical issue. It’s a fight against chaos, and all major religions must play a role
Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has a tattoo on his chest of a Jerusalem cross, a symbol popularised during the Crusades. Photograph: @petehegseth/Instagram
That combative old hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers, is not much heard these days, though it was once a favourite with church congregations and school assemblies. Written in 1865 by Sabine Baring-Gould, an English clergyman and religious scholar, its belligerent refrain urges the faithful on to battle, victory and conquest: “Onward, Christian soldiers / Marching as to war / With the cross of Jesus / Going on before!” Its martial tone suited the Victorian zeitgeist but it made succeeding generations uneasy (though it was still sung in my primary school in the early 1960s). Nowadays, this sort of triumphalism gives religion a bad name.
Pete Hegseth, US defence secretary, and a leading Christian soldier, would certainly disagree. He probably hums it on his way to work. At a recent Christian worship service in the Pentagon – an irregular event, given the constitution’s dislike of anything smacking of state religion – Hegseth, referencing Iran, prayed for “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy”. Hegseth’s creed is killing. He describes Iranians as “religious fanatics”. And he should know. His intolerant brand of evangelical Christian nationalism is extreme even by US standards – yet has Donald Trump’s backing. Trump was a Presbyterian until 2020, when he abruptly declared he wasn’t. God knows what he is now.
Exploitation of Christian belief for political and military ends is a long-established, shabby US practice. Yet there’s a darkly obnoxious underside. Implicit in the official demonisation and dehumanisation of the Iranian nation is fear and loathing of otherness, in this case Shia Muslims. In one of his first acts as president in 2017, Trump banned immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries, and has continued in that hateful vein. » | Simon Tisdall | Saturday, April 4, 2026
That combative old hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers, is not much heard these days, though it was once a favourite with church congregations and school assemblies. Written in 1865 by Sabine Baring-Gould, an English clergyman and religious scholar, its belligerent refrain urges the faithful on to battle, victory and conquest: “Onward, Christian soldiers / Marching as to war / With the cross of Jesus / Going on before!” Its martial tone suited the Victorian zeitgeist but it made succeeding generations uneasy (though it was still sung in my primary school in the early 1960s). Nowadays, this sort of triumphalism gives religion a bad name.
Pete Hegseth, US defence secretary, and a leading Christian soldier, would certainly disagree. He probably hums it on his way to work. At a recent Christian worship service in the Pentagon – an irregular event, given the constitution’s dislike of anything smacking of state religion – Hegseth, referencing Iran, prayed for “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy”. Hegseth’s creed is killing. He describes Iranians as “religious fanatics”. And he should know. His intolerant brand of evangelical Christian nationalism is extreme even by US standards – yet has Donald Trump’s backing. Trump was a Presbyterian until 2020, when he abruptly declared he wasn’t. God knows what he is now.
Exploitation of Christian belief for political and military ends is a long-established, shabby US practice. Yet there’s a darkly obnoxious underside. Implicit in the official demonisation and dehumanisation of the Iranian nation is fear and loathing of otherness, in this case Shia Muslims. In one of his first acts as president in 2017, Trump banned immigrants from several Muslim-majority countries, and has continued in that hateful vein. » | Simon Tisdall | Saturday, April 4, 2026
Jeffrey Sachs: Iran War Broke US Empire & Alliance Systems
Léon XIV, un pape américain face au chaos du monde
LE FIGARO : RÉCIT - Directement confronté à son pays sur la question de la guerre, le pape, qui s’est entretenu avec Donald Trump, martèle ses messages de paix et appelle avec force à la trêve pascale.
Au soir de ce vendredi saint, Léon XIV a lui-même porté une croix de bois tout au long des quatorze stations du chemin de croix. Les papes, à l’exception de Jean-Paul II, ne le font pas, sinon pour la symbolique lors de la première ou dernière étape. Si Léon XIV a choisi de la porter jusqu’au bout de ce rituel séculaire, c’est pour adresser un message fort de paix au monde enflammé par la guerre : « Ce sera un signe important, a-t-il confié mardi soir, en raison de ce que représente le pape : un leader spirituel et une voix pour dire que le Christ souffre toujours. Et que je porte, moi aussi, toutes ces souffrances dans mes prières. Ce message s’adressera aussi à toutes les personnes de bonne volonté, à toutes celles qui ont la foi pour que nous cherchions à être porteurs de paix. » » | Par Jean-Marie Guénois | samedi 4 avril 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Rome : les images du pape Léon XIV qui porte lui-même la croix au Colisée
LE FIGARO : Le pape Léon XIV a présidé ce Vendredi saint le chemin de croix au Colisée, à Rome, portant lui même la croix à chacune des quatorze stations.
Pour son premier Vendredi saint comme souverain pontife, le pape Léon XIV a présidé ce vendredi soir le traditionnel chemin de croix au Colisée, à Rome. Sous les arches illuminées de l’amphithéâtre antique, le pontife n’a pas seulement présidé le chemin de croix : il a choisi d’en assumer lui même la charge, portant la croix à chacune des quatorze stations, au milieu d’une foule compacte et silencieuse. » | Par Alexandre Bourcier | vendredi 3 avril 2026
Pour son premier Vendredi saint comme souverain pontife, le pape Léon XIV a présidé ce vendredi soir le traditionnel chemin de croix au Colisée, à Rome. Sous les arches illuminées de l’amphithéâtre antique, le pontife n’a pas seulement présidé le chemin de croix : il a choisi d’en assumer lui même la charge, portant la croix à chacune des quatorze stations, au milieu d’une foule compacte et silencieuse. » | Par Alexandre Bourcier | vendredi 3 avril 2026
Rob Groves: Neutralising Trump: Why Starmer Doesn't Fight Back
Apr 4, 2026 | Donald Trump launched a war in the Middle East without consulting a single NATO ally, and now expects Britain to clean up the mess.
This week I'm doing something unusual: giving Keir Starmer some credit.
While GB News and the right-wing tabloids line up behind Trump, the Prime Minister is quietly building coalitions, strengthening European ties, and absorbing every petty insult thrown his way. Is that weakness, or statecraft?
Trump must surely be America’s worst president ever. — © Mark Alexander
This week I'm doing something unusual: giving Keir Starmer some credit.
While GB News and the right-wing tabloids line up behind Trump, the Prime Minister is quietly building coalitions, strengthening European ties, and absorbing every petty insult thrown his way. Is that weakness, or statecraft?
Trump must surely be America’s worst president ever. — © Mark Alexander
Richard Wolff: Why the US Doesn’t Recognize Its Own Decline…
Iran Conflict Costing the US $1 Billion a Day
Apr 4, 2026 | “An awful lot of money, and people are unsure what it is for.”
The American people feel “they don’t really know what’s going on” in Iran, as Trump has asked for an additional $1.5 trillion, says US reporter Harriet Alexander.
The American people feel “they don’t really know what’s going on” in Iran, as Trump has asked for an additional $1.5 trillion, says US reporter Harriet Alexander.
Michael Lawson: Trump's Cabinet Meeting Reveals Dangerous Delusion about Iran War
Apr 4, 2026 | Trump's White House cabinet meeting on 26th March reveals a president completely detached from reality — and the world is watching.
In this video, I break down the full transcript of Trump's 1 hour 44 minute cabinet meeting, word by word. He declared total victory over Iran. Claimed Iran's navy, air force and missile facilities had been completely destroyed. Said Iran was desperate for a deal — but that he wasn't much interested.
Behind the bravado lies something far more alarming. Trump rambled incoherently for most of the meeting, contradicted himself repeatedly, and made claims that raise serious questions about his mental state — including possible signs of frontotemporal dementia. In this video I analyse his exact words on:
In this video, I break down the full transcript of Trump's 1 hour 44 minute cabinet meeting, word by word. He declared total victory over Iran. Claimed Iran's navy, air force and missile facilities had been completely destroyed. Said Iran was desperate for a deal — but that he wasn't much interested.
Behind the bravado lies something far more alarming. Trump rambled incoherently for most of the meeting, contradicted himself repeatedly, and made claims that raise serious questions about his mental state — including possible signs of frontotemporal dementia. In this video I analyse his exact words on:
Hegseth Says U.S. Troops Are Fighting for Jesus. The Pope Disagrees.
THE NEW YORK TIMES: In sharp contrast to the Trump administration’s calls for Christian prayers for the war effort, Pope Leo XIV says military domination is “entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.”
Pete Hegseth, the U.S. defense secretary, has asked the American people to pray “every day, on bended knee” for a military victory in the Middle East “in the name of Jesus Christ.”
Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, has a starkly different take on what should be done in Jesus’s name.
In a homily during a Mass on Thursday morning before Easter, the pope said that the Christian mission has often been “distorted by a desire for domination, entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.”
Since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran in late February, the pope has consistently called for an end to the violence and a return to dialogue to resolve the conflict. But without naming Mr. Hegseth, he has also pointed out the ways in which Christianity has been marshaled for purposes that the pope says do not align with Catholic teaching.
“We tend to consider ourselves powerful when we dominate, victorious when we destroy our equals, great when we are feared,” the pope said in a homily during a Holy Thursday rite at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the bishop of Rome. “God has given us an example — not of how to dominate, but of how to liberate; not of how to destroy life, but of how to give it.”
In late March the pope warned against invoking the name of Jesus for battle, saying in a Sunday homily that Jesus “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” » | Motoko Rich | Reporting from Rome | Friday, April 3, 2026
Pete Hegseth seems to be off his trolley. Perhaps he is punch-drunk. Or, perhaps, just drunk! — © Mark Alexander
Pete Hegseth, the U.S. defense secretary, has asked the American people to pray “every day, on bended knee” for a military victory in the Middle East “in the name of Jesus Christ.”
Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, has a starkly different take on what should be done in Jesus’s name.
In a homily during a Mass on Thursday morning before Easter, the pope said that the Christian mission has often been “distorted by a desire for domination, entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.”
Since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran in late February, the pope has consistently called for an end to the violence and a return to dialogue to resolve the conflict. But without naming Mr. Hegseth, he has also pointed out the ways in which Christianity has been marshaled for purposes that the pope says do not align with Catholic teaching.
“We tend to consider ourselves powerful when we dominate, victorious when we destroy our equals, great when we are feared,” the pope said in a homily during a Holy Thursday rite at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the bishop of Rome. “God has given us an example — not of how to dominate, but of how to liberate; not of how to destroy life, but of how to give it.”
In late March the pope warned against invoking the name of Jesus for battle, saying in a Sunday homily that Jesus “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” » | Motoko Rich | Reporting from Rome | Friday, April 3, 2026
Pete Hegseth seems to be off his trolley. Perhaps he is punch-drunk. Or, perhaps, just drunk! — © Mark Alexander
Is Iran Winning?
Friday, April 03, 2026
Der letzte iranische Schah im Exil | Herrscher des Irans
Der letzte iranische Schah im Exil - Lüften Sie das Geheimnis um das Exil des letzten Schahs von Iran während der iranischen Revolution von 1979, seine Krankheit, Fehldiagnose, Misshandlung und seinen letztendlichen Tod sowie die Auswirkungen auf den Nahen Osten, die Vereinigten Staaten und die Welt.
Der letzte iranische Schah im Exil (2017)
Regisseur: Bobak Kalhor
Drehbuchautoren: Bobak Kalhor
Stars: Amir Aslan Afshar, Robert Armao (Archivmaterial), Jerry Berlin
Genre: Dokumentarfilm Land: Vereinigte Staaten
Sprache: Deutsch
Release Date: November 10, 2017 (Vereinigte Staaten)
Drehort: Los Angeles, Kalifornien, USA
Synopsis:
Am 16. Januar 1979 verließ der damalige Schah von Iran den Iran und begann eine 19-monatige Odyssee ins Exil nach Ägypten, Marokko, auf die Bahamas, nach Mexiko, in die USA, nach Panama und wieder zurück nach Ägypten, wo er verstarb. Sein Tod hatte tiefgreifende Folgen für die Zukunft des Nahen Ostens und der Welt, doch die unerzählte medizinische Geschichte des verstorbenen Schahs von Iran ist bis heute ein rätselhaftes Geheimnis geblieben. Dieser Dokumentarfilm führt den Zuschauer zu den wichtigsten Ursachen der iranischen Revolution, der Geiselkrise und dem Stand der Beziehungen zwischen den USA und dem Iran.
Der letzte iranische Schah im Exil (2017)
Regisseur: Bobak Kalhor
Drehbuchautoren: Bobak Kalhor
Stars: Amir Aslan Afshar, Robert Armao (Archivmaterial), Jerry Berlin
Genre: Dokumentarfilm Land: Vereinigte Staaten
Sprache: Deutsch
Release Date: November 10, 2017 (Vereinigte Staaten)
Drehort: Los Angeles, Kalifornien, USA
Synopsis:
Am 16. Januar 1979 verließ der damalige Schah von Iran den Iran und begann eine 19-monatige Odyssee ins Exil nach Ägypten, Marokko, auf die Bahamas, nach Mexiko, in die USA, nach Panama und wieder zurück nach Ägypten, wo er verstarb. Sein Tod hatte tiefgreifende Folgen für die Zukunft des Nahen Ostens und der Welt, doch die unerzählte medizinische Geschichte des verstorbenen Schahs von Iran ist bis heute ein rätselhaftes Geheimnis geblieben. Dieser Dokumentarfilm führt den Zuschauer zu den wichtigsten Ursachen der iranischen Revolution, der Geiselkrise und dem Stand der Beziehungen zwischen den USA und dem Iran.
Trump Announces ‘Fraud’ Crackdown in Democratic States as Arrests Begin in California
THE GUARDIAN: US president makes baseless claims about fraud in blue states and says JD Vance will lead clampdown as ‘fraud czar’
Donald Trump announced a fresh crackdown on “fraud” in Democratic states and tapped JD Vance to lead the charge. Officials swiftly announced a string of arrests in California.
In a Truth Social post on Friday, the US president announced that his vice-president was now “in charge of ‘fraud’ in the United States”, claiming the problem is “massive and pervasive” and that Vance’s new role as “fraud czar” will be “a major factor in how great the future of our country will be”.
Without citing evidence, Trump said that Vance would focus on “everywhere but primarily in those blue states where crooked Democrat politicians … have had a ‘free for all’ in the unprecedented theft of taxpayer money”.
He pointed to California, Illinois, Minnesota, Maine and New York, and alleged fraud was “so large that, if successful, we would literally be able to balance our American budget”, without providing evidence. » | Maya Yang in New York and Dani Anguiano in Los Angeles | Friday, April 3, 2026
Donald Trump announced a fresh crackdown on “fraud” in Democratic states and tapped JD Vance to lead the charge. Officials swiftly announced a string of arrests in California.
In a Truth Social post on Friday, the US president announced that his vice-president was now “in charge of ‘fraud’ in the United States”, claiming the problem is “massive and pervasive” and that Vance’s new role as “fraud czar” will be “a major factor in how great the future of our country will be”.
Without citing evidence, Trump said that Vance would focus on “everywhere but primarily in those blue states where crooked Democrat politicians … have had a ‘free for all’ in the unprecedented theft of taxpayer money”.
He pointed to California, Illinois, Minnesota, Maine and New York, and alleged fraud was “so large that, if successful, we would literally be able to balance our American budget”, without providing evidence. » | Maya Yang in New York and Dani Anguiano in Los Angeles | Friday, April 3, 2026
Relationship with Trump May Be beyond Repair, Keir Starmer Told
THE GUARDIAN: PM gets widespread backing after president’s mocking impersonation takes US-UK relationship to new low
Keir Starmer has been warned his relationship with Donald Trump may be beyond repair after the US president derided the prime minister for consulting his team about military decisions, in a mocking impersonation.
In a new low for UK-US relations, Trump appeared to imitate Starmer in a weak voice during an Easter lunch speech at the White House, and said the UK was “not our best” ally.
The episode is Trump’s latest broadside at Starmer and the UK’s “old” aircraft carriers after the prime minister declined to let the US use British military bases for its initial strikes on Iran.
Following the latest attack on Starmer, diplomatic and political figures said he was right to brush off the criticism but added that the relationship was very damaged and he would need to redouble efforts to built [sic] international relations elsewhere. » | Rowena Mason | Whitehall editor | Friday, April 3, 2026
Keir Starmer has been warned his relationship with Donald Trump may be beyond repair after the US president derided the prime minister for consulting his team about military decisions, in a mocking impersonation.
In a new low for UK-US relations, Trump appeared to imitate Starmer in a weak voice during an Easter lunch speech at the White House, and said the UK was “not our best” ally.
The episode is Trump’s latest broadside at Starmer and the UK’s “old” aircraft carriers after the prime minister declined to let the US use British military bases for its initial strikes on Iran.
Following the latest attack on Starmer, diplomatic and political figures said he was right to brush off the criticism but added that the relationship was very damaged and he would need to redouble efforts to built [sic] international relations elsewhere. » | Rowena Mason | Whitehall editor | Friday, April 3, 2026
Trump Ally and Her Cross-dressing Husband | Gerard Baker & Katy Balls
Warum verlieben wir uns? | 42 - Die Antwort auf fast alles Reupload | ARTE
Apr 3, 2026 | Sie ist wunderschön, aber macht auch richtig Stress: die Liebe. Spätestens seit der Pubertät kennen die meisten von uns diese bittersüße Kombination aus Glück und Herzschmerz. Aber empfinden wir alle dasselbe, wenn wir von der Liebe sprechen? Jede Kultur und jede Epoche darauf eine etwas andere Antwort. Die Hormone im Körper funktionieren allerdings überall gleich.
Zwei Personen treffen aufeinander und Zack, Blitzeinschlag: Liebe! Und die beiden schweben zusammen auf Wolke sieben, bis dass der Tod sie scheidet. Nach diesem Strickmuster funktionieren bei uns im Westen unzählige Liebesgeschichten. Jedoch war das nicht immer so. Liebe ist Interpretationssache und hat ganz viel mit der Kultur und der Epoche zu tun, in der wir leben.
Aber es gibt etwas, was wir alle gemeinsam haben: die Hormone. Wenn wir richtig verliebt sind, ist bei uns die Hölle los. Das Herz rast, die Hände schwitzen, der Mund wird trocken und das Gehirn schaltet auf "glücklich-unzurechnungsfähig". Liebe kann wie eine Droge wirken, die süchtig macht. Doch warum dieses Begehren? Nur, damit wir ein Kind in die Welt setzen? Das Kinderkriegen funktioniert auch in nüchternen Verbindungen zwischen Mann und Frau. Viele Kulturen sind überzeugt davon, dass eine arrangierte Ehe sogar eine bessere Grundlage für eine langfristige Beziehung ist als dieser Hormonrausch.
Gibt es so etwas wie ein natürliches Liebesleben der Menschen? Ja, sagt der Evolutionsbiologe Thomas Junker. Um herauszukriegen, warum wir in der Evolution so etwas wie die Liebe entwickelt haben, schaut er sich das Sozialleben von Gorillas oder Schimpansen an, die mit uns eng verwandt sind. Denn körperliche Merkmale und das Beziehungsleben sind eng gekoppelt. Sind wir in der Liebe also eher wie Schimpansen, die in größeren Gruppen zusammenleben, in denen alle Weibchen mit allen Männchen Sex haben? Oder doch eher Gorillas, mit einem dominanten Männchen an der Spitze eines kleinen Harems?
Zwei Personen treffen aufeinander und Zack, Blitzeinschlag: Liebe! Und die beiden schweben zusammen auf Wolke sieben, bis dass der Tod sie scheidet. Nach diesem Strickmuster funktionieren bei uns im Westen unzählige Liebesgeschichten. Jedoch war das nicht immer so. Liebe ist Interpretationssache und hat ganz viel mit der Kultur und der Epoche zu tun, in der wir leben.
Aber es gibt etwas, was wir alle gemeinsam haben: die Hormone. Wenn wir richtig verliebt sind, ist bei uns die Hölle los. Das Herz rast, die Hände schwitzen, der Mund wird trocken und das Gehirn schaltet auf "glücklich-unzurechnungsfähig". Liebe kann wie eine Droge wirken, die süchtig macht. Doch warum dieses Begehren? Nur, damit wir ein Kind in die Welt setzen? Das Kinderkriegen funktioniert auch in nüchternen Verbindungen zwischen Mann und Frau. Viele Kulturen sind überzeugt davon, dass eine arrangierte Ehe sogar eine bessere Grundlage für eine langfristige Beziehung ist als dieser Hormonrausch.
Gibt es so etwas wie ein natürliches Liebesleben der Menschen? Ja, sagt der Evolutionsbiologe Thomas Junker. Um herauszukriegen, warum wir in der Evolution so etwas wie die Liebe entwickelt haben, schaut er sich das Sozialleben von Gorillas oder Schimpansen an, die mit uns eng verwandt sind. Denn körperliche Merkmale und das Beziehungsleben sind eng gekoppelt. Sind wir in der Liebe also eher wie Schimpansen, die in größeren Gruppen zusammenleben, in denen alle Weibchen mit allen Männchen Sex haben? Oder doch eher Gorillas, mit einem dominanten Männchen an der Spitze eines kleinen Harems?
A Turning Point Ahead? Columbia's Prof Sachs on Iran War
The Passion of the Christ (2004) | Full Movie | 4K Ultra HD | English Subtitles
Nov 13, 2025 | Experience Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ like never before – fully remastered in breathtaking 4K Ultra HD.
This powerful and emotional masterpiece depicts the final 12 hours of Jesus of Nazareth’s life, capturing his suffering, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph of love and faith.
This powerful and emotional masterpiece depicts the final 12 hours of Jesus of Nazareth’s life, capturing his suffering, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph of love and faith.
How Much Is the War with Iran Costing the US? | BBC News
Apr 3, 2026 | The US war with Iran is into its second month and there's growing tension on how much money the US is spending on the conflict.
Recently, the Trump administration signalled that it would be requesting more funds, but there are demands for more transparency on how much the war is costing.
Meanwhile, the rest of the world is feeling the impact of the war with rising fuel and oil prices and Trump axes Pam Bondi as Attorney General.
Recently, the Trump administration signalled that it would be requesting more funds, but there are demands for more transparency on how much the war is costing.
Meanwhile, the rest of the world is feeling the impact of the war with rising fuel and oil prices and Trump axes Pam Bondi as Attorney General.
Epstein Files: How the DoJ Could Be Covering Up Links between Trump and Russia | FourSight Interview
Apr 3, 2026 | Senator Sheldon Whitehouse recently gave a speech on the floor of the Senate criticising Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice for failing to investigate alleged links between President Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Russia. It was watched millions of times.
Senator Whitehouse claims Epstein could have passed Vladimir Putin or other key Russia figures so-called kompromat - compromising material - on Trump. And that, he claims, could explain the President’s relationship with Putin - particularly throughout the Ukraine war.
President Trump has called claims of kompromat “fake news”, and previously said allegations of links to Russia are “a hoax” and a “witch hunt” instigated by his political opponents. Vladimir Putin has also denied Russia having any compromising material on the US President.
We wanted to hear from Senator Whitehouse just what it’s been like for politicians in the US as they try to wade through the Epstein Files and deal with the Department of Justice - which has been widely criticised for its handling of the files.
Senator Whitehouse claims Epstein could have passed Vladimir Putin or other key Russia figures so-called kompromat - compromising material - on Trump. And that, he claims, could explain the President’s relationship with Putin - particularly throughout the Ukraine war.
President Trump has called claims of kompromat “fake news”, and previously said allegations of links to Russia are “a hoax” and a “witch hunt” instigated by his political opponents. Vladimir Putin has also denied Russia having any compromising material on the US President.
We wanted to hear from Senator Whitehouse just what it’s been like for politicians in the US as they try to wade through the Epstein Files and deal with the Department of Justice - which has been widely criticised for its handling of the files.
Hegseth Sacks US Army’s Chief of Staff
THE TELEGRAPH: Pete Hegseth has fired America’s most senior Army officer one month into the war with Iran.
The dismissal is the latest in a succession of senior individuals being axed by the US defence secretary amid claims they had clashed over his vision for the military.
Gen Randy George, the US army chief of staff, was asked to retire immediately, CBS News reported.
A US department of defence source told the channel Mr Hegseth wanted to install someone who was trusted to realise Donald Trump’s vision for the army. » | Natasha Leake. Jörg Luyken. Connor Stringer, Chief Washington Correspondent. Benedict Smith, US Reporter. Emily Blumenthal. Andrew Buncombe | Friday, April 3, 2026
The dismissal is the latest in a succession of senior individuals being axed by the US defence secretary amid claims they had clashed over his vision for the military.
Gen Randy George, the US army chief of staff, was asked to retire immediately, CBS News reported.
A US department of defence source told the channel Mr Hegseth wanted to install someone who was trusted to realise Donald Trump’s vision for the army. » | Natasha Leake. Jörg Luyken. Connor Stringer, Chief Washington Correspondent. Benedict Smith, US Reporter. Emily Blumenthal. Andrew Buncombe | Friday, April 3, 2026
Iran, Russie, Algérie : huit procédures relevant du « terrorisme d’État » actuellement ouvertes, annonce le procureur national antiterroriste
LE FIGARO : Au lendemain des mises en examen dans le dossier de l’attentat déjoué à la Bank of America à Paris, le procureur national antiterroriste a décrit une menace mêlant mineurs recrutés en ligne, criminalité organisée et soupçons d’ingérences étrangères.
Vendredi 3 avril sur Franceinfo, le procureur national antiterroriste, Olivier Christen, a affirmé que huit procédures relevant du « terrorisme d’État » étaient aujourd’hui ouvertes par le Pnat (parquet national antiterroriste). Cette prise de parole intervient après la mise en examen, cette semaine, de quatre personnes soupçonnées d’avoir participé au projet d’attaque visant le siège parisien de Bank of America : un majeur et trois mineurs, tous placés en détention provisoire. » | Par Aldric Meeschaert | vendredi 3 avril 2026
Vendredi 3 avril sur Franceinfo, le procureur national antiterroriste, Olivier Christen, a affirmé que huit procédures relevant du « terrorisme d’État » étaient aujourd’hui ouvertes par le Pnat (parquet national antiterroriste). Cette prise de parole intervient après la mise en examen, cette semaine, de quatre personnes soupçonnées d’avoir participé au projet d’attaque visant le siège parisien de Bank of America : un majeur et trois mineurs, tous placés en détention provisoire. » | Par Aldric Meeschaert | vendredi 3 avril 2026
Trump Mocks Starmer in Fresh Attack
THE TELEGRAPH: US president impersonates PM, mocking him over aircraft carriers at White House lunch
Donald Trump has mocked Sir Keir Starmer as weak over his response to the war with Iran.
The US president impersonated the Prime Minister, claiming he had told him he had to “ask his team” about sending “two old broken-down aircraft carriers” to the Middle East.
Speaking at an White House Easter lunch, Mr Trump said Britain “should be our best” ally, but had not been during the US-Israeli war with Iran.
The president said: “I asked [the] UK, who should be our best. In fact the King is coming over here in two weeks, he’s a nice guy, King Charles.
“But should be our best but they weren’t our best. I said ‘you have two, old broken-down aircraft carriers, do you think you could send them over’?”
Impersonating Sir Keir with a weak voice, Mr Trump added: “‘Ohhh, I’ll have to ask my team’. » | Telegraph Reporters | Friday, April 3, 2026
There's plenty of material for us to mock Trump; in fact, the supply is limitless!
What a crass man Trump is! Totally unworthy of the office he holds. Is this man really the best man Americans could kick up to lead them? Is America so short of talent that they have to elect/re-elect a man of this low calibre for the highest office in the land? — © Mark Alexander
Donald Trump has mocked Sir Keir Starmer as weak over his response to the war with Iran.
The US president impersonated the Prime Minister, claiming he had told him he had to “ask his team” about sending “two old broken-down aircraft carriers” to the Middle East.
Speaking at an White House Easter lunch, Mr Trump said Britain “should be our best” ally, but had not been during the US-Israeli war with Iran.
The president said: “I asked [the] UK, who should be our best. In fact the King is coming over here in two weeks, he’s a nice guy, King Charles.
“But should be our best but they weren’t our best. I said ‘you have two, old broken-down aircraft carriers, do you think you could send them over’?”
Impersonating Sir Keir with a weak voice, Mr Trump added: “‘Ohhh, I’ll have to ask my team’. » | Telegraph Reporters | Friday, April 3, 2026
There's plenty of material for us to mock Trump; in fact, the supply is limitless!
What a crass man Trump is! Totally unworthy of the office he holds. Is this man really the best man Americans could kick up to lead them? Is America so short of talent that they have to elect/re-elect a man of this low calibre for the highest office in the land? — © Mark Alexander
Iran Strikes Water and Power Plant in Kuwait
THE TELEGRAPH: Iran struck a water desalination and power plant in Kuwait hours after hitting an oil refinery.
Tehran launched strikes on the Gulf state’s energy infrastructure after the US attacked Iranian civilian infrastructure on Friday.
Donald Trump boasted about destroying bridges outside Tehran and threatened to bomb power plants next.
Kuwait relies on desalination, which removes salt from seawater, for 90 per cent of its drinking water. Iran also targeted a desalination plant in the Gulf state on Monday.
The Kuwait army said its air defences were attempting to intercept “hostile missile and drone attacks” on Friday.
Also on Friday, Iran launched strikes on Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
The Gulf conflict has already sent oil prices well above $100 a barrel, with Brent crude reaching $141 on Thursday. » | Tim Sigsworth, News Reporter. Andrea Hamblin. Emily Blumenthal | Friday, April 4, 2026
Tehran launched strikes on the Gulf state’s energy infrastructure after the US attacked Iranian civilian infrastructure on Friday.
Donald Trump boasted about destroying bridges outside Tehran and threatened to bomb power plants next.
Kuwait relies on desalination, which removes salt from seawater, for 90 per cent of its drinking water. Iran also targeted a desalination plant in the Gulf state on Monday.
The Kuwait army said its air defences were attempting to intercept “hostile missile and drone attacks” on Friday.
Also on Friday, Iran launched strikes on Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
The Gulf conflict has already sent oil prices well above $100 a barrel, with Brent crude reaching $141 on Thursday. » | Tim Sigsworth, News Reporter. Andrea Hamblin. Emily Blumenthal | Friday, April 4, 2026
Israel's Death Penalty Is an 'Apartheid Law' Says Knesset Member Aida Touma-Suleiman
Apr 3, 2026 | In an interview with MEE’s Carolina Pedrazzi, member of the Israeli Knesset Aida Touma-Suleiman says the passing of Israel’s death penalty law for Palestinians was “a celebration of blood, a celebration of fascism and apartheid.”
“History has shown that the more oppression of occupation exists, the more resistance there is … We understand that the minute that international law vanishes, then it is a wild world and there is no other way to protect those who are violated in the world,” she added.
The new law passed by the Israeli parliament on Monday makes the death sentence the default punishment for Palestinians convicted of a deadly attack through military courts.
It has been widely condemned by rights groups for exclusively targeting Palestinians, enshrining separate legal rights based on national identity.
“History has shown that the more oppression of occupation exists, the more resistance there is … We understand that the minute that international law vanishes, then it is a wild world and there is no other way to protect those who are violated in the world,” she added.
The new law passed by the Israeli parliament on Monday makes the death sentence the default punishment for Palestinians convicted of a deadly attack through military courts.
It has been widely condemned by rights groups for exclusively targeting Palestinians, enshrining separate legal rights based on national identity.
Trump envisagerait de limoger d’autres hauts responsables de son administration, dont le directeur du FBI
LE FIGARO : Selon The Atlantic, le président américain n’a pas encore tranché, mais des discussions sont en cours sur le sort de Kash Patel, à la tête du FBI depuis plus d’un an, du secrétaire à l’Armée de terre et de la secrétaire au Travail.
Le ménage pourrait se poursuivre au sommet de l’État fédéral américain. Selon les informations du magazine The Atlantic, des discussions sont en cours à la Maison-Blanche sur le départ de plusieurs hauts responsables nommés par Donald Trump à des postes clés de son administration. Parmi les noms évoqués : Kash Patel, directeur du FBI, Daniel Driscoll, secrétaire à l’Armée de terre, et Lori Chavez-DeRemer, secrétaire au Travail.
Le calendrier de ces éventuels remaniements reste flou. Et pour cause : toujours selon The Atlantic, qui cite des sources proches de la Maison-Blanche, le président américain ne s’est pas encore décidé.
Le cas de Kash Patel est sans doute le plus scruté. Nommé à la tête du FBI en dépit de vives controverses, ce fidèle de longue date de Donald Trump avait été confirmé de justesse par le Sénat en février 2025. » | Par Le Figaro avec Reuters | vendredi 3 avril 2026
Le ménage pourrait se poursuivre au sommet de l’État fédéral américain. Selon les informations du magazine The Atlantic, des discussions sont en cours à la Maison-Blanche sur le départ de plusieurs hauts responsables nommés par Donald Trump à des postes clés de son administration. Parmi les noms évoqués : Kash Patel, directeur du FBI, Daniel Driscoll, secrétaire à l’Armée de terre, et Lori Chavez-DeRemer, secrétaire au Travail.
Le calendrier de ces éventuels remaniements reste flou. Et pour cause : toujours selon The Atlantic, qui cite des sources proches de la Maison-Blanche, le président américain ne s’est pas encore décidé.
Le cas de Kash Patel est sans doute le plus scruté. Nommé à la tête du FBI en dépit de vives controverses, ce fidèle de longue date de Donald Trump avait été confirmé de justesse par le Sénat en février 2025. » | Par Le Figaro avec Reuters | vendredi 3 avril 2026
How Giorgia Meloni Fell to Earth
THE NEW YORK TIMES — OPINION: For more than three years, Giorgia Meloni’s leadership of Italy has seemed unshakable. As the country’s first female prime minister, she shed a far-right past to govern with a pragmatic, steady hand, stable ratings and just the occasional scandal — a rarity in a country accustomed to volatile politics.
Since the beginning of Mr. Trump’s second term, she has positioned herself as someone who can curry his favor and avoid his retaliations — which Italy can ill afford — while steering clear of a clash with the E.U. institutions that service Italy’s enormous public debt. A delicate balance that she has maintained remarkably well.
But as Mr. Trump’s popularity craters to new lows in Europe, and the continent begins to find a backbone in its dealings with him, Ms. Meloni is discovering that being a favorite of the U.S. president can be a liability, too.
Ms. Meloni was elected in 2022, six months after Russia’s full-scale invasion into Ukraine, on a far-right platform and in a coalition that included lawmakers who sounded decidedly pro-Russia. But she quickly dispelled any concerns among mainstream European politicians that they would be dealing with another Viktor Orban, Hungary’s Russia-friendly prime minister. Italy has sent military aid to Ukraine and is a member of the so-called coalition of the willing, a group of around 30 countries that have signaled their commitment to security guarantees for Ukraine after a cease-fire. » | A NYT GUEST ESSAY by Anna Momigliano | Ms. Momigliano is an editor for the Corriere della Sera, an Italian newspaper. She wrote from Milan. | Friday, April 3, 2026
Ist Trump ein Russischer Einfluß-Agent? "Erdrückende Indizien"
Khatia Buniatishvili Plays Liebestraum No. 3 from Franz Liszt | Verbier Festival 2011 | Reupload
Thursday, April 02, 2026
The Women Who Believe That Women Should Lose the Right to Vote
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Adherents to biblical patriarchy support household voting: One household, one vote — the husband’s. They say the idea is catching on.
When they prayed on the Sunday after Valentine’s Day, as on other Sundays, most of the women at King’s Way Reformed Church in the old mining town of Prescott, Ariz., wore dainty kerchiefs knotted over their hair to show devotion to God. Marybelle East, 36, wore hers all the time, she said — seven days a week — “for him to see that I submit to his authority.” Her husband’s authority, that is.
Her head scarf is a physical reminder of biblical patriarchy, the kind of marriage the church preaches. “It keeps me from running my mouth,” she said.
To her and the other women, patriarchy also means ceding their political voices to their husbands. They believe America would be better off if women could not vote.
The Easts and their children had driven two hours from the Phoenix area to hear Dale Partridge, the 40-year-old pastor based on the outskirts of Prescott, in a brick-and-glass events space set between a regional airport and a modest golf course.
On social media, the pastor has attracted a following by posting incendiary commentary: railing against feminists, Catholics and gay people, describing immigration as “national suicide,” and labeling Islam and Hinduism “demonic.” He also calls for erasing women’s suffrage, which he lists as one reason “the world is falling apart.”
The 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment, the landmark legislative achievement of the movement to make women equal citizens, made it possible for women across America to vote. But for Mr. Partridge and a growing number of like-minded Christians, it drove America into national decline. Instead, they support “household voting.” One household, one vote — the husband’s. » | Vivian Yee | Reporting from Prescott, Ariz. | Thursday, April 2, 2026
When they prayed on the Sunday after Valentine’s Day, as on other Sundays, most of the women at King’s Way Reformed Church in the old mining town of Prescott, Ariz., wore dainty kerchiefs knotted over their hair to show devotion to God. Marybelle East, 36, wore hers all the time, she said — seven days a week — “for him to see that I submit to his authority.” Her husband’s authority, that is.
Her head scarf is a physical reminder of biblical patriarchy, the kind of marriage the church preaches. “It keeps me from running my mouth,” she said.
To her and the other women, patriarchy also means ceding their political voices to their husbands. They believe America would be better off if women could not vote.
The Easts and their children had driven two hours from the Phoenix area to hear Dale Partridge, the 40-year-old pastor based on the outskirts of Prescott, in a brick-and-glass events space set between a regional airport and a modest golf course.
On social media, the pastor has attracted a following by posting incendiary commentary: railing against feminists, Catholics and gay people, describing immigration as “national suicide,” and labeling Islam and Hinduism “demonic.” He also calls for erasing women’s suffrage, which he lists as one reason “the world is falling apart.”
The 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment, the landmark legislative achievement of the movement to make women equal citizens, made it possible for women across America to vote. But for Mr. Partridge and a growing number of like-minded Christians, it drove America into national decline. Instead, they support “household voting.” One household, one vote — the husband’s. » | Vivian Yee | Reporting from Prescott, Ariz. | Thursday, April 2, 2026
Trump Increasingly Desperate over Iran War Failures, Threatens NATO Alliance with Withdrawal
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.
Ungarn: Europas Populistenschmiede | Doku HD | ARTE
Apr 2, 2026 | In vielen EU-Ländern prägen rechtspopulistische und nationalkonservative Parteien die politische Landschaft. Giorgia Meloni regiert Italien, der Rassemblement National scheiterte in Frankreich knapp an der Macht, die FPÖ wurde in Österreich stärkste Kraft, und Vox etablierte sich in Spanien. Als Vorbild gilt Ungarns Ministerpräsident Viktor Orbán – seit 2010 unangefochten an der Macht.
Zur Sicherung seines Machterhalts änderte Ungarns Ministerpräsident Viktor Orbán Verfassung und Wahlgesetz, zentralisierte die Medien. Befreundete Oligarchen ʺkauftenʺ die meisten unabhängigen Journalistinnen und Journalisten, die seither regierungstreu berichten. Zu den neuen Ultrareichen in Ungarn zählt auch Orbáns Freund aus Kindertagen, der frühere Klempner Lőrinc Mészáros, der dank zahlreicher öffentlicher Aufträge mit undurchsichtigen Vergabebedingungen zum reichsten Mann des Landes avancierte.
Orbáns autoritärer Regierungsstil, die sogenannte "illiberale Demokratie", dient gleichgesinnten europäischen Amtskollegen inzwischen als Blaupause. Im alle zwei Jahre stattfindenden "Budapester Demographie-Gipfel" – eine Veranstaltung gegen Einwanderung und zur Förderung des völkischen Nationalismus – vereint er die großen rechten Stimmen Europas um sich und stützt deren Wahlkampagnen.
Ungarn, mit Orbán an der Spitze, gilt als Herzstück eines großen paneuropäischen Rechtsbündnisses, das sich in Brüssel mit den "Patrioten für Europa" eine eigene Fraktion geschaffen hat. Als unverhohlene Anlehnung an die Politik des US-Präsidenten Donald Trump lautet deren Slogan: "Make Europe Great Again".
Untermauert von Zeitzeugenaussagen und Expertenmeinungen, einige davon ehemalige Verbündete Viktor Orbáns, analysiert die Dokumentation, wie es dem starken Mann in Ungarn gelang, an die Macht zu kommen und diese seit mehr als 15 Jahren an sich zu binden. Wie wurde seine Methode nach Italien, Frankreich, Österreich und Brüssel exportiert? Und warum könnte die "illiberale Demokratie" langfristig die führende Politikform in Europa werden?
Dokumentation von Feurat Alani (F 2025, 53 Min) Video verfügbar bis zum 04/10/2026
Zur Sicherung seines Machterhalts änderte Ungarns Ministerpräsident Viktor Orbán Verfassung und Wahlgesetz, zentralisierte die Medien. Befreundete Oligarchen ʺkauftenʺ die meisten unabhängigen Journalistinnen und Journalisten, die seither regierungstreu berichten. Zu den neuen Ultrareichen in Ungarn zählt auch Orbáns Freund aus Kindertagen, der frühere Klempner Lőrinc Mészáros, der dank zahlreicher öffentlicher Aufträge mit undurchsichtigen Vergabebedingungen zum reichsten Mann des Landes avancierte.
Orbáns autoritärer Regierungsstil, die sogenannte "illiberale Demokratie", dient gleichgesinnten europäischen Amtskollegen inzwischen als Blaupause. Im alle zwei Jahre stattfindenden "Budapester Demographie-Gipfel" – eine Veranstaltung gegen Einwanderung und zur Förderung des völkischen Nationalismus – vereint er die großen rechten Stimmen Europas um sich und stützt deren Wahlkampagnen.
Ungarn, mit Orbán an der Spitze, gilt als Herzstück eines großen paneuropäischen Rechtsbündnisses, das sich in Brüssel mit den "Patrioten für Europa" eine eigene Fraktion geschaffen hat. Als unverhohlene Anlehnung an die Politik des US-Präsidenten Donald Trump lautet deren Slogan: "Make Europe Great Again".
Untermauert von Zeitzeugenaussagen und Expertenmeinungen, einige davon ehemalige Verbündete Viktor Orbáns, analysiert die Dokumentation, wie es dem starken Mann in Ungarn gelang, an die Macht zu kommen und diese seit mehr als 15 Jahren an sich zu binden. Wie wurde seine Methode nach Italien, Frankreich, Österreich und Brüssel exportiert? Und warum könnte die "illiberale Demokratie" langfristig die führende Politikform in Europa werden?
Dokumentation von Feurat Alani (F 2025, 53 Min) Video verfügbar bis zum 04/10/2026
Trump Is in a Pickle
I wrote something similar to this back in late March, stating that Trump has got himself into a fine pickle, and I added that he has no idea of the Sunni-Shia divide. It’s all written here in gold font. — © Mark Alexander
Steve Schmidt: The World Is Watching Trump Fail
Hasn’t the time come for ‘the men in grey suits’ to do their work? – © Mark Alexander
Democracy Now! "This War Is Already Lost": Spencer Ackerman & Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi on Trump's Iran Debacle
President Donald Trump gave a primetime televised address Wednesday to discuss the war on Iran, his first since the United States and Israel launched attacks on February 28. Trump gave few clues about when or how the war could end, but he boasted about killing top Iranian leaders and degrading the country’s military. He threatened to bomb Iran “back to the stone ages, where they belong.”
Despite the grandiose claims, built on “lies and delusions,” Trump “did not add anything new,” says Iranian American scholar Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi, who calls Trump’s shifting justifications an admission of “defeat in the war of narratives.”
We also speak with journalist Spencer Ackerman, who says the U.S. has already lost the war. “Iran has changed the entirety of this conflict,” he says. “It has pivoted this conflict onto its own territory and its own goals, and the United States does not have a military mechanism to redress that, primarily the throttling of the Strait of Hormuz.”
Democracy Now! can be supported here.
Despite the grandiose claims, built on “lies and delusions,” Trump “did not add anything new,” says Iranian American scholar Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi, who calls Trump’s shifting justifications an admission of “defeat in the war of narratives.”
We also speak with journalist Spencer Ackerman, who says the U.S. has already lost the war. “Iran has changed the entirety of this conflict,” he says. “It has pivoted this conflict onto its own territory and its own goals, and the United States does not have a military mechanism to redress that, primarily the throttling of the Strait of Hormuz.”
Democracy Now! can be supported here.
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