Trump is f*****g trash! How many times does it have to be said? Moreover, it is hard to see how America will ever be able to recover from his pathetic presidency. — © Mark Alexander
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Pete Hegseth Unravels Under Jon Ossoff's Questions | Steve Schmidt
Trump is f*****g trash! How many times does it have to be said? Moreover, it is hard to see how America will ever be able to recover from his pathetic presidency. — © Mark Alexander
‘BONKERS’ US Saudi Nuclear Deal Shows How ‘Dependent’ Trump Is on MBS
July 22, 2026 | President Donald Trump has approved a landmark civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that could allow the kingdom to enrich uranium on its own soil.
The proposed 30-year deal is expected to face scrutiny in Congress, with critics warning it could increase the risk of nuclear proliferation and fuel a regional arms race. Supporters argue it will strengthen the US-Saudi alliance and keep Riyadh aligned with Washington rather than rivals such as China or Russia. Matt Frei and Mark Urban discuss what it all means in this segment of the Fourcast Indicators.
Dismember a journalist and be rewarded by getting all the privileges! Something looks wrong with this picture! As I have said before: Trump is trash! — © Mark Alexander
The proposed 30-year deal is expected to face scrutiny in Congress, with critics warning it could increase the risk of nuclear proliferation and fuel a regional arms race. Supporters argue it will strengthen the US-Saudi alliance and keep Riyadh aligned with Washington rather than rivals such as China or Russia. Matt Frei and Mark Urban discuss what it all means in this segment of the Fourcast Indicators.
Dismember a journalist and be rewarded by getting all the privileges! Something looks wrong with this picture! As I have said before: Trump is trash! — © Mark Alexander
Rejecting Stephen Miller’s Fascist Fearmongering
Trump Makes Major Mistake by 'Throwing a Grenade' into Old Political Firestorm | Sir Bill Browder
This is the very first time that I disagree with Bill Browder! If Saudi can be trusted with nuclear material, then Iran can and should be trusted with it too. It is absolutely ridiculous to help Saudi Arabia get nuclear material and at the same time be at war costing multiple billions to stop Iran getting the very same material. I am saddened and surprised by Bill Browder’s excuses here. I thought he'd have a better, fairer assessment than this. Further, when push comes to shove, the Iranians are a very sophisticated people. Very well-educated and sophisticated.
By the way, one thing we can be sure of is that Trump and his cronies will be filling their coffers "BIGLY" through these deals with Saudi Arabia. Further, when it comes to corruption, it is difficult to tell who is learning from whom here! — © Mark Alexander
Soll Neonazi-Pilger abschrecken: Hitlers Geburtshaus ist jetzt eine Polizeistation
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Nach jahrelangem Streit um die Nutzung hat Österreich das Geburtshaus Adolf Hitlers zur Polizeidienststelle umgebaut. Am Umgang mit dem NS-Erbe gibt es Kritik.
Das Geburtshaus Adolf Hitlers im oberösterreichischen Braunau am Inn ist am Mittwoch offiziell als Polizeidienststelle eröffnet worden. Innenminister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) übergab das umgebaute Gebäude in der Salzburger Vorstadt seiner neuen Bestimmung. Untergebracht sind dort künftig eine Polizeiinspektion mit rund 45 Beamten sowie das Bezirkspolizeikommando Braunau.
„Es ist ein neues Kapitel. Nun wird dieses Haus zu einem Ort der Demokratie, der Rechtsstaatlichkeit, der Sicherheit. Gleichzeitig verschwindet die Erinnerung nicht“, sagte Karner bei der Eröffnung laut ORF Oberösterreich. Die Republik stelle sich damit dem belasteten Erbe dieses Ortes, erklärte der Minister nach Angaben der Nachrichtenagentur AP. Auch der oberösterreichische ÖVP-Landeshauptmann Thomas Stelzer sprach von einem bewussten Zeichen für den Rechtsstaat. » | Peter Steiniger | Mittwoch, 22. Juli 2026
Das Geburtshaus Adolf Hitlers im oberösterreichischen Braunau am Inn ist am Mittwoch offiziell als Polizeidienststelle eröffnet worden. Innenminister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) übergab das umgebaute Gebäude in der Salzburger Vorstadt seiner neuen Bestimmung. Untergebracht sind dort künftig eine Polizeiinspektion mit rund 45 Beamten sowie das Bezirkspolizeikommando Braunau.
„Es ist ein neues Kapitel. Nun wird dieses Haus zu einem Ort der Demokratie, der Rechtsstaatlichkeit, der Sicherheit. Gleichzeitig verschwindet die Erinnerung nicht“, sagte Karner bei der Eröffnung laut ORF Oberösterreich. Die Republik stelle sich damit dem belasteten Erbe dieses Ortes, erklärte der Minister nach Angaben der Nachrichtenagentur AP. Auch der oberösterreichische ÖVP-Landeshauptmann Thomas Stelzer sprach von einem bewussten Zeichen für den Rechtsstaat. » | Peter Steiniger | Mittwoch, 22. Juli 2026
Salman Rushdie Attacker Faces US Terrorism Trial
THE GUARDIAN: Hadi Matar, already serving 25 years for attempted murder, denies federal charges that could bring a life sentence
The man who stabbed Salman Rushdie in the eye on stage in 2022 is standing trial for a second time – this time facing terrorism charges after being found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison last year.
Hadi Matar’s federal trial begins in Buffalo, New York on Wednesday, about 70 miles from the venue where Rushdie was due to speak about writers in political exile in August 2022, when he was stabbed more than a dozen times.
Matar, 28, was convicted last May of attempted murder and assault at the state level. He denies charges that include providing material support to terrorists and committing an act of transnational terrorism, and faces a possible life sentence if convicted on all counts.
Rushdie, 79, survived the attack but lost the use of one eye and suffered lasting nerve damage. The Booker prize-winning author is expected to testify again, having already given evidence at Matar’s state trial. The trial is expected to last approximately two weeks. » | Emma Loffhagen | Wednesday, July 22, 2026
The man who stabbed Salman Rushdie in the eye on stage in 2022 is standing trial for a second time – this time facing terrorism charges after being found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison last year.
Hadi Matar’s federal trial begins in Buffalo, New York on Wednesday, about 70 miles from the venue where Rushdie was due to speak about writers in political exile in August 2022, when he was stabbed more than a dozen times.
Matar, 28, was convicted last May of attempted murder and assault at the state level. He denies charges that include providing material support to terrorists and committing an act of transnational terrorism, and faces a possible life sentence if convicted on all counts.
Rushdie, 79, survived the attack but lost the use of one eye and suffered lasting nerve damage. The Booker prize-winning author is expected to testify again, having already given evidence at Matar’s state trial. The trial is expected to last approximately two weeks. » | Emma Loffhagen | Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Model Scout for Jeffrey Epstein Found Dead at His Home Near Paris
THE GUARDIAN: Daniel Siad faced allegations of rape and trafficking in France and appeared in more than 1,000 documents in Epstein files
This screenshot is from this Guardian article. | Daniel Siad had not yet been questioned by investigators, but had denied the allegations, saying he wanted to give his version of events. Photograph: US Department of Justice
A modelling scout who recruited women for Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead at his home near Paris, French officials have said.
Daniel Siad, 69, was under investigation by the prosecutors specialising in human trafficking in France, accused of rape and other charges. His name appeared in more than 1,000 documents in the US Department of Justice Epstein files that were declassified earlier this year.
Siad was one of several French men accused of aiding Epstein to traffic and abuse women. He had not yet been questioned by investigators, but had denied the allegations, saying he wanted to give his version of events.
He was found dead in his home on Monday evening. An investigation to determine the cause of death has been opened and an autopsy is to be carried out.
Siad traveled around the world, visiting villages in eastern Europe or flying to Cuba or Sweden, trying to source women to work in the modelling industry. Alongside searching for potential models, he looked for women whom he hoped Epstein might want to meet. He compared his work to fishing, explaining to Epstein in an email in 2014 that patience was required: “In This busyness I feel like fisherman some time I cache (sic) quick, some time no fish.” » | Amelia Gentleman | Wednesday, July 22, 2026
À LIRE AUSSI :
Hauts-de-Seine : Daniel Siad, le «rabatteur» présumé de Jeffrey Epstein, retrouvé mort à son domicile : Âgé de 69 ans, ce Suédois d’origine kabyle était visé par des accusations de viol depuis la déclassification des «fichiers Epstein», dans lesquels son nom apparaît à des milliers de reprises. »
A modelling scout who recruited women for Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead at his home near Paris, French officials have said.
Daniel Siad, 69, was under investigation by the prosecutors specialising in human trafficking in France, accused of rape and other charges. His name appeared in more than 1,000 documents in the US Department of Justice Epstein files that were declassified earlier this year.
Siad was one of several French men accused of aiding Epstein to traffic and abuse women. He had not yet been questioned by investigators, but had denied the allegations, saying he wanted to give his version of events.
He was found dead in his home on Monday evening. An investigation to determine the cause of death has been opened and an autopsy is to be carried out.
Siad traveled around the world, visiting villages in eastern Europe or flying to Cuba or Sweden, trying to source women to work in the modelling industry. Alongside searching for potential models, he looked for women whom he hoped Epstein might want to meet. He compared his work to fishing, explaining to Epstein in an email in 2014 that patience was required: “In This busyness I feel like fisherman some time I cache (sic) quick, some time no fish.” » | Amelia Gentleman | Wednesday, July 22, 2026
À LIRE AUSSI :
Hauts-de-Seine : Daniel Siad, le «rabatteur» présumé de Jeffrey Epstein, retrouvé mort à son domicile : Âgé de 69 ans, ce Suédois d’origine kabyle était visé par des accusations de viol depuis la déclassification des «fichiers Epstein», dans lesquels son nom apparaît à des milliers de reprises. »
The Secret to Crispy Chicken Thighs and Tender Greens | Andy Baraghani | NYT Cooking
For the full recipe, please click here »
Impact of MAGA on European Right-wing "Ideologically Close But Interests Not Respected”
Droit de vote des femmes, avortement, homosexualité… Douglas Wilson, le pasteur provocateur préféré de la nouvelle droite américaine
LE FIGARO : Installé dans l’État américain de l’Idaho, le chantre du nationalisme chrétien est devenu en quelques années une figure incontournable du mouvement Maga.
Dans une église remplie de familles et d’enfants, Douglas Wilson prêche pour la troisième fois de la matinée, ce dimanche matin de juillet, le message biblique du livre d’Esther. Il raconte comment cette reine de l’Ancien Testament déjoue le complot du sinistre vizir Haman, « cupide, méchant et envieux », qui voulait exterminer les Juifs de l’Empire perse. « Si l’on observe tout le désordre culturel qui nous entoure, on constate qu’il est presque entièrement causé par le péché de jalousie », déclare le pasteur en chaire.
L’homme de 73 ans, à la stature imposante et à l’épaisse barbe blanche, livre chaque semaine, entre les chants des psaumes, un commentaire à portée politique sur un passage de la Bible. En attendant la construction d’une cathédrale, c’est cette église de briques, percée de trois fenêtres en ogive, qui accueille la fervente assistance. Dehors, l’or des champs de blé et le jaune vif des cultures de colza scintillent, dans ces vastes collines du nord-ouest des États-Unis. « La jalousie prend de nombreuses formes : le féminisme, le socialisme, l’égalitarisme, poursuit le pasteur. La meilleure façon de la combattre est de lui déclarer la guerre partout, dans nos cœurs et dans nos vies, dans nos familles, nos quartiers, nos entreprises. »
Wilson dirige Christ Church, une église fondée il y a plus de cinquante ans à Moscow, dans l’Idaho. Elle fait partie du Crec, la Communion des Églises évangéliques réformées, qui regroupe une centaine de communautés marquées par un protestantisme calviniste. Depuis trois décennies, le pasteur érige l’interprétation littérale des Saintes Écritures en morale absolue qui doit régir chaque aspect de l’existence humaine, de la vie privée à l’économie et à la politique.
Il en tire des conclusions extrêmes, qu’il a défendues à la télévision, au prix de vives polémiques, à la faveur de sa notoriété grandissante. Entre autres, les femmes ne devraient pas avoir le droit de vote, et l’homosexualité, tout comme l’adultère, devrait être pénalisée. Car au fond, pour lui, les États-Unis devraient devenir une théocratie chrétienne, une nation rédigeant ses lois selon les préceptes de la Bible. » | Par Mayeul Aldebert, correspondant à Washington | mercredi 22 juillet 2026
Light But Necessary Relief in These Troubled Times
For some relief from the heaviness of politics, and for some stimulation and eye candy for your tired and weary eyes, click here » I feel sure you’ll be glad you did! 😊 — Mark
Margaret Thatcher: Defend Freedom While You Still Can
She was right at the time, but now, it isn't socialism or communism which threaten our freedom; rather, it's the oligarchs, the superrich. — © Mark Alexander
US Renews Strikes on Iran as Trump Threatens to Attack Nuclear Site | BBC News
July 22, 2026 | US Central Command (Centcom) said the wave of strikes were "designed to continue degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping" in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media reported that air defences were activated in the capital Tehran. Explosions were also reported in Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, and in Bushehr, home to Iran's only nuclear power plant.
Iran, which has retaliated against the US and its Middle East allies, warned of reprisals after Donald Trump said the US would soon hit an underground nuclear site near Natanz.
All that money p****d against the wall! Just imagine what a president with sound judgment could have done to improve Americans’ lives with all that money!
As far as I can see, it doesn’t matter how many billions Americans throw at this war, it is hard to see how the Iranians will let America win. And God only knows what is going to happen to the world economy with the Strait of Hormuz and now also the Bab el-Mandeb blocked by the Houthis, too.
Mr Trump needs to learn that his transactional approach will not work with a people so married to their religion and ideology. Belief trumps profit each and every time. — © Mark Alexander
Iranian state media reported that air defences were activated in the capital Tehran. Explosions were also reported in Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, and in Bushehr, home to Iran's only nuclear power plant.
Iran, which has retaliated against the US and its Middle East allies, warned of reprisals after Donald Trump said the US would soon hit an underground nuclear site near Natanz.
All that money p****d against the wall! Just imagine what a president with sound judgment could have done to improve Americans’ lives with all that money!
As far as I can see, it doesn’t matter how many billions Americans throw at this war, it is hard to see how the Iranians will let America win. And God only knows what is going to happen to the world economy with the Strait of Hormuz and now also the Bab el-Mandeb blocked by the Houthis, too.
Mr Trump needs to learn that his transactional approach will not work with a people so married to their religion and ideology. Belief trumps profit each and every time. — © Mark Alexander
Benjamin Netanyahu Is a War Criminal
July 22, 2026 | The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu for a reason. He should be arrested and stand trial.
My administration examined every legal avenue available to determine whether New York City could execute that warrant. The law is clear: we do not have that authority. The federal government does. So we are calling on the United States to uphold international law, cooperate with the ICC, apprehend Benjamin Netanyahu and transfer him to The Hague to face justice.
We cannot end this genocide on our own. But we can use every tool available to defend humanity and uphold justice. That is the responsibility of this city. And it is my commitment as mayor.
Related article here.
My administration examined every legal avenue available to determine whether New York City could execute that warrant. The law is clear: we do not have that authority. The federal government does. So we are calling on the United States to uphold international law, cooperate with the ICC, apprehend Benjamin Netanyahu and transfer him to The Hague to face justice.
We cannot end this genocide on our own. But we can use every tool available to defend humanity and uphold justice. That is the responsibility of this city. And it is my commitment as mayor.
Related article here.
With His Latest Threats, Trump Signals to Iran That He Is Willing to Escalate
THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Trump is facing a critical moment in the war, which has failed to bring about the “unconditional surrender” he once demanded.
This screenshot is from this NYT article. | “We’ll be hitting that area probably pretty soon,” President Trump said of Pickaxe Mountain on Tuesday. “And there’s not a thing they can do about it.” Credit: Kenny Holston/The New York Times
President Trump threatened on Tuesday to accelerate the war with Iran by returning the conflict to where it began, with a bunker-busting attack on one of the country’s nuclear facilities.
But the target he has in mind, known among Western intelligence agencies as Pickaxe Mountain, is not complete. No nuclear experts believe it houses the kind of working equipment to enrich uranium, and convert that material to bomb fuel, like the three major nuclear sites Mr. Trump ordered bombed in June 2025, in what the Pentagon called “Operation Midnight Hammer.”
At most, experts say, Pickaxe Mountain for now is a deep underground storage site.
But for Mr. Trump, facing a turning point in the war, it may make little difference whether Pickaxe Mountain is empty or giving cover to the surviving remnants of Iran’s stockpile of nuclear centrifuges, the machinery critical to churning out bomb fuel. In his own statements on Tuesday and those of his military advisers, who spent much of the afternoon dodging questions from Senate Democrats, Mr. Trump seemed mostly fixated on sending a message to Iran that his willingness to escalate knows no limits.
“We’ll be hitting that area probably pretty soon,” Mr. Trump said, not for the first time. “And there’s not a thing they can do about it,” the president said during a visit from Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun. » | David E. Sanger | David E. Sanger has reported on the efforts to counter Iran’s nuclear capabilities for more than two decades. | Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Trump is in a bind. He’s got himself into a war he probably cannot and will not win, and he doesn’t know how to get out of and at the same time save his face, either. What a predicament to be in. The Iranians are outsmarting him all the time. — © Mark Alexander
ALSO READ:
Hegseth Estimates Iran War Has Cost $37.5 Billion: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is requesting as much as $70 billion in emergency military spending after nearly five months of war. »
President Trump threatened on Tuesday to accelerate the war with Iran by returning the conflict to where it began, with a bunker-busting attack on one of the country’s nuclear facilities.
But the target he has in mind, known among Western intelligence agencies as Pickaxe Mountain, is not complete. No nuclear experts believe it houses the kind of working equipment to enrich uranium, and convert that material to bomb fuel, like the three major nuclear sites Mr. Trump ordered bombed in June 2025, in what the Pentagon called “Operation Midnight Hammer.”
At most, experts say, Pickaxe Mountain for now is a deep underground storage site.
But for Mr. Trump, facing a turning point in the war, it may make little difference whether Pickaxe Mountain is empty or giving cover to the surviving remnants of Iran’s stockpile of nuclear centrifuges, the machinery critical to churning out bomb fuel. In his own statements on Tuesday and those of his military advisers, who spent much of the afternoon dodging questions from Senate Democrats, Mr. Trump seemed mostly fixated on sending a message to Iran that his willingness to escalate knows no limits.
“We’ll be hitting that area probably pretty soon,” Mr. Trump said, not for the first time. “And there’s not a thing they can do about it,” the president said during a visit from Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun. » | David E. Sanger | David E. Sanger has reported on the efforts to counter Iran’s nuclear capabilities for more than two decades. | Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Trump is in a bind. He’s got himself into a war he probably cannot and will not win, and he doesn’t know how to get out of and at the same time save his face, either. What a predicament to be in. The Iranians are outsmarting him all the time. — © Mark Alexander
ALSO READ:
Hegseth Estimates Iran War Has Cost $37.5 Billion: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is requesting as much as $70 billion in emergency military spending after nearly five months of war. »
Mamdani Calls Netanyahu a ‘War Criminal’ and Calls on U.S. to Arrest Him
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Mayor Zohran Mamdani challenged the United States to execute an international arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, which New York itself cannot do.
This screenshot is from this NYT article. | Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that New York cannot arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, but the United States should. Credit: Dave Sanders for The New York Times
Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday night challenged the federal government to execute an international arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, calling him a “war criminal” and “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people” in a striking video statement.
The mayor said the city Law Department explored whether the New York Police Department could arrest the Israeli prime minister during his expected visit to the city in September but that the city did not have “independent legal authority” to do so.
The mayor’s announcement came days after he told Lulu Garcia-Navarro last week on “The Interview,” a New York Times show, that he had been in “active conversation” with the city’s lawyers about executing a warrant issued for Mr. Netanyahu in 2024 by the International Criminal Court.
On Tuesday, Mr. Mamdani said in the video that those conversations had led his administration to determine that it did “not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant.”
Seated between the flags of the United States and New York City, Mr. Mamdani looked directly into the camera and solemnly told New Yorkers that Israel’s prime minister had no place visiting New York.
“Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large,” Mr. Mamdani said. “While we cannot end the genocide on our own, we can decide whether our silence will become another weapon, and we can examine every tool we have to defend the humanity and dignity of all people.” » | Liam Stack | Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Zohran Mamdani is a hero. A man of principle. It is refreshing to hear a politician speak with such clarity and moral authority. New Yorkers are indeed blessed to have a mayor like Zohran. — © Mark Alexander
Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday night challenged the federal government to execute an international arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, calling him a “war criminal” and “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people” in a striking video statement.
The mayor said the city Law Department explored whether the New York Police Department could arrest the Israeli prime minister during his expected visit to the city in September but that the city did not have “independent legal authority” to do so.
The mayor’s announcement came days after he told Lulu Garcia-Navarro last week on “The Interview,” a New York Times show, that he had been in “active conversation” with the city’s lawyers about executing a warrant issued for Mr. Netanyahu in 2024 by the International Criminal Court.
On Tuesday, Mr. Mamdani said in the video that those conversations had led his administration to determine that it did “not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant.”
Seated between the flags of the United States and New York City, Mr. Mamdani looked directly into the camera and solemnly told New Yorkers that Israel’s prime minister had no place visiting New York.
“Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large,” Mr. Mamdani said. “While we cannot end the genocide on our own, we can decide whether our silence will become another weapon, and we can examine every tool we have to defend the humanity and dignity of all people.” » | Liam Stack | Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Zohran Mamdani is a hero. A man of principle. It is refreshing to hear a politician speak with such clarity and moral authority. New Yorkers are indeed blessed to have a mayor like Zohran. — © Mark Alexander
Saudis Reach Deal With U.S. That Could Let Them Enrich Nuclear Fuel
THE NEW YORK TIMES: U.S. lawmakers and Israeli officials have expressed opposition to such a plan, to be announced Wednesday, fearing that the kingdom could use a civilian nuclear project to develop nuclear weapons.
This screenshot is from this NYT article. | President Trump shaking hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud at the White House last November. Credit: Kenny Holston/The New York Times
The Trump administration plans to announce Wednesday that it has reached a broad nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that could lead to the country enriching its own fuel for nuclear reactors, U.S. officials said.
The accord is intended to further bind the United States with the Saudi government as the war with Iran strains the relationship. The Trump administration, according to officials, estimates it will provide billions of dollars for the U.S. nuclear industry — starting with Westinghouse, which designs many of the reactors sold abroad.
The Trump administration plans to formally sign and announce the agreement with the Saudis on Wednesday, said two U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy. It would announce the details to Congress soon afterward.
Although the agreement likely would have support among many Republicans, some U.S. lawmakers from both parties along with Israeli officials have expressed opposition to such a plan, fearing that the kingdom could use a civilian nuclear project to eventually develop nuclear weapons. » | David E. Sanger, Edward Wong and William J. Broad | David Sanger reported from Washington, Edward Wong from Manila, where he is covering a diplomatic trip by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and William J. Broad from New York. | Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Clearly, Trump has a soft spot for the Saudis! He’s gone to war with the Iranians for the very same thing. Why the double standards? If anything is going to turbocharge this war with Iran, this will! How unwise and foolish can a president be? — © Mark Alexander
The Trump administration plans to announce Wednesday that it has reached a broad nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that could lead to the country enriching its own fuel for nuclear reactors, U.S. officials said.
The accord is intended to further bind the United States with the Saudi government as the war with Iran strains the relationship. The Trump administration, according to officials, estimates it will provide billions of dollars for the U.S. nuclear industry — starting with Westinghouse, which designs many of the reactors sold abroad.
The Trump administration plans to formally sign and announce the agreement with the Saudis on Wednesday, said two U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy. It would announce the details to Congress soon afterward.
Although the agreement likely would have support among many Republicans, some U.S. lawmakers from both parties along with Israeli officials have expressed opposition to such a plan, fearing that the kingdom could use a civilian nuclear project to eventually develop nuclear weapons. » | David E. Sanger, Edward Wong and William J. Broad | David Sanger reported from Washington, Edward Wong from Manila, where he is covering a diplomatic trip by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and William J. Broad from New York. | Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Clearly, Trump has a soft spot for the Saudis! He’s gone to war with the Iranians for the very same thing. Why the double standards? If anything is going to turbocharge this war with Iran, this will! How unwise and foolish can a president be? — © Mark Alexander
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Slain British Politician Was Hit 21 Times With a Hammer, Prosecutors Say
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The politician, Ann Widdecombe, was eating lunch at home when a man walked in and asked whether she had bank cards, security footage showed.
This screenshot is from this NYT article. | The British former Prime Minister Liz Truss leads a tribute to the slain politician Ann Widdecombe in London last week. Credit: Carl Court/Getty Images
Ann Widdecombe, the right-wing British politician whose killing this month sent shock waves through the country’s political establishment, was struck 21 times on the head with a hammer during the fatal lunchtime attack, prosecutors said in a London court on Tuesday.
The suspect, Joshua Kerry, 28, made a brief appearance at Westminster magistrates court, confirming his name and address in the city of Rotherham in the north of England. At a second hearing later Tuesday at London’s Central Criminal Court, he was ordered to be held until the next hearing on October 9.
Ms. Widdecombe was sitting at a table at her home in the village of Haytor in southwest England on July 8, eating lunch, when a man entered her home and asked her, “Don’t suppose you have bank cards and ID?,” according to images from a security camera recovered by police who investigated the crime scene, prosecutors said. They did not say whether or how she responded.
The man, wearing black gloves, then struck Ms. Widdecombe 21 times with the hammer before tipping her out of her chair onto the floor, taking her wallet and leaving, all within around two minutes, a prosecutor, Kashif Malik, said. He did not say anything about a potential motive. » | Stephen Castle | Reporting from London | Tuesday, July 21, 2026
R.I.P.
Ann Widdecombe, the right-wing British politician whose killing this month sent shock waves through the country’s political establishment, was struck 21 times on the head with a hammer during the fatal lunchtime attack, prosecutors said in a London court on Tuesday.
The suspect, Joshua Kerry, 28, made a brief appearance at Westminster magistrates court, confirming his name and address in the city of Rotherham in the north of England. At a second hearing later Tuesday at London’s Central Criminal Court, he was ordered to be held until the next hearing on October 9.
Ms. Widdecombe was sitting at a table at her home in the village of Haytor in southwest England on July 8, eating lunch, when a man entered her home and asked her, “Don’t suppose you have bank cards and ID?,” according to images from a security camera recovered by police who investigated the crime scene, prosecutors said. They did not say whether or how she responded.
The man, wearing black gloves, then struck Ms. Widdecombe 21 times with the hammer before tipping her out of her chair onto the floor, taking her wallet and leaving, all within around two minutes, a prosecutor, Kashif Malik, said. He did not say anything about a potential motive. » | Stephen Castle | Reporting from London | Tuesday, July 21, 2026
R.I.P.
Himmlisch: Coleslaw Salat österreichischer Art
Nicaragua : les États-Unis dénoncent la « nature autoritaire » d’Ortega après son refus d’organiser des élections
LE FIGARO : Ancien guérillero marxiste et chef de file d’une révolution contre un autocrate soutenu par les États-Unis, Daniel Ortega, aujourd’hui âgé de 80 ans, est au pouvoir depuis les élections de 2007.
Le chef de la diplomatie américaine Marco Rubio a dénoncé mardi la « vraie nature autoritaire » du président du Nicaragua Daniel Ortega, après son refus dimanche d'organiser des élections. Ancien guérillero marxiste et chef de file d'une révolution contre un autocrate soutenu par les États-Unis, Daniel Ortega, aujourd'hui âgé de 80 ans, est au pouvoir depuis les élections de 2007, contestées par la communauté internationale.
Il a rejeté dimanche toute possibilité d'organiser des élections, disant vouloir empêcher que l'opposition en exil ne puisse arriver au pouvoir. « La déclaration de Daniel Ortega selon laquelle, sous la dictature de sa famille, le Nicaragua ne tiendra jamais d'élections, révèle sa vraie nature autoritaire », a accusé le secrétaire d'État américain dans son communiqué mardi. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 21 juillet 2026
Links zu Nicaragua und Noriega sind hier auffindbar.
Le chef de la diplomatie américaine Marco Rubio a dénoncé mardi la « vraie nature autoritaire » du président du Nicaragua Daniel Ortega, après son refus dimanche d'organiser des élections. Ancien guérillero marxiste et chef de file d'une révolution contre un autocrate soutenu par les États-Unis, Daniel Ortega, aujourd'hui âgé de 80 ans, est au pouvoir depuis les élections de 2007, contestées par la communauté internationale.
Il a rejeté dimanche toute possibilité d'organiser des élections, disant vouloir empêcher que l'opposition en exil ne puisse arriver au pouvoir. « La déclaration de Daniel Ortega selon laquelle, sous la dictature de sa famille, le Nicaragua ne tiendra jamais d'élections, révèle sa vraie nature autoritaire », a accusé le secrétaire d'État américain dans son communiqué mardi. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 21 juillet 2026
Links zu Nicaragua und Noriega sind hier auffindbar.
Ne-Yo : One In A Million | Official Video | Reupload
Charlé Visser: Making the Ultimate Short Ribs At Home
Feb 8, 2026 | Stop making short ribs that taste like pot roast. This braised beef short rib recipe uses a secret ingredient (dark chocolate) to create the stickiest, richest glaze you've ever tasted—all in the oven.
Most people just braise the beef and serve it wet. That’s a mistake. In this video, I show you the "Double Sauce" technique. We reduce the braising liquid into a gold-standard base. We finish with a Dark Chocolate & Liquid Smoke BBQ glaze for that "sticky," fall-off-the-bone texture.
It’s better than Michelin, better than BBQ, and easier than you think.
For the full recipe, please click here.
Charlé Visser can be supported here.
Most people just braise the beef and serve it wet. That’s a mistake. In this video, I show you the "Double Sauce" technique. We reduce the braising liquid into a gold-standard base. We finish with a Dark Chocolate & Liquid Smoke BBQ glaze for that "sticky," fall-off-the-bone texture.
It’s better than Michelin, better than BBQ, and easier than you think.
For the full recipe, please click here.
Charlé Visser can be supported here.
Making Smoking Cool Again! …
Saudi Arabia, between Repression and Transformation | DW Documentary
Jan 1, 2026 | Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, is the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia. For almost a decade, he has been radically transforming the country — at a breath-taking pace.
Where is the modernizer and despot steering the kingdom?
Saudi Arabia is the world's leading exporter of crude oil. But Crown Prince MBS wants to prepare the country for the post-oil era.
Two-thirds of the country's population is under 30 years old, and the crown prince is taking radical measures to turn the previously strictly conservative society on its head.
The documentary shows how contradictory Mohammed bin Salman's ambitions for his "Vision 2030" are, as it takes a look behind the scenes of the transformation.
On the one hand, there is the "Neom" project, which aims to create a futuristic new megacity in the desert. Tourism is to be expanded, major music and sporting events are to be brought to the country, and an extravagant lifestyle is being promoted. At the same time, an authoritarian style of government continues to prevail, dissidents are sometimes brutally suppressed, and women's rights are still not fully granted - even if the influence of the ultra-conservative religious leaders of Wahhabism is no longer as strong as it once was.
Where is the modernizer and despot steering the kingdom?
Saudi Arabia is the world's leading exporter of crude oil. But Crown Prince MBS wants to prepare the country for the post-oil era.
Two-thirds of the country's population is under 30 years old, and the crown prince is taking radical measures to turn the previously strictly conservative society on its head.
The documentary shows how contradictory Mohammed bin Salman's ambitions for his "Vision 2030" are, as it takes a look behind the scenes of the transformation.
On the one hand, there is the "Neom" project, which aims to create a futuristic new megacity in the desert. Tourism is to be expanded, major music and sporting events are to be brought to the country, and an extravagant lifestyle is being promoted. At the same time, an authoritarian style of government continues to prevail, dissidents are sometimes brutally suppressed, and women's rights are still not fully granted - even if the influence of the ultra-conservative religious leaders of Wahhabism is no longer as strong as it once was.
Ann Widdecombe Was Hit on Head Repeatedly with Hammer, Court Told
THE GUARDIAN: Joshua Kerry appears at Westminster magistrates court charged with murder of former MP earlier this month
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of the former MP and Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe.
Joshua Kerry, 28, is accused of killing the 78-year-old former Conservative minister at her home in Haytor, Devon, earlier this month, by hitting her on the head with a hammer 21 times.
During a brief hearing at Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday afternoon, Kerry, who was dressed in a grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Widdecombe was found dead in her kitchen on the morning of 9 July. The prosecutor Khasif Malik told the court that a provisional cause of death was given by a pathologist as blunt force trauma to the head.
Malik said the alarm had been raised after she failed to attend a pre-arranged online interview for Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show the previous day.
Her body was found by her gardener and she was declared dead by emergency service shortly after, the court heard. » | Geraldine McKelvie and Jamie Grierson | Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Man, 28, charged with murder of former MP Ann Widdecombe: Joshua Kerry from Rotherham charged over killing of politician whose body was found at her Devon home »
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of the former MP and Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe.
Joshua Kerry, 28, is accused of killing the 78-year-old former Conservative minister at her home in Haytor, Devon, earlier this month, by hitting her on the head with a hammer 21 times.
During a brief hearing at Westminster magistrates court on Tuesday afternoon, Kerry, who was dressed in a grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Widdecombe was found dead in her kitchen on the morning of 9 July. The prosecutor Khasif Malik told the court that a provisional cause of death was given by a pathologist as blunt force trauma to the head.
Malik said the alarm had been raised after she failed to attend a pre-arranged online interview for Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show the previous day.
Her body was found by her gardener and she was declared dead by emergency service shortly after, the court heard. » | Geraldine McKelvie and Jamie Grierson | Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Man, 28, charged with murder of former MP Ann Widdecombe: Joshua Kerry from Rotherham charged over killing of politician whose body was found at her Devon home »
US Military Launches Strikes against Iran to "Further Degrade" Capabilities | BBC News
July 21, 2026 | The US military says it launched another round of strikes against Iran to "further degrade" its capabilities to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The strikes - the 10th consecutive night of attacks - come after US President Donald Trump vowed to punish Iran for the deaths of US soldiers. In response, Iran said it struck two oil tankers in the waterway, as well as US military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, state news agency IRNA reported.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was now fighting a "full-scale war" with the US. Trump earlier said Iran had been hit "very hard" the previous night "in honour" of three US soldiers killed recently - two in Jordan and one in Iraq.
US Central Command (Centcom) said its latest strikes had hit Iranian "military command centres, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defence systems".
The strikes - the 10th consecutive night of attacks - come after US President Donald Trump vowed to punish Iran for the deaths of US soldiers. In response, Iran said it struck two oil tankers in the waterway, as well as US military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, state news agency IRNA reported.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was now fighting a "full-scale war" with the US. Trump earlier said Iran had been hit "very hard" the previous night "in honour" of three US soldiers killed recently - two in Jordan and one in Iraq.
US Central Command (Centcom) said its latest strikes had hit Iranian "military command centres, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defence systems".
Worse Than Nazi Prison: "The Auschwitz for Homosexuals"
July 19, 2026 | This documentary explores the persecution of gay men under Nazi Germany and the devastating impact of Paragraph 175 during the Second World War.
Once home to one of the world's most vibrant LGBTQ communities, Germany saw decades of progress swept away after Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933. What followed was a systematic campaign of arrests, imprisonment, and persecution that affected tens of thousands of men across the Third Reich.
The film examines the destruction of Berlin's famous Eldorado nightclub, the closure of Magnus Hirschfeld's pioneering Institute for Sexual Science, and the expansion of Paragraph 175, which enabled the Nazi regime to prosecute an ever wider range of relationships between men.
It also explores the role of Heinrich Himmler, the Gestapo, and the SS in enforcing these policies, as well as the experiences of those imprisoned in concentration camps under the pink triangle.
Drawing on survivor testimony, wartime records, and historical research, this documentary follows the stories of men such as Josef Kohout, whose memoir became one of the earliest personal accounts of life as a homosexual prisoner in the Nazi camp system.
It also examines the medical experiments conducted by SS doctor Carl Værnet, the continued persecution of gay men after 1945, and the long struggle for recognition that continued decades after the fall of the Third Reich.
The documentary also highlights acts of courage and resistance, including Dutch artist Willem Arondeus, who fought against Nazi occupation despite the risks he faced as a gay man. His story stands alongside those of thousands whose lives were shaped by persecution, discrimination, and resilience.
Through historical documents, survivor testimony, and archival evidence, this film offers a balanced examination of one of the least discussed aspects of World War II and the Holocaust, while exploring the legacy of memory, justice, and human rights that continues to resonate today.
Once home to one of the world's most vibrant LGBTQ communities, Germany saw decades of progress swept away after Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933. What followed was a systematic campaign of arrests, imprisonment, and persecution that affected tens of thousands of men across the Third Reich.
The film examines the destruction of Berlin's famous Eldorado nightclub, the closure of Magnus Hirschfeld's pioneering Institute for Sexual Science, and the expansion of Paragraph 175, which enabled the Nazi regime to prosecute an ever wider range of relationships between men.
It also explores the role of Heinrich Himmler, the Gestapo, and the SS in enforcing these policies, as well as the experiences of those imprisoned in concentration camps under the pink triangle.
Drawing on survivor testimony, wartime records, and historical research, this documentary follows the stories of men such as Josef Kohout, whose memoir became one of the earliest personal accounts of life as a homosexual prisoner in the Nazi camp system.
It also examines the medical experiments conducted by SS doctor Carl Værnet, the continued persecution of gay men after 1945, and the long struggle for recognition that continued decades after the fall of the Third Reich.
The documentary also highlights acts of courage and resistance, including Dutch artist Willem Arondeus, who fought against Nazi occupation despite the risks he faced as a gay man. His story stands alongside those of thousands whose lives were shaped by persecution, discrimination, and resilience.
Through historical documents, survivor testimony, and archival evidence, this film offers a balanced examination of one of the least discussed aspects of World War II and the Holocaust, while exploring the legacy of memory, justice, and human rights that continues to resonate today.
„Nie wieder“: Nicaraguas Präsident Ortega schafft Wahlen ab
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Nach fast zwei Jahrzehnten an der Macht zieht Daniel Ortega einen Schlussstrich: In Nicaragua soll es keine Wahlen mehr geben. Analysten deuten die Ansage als Eingeständnis von Furcht.
Dieses Foto stammt aus diesem Artikel. | Daniel Ortega ist bereits seit fast zwei Jahrzehnten Präsident von Nicaragua. | © Presidencia Nicaragua/imago
Daniel Ortega will in Nicaragua keine Wahlen mehr abhalten. Das kündigte der langjährige Präsident am Sonntagabend an. Mit dem Schritt schließt der 80-Jährige jede Möglichkeit aus, dass die Opposition auf demokratischem Weg an die Macht kommt – und festigt die Herrschaft, die er sich mit seiner Frau Rosario Murillo teilt.
„Es wird hier keine Wahlen mehr geben, damit sie versuchen können, die Regierung zu ergreifen“, sagte Ortega in einer Rede. Angeblich von den „Yankees“ (den Vereinigten Staaten) und den „Somocistas“ (Anhängern der früheren Somoza-Diktatur) unterstützte Parteien würden „nie wieder“ an die Macht kommen. Für das mittelamerikanische Land mit rund sieben Millionen Einwohnern ist die Ansage ein tiefer Einschnitt. Ortega regiert seit 2007 durchgehend, zuvor stand er bereits in den 1980er-Jahren an der Spitze des Landes. » | Sophie Barkey | Dienstag, 21. Juli 2026
ALSO READ:
Nicaragua’s president says country will not hold any more elections: Daniel Ortega, the 80-year-old authoritarian leader, says move will ‘build a wall’ against the opposition »
Daniel Ortega will in Nicaragua keine Wahlen mehr abhalten. Das kündigte der langjährige Präsident am Sonntagabend an. Mit dem Schritt schließt der 80-Jährige jede Möglichkeit aus, dass die Opposition auf demokratischem Weg an die Macht kommt – und festigt die Herrschaft, die er sich mit seiner Frau Rosario Murillo teilt.
„Es wird hier keine Wahlen mehr geben, damit sie versuchen können, die Regierung zu ergreifen“, sagte Ortega in einer Rede. Angeblich von den „Yankees“ (den Vereinigten Staaten) und den „Somocistas“ (Anhängern der früheren Somoza-Diktatur) unterstützte Parteien würden „nie wieder“ an die Macht kommen. Für das mittelamerikanische Land mit rund sieben Millionen Einwohnern ist die Ansage ein tiefer Einschnitt. Ortega regiert seit 2007 durchgehend, zuvor stand er bereits in den 1980er-Jahren an der Spitze des Landes. » | Sophie Barkey | Dienstag, 21. Juli 2026
ALSO READ:
Nicaragua’s president says country will not hold any more elections: Daniel Ortega, the 80-year-old authoritarian leader, says move will ‘build a wall’ against the opposition »
Italie : 770 kg de cocaïne d'une valeur de 250 millions d'euros saisies dans des dizaines de palettes de bananes
LE FIGARO : Cette saisie de cocaïne représente l’une des opérations antidrogue les plus importantes menées ces dernières années dans le port de Vado Ligure.
La police financière italienne et les douanes ont annoncé mardi la saisie de 770 kg de cocaïne « extra pure » dans le port de Vado Ligure (nord-ouest) d'une valeur à la revente d'environ 250 millions d'euros.
« Cette importante cargaison de drogue était habilement dissimulée parmi des dizaines de palettes de bananes, à l'intérieur d'un conteneur frigorifique en provenance de l'un des principaux ports de l'Équateur », précise un communiqué. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 21 juillet 2026
La police financière italienne et les douanes ont annoncé mardi la saisie de 770 kg de cocaïne « extra pure » dans le port de Vado Ligure (nord-ouest) d'une valeur à la revente d'environ 250 millions d'euros.
« Cette importante cargaison de drogue était habilement dissimulée parmi des dizaines de palettes de bananes, à l'intérieur d'un conteneur frigorifique en provenance de l'un des principaux ports de l'Équateur », précise un communiqué. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 21 juillet 2026
Pearls of Wisdom from Father David on Left-handed Power…
Obama Slams JD Vance Hypocrisy
If Americans are so hung up on immigrants and who belongs in the country, maybe they should all bugger off and give the continent back to the indigenous people, to the Native Americans. Because it is to those people that the country truly belongs, not the white settlers! — © Mark Alexander
Mehdi Hasan and Shehab Khan Discuss New UK PM Andy Burnham
How the US Backed Khomeini, Then Armed Saddam | Scott Horton | UNAPOLOGETIC
The US backed Khomeini's return to power, then a year later greenlit Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iran, the same country it had just warned Saddam might attack.
In this latest episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, radio host and presenter of The Scott Horton Show, Scott Horton, sat down with MEE's Ashfaaq Carim to discuss the history of the US and its impact in the region.
They also touched on Netanyahu's "new Middle East" doctrine and whether real US pressure could actually force him to fall in line.
UNAPOLOGETIC is hosted by Ashfaaq Carim.
In this latest episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, radio host and presenter of The Scott Horton Show, Scott Horton, sat down with MEE's Ashfaaq Carim to discuss the history of the US and its impact in the region.
They also touched on Netanyahu's "new Middle East" doctrine and whether real US pressure could actually force him to fall in line.
UNAPOLOGETIC is hosted by Ashfaaq Carim.
Democracy Doesn't Collapse Overnight (It's Already Started) | Anne Applebaum
July 19, 2026 | Democracy feels like something we can take for granted, but few people are talking about how quickly it can unravel from the inside.
Around the world, authoritarianism is on the rise, not through invasions or coups, but through the slow erosion of institutions, elections, and truth itself. It's a pattern that has repeated across countries and decades, and one that's now playing out closer to home than many would like to admit.
Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and staff writer at The Atlantic, and the author of Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism, Autocracy, Inc., and Gulag: A History of the Soviet Camps. [Among others.] She has spent her career studying how democracies fall apart, and what it takes to stop them. …
Around the world, authoritarianism is on the rise, not through invasions or coups, but through the slow erosion of institutions, elections, and truth itself. It's a pattern that has repeated across countries and decades, and one that's now playing out closer to home than many would like to admit.
Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and staff writer at The Atlantic, and the author of Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism, Autocracy, Inc., and Gulag: A History of the Soviet Camps. [Among others.] She has spent her career studying how democracies fall apart, and what it takes to stop them. …
UK PM Andy Burnham Pledges to 'Bring Back Hope' | BBC News
July 21, 2026 | Andy Burnham pledged to "bring back hope" to Britain, as he began his tenure as prime minister by appointing Labour stalwart John Healey as chancellor.
In his first speech to the nation in Downing Street, Burnham said he wanted to bring forward the "biggest changes in the last 40 years" to British politics.
He outlined his intention to unveil a 10-year "new plan for Britain" later this year, explaining this would lay out a path to where he believes "we all want Britain to be".
A BBC news broadcast from the ‘Land of Hope and Glory’! 😊 — © Mark Alexander
In his first speech to the nation in Downing Street, Burnham said he wanted to bring forward the "biggest changes in the last 40 years" to British politics.
He outlined his intention to unveil a 10-year "new plan for Britain" later this year, explaining this would lay out a path to where he believes "we all want Britain to be".
A BBC news broadcast from the ‘Land of Hope and Glory’! 😊 — © Mark Alexander
Monday, July 20, 2026
A Handsome Man with Aplomb
Guerre au Moyen-Orient : pour chaque soldat américain tué, l’Iran payera « plusieurs fois » le prix, menace Donald Trump
LE FIGARO : L’Iran a dit lundi faire face à une «guerre totale» avec les États-Unis, qui ont frappé une grande partie de son territoire dans la nuit, au neuvième jour consécutif d’hostilités d’une intensité inédite depuis le cessez-le-feu d’avril. EN DIRECT » | Par Barbara Azais, Clara Hidalgo et Maxime Dubernet de Boscq | lundi 20 juillet 2025
Iran-Krieg wieder in vollem Gang: Berichte über Vorbereitung größerer Militäreinsätze
TAGESSPIEGEL: Erneut bombardiert das US-Militär den Iran, wieder schlägt Teheran am Golf zurück. Washington zeigt sich zu Gesprächen bereit – dennoch stehen die Weichen aktuell auf Eskalation.
Im Iran-Krieg haben die USA die neunte Nacht in Folge Ziele in der Islamischen Republik bombardiert. Teheran meldete Explosionen in mehreren Landesteilen und reagierte wieder mit Vergeltungsangriffen auf Bahrain und Kuwait. Inmitten der Attacken gibt es erstmals seit Tagen aber auch wieder Zeichen für eine mögliche diplomatische Annäherung.
Das US-Militär teilte nach der jüngsten Angriffswelle am Morgen mit, man habe im Iran militärische Kommandozentralen, Anlagen zur Flugabwehr und Küstenüberwachung, Vorrichtungen für Raketenabschüsse und Drohnenstarts sowie Kommunikationsnetzwerke ins Visier genommen.
Laut der iranischen Nachrichtenagentur Tasnim wurden Explosionen aus der Stadt Tabris im Norden, der Hafenstadt Tschahbahar am Golf vom Oman, aus Konarak in der südöstlichen Provinz Sistan-Belutschistan, der Hafenstadt Mahschahr in der Provinz Chusestan sowie der Hafenstadt Bandar Imam Chomeini am Persischen Golf gemeldet. Die den Revolutionsgarden nahestehende Nachrichtenagentur Fars berichtete zudem über Detonationen im Raum Sirik nahe der Straße von Hormus sowie aus der Provinz Buschehr. » | Tagesspiegel | Montag, 20. Juli 2026
Im Iran-Krieg haben die USA die neunte Nacht in Folge Ziele in der Islamischen Republik bombardiert. Teheran meldete Explosionen in mehreren Landesteilen und reagierte wieder mit Vergeltungsangriffen auf Bahrain und Kuwait. Inmitten der Attacken gibt es erstmals seit Tagen aber auch wieder Zeichen für eine mögliche diplomatische Annäherung.
Das US-Militär teilte nach der jüngsten Angriffswelle am Morgen mit, man habe im Iran militärische Kommandozentralen, Anlagen zur Flugabwehr und Küstenüberwachung, Vorrichtungen für Raketenabschüsse und Drohnenstarts sowie Kommunikationsnetzwerke ins Visier genommen.
Laut der iranischen Nachrichtenagentur Tasnim wurden Explosionen aus der Stadt Tabris im Norden, der Hafenstadt Tschahbahar am Golf vom Oman, aus Konarak in der südöstlichen Provinz Sistan-Belutschistan, der Hafenstadt Mahschahr in der Provinz Chusestan sowie der Hafenstadt Bandar Imam Chomeini am Persischen Golf gemeldet. Die den Revolutionsgarden nahestehende Nachrichtenagentur Fars berichtete zudem über Detonationen im Raum Sirik nahe der Straße von Hormus sowie aus der Provinz Buschehr. » | Tagesspiegel | Montag, 20. Juli 2026
Is the ICC Coming for Americans, as Rubio Warns? | The Global Story
July 20, 2026 | Marco Rubio’s State Department has unveiled plans to dismantle the International Criminal Court, a tribunal that prosecutes individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
In a video, Rubio calls the ICC, "a global tribunal staffed by unelected globalist bureaucrats who claim their power is almost unlimited.”
The United States is not, nor has it ever been, a party to the ICC, which was established during the presidency of Bill Clinton. But could the ICC investigate and indict Americans anyway?
Today, The Global Story hears the view from within the world of international criminal law, with human rights lawyer, writer, and international law professor Philippe Sands.
The reason why Marco Rubio wants to dismantle the ICC “brick by brick” is probably because he wants to protect his master—Trump—who himself probably qualifies as an international criminal because of his illegitimate international wars and operations, and who is probably terrified of being hauled before the Court and put on trial. There are also almost certainly others in the Trump regime among his troupe of Trumpettes who might well qualify to be put on trial. So, they probably feel that it would be better to disband the organisation to safeguard themselves. — © Mark Alexander
In a video, Rubio calls the ICC, "a global tribunal staffed by unelected globalist bureaucrats who claim their power is almost unlimited.”
The United States is not, nor has it ever been, a party to the ICC, which was established during the presidency of Bill Clinton. But could the ICC investigate and indict Americans anyway?
Today, The Global Story hears the view from within the world of international criminal law, with human rights lawyer, writer, and international law professor Philippe Sands.
The reason why Marco Rubio wants to dismantle the ICC “brick by brick” is probably because he wants to protect his master—Trump—who himself probably qualifies as an international criminal because of his illegitimate international wars and operations, and who is probably terrified of being hauled before the Court and put on trial. There are also almost certainly others in the Trump regime among his troupe of Trumpettes who might well qualify to be put on trial. So, they probably feel that it would be better to disband the organisation to safeguard themselves. — © Mark Alexander
Iran-Backed Houthis Expand Conflict With Red Sea Blockade
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The move against Saudi ships will add new pressure on energy markets. Tehran said it had received new proposals from mediators.
The Houthis, the Iran-backed armed faction in Yemen, said they would impose a blockade on Saudi ships, threatening to open a new front in the Middle East conflict and raising the pressure on volatile global energy markets.
The announcement was made as many in the region were tensely watching to see if the rounds of bombardment between U.S. and Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf would continue to escalate. The two countries traded new attacks on Monday, with Iran targeting countries that host U.S. military bases, despite efforts by mediators to calm tensions.
The latest hostilities initially focused on the Strait of Hormuz, but they have expanded into a cycle of attacks and counterattacks that have killed at least three American service members since Friday, hit Arab states across the Persian Gulf and damaged critical infrastructure in Iran and U.S.-allied Kuwait.
Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz has reduced global fuel supplies, pushing prices upward, but Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally, has been able to reroute some of its exports through the Red Sea. If the Houthis follow through on their statement that they will not allow Saudi vessels to pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern portal to the Red Sea, it would worsen the global fuel crisis. Iran War Live Updates » | Aaron Boxerman, Ismaeel Naar, Sanam Mahoozi and Yan Zhuang | Monday, July 20, 2026
The master of the 'Art of the Deal' has got himself into a real fix with this illegitimate and unnecessary Iran War, hasn't he? He's in a fix, and so is the global economy. — © Mark Alexander
The Houthis, the Iran-backed armed faction in Yemen, said they would impose a blockade on Saudi ships, threatening to open a new front in the Middle East conflict and raising the pressure on volatile global energy markets.
The announcement was made as many in the region were tensely watching to see if the rounds of bombardment between U.S. and Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf would continue to escalate. The two countries traded new attacks on Monday, with Iran targeting countries that host U.S. military bases, despite efforts by mediators to calm tensions.
The latest hostilities initially focused on the Strait of Hormuz, but they have expanded into a cycle of attacks and counterattacks that have killed at least three American service members since Friday, hit Arab states across the Persian Gulf and damaged critical infrastructure in Iran and U.S.-allied Kuwait.
Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz has reduced global fuel supplies, pushing prices upward, but Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally, has been able to reroute some of its exports through the Red Sea. If the Houthis follow through on their statement that they will not allow Saudi vessels to pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern portal to the Red Sea, it would worsen the global fuel crisis. Iran War Live Updates » | Aaron Boxerman, Ismaeel Naar, Sanam Mahoozi and Yan Zhuang | Monday, July 20, 2026
The master of the 'Art of the Deal' has got himself into a real fix with this illegitimate and unnecessary Iran War, hasn't he? He's in a fix, and so is the global economy. — © Mark Alexander
Burnham Becomes U.K. Prime Minister and Pledges to End Homelessness
THE NEW YORK TIMES: In his first address, Andy Burnham acknowledged that he is Britain’s seventh leader in a decade and vowed to usher in a “circuit breaker moment” to change the direction of government.
Andy Burnham became the leader of Britain on Monday, capping an extraordinary demonstration of political power in which he easily won a seat in Parliament and swiftly engineered the resignation of the sitting prime minister.
In his first remarks at Downing Street, Mr. Burnham pledged to “put the care of people at the heart of everything I do” and said his move into Britain’s top job will be a “circuit breaker moment” to change the direction that government has taken over the last four decades.
“I know people at home are fed up with politics,” he told supporters. “I hear you, and I want to be honest with you. We have not been good enough, and we need to be better. We will be.”
Mr. Burnham is Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, reflecting a period of turmoil that began with the Brexit vote in 2016, when voters severed ties to Europe. Earlier on Monday, Mr. Burnham traveled to Buckingham Palace, where King Charles III formally asked him to form a government.
There were early signs on Monday that Mr. Burnham had begun forming his new cabinet. David Lammy, who was deputy prime minister under Mr. Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, announced he was leaving government. Rachel Reeves also confirmed that she was out as chancellor of the Exchequer, overseeing the nation’s finances.
In his speech, Mr. Burnham announced one new policy, saying he would end “rough sleeping,” a British term for homelessness. But there have been signals recently that he will shift some aspects of Mr. Starmer’s agenda. Live Updates » | Michael D. Shear | Reporting from London | Monday, July 20, 2026
In his first remarks at Downing Street, Mr. Burnham pledged to “put the care of people at the heart of everything I do” and said his move into Britain’s top job will be a “circuit breaker moment” to change the direction that government has taken over the last four decades.
“I know people at home are fed up with politics,” he told supporters. “I hear you, and I want to be honest with you. We have not been good enough, and we need to be better. We will be.”
Mr. Burnham is Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, reflecting a period of turmoil that began with the Brexit vote in 2016, when voters severed ties to Europe. Earlier on Monday, Mr. Burnham traveled to Buckingham Palace, where King Charles III formally asked him to form a government.
There were early signs on Monday that Mr. Burnham had begun forming his new cabinet. David Lammy, who was deputy prime minister under Mr. Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, announced he was leaving government. Rachel Reeves also confirmed that she was out as chancellor of the Exchequer, overseeing the nation’s finances.
In his speech, Mr. Burnham announced one new policy, saying he would end “rough sleeping,” a British term for homelessness. But there have been signals recently that he will shift some aspects of Mr. Starmer’s agenda. Live Updates » | Michael D. Shear | Reporting from London | Monday, July 20, 2026
Waleed Asadi: My Favorite Dish In the World | Palestinian Maqloubeh | مقلوبة
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