Saudi Arabia Urging US to Ramp Up Iran Attacks, Intelligence Source Confirms

THE GUARDIAN: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is said to view US-Israeli war as ‘historic opportunity’ to remake Middle East

Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Mohammed bin Salman has urged Trump not to cut short war, according to New York Times report confirmed by a Saudi intelligence source. Photograph: AP
Saudi Arabia has urged the US to ramp up attacks on Iran, a Saudi intelligence source has confirmed, while it is weighing a decision on whether to join the fight directly.

The Saudi source confirmed reporting in the New York Times, which said the kingdom’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has urged Donald Trump not to cut short his war against Iran, and that the US-Israeli campaign represented a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East.

The intelligence source said Riyadh was not just calling for the military campaign to be continued, but to be intensified. Trump appeared to confirm the report about the crown prince’s role, telling journalists on Tuesday: “Yeah, he’s a warrior. He’s fighting with us.”

There are no reports of active Saudi military involvement in the nearly four-week-old war so far, but a Saudi political analyst said the kingdom was likely to take that step if current peace efforts led by Pakistan failed.

“What matters now is Iran’s decision,” Mohammed Alhamed, a Saudi geopolitical analyst, said. “If Iran engages seriously, there is still a path to contain escalation. If it rejects the conditions and continues its attacks, the threshold for Saudi action will be crossed.”

Alhamed added that Saudi Arabia “is not reacting impulsively”. » | Julian Borger and Aram Roston in Washington | Friday, March 27, 2026

Wallahi! as a Muslim might say. So much for brotherhood in Islam! Calling in the infidel to fight your brothers and sisters in Islam!

Actually, this should not surprise us. Not at all! This is a clear manifestation of the Sunni-Shia divide in Islam. Saudi Arabia is predominantly Sunni, though not exclusively. The Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia is home to a significant Shia population, much to the chagrin of the Saudi ruling class. Iran, by contrast, is Shia, though even in Iran, there is a significant Sunni minority, estimated as being between 5 and 10% of the whole population.

Unbeknownst to Trump, he has got himself into a fine pickle with this unnecessary and illegal war, because he has unknowingly enmeshed himself in one of the greatest and most troubling divides in Islam. The distrust and often hatred between Sunnis and Shias goes back centuries and is, in many ways, legendary. It is very much part of the historical narrative. Trump has fallen into the trap. He has become ensnared in a religious and political schism.

This could get ugly. Very ugly! — © Mark Alexander

Iran War - Ordinary Iranians Reflect on the Conflict and Their Country's Future BBC News

Mar 26, 2026 | Since the start of the Iran War, hearing the views of ordinary Iranians has been difficult. There's a ban on international contact imposed by the authorities, the media is controlled and there are internet blackouts.

But some voices are getting through. Footage and interviews obtained by the BBC gives a rare insight into the experiences of some of those living through the war.

Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Fergal Keane.

Trump Extends Deadline for Iran to Re-open Strait of Hormuz as Stock Markets Fall | BBC News

President Trump has claimed that talks with Iran are “going very well” and he’s said he’s giving its leaders a further 10 days to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, before launching threatened attacks on the country’s energy sites.

In a post on his Truth Social media platform Trump wrote: "As per Iranian Government request... I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days.”

Earlier, the US president said the US would be Iran’s “worst nightmare” if it doesn’t agree to a peace plan. His special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that he has sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran.

Trump said talks with Iran were continuing and claimed it had let some oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a “present” to him. Iran has denied that talks to end the war are taking place.

US stocks fell again, adding to steep falls seen since the start of the war.

Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Gary O’Donoghue, Faisal Islam and James Landale.

Spain’s PM Responds to Trump’s Threats to ‘Cut Off’ Trade | WSJ

Mar 26, 2026 | Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is one of the rare European leaders taking on President Trump. In an interview with WSJ’s Gordon Fairclough, Sanchez argues that blind alignment with the U.S. on the conflict in Iran is a mistake and calls for a more autonomous EU.

„Niemand kann mich stoppen“: Satz von Trump enthüllt seinen wahren Plan für die USA

Mar 26, 2026 | New York – „Niemand kann mich stoppen“, sagte Donald Trump in einem Interview mit der New York Times. Seine Macht sei ausschließlich von seiner Moral und seinem Verstand begrenzt. Er bräuchte kein internationales Recht. Ebenfalls Trump: Der Iran-Krieg endet, wenn ich es in meinen Knochen verspüre. Das Schicksal der Welt abhängig von dem Bauchgefühl eines Mannes, den augenscheinlich niemand und nichts stoppen kann. In I …

Pete Hegseth Delivers Violent Sermon at Pentagon Church Service

Mar 26, 2026 | Jesse talks about Pete Hegseth's alarming sermon delivered at the Pentagon during an unconstitutional worship service. Hegseth said, "First, a reading from the book of Psalms, chapter 18, verses 37 to 42. …

TW: Extremely strong language alert! Beware!

Trump Says Americans Should Like the War in Iran Because Iranians “Throw Gays Off the Buildings”

LGBTQ NATION: Meanwhile, Trump and his cronies have relentlessly supported people and policies that seek to decimate LGBTQ+ rights.

Donald Trump recently told Americans they should be grateful for the war in Iran because Iranians “throw gays off the buildings” and Americans don’t do that.

Trump made the comment during a conversation earlier this month with MAGA influencer and boxer Jake Paul.

Paul lavished praise on Trump for attacking Iran, telling him it was a “phenomenal” decision.

“I was shocked that so many activists in America didn’t like it,” Paul said, “but meanwhile they’re like, we support women, we want women to have all these rights. Meanwhile, you’re liberating the women of Iran, and then they have an issue with it. I thought that was very confusing.”

Trump then replied with a series of lies: “We support gays, but they throw gays off the buildings… I think I have tremendous support on this. This is something that’s been incredible. I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had now, and it’s not because of this, I think. You know, the economy’s great. You take a little bit of a winding road for a little while, but you have to wipe out the evil. It’s an evil place. They’re evil people.” » | Molly Sprayregen | Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Just imagine the jollity and rejoicing in Iran if Iranians had the opportunity to throw Trump off a building! — © Mark Alexander

Volodymyr Zelensky en entretien exclusif avec « Le Monde » sur la guerre en Ukraine

Mar 26, 2026 | Dans un entretien accordé au « Monde », Volodymyr Zelensky livre sa vision sur une potentielle sortie de conflit et appelle les Etats-Unis et l’ensemble des alliés à maintenir leur soutien à l’Ukraine.

Maduro wieder vor Gericht in New York: Trump bringt weitere Anklagen ins Spiel

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Der entmachtete venezolanische Präsident Nicolás Maduro steht erneut vor Gericht in den USA. Donald Trump erhöht parallel den Druck und stellt weitere Anklagen in Aussicht.

Der entmachtete venezolanische Präsident Nicolás Maduro ist am Donnerstag erneut vor einem Bundesgericht in New York City erschienen. Auch seine Ehefrau Cilia Flores nahm an dem Termin in Manhattan teil.

Die Anwälte des Paares beantragten laut US-Medien, die Anklage fallenzulassen. Sie argumentieren, die US-Regierung verhindere, dass Maduro und Flores ihre Verteidigung angemessen finanzieren können. Konkret gehe es demnach um blockierte Vermögenswerte, die mit venezolanischen Staatsstellen verbunden sind. » | Alexander Schmalz | Donnerstag, 26. März 2026

Iran War Widens Rift between US and Germany | DW News

Mar 24, 2026 | The Iran war is putting further strain on transatlantic relations. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has now spoken of a 'deep rift' with the United States. In unusually strong comments, he said that 'there will be no going back to before January 20, 2025', when Donald Trump began his second presidential term. And President Steimeier slammed the US administration for starting the war against Iran. DW’s head of German politics Max Hofmann analyzes the impact of Steinmeier’s remarks on relations with Washington.

Global Recession If Oil Price Hits $150, Boss of Financial Giant BlackRock Warns | BBC News

Mar 25, 2026 | If the price of oil hits $150 a barrel it will trigger a global recession, the boss of US financial giant BlackRock has told the BBC.

Larry Fink, who leads the world's largest asset manager, said if Iran "remains a threat" and oil prices stay high it will have "profound implications" for the world economy.

In a wide-ranging exclusive interview, he also denied there was an AI bubble, although he said the new technology meant too many people were pursuing university degrees and not enough doing technical training.

BlackRock is a financial colossus, controlling assets worth $14 trillion (£10.5tn), and is one of the biggest investors in many of the world's largest companies.

Steve Schmidt: The World Is Stuck in Trump's Web

Mar 26, 2026 | Republicans are blaming Democrats for the DHS shutdown disaster, but the chaos belongs entirely to Trump. Steve Schmidt breaks down Trump's endless quagmires and promises that his regime will face justice in the end.

Léon XIV à Monaco : les raisons d’un voyage inattendu

LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Le pape américain se déplace samedi dans la Principauté. Une première historique qui suscite de nombreuses interrogations.

Cette visite a un accent de mystère. Pourquoi Léon XIV se rend à Monaco, en voyage pastoral, ce samedi 28 mars ? La question est sur toutes les lèvres, même au Vatican. Le Prince Albert II a lui-même reconnu dans les colonnes de La Croix sa surprise de voir que le pape, avec qui il partage une connivence culturelle américaine, avait presque immédiatement accepté l’invitation formulée lors d’une audience au Vatican le 17 janvier dernier. « C’est tout simplement extraordinaire. Je ne m’attendais pas à ce que le pape Léon XIV choisisse une date aussi proche de l’invitation que je lui ai présentée », témoigne-t-il. Ce projet de voyage avait été ébauché sous le pontificat de Benoît XVI en 2011, mais il ne s’était pas concrétisé. D’autres invitations avaient été envoyées à François, sans suite. Léon XIV est donc le premier pape à venir fouler le sol du deuxième plus petit État du monde après le Vatican.

Il est vrai que Monaco fait partie du club restreint des pays juridiquement catholiques, au sens strict, avec Malte, le Lichtenstein, Saint-Marin et le Costa Rica. Cette identité religieuse et son statut princier conduiront d’ailleurs le Prince Albert II et toute sa famille à se positionner non loin de l’autel, lors de la messe dans le stade Louis II samedi après-midi, sur le même plan que leur illustre visiteur. Une tradition locale, explique l’abbé Christian Venard, délégué épiscopal à la communication. « Ce sera une particularité de cette messe : on verra le souverain avec ses deux sœurs, son épouse et leurs deux enfants présents sur le podium à côté de l’autel du pape. » Cela peut surprendre, reconnaît ce religieux, mais « notre souverain est un prince catholique. Quand le prince vient assister à la grand-messe solennelle à la cathédrale, il est dans le chœur parce qu’il a un droit de patronage ». » | Par Jean-Marie Guénois | jeudi 26 mars 2026

Réservé aux abonnés

Why Trump's War Has Made Iran More Dangerous - Interview with Danny Citrinowicz

Mar 26, 2026 | What did Trump and Israel get wrong in their war with Iran, and can the remaining elements of the regime hold out?

We speak to Danny Citrinowicz, the former head of the Iran branch in the Research and Analysis Division in Israel Defense Intelligence and now Senior Researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies.

Citrinowicz says one of Trump's "biggest mistakes" was assuming the regime would fall as soon as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed - when in fact it has left an even more emboldened and radicalised regime in his place.

He says what's left is a series of "bad options" for the US president and Israel.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines

March 26, 2026

'Trump Lied and Iranians Are Telling the Whole Planet'

Mar 25, 2026 | Geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar explains why the US-Israeli attack on Iran was a historic miscalculation and why there is nothing Washington can do to change the equation on the ground.

Nuclear Crisis Fears Rise as Iranian Ambassador Warns of 'Grave' Risk

March 26, 2026

I Travelled Venezuela after Maduro’s Capture - Here’s What’s Really Happening | Rare Access

Mar 26, 2026 | On a rare journalist visa, BBC South America Correspondent Ione Wells travels across Venezuela, just weeks after the US military operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro.

In this reporter vlog, Ione explores the reality of a nation in transition - from the streets of Caracas to the coastal state of Sucre. What has actually changed since the US announced it would “run” the country? …

USA vs. Kuba: Was will Trump?

Mar 25, 2026 | US-Präsident Donald Trump spricht davon, er könne Kuba "nehmen". Was er damit genau meint, lässt er offen. Wie könnte es weitergehen? Und warum hängt es auch mit den USA zusammen, dass Kuba gerade in einer großen Krise steckt? Darum geht es in diesem Video.

Richard Wolff: Iran War Destroys Global Economy & US Empire

Mar 25, 2026 | Prof Richard Wolff discusses the global consequences of the US war against Iran, which is destroying the Trump presidency, the US Empire, and the global economy.

Donald Trump Surrounded by Sycophants Laps Up Endless Praise

Mar 24, 2026 | Jesse discusses Donald Trump’s latest meeting with his cabinet, held solely to boost his ego, with particular emphasis on comments from Stephen Miller and Kash Patel.

Strong language alert!

Only Americans suffering from softening of the brain would believe the cr** coming out of the mouths of people like Stephen Miller and Kash Patel! — © Mark Alexander

You Are Not Overreacting…

…this really is fascism.

US-Iran Ceasefire: What's in Iran's Counter Proposal? | DW News

Mar 25, 2026 | Iranian state television says Tehran has rejected an American 15-point ceasefire plan. The Iranian regime has instead offered a counterproposal, which includes recognising Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and reparations for the war that the US started alongside Israel. The White House says talks are continuing and describes them as 'productive', while threatening Tehran that it will up the ante if it does not accept defeat.

Steve Rosenberg: "Once Launched, the Machine of Persecution and Punishment Can't Stop…” - Russian Newspaper

Mar 26, 2026 | Another critical editorial today in Nezavisimaya Gazeta: “The scope for prohibition [in Russia] becomes almost unlimited. Once launched, the machine of persecution and punishment cannot stop…

La Corée du Nord et la Biélorussie signent un traité de coopération

LE FIGARO : Pour Kim Jong-un, « le nouveau traité interétatique sera la base juridique qui garantit à l’avenir le développement stable des relations bilatérales », rapporte le communiqué de la présidence bélarusse.

La Biélorussie et la Corée du Nord ont signé jeudi un « traité d’amitié et de coopération » à l’occasion de la première visite officielle du président Alexandre Loukachenko à Pyongyang, les deux pays alliés de la Russie étant confrontés à des sanctions occidentales et à des accusations de violations des droits humains. « Nos économies sont complémentaires, nous avons besoin l’un de l’autre, et il faut qu’on avance dans cette direction », a déclaré M. Loukachenko, selon un communiqué de la présidence bélarusse.

Minsk et Pyongyang ont apporté leur soutien à Moscou

Pour Kim Jong-un, « le nouveau traité interétatique sera la base juridique qui garantit à l’avenir le développement stable des relations bilatérales », rapporte le communiqué. Le dirigeant bélarusse est en visite pour deux jours en Corée du Nord, où il a été reçu chaleureusement mercredi par M. Kim. « Les relations amicales entre nos pays, qui remontent à l’époque de l’Union soviétique, n’ont jamais été interrompues » et entrent « dans une phase fondamentalement nouvelle », s’est félicité M. Loukachenko. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 26 mars 2026

Why Israel Wants a War with Iran (w/ Gideon Levy) | Chris Hedges Report

Mar 28, 2026 | Gideon Levy believes Israel’s rampant militarism has infected the minds of its entire population. Without an impossible reversal, the Jewish state's destructive warpath will rage on.

Physical Oil Shortages within 2-3 Weeks, Says Energy Expert

Mar 25, 2026 | “I think within the next two to three weeks you will see physical shortages”

Drilling North Sea oil “won’t change the whole crisis situation” but it will help to maximise our supply and reduce the likelihood of oil shortages, says Nick Butler, former vice president for strategy and policy at BP and Gordon Brown advisor.

In Response to Trump’s Illegal War, Iran Targets US Corporations

Learn more here.

Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Cuban health care was once the pride of the island. Now the U.S. oil blockade is upending even basic medical care.

As a nationwide blackout in Cuba stretched into a second day this past weekend, the stakes were rising for Jorge Pérez Álvarez.

The 21-year-old suffers from a genetic disease preventing his lungs from pumping air on their own. He needs a ventilator at all times to keep breathing.

His ventilator’s backup battery is supposed to last more than a day, but that has been tested repeatedly in recent weeks, including three nationwide outages that each pushed up against its limits. And with the power out for hours every day, there is hardly enough time to recharge it.

“I don’t know how long we can keep going,” said his mother, Xenia Álvarez, standing near her son’s crumpled body in his bedroom in a poor neighborhood of Havana. “His life depends on electricity.”

The U.S. oil blockade on Cuba is fast exhausting the country’s supply of fuel, causing daily blackouts, food shortages, canceled classes and black-market gas prices approaching $40 a gallon. It is also crippling Cuba’s universal health care system, a state institution once considered a triumph for a poor nation, but is now struggling to provide basic care.

In interviews, six Cuban doctors said that rapidly deteriorating conditions at hospitals and clinics across Cuba were causing deaths that would otherwise be preventable.

“I can’t tell you how many deaths, but I’m sure there are more than in the same period last year,” said Dr. Alioth Fernandez, chief anesthesiologist at Havana’s largest pediatric hospital. “I see it in shift handovers, in colleagues’ comments and in children I’ve operated on.”

The blockade’s effects are cascading through the system. Hospitals are canceling surgeries and sending patients home because doctors and nurses can’t commute to work. Clinics are struggling to administer treatments like chemotherapy and dialysis because of power outages. » | By Ed Augustin and Jack Nicas | Photographs by Jorge Luis Baños | Ed Augustin and Jorge Luis Baños reported from Havana. | Thursday, March 26, 2026

Leer en español.

Nowhere Feels Safe As Israel Strikes Heart of Beirut

March 26, 2026 | When a residential building in downtown Beirut was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, Samira Osseili fled with her family in the middle of the night. She’s now living in fear with 12 other relatives in her small apartment, knowing that another strike could come at any moment. | By Simona Foltyn, Adrian Hartrick, Michael Anthony Adams and Caroline Kim
Watch the NYT video here.

Israel’s Death Penalty Bill for Palestinian Prisoners Moves to Final Vote

THE GUARDIAN: Legislation initiated by far-right Otzma Yehudit party drew mounting criticism from opponents and rights groups as it moved through the Knesset

Israel’s parliament has advanced a contentious bill to impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of terrorism to its final vote, after the Knesset’s national security committee approved the measure on Tuesday.

The legislation, initiated by the far-right Otzma Yehudit party led by the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has drawn sharp criticism from opponents who warn it would mark a significant escalation in Israel’s penal policy. Members of Otzma Yehudit have worn noose-shaped pins in support of the bill.

Under the proposals, those sentenced to death would be held in a separate facility with no visits except from authorised personnel, with legal consultations conducted only by video link. Executions would be carried out within 90 days of sentencing. » | Lorenzo Tondo in Jerusalem | Wednesday, March 25, 2026

"No One Is Safe under Donald Trump": Rep. Delia Ramirez on DHS, Birthright Citizenship, Cuba & More

Mar 25, 2026 | Markwayne Mullin was sworn in Tuesday as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, replacing Kristi Noem, who was ousted earlier this month. Mullin has served as senator for Oklahoma since 2023 following a decade in the House of Representatives. He joins the Trump administration amid a partial government shutdown, with Democrats demanding reforms to immigration enforcement before fully funding DHS.

"This agency of terror needs to be dismantled," says Congressmember Delia Ramirez of Illinois. "And whether it is Mullin, whether it is Noem, whether it's Tom Homan, that agency is dangerous, and every American should say, 'Enough is enough.'"

Ramirez also comments on the birthright citizenship case before the Supreme Court, the U.S. fuel blockade against Cuba and more.


Democracy Now! can be supported here.

With all that faux gold, Trump’s Oval Office is now the height of naffness! Trump has turned the once dignified and elegant Oval Office into something that resembles madam’s parlour in an upscale brothel! 😊 — © Mark Alexander

Steve Schmidt: Trump Will Drown in His Mess

Mar 25, 2026 | Trump claimed victory in Iran but is sending more American troops into a war he never had a plan to win. Steve Schmidt exposes Trump's sick charade as he gets ready to drop more bombs.

The West is being led by a bunch of lunatics and clowns. Maybe it’s time for sane people to convert to Islam! — © Mark Alexander

Dimitra’s Dishes: Savory Beef Puff Pastry Braid with Leeks

March 23, 2026

Get the full recipe here.

Dubaï : quatre Français libérés après leur arrestation pour avoir diffusé des images de la guerre au Moyen-Orient

LE FIGARO : Quatre touristes français ont été libérés à Dubaï, après avoir été accusés d’avoir compromis la sécurité nationale en filmant des attaques iraniennes. Ils ont quitté le pays et aucune poursuite ne sera engagée contre eux.

À Dubaï, quatre Français ont été libérés de détention à la fin de la semaine dernière, a appris Le Figaro auprès du Quai d’Orsay, confirmant des informations de France Télévisions. Ces Français sont, a priori, des touristes et, selon France Info, ils ont passé plusieurs jours derrière les barreaux car « ils étaient accusés d’avoir menacé la sécurité nationale en filmant les attaques iraniennes sur le territoire ».

Dans les pays du Golfe, les règles sont strictes et la censure liée à la guerre est omniprésente, notamment aux Émirats arabes unis. Comme l’expliquait Le Figaro, les autorités émiraties interdisent la diffusion de « rumeurs, de fausses informations ou de contenus contraires aux annonces officielles, ou qui ont pour but d’affoler ou de nuire à la sécurité et à l’ordre public, sous peine d’une amende allant de 100.000 et 200.000 dirhams », soit entre 25.000 et 50.000 euros. » | Par Apolline Navarro | mercredi 25 mars 2026

Petit déjeuner : le menu idéal pour protéger son cœur selon un cardiologue

MADAME FIGARO : Sur Instagram, le cardiologue Sébastien Pouy appelle à repenser le petit déjeuner. Bien choisi, ce dernier peut protéger le cœur et stabiliser l’énergie dès le matin.

Jus d’orange, tartines beurrées ou bol de céréales… Le petit déjeuner est souvent synonyme de rapidité et de routine bien ancrée. Pourtant, dans deux vidéos publiées fin mars sur Instagram, le Dr Sébastien Pouy, cardiologue, alerte sur les mauvaises habitudes que l’on peut avoir et invite à revoir ses choix. Plutôt que d’opposer sucré et salé, il propose d’opter pour des options à la fois gourmandes et bénéfiques pour la santé du cœur.

Dès le matin, certains choix alimentaires peuvent en effet avoir un impact direct sur l’organisme. Dans l’une de ses vidéos, le cardiologue pointe du doigt les formules classiques, très sucrées et encore très répandues. «Les jus de fruits, les céréales sucrées ou le pain blanc passent très vite dans le sang. Le corps doit alors gérer cette arrivée massive de sucre en urgence», explique-t-il. Et de conclure : « Ça donne l’impression d’un bon départ mais en réalité c’est un stress métabolique dès le matin ». » | Par Tatiana Sequeira Nascimento | mercredi 25 mars 2026

Jeffrey Sachs: Iran Is the Graveyard of American Hegemony

Mar 25, 2026 | Prof. Jeffrey Sachs argues that Trump is becoming increasingly irrational and that the miscalculations in the war against Iran reveal problems of a decadent hegemony.

One Couldn’t Make This Stuff Up!

Does anyone really believe this poppycock?

Milchbars in Polen | ARTE Re:

Mar 24, 2026 | Zwischen Pfannkuchen und Kompott: Polens Milchbars sind für viele Menschen mehr als nur günstige Kantinen mit traditionellen Gerichten – sie sind sozialistischer Kult und Kindheitserinnerung. Und angesichts der steigenden Lebenshaltungskosten bieten Milchbars Zuflucht für eine Gesellschaft, in der Armut immer sichtbarer wird.

Seit über 40 Jahren gibt es in Kielce die Milchbar Jagienka. Die Arbeit von Agata Bogulak beginnt früh am Morgen: Kartoffeln schälen, Piroggen füllen, Suppen ansetzen – bevor mittags bis zu 400 Gäste kommen. Studenten, Arbeiter, Familien aus dem Viertel. Die Milchbar wurde erst vor Kurzem komplett renoviert. Die sozialistische Einrichtung musste neuem weichen, doch die Gerichte sind die gleichen geblieben. Viele "Kantinen für Alle" sind im Wandel zur kultigen Milchbar.

Polens "Milchbars" sind ein sozialistisches Relikt. Verteilt im ganzen Land bieten die einfachen Kantinen polnische Hausmannskost an – bis heute. Lange hat der Staat die Milchbars subventioniert, so dass sich jeder für wenig Geld eine warme Mahlzeit leisten kann. In den vielen Küchen der Milchbars arbeiten vor allem Rentnerinnen wie Wanda Szyszko. Die 73-Jährige hilft in der Stettiner Milchbar Kogel Mogel in der Küche aus. Die Milchbar bietet ihre Gerichte sehr günstig an, weil die Stadt sie mitfinanziert und die Supermärkte Lebensmittel spenden. Doch selbst diese günstigen Preise werden für viele zur Herausforderung.

Auch in Bydgoszcz sieht Pfarrer Sławomir Bar, wie seine älteren Gemeindemitglieder sparen: zuerst beim Essen. Genau deswegen will er die erste "soziale Milchbar" Polens eröffnen, direkt in seiner Kirche. Die kirchliche Milchbar ist für Menschen über 65 Jahre gedacht, deren Rente nicht zum Leben reicht. Warmes Essen für umgerechnet ein bis zwei Euro – und weniger Einsamkeit im Alter.

Reportage (D 2025, 30 Min)
Video verfügbar bis zum 22/02/2031

Former Head of MI6: Iran Has the “Upper Hand” in the War | The Economist

Mar 25, 2026 | Sir Alex Younger spent 30 years at MI6, Britain’s foreign intelligence service, with six of those as its boss. He joins the Economist’s defence editor, Shashank Joshi, to analyse the current state of the conflict, the health of Iran's regime and what could happen next.

Guerre au Moyen-Orient : la télévision d’État iranienne affirme que Téhéran a refusé la proposition de paix américaine

LE FIGARO : Le président du Parlement iranien, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a également préconisé aux États-Unis ce mercredi de ne pas «xtester » la détermination de l’Iran à défendre son territoire. EN DIRECT » | Par Ségolène Forgar, Eloi Passot, Emilie Staeger et Amaury Coutansais-Pervinquière | mercredi 25 mars 2026

En Israël, la presse redoute un accord fragile avec l’Iran et des concessions américaines

LE FIGARO : REVUE DE PRESSE - Entre doutes sur l’application réelle d’un éventuel compromis et interrogations sur les intentions de Washington, les grands quotidiens israéliens décrivent une séquence incertaine, révélatrice des tensions stratégiques en Israël.

L’annonce par Donald Trump de possibles négociations avec Téhéran a immédiatement suscité une vive prudence dans la presse israélienne. Plus qu’un espoir de désescalade, éditorialistes et correspondants décrivent un moment d’incertitude stratégique, dominé par une double crainte : celle d’un accord impossible — ou, pire, d’un compromis imparfait, mal appliqué et obtenu au prix de concessions américaines.

Dans Yedioth Ahronoth, quotidien centriste parmi les plus influents du pays, le correspondant diplomatique Itamar Eichner souligne d’abord le scepticisme des responsables israéliens quant à la faisabilité même d’un accord. « Les Américains ont présenté aux Iraniens un projet en 15 points. À première vue, il semble irréalisable. Pourquoi les Iraniens céderaient-ils sur tout ? », rapporte-t-il en citant une source israélienne. Un tel texte reviendrait, selon elle, à « un accord de reddition», impliquant «la suppression du programme nucléaire, l’abandon des missiles et l’arrêt du financement des organisations alliées ». » | Par Stanislas Poyet Correspondant à Jérusalem | mercredi 25 mars 2026

US Is 'Negotiating with Itself,' Iranian Military Says | BBC News

Mar 25, 2026 | The US is "negotiating with itself", a spokesman for the Iranian military said.

The comments came after President Donald Trump insisted Iran wants a deal "so badly" - saying on Tuesday that Iran gave the US a "very big present worth a tremendous amount of money".

The US has also handed over a 15-point peace plan, unconfirmed reports said. It includes Iran dismantling nuclear facilities, in exchange for lifting of sanctions.


If this isn’t proof that dementia has set in, I don’t know what would be! — © Mark Alexander

Richard Wolff: China Won the Economic War; the West Fragments

Mar 20, 2026

Professor Marandi Explains How Trump’s’Negotiations’ Claims Are False

Prof Marandi has got Trump’s number.

Trump Says War Is Won and Blames Hegseth for Conflict in Iran

Mar 25, 2026 | The most revealing part of President Donald Trump’s latest comments about the war with Iran isn’t the strategy—it’s the impulse behind how he talks about it. In a single stretch of remarks, he managed to do two things that rarely coexist comfortably in serious statecraft: casually assign credit for the start of a war and publicly narrate supposed diplomatic progress that the other side insists doesn’t exist. If nothing else, it underscores a defining trait of his leadership style—an inability to keep sensitive matters contained.

Iran will not negotiate with the Trump regime until the terms are right. The powers-that-be in Iran are determined to end this war, when it ends, on their terms., not Trump’s. That means to say that they want the US out of the Middle East, they want US bases closed. They want to put an end to US influence in the region. What Trump says is all show. As always, he talks 'BIGLY'. — © Mark Alexander

ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Newspaper Slams Internet Blackouts & Growing Restrictions inside Russia

Mar 25, 2026 | In the Russian papers you won't find criticism of Russia’s war on Ukraine. But one paper today has an editorial slamming internet blackouts and increasing restrictions in Russia: “Where is the cut-off point, the line in our personal & collective experience we’re not prepared to cross, where we would say no, we can’t live without this, we don’t want to?”