THE NEW YORK TIMES: The lack of a breakthrough after 21 hours of negotiations leaves the Trump administration facing several unpalatable options.
Vice President JD Vance’s failure to win the concessions the United States sought from Iran in a single, marathon negotiating session over its nuclear program was no surprise.
But what now?
The failure leaves the Trump administration facing several unpalatable options: A lengthy negotiation with Tehran over the future of its nuclear program, or a resumption of a war that has already created the largest energy disruption in modern times, and the prospect of a long struggle over who controls the Strait of Hormuz.
White House officials said they would defer to President Trump, who traveled to Florida for the weekend to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship match, to announce the administration’s next move. But each of those paths carries significant strategic and political downsides.
Mr. Vance said little about what took place during more than 21 hours of negotiations, suggesting he had handed the Iranians a take-it-or-leave-it proposal to forever terminate their nuclear program, and they left it. » | Tyler Pager and David E. Sanger | Tyler Pager traveled with Vice President Vance to Islamabad for the negotiations with Iran. David E. Sanger has covered the efforts to use sabotage, negotiation and military force to end the Iranian nuclear program over the past two decades. | Sunday, April 12, 2026
Sunday, April 12, 2026
JD Vance and US Delegation Leave Pakistan after Failing to Reach Deal with Iran
THE GUARDIAN: US vice-president cites shortcomings in peace talks, saying Iran chose not to accept American terms including to not build nuclear weapons
The US vice-president, JD Vance, left Islamabad on Sunday after failing to reach a deal with Iran in a marathon 21 hours of negotiations.
Vance cited shortcomings in the talks, saying that Iran had chosen not to accept American terms, including to not build nuclear weapons.
“The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” Vance said.
“So we go back to the United States having not come to an agreement. We’ve made very clear what our red lines are.” Vance said he spoke with the US president, Donald Trump, at least half a dozen times during the talks, and one of the most significant points of difference between the two sides was around Iran’s nuclear program. » | Guardian staff and agencies | Sunday, April 12, 2026
The US vice-president, JD Vance, left Islamabad on Sunday after failing to reach a deal with Iran in a marathon 21 hours of negotiations.
Vance cited shortcomings in the talks, saying that Iran had chosen not to accept American terms, including to not build nuclear weapons.
“The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” Vance said.
“So we go back to the United States having not come to an agreement. We’ve made very clear what our red lines are.” Vance said he spoke with the US president, Donald Trump, at least half a dozen times during the talks, and one of the most significant points of difference between the two sides was around Iran’s nuclear program. » | Guardian staff and agencies | Sunday, April 12, 2026
Pope Says ‘Enough of War’ and Decries ‘Delusion of Omnipotence’ at Peace Vigil
THE GUARDIAN: Leo’s comments did not directly mention war in Iran but read as his strongest condemnation of the conflict yet
Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Pope Leo XIV presides over a prayer vigil and rosary for peace in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on 11 April. Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters
Pope Leo XIV stepped into the international political arena at evening prayers in St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday, saying prayer for peace is “a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive.”
The first US-born pope said: “Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”
Addressing world leaders who decide to go to war, Leo said: “To them we cry out: stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation – not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided.”
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life,” he added. » | Edward Helmore | Saturday, April 11, 2026
Pope Leo XIV stepped into the international political arena at evening prayers in St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday, saying prayer for peace is “a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive.”
The first US-born pope said: “Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”
Addressing world leaders who decide to go to war, Leo said: “To them we cry out: stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation – not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided.”
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life,” he added. » | Edward Helmore | Saturday, April 11, 2026
Megyn Kelly Stuns Piers Morgan on Trump's Embarrassing Loss to Iran
Being Gay in Saudi Arabia: The Hidden Truth No One Talks about
Aug 25, 2025 | Saudi Arabia is opening its doors to the world with futuristic cities, luxury resorts, and ambitious visions of modernization. But behind the glossy image lies a stark reality: for LGBTQ+ people, Saudi Arabia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world.
In this video, Truth Travels dives deep into what it means to be gay in Saudi Arabia. From strict laws based on Sharia, to social pressures, underground LGBTQ+ communities, and the risks faced by both locals and travellers, we uncover the truth about life in the kingdom.
In this video, Truth Travels dives deep into what it means to be gay in Saudi Arabia. From strict laws based on Sharia, to social pressures, underground LGBTQ+ communities, and the risks faced by both locals and travellers, we uncover the truth about life in the kingdom.
Kisses to Kevin | Gay Short Film | Pride Love Stories
Saturday, April 11, 2026
“Trump Needs to Resign, He’s Not Sane” Former White House Lawyer EXPLOSIVE Attack
Viktor Orbán ‘Looks Like He Could Lose’ Hungary Election Tomorrow | Fraser Nelson
Apr 11, 2026 | “It looks as if, though you can never tell with Hungary, he’s going to lose power tomorrow.”
Viktor Orbán has spent years building an “illiberal” political system that has worked in his favour, but Fraser Nelson, columnist for The Times, says “the public have just had enough” and that it looks as though he could lose the election tomorrow.
Viktor Orbán has spent years building an “illiberal” political system that has worked in his favour, but Fraser Nelson, columnist for The Times, says “the public have just had enough” and that it looks as though he could lose the election tomorrow.
La visite historique du pape Léon en Algérie, au chevet d’une communauté catholique discriminée
LE FIGARO : RÉCIT - Le souverain pontife entamera son grand voyage en Afrique en se rendant ce lundi 13 avril dans le pays d’origine de saint Augustin, dont il se veut le disciple. Un déplacement hautement symbolique pour la petite communauté catholique qui n’avait jamais reçu de visite papale.
Le ciel gris, la bruine et le froid qui règnent, ce jeudi 26 mars, sur la ville d’Annaba, au nord-est de l’Algérie, n’ont pas dissuadé Fred Wekesa à revêtir ses plus beaux vêtements liturgiques. Le recteur de la basilique Saint-Augustin, à l’allure de judoka, s’apprête à diriger, en compagnie de l’archevêque émérite d’Algérie, Paul Desfarges, la messe des Rameaux, célébrée en principe le dimanche précédant la fête de Pâques. Accompagnés d’une quarantaine de fidèles – essentiellement des étudiants subsahariens venus de tout le pays –, les deux hommes d’Église guident la procession jusqu’à une cour voisine, lieu de vie du personnel de ce site emblématique d’une Église catholique dont l’histoire remonte aux premiers siècles de l’ère chrétienne.
De retour sous la nef, les deux hommes de Dieu savent qu’ils ne célèbrent pas une messe ordinaire. Outre les rituels habituels, une fois les chants religieux achevés, ils tiennent à rappeler que la ville d’Annaba accueillera, le 15 avril, le souverain pontife : le pape Léon XIV effectuera, en effet, une visite historique de trois jours à partir du 13 avril. Pour recevoir dignement cet hôte de marque, le pays se mobilise : embellissement des rues et des lieux de culte, préparation des itinéraires de l’évêque de Rome. » | Par Ali Boukhlef et Sadak Souici, pour Le Figaro Magazine | samedi 11 avril 2026
Le ciel gris, la bruine et le froid qui règnent, ce jeudi 26 mars, sur la ville d’Annaba, au nord-est de l’Algérie, n’ont pas dissuadé Fred Wekesa à revêtir ses plus beaux vêtements liturgiques. Le recteur de la basilique Saint-Augustin, à l’allure de judoka, s’apprête à diriger, en compagnie de l’archevêque émérite d’Algérie, Paul Desfarges, la messe des Rameaux, célébrée en principe le dimanche précédant la fête de Pâques. Accompagnés d’une quarantaine de fidèles – essentiellement des étudiants subsahariens venus de tout le pays –, les deux hommes d’Église guident la procession jusqu’à une cour voisine, lieu de vie du personnel de ce site emblématique d’une Église catholique dont l’histoire remonte aux premiers siècles de l’ère chrétienne.
De retour sous la nef, les deux hommes de Dieu savent qu’ils ne célèbrent pas une messe ordinaire. Outre les rituels habituels, une fois les chants religieux achevés, ils tiennent à rappeler que la ville d’Annaba accueillera, le 15 avril, le souverain pontife : le pape Léon XIV effectuera, en effet, une visite historique de trois jours à partir du 13 avril. Pour recevoir dignement cet hôte de marque, le pays se mobilise : embellissement des rues et des lieux de culte, préparation des itinéraires de l’évêque de Rome. » | Par Ali Boukhlef et Sadak Souici, pour Le Figaro Magazine | samedi 11 avril 2026
David Cay Johnston's Full Reaction to Trump's Disgusting Post
The Guardian View on Welsh Language Learning: Cultural Shifts Can Deliver a Bright Future for Cymraeg
THE GUARDIAN — OPINION: As Plaid Cymru leads in polls ahead of Senedd elections in May, grassroots enthusiasm for one of its historic causes is growing
In Putting Wales First, a recently translated history of Plaid Cymru’s political ideas, Prof Richard Wyn Jones references a 1940s newspaper editorial satirising the party’s then preoccupations. Poking fun at its focus on language, and nostalgia for a rural society of small-scale landowners, the Western Mail waspishly summed up the vision as “three acres and a Welsh-speaking cow”.
It was a caricature at the time, of course. And it certainly bears no relation to the modern-day Plaid, which launched its Senedd campaign this week from a position of strength at the top of the polls. But Plaid’s historic commitment to safeguarding and promoting Welsh language and culture remains a defining cause. If – as currently seems highly likely – it goes on to lead the next Welsh government after 7 May, it has promised a raft of measures to embed the use of Cymraeg more deeply in everyday life. » | Editorial | Tuesday, March 31, 2026
In Putting Wales First, a recently translated history of Plaid Cymru’s political ideas, Prof Richard Wyn Jones references a 1940s newspaper editorial satirising the party’s then preoccupations. Poking fun at its focus on language, and nostalgia for a rural society of small-scale landowners, the Western Mail waspishly summed up the vision as “three acres and a Welsh-speaking cow”.
It was a caricature at the time, of course. And it certainly bears no relation to the modern-day Plaid, which launched its Senedd campaign this week from a position of strength at the top of the polls. But Plaid’s historic commitment to safeguarding and promoting Welsh language and culture remains a defining cause. If – as currently seems highly likely – it goes on to lead the next Welsh government after 7 May, it has promised a raft of measures to embed the use of Cymraeg more deeply in everyday life. » | Editorial | Tuesday, March 31, 2026
HAUSER - The Swan
Faktencheck zum Christentum | ZDF Dokumentation
Eine wunderbare, belehrende Dokumentation. Sehr klar und sehr interessant. — Mark
Bericht erhärtet Hinweise: Irans neuer Führer schwer verletzt und entstellt
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Seit Wochen gibt es keine Bilder von Irans neuem obersten Führer Modschtaba Chamenei. Nun berichtet Reuters unter Berufung auf mehrere Quellen von schweren Verletzungen im Gesicht.
Dieser Screenshot stammt aus diesem Artikel. | Modschtaba Chamenei, neuer oberster Führer des Iran: Das undatierte Archivbild zeigt den Nachfolger von Ali Chamenei.
Irans neuer oberster Führer Modschtaba Chamenei soll bei einem Luftangriff zu Beginn des Krieges schwer verletzt und im Gesicht entstellt worden sein. Das berichtet die Nachrichtenagentur Reuters unter Berufung auf drei mit seinem Umfeld vertraute Personen. Unabhängig überprüfen lassen sich die Angaben nicht.
Nach Darstellung der Quellen wurde Modschtaba Chamenei bei dem Luftangriff am 28. Februar, dem ersten Tag des Krieges, auf einen Regierungskomplex im Zentrum von Teheran verletzt. Dabei sei auch sein Vater und Vorgänger Ali Chamenei getötet worden. Der 56-Jährige habe schwere Verletzungen im Gesicht sowie an den Beinen erlitten. Eine der Quellen sagte laut Reuters, er könnte sogar ein Bein verloren haben.
Trotz seines Zustands sei Modschtaba Chamenei weiterhin in Entscheidungsprozesse eingebunden und nehme per Audiokonferenz an Treffen mit hochrangigen Vertretern teil. Er gelte als geistig klar und arbeite weiter an zentralen Fragen, darunter dem Krieg und den Gesprächen mit den USA. » | Alexander Schmalz | Samstag, 11. April 2026
Irans neuer oberster Führer Modschtaba Chamenei soll bei einem Luftangriff zu Beginn des Krieges schwer verletzt und im Gesicht entstellt worden sein. Das berichtet die Nachrichtenagentur Reuters unter Berufung auf drei mit seinem Umfeld vertraute Personen. Unabhängig überprüfen lassen sich die Angaben nicht.
Nach Darstellung der Quellen wurde Modschtaba Chamenei bei dem Luftangriff am 28. Februar, dem ersten Tag des Krieges, auf einen Regierungskomplex im Zentrum von Teheran verletzt. Dabei sei auch sein Vater und Vorgänger Ali Chamenei getötet worden. Der 56-Jährige habe schwere Verletzungen im Gesicht sowie an den Beinen erlitten. Eine der Quellen sagte laut Reuters, er könnte sogar ein Bein verloren haben.
Trotz seines Zustands sei Modschtaba Chamenei weiterhin in Entscheidungsprozesse eingebunden und nehme per Audiokonferenz an Treffen mit hochrangigen Vertretern teil. Er gelte als geistig klar und arbeite weiter an zentralen Fragen, darunter dem Krieg und den Gesprächen mit den USA. » | Alexander Schmalz | Samstag, 11. April 2026
« Ton grand-père était-il un nazi ? » : les Allemands d’hier et d’aujourd’hui face aux crimes du IIIe Reich
LE FIGARO : RÉCIT - Alors qu’à Berlin, une exposition se penche sur ce que savaient les Allemands vivant dans les années 1930-1940, les archives nationales américaines ont publié des millions de cartes de membres du parti nazi, permettant à chacun de se renseigner sur son histoire familiale.
Que savaient de la Shoah les Allemands vivant dans les années 1930-1940 ? « Nous ne savions pas ! » Pendant longtemps, cette phrase a été « la réaction la plus courante des Allemands lorsqu’on leur parlait de la persécution et de l’assassinat des Juifs européens sous le régime nazi », déclare Andrea Riedle, la directrice de la Topographie de la terreur, ce musée et centre de documentation fondé sur le site de l’ancien siège de la Gestapo à Berlin. « Après la fin du régime, la réaction des contemporains de l’époque nazie a effectivement été, dans l’ensemble, d’affirmer qu’ils n’avaient rien su de ses crimes, confirme au Figaro l’historien Norbert Frei, l’un des plus grands spécialistes allemands du IIIe Reich. Il s’agissait d’une affirmation défensive et, en même temps, d’une attitude de distanciation générale face aux images des montagnes de cadavres dans les camps de concentration libérés, auxquelles les Alliés confrontaient les Allemands. »
Mais cette affirmation - « Nous ne savions pas » - correspondait-elle à la réalité? C’est à cette question sensible que tente de répondre la nouvelle exposition temporaire de la Topographie de la terreur, accessible gratuitement jusqu’au 31 janvier 2027, à travers près de 300 pièces - photos, lettres, enregistrements audio et vidéo, objets du quotidien... L’exposition revient d’abord sur ce que nul ne pouvait ignorer : la persécution des Juifs dès les années 1930, présentée par le régime nazi comme une réponse à la « menace » que ces derniers auraient représentée. « Les Juifs du monde entier veulent détruire l’Allemagne », affirme ainsi en mars 1933 une affiche de propagande appelant au boycott des magasins juifs. « Allemands! Défendez-vous ! N’achetez pas chez les Juifs ! », proclame un panneau tenu par un membre de la Sturmabteilung (SA) campé devant une boutique berlinoise. » | Par Aude Bariéty de Lagarde, correspondante à Berlin | samedi 11 avril 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Que savaient de la Shoah les Allemands vivant dans les années 1930-1940 ? « Nous ne savions pas ! » Pendant longtemps, cette phrase a été « la réaction la plus courante des Allemands lorsqu’on leur parlait de la persécution et de l’assassinat des Juifs européens sous le régime nazi », déclare Andrea Riedle, la directrice de la Topographie de la terreur, ce musée et centre de documentation fondé sur le site de l’ancien siège de la Gestapo à Berlin. « Après la fin du régime, la réaction des contemporains de l’époque nazie a effectivement été, dans l’ensemble, d’affirmer qu’ils n’avaient rien su de ses crimes, confirme au Figaro l’historien Norbert Frei, l’un des plus grands spécialistes allemands du IIIe Reich. Il s’agissait d’une affirmation défensive et, en même temps, d’une attitude de distanciation générale face aux images des montagnes de cadavres dans les camps de concentration libérés, auxquelles les Alliés confrontaient les Allemands. »
Mais cette affirmation - « Nous ne savions pas » - correspondait-elle à la réalité? C’est à cette question sensible que tente de répondre la nouvelle exposition temporaire de la Topographie de la terreur, accessible gratuitement jusqu’au 31 janvier 2027, à travers près de 300 pièces - photos, lettres, enregistrements audio et vidéo, objets du quotidien... L’exposition revient d’abord sur ce que nul ne pouvait ignorer : la persécution des Juifs dès les années 1930, présentée par le régime nazi comme une réponse à la « menace » que ces derniers auraient représentée. « Les Juifs du monde entier veulent détruire l’Allemagne », affirme ainsi en mars 1933 une affiche de propagande appelant au boycott des magasins juifs. « Allemands! Défendez-vous ! N’achetez pas chez les Juifs ! », proclame un panneau tenu par un membre de la Sturmabteilung (SA) campé devant une boutique berlinoise. » | Par Aude Bariéty de Lagarde, correspondante à Berlin | samedi 11 avril 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Le nouveau guide suprême iranien Mojtaba Khamenei est gravement blessé au visage et aux jambes mais reste mentalement alerte, assure son entourage
LE FIGARO : Mojtaba Khamenei n’est pas réapparu depuis les frappes américano-israéliennes qui ont coûté la vie à son père au début de la guerre en Iran. En convalescence, son état de santé interroge sur sa capacité à diriger le pays.
Le nouveau guide suprême de l’Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, se remet encore de graves blessures au visage et aux jambes subies lors de la frappe aérienne qui a tué son père au début de la guerre, ont indiqué à Reuters trois personnes proches de son entourage. Le visage de Mojtaba Khamenei a été défiguré lors de l’attaque contre le complexe du guide suprême dans le centre de Téhéran, et il a subi une blessure importante à une ou aux deux jambes, selon ces trois sources.
Âgé de 56 ans, il se remet néanmoins de ses blessures et reste mentalement alerte, selon ces personnes, qui ont requis l’anonymat pour évoquer des sujets sensibles. Il participe à des réunions avec de hauts responsables par audioconférence et prend part aux décisions sur des questions majeures, notamment la guerre et les négociations avec Washington, ont indiqué deux d’entre elles. La question de savoir si l’état de santé de Mojtaba Khamenei lui permet de diriger les affaires de l’État intervient à un moment de péril extrême pour l’Iran, avec des négociations de paix cruciales avec les États-Unis qui s’ouvrent samedi dans la capitale pakistanaise, Islamabad. » | Par Le Figaro avec Reuters | samedi 11 avril 2026
Le nouveau guide suprême de l’Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, se remet encore de graves blessures au visage et aux jambes subies lors de la frappe aérienne qui a tué son père au début de la guerre, ont indiqué à Reuters trois personnes proches de son entourage. Le visage de Mojtaba Khamenei a été défiguré lors de l’attaque contre le complexe du guide suprême dans le centre de Téhéran, et il a subi une blessure importante à une ou aux deux jambes, selon ces trois sources.
Âgé de 56 ans, il se remet néanmoins de ses blessures et reste mentalement alerte, selon ces personnes, qui ont requis l’anonymat pour évoquer des sujets sensibles. Il participe à des réunions avec de hauts responsables par audioconférence et prend part aux décisions sur des questions majeures, notamment la guerre et les négociations avec Washington, ont indiqué deux d’entre elles. La question de savoir si l’état de santé de Mojtaba Khamenei lui permet de diriger les affaires de l’État intervient à un moment de péril extrême pour l’Iran, avec des négociations de paix cruciales avec les États-Unis qui s’ouvrent samedi dans la capitale pakistanaise, Islamabad. » | Par Le Figaro avec Reuters | samedi 11 avril 2026
I Know Why Melania Is Panicking about Epstein | The Daily Beast Podcast
Very strong language alert!
Russian Hackers Are Using Your Wi-Fi Router to Spy: Here’s How You Can Protect Yourself
Apr 8, 2026 | “There’s absolutely no doubt that not only are they in our edge devices, like Wi-Fi routers, but they’re in our infrastructure.”
Russian hackers are using home Wi-Fi routers as spying devices, giving them access inside the UK and potentially enabling them to carry out attacks, says cybersecurity and fintech specialist Mike Godfrey.
Russian hackers are using home Wi-Fi routers as spying devices, giving them access inside the UK and potentially enabling them to carry out attacks, says cybersecurity and fintech specialist Mike Godfrey.
Sandra Navidi zur Hormus-Maut | ntv
Rob Groves: BREXIT - 63% Now Want Back In. Thanks, Trump!
Apr 11, 2026 | Ten years ago, 52% of voters chose to leave the European Union, on the basis of lies painted on a bus and a campaign bankrolled by dodgy money. A decade on, the bill keeps arriving. Haulage companies going bust at twice the pre-Brexit rate, food prices rising, trade barriers grinding away at the economy, and a so-called special relationship with America that turned out to be a vassal state telling itself a flattering story.
Meanwhile, the latest YouGov polling shows 63% of Britons would now vote to rejoin the EU. Among 18-25 year olds, that figure is 86%. Even among retirees, 60% say they'd vote to rejoin. The tide has turned. The argument has been won. The question now is: what happens next?
Meanwhile, the latest YouGov polling shows 63% of Britons would now vote to rejoin the EU. Among 18-25 year olds, that figure is 86%. Even among retirees, 60% say they'd vote to rejoin. The tide has turned. The argument has been won. The question now is: what happens next?
Michael Lambert: Trump's Puppet Master Exposed: The Netanyahu Iran War Plan
Netanyahu's wet dream: the destruction of Iran! — © Mark Alexander
Pete Hegseth Is a Disaster of a Defense Secretary. It’s No Surprise
THE GUARDIAN: The former Fox host has misled the public, prayed for violence and clashed with the press. This is not a serious military leader
With his jawline firm and his hair coiffed, Pete Hegseth was a good fit as a Fox News personality.
As the defense secretary – or secretary of war, as his boss, Donald Trump would have it – he’s disastrous.
His most consequential test, America’s misguided war with Iran, has proven that beyond legitimate argument.
But for those who watched him for years as a rightwing cable news figure, it’s not exactly surprising.
“Hegseth’s distinguishing characteristic on Fox was his fervent support for American service members who had been accused of war crimes,” recalled Matt Gertz, senior fellow at Media Matters, whose job it is to track the relationship between rightwing media and the Trump-led Maga world.
Trump, who watches Fox as if it’s his primary job, liked what he saw in Hegseth. And so, what Gertz calls “a B-level demogogue” jumped from co-host of the weekend Fox & Friends talkshow to the person sixth in line for the US presidency. » | Margaret Sullivan | Friday,April 10, 2026
With his jawline firm and his hair coiffed, Pete Hegseth was a good fit as a Fox News personality.
As the defense secretary – or secretary of war, as his boss, Donald Trump would have it – he’s disastrous.
His most consequential test, America’s misguided war with Iran, has proven that beyond legitimate argument.
But for those who watched him for years as a rightwing cable news figure, it’s not exactly surprising.
“Hegseth’s distinguishing characteristic on Fox was his fervent support for American service members who had been accused of war crimes,” recalled Matt Gertz, senior fellow at Media Matters, whose job it is to track the relationship between rightwing media and the Trump-led Maga world.
Trump, who watches Fox as if it’s his primary job, liked what he saw in Hegseth. And so, what Gertz calls “a B-level demogogue” jumped from co-host of the weekend Fox & Friends talkshow to the person sixth in line for the US presidency. » | Margaret Sullivan | Friday,April 10, 2026
Friday, April 10, 2026
Why Vienna’s Coffee Houses Are a Real Institution! | Cheers & Chats Ep. 1
Whitney Houston : Run To You | Official HD Video | Reupload
Steve Schmidt: Trump Misplayed the War in Iran. Melania Lied about Epstein.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t Melania an illegal immigrant? Didn’t she work in America before obtaining her proper papers? — © Mark Alexander
Democracy Now! Ahead of Hungary Election, JD Vance Campaigns with Orbán in Show of Support for Far Right in Europe
Aug 10, 2026 | Amid strains in U.S.-European relations, the Trump administration has worked to strengthen ties with Hungary and its far-right leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is facing his biggest challenge in 16 years. With just days to go before parliamentary elections, Orbán's Fidesz party is trailing the center-right pro-EU Tisza party led by Péter Magyar. U.S. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Budapest this week and appeared alongside Orbán to openly campaign for his reelection.
"This election is really crucial, not just for Hungary, but for the international right wing," says Kim Lane Scheppele, professor of sociology and international affairs at Princeton University. "There's been a lot of American signaling that the U.S. would really love to have Viktor Orbán be reelected. The problem is the Hungarian people don't seem to agree."
Scheppele also discusses the role of Sebastian Gorka, a top counterterrorism official in the Trump administration, who has longstanding ties to the far right in Hungary and has been instrumental in forging closer ties between the two governments. According to a recent New York Times investigation, Gorka is also leading an effort to target left-wing groups in the United States and abroad as "terrorist organizations."
Viktor Orbán, JD Vance, Donald Trump et al — all are birds of a feather! If Hungarians are wise, they will kick the corrupt Orbán out of office and take their country back. Just as Americans need to do with Trump. — © Mark Alexander
Democracy Now! can be supported here.
"This election is really crucial, not just for Hungary, but for the international right wing," says Kim Lane Scheppele, professor of sociology and international affairs at Princeton University. "There's been a lot of American signaling that the U.S. would really love to have Viktor Orbán be reelected. The problem is the Hungarian people don't seem to agree."
Scheppele also discusses the role of Sebastian Gorka, a top counterterrorism official in the Trump administration, who has longstanding ties to the far right in Hungary and has been instrumental in forging closer ties between the two governments. According to a recent New York Times investigation, Gorka is also leading an effort to target left-wing groups in the United States and abroad as "terrorist organizations."
Viktor Orbán, JD Vance, Donald Trump et al — all are birds of a feather! If Hungarians are wise, they will kick the corrupt Orbán out of office and take their country back. Just as Americans need to do with Trump. — © Mark Alexander
Democracy Now! can be supported here.
Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey : When You Believe | Official HD Video | Reupload
Giovanni Siracusa: How to Cook Eggplant (Aubergine) Caponata: It’s Sicily in a Pan! — Caponata di melanzane
Jan 17, 2026 | Eggplant caponata is full of flavo[u]r. This is how to make it the traditional way.
This authentic eggplant dish is a Sicilian staple found alongside fresh arancini and bread. It's the perfect Italian appetizer or side dish that brings the Mediterranean to your kitchen.
Whatever you do, don’t buy caponata in a can! This one-pot recipe is a naturally vegan and vegetarian dish, making it a fantastic option for anyone looking for plant-based Italian recipes.
Once you see how simple it is to prepare, you’ll never go back to store-bought.
Click here for the full recipe. Then click on ‘more’
This authentic eggplant dish is a Sicilian staple found alongside fresh arancini and bread. It's the perfect Italian appetizer or side dish that brings the Mediterranean to your kitchen.
Whatever you do, don’t buy caponata in a can! This one-pot recipe is a naturally vegan and vegetarian dish, making it a fantastic option for anyone looking for plant-based Italian recipes.
Once you see how simple it is to prepare, you’ll never go back to store-bought.
Click here for the full recipe. Then click on ‘more’
The Guardian View on Trump’s Civilisational Threats: The Words That Fuel War Must Be Condemned
THE GUARDIAN — OPINION: Military euphemisms can be deadly. Yet the brutal rhetoric of the US and Israel is proving still more lethal
“Metaphors can kill,” the linguist George Lakoff wrote in an influential essay on the Gulf war. “The use of a metaphor with a set of definitions becomes pernicious when it hides realities in a harmful way.” He described the effects of the US employment of business cost-and-benefit analogies, sporting comparisons and the fairytale of the just war with heroes and villains.
All veiled the reality of conflict. Euphemism was long the preferred choice for the US military. Spokespeople discussed “collateral damage” rather than civilian deaths and “surgical strikes”, framing destruction as both precise and part of a necessary and ultimately healing process. Donald Trump chooses naked menace instead. This week he issued a genocidal threat against Iran, having previously threatened to bomb it “back to the stone age” and destroy bridges and power plants – schools and medical facilities having already been pulverised. He said that he was “not at all” concerned about potential war crimes. » | Editorial | Friday, April 10, 2026
I condemn Donald Trump in the strongest possible terms. I also condemn the clueless Americans who put Donald Trump into office. When it comes to politics, economics, and geopolitics, Donald Trump is totally clueless. He is also a know-nothing. When did he last read a book? Has he ever read a book? As for his disgusting comments on Iran, they show us all how depraved Donald Trump is.
Iran can boast of its civilisation being more than 7,000 year old! Please remind me… What is America celebrating this year? Ah! That’s it… Its 250th anniversary! Hardly a comparison can be made between these two at all! The USA is a mere upstart when it comes to civilisation.
After those dreadful comments made by Donald Trump about the annihilation of Iran/Persia, the powers-that-be in America should start thinking about removing this dangerous man from office. For the sake of the world, and also for the sake of America. Only a person with diminished mental faculties would utter something so crass and awful about a nation and its people. — © Mark Alexander
“Metaphors can kill,” the linguist George Lakoff wrote in an influential essay on the Gulf war. “The use of a metaphor with a set of definitions becomes pernicious when it hides realities in a harmful way.” He described the effects of the US employment of business cost-and-benefit analogies, sporting comparisons and the fairytale of the just war with heroes and villains.
All veiled the reality of conflict. Euphemism was long the preferred choice for the US military. Spokespeople discussed “collateral damage” rather than civilian deaths and “surgical strikes”, framing destruction as both precise and part of a necessary and ultimately healing process. Donald Trump chooses naked menace instead. This week he issued a genocidal threat against Iran, having previously threatened to bomb it “back to the stone age” and destroy bridges and power plants – schools and medical facilities having already been pulverised. He said that he was “not at all” concerned about potential war crimes. » | Editorial | Friday, April 10, 2026
I condemn Donald Trump in the strongest possible terms. I also condemn the clueless Americans who put Donald Trump into office. When it comes to politics, economics, and geopolitics, Donald Trump is totally clueless. He is also a know-nothing. When did he last read a book? Has he ever read a book? As for his disgusting comments on Iran, they show us all how depraved Donald Trump is.
Iran can boast of its civilisation being more than 7,000 year old! Please remind me… What is America celebrating this year? Ah! That’s it… Its 250th anniversary! Hardly a comparison can be made between these two at all! The USA is a mere upstart when it comes to civilisation.
After those dreadful comments made by Donald Trump about the annihilation of Iran/Persia, the powers-that-be in America should start thinking about removing this dangerous man from office. For the sake of the world, and also for the sake of America. Only a person with diminished mental faculties would utter something so crass and awful about a nation and its people. — © Mark Alexander
Quitting Smoking: Today Is My Fourth Anniversary
MARK ALEXABDER: For those who are interested, today, April 10th, marks exactly four years since I smoked my last cigarette.
Even though I had smoked twenty cigarettes a day for most of my adult life, and even though I derived a great deal of pleasure from my smoking habit, it was a HABIT. It WAS NOT an ADDICTION! For this reason, quitting was relatively easy for me. I quit cold turkey.
Have I ever craved cigarettes since quitting? No, definitely not! But have I missed it occasionally? Certainly, I have. Just like you miss a friend when he/she goes away, or passes on. Because in many ways, cigarettes are like friends; they keep one company.
So many people complain about the smell of the smoke emanating from another’s burning cigarette. I wouldn’t. In fact, since quitting, I have hardly ever smelt cigarette smoke, because I no longer know anyone in my circle of friends who still indulges in the habit. In fact, I would love to smell cigarette smoke one day to remind me of my past pleasure.
Despite having quit, this blog remains a welcoming space for smokers from all over the world. Smoking, to me, is actually one of life’s great pleasures. The western world has grown far too intolerant of the pleasurable habit. I look back fondly on my smoking years.
© Mark Alexander
All Rights Reserved
Even though I had smoked twenty cigarettes a day for most of my adult life, and even though I derived a great deal of pleasure from my smoking habit, it was a HABIT. It WAS NOT an ADDICTION! For this reason, quitting was relatively easy for me. I quit cold turkey.
Have I ever craved cigarettes since quitting? No, definitely not! But have I missed it occasionally? Certainly, I have. Just like you miss a friend when he/she goes away, or passes on. Because in many ways, cigarettes are like friends; they keep one company.
So many people complain about the smell of the smoke emanating from another’s burning cigarette. I wouldn’t. In fact, since quitting, I have hardly ever smelt cigarette smoke, because I no longer know anyone in my circle of friends who still indulges in the habit. In fact, I would love to smell cigarette smoke one day to remind me of my past pleasure.
Despite having quit, this blog remains a welcoming space for smokers from all over the world. Smoking, to me, is actually one of life’s great pleasures. The western world has grown far too intolerant of the pleasurable habit. I look back fondly on my smoking years.
© Mark Alexander
All Rights Reserved
Benyamin Netanyahou accuse l'Espagne d'« hostilité » et l'exclut du mécanisme de surveillance de la trêve à Gaza
LE FIGARO : «L’Espagne a choisi d’être contre Israël de façon répétée (...) Ceux qui attaquent l’État d’Israël au lieu de s’en prendre aux régimes terroristes ne seront pas nos partenaires pour façonner l’avenir de la région», a déclaré le premier ministre israélien.
Le premier ministre israélien Benyamin Netanyahou a accusé vendredi l'Espagne d'« hostilité » envers son pays et a annoncé l'exclusion de Madrid du mécanisme de surveillance international de la trêve dans la bande de Gaza. « L'Espagne a choisi d'être contre Israël de façon répétée (...) Ceux qui attaquent l'Etat d'Israël au lieu de s'en prendre aux régimes terroristes ne seront pas nos partenaires pour façonner l'avenir de la région », a déclaré Benyamin Netanyahou dans un message vidéo.
Il a accusé Madrid, avec qui Israël entretient des relations exécrables, de faire preuve d'« hypocrisie » et d'« hostilité », et de « diffamer les soldats de l'armée israélienne ». « J’ai donc ordonné aujourd'hui d'exclure les représentants espagnols du centre de coordination de Kiryat Gat », mis en place sous supervision américaine pour surveiller le cessez-le-feu entré en vigueur le 10 octobre entre Israël et le mouvement islamiste palestinien Hamas à Gaza. Le Centre de coordination militaro-civile (CCMC) est un organisme de surveillance sous supervision américaine de la fragile trêve. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 10 avril 2026
Le premier ministre israélien Benyamin Netanyahou a accusé vendredi l'Espagne d'« hostilité » envers son pays et a annoncé l'exclusion de Madrid du mécanisme de surveillance international de la trêve dans la bande de Gaza. « L'Espagne a choisi d'être contre Israël de façon répétée (...) Ceux qui attaquent l'Etat d'Israël au lieu de s'en prendre aux régimes terroristes ne seront pas nos partenaires pour façonner l'avenir de la région », a déclaré Benyamin Netanyahou dans un message vidéo.
Il a accusé Madrid, avec qui Israël entretient des relations exécrables, de faire preuve d'« hypocrisie » et d'« hostilité », et de « diffamer les soldats de l'armée israélienne ». « J’ai donc ordonné aujourd'hui d'exclure les représentants espagnols du centre de coordination de Kiryat Gat », mis en place sous supervision américaine pour surveiller le cessez-le-feu entré en vigueur le 10 octobre entre Israël et le mouvement islamiste palestinien Hamas à Gaza. Le Centre de coordination militaro-civile (CCMC) est un organisme de surveillance sous supervision américaine de la fragile trêve. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 10 avril 2026
Die Straße von Hormus ist nur bedingt geöffnet, trotz Trumps martialischem Getöse | ntv
Apr 10, 2026 | Chaos und eine ominöse Liste
Vor der Waffenruhe droht Trump dem Iran mit martialischem Getöse. Zentrale Bedingung: die Öffnung der Straße von Hormus. Das ist nur bedingt passiert - und doch kommt vom US-Präsidenten seither vor allem Schweigen. ntv-US-Korrespondent Gordian Fritz erkennt darin die Hilflosigkeit Trumps.
Vor der Waffenruhe droht Trump dem Iran mit martialischem Getöse. Zentrale Bedingung: die Öffnung der Straße von Hormus. Das ist nur bedingt passiert - und doch kommt vom US-Präsidenten seither vor allem Schweigen. ntv-US-Korrespondent Gordian Fritz erkennt darin die Hilflosigkeit Trumps.
Can Viktor Orbán Lose Power after 16 Years in Charge of Hungary? | DW News
Apr 10, 2026 | Hungary votes on Sunday in a parliamentary election that could end Viktor Orbán’s 16 year grip on power. Once dominant, the nationalist prime minister is now trailing in opinion polls amid economic stagnation and growing frustration among voters. The election pits Orbán’s vision of a more authoritarian Hungary with closer ties to Russia against an opposition promising a return to a pro European course.
Zsuzsanna Végh, programme officer at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, explains why Orbán is suddenly vulnerable — and what the outcome could mean for Hungary’s democracy and its place in Europe.
Zsuzsanna Végh, programme officer at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, explains why Orbán is suddenly vulnerable — and what the outcome could mean for Hungary’s democracy and its place in Europe.
Himmlers Enkel: Das Blut eines Massenmörders | SPIEGEL TV
Iran Will Not Back Down on Maximum Control over Strait of Hormuz Demands
Apr 10, 2026 | “They will be trying to secure confirmation of Iran’s ability, or right, to do whatever it wants in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran is “an extremely tough negotiator” and will likely try to secure “maximum advantage” over the Strait of Hormuz, including imposing tolls, says former British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould.
Iran is “an extremely tough negotiator” and will likely try to secure “maximum advantage” over the Strait of Hormuz, including imposing tolls, says former British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould.
US-Iran War | It’s a Defeat for the US: Jeffrey Sachs Slams Trump over Iran Ceasefire
Cuba : le président dit qu'il ne démissionnera pas sous la pression américaine
LE FIGARO : « Nous sommes un État libre et souverain, un État libre. Nous jouissons d’autodétermination et sommes indépendants, nous ne sommes pas soumis aux intentions des États-Unis », a déclaré le président cubain Miguel Diaz-Canel.
Le président cubain Miguel Diaz-Canel a affirmé jeudi qu'il ne démissionnera pas sous la pression des États-Unis, appelant au dialogue avec le gouvernement de Donald Trump, dans sa première interview à une chaîne américaine. « Nous sommes un État libre et souverain, un État libre. Nous jouissons d'autodétermination et sommes indépendants, nous ne sommes pas soumis aux intentions des États-Unis », a-t-il déclaré selon la transcription en anglais de son entretien avec la chaîne NBC News.
« Le gouvernement américain qui a mis en œuvre cette politique hostile à l'égard de Cuba, n'a pas le droit moral de demander quoi que ce soit de Cuba », a déclaré le dirigeant. Les relations entre les États-Unis et Cuba ont connu récemment un regain de tensions. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 10 avril 2026
Le président cubain Miguel Diaz-Canel a affirmé jeudi qu'il ne démissionnera pas sous la pression des États-Unis, appelant au dialogue avec le gouvernement de Donald Trump, dans sa première interview à une chaîne américaine. « Nous sommes un État libre et souverain, un État libre. Nous jouissons d'autodétermination et sommes indépendants, nous ne sommes pas soumis aux intentions des États-Unis », a-t-il déclaré selon la transcription en anglais de son entretien avec la chaîne NBC News.
« Le gouvernement américain qui a mis en œuvre cette politique hostile à l'égard de Cuba, n'a pas le droit moral de demander quoi que ce soit de Cuba », a déclaré le dirigeant. Les relations entre les États-Unis et Cuba ont connu récemment un regain de tensions. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 10 avril 2026
"The War Is Turning Iran into a Major World Power": U. of Chicago Professor Robert Pape
Trump Says Iran's Handling of Strait of Hormuz Is 'Not the Agreement We Have' | BBC News
Apr 10, 2026 | US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of doing a "very poor job" in handling oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz, arguing it was "not the agreement we have".
It comes as the ceasefire between the US and Iran was agreed earlier this week, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aiming to begin direct talks with Lebanon for peaceful relations.
A US State Department official confirmed it would host a meeting next week in Washington "to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon".
After Israeli strikes continued in Lebanon throughout Thursday, Trump said that Israel would be "scaling back" its strikes in the country to support peace talks.
It comes as the ceasefire between the US and Iran was agreed earlier this week, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aiming to begin direct talks with Lebanon for peaceful relations.
A US State Department official confirmed it would host a meeting next week in Washington "to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon".
After Israeli strikes continued in Lebanon throughout Thursday, Trump said that Israel would be "scaling back" its strikes in the country to support peace talks.
Melania Trump Made ‘Personal Decision’ to Publicly Deny Epstein Ties
Apr 10, 2026 | “We have heard from people around Melania that she really felt a personal need and desire to do this herself. This decision really came from her personally.”
The White House was “certainly surprised” after the First Lady Melania Trump made a public address denying any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, reports Trevor Hunnicutt.
The White House was “certainly surprised” after the First Lady Melania Trump made a public address denying any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, reports Trevor Hunnicutt.
"She Was Separating Herself from Him" | Melania Trump's Biographer Analyses Her Epstein Comments
NYT: Melania Trump Says She Was Not Associated With Jeffrey Epstein:
Had Bush and Blair Been Punished for Iraq War Crimes, Iran Might Have Been Spared | MEE Opinion
Apr 10, 2026 | Peter Oborne, associate editor of Middle East Eye, argues that on the 23rd anniversary of the Iraq War, the US-Israeli campaign against Iran is a “war of aggression” that mirrors the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Referring to the Nuremberg Tribunal’s definition of aggression as the “supreme international crime,” Oborne points out that both the Iraq War and the conflict with Iran lack a legal basis and result in widespread devastation and human suffering.
He further suggests that these wars are not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader ongoing strategy of Western or US-led military interventions. Oborne condemns Western leaders for failing to learn from decades of “bloodstained” interventions throughout the Middle East.
America is a warmongering, bellicose nation. Just imagine how peaceful the world would be if America’s wings were clipped and its power curtailed! — © Mark Alexander
Referring to the Nuremberg Tribunal’s definition of aggression as the “supreme international crime,” Oborne points out that both the Iraq War and the conflict with Iran lack a legal basis and result in widespread devastation and human suffering.
He further suggests that these wars are not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader ongoing strategy of Western or US-led military interventions. Oborne condemns Western leaders for failing to learn from decades of “bloodstained” interventions throughout the Middle East.
America is a warmongering, bellicose nation. Just imagine how peaceful the world would be if America’s wings were clipped and its power curtailed! — © Mark Alexander
Steve Rosenberg: "Forecasts of a Deeper, More Protracted Recession in Russia": Russian Paper
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