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Thursday, May 14, 2026
A Failed Experiment - The Prohibition Era in America [Colorized]
May 27, 2026 | Picture this: it was the roaring 20s, a time of jazz, flappers, and glitz. The nation was buzzing with excitement, and there seemed to be an endless flow of spirits to fuel the parties and revelry. But lurking in the shadows were the temperance crusaders, armed with a moral compass that pointed directly at the demon liquor.
These righteous souls managed to persuade the government that the best way to combat society's woes was to ban the very thing that brought joy to the masses. And so, on a fateful day in 1920, the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution was born, and Prohibition swept across the land like a wild firestorm.
At first, the dry crusaders rejoiced, believing they had achieved the impossible. They imagined a utopia free from the sins and temptations of the bottle. "No more drunken debauchery!" they proclaimed, raising their teetotaling flags high. But little did they know, the stage was set for an epic battle between law and desire, between the sober and the spirited.
As the ban took effect, bootleggers, those cunning entrepreneurs of the underworld, emerged from the shadows. They concocted schemes to quench the thirst of the thirsty masses, smuggling alcohol right under the nose of the authorities. Speakeasies, hidden establishments disguised as innocent shops or secret clubs, became the epicenter of clandestine revelry.
Eventually, the great realization dawned upon the nation: they missed their beloved booze. The people craved the camaraderie of the bar, the clinking of glasses, and the joyous spirit that flowed freely. The moral compass that had pointed toward sobriety now started wobbling, nudging the country toward sanity.
And so, after thirteen long and sobering years, Prohibition met its bitter end. The 21st Amendment emerged from the legislative battlefield, banishing the dry era to the annals of history. Bars opened their doors once more, and the sounds of revelry returned, drowning out the echoes of a failed experiment.
And so it will be with smoking! The generational smoking ban will eventually be seen as a failed experiment. People never learn. Intelligent, experienced politicians learn from history; stupid, inexperienced ones, the hard way! — © Mark Alexander
These righteous souls managed to persuade the government that the best way to combat society's woes was to ban the very thing that brought joy to the masses. And so, on a fateful day in 1920, the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution was born, and Prohibition swept across the land like a wild firestorm.
At first, the dry crusaders rejoiced, believing they had achieved the impossible. They imagined a utopia free from the sins and temptations of the bottle. "No more drunken debauchery!" they proclaimed, raising their teetotaling flags high. But little did they know, the stage was set for an epic battle between law and desire, between the sober and the spirited.
As the ban took effect, bootleggers, those cunning entrepreneurs of the underworld, emerged from the shadows. They concocted schemes to quench the thirst of the thirsty masses, smuggling alcohol right under the nose of the authorities. Speakeasies, hidden establishments disguised as innocent shops or secret clubs, became the epicenter of clandestine revelry.
Eventually, the great realization dawned upon the nation: they missed their beloved booze. The people craved the camaraderie of the bar, the clinking of glasses, and the joyous spirit that flowed freely. The moral compass that had pointed toward sobriety now started wobbling, nudging the country toward sanity.
And so, after thirteen long and sobering years, Prohibition met its bitter end. The 21st Amendment emerged from the legislative battlefield, banishing the dry era to the annals of history. Bars opened their doors once more, and the sounds of revelry returned, drowning out the echoes of a failed experiment.
And so it will be with smoking! The generational smoking ban will eventually be seen as a failed experiment. People never learn. Intelligent, experienced politicians learn from history; stupid, inexperienced ones, the hard way! — © Mark Alexander
Wes Streeting Quits Cabinet and Calls on Starmer to Resign
THE GUARDIAN: Streeting, who is on the party’s right, had long been rumoured to be gathering support for tilt at leadership
Wes Streeting has quit as health secretary and called on Keir Starmer to resign as prime minister, saying it would have been “dishonourable” to remain in post and that there should now be a contest for the Labour leadership.
But Streeting, who is on the party’s right, will not immediately launch a challenge and said he wanted to see a leadership contest with a broad range of candidates – a suggestion that the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, could fight in the contest.
Streeting had long been gathering support for a challenge and has spent the week asking MPs to nominate him. Allies have consistently said he did not want to challenge Starmer directly but hoped to be a candidate in a leadership contest if Starmer resigned.
The fact he is not challenging Starmer immediately suggests he does not have the requisite 81 MPs to mount a challenge directly.
A challenge would be likely to prompt bids from other potential candidates including the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband, the energy secretary. » | Jessica Elgot | Deputy political editor | Thursday, May 14, 2026
READ ALSO:
Wes Streeting’s resignation letter – what he said and what he meant: The key points in the former health secretary’s long letter to Keir Starmer decoded »
Wes Streeting has quit as health secretary and called on Keir Starmer to resign as prime minister, saying it would have been “dishonourable” to remain in post and that there should now be a contest for the Labour leadership.
But Streeting, who is on the party’s right, will not immediately launch a challenge and said he wanted to see a leadership contest with a broad range of candidates – a suggestion that the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, could fight in the contest.
Streeting had long been gathering support for a challenge and has spent the week asking MPs to nominate him. Allies have consistently said he did not want to challenge Starmer directly but hoped to be a candidate in a leadership contest if Starmer resigned.
The fact he is not challenging Starmer immediately suggests he does not have the requisite 81 MPs to mount a challenge directly.
A challenge would be likely to prompt bids from other potential candidates including the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband, the energy secretary. » | Jessica Elgot | Deputy political editor | Thursday, May 14, 2026
READ ALSO:
Wes Streeting’s resignation letter – what he said and what he meant: The key points in the former health secretary’s long letter to Keir Starmer decoded »
Back to the Future of Brexit
One can but weep for this country! Brexit has put us into a fine old mess! Brexit has brought us impoverishment, no opportunities for economic growth, and nothing to look forward to. Britons’ rights as citizens have been stripped away, replacing them with a few feudal ‘rights’ as subjects of the King, and little else. Prior to that ridiculous, ill-thought-out Brexit, Britons had a decent future. They could move to any EU country and work there, start a business there, set up home there, avail themselves of free healthcare there, travel visa-free there, and for those who love their pets, because of the ‘EU Pet Travel Scheme’, they could even move there with their beloved dogs, cats, or ferrets! Now, just to travel there involves all manner of hurdles to jump. One could call it the steeplechase of the century!
One of the main architects of Brexit and all the troubles and travails that Brexit brought with it is, of course, that infamous, self-serving, self-enriching snake oil salesman, Nigel Farage. And how the naïve and ill-informed have been taken in by him! They have even gone and cast their vote for him in recent local elections, voting for the very man who has made them poorer! Talk about turkeys voting for Christmas, this was it! — © Mark Alexander
Labour Leadership Contest Could 'Plunge Country into Chaos', Says UK Chancellor | BBC News
May 14, 2026 | Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in an exclusive interview with the BBC that any Labour leadership contest would "plunge the country into chaos".
It comes as Angela Rayner, seen as a potential challenger to PM Keir Starmer, was cleared by HMRC of wrongdoing over her tax affairs after settling £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty, saying she had been "exonerated" of the accusation she had "deliberately sought to avoid tax".
On Wednesday, allies of Health Secretary Wes Streeting said they expected him to launch a challenge as soon as today.
It comes as Angela Rayner, seen as a potential challenger to PM Keir Starmer, was cleared by HMRC of wrongdoing over her tax affairs after settling £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty, saying she had been "exonerated" of the accusation she had "deliberately sought to avoid tax".
On Wednesday, allies of Health Secretary Wes Streeting said they expected him to launch a challenge as soon as today.
Waleed Asadi: Arabic Stuffed Chicken — Djaj Mahshi | دجاج محشي
Click here for the full recipe.
Waleed’s very own selection of spices can be found here. Don’t forget to use the code ZAWI10 for 10% off your first order.
Waleed’s favourite Lebanese olive oil, Les Cousines, can be found here. Don’t forget to use Waleed’s very own special introductory code for 15% off your first order.
La reine Camilla se serait opposée au mariage du prince William avec Kate Middleton, trouvant cette dernière « trop ordinaire »
MADAME FIGARO : Selon l’auteur Christopher Andersen, la reine Camilla estimait que Kate Middleton n’était « pas à la hauteur » pour épouser le prince William. C’est ce que le journaliste américain révèle dans son livre, Kate ! : The Courage, Grace, and Power of the Woman Who Will Be Queen.
Certains membres de la famille royale semblaient avoir des a priori sur Kate Middleton lorsqu’elle est entrée dans la vie du prince William. Comme le raconte Christopher Andersen dans son livre, Kate! : The Courage, Grace, and Power of the Woman Who Will Be Queen, publié le 5 mai aux États-Unis et en Grande-Bretagne aux éditions Gallery Books, la reine Camilla estimait que celle qui est aujourd’hui princesse de Galles était « trop ordinaire » pour épouser le fils aîné du roi Charles III. « Elle ne la trouvait pas à la hauteur, pour ainsi dire », a écrit l’auteur dans son ouvrage selon Page Six . « Elle n’était pas de la bonne famille. Elle n’avait pas de sang aristocratique. » Selon lui, lorsque le prince William a rencontré Kate Middleton à l’université St. Andrew, « le palais ne voulait pas vraiment » que la jeune femme intègre la famille. « Des personnes comme Camilla ne voulaient pas d’elle car elles estimaient qu’elle était trop simple pour être l’épouse d’un futur roi », a écrit le biographe, affirmant que l’épouse de Charles III « s’était opposée » à ce mariage à cause de son statut de roturière. » | Par Leonie Dutrievoz | mercredi 13 mai 2026
Zelensky affirme que la Russie a lancé au moins « 800 drones » sur l'Ukraine, faisant six morts
LE FIGARO : « On ne peut certainement pas qualifier de coïncidence le fait que l’une des attaques russes les plus massives et les plus longues contre l’Ukraine ait lieu précisément au moment où le président des États-Unis est arrivé en visite en Chine », a déclaré le président ukrainien.
La Russie a lancé au moins « 800 drones » sur l'Ukraine mercredi, faisant au moins six morts, a dénoncé le président ukrainien Volodymyr Zelensky, accusant Moscou d'attaques menées délibérément le jour de l'arrivée en Chine du président américain Donald Trump. Ces frappes de drones russes, qui ont également fait plusieurs blessés à travers l'Ukraine, illustrent l'intensification des bombardements en pleine journée et dans des régions parfois très éloignées du front. « On ne peut certainement pas qualifier de coïncidence le fait que l'une des attaques russes les plus massives et les plus longues contre l'Ukraine ait lieu précisément au moment où le président des États-Unis est arrivé en visite en Chine - une visite dont on attend beaucoup », a déclaré Volodymyr Zelensky. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 13 mai 2026
La Russie a lancé au moins « 800 drones » sur l'Ukraine mercredi, faisant au moins six morts, a dénoncé le président ukrainien Volodymyr Zelensky, accusant Moscou d'attaques menées délibérément le jour de l'arrivée en Chine du président américain Donald Trump. Ces frappes de drones russes, qui ont également fait plusieurs blessés à travers l'Ukraine, illustrent l'intensification des bombardements en pleine journée et dans des régions parfois très éloignées du front. « On ne peut certainement pas qualifier de coïncidence le fait que l'une des attaques russes les plus massives et les plus longues contre l'Ukraine ait lieu précisément au moment où le président des États-Unis est arrivé en visite en Chine - une visite dont on attend beaucoup », a déclaré Volodymyr Zelensky. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 13 mai 2026
China’s Xi Warns Trump on Taiwan at Beijing Summit
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Xi Jinping, China’s leader, told President Trump that Taiwan, if handled poorly, could lead to a clash with the United States. The two leaders are also expected to discuss trade and the Iran war at the two-day summit.
China’s leader, Xi Jinping, delivered a warning on Taiwan to President Trump as the two leaders began their summit in Beijing on Thursday, saying that the issue, if handled poorly, could lead to conflict and “an extremely dangerous situation.”
The two men met in the Chinese capital in a ceremony laden with pageantry and pleasantries. But Mr. Xi’s warning was a stark reminder that Taiwan, a self-governing island claimed by China, is a red line.
The two-day summit, the first U.S. presidential visit to China in nearly a decade, could determine whether a détente that has prevailed between the two countries will continue — and what concessions, if any, either side is willing to make.
Mr. Xi greeted Mr. Trump on Thursday morning outside the Great Hall of the People. They shook hands before walking together past an honor guard and rows of cheering children. As “The Star-Spangled Banner” played, a 21-gun salute echoed across Tiananmen Square.
Inside the Great Hall, Mr. Xi called for the two countries to work together to confront an increasingly “complex and turbulent world.”
“We should be partners, not adversaries,” he said.
Mr. Trump emphasized his personal relationship with Mr. Xi, and said the two leaders speak to each other on the phone to work out problems. “You’re a great leader,” he told Mr. Xi.
But Mr. Xi made clear that Taiwan had the potential to spoil the relationship. “If handled poorly, the two countries will collide or even clash, putting the entire U.S.-China relationship in an extremely dangerous situation,” he said while referring to Taiwan, according to a readout from Xinhua, China’s official news agency.
One of China’s related priorities is persuading the United States to curtail its arms sales to Taiwan.
Aside from Taiwan, Mr. Xi and Mr. Trump discussed trade, the Middle East, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula, according to Xinhua. Details about the talks were not immediately released and there was little indication of whether there had been any breakthroughs. Live Updates » | Lily Kuo and David E. Sanger | David E. Sanger reported from the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. | Thursday, May 14, 2026
China’s leader, Xi Jinping, delivered a warning on Taiwan to President Trump as the two leaders began their summit in Beijing on Thursday, saying that the issue, if handled poorly, could lead to conflict and “an extremely dangerous situation.”
The two men met in the Chinese capital in a ceremony laden with pageantry and pleasantries. But Mr. Xi’s warning was a stark reminder that Taiwan, a self-governing island claimed by China, is a red line.
The two-day summit, the first U.S. presidential visit to China in nearly a decade, could determine whether a détente that has prevailed between the two countries will continue — and what concessions, if any, either side is willing to make.
Mr. Xi greeted Mr. Trump on Thursday morning outside the Great Hall of the People. They shook hands before walking together past an honor guard and rows of cheering children. As “The Star-Spangled Banner” played, a 21-gun salute echoed across Tiananmen Square.
Inside the Great Hall, Mr. Xi called for the two countries to work together to confront an increasingly “complex and turbulent world.”
“We should be partners, not adversaries,” he said.
Mr. Trump emphasized his personal relationship with Mr. Xi, and said the two leaders speak to each other on the phone to work out problems. “You’re a great leader,” he told Mr. Xi.
But Mr. Xi made clear that Taiwan had the potential to spoil the relationship. “If handled poorly, the two countries will collide or even clash, putting the entire U.S.-China relationship in an extremely dangerous situation,” he said while referring to Taiwan, according to a readout from Xinhua, China’s official news agency.
One of China’s related priorities is persuading the United States to curtail its arms sales to Taiwan.
Aside from Taiwan, Mr. Xi and Mr. Trump discussed trade, the Middle East, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula, according to Xinhua. Details about the talks were not immediately released and there was little indication of whether there had been any breakthroughs. Live Updates » | Lily Kuo and David E. Sanger | David E. Sanger reported from the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. | Thursday, May 14, 2026
Farage Criticised for Backing Preacher Who Says Homosexuality Is ‘Abomination’
THE GUARDIAN: Reform UK leader records video with Essex pastor to support his battle against council banning order
This screenshot was taken from this Guardian article. | In the clip posted on his YouTube channel, Farage assures Clayden he is ‘fully on your side’ in the dispute | Photograph: Stephen Clayden/YouTube
Nigel Farage has been criticised for giving his full support to a Christian church leader who preached that homosexuality was an “abomination” and would lead to eternity in hell.
The Reform UK leader recorded a video with Stephen Clayden after Colchester council applied for a banning order to limit his street preaching.
In the clip posted on his YouTube channel, Farage assured Clayden that he was “fully on your side” in the dispute and offered to enlist the help of contacts at the Free Speech Union campaign group.
Clayden told Farage the council was objecting to the volume and some of the content of his preaching, including his references to hell and judgment. However, he has since acknowledged that the council raised concerns not just about the volume of his preaching but also his church’s warnings against homosexuality.
Footage of Clayden preaching last month, available on social media, shows him saying: “All adulterers, all fornicators, all sodomites, all drunkards, all thieves, all blasphemers, all liars, all mockers. Their home shall be in the lake of fire … we are here telling you what the word of God says.”
In the same session, he told passersby: “They hear about words in the Bible like judgment and sin and repentance. They don’t like hearing the holy words of God … they are offended by what the Bible says when the Bible says homosexuality is an abomination.”
His Bread of Life church also preached at Pride Week events in Essex last year and Clayden told a meeting the Bible described homosexuality as “vile, disgusting and wicked”, “a sin so wicked and detestable it was worthy of death”, and the “filthy conduct of the wicked”. » | Rowena Mason | Whitehall editor | Thursday, May 14, 2026
Clayden is such an ignorant man! Clearly, he knows NOTHING about HOMOSEXUALITY. And, seemingly, little about his favourite book, The Bible, either! He needs to do some serious studying of Christianity and its principles before going out PREACHING morals to others.
He talks about homosexuality being an abomination, and about homosexuals having to live in the next life in “eternal Hell”! (He would know, wouldn’t he?!) However, I have got some news for this poor, benighted soul: For many homosexuals in this world, for many homosexuals who have suffered the misfortune of being born in countries which have not yet been kissed by enlightened thought, their “eternal Hell” is in THIS LIFE, they do not have to wait for the NEXT life, wait for the HEREAFTER to experience it! Rest assured, in the Hereafter, God will take care of them for, after all, they, too, are God’s children, God's children who have been created in His image! If we are to believe the Christian message, God loves ALL of HIS CHILDREN — without exception and unconditionally.
Furthermore, there are many academics and theologians who believe that Jesus Himself might well have been gay. Over the years. There has been much speculation about this. This preacher should check out this Guardian article. This will be a good start for this man’s studies.
I should further like to add that Jesus came for ALL, but he was particularly concerned with the marginalised and the rejected. And over the centuries, gays have been nothing if not marginalised and rejected, even here in the Occident until recent years. Even today, in many countries they suffer great indignities, and in several countries which are ruled by the IGNORANT, the BENIGHTED, and the RUTHLESS, they are put to death! If that’s not Hell on Earth, I don’t know what is! — © Mark Alexander
Nigel Farage has been criticised for giving his full support to a Christian church leader who preached that homosexuality was an “abomination” and would lead to eternity in hell.
The Reform UK leader recorded a video with Stephen Clayden after Colchester council applied for a banning order to limit his street preaching.
In the clip posted on his YouTube channel, Farage assured Clayden that he was “fully on your side” in the dispute and offered to enlist the help of contacts at the Free Speech Union campaign group.
Clayden told Farage the council was objecting to the volume and some of the content of his preaching, including his references to hell and judgment. However, he has since acknowledged that the council raised concerns not just about the volume of his preaching but also his church’s warnings against homosexuality.
Footage of Clayden preaching last month, available on social media, shows him saying: “All adulterers, all fornicators, all sodomites, all drunkards, all thieves, all blasphemers, all liars, all mockers. Their home shall be in the lake of fire … we are here telling you what the word of God says.”
In the same session, he told passersby: “They hear about words in the Bible like judgment and sin and repentance. They don’t like hearing the holy words of God … they are offended by what the Bible says when the Bible says homosexuality is an abomination.”
His Bread of Life church also preached at Pride Week events in Essex last year and Clayden told a meeting the Bible described homosexuality as “vile, disgusting and wicked”, “a sin so wicked and detestable it was worthy of death”, and the “filthy conduct of the wicked”. » | Rowena Mason | Whitehall editor | Thursday, May 14, 2026
Clayden is such an ignorant man! Clearly, he knows NOTHING about HOMOSEXUALITY. And, seemingly, little about his favourite book, The Bible, either! He needs to do some serious studying of Christianity and its principles before going out PREACHING morals to others.
He talks about homosexuality being an abomination, and about homosexuals having to live in the next life in “eternal Hell”! (He would know, wouldn’t he?!) However, I have got some news for this poor, benighted soul: For many homosexuals in this world, for many homosexuals who have suffered the misfortune of being born in countries which have not yet been kissed by enlightened thought, their “eternal Hell” is in THIS LIFE, they do not have to wait for the NEXT life, wait for the HEREAFTER to experience it! Rest assured, in the Hereafter, God will take care of them for, after all, they, too, are God’s children, God's children who have been created in His image! If we are to believe the Christian message, God loves ALL of HIS CHILDREN — without exception and unconditionally.
Furthermore, there are many academics and theologians who believe that Jesus Himself might well have been gay. Over the years. There has been much speculation about this. This preacher should check out this Guardian article. This will be a good start for this man’s studies.
I should further like to add that Jesus came for ALL, but he was particularly concerned with the marginalised and the rejected. And over the centuries, gays have been nothing if not marginalised and rejected, even here in the Occident until recent years. Even today, in many countries they suffer great indignities, and in several countries which are ruled by the IGNORANT, the BENIGHTED, and the RUTHLESS, they are put to death! If that’s not Hell on Earth, I don’t know what is! — © Mark Alexander
Defiant Falklanders: We’re Bloody British – Back Off Milei
THE TELEGRAPH: We’re bloody British and always will be,’ a sixth-generation native tells The Telegraph
Trudi McPhee had just poured a couple of glasses of whisky when two RAF Typhoons roared over her windswept hilltop farm.
“We always love that sound, it’s the sound of freedom,” said the grinning Falkland Islander as she reclines in her seat, the dusty windows of her bungalow still rattling softly from the fighter jets.
“They roar overhead as if to say, ‘This is our place. You can go off somewhere else. You can stay clear. This is British territory, no one else’s.’”
The booming “freedom” flyby, as reassuring as it is for Trudi, may struggle to drown out the other background noise on the Falklands – the one coming across the water from Argentina.
Trudi McPhee had just poured a couple of glasses of whisky when two RAF Typhoons roared over her windswept hilltop farm.
“We always love that sound, it’s the sound of freedom,” said the grinning Falkland Islander as she reclines in her seat, the dusty windows of her bungalow still rattling softly from the fighter jets.
“They roar overhead as if to say, ‘This is our place. You can go off somewhere else. You can stay clear. This is British territory, no one else’s.’”
The booming “freedom” flyby, as reassuring as it is for Trudi, may struggle to drown out the other background noise on the Falklands – the one coming across the water from Argentina. » | Tom Cotterill | Defence Editor, Falkland Islands | Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Trudi McPhee had just poured a couple of glasses of whisky when two RAF Typhoons roared over her windswept hilltop farm.
“We always love that sound, it’s the sound of freedom,” said the grinning Falkland Islander as she reclines in her seat, the dusty windows of her bungalow still rattling softly from the fighter jets.
“They roar overhead as if to say, ‘This is our place. You can go off somewhere else. You can stay clear. This is British territory, no one else’s.’”
The booming “freedom” flyby, as reassuring as it is for Trudi, may struggle to drown out the other background noise on the Falklands – the one coming across the water from Argentina.
Trudi McPhee had just poured a couple of glasses of whisky when two RAF Typhoons roared over her windswept hilltop farm.
“We always love that sound, it’s the sound of freedom,” said the grinning Falkland Islander as she reclines in her seat, the dusty windows of her bungalow still rattling softly from the fighter jets.
“They roar overhead as if to say, ‘This is our place. You can go off somewhere else. You can stay clear. This is British territory, no one else’s.’”
The booming “freedom” flyby, as reassuring as it is for Trudi, may struggle to drown out the other background noise on the Falklands – the one coming across the water from Argentina. » | Tom Cotterill | Defence Editor, Falkland Islands | Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Trump in Peking gelandet: Xi empfängt US-Präsidenten mit großem Zeremoniell
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Donald Trump ist am Mittwochabend in Peking eingetroffen. Begleitet wird der US-Präsident von Tech-Managern wie Elon Musk und Nvidia-Chef Jensen Huang.
US-Präsident Donald Trump ist in Peking eingetroffen. Zum Auftakt seines zweitägigen Staatsbesuchs wurde Trump auf dem Flughafen mit militärischen Ehren, chinesischen Flaggen schwenkenden Studenten und einem streng choreografierten Empfang begrüßt, wie Reuters, BBC und AP berichten. Auf Bildern war zu sehen, wie Trump auf dem roten Teppich stehen blieb, in die Menge winkte und die Faust hob.
Die Präsidentenmaschine Air Force One landete am Mittwoch um 19.50 Uhr (Ortszeit, 13.50 MESZ) auf dem internationalen Flughafen von Peking. Trump wurde von Chinas Vizepräsident Han Zheng in Empfang genommen und bekam einen Blumenstrauß überreicht. Dann schritt er über einen roten Teppich, während 300 Jugendliche in Uniformen kleine chinesische und US-Flaggen schwenkten. » | Alexander Schmalz | Mittwoch, 13. Mai 2026
US-Präsident Donald Trump ist in Peking eingetroffen. Zum Auftakt seines zweitägigen Staatsbesuchs wurde Trump auf dem Flughafen mit militärischen Ehren, chinesischen Flaggen schwenkenden Studenten und einem streng choreografierten Empfang begrüßt, wie Reuters, BBC und AP berichten. Auf Bildern war zu sehen, wie Trump auf dem roten Teppich stehen blieb, in die Menge winkte und die Faust hob.
Die Präsidentenmaschine Air Force One landete am Mittwoch um 19.50 Uhr (Ortszeit, 13.50 MESZ) auf dem internationalen Flughafen von Peking. Trump wurde von Chinas Vizepräsident Han Zheng in Empfang genommen und bekam einen Blumenstrauß überreicht. Dann schritt er über einen roten Teppich, während 300 Jugendliche in Uniformen kleine chinesische und US-Flaggen schwenkten. » | Alexander Schmalz | Mittwoch, 13. Mai 2026
Procès du « financement libyen » : sept ans de prison requis en appel contre Nicolas Sarkozy
LE FIGARO : COMPTE RENDU D’AUDIENCE - Le parquet général s’est montré très sévère à l’encontre de la plupart des prévenus. La défense commence à plaider lundi prochain.
Sept ans de prison, 300.000 euros d’amende, 5 ans d’inéligibilité : le parquet général a requis mercredi devant la cour d’appel de Paris exactement la même peine à l’encontre de Nicolas Sarkozy que celle qu’avait demandée en première instance le parquet national financier (PNF) dans le cadre de l’affaire dite «du financement libyen». L’ancien président de la République avait été condamné par le tribunal en septembre dernier à 5 ans de prison assortis d’un mandat de dépôt différé que le PNF n’avait pas sollicité.
L’un des trois avocats généraux mobilisés pour cette audience, Rodolphe Juy-Birmann, a clôturé le réquisitoire à trois voix ouvert lundi. Quoique porté sur la citation littéraire à travers les siècles, de Platon à Hugo, le magistrat a conclu son propos en moins d’une heure. Il fustige d’abord « la fable qu’on vous raconte» à propos notamment du «patriotisme économique (de l’intermédiaire) Alexandre Djouhri » ou de « l’épopée romanesque de Brice Hortefeux dans le désert ». De même, M. Juy-Birmann déplore que les prévenus n’aient fait montre d’« aucune introspection» et n’aient formulé «aucun remords ». Ce qui eût été cocasse car tous se disent innocents. » | Par Stéphane Durand-Souffland | mercredi 14 mai 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Sept ans de prison, 300.000 euros d’amende, 5 ans d’inéligibilité : le parquet général a requis mercredi devant la cour d’appel de Paris exactement la même peine à l’encontre de Nicolas Sarkozy que celle qu’avait demandée en première instance le parquet national financier (PNF) dans le cadre de l’affaire dite «du financement libyen». L’ancien président de la République avait été condamné par le tribunal en septembre dernier à 5 ans de prison assortis d’un mandat de dépôt différé que le PNF n’avait pas sollicité.
L’un des trois avocats généraux mobilisés pour cette audience, Rodolphe Juy-Birmann, a clôturé le réquisitoire à trois voix ouvert lundi. Quoique porté sur la citation littéraire à travers les siècles, de Platon à Hugo, le magistrat a conclu son propos en moins d’une heure. Il fustige d’abord « la fable qu’on vous raconte» à propos notamment du «patriotisme économique (de l’intermédiaire) Alexandre Djouhri » ou de « l’épopée romanesque de Brice Hortefeux dans le désert ». De même, M. Juy-Birmann déplore que les prévenus n’aient fait montre d’« aucune introspection» et n’aient formulé «aucun remords ». Ce qui eût été cocasse car tous se disent innocents. » | Par Stéphane Durand-Souffland | mercredi 14 mai 2026
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Wednesday, May 13, 2026
A Speech to Europe 2026 by Anne Applebaum
May 13, 2026 | For A Speech To Europe 2026, historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Applebaum will address whether Europe’s time has come and what characterises this historic moment in her lecture:
»The European Moment«. Applebaum is among the most prominent voices on the rise of authoritarianism and the fragility of liberal democracy, and she puts the challenge squarely to her audience:
»This is the hour of Europe — but do the Europeans even know it?«
Since 2019, A Speech to Europe, initiated by the ERSTE Foundation, has provided a fundamental reflection on the present and future of Europe. The venue is Vienna’s Judenplatz, which serves as a reminder that Europe can only be understood in the mirror of its history. The speech will be held in English. This event is free of charge and takes place outdoors at the Judenplatz Vienna.
A wonderful and very important speech. Erudite, hard-hitting, informative, interesting, and inspiring. Thank you, Anne Applebaum! — © Mark Alexander
»The European Moment«. Applebaum is among the most prominent voices on the rise of authoritarianism and the fragility of liberal democracy, and she puts the challenge squarely to her audience:
»This is the hour of Europe — but do the Europeans even know it?«
Since 2019, A Speech to Europe, initiated by the ERSTE Foundation, has provided a fundamental reflection on the present and future of Europe. The venue is Vienna’s Judenplatz, which serves as a reminder that Europe can only be understood in the mirror of its history. The speech will be held in English. This event is free of charge and takes place outdoors at the Judenplatz Vienna.
A wonderful and very important speech. Erudite, hard-hitting, informative, interesting, and inspiring. Thank you, Anne Applebaum! — © Mark Alexander
Thatcher, Major and Starmer? How the Mighty Fall | Gyles Brandeth
May 13, 2026 | “He chose to actually say put up or shut up.”
The Labour rebellion against Starmer echoes the fall of John Major as opposed to Margaret Thatcher who had election success after election success, says broadcasters and former whip under John Major, Gyles Brandreth.
The Labour rebellion against Starmer echoes the fall of John Major as opposed to Margaret Thatcher who had election success after election success, says broadcasters and former whip under John Major, Gyles Brandreth.
Steve Schmidt: Kash Patel Will Never Recover
Face à un Donald Trump pressé par le temps, la Chine joue la montre
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Xi Jinping reçoit avec faste son homologue américain enlisé au Moyen-Orient, pour arracher un répit stratégique et des garanties sur Taïwan.
À Pékin, Xi Jinping offre un accueil impérial à Donald Trump, sans jamais déroger. Le président chinois accompagnera son hôte jeudi sur les dalles de pierre du Temple du Ciel, là où les empereurs accomplissaient jadis les rites confucéens en quête de récoltes propices et de certitudes face au chaos du monde.
Après la Cité interdite, en 2017, la Chine déroule à nouveau le tapis rouge au président américain, dans un autre haut lieu de son histoire, à l’occasion de la première visite d’un président américain depuis près d’une décennie, sur fond de rivalité stratégique au long cours.
Face aux caméras, la promenade des dirigeants projettera la force tranquille d’une seconde puissance mondiale tenant tête au trublion de l’Amérique d’abord, en pleine convulsion géopolitique au Moyen-Orient. La Chine entend travailler avec les États-Unis « sur un pied d’égalité » afin de développer la coopération, de gérer les différends et d’injecter « plus de certitude dans un monde instable et interdépendant », a déclaré Guo Jiakun, un porte-parole du ministère des Affaires étrangères, à la veille de cette visite qui débute ce 13 mai. » | Par Sébastien Falletti, correspondant en Asie | mercredi 13 mai 2026
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À Pékin, Xi Jinping offre un accueil impérial à Donald Trump, sans jamais déroger. Le président chinois accompagnera son hôte jeudi sur les dalles de pierre du Temple du Ciel, là où les empereurs accomplissaient jadis les rites confucéens en quête de récoltes propices et de certitudes face au chaos du monde.
Après la Cité interdite, en 2017, la Chine déroule à nouveau le tapis rouge au président américain, dans un autre haut lieu de son histoire, à l’occasion de la première visite d’un président américain depuis près d’une décennie, sur fond de rivalité stratégique au long cours.
Face aux caméras, la promenade des dirigeants projettera la force tranquille d’une seconde puissance mondiale tenant tête au trublion de l’Amérique d’abord, en pleine convulsion géopolitique au Moyen-Orient. La Chine entend travailler avec les États-Unis « sur un pied d’égalité » afin de développer la coopération, de gérer les différends et d’injecter « plus de certitude dans un monde instable et interdépendant », a déclaré Guo Jiakun, un porte-parole du ministère des Affaires étrangères, à la veille de cette visite qui débute ce 13 mai. » | Par Sébastien Falletti, correspondant en Asie | mercredi 13 mai 2026
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Is the US Empire in the Middle of a Long Decline? | The Bottom Line
May 11, 2026 | When the United States threatens to take over countries and destroy civilisations, “these are the wild gesticulations of a sinking enterprise”, argues Richard Wolff, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts.
Wolff tells host Steve Clemons that US leaders refuse to face the reality that the US empire is in decline. Around the world, he adds, people are “deeply internalising” the lessons from the US's inability to defeat Iran.
The people in the US are becoming “bitterly angry” at their situation, where the richest 10 percent of Americans own 80 percent of corporate stocks, making the stock market “utterly irrelevant” to the masses.
Trump is a dunce in clown’s clothing! — © Mark Alexander
Wolff tells host Steve Clemons that US leaders refuse to face the reality that the US empire is in decline. Around the world, he adds, people are “deeply internalising” the lessons from the US's inability to defeat Iran.
The people in the US are becoming “bitterly angry” at their situation, where the richest 10 percent of Americans own 80 percent of corporate stocks, making the stock market “utterly irrelevant” to the masses.
Trump is a dunce in clown’s clothing! — © Mark Alexander
"This Is Chaotic" | Tim Stanley and Opposed Labour MPs Debate the Challenge to Keir Starmer
Violent Tobacco Black Market Wipes $6b from Federal Budget
FINANCIAL REVIEW: The booming illicit tobacco market has wiped $6 billion from the federal budget bottom line in just five months and revenue from tobacco excise is now forecast to plummet to just over $2 billion a year by 2030.
The government raked in more than $16 billion from tobacco taxes in 2020, but the continued raising of the excise sparked a violent black market trade run by criminal gangs that has decimated the legitimate market and resulted in a massive fall in revenue.
The government is now spending hundreds of millions of dollars on dealing with the fallout, including $14 million in the budget to boost the ability of states to disrupt the illicit tobacco and e-cigarette markets.
In the mid-year budget update, the government expected to raise $5.5 billion in tobacco excise in 2025-26. Five months later, that figure is now $4.1 billion, or 24 per cent lower than expected, and will fall to $2.1 billion by June 2030.
Legal cigarettes cost about $50, of which $34 is tax and excise, while the readily available illicit product is priced at about $15. NSW Premier Chris Minns in 2025 called on Chalmers to consider lowering the excise, saying it was contributing to the illegal tobacco industry, while economist Chris Richardson has labelled the continued raising of the excise one of the worst policies this century.
“We’ve cratered the tax take, stalled the fall in smoking rates, and invited organised crime into the everyday lives of more than a million Australians,” Richardson wrote in The Australian Financial Review in April.
The budget expert said the failure by successive governments to do anything about the issue meant it would now be much harder to fix.
“Organised crime will fight tooth and nail,” he said. “They’ve been a huge success at that already: after all, they fought the law, and the law lost. Given we’re now handing them a tasty $5 billion a year in risk-free revenue, they’ll be cashed up and cranky if serious efforts are made to reverse course.” » | Ronald Mizen | Political correspondent | Wednesday, May 13, 2026
And so it will be here in the UK with Starmer's stupid, undemocratic, illiberal, and ridiculous generational smoking ban! Mark my words! That law will have to be REVERSED, REPEALED! Free up the people! You will enchain them at society's PERIL. — © Mark Alexander
The government raked in more than $16 billion from tobacco taxes in 2020, but the continued raising of the excise sparked a violent black market trade run by criminal gangs that has decimated the legitimate market and resulted in a massive fall in revenue.
The government is now spending hundreds of millions of dollars on dealing with the fallout, including $14 million in the budget to boost the ability of states to disrupt the illicit tobacco and e-cigarette markets.
In the mid-year budget update, the government expected to raise $5.5 billion in tobacco excise in 2025-26. Five months later, that figure is now $4.1 billion, or 24 per cent lower than expected, and will fall to $2.1 billion by June 2030.
Legal cigarettes cost about $50, of which $34 is tax and excise, while the readily available illicit product is priced at about $15. NSW Premier Chris Minns in 2025 called on Chalmers to consider lowering the excise, saying it was contributing to the illegal tobacco industry, while economist Chris Richardson has labelled the continued raising of the excise one of the worst policies this century.
“We’ve cratered the tax take, stalled the fall in smoking rates, and invited organised crime into the everyday lives of more than a million Australians,” Richardson wrote in The Australian Financial Review in April.
The budget expert said the failure by successive governments to do anything about the issue meant it would now be much harder to fix.
“Organised crime will fight tooth and nail,” he said. “They’ve been a huge success at that already: after all, they fought the law, and the law lost. Given we’re now handing them a tasty $5 billion a year in risk-free revenue, they’ll be cashed up and cranky if serious efforts are made to reverse course.” » | Ronald Mizen | Political correspondent | Wednesday, May 13, 2026
And so it will be here in the UK with Starmer's stupid, undemocratic, illiberal, and ridiculous generational smoking ban! Mark my words! That law will have to be REVERSED, REPEALED! Free up the people! You will enchain them at society's PERIL. — © Mark Alexander
Waleed Asadi: Parsley Salad — Tabbouleh | تبولة
Click here for the full recipe.
Waleed’s very own selection of spices can be found here. Don’t forget to use the code ZAWI10 for 10% off your first order.
Waleed’s favourite Lebanese olive oil, Les Cousines, can be found here. Don’t forget to use Waleed’s very own special introductory code for 15% off your first order.
EU-Armee statt Nato-Abhängigkeit? Spanien geht auf Konfrontationskurs mit Trump
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Madrid drängt auf militärische Eigenständigkeit Europas. Doch der Vorstoß trifft auf ungelöste Fragen zu Macht, Geld und politischer Glaubwürdigkeit.
Dieser Screenshot wurde aus diesem Artikel genommen. | Sánchez fordert mehr europäische Eigenständigkeit und kritisiert Trumps außenpolitischen Kurs. | © Emilio Naranjo/imago
Seit dem Ende Februar begonnenen US-israelischen Angriff auf den Iran hat die spanische Regierung unter Pedro Sánchez einen zunehmend konfrontativen Kurs zu Washington eingeschlagen. Der sozialdemokratische Regierungschef verweigerte den USA die Nutzung der Militärbasen Rota und Morón sowie des spanischen Luftraums für Angriffe auf den Iran. Er warf US-Präsident Donald Trump vor, das Völkerrecht zu missachten und Alleingänge ohne internationale Abstimmung zu unternehmen.
Diese Verweigerung löste in den Folgewochen eine diplomatische Eskalation aus. Trump drohte Madrid daraufhin nicht nur mit empfindlichen Strafzöllen auf spanische Exporte, sondern stellte auch den Abzug der US-Truppen in Aussicht. Laut internen Pentagon-Mails prüft das Weiße Haus seither sogar die rechtlichen Möglichkeiten für einen Nato-Ausschluss Spaniens. » | Vassiliki Mantziou | Mittwoch, 13. Mai 2026
Seit dem Ende Februar begonnenen US-israelischen Angriff auf den Iran hat die spanische Regierung unter Pedro Sánchez einen zunehmend konfrontativen Kurs zu Washington eingeschlagen. Der sozialdemokratische Regierungschef verweigerte den USA die Nutzung der Militärbasen Rota und Morón sowie des spanischen Luftraums für Angriffe auf den Iran. Er warf US-Präsident Donald Trump vor, das Völkerrecht zu missachten und Alleingänge ohne internationale Abstimmung zu unternehmen.
Diese Verweigerung löste in den Folgewochen eine diplomatische Eskalation aus. Trump drohte Madrid daraufhin nicht nur mit empfindlichen Strafzöllen auf spanische Exporte, sondern stellte auch den Abzug der US-Truppen in Aussicht. Laut internen Pentagon-Mails prüft das Weiße Haus seither sogar die rechtlichen Möglichkeiten für einen Nato-Ausschluss Spaniens. » | Vassiliki Mantziou | Mittwoch, 13. Mai 2026
Steve Rosenberg: "Powerful Missiles" & "Downgraded Growth Forecasts" in Today's Russian Papers
Senegal President Signs Tough New Anti-LGBT Law Doubling Jail Terms
BBC: Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed a new law doubling to 10 years the maximum prison term for sexual acts by same-sex couples.
The new law also criminalises the "promotion" of homosexuality, which includes any public representation and financial support by individuals or organisations, and provides for three to seven years in prison for those found guilty.
The legislation was a campaign promise of President Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and was approved by parliament last month.
UN rights chief Volker Türk has described it as "deeply worrying", saying that the anti-LGBT legislation "flies in the face of sacrosanct human rights".
The UN official and rights groups had urged the president not to sign it into law, but the government dismissed the international criticism, arguing that the measures reflected the views of Senegalese people.
It was taken to parliament after a wave of arrests over alleged same sex relationships, which were already banned under Senegalese law. » | Nicolas Negoce and Basillioh Rukanga | Wednesday, April 1, 2026
The BBC’s First Homosexual - Lost BBC Documentary on Homosexuality Brought to Life in New Film
Mar 18, 2026 | While exploring the BBC’s written archives for research on the Beatles, an unexpected discovery revealed a hidden chapter of history. A file titled “Sexual Offences 1953–1954” opened a window into the BBC’s internal debates about homosexuality in the early 1950s, how it was understood, discussed, and ultimately suppressed.
At a time when information on homosexuality was scarce, the BBC considered producing a ground-breaking programme on the subject. Despite internal support, the broadcast was vetoed by Director-General Ian Jacob, leaving this story buried for decades.
This forgotten history inspired The BBC’s First Homosexual, a powerful stage production that explores the corporation’s attempt to document male homosexuality and its wider social impact. Blending fact with fiction, playwright Stephen Hornby weaves together the real struggles behind the broadcast with a moving story of a young man coming to terms with his identity in 1950s Britain.
Now concluding its UK tour at the Sir Robert Martin Theatre, the production has resonated deeply with audiences. Viewers have reflected on how attitudes have changed over time, while also drawing parallels with the continued challenges faced by LGBTQ+ communities around the world.
With moving performances and powerful storytelling, this production highlights both how far society has come, and how much further there is to go.
There is no doubt that huge strides forward have been made since the 1950s, but still, there is a long way to go. Even today, ignorance abounds on this matter in many quarters. Not forgetting, of course, that there is a vast difference between tolerance and total acceptance. And that’s in the West! God help those who live as closeted queers in Africa and the Middle East. Enlightenment is the answer. But it is difficult to enlighten the benighted! As the old saying goes: There are none so blind as those who don’t want to see! By extension, one can also say the following: There are none so ignorant as those who don’t want to understand! — © Mark Alexander
At a time when information on homosexuality was scarce, the BBC considered producing a ground-breaking programme on the subject. Despite internal support, the broadcast was vetoed by Director-General Ian Jacob, leaving this story buried for decades.
This forgotten history inspired The BBC’s First Homosexual, a powerful stage production that explores the corporation’s attempt to document male homosexuality and its wider social impact. Blending fact with fiction, playwright Stephen Hornby weaves together the real struggles behind the broadcast with a moving story of a young man coming to terms with his identity in 1950s Britain.
Now concluding its UK tour at the Sir Robert Martin Theatre, the production has resonated deeply with audiences. Viewers have reflected on how attitudes have changed over time, while also drawing parallels with the continued challenges faced by LGBTQ+ communities around the world.
With moving performances and powerful storytelling, this production highlights both how far society has come, and how much further there is to go.
There is no doubt that huge strides forward have been made since the 1950s, but still, there is a long way to go. Even today, ignorance abounds on this matter in many quarters. Not forgetting, of course, that there is a vast difference between tolerance and total acceptance. And that’s in the West! God help those who live as closeted queers in Africa and the Middle East. Enlightenment is the answer. But it is difficult to enlighten the benighted! As the old saying goes: There are none so blind as those who don’t want to see! By extension, one can also say the following: There are none so ignorant as those who don’t want to understand! — © Mark Alexander
Jason Collins, First Openly Gay Active Player in NBA History, Dead at 47 After Cancer Treatments
THE NEW YORK TIMES — The Athletic: When Jason Collins was working up the courage to come out as gay to his grandmother, he worried what she might say. She was a deeply religious woman. And, out of all of his family members, she was the one he was most nervous to confide in.
But she looked at him — truly saw him for who he was — and embraced him. “Baby,” she told him, “it’s about love.”
Love is one of the many principles Collins would come to stand for. Love is what Collins encouraged. Love is what enabled him to overcome his fear of what his family, friends, NBA teammates and coaches would say, when he decided to come out on April 29, 2013, a watershed moment in professional sports.
Love is one of the many gifts that Collins gave us. He died at age 47 Tuesday. He announced in December that he was undergoing treatment for Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the most severe forms of brain cancer.
“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” Collins’s family said in a statement released by the NBA Tuesday.
“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”
After spending a lifetime of wishing he were different, Collins told the world exactly who he was in 2013.
“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” he announced that day in an essay for Sports Illustrated, becoming the first active publicly gay athlete of North America’s four major pro sports leagues.
No more hiding. No more living a lie. No more wrestling with himself. If he was going to play basketball, he was going to play basketball fully. As himself. All of himself.
Whole. » | Mirin Fader | Tuesday, May 12, 2026
R.I.P.
Related quote here.
Iran : un homme pendu pour ses liens présumés avec les services de renseignements israéliens
LE FIGARO : « Ehsan Afreshteh, un espion formé par le Mossad au Népal et ayant vendu des informations sensibles à Israël, a été exécuté », a indiqué Mizan, l’organe de presse du pouvoir judiciaire.
Un homme a été pendu à nouveau mercredi en Iran après avoir été reconnu coupable d'avoir établi des liens avec les services de renseignements israéliens, a annoncé Mizan, l'organe de presse du pouvoir judiciaire. Il s'agit de la dernière exécution en date depuis le début de la guerre au Moyen-Orient, déclenchée par une attaque américano-israélienne le 28 février contre l'Iran. Les arrestations et exécutions se sont depuis multipliées depuis dans le pays. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 13 mai 2026
Un homme a été pendu à nouveau mercredi en Iran après avoir été reconnu coupable d'avoir établi des liens avec les services de renseignements israéliens, a annoncé Mizan, l'organe de presse du pouvoir judiciaire. Il s'agit de la dernière exécution en date depuis le début de la guerre au Moyen-Orient, déclenchée par une attaque américano-israélienne le 28 février contre l'Iran. Les arrestations et exécutions se sont depuis multipliées depuis dans le pays. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 13 mai 2026
Has the Iran War Destroyed Saudi Arabia’s Mega Project "Vision 2030"? | DW News
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
US Borrowing Exceeds GDP: What Does It Mean for the Economy? | This Is America
May 6, 2026 | For the first time since World War II, the United States national debt has exceeded the size of its economy.
Now standing at around $39tn, decades of deficit spending have pushed borrowing to historic levels. The government is spending about $1tn a year just on interest payments. Economists warn the debt trajectory is unsustainable, with projections showing it will continue to rise.
Higher borrowing costs are already affecting Americans through mortgages and loans. There are also concerns that global investors could lose confidence in US debt markets. If that happens, it could trigger a financial crisis with far-reaching consequences. So, how serious is the risk, and can Washington bring the debt under control?
Now standing at around $39tn, decades of deficit spending have pushed borrowing to historic levels. The government is spending about $1tn a year just on interest payments. Economists warn the debt trajectory is unsustainable, with projections showing it will continue to rise.
Higher borrowing costs are already affecting Americans through mortgages and loans. There are also concerns that global investors could lose confidence in US debt markets. If that happens, it could trigger a financial crisis with far-reaching consequences. So, how serious is the risk, and can Washington bring the debt under control?
Why the King’s Speech Could Slow Any Cabinet Move to Oust Starmer | Adam Boulton
May 12, 2026 | "They may have felt as cabinet ministers, it was not their time to basically trip up the government."
If Keir Starmer is to resign, then any delay may be attributed to the legislation laid out by the King's Speech tomorrow, says Times Radio's presenter Adam Boulton.
If Keir Starmer is to resign, then any delay may be attributed to the legislation laid out by the King's Speech tomorrow, says Times Radio's presenter Adam Boulton.
Steve Schmidt: Trump Will Accelerate America's Decline
How Americans could have been so stupid and reckless as to elect, and even re-elect, this most unsuitable man into the White House is beyond belief! As I have said many times before, the man belongs in clink. And if Americans cannot bring themselves to incarcerate him, the least they should do is gag him, and enchain him to a rocking chair with a view over the ocean! Whilst this man holds the reins of power in the Occident, the Orient, and actually the whole wide world will remain unstable. — © Mark Alexander
Russie : le Kremlin teste un nouveau missile balistique intercontinental
LE FIGARO : La mise en service du missile Sarmat, baptisé « Satan II » par les Occidentaux et d’une portée de 35.000 km, serait effective à la fin de l’année, selon Vladimir Poutine.
La Russie a annoncé mardi avoir testé avec succès un nouveau missile balistique intercontinental (ICBM) et précisé qu'il serait « opérationnel pour le combat » dès la fin de cette année, quelques mois après l'expiration du traité New Start qui ne lie plus Moscou et Washington sur le désarmement nucléaire. « C'est le système de missiles le plus puissant du monde », a affirmé le président russe Vladimir Poutine après avoir reçu un rapport faisant état d'un tir réussi du missile Sarmat, qui peut, selon lui, avoir une portée de plus de 35 000 km. « La puissance totale de l'ogive livrée est plus de quatre fois supérieure à celle de n'importe lequel des (engins) analogues occidentaux existants les plus puissants », a-t-il ajouté. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 12 mai 2026
La Russie a annoncé mardi avoir testé avec succès un nouveau missile balistique intercontinental (ICBM) et précisé qu'il serait « opérationnel pour le combat » dès la fin de cette année, quelques mois après l'expiration du traité New Start qui ne lie plus Moscou et Washington sur le désarmement nucléaire. « C'est le système de missiles le plus puissant du monde », a affirmé le président russe Vladimir Poutine après avoir reçu un rapport faisant état d'un tir réussi du missile Sarmat, qui peut, selon lui, avoir une portée de plus de 35 000 km. « La puissance totale de l'ogive livrée est plus de quatre fois supérieure à celle de n'importe lequel des (engins) analogues occidentaux existants les plus puissants », a-t-il ajouté. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 12 mai 2026
EU Prepares to Ban Social Media for Children
THE TELEGRAPH: Brussels poised to ‘delay’ use of online services after Australia barred under-16s
The European Union could announce a ban on social media for children as soon as this summer, Ursula von der Leyen has said.
France is set to be the first EU country to follow Australia, which has a minimum age of 16, in outlawing the technology for children in September. It plans to stop children under 15 using the services. Brussels could now propose legislation for an EU-wide ban sooner than that, after a panel of experts finishes deliberating online child safety, Mrs von der Leyen said.
“I believe we must consider a social media delay,” the European Commission president said at a conference in Copenhagen.
“Depending on the results, we could come up with a legal proposal this summer,” she said on Tuesday.
She praised Australia for its ban and added: “We are witnessing the lightning speed at which technology is advancing – and how it penetrates every corner of childhood and adolescence.
“Childhood and early adolescence are formative years, and I believe we should give our children more time to become resilient in this vulnerable phase.” » | James Crisp, Europe Editor | Tuesday, May 12, 2026
We are living in the banning age! Recently, it was announced that, soon, British adults are to be infantilised by banning the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to adults, the age of whom is to rise year upon year. Until eventually, no adult will ever be able to buy cigarettes legally.
Now, the EU is proposing to ban social media to children. So now, one has to ask oneself, and have fear of, what is to be banned next? The consumption of sugar? The imbibing of alcohol? Or perhaps something else that we might enjoy. The concept of ;joie de vivre’ is truly no longer en vogue.
In years gone by, encouraging good, sensible, healthy behaviour was the remit of good parents and one’s family. In the case of children, good parents would keep a keen eye on their children's behaviour and habits. Similarly, with adults in the family when smoking. If one smoked too many cigarettes, one's family members would soon let one know!
These days, however, we have governments taking over the reins on all behaviours and lifestyle habits. One cannot help being reminded of George Orwell's dystopian novel entitled 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'! — © Mark Alexander
ADDENDUM:
“Childhood and early adolescence are formative years, and I believe we should give our children more time to become resilient in this vulnerable phase.”
As someone qualified in education and childhood development, I should like to draw the following to your attention, and to the attention of other politicians and lawmakers, too.
This, Madam President, is why a mother’s place is in the home, caring for her children, not out in the workplace. A mother’s first duty is to her children; it is not to the economy! And a politician’s responsibility is to bring about the economic circumstances on which this state-of-affairs is made possible once again. Politicians should just look around them and observe the low standards that have ensued because mothers have prioritised the workplace over the raising of their children. Fact is: Children do not, and cannot, bring themselves up! They need to be brought up. — © Mark Alexander
The European Union could announce a ban on social media for children as soon as this summer, Ursula von der Leyen has said.
France is set to be the first EU country to follow Australia, which has a minimum age of 16, in outlawing the technology for children in September. It plans to stop children under 15 using the services. Brussels could now propose legislation for an EU-wide ban sooner than that, after a panel of experts finishes deliberating online child safety, Mrs von der Leyen said.
“I believe we must consider a social media delay,” the European Commission president said at a conference in Copenhagen.
“Depending on the results, we could come up with a legal proposal this summer,” she said on Tuesday.
She praised Australia for its ban and added: “We are witnessing the lightning speed at which technology is advancing – and how it penetrates every corner of childhood and adolescence.
“Childhood and early adolescence are formative years, and I believe we should give our children more time to become resilient in this vulnerable phase.” » | James Crisp, Europe Editor | Tuesday, May 12, 2026
We are living in the banning age! Recently, it was announced that, soon, British adults are to be infantilised by banning the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to adults, the age of whom is to rise year upon year. Until eventually, no adult will ever be able to buy cigarettes legally.
Now, the EU is proposing to ban social media to children. So now, one has to ask oneself, and have fear of, what is to be banned next? The consumption of sugar? The imbibing of alcohol? Or perhaps something else that we might enjoy. The concept of ;joie de vivre’ is truly no longer en vogue.
In years gone by, encouraging good, sensible, healthy behaviour was the remit of good parents and one’s family. In the case of children, good parents would keep a keen eye on their children's behaviour and habits. Similarly, with adults in the family when smoking. If one smoked too many cigarettes, one's family members would soon let one know!
These days, however, we have governments taking over the reins on all behaviours and lifestyle habits. One cannot help being reminded of George Orwell's dystopian novel entitled 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'! — © Mark Alexander
ADDENDUM:
“Childhood and early adolescence are formative years, and I believe we should give our children more time to become resilient in this vulnerable phase.”
As someone qualified in education and childhood development, I should like to draw the following to your attention, and to the attention of other politicians and lawmakers, too.
This, Madam President, is why a mother’s place is in the home, caring for her children, not out in the workplace. A mother’s first duty is to her children; it is not to the economy! And a politician’s responsibility is to bring about the economic circumstances on which this state-of-affairs is made possible once again. Politicians should just look around them and observe the low standards that have ensued because mothers have prioritised the workplace over the raising of their children. Fact is: Children do not, and cannot, bring themselves up! They need to be brought up. — © Mark Alexander
Real Ravioli, Made by Hand
May 9, 2026 | Almost everyone knows ravioli. But many people turn up their noses at it, because when they think of ravioli, they mainly think of the canned convenience food.
The Italian immigrant Ettore Boiardi is said to be responsible for that. He wanted to prepare his pasta and the accompanying sauces for as many people in the US as possible.
The stuffed pasta is said to have originated in Liguria. Since the mountain villages in north-western Italy were often isolated, each individual village developed its own recipes, using whatever was grown right outside the door.
Here's how the original is made by hand.
The Italian immigrant Ettore Boiardi is said to be responsible for that. He wanted to prepare his pasta and the accompanying sauces for as many people in the US as possible.
The stuffed pasta is said to have originated in Liguria. Since the mountain villages in north-western Italy were often isolated, each individual village developed its own recipes, using whatever was grown right outside the door.
Here's how the original is made by hand.
Truce Hangs in the Balance as U.S. and Iran Trade Warnings
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the U.S. military could escalate the war “if necessary.” An Iranian official raised the prospect of increasing nuclear enrichment if it were attacked again.
A month-old cease-fire in Iran looked increasingly fragile on Tuesday as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States had “a plan to escalate, if necessary,” a day after President Trump dismissed an Iranian proposal to end the war as “garbage.”
Mr. Hesgeth, speaking at a congressional hearing on the Pentagon’s budget request, said the U.S. military had several options in the Middle East, including pulling back or shifting assets, but he declined to describe the administration’s next step.
Iran’s state-owned broadcaster reported on Monday that Tehran’s demands to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz included U.S. war reparations, recognition of its sovereignty over the strait and an end to American sanctions. Hours later, Mr. Trump said in the Oval Office that Tehran was in the grip of “lunatics.”
Mr. Trump has said that he wants a swift end to the war and a reopening of the strait, but Iran appears to be testing how far he is willing to go to secure those goals. Its demands suggest it could be betting that the economic pain from soaring energy prices will force him to make concessions.
Iran’s demands for reparations and sovereignty over the strait would almost certainly be non-starters for the United States. Ending sanctions, meanwhile, would be possible for the Trump administration only if Iran were willing to make major concessions on its nuclear program.
Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesman for the national security committee in Iran’s Parliament, warned Tuesday that Tehran could consider enriching uranium to 90 percent purity, a level considered weapons grade, if it was attacked again. It was unclear how seriously Iran was considering such a move, and Mr. Rezaei said only that Parliament could review the option. Iran War Live Updates » | Euan Ward and Megan Mineiro | Tuesday, May 12, 2026
A month-old cease-fire in Iran looked increasingly fragile on Tuesday as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States had “a plan to escalate, if necessary,” a day after President Trump dismissed an Iranian proposal to end the war as “garbage.”
Mr. Hesgeth, speaking at a congressional hearing on the Pentagon’s budget request, said the U.S. military had several options in the Middle East, including pulling back or shifting assets, but he declined to describe the administration’s next step.
Iran’s state-owned broadcaster reported on Monday that Tehran’s demands to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz included U.S. war reparations, recognition of its sovereignty over the strait and an end to American sanctions. Hours later, Mr. Trump said in the Oval Office that Tehran was in the grip of “lunatics.”
Mr. Trump has said that he wants a swift end to the war and a reopening of the strait, but Iran appears to be testing how far he is willing to go to secure those goals. Its demands suggest it could be betting that the economic pain from soaring energy prices will force him to make concessions.
Iran’s demands for reparations and sovereignty over the strait would almost certainly be non-starters for the United States. Ending sanctions, meanwhile, would be possible for the Trump administration only if Iran were willing to make major concessions on its nuclear program.
Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesman for the national security committee in Iran’s Parliament, warned Tuesday that Tehran could consider enriching uranium to 90 percent purity, a level considered weapons grade, if it was attacked again. It was unclear how seriously Iran was considering such a move, and Mr. Rezaei said only that Parliament could review the option. Iran War Live Updates » | Euan Ward and Megan Mineiro | Tuesday, May 12, 2026
The Lownie Report Podcast: Ian Lloyd on Queen Elizabeth II
April 25, 2026 | I was delighted to sit down recently with Ian Lloyd, one of Britain's most distinguished royal biographers and a former professional royal photographer who spent years alongside the Queen in the 1980s and 90s.
Ian has just published a brilliant new biography, The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Elizabeth II, timed to coincide with what would have been her hundredth birthday, and he brings to the subject not only meticulous research, drawing on interviews with relatives, courtiers and close confidantes including Lady Pamela Hicks and Mrs Rhodes, but the rare perspective of someone who witnessed the Queen at close quarters, camera in hand, across decades of public life.
Ian has just published a brilliant new biography, The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Elizabeth II, timed to coincide with what would have been her hundredth birthday, and he brings to the subject not only meticulous research, drawing on interviews with relatives, courtiers and close confidantes including Lady Pamela Hicks and Mrs Rhodes, but the rare perspective of someone who witnessed the Queen at close quarters, camera in hand, across decades of public life.
Inflation Accelerates After Weeks of War in Iran
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The Consumer Price Index rose 3.8 percent in April from a year earlier, as increasing energy costs replaced tariffs as the driver of higher prices for Americans.
Consumer prices in the United States rose last month at the fastest rate since May 2023, as sharp increases in energy costs caused by war in the Middle East made life more expensive for American consumers.
The Consumer Price Index rose 3.8 percent in April from a year earlier, the Labor Department reported on Tuesday, up from a 2.4 percent annual increase before the conflict started in February and a 3.3 percent increase in March.
The increase was driven largely by energy prices, up 3.8 percent since the previous month. But the “core” index, stripping out volatile food and energy prices, also rose 2.8 percent over the year in April, up from 2.6 percent in March. Live Updates » | Lydia DePillis | Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Consumer prices in the United States rose last month at the fastest rate since May 2023, as sharp increases in energy costs caused by war in the Middle East made life more expensive for American consumers.
The Consumer Price Index rose 3.8 percent in April from a year earlier, the Labor Department reported on Tuesday, up from a 2.4 percent annual increase before the conflict started in February and a 3.3 percent increase in March.
The increase was driven largely by energy prices, up 3.8 percent since the previous month. But the “core” index, stripping out volatile food and energy prices, also rose 2.8 percent over the year in April, up from 2.6 percent in March. Live Updates » | Lydia DePillis | Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Waleed Asadi: Palestinian Spinach Stew | Sabanikh | سبانخ
April 19, 2026 | Sabanikh is the Arabic word for spinach, and that's exactly what this dish is: lots and lots of spinach cooked down with plenty of onion, garlic, ground beef, and a nice touch of lemon juice to bring this all together.
It's a beautiful and simple dish that really defines a Levantine home. Of course, our Lebanese, Syrian, and Jordanian neighbors also share this dish but with their own touch.
I highly recommend this one. I actually make this for myself quite often because it's easy and it’s a healthy option to throw together.
Click here for the full recipe.
Waleed’s very own selection of spices can be found here. Don’t forget to use the code ZAWI10 for 10% off your first order.
Waleed’s favourite Lebanese olive oil, Les Cousines, can be found here. Don’t forget to use Waleed’s very own special introductory code for 15% off your first order.
It's a beautiful and simple dish that really defines a Levantine home. Of course, our Lebanese, Syrian, and Jordanian neighbors also share this dish but with their own touch.
I highly recommend this one. I actually make this for myself quite often because it's easy and it’s a healthy option to throw together.
Click here for the full recipe.
Waleed’s very own selection of spices can be found here. Don’t forget to use the code ZAWI10 for 10% off your first order.
Waleed’s favourite Lebanese olive oil, Les Cousines, can be found here. Don’t forget to use Waleed’s very own special introductory code for 15% off your first order.
Les œufs pourraient être un aliment clé pour la santé cérébrale
MADAME FIGARO : Une étude publiée le 17 avril dans la revue The Journal of Nutrition fait le lien entre une consommation d’œufs et la réduction des risques de développer la maladie d’Alzheimer. Précisions.
Manger des œufs serait-il un atout santé majeur pour le cerveau ? Oui, à en croire de récents travaux de recherche publiés dans The Journal of Nutrition le 17 avril. Des chercheurs de l’Université de Loma Linda (États-Unis) ont voulu évaluer le lien entre la consommation d’œufs et le risque de développer la maladie d’Alzheimer. Pour cela, ils ont analysé les habitudes alimentaires d’environ 40.000 Américains âgés de plus de 65 ans. Ces derniers devaient répondre à un questionnaire sur leur consommation d’œufs sous forme directe (brouillés, mollets ou durs) et sous forme indirecte (dans les pâtisseries par exemple). L’équipe de scientifiques a ensuite croisé ces données avec les dossiers médicaux des participants, sur une durée de suivi moyenne de 15,3 ans. » | Par Lena Couffin | mardi 12 mai 2026
Manger des œufs serait-il un atout santé majeur pour le cerveau ? Oui, à en croire de récents travaux de recherche publiés dans The Journal of Nutrition le 17 avril. Des chercheurs de l’Université de Loma Linda (États-Unis) ont voulu évaluer le lien entre la consommation d’œufs et le risque de développer la maladie d’Alzheimer. Pour cela, ils ont analysé les habitudes alimentaires d’environ 40.000 Américains âgés de plus de 65 ans. Ces derniers devaient répondre à un questionnaire sur leur consommation d’œufs sous forme directe (brouillés, mollets ou durs) et sous forme indirecte (dans les pâtisseries par exemple). L’équipe de scientifiques a ensuite croisé ces données avec les dossiers médicaux des participants, sur une durée de suivi moyenne de 15,3 ans. » | Par Lena Couffin | mardi 12 mai 2026
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