Saturday, June 06, 2026
Inside Tehran as US Congress Votes to End Iran War
Living in Albania | The Country Communism Forgot to Leave | 4K Documentary
Jun 3, 2026 | A country the size of Maryland built one hundred and seventy-three thousand concrete bunkers — roughly one for every sixteen people — against an invasion that never came.
For forty-one years it was the only nation in Europe to declare itself atheist by law.
One fifth of its people now live abroad.
This is Living in Albania. On a hillside above the village of Leskovik, a shepherd ducks into a concrete bunker the size of a refrigerator and hangs his canvas bag from a hook that was drilled into the wall in 1979. The country has one hundred and seventy-three thousand of them, built between 1967 and 1986.
On the Adriatic coast at Vlorë, a plaque above the harbour names a date: the seventh of March, 1991, when twenty-five thousand Albanians left this port in six days for the Italian shore. A few streets back from the water, the apartment blocks the regime poured in grey have been repainted, one building at a time, in cobalt and ochre.
For forty-one years it was the only nation in Europe to declare itself atheist by law.
One fifth of its people now live abroad.
This is Living in Albania. On a hillside above the village of Leskovik, a shepherd ducks into a concrete bunker the size of a refrigerator and hangs his canvas bag from a hook that was drilled into the wall in 1979. The country has one hundred and seventy-three thousand of them, built between 1967 and 1986.
On the Adriatic coast at Vlorë, a plaque above the harbour names a date: the seventh of March, 1991, when twenty-five thousand Albanians left this port in six days for the Italian shore. A few streets back from the water, the apartment blocks the regime poured in grey have been repainted, one building at a time, in cobalt and ochre.
Mass Protests Erupt in Albania over Kushner–Ivanka Trump Tourism Project
Can Trump's family do business abroad without controversy? | DW News
Jun 5, 2026 | Thousands of Albanians have taken to the streets to protest a proposed $1.6 billion luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.
Supporters say the project will bring jobs, investment and tourism. Critics argue it raises questions about transparency, political influence, environmental protection, and Albania's ambitions to join the European Union.
Casey Michel of the Human Rights Foundation joins DW News to examine what the controversy reveals about foreign investment, political power and the global influence of the Trump family.
Shoo those Trumps away! — © Mark Alexander
Supporters say the project will bring jobs, investment and tourism. Critics argue it raises questions about transparency, political influence, environmental protection, and Albania's ambitions to join the European Union.
Casey Michel of the Human Rights Foundation joins DW News to examine what the controversy reveals about foreign investment, political power and the global influence of the Trump family.
Shoo those Trumps away! — © Mark Alexander
Friday, June 05, 2026
King Pays Tribute to Lady Pamela Hicks
THE TELEGRAPH: Daughter of Lord Mountbatten, who has died aged 97, was a bridesmaid of Elizabeth II
This screenshot is from this Telegraph article. | The King with Lady Pamela Hicks, who was a first cousin of his father, Prince Philip | Credit: Stephen Lock
The King has paid tribute to his cousin, Lady Pamela Hicks, who has died aged 97.
Lady Pamela, who served as a lady-in-waiting and bridesmaid to Elizabeth II, died peacefully at her Oxfordshire home on Friday, surrounded by her family.
In a statement, a spokesman for King Charles said he was “greatly saddened” to learn of her death.
They added: “The King and Queen’s thoughts are with Lady Pamela’s family, as they mourn a woman whose warmth, wit and perspicacity always made such an impression, and who will be so dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her.”
Announcing her mother’s death on Instagram, Lady Pamela’s daughter, India Hicks, had said: “My mother died peacefully today. » | Victoria Ward | Deputy Royal Editor | Friday, June 5. 2026
ALSO READ:
Pamela Hicks, Lady-in-Waiting to Elizabeth II of Britain, Dies at 97: The queen’s third cousin, she was a bridesmaid at the royal wedding in 1947, and witnessed firsthand pivotal moments in British history. »
The King has paid tribute to his cousin, Lady Pamela Hicks, who has died aged 97.
Lady Pamela, who served as a lady-in-waiting and bridesmaid to Elizabeth II, died peacefully at her Oxfordshire home on Friday, surrounded by her family.
In a statement, a spokesman for King Charles said he was “greatly saddened” to learn of her death.
They added: “The King and Queen’s thoughts are with Lady Pamela’s family, as they mourn a woman whose warmth, wit and perspicacity always made such an impression, and who will be so dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her.”
Announcing her mother’s death on Instagram, Lady Pamela’s daughter, India Hicks, had said: “My mother died peacefully today. » | Victoria Ward | Deputy Royal Editor | Friday, June 5. 2026
ALSO READ:
Pamela Hicks, Lady-in-Waiting to Elizabeth II of Britain, Dies at 97: The queen’s third cousin, she was a bridesmaid at the royal wedding in 1947, and witnessed firsthand pivotal moments in British history. »
Thirties in Colour: Britain on the Brink of War I SLICE History | Full Documentary
Jun 5, 2026 | Using stunning colourised archive footage, this documentary brings 1930s Britain vividly back to life. From economic uncertainty and political tensions to new freedoms and modern lifestyles, discover what everyday life looked like as Europe moved closer to war.
Featuring rare footage of factories, gas mask preparations, public events, and Britain’s attempts to preserve peace with Nazi Germany, this film explores the hopes, fears, and realities of a nation standing on the brink of World War II.
Documentary: Thirties In Colour: Countdown To War EP:2
Directed by: Suniti Somaiya
Production: A Make Waves Ltd Production for Channel 5 (2019)
Featuring rare footage of factories, gas mask preparations, public events, and Britain’s attempts to preserve peace with Nazi Germany, this film explores the hopes, fears, and realities of a nation standing on the brink of World War II.
Documentary: Thirties In Colour: Countdown To War EP:2
Directed by: Suniti Somaiya
Production: A Make Waves Ltd Production for Channel 5 (2019)
Why Trump’s Approval Rating Is Bottoming Out | Steve Schmidt
The Trump menagerie! 😊 — © Mark Alexander
„Perversität der Yankee-Regierung“: Kuba attackiert Trump nach Firmenflucht
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Europäische Unternehmen ziehen sich unter dem Druck neuer US-Sanktionen aus Kuba zurück. Präsident Miguel Díaz-Canel wirft Donald Trump vor, die Krise gezielt zu verschärfen.
Dieser Screenshot stammt aus diesem Artikel. | Kubas Präsident Díaz-Canel und Angehörige seiner Familie stehen auf einer US-Sanktionsliste. | © Ramon Espinosa/AP
Der Konflikt zwischen den USA und Kuba verschärft sich weiter. Während europäische Unternehmen ihre Geschäfte auf der Karibikinsel beenden und internationale Reedereien Verbindungen zur Insel einstellen, hat die kubanische Führung scharf auf neue US-Sanktionen reagiert.
Präsident Miguel Díaz-Canel warf US-Präsident Donald Trump vor, die „Blockade“ gegen Kuba weiter zu verschärfen. Die Regierung in Havanna werde sich gegen die „Aggressivität und Perversität der Yankee-Regierung“ sowie gegen einen „imperialistischen Angriff“ zur Wehr setzen, erklärte Díaz-Canel.
Die scharfe Reaktion aus Havanna folgt auf eine Reihe neuer Rückschläge für die kubanische Wirtschaft. Unter dem Druck der US-Sanktionen ziehen sich immer mehr ausländische Unternehmen von der Insel zurück. » | Alexander Schmalz | Freitag, 5. Juni 2026
Der Konflikt zwischen den USA und Kuba verschärft sich weiter. Während europäische Unternehmen ihre Geschäfte auf der Karibikinsel beenden und internationale Reedereien Verbindungen zur Insel einstellen, hat die kubanische Führung scharf auf neue US-Sanktionen reagiert.
Präsident Miguel Díaz-Canel warf US-Präsident Donald Trump vor, die „Blockade“ gegen Kuba weiter zu verschärfen. Die Regierung in Havanna werde sich gegen die „Aggressivität und Perversität der Yankee-Regierung“ sowie gegen einen „imperialistischen Angriff“ zur Wehr setzen, erklärte Díaz-Canel.
Die scharfe Reaktion aus Havanna folgt auf eine Reihe neuer Rückschläge für die kubanische Wirtschaft. Unter dem Druck der US-Sanktionen ziehen sich immer mehr ausländische Unternehmen von der Insel zurück. » | Alexander Schmalz | Freitag, 5. Juni 2026
Guerre en Ukraine : à Saint-Pétersbourg, Vladimir Poutine refuse la main tendue par Volodymyr Zelensky
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Le chef du Kremlin a réaffirmé que les hostilités ne cesseraient que lorsque Moscou aura atteint ses « objectifs » en Ukraine.
« Camarades soldats, marins, officiers et généraux, le pays tout entier vous regarde, est fier de vous et compte sur vous. Continuez le combat, frères ! » : visage fermé, mâchoire serrée, Vladimir Poutine a répondu par un « niet » catégorique à la proposition faite la veille par Volodymyr Zelensky de le rencontrer en tête-à-tête, éventuellement à Moscou. « Je n’en vois pas le sens », a dit le chef du Kremlin, qui intervenait durant la séance plénière Forum économique international de Saint-Pétersbourg (SPIEF). Une telle rencontre avec son homologue ukrainien - qu’il appelle « l’auteur de la lettre »…-, n’a « pas d’intérêt » avant qu’un accord final n’ait été trouvé sur le conflit ukrainien, insiste M. Poutine. « Les hostilités cesseront lorsque nous aurons atteint les objectifs que nous nous sommes fixés », a-t-il déclaré.
Dans une lettre ouverte à son homologue russe rendue publique jeudi, Volodymyr Zelensky a proposé à Vladimir Poutine une rencontre en face-à-face, à Moscou, en Suisse ou dans le Golfe. Le président ukrainien a ajouté que son pays était « prêt à un cessez-le-feu complet pour la durée des négociations » auxquelles il estime que l’Europe et les États-Unis doivent participer. Félicitant Donald Trump - « mais il y a encore du travail », a-t-il lancé -, le président russe s’en est une nouvelle fois vivement pris aux Européens qu’il accuse de « créer le chaos ». » | Par Alain Barluet, correspondant à Moscou | vendredi 5 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
LESEN SIE AUCH :
Sankt Petersburg: Putin greift westliche Vormachtstellung an und reagiert auf Selenskyjs Brief: Wladimir Putin äußert sich bei dem Internationalen Wirtschaftsforum in Sankt Petersburg kritisch über „chaosstiftende europäische Eliten“. Auch auf Selenskyjs Brief kommt er zu sprechen. »
ALSO READ Volodymyr Zelenskyy‘s: open letter.
« Camarades soldats, marins, officiers et généraux, le pays tout entier vous regarde, est fier de vous et compte sur vous. Continuez le combat, frères ! » : visage fermé, mâchoire serrée, Vladimir Poutine a répondu par un « niet » catégorique à la proposition faite la veille par Volodymyr Zelensky de le rencontrer en tête-à-tête, éventuellement à Moscou. « Je n’en vois pas le sens », a dit le chef du Kremlin, qui intervenait durant la séance plénière Forum économique international de Saint-Pétersbourg (SPIEF). Une telle rencontre avec son homologue ukrainien - qu’il appelle « l’auteur de la lettre »…-, n’a « pas d’intérêt » avant qu’un accord final n’ait été trouvé sur le conflit ukrainien, insiste M. Poutine. « Les hostilités cesseront lorsque nous aurons atteint les objectifs que nous nous sommes fixés », a-t-il déclaré.
Dans une lettre ouverte à son homologue russe rendue publique jeudi, Volodymyr Zelensky a proposé à Vladimir Poutine une rencontre en face-à-face, à Moscou, en Suisse ou dans le Golfe. Le président ukrainien a ajouté que son pays était « prêt à un cessez-le-feu complet pour la durée des négociations » auxquelles il estime que l’Europe et les États-Unis doivent participer. Félicitant Donald Trump - « mais il y a encore du travail », a-t-il lancé -, le président russe s’en est une nouvelle fois vivement pris aux Européens qu’il accuse de « créer le chaos ». » | Par Alain Barluet, correspondant à Moscou | vendredi 5 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
LESEN SIE AUCH :
Sankt Petersburg: Putin greift westliche Vormachtstellung an und reagiert auf Selenskyjs Brief: Wladimir Putin äußert sich bei dem Internationalen Wirtschaftsforum in Sankt Petersburg kritisch über „chaosstiftende europäische Eliten“. Auch auf Selenskyjs Brief kommt er zu sprechen. »
ALSO READ Volodymyr Zelenskyy‘s: open letter.
Michael Lambert: Nigel Farage Exposed | Riots, Tate, Putin & a £5 Million Scandal
Jun 5, 2026 | Nigel Farage is finished — and he knows it. But before he goes, it's worth understanding exactly what he really is and what he has done to this country.
In this video, I go through the evidence: his racist dog-whistles and the role his speeches played in the Southport riots; his defence of Andrew Tate — a man accused of rape and human trafficking — as "an important voice for men"; his warm relationships with Viktor Orbán and stated admiration for Vladimir Putin; twenty years as an MEP in which he attended just one out of forty-two fisheries committee meetings, claimed every penny of expenses, and is now collecting an EU pension of £73,000 a year. Yes, really.
I also look at the organisation he leads — Reform UK Party Ltd — which is not a democratic party at all. It is a private limited company with three directors, one of whom is Farage himself, and where ordinary members have no vote on anything. A pathetic little dictatorship.
Then there is the small matter of the £5 million currently being investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Watchdog, his rich friends including Harbourne and Aaron Banks, and the question of what exactly they get in return.
And finally — Brexit. The biggest act of economic self-harm in British peacetime history. That is his legacy. The Makerfield by-election is coming. Reform is expected to lose. And Farage knows exactly what that means.
Farage is an odious character. Totally and utterly sickening. — © Mark Alexander
In this video, I go through the evidence: his racist dog-whistles and the role his speeches played in the Southport riots; his defence of Andrew Tate — a man accused of rape and human trafficking — as "an important voice for men"; his warm relationships with Viktor Orbán and stated admiration for Vladimir Putin; twenty years as an MEP in which he attended just one out of forty-two fisheries committee meetings, claimed every penny of expenses, and is now collecting an EU pension of £73,000 a year. Yes, really.
I also look at the organisation he leads — Reform UK Party Ltd — which is not a democratic party at all. It is a private limited company with three directors, one of whom is Farage himself, and where ordinary members have no vote on anything. A pathetic little dictatorship.
Then there is the small matter of the £5 million currently being investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Watchdog, his rich friends including Harbourne and Aaron Banks, and the question of what exactly they get in return.
And finally — Brexit. The biggest act of economic self-harm in British peacetime history. That is his legacy. The Makerfield by-election is coming. Reform is expected to lose. And Farage knows exactly what that means.
Farage is an odious character. Totally and utterly sickening. — © Mark Alexander
Iran Beyond the Headlines: The Beauty of an Untold World.
Jun 2, 2026 | Iran is not just a country, it’s a journey through time, mystery, and emotion. From the ancient stone homes of Kandovan to the otherworldly silence of the Lut Desert; from the lost glory of Persepolis to the surreal landscapes of Qeshm Island.
This journey takes you deep into the heart of a land where history, nature, and culture exist side by side.
Explore the vibrant streets of Tehran, the timeless beauty of Yazd, and the breath-taking architecture of Isfahan — cities where the past still whispers through every alley and every stone.
But beyond the landscapes and monuments, Iran reveals itself through something even more powerful: its people, its atmosphere, and the emotions it leaves behind.
This is not just a travel video; it’s an experience.
This journey takes you deep into the heart of a land where history, nature, and culture exist side by side.
Explore the vibrant streets of Tehran, the timeless beauty of Yazd, and the breath-taking architecture of Isfahan — cities where the past still whispers through every alley and every stone.
But beyond the landscapes and monuments, Iran reveals itself through something even more powerful: its people, its atmosphere, and the emotions it leaves behind.
This is not just a travel video; it’s an experience.
Waleed Asadi: Levantine Lentil Soup: Shorabet Adas | شوربة عدس
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.
Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines
Democracy Now! can be supported here.
Un ARTICLE en français sur MARJANE SATRAPI et son décès :
L’artiste franco-iranienne Marjane Satrapi, créatrice de Persepolis, est morte à 56 ans, emportée par la tristesse : DISPARITION - La dessinatrice d’origine iranienne s’est donné la mort à l’âge de 56 ans, un an après le décès de son mari, Mattias Ripa. Membre de l’Académie des beaux-arts, elle laisse une œuvre graphique puissante et une parole forte sur l’Iran. Sa vie restera un exemple de liberté. »
A Leader Canada Can Be Proud Of…
Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar Suddenly Back Iran amid Regional Pressure Crisis
Ralph Lauren Menswear | Fall/Winter 2026/27 | Milan Fashion Week
Good God! Whatever happened to elegance? Where have all the elegant men gone? De toute évidence, le concept d'élégance a disparu ! 😊 👎 – Mark Alexander
FULL PRESSER: Macron Hosts Hungary’s PM Magyar as France and Hungary Launch New Partnership
Unfortunately, there are no subtitles in English, French, or German available. I am posting it anyway, because this is a significant development in Hungary-EU relations. — Mark
Thousands March against Kushner-backed $1.6 Billion Albania Resort | APT
Tech Stocks Plunge around the World on AI Bubble Fears
THE TELEGRAPH: Tech stocks have fallen sharply across the globe over fears that valuations of AI companies have surged too high.
Shares across Asia plunged while Wall Street was down in pre-market trading in a second day of selling following disappointing results from one of the world’s biggest chip companies.
Britain’s FTSE 100 fell at the open, along with the Dax in Germany, but UK’s flagship stock index has since risen 0.3pc. » | Chris Price, Markets Editor | Friday, June 5, 2026
Shares across Asia plunged while Wall Street was down in pre-market trading in a second day of selling following disappointing results from one of the world’s biggest chip companies.
Britain’s FTSE 100 fell at the open, along with the Dax in Germany, but UK’s flagship stock index has since risen 0.3pc. » | Chris Price, Markets Editor | Friday, June 5, 2026
‘You Can Stop Your War’: Zelenskyy’s Open Letter to Putin – in Full
THE GUARDIAN: Russians are increasingly tired of the conflict and the time to end it is now, Ukraine’s president tells his Russian counterpart in an open letter
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an open letter to the Vladimir Putin, has called for a face-to-face meeting with the Russian president to end his war against Ukraine.
The letter sets out Zelenskyy’s view of the four-year-old conflict and says that while Ukrainians’ resilience remains intact, most Russians have grown weary of its effects and are ready for peace. … Read the open letter here » | Guardian staff | Friday, June 5, 2026
Related articles in German and French here.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an open letter to the Vladimir Putin, has called for a face-to-face meeting with the Russian president to end his war against Ukraine.
The letter sets out Zelenskyy’s view of the four-year-old conflict and says that while Ukrainians’ resilience remains intact, most Russians have grown weary of its effects and are ready for peace. … Read the open letter here » | Guardian staff | Friday, June 5, 2026
Related articles in German and French here.
Selenskyj bietet Putin direkte Gespräche an – Kreml stellt Bedingung
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Als mögliche Orte nennt Kiew die Schweiz, die Türkei oder ein arabisches Land. Für die Verhandlungen bietet die Ukraine eine Waffenruhe an.
Dieser Screenshot kommt von diesem Artikel. | Wolodymyr Selenskyj hat Wladimir Putin in einem offenen Brief direkte Gespräche in einem Drittstaat vorgeschlagen. | © Sven Hoppe/dpa
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Als mögliche Orte nennt Kiew die Schweiz, die Türkei oder ein arabisches Land. Für die Verhandlungen bietet die Ukraine eine Waffenruhe an.
Der Kreml hat am Donnerstag den Vorschlag des ukrainischen Präsidenten Wolodymyr Selenskyj für direkte Gespräche in einem Drittstaat zurückhaltend aufgenommen. Kremlsprecher Dmitri Peskow erklärte laut Medienberichten, man habe Selenskyjs offenen Brief zur Kenntnis genommen. Präsident Wladimir Putin werde nach seinem Gespräch mit dem usbekischen Staatschef darüber unterrichtet. Selenskyj könne jederzeit nach Moskau kommen, wenn er reden wolle, sagte Peskow demnach. » | Peter Steiniger | Donnerstag, 4. Juni 2026
À LIRE AUSSI :
Guerre en Ukraine : Zelensky « propose une rencontre » en tête-à-tête à Poutine, le Kremlin l’invite à venir à Moscou « à tout moment » : Dans cette lettre adressée à son homologue russe, Volodymyr Zelensky écrit que « l’Ukraine propose de mettre fin à cette guerre via un engagement direct entre » les deux chefs d’États. »
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Als mögliche Orte nennt Kiew die Schweiz, die Türkei oder ein arabisches Land. Für die Verhandlungen bietet die Ukraine eine Waffenruhe an.
Der Kreml hat am Donnerstag den Vorschlag des ukrainischen Präsidenten Wolodymyr Selenskyj für direkte Gespräche in einem Drittstaat zurückhaltend aufgenommen. Kremlsprecher Dmitri Peskow erklärte laut Medienberichten, man habe Selenskyjs offenen Brief zur Kenntnis genommen. Präsident Wladimir Putin werde nach seinem Gespräch mit dem usbekischen Staatschef darüber unterrichtet. Selenskyj könne jederzeit nach Moskau kommen, wenn er reden wolle, sagte Peskow demnach. » | Peter Steiniger | Donnerstag, 4. Juni 2026
À LIRE AUSSI :
Guerre en Ukraine : Zelensky « propose une rencontre » en tête-à-tête à Poutine, le Kremlin l’invite à venir à Moscou « à tout moment » : Dans cette lettre adressée à son homologue russe, Volodymyr Zelensky écrit que « l’Ukraine propose de mettre fin à cette guerre via un engagement direct entre » les deux chefs d’États. »
Thursday, June 04, 2026
SEARCHLIGHT SHORTS | LAVENDER | dir. Matthew Puccini | Posted in Celebration of Pride Month
BEWARE! This short film is not suitable for the 'hard of understanding'! — Mark 😊
Stevie Wonder : I Just Called To Say I Love You | Reupload
Blocage d’internet, pouvoirs accrus aux forces de l’ordre, lois idéologiques... Poutine face à la grogne d’une population accablée par les interdictions
LE FIGARO : RÉCIT - Le pouvoir réagit aux difficultés liées à la guerre en Ukraine et à la récession économique en serrant la vis de la répression. Du coup, le niveau d’approbation de l’action du chef du Kremlin chute dans les sondages.
C’est un pays où, en 2026, il est souvent difficile de joindre ses proches et ses amis à cause du blocage de l’internet - « pour raison de sécurité », explique-t-on. Un pays où il est désormais interdit de filmer et de diffuser les attaques de drones qui se multiplient. Un pays à la culture admirable mais où des rayons entiers des bibliothèques publiques et des librairies ont été expurgés. Un pays qui n’est pas censé savoir que le célèbre réalisateur de cinéma Andreï Zviaguintsev a été honoré récemment à Cannes, puisque les médias officiels n’en ont pas parlé. Un pays qui compte, très officiellement, des citoyens de seconde catégorie, appelés « agents de l’étranger ». Un pays où « poster » un « like » peut vous valoir une amende, voire la prison, si des délateurs patentés vous ont dans le collimateur et œuvrent à l’ouverture d’un « protocole » judiciaire… » | Par Alain Barluet, correspondant à Moscou | jeudi 4 juin 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Von innen gespalten, von außen gehasst? - Israel im Dauerkrieg | Tracks East | ARTE
Jun 4, 2026 | Trotz Waffenstillständen bleibt der Alltag in Israel geprägt von Raketenalarm und gesellschaftlicher Erschöpfung. Zwischen Cafébesuchen und Luftschutzbunkern stellt "Tracks East" die Frage: Was macht der Dauerkrieg mit einer Gesellschaft? Israel lebt zwischen Alltag und Ausnahmezustand.
"Tracks East" über Menschen im Dauerkrieg. Journalist David Issacharoff begleitet Menschen, die mit den Widersprüchen eines Landes leben, das trotz des Krieges funktionieren muss.
In Tel Aviv trifft "Tracks East" den Streetfotografen Shahar Dekel. Sein Kibbuz nahe Gaza wurde am 7. Oktober 2023 zerstört; Freunde starben oder kämpfen bis heute mit Traumata. Dreimal wurde er seitdem eingezogen.
Mit seiner Kamera dokumentierte er den Krieg. Nahe der libanesischen Grenze betreibt Nitzan Yulzari ein Café. Manchmal bebt dort der Boden von den Explosionen in der Ferne. Eigentlich wollte er mit seiner Familie nach Portugal auswandern. Jetzt steht die Entscheidung erneut bevor.
Sein Café ist Treffpunkt und Rückzugsort zugleich – doch der Krieg begleitet ihn jeden Tag. Eine andere Perspektive zeigt die palästinensisch-israelische Journalistin Amal Ghawi.
Auf Social Media spricht sie über Vertreibung, Diskriminierung und die Verengung des öffentlichen Diskurses. Sie berichtet auf Hebräisch und Arabisch. Für ihre Kritik wird sie von beiden Seiten angegriffen. "Tracks East" zeigt ein Land, das erschöpft ist – und dennoch weitermacht.
Magazin (D 2026, 30 Min)
"Tracks East" über Menschen im Dauerkrieg. Journalist David Issacharoff begleitet Menschen, die mit den Widersprüchen eines Landes leben, das trotz des Krieges funktionieren muss.
In Tel Aviv trifft "Tracks East" den Streetfotografen Shahar Dekel. Sein Kibbuz nahe Gaza wurde am 7. Oktober 2023 zerstört; Freunde starben oder kämpfen bis heute mit Traumata. Dreimal wurde er seitdem eingezogen.
Mit seiner Kamera dokumentierte er den Krieg. Nahe der libanesischen Grenze betreibt Nitzan Yulzari ein Café. Manchmal bebt dort der Boden von den Explosionen in der Ferne. Eigentlich wollte er mit seiner Familie nach Portugal auswandern. Jetzt steht die Entscheidung erneut bevor.
Sein Café ist Treffpunkt und Rückzugsort zugleich – doch der Krieg begleitet ihn jeden Tag. Eine andere Perspektive zeigt die palästinensisch-israelische Journalistin Amal Ghawi.
Auf Social Media spricht sie über Vertreibung, Diskriminierung und die Verengung des öffentlichen Diskurses. Sie berichtet auf Hebräisch und Arabisch. Für ihre Kritik wird sie von beiden Seiten angegriffen. "Tracks East" zeigt ein Land, das erschöpft ist – und dennoch weitermacht.
Magazin (D 2026, 30 Min)
Epstein, the Russian Mob, & the Hidden Assets of the Maxwells (w/ Moe T.) | The Chris Hedges Report
Donald Trump Is Falling to Pieces | Steve Schmidt
I’m sure you’ve noticed that everything Donald Trump does is “a beautiful thing.” Fact is, however, that everything Trump does is an awful thing! Name me one single thing that Trump has done that has been “beautiful”!
I’m sure you have also noticed that journalists in the mainstream media (MSM), known increasingly as the “legacy media”, keep telling us that Trump is “transactional”. Gosh, does that sound fancy! However, the reality of ‘being transactional’ is easily translatable. For us simpler folk like you and me, what it really means is that Trump seeks profit in everything he does, in everything he undertakes, in everything he touches — PROFIT for HIMSELF! That’s what transactional means! There is nothing fancy, mystical, or mysterious about it. It’s actually the characteristic of a man with a primitive need to enrich himself and to survive. — © Mark Alexander
Wie der Iran-Krieg die Emirate ins Wanken bringt | SRFglobal | SRF
Kuba vor dem Kollaps: Ende einer Revolution
Jun 4, 2026 | Kuba in der Krise. Seitdem die USA das kommunistische Land von allen Öllieferungen abgeschnitten haben, steht Kuba kurz vor dem Kollaps - wirtschaftlich und politisch.
Kein Strom, kein Benzin, kaum Wasser. Auf der Karibikinsel fehlt es an allem. Seit Januar ist praktisch kein Öl mehr ins Land gekommen. Donald Trump, so scheint es, will mit seinem Embargo die kommunistische Führung in die Knie zwingen, er betrachtet Kuba als "Hinterhof". Die USA haben einen Flugzeugträger und Soldaten in die Karibik entsandt: Drohkulisse und Eskalation, denn auch Kuba rüstet auf.
Kein Strom, kein Benzin, kaum Wasser. Auf der Karibikinsel fehlt es an allem. Seit Januar ist praktisch kein Öl mehr ins Land gekommen. Donald Trump, so scheint es, will mit seinem Embargo die kommunistische Führung in die Knie zwingen, er betrachtet Kuba als "Hinterhof". Die USA haben einen Flugzeugträger und Soldaten in die Karibik entsandt: Drohkulisse und Eskalation, denn auch Kuba rüstet auf.
Visa und Mastercard stoppen Zahlungen auf Kuba
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Washingtons Sanktionsdruck zeigt Wirkung: Eine ausländische Bank stellt die Abwicklung von Kartenzahlungen auf Kuba ein. Visa und Mastercard sind ab Samstag im Land nicht mehr nutzbar.
Wegen der neuen Sanktionen der US-Regierung gegen ausländische Geschäftspartner Kubas werden Kartenzahlungen mit Visa und Mastercard auf der sozialistischen Karibikinsel ausgesetzt. Wie die kubanische Zentralbank mitteilte, stellt die ausländische Bank, die die Transaktionen beider Kreditkarten auf Kuba abwickelt, ihre Beziehungen mit dem staatlichen Finanzdienstleister Fincimex ein. Welche Bank das ist, wurde nicht bekanntgegeben. » | Quelle: dpa/AFP | Donnerstag, 4. Juni 2026
Trumps Angriff auf die kubanische Regierung und das arme, unterdrückte kubanische Volk ist unerbittlich und schonungslos. Man kann nur hoffen, dass Gott im Jenseits ebenso gnadenlos mit ihm verfahren wird – als gerechte Strafe! Nichts als Grausamkeit! — © Mark Alexander
Wegen der neuen Sanktionen der US-Regierung gegen ausländische Geschäftspartner Kubas werden Kartenzahlungen mit Visa und Mastercard auf der sozialistischen Karibikinsel ausgesetzt. Wie die kubanische Zentralbank mitteilte, stellt die ausländische Bank, die die Transaktionen beider Kreditkarten auf Kuba abwickelt, ihre Beziehungen mit dem staatlichen Finanzdienstleister Fincimex ein. Welche Bank das ist, wurde nicht bekanntgegeben. » | Quelle: dpa/AFP | Donnerstag, 4. Juni 2026
Trumps Angriff auf die kubanische Regierung und das arme, unterdrückte kubanische Volk ist unerbittlich und schonungslos. Man kann nur hoffen, dass Gott im Jenseits ebenso gnadenlos mit ihm verfahren wird – als gerechte Strafe! Nichts als Grausamkeit! — © Mark Alexander
Au Brésil, le passage à la semaine de travail de 40 heures et aux deux jours de repos hebdomadaires divise
LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - Le patronat est vent debout, dénonçant une hausse du coût du travail. La Confédération nationale de l’industrie (CNI) l’évalue annuellement entre 30 et 45 milliards d’euros.
Déjà très fréquentées, les plages mythiques de Rio de Janeiro pourraient bientôt connaître une plus forte affluence encore. La Chambre des députés vient d’approuver un projet de réforme constitutionnelle qui prévoit de faire passer la durée légale du temps de travail de 44 à 40 heures par semaine, sans baisse de salaire. Mais surtout, chaque salarié pourra bénéficier de deux jours de repos hebdomadaires, contre un seul actuellement. La proposition, qui doit encore être votée au Sénat, enflamme les débats. Pour certains, il s’agit d’une mesure sociale et nécessaire qui arrive tardivement ; pour d’autres, notamment le patronat, la réduction du temps de travail ralentira l’économie et fera grimper les prix à cause de l’augmentation des coûts de production.
À l’origine, la proposition de réduction du temps de travail ne vient pas du président de gauche Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Lula et de son gouvernement, mais celui-ci l’a adoptée et l’a faite sienne. Et pour cause : la mesure est très populaire, surtout parmi ceux qui travaillent actuellement six jours par semaine. Environ 14,8 millions de personnes sont directement concernées, selon le ministère du Travail. Pour l’ancien métallurgiste et syndicaliste qui briguera un quatrième mandat lors de l’élection présidentielle d’octobre, c’est une façon d’avancer sur un programme de justice sociale. Il s’agit d’une « conquête historique et civilisationnelle », soutient Lula. » | Par Eléonore Hughes, à Rio de Janeiro | jeudi 4 juin 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Islam Is Seen as Hostile to LGBTQ+ People. This Gay Muslim Says It’s Queerer Than You Think.
LGBTQ NATION: This queer Arab makeup mogul has never viewed his sexuality as contradictory to his faith.
Screenshot taken from this article. | Nour Tayara | Provided by AORA
While Islam lacks a central governing body to put forth any official stance on homosexuality, those who adhere strictly to the words of the Quran tend to interpret the text similarly to the traditionalist followers of the other Abrahamic religions – as condemning same-sex love.
But Nour Tayara doesn’t see it that way.
The queer Arab makeup mogul has never viewed his sexuality as contradictory to his faith. In fact, he believes in an Islam that has always embraced the beauty of human diversity.
Tayara is the founder of the plastic-free makeup brand AORA, which he launched in 2023 after working for over a decade at L’Oreal. He runs the company from Mexico, though he lived all over the world before settling there about five years ago.
Through it all, he has remained committed to his Muslim faith and to publicly expressing pride in his Arab roots. Tayra spoke with LGBTQ Nation about what keeps him connected to Islam, and why, in his view, the religion has always felt a little bit gay. » | Molly Sprayregen | Wednesday, June 3, 2026
While Islam lacks a central governing body to put forth any official stance on homosexuality, those who adhere strictly to the words of the Quran tend to interpret the text similarly to the traditionalist followers of the other Abrahamic religions – as condemning same-sex love.
But Nour Tayara doesn’t see it that way.
The queer Arab makeup mogul has never viewed his sexuality as contradictory to his faith. In fact, he believes in an Islam that has always embraced the beauty of human diversity.
Tayara is the founder of the plastic-free makeup brand AORA, which he launched in 2023 after working for over a decade at L’Oreal. He runs the company from Mexico, though he lived all over the world before settling there about five years ago.
Islam is about One Thousand and One Nights, the harems, men dressed in silk robes lying on gorgeous cushions in amazing interiors. It never felt austere. It never felt scary. It always felt like something so happy. For me, it always felt a bit gay.The company launched in the country in 2023 and then in the United States in 2025. Tayara found success quickly in the U.S. market, so much so that AORA was asked to do the makeup for this year’s Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Through it all, he has remained committed to his Muslim faith and to publicly expressing pride in his Arab roots. Tayra spoke with LGBTQ Nation about what keeps him connected to Islam, and why, in his view, the religion has always felt a little bit gay. » | Molly Sprayregen | Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Jared Kushner's Albania Resort Project Triggers Mass Protests | Vantage on Firstpost
Kushner-linked Resort Plan Sparks Protests in Albania | DW News
Protests in Albania Grow over Jared Kushner-backed Luxury Resort
THE GUARDIAN: Conservation groups say work has begun in protected coastal area, while prime minister insists project will bring jobs and investment
This screenshot is from this Guardian article. | Protesters clash with police during third day of unrest in Albania. Photograph: Armando Babani/Getty Images
Protests in Albania over a proposed luxury resort backed by Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are set to intensify after opponents rejected an offer from the country’s prime minister “to discuss solutions”.
Thousands took to the streets of Tirana for a third straight day on Wednesday, some of them brandishing inflatable flamingos in a nod to feared environmental damage, amid mounting calls for the project to be blocked.
Protests are also planned for the south of the country, where groundwork on the $1.6bn (£1.19bn) complex recently began in an area long seen as one of the Mediterranean’s most environmentally sensitive.
“From start to finish there has been a total lack of transparency,” said Aleksandr Trajce, executive director of the country’s leading conservation group, the Protection and Preservation of the Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA). “We have seen no public consultation or public documentation regarding permits, and so now what we are saying is, if they remove the bulldozers, remove the fence and restore the habitats to what they were, then we can start talking.” » | Helena Smith in Athens | Thursday, June 4, 2026
The Kushners, just like the rest of the Trump menagerie, all have several characteristics in common: they are all corrupt; they are all ‘on-the-make; they all see dollar-signs in everything they do and undertake; and none of them can be trusted to do anything for the good of the community or wider society. Whatever they think of doing, if it doesn’t enrich them or benefit them in some way, they don’t touch the project. The project will be abandoned. It seems to me that the Albanians have got the measure of the Kushners. I should like to add the following: I would wager that there must be people at the top of Albanian society poised to enrich themselves from this. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY! — © Mark Alexander
Protests in Albania over a proposed luxury resort backed by Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are set to intensify after opponents rejected an offer from the country’s prime minister “to discuss solutions”.
Thousands took to the streets of Tirana for a third straight day on Wednesday, some of them brandishing inflatable flamingos in a nod to feared environmental damage, amid mounting calls for the project to be blocked.
Protests are also planned for the south of the country, where groundwork on the $1.6bn (£1.19bn) complex recently began in an area long seen as one of the Mediterranean’s most environmentally sensitive.
“From start to finish there has been a total lack of transparency,” said Aleksandr Trajce, executive director of the country’s leading conservation group, the Protection and Preservation of the Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA). “We have seen no public consultation or public documentation regarding permits, and so now what we are saying is, if they remove the bulldozers, remove the fence and restore the habitats to what they were, then we can start talking.” » | Helena Smith in Athens | Thursday, June 4, 2026
The Kushners, just like the rest of the Trump menagerie, all have several characteristics in common: they are all corrupt; they are all ‘on-the-make; they all see dollar-signs in everything they do and undertake; and none of them can be trusted to do anything for the good of the community or wider society. Whatever they think of doing, if it doesn’t enrich them or benefit them in some way, they don’t touch the project. The project will be abandoned. It seems to me that the Albanians have got the measure of the Kushners. I should like to add the following: I would wager that there must be people at the top of Albanian society poised to enrich themselves from this. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY! — © Mark Alexander
SpaceX Targets Biggest Ever Stock Market Debut, Putting Musk On Course to Be Trillionaire
THE GUARDIAN: IPO could raise up to $75bn, giving SpaceX market value of $1.75tn as it sets up Musk for extraordinary wealth
Space X is seeking to raise about $75bn through its imminent initial public offering, a company filing on Wednesday revealed, which would make it the largest IPO ever.
If the stock market launch – primed for next week – goes accordingly, founder Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, could be poised to make history as the first trillionaire.
The company, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp., said on Wednesday it will sell 555.6m shares at $135 a piece.
The offering would give SpaceX a market value of $1.77tn. Only six companies in the S&P 500 are currently worth more, with Nvidia topping the list at $5.2tn. » | Uwa Ede-Osifo and agencie | Thursday, June 4, 2026
Space X is seeking to raise about $75bn through its imminent initial public offering, a company filing on Wednesday revealed, which would make it the largest IPO ever.
If the stock market launch – primed for next week – goes accordingly, founder Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, could be poised to make history as the first trillionaire.
The company, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp., said on Wednesday it will sell 555.6m shares at $135 a piece.
The offering would give SpaceX a market value of $1.77tn. Only six companies in the S&P 500 are currently worth more, with Nvidia topping the list at $5.2tn. » | Uwa Ede-Osifo and agencie | Thursday, June 4, 2026
Wednesday, June 03, 2026
Four Men Are Burned to Death in Italy, Highlighting Abuse of Foreign Workers
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The immigrants had been working as fruit pickers in southern Italy, the authorities said, apparently as part of a system of criminal labor trafficking.
The brutal killing of four immigrant workers who were burned alive in a vehicle this week has Italian officials struggling to confront rampant labor exploitation by criminal gangs that have infiltrated Italy’s agricultural industry.
The killings on Monday at a gas station in Calabria, in southern Italy, were caught on camera, and the video has shocked Italians and drawn the attention of national officials all the way up to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Surveillance footage showed two people dousing a vehicle with gasoline and blocking the doors as the vehicle and its passengers burned. One person managed to escape the vehicle and has been speaking to Italian news media about the harrowing event.
Mohammad Taj Alamyar, 35, who is originally from Afghanistan, told investigators that he and the four others, who were from Afghanistan and Pakistan, had been working on the region’s strawberry harvests. He said they had asked the men who had arranged their work and accommodations, and who were driving them back from a shift on a farm after work, about wages that had been withheld, prompting the violent response. » | Ephrat Livni and Josephine de La Bruyère | Wednesday, June 3, 2026
The brutal killing of four immigrant workers who were burned alive in a vehicle this week has Italian officials struggling to confront rampant labor exploitation by criminal gangs that have infiltrated Italy’s agricultural industry.
The killings on Monday at a gas station in Calabria, in southern Italy, were caught on camera, and the video has shocked Italians and drawn the attention of national officials all the way up to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Surveillance footage showed two people dousing a vehicle with gasoline and blocking the doors as the vehicle and its passengers burned. One person managed to escape the vehicle and has been speaking to Italian news media about the harrowing event.
Mohammad Taj Alamyar, 35, who is originally from Afghanistan, told investigators that he and the four others, who were from Afghanistan and Pakistan, had been working on the region’s strawberry harvests. He said they had asked the men who had arranged their work and accommodations, and who were driving them back from a shift on a farm after work, about wages that had been withheld, prompting the violent response. » | Ephrat Livni and Josephine de La Bruyère | Wednesday, June 3, 2026
The House Votes to End the Iran War, in a Bipartisan Rebuke to Trump.
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The House on Wednesday voted to direct President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran or win approval from Congress to continue the war, after four Republicans sided with Democrats in a striking sign of growing opposition to a military campaign now in its fourth month.
Adoption of the resolution was a remarkable rebuke to Mr. Trump and his handling of the war, after he has repeatedly dismissed any effort by Congress to curb his power and as the G.O.P. has largely ceded its prerogatives to do so, deferring to him time and again. Republicans had abruptly postponed the vote two weeks ago, recognizing that they did not have sufficient votes to defeat the measure and wanting to spare themselves and the president the affront. » | Robert Jimison and Megan Mineiro | Reporting from Washington | Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Adoption of the resolution was a remarkable rebuke to Mr. Trump and his handling of the war, after he has repeatedly dismissed any effort by Congress to curb his power and as the G.O.P. has largely ceded its prerogatives to do so, deferring to him time and again. Republicans had abruptly postponed the vote two weeks ago, recognizing that they did not have sufficient votes to defeat the measure and wanting to spare themselves and the president the affront. » | Robert Jimison and Megan Mineiro | Reporting from Washington | Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Durchbruch bei EU-Beitritt der Ukraine: Ungarn gibt offenbar Blockade auf
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Zwei Jahre lang hat Ungarn die EU-Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der Ukraine blockiert. Nun kommt Bewegung in den Prozess. Das erste Verhandlungskapitel soll geöffnet werden.
ngarn hat offenbar sein zweijähriges Veto gegen die Aufnahme von EU-Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der Ukraine aufgegeben. Bei einem Treffen der EU-Botschafter in Brüssel am Mittwochabend signalisierte der ungarische Vertreter die Aufhebung der Vorbehalte, wie mehrere Diplomaten dem Nachrichtenportal Euronews bestätigten. Damit ist der Weg frei, das erste Verhandlungskapitel mit der Ukraine und der Republik Moldau formell zu eröffnen. » | Sophie Barkey | Mittwoch, 3. Juni 2026
ngarn hat offenbar sein zweijähriges Veto gegen die Aufnahme von EU-Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der Ukraine aufgegeben. Bei einem Treffen der EU-Botschafter in Brüssel am Mittwochabend signalisierte der ungarische Vertreter die Aufhebung der Vorbehalte, wie mehrere Diplomaten dem Nachrichtenportal Euronews bestätigten. Damit ist der Weg frei, das erste Verhandlungskapitel mit der Ukraine und der Republik Moldau formell zu eröffnen. » | Sophie Barkey | Mittwoch, 3. Juni 2026
Ana Kasparian Is Fired Up
I have always been pro-Israel, especially because of how the Jews suffered in the Holocaust in Nazi Germany, and how they have been persecuted throughout the ages. However, I am absolutely shocked that a people with such awful experience of pain and hardship are seemingly incapable of mercy and compassion for the people they now themselves persecute. This is utterly incomprehensible to me. — © Mark Alexander
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