Monday, July 20, 2026

BBC Broadcaster Edward Stourton Dies Aged 68

THE GUARDIAN: Corporation pays tribute to ‘outstanding’ journalist who presented shows including Today and One O’Clock News

Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Edward Stourton ‘leaves a huge gap’, the BBC said. Photograph: David Hartley/Rex Features

The journalist Edward Stourton has died aged 68, it has been announced.

The BBC Radio 4 presenter was best known for fronting current affairs programmes including Today, World at One and its religious and ethical current affairs series Sunday.

He died on Saturday surrounded by his family after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014, the BBC said in a statement.

Former colleagues paid tribute to a man they called an outstanding broadcaster.

“It’s far too soon to lose Ed,” said Jonathan Munro, who runs BBC News and Current Affairs. “I worked as his producer when he was ITN’s diplomatic editor – unflappable then and ever after. Many years later, I was listening to his superb analysis of the new pope for the BBC – another of his many areas of expertise.

“Not many broadcasters can present Today, BBC One’s One O’Clock News, The World at One and Sunday, but he did. He leaves a huge gap.” » | Kevin Rawlinson | Monday, July 20, 2026

ALSO READ:

Broadcaster and journalist Edward Stourton dies aged 68: Broadcaster and journalist Edward Stourton, whose career spanned more than 40 years including a decade on Radio 4's Today, has died aged 68. »

Inside Andrew Tate’s “Cult” That Breeds Toxic Masculinity among Young Boys | 60 Minutes Australia

July 27, 2025 | Most people would rail against being called a misogynist - But not Andrew Tate. Not only does he embrace the label, he actively promotes his hateful views about women to his millions of social media followers. Hard as it is to fathom, Tate is in the business of monetising misogyny and it has made him rich beyond belief. His success is born from the fact he has tapped into a very impressionable constituency; young men, including thousands from Australia, who've fallen under the spell of this very toxic icon.


WARNING: This video contains filthy language! Some viewers might well be disturbed by the language and the content of the video.

Russia Cannot Win in Ukraine: Yale Historian Odd Arne Westad Explains Why | DW News

July 18, 2026 | Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine lasts longer than the First World War. Can these wars really be compared? How long could the war in Ukraine last, and how might it end? What risks does Vladimir Putin face if he expands the war to other regions of Europe?

Odd Arne Westad, a Norwegian historian, professor at Yale University and an expert on the history of the Cold War, as well as on the history of China and East Asia speaks to DW about history lessons for Russia, Europe and the world. His book, published in the spring of 2026, is called ‘The Coming Storm. Power, Conflicts and the Warnings of History”.


Sir William Browder on Trump's Capitulation to Russia, as the Wars in Iran and Ukraine Rage On

July 20, 2026 | Sir William Browder joins Anthony Davis to discuss Putin’s efforts in Ukraine, against NATO and the shifting world order as Trump fails to end the war in Iran and blames China for election interference. And was Lindsey Graham another victim of Russian poisoning? Only on The Weekend Show.


ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

Trump Lawyer Calls For 25th Amendment Over Psychotic Meltdown

July 17, 2026 | Trump’s former White House lawyer is sounding the alarm, calling out what he describes as serious mental decline and dangerous behavior from the former president as legal and political tensions escalate. David Shuster breaks it down on Rebel HQ.

Sunday, July 19, 2026

Has a New Phase of the Ukraine War Opened? | DW News

July 19, 2026 | Russia has responded to Ukrainian forces striking warehouses, shipping and logistics targets that Kyiv says are supporting Russia's war effort. Moscow fired more than 40 missiles and 125 drones overnight, damaging homes, offices and industrial sites in Ukraine. Kyiv has been taking the war deeper into Russia than ever before and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the campaign will continue to expand. But the latest attacks by Russia have exposed gaps in Ukraine’s air defenses.

How the World’s Worst Person Became the First Trillionaire

July 19, 2026 | “When people can buy elections, when people can buy governments… that for me is a fundamentally a threat to democracy.

Being against billionaires is not a left right issue. This is about whether you care about democracy or not.” The world’s worst person is also the world’s first trillionaire.

In this latest episode of ‘Unshocked,’ Naomi Klein and Mehdi Hasan break down what Elon Musk’s trillionaire status means for democracy, capitalism, and the rise of racism.

In the conversation, Naomi and Mehdi explain how political corruption, government subsidies, and IPO promises make up Musk’s new trillionaire status.

They also dive into what the increased influence of billionaires means for the state of democracy, noting how Musk is taking advantage over people’s anger over wealth inequality and directing it to migrants. They also discuss how SpaceX IPO is based on unrealistic goals, Musk’s feud with Ro Khanna and protests in Albania over the Trump family.


Andrew and Tristan Tate Arrested in US over New UK Charges | BBC News

July 19, 2026 | Andrew and Tristan Tate have been arrested in the US after British prosecutors authorised 38 new charges, taking the total number they face in the UK to 59.

Andrew Tate now faces 42 charges, including further counts of rape, sex trafficking and offences relating to indecent images of a child. Tristan Tate faces 17 charges, including rape and trafficking offences.

The brothers deny all allegations. Prosecutors have begun legal proceedings to extradite the pair, who are dual British-US citizens, to the UK.



Related article here.

5.5-magnitude Earthquake Hits Peru's Andes Region and Kills At Least 5 People

THE GUARDIAN: More than 20 people were injured and 300 have been displaced by Saturday’s quake, while the total number of missing is still unknown

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake shook the Andes region of Peru, killing at least five people, authorities said Sunday. More than 20 people were injured and 300 have been displaced.

The US Geological Survey reported the quake struck on Saturday at 9.24pm, with its epicentre located 2km (1.24 miles) west-south-west of the city of Sicaya in Huancayo province. It was 10 km (6.21 miles) deep.

Peru’s National Civil Defence Institute said in a statement that the total number of missing is still unknown. Several buildings collapsed or suffered structural damage, including the local church and convent. » | Associated Press | Sunday, July 19, 2026

The Trump-Era Saudi-U.S. Relationship: An Insider's View

July 10, 2026 | Khalid Aljabri is a cardiologist and a health-tech entrepreneur. He is a Saudi exile and the son of former Saudi intelligence official Saad Aljabri, who served as a top aide to the former Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef. Two of his siblings have been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since 2020.

Russia Pounds Kyiv for Five Hours in One of Its Biggest Ballistic Missile Attacks

Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | A firefighter at work after about 40 missiles hit the Ukraine capital of Kyiv in night-time strikes. Photograph: Reuters

THE GUARDIAN: At least one person killed after dozens of missiles arrive in less than an hour and three-storey building catches fire

Russia has carried out one of its biggest-ever ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, launching a five-hour raid that left at least one person dead and seven injured, with fires and damage across the city.

Ukrainian officials said the capital was hit with about 40 Iskander-M and hypersonic Zircon missiles. Residents heard an air raid siren sound at 1.30am. There was the sound of air defences, followed minutes later by a series of booms and explosions.

Houses in Kyiv’s historic centre shook, and car alarms blared, as dozens of missiles arrived in less than an hour. There was a second air raid siren at 6.30am, with more impacts reported.

A three-storey building caught fire in the central Shevchenkivsky district. Rescuers dug out several people trapped inside and recovered a body. Four other areas were hit, with fires reported at office and residential buildings and a dormitory.

Residents sheltering inside Lukyanivska metro station posted footage after the ceiling in the ground-floor vestibule collapsed because of a massive blast wave. The station is temporarily closed. » | Luke Harding in Kyiv | Sunday, July 19, 2026

The Most Powerful Man in the US You've Never Voted For | Fault Lines Documentary

June 11, 2026

Marco Rubio Puts World On Notice against Rise of 'Far-Left' Political Terrorism

July 16, 2026 | Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with diplomats from around the world at the State Department to discuss the “resurgence of political terrorism."

Antifa and the Global Threat from the Far-Left | The Global Story

July 16, 2026 | On Thursday in Washington DC, Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, will host an international summit on the threat posed by "the resurgence of transnational far-left terrorism”.

There will be a particular focus on the loosely composed group the Trump administration calls Antifa.

What is this group? Is it a significant threat? Or is there something motivating the DC summit?

BBC journalist Mike Wendling joins us to discuss whether the Trump administration is right to worry about far-left groups like Antifa.


What Marco Rubio Just Did Is SHOCKING & Soon No One Will Be Able to Talk about It

July 17, 2026


DDN can be supported here.

This country is well rid of Keir Starmer as its prime minister. As for Marco Rubio, I have already stated it several times that he is NOT to be trusted and that he is a snake-in-the-grass. In fact, the man is DANGEROUS. Just as the regime he belongs to is. — © Mark Alexander

Democracy Now! "How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracies": Northwestern Prof Jeffrey Winters on Book The Blind Spot

May 27, 2026 | We speak with political scientist Jeffrey Winters about his new book, The Blind Spot: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracies. Winters argues that democracy's failure to address wealth inequality is by design. While voters have a say on some issues, oligarchs, who succeed in maintaining economic inequality by fighting against wealth redistribution, have more power.

"Liberal democracies around the world are now among the most unequal societies ever to have existed in human history," says Winters.


Spanien erwartet dritte Hitzewelle : Bis zu 45 Grad, Tropennächte und extreme Waldbrandgefahr

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Im Guadalquivir-Tal und an der Mittelmeerküste sinken die Nachtwerte kaum unter 25 Grad. In den Bergen drohen trockene Gewitter neue Brände auszulösen.

Dieser Screenshot stammet aus diesem Artikel. | In Spanien stehen erneut Tage mit sehr hohen Temperaturen bevor. | © C. Carvajal/imago

Spanien steht vor der dritten Hitzewelle dieses Sommers. Wie die spanische Zivilschutzbehörde am Samstag mitteilte, beginnt die Phase mit sehr hohen Temperaturen am kommenden Dienstag und dauert mindestens bis Donnerstag. Betroffen sind weite Teile des spanischen Festlands sowie das Inselinnere von Mallorca.

Nach Angaben der Behörde, die sich auf Vorhersagen des staatlichen Wetterdienstes Aemet stützt, werden im Osten, Süden und auf den Balearen mehr als 42 Grad erwartet. Im Tal des Guadalquivir, im Süden Andalusiens und in der Region Murcia könnten die Werte örtlich über 45 Grad steigen. Als heißester Tag zeichnet sich der Donnerstag ab. Ob die Hitzewelle über den 23. Juli hinaus anhält, ist nach Angaben des Zivilschutzes noch offen. » | Peter Steiniger | Sonntag, 19. Juli 2026

Tate Brothers Arrested in Miami as U.K. Authorities File New Rape and Trafficking Charges

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Federal marshals arrested the influencers, who are known for their misogynistic views and have faced years of criminal investigations in Europe. The new charges concern offenses dating to 2010, British officials said.

Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | Influencers Andrew Tate (right) and his brother Tristan Tate have developed a following for content that promotes hyper-masculinity. They have faced investigations over sexual abuse allegations. Credit: Pool photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Andrew and Tristan Tate, prominent influencers in the so-called manosphere, were arrested by federal marshals in Miami on Saturday in connection with new criminal charges of rape and sex trafficking in England, U.S. and British law enforcement officials said.

Prosecutors in Britain said that they were seeking the brothers’ extradition.
The Tates, who have British and American citizenship, were detained “pending ongoing legal proceedings,” according to a statement from the police in Bedfordshire, a county north of London.

British prosecutors had previously charged the brothers with rape, human trafficking and sexual assault. The new charges stem from alleged offenses involving four women that took place between July 2010 and August 2017, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement on Sunday after the arrests.

British prosecutors said the new charges against Andrew Tate, 39, include seven counts of rape; three counts of sex trafficking; three counts of assault; and 19 more charges relating to sexual images of children and “extreme pornography.” » | Isabella Kwai, MeganTwohey and Mack Liederman | Saturday, July 18, 2026

Tokyo Officials Ditch Suits for Shorts in Summer Heat

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Tokyo’s government has a new summer dress code allowing shorts and T-shirts at work. But the initiative, meant to save energy and add comfort, has prompted a debate on office etiquette.

Watch the video here » | By Shawn Paik and Noriko Hayashi | Sunday, July 19, 2026

If hairless men’s legs are your thing, then Tokyo’s your place to be this summer! 😊 – Mark

Miguel and Santiago - Their Full Story [Undertow]

Jun 17, 2026 | La historia explora la compleja relación entre Miguel y Santiago en un pequeño pueblo pesquero, enfrentándose a expectativas sociales y dilemas personales. ReineR presenta un drama cargado de emociones sobre la conexión profunda, los secretos compartidos y la búsqueda de aceptación frente a las tradiciones locales. / The story explores the complex relationship between Miguel and Santiago in a small fishing village, as they grapple with social expectations and personal dilemmas. ReineR presents an emotionally charged drama about deep connection, shared secrets, and the quest for acceptance in the face of local traditions.



“…Miguel and Santiago are the main characters of the critically acclaimed feature-length gay romantic drama Undertow (originally titled Contracorriente).

The movie is a Peruvian ghost story set in a small seaside village. It follows Miguel, a happily married fisherman expecting his first child, who carries on a secret romance with Santiago, an openly gay painter who is ostracized by the conservative locals. When Santiago tragically drowns, his ghost returns, and Miguel must choose between living up to the town's rigid traditions and embracing his truth.” [Source: Google AI]

« C’est un criminel de guerre » : le maire de New York envisage d’arrêter Netanyahou en septembre lors de l'Assemblée générale de l'ONU

LE FIGARO : Zohran Mamdani, qui avait déjà promis d’envoyer la police municipale pour exécuter des mandats d’arrêt contre les dirigeants recherchés par la Cour pénale internationale, estime que le premier ministre israélien « a sa place à La Haye ».

Le maire de New York, Zohran Mamdani, mène des discussions sur la possibilité légale d’arrêter le Premier ministre israélien Benyamin Netanyahou lors de l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU en septembre, une éventualité qui a déclenché une vive réaction de l’ambassadeur israélien aux Nations unies. « Je crois que le premier ministre Netanyahou a sa place à La Haye. C’est un criminel de guerre visé par un mandat d’arrêt de la Cour pénale internationale » (CPI), a-t-il affirmé au New York Times, dans un entretien publié samedi. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | Samedi 18 juillet 2026

A Strikingly Handsome Man

With many thanks to ricardo_Ibiza for this arresting and beautiful image.

Saturday, July 18, 2026

Surrogacy Dispute Forces Jens Spahn from Conservative Leadership Role | DW News

July 18, 2026 | A decision that clashes with CDU policy has prompted Jens Spahn to leave one of the most senior positions in Germany’s conservative camp.

Spain in Flames: 12,000-hectare Blaze Threatens Uncastillo as Firefighters Battle Inferno

July 17, 2026 | Spanish firefighters and the Military Emergency Unit battled a fast-moving wildfire near Uncastillo in Spain's Aragon region after the blaze scorched around 12,000 hectares across Zaragoza province.

Emergency crews worked to protect evacuated communities as shifting winds pushed the fire through forests, scrubland, and farmland. More than 1,100 residents have been affected by evacuation orders across several towns, while authorities maintained the highest operational response under Aragon's wildfire emergency plan.

The wildfire comes amid an intense heatwave that has heightened fire risks across Spain.


'Get Lost, You Americans!': Italy's Venice On Fire as Anti-U.S. Clash Erupts; Trump Envoy Confronted

July 18, 2026 | Dozens of protesters clashed with police in Italy's Venice after the arrival of a superyacht owned by US Ambassador to Italy, Tilman Fertitta.

Demonstrators marched through the historic city, confronting police cordons while waving Palestinian flags and carrying banners reading "Venice Is Not America's," "Venice Is Not for Sale," and "No Kings, No Oligarchs."

According to Reuters, around 300 people joined the protest, criticizing over-tourism, luxury tourism, and the growing influence of wealthy élites in Venice.

Fertitta's 117-meter superyacht, Boardwalk, docked in St. Mark's Basin under heightened security as part of a coastal diplomacy tour marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.


Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs over Wildfire Smoke | DW News

July 18, 2026 | US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canada, accusing it of allowing wildfire smoke to drift into the United States and calling it an "unnecessary invasion" of polluted air.

As hundreds of wildfires burn across Canada -- many of them out of control -- thick smoke has spread across Washington, New York, and other US cities, reducing visibility, and sending air quality to hazardous levels. I

n this DW News report we examine the growing political dispute between Washington and Ottawa, the impact on millions of people, and the science behind how wildfire smoke can travel thousands of kilometers across North America.

Senior meteorologist Matthew Cappucci of MyRadar explains why these smoke events are becoming more common, how climate change influences wildfire seasons, the health risks posed by prolonged exposure, and why environmental disasters ignore national borders.


Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte : How Black Forest Cherry Cake Is Made | An Authentic German Recipe

July 18, 2026 | It’s considered the most famous cake in the world: the Black Forest cherry cake. It’s found all over the world, in all kinds of variations. But its real home is the Black Forest, in the south of Germany. So, what makes it the real deal? What about the cherry brandy? And did it even really originate in the Black Forest?

Dr. John Gartner: Donald Trump Is "The Most Pure Incarnation of Evil That I Have Ever Encountered"

July 17, 2026 | Dr. John Gartner--the founder of Duty To Warn--joined SiriusXM radio's Dean Obeidallah show where he warned that Donald Trump is "the most pure incarnation of evil that I have ever encountered." Dr. Gartner explained that Dr. Erich Fromm studied Hitler and coined the term the "essence of evil" to describe him and others whose destructiveness, sadism, and malignant narcissism define them. Gartner sees those very traits in Trump and warns Trump is capable of crimes against humanity.

1-Hour of the Sharpest Arguments Against Organized Religion

Feb 7, 2025 | In this powerful 1-hour compilation, some of the world’s most brilliant atheist thinkers and scientists dismantle religious dogma with logic, evidence, and unfiltered truth.


The older I get, the more astonished I become by people’s readiness and willingness to believe myths, fables, and legends of yore. People allow themselves to be taken in by these fairy stories. They swallow them hook, line, and sinker. Even highly educated people do. They just suspend disbelief. — © Mark Alexander

Stephen Miller Announces Trump's Plan to Imprison Democrats

July 17, 2026 | The Trump Administration has announced its sinister plan to go after political opponents. Jesse Dollemore reacts...


I wonder why I am immediately reminded of Goebbels each and every time I see that odious man, Stephen Miller? I wonder if he realises just how objectionable and evil he is? — © Mark Alexander

Eskalation im Nahen Osten: Warum sich die Welt jetzt auf einen langen Krieg einstellen sollte

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Sieben Nächte Bomben gegen Iran. Teheran schlägt zurück – in Kuwait, Bahrain, Syrien. Doch Trumps größter Gegner könnte er selbst sein. Eine Analyse.

Sieben Nächte in Folge bombardieren die USA den Iran. Teheran schlägt gegen US-Verbündete am Golf zurück. Brücken, Stromnetze, Entsalzungsanlagen – die Ziele werden ziviler, die Spirale der Gewalt dreht sich schneller. US-Präsident Donald Trump verspricht einen baldigen Sieg. Doch die Fakten lassen ein anderes Bild erkennen: Der Handlungsspielraum der US-Regierung wird enger, die Folgen werden für die Menschen in den USA spürbarer – von den Bürgern im Iran ganz zu schweigen.

Was als Operation zur Sicherung der Straße von Hormus begann, hat sich innerhalb einer Woche zu einem regionalen Infrastrukturkrieg ausgeweitet. Wie US-Medien übereinstimmend berichten, greifen die USA inzwischen Brücken, Eisenbahnknotenpunkte, Energieanlagen und Flughäfen im Iran an.

Teheran antwortet mit Raketenangriffen auf Kuwait, Bahrain, Katar, Jordanien und Oman – und übernimmt die Verantwortung für Angriffe auf US-Stellungen in Syrien. Die Waffenstillstandsvereinbarung ist gescheitert. Diplomatie findet praktisch nicht mehr statt. » | Harald Neuber | Samstag, 18. Juli 2026

„Man fühlt sich unweigerlich an die alte Weisheit erinnert, dass man in einem Loch zuerst das Graben einstellen sollte, bevor man nach Rettung sucht. Meines Erachtens sollte man diesen Krieg möglichst bald beenden.“ — © Mark Alexander

La ministre nord-coréenne des Affaires étrangères en visite officielle en Russie

LE FIGARO : La Chine est le principal soutien économique du pays, mais Pyongyang se rapproche aussi de Moscou depuis le début de l’offensive russe à grande échelle en Ukraine en 2022.

La ministre nord-coréenne des Affaires étrangères Choe Son Hui est en visite officielle en Russie samedi, sur invitation de son homologue, a annoncé la diplomatie russe, alors que les deux alliés renforcent leurs liens depuis l'offensive en Ukraine. « La ministre des Affaires étrangères de la République populaire démocratique de Corée Choe Son Hui arrivera en Fédération de Russie le 18 juillet pour une visite officielle à l'invitation » de Sergueï Lavrov, selon un communiqué du ministère russe, utilisant le nom officiel de la Corée du nord. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | samedi 18 juillet 2026

They Called Sam Neill ‘Skux.’ (It Was a Compliment.)

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The New Zealand slang word, dating back to the 1990s, was pulled back into circulation in tributes to the actor, who died on Tuesday.

Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | Sam Neill at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019. Credit: Geoff Robins/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

On the sporting fields of New Zealand cities like Auckland and Wellington in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the slightly-too-cool kids were jokingly described with one word: “skux.” To be skux was to be popular, good-looking and also possibly a little bit conceited — ultimately it was a compliment.

The word, which has somewhat fallen out of use in the intervening years, popped back up on social media this week in tributes following the death of the actor Sam Neill. While it may seem a random jumble of letters, in New Zealand, it is a term of endearment and affection.

As with the origin stories of most slang terms, tracing the roots of “skux” is difficult, but the most common theory is that it emerged, as most good things do, by chance, in the New Zealand capital, Wellington.

The New Zealand writer Madeleine Chapman traced the word’s etymology for The Spinoff website. She found that “skux” was predominantly used by men in New Zealand’s Pacific communities in the late 1990s and early 2000s to refer to other men they thought were cool but vain.

“It was a little bit sort of mocking a person for putting that much effort into their appearance, but at the same time, you couldn’t be a skux unless you also looked good,” Ms. Chapman said in an interview. » | Laura Chung | Reporting from Sydney, Australia | Saturday, July 18, 2026

Rob Groves: Trump vs Europe: A Strategy That Backfired BIG TIME

July 18, 2026 | Liz Truss just brought CPAC to London and barely anyone showed up. It's the perfect image for where Donald Trump's entire strategy for Europe stands right now.

Seven months after his National Security Strategy laid out the plan to back "patriotic European parties" across the continent, I go through exactly how it's collapsed: Orbán's landslide defeat in Hungary, Romania rejecting a Trump-aligned candidate, Giorgia Meloni's public feud with Trump over a G7 photo, Jordan Bardella refusing to share a CPAC stage with Steve Bannon, and Germany's AfD quietly edging away too.



Excellent, hard hitting, and so very true. — © Mark Alexander

Trump, Not Iran, Is the World’s Greatest Danger. He’s a One-man Weapon of Mass Destruction

THE GUARDIAN: As the bombing starts again, it’s clear the president has dragged the US into a limitless fiasco – and the world into an economic quagmire

Screenshot taken from this Guardian op-ed. | Donald Trump at Nato’s summit in Ankara, 8 July 2026, where he criticised alliance members for not supporting the US campaign against Iran. Photograph: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Feckless and clueless, Donald Trump is lost in Iran, unable to find a way out of the disastrous war he started. Once again, the US military is pummelling the country and, increasingly, its civilian infrastructure. As before, this unlawful bludgeoning strengthens the resistance of a hardline regime that cares little for its people’s suffering. How often have Trump and Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon’s wildling lord of bones, hailed a bogus victory? The president claimed this week to be “winning big”. No one believes him. Even as it counts the vast human and economic cost of his Persian folly, a watching world scoffs at US impotence.

Control of the strait of Hormuz, closed due to Trump’s belligerence, is now the White House’s limited, elusive objective. The grander US and Israeli war aims – eliminating Iran’s nuclear programme, degrading its regional militias, regime change – are less attainable than ever. It’s Trump’s craven leadership that renders US forces ineffective, not the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. If Iran really is the existential menace he claims, the logical course would be all-out conquest. When George W Bush decided Iraq posed unacceptable dangers, he invaded with 170,000 ground troops. It was a catastrophe. But at least Bush had balls. » | Simon Tisdall | Saturday, July 18, 2026

I am no military man. Far from it. But it seems to me that Trump hasn’t got a snowball’s chance in hell of winning this war against Iran. Why? Because Trump doesn’t know his enemy! That he doesn’t know his enemy is as clear as crystal. And I would say that if one is going to embark on a war, knowing one’s enemy is the starting point. If you don’t know your enemy, you have no idea what motivates them. If you don’t know what motivates them, you haven’t got a hope of winning the war!

More than this, this war is complicated even further by the fact that, when all is said and done, this is a war with religious undertones. Islam is the backdrop. And in the case of Iran, we are talking about Shia Islam, which America has far less experience with than even Sunni Islam. Going to war against an Islamic country without knowing anything meaningful about Islam and Muslims is asking for trouble. As the old wise saying instructs us: Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Without wanting to put too much of a damper on things, it seems to me that victory is Iran’s for the taking! — © Mark Alexander

Farage’s Furious Clash with Times Editor Stuns Figures Close to Him

THE GUARDIAN: ‘Strong confrontation’ comes at fragile moment for Reform’s relations with rightwing media as coverage turns negative

Screenshot taken from this Guardian article. | Nigel Farage speaking at the inaugural CPAC GB event on 17 July. Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock

Nigel Farage is no stranger to expressing his ire at what he regards as the liberal establishment, but even figures close to him were surprised at the tirade of anger he unleashed upon the editor of the Times.

The exchange, which is said to have included an expletive aimed at Tony Gallagher, was triggered by the Reform UK leader’s outrage that the paper was planning to run a story about his houses, which he said endangered his family.

A source with knowledge of the encounter said it ended in “a strong confrontation”.

It is a fragile moment for Reform’s relationship with Britain’s rightwing media, whose coverage of Farage and his byelection gamble has taken a negative turn since questions were raised about his funding and finances.

Coverage by the Times and the Sun, part of Rupert Murdoch’s News UK stable, as well as the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, has made for tough reading for Reform in recent days.

While the Telegraph has given column inches to party figures to air their grievances at the media, recent stories have also described Farage’s decision to subject himself to a “people versus the establishment” byelection in Clacton as a “summer gamble” and a farce. » | Michael Savage | Media editor | Saturday, July 18, 2026

Just a Few Thoughts on Smoking

MARK ALEXANDER: There is something exceedingly attractive about seeing a handsome man smoking a cigarette. Real cigarettes, not those damn stupid, dummy-like contraptions they call e-cigarettes. There is absolutely nothing attractive about seeing somebody vaping. E-cigarettes and vaping are for the birds. Real men smoke, not vape!

Of course it is far healthier not to smoke, ceteris paribus, all things being equal. However, in life, all things are rarely, if ever, equal. Change one thing about your lifestyle and just about everything else changes with that change. This is why young people today are often not healthier than young people of yesteryear were. Young people used to smoke and drink. These days, many young people are far too goody-goody to do that. They are risk-averse. But they are rarely much healthier, because they screw up their health in other ways instead — by injecting copious quantities of ink beneath their skin; eating junk food; taking steroids and all manner of other muscle-enhancing substances for their six-packs.

It is hard for me to think of any activity more boring than spending hours and hours in a gym! Young people are welcome to that!

When I was a young man, just about all my friends enjoyed a smoke and a drink. The ones that didn’t were thought to be a little odd! 😊 Funny thing is that none of them ended up with cancer prematurely because they were smokers. These days, however, many young people, in spite of their so-called healthy lifestyles do end up suffering from that awful disease. Sadly. They also often end up with type-2 diabetes because of all the junk food that they consume. So, I do not observe many young people being very much healthier today than they were in my generation. Nor do they appear to be any happier. My generation had lots of fun to boot! We didn’t exhaust ourselves in gyms. We smoked and sometimes got tipsy instead! 😊

I write this about smoking but, as I have said before, I am no longer a smoker. I haven’t smoked a cigarette for exactly four and a quarter years. I still love to see someone enjoying a smoke though. Especially a very handsome man. (Sorry ladies! 😊)

In my family, smoking was generally considered a man’s pursuit. I can think of few ladies in my family that were smokers. Maybe only one. Yet most of the men did smoke at one time or another.

These days, however, I come into contact with almost nobody who smokes. As a result, I can’t remember the day I was in the company of a smoker. It’s so boring! I’d love to smell the smoke emanating from someone’s burning cigarette. It would remind me of old times.

I have this theory that when people smoked, they were nicer and kinder to one another. To me, being a non-smoker is no badge of honour. All the nasty buggers in the world that I can think of are, or have been, non-smokers: Hitler, Trump, Putin. To name just three. There are plenty more, but I shall be diplomatic and refrain from mentioning them by name. They, however, know who they are.

When I was growing up, most of the adults smoked. But most of then were also very welcoming when you visited them. These days, nobody smokes but nobody entertains others either. Each person is out for himself. So, they may not be smokers, but they are not any more welcoming, either.

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© Mark Alexander

Friday, July 17, 2026

A Hot Smoker

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China’s Latest A.I. Breakthrough Threatens America’s Lead

THE NEW YORK TIMES: China’s Moonshot AI unveiled a freely available artificial intelligence model that seemed to narrow the gap with cutting-edge offerings from U.S. tech companies.

The contest between China and the United States for supremacy in artificial intelligence escalated on Friday when the Chinese start-up Moonshot AI released a new A.I. model that appeared to narrow the lead held by well-funded American competitors.

Moonshot said that the model, Kimi K3, was the world’s largest open-source A.I. system, allowing anyone to use, modify and build on it freely. The company said that Kimi K3 performed as well as leading models from OpenAI and Anthropic at some key tasks.

The release coincided with an address by Xi Jinping, China’s leader, in which he outlined an ambitious vision for global A.I. development that cast China as the champion of an open approach to the technology.

“A.I. development should not be a solo performance by a single country but a symphony of international cooperation,” Mr. Xi said. China was “ready to work with all parties to seize the opportunities of A.I. development,” he said.

The market reaction was immediate. Stocks fell on Friday, with the Nasdaq dropping about 1 percent as investors sold shares of U.S. companies that make the computer chips needed to power A.I., including Nvidia and Intel. » | Meaghan Tobin and Cade Metz | Meaghan Tobin reported from New York and Cade Metz from San Francisco. | Friday, July 17, 2026

Fabian Müller - Beethoven: Piano Sonata "Pathétique", No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13: II. Adagio cantabile

May 15, 2025

Democracy Now! Trump's Election Integrity Speech Lays Groundwork for Midterm Interference: Ari Berman

July 17, 2026


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Donald Trump Is Falling Apart | Steve Schmidt

July 17, 2026 | Donald Trump delivered the most unhinged address of his presidency last night on baseless claims of election fraud. Steve Schmidt breaks down Trump's assault on American democracy and why his threats to the 2026 midterms is the most dangerous moment in the history of the republic.


Americans are in such a fix with their man in the White House. Have they ever thought of SECTIONING him? That might well be a simple solution. Declare him INSANE and then LOCK HIM UP — FOREVER! — © Mark Alexander

Michael Lambert: I Found Out that Nobody Cares about the By-election

July 17, 2026 | I went to the seaside this week. I went to Clacton to experience the excitement of the coming by-election; but what I found was something much more concerning for our democracy.

I spoke to more than 40 people, and what astonished me was the sheer number of voters who knew nothing about the by-election or simply didn't care about politics at all.

Of those who did, the divide was stark: either a cult-like devotion to Nigel Farage, or a damning view of him as an opportunist chancer.

In this video, I break down the conversations I had, the misinformation being spread, and why the "they are all the same" narrative is dangerous for our political discourse.



Nigel Farage is indeed a charlatan. I agree with you totally. Unfortunately, many people in this country are not discerning enough to be able to observe his character flaws. I cannot help but worry for the future of democracy in this country. In fact, with Trump in power in the US as well, I cannot help but worry about the future of democracy in the West as a whole. — © Mark Alexander

Democracy Now! "Disrupt, Identify, Defund, Debank, Arrest & Prosecute": Trump Admin Threatens Leftist Groups

July 17, 2026 | Secretary of State Marco Rubio and top White House adviser Stephen Miller are pushing for a global crackdown on leftist organizations. The State Department on Thursday hosted a summit "on the resurgence of political terrorism," where Miller described the left as "enemies of civilization" and described efforts to "disrupt, identify, defund, debank, arrest and prosecute these political terrorists that are operating in our country." Rubio announced the U.S. would soon designate more left-wing groups as terrorist organizations. Also on Thursday, the State Department announced new visa restrictions targeting what it calls "members of Far-Left Terrorist and other aligned groups."

"They're putting political groups in the United States and abroad on the same footing as groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS," says independent journalist Ken Klippenstein, who has been closely following the Trump administration's designation of left-wing activism as terrorism.

"This effort to designate left-wing groups as foreign terrorists using these broad terms like 'antifa' will allow them to go after people who are not committing violence but who are simply engaging in the political process," adds former FBI special agent Mike German.



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Fin de vie : la loi légalisant l’euthanasie et le suicide assisté définitivement adoptée à l’Assemblée

LE FIGARO : Au terme d’un parcours parlementaire contrarié, entamé avant la dissolution et repris il y a un an et demi, les députés ont voté le texte par 291 voix contre 241 mercredi après-midi. Nouvelle liberté ou rupture anthropologique, ce scrutin historique signe un tournant majeur.

Un tournant majeur. La promesse d’Emmanuel Macron d’un nouveau « modèle français » de la fin de vie, légalisant l’euthanasie et le suicide assisté, aboutit finalement. Lors d’un vote historique, mercredi après-midi, les députés ont adopté la proposition de loi sur l’aide à mourir, par 291 voix contre 241, et 29 abstentions. Un vote conforme aux précédents scrutins à l’Assemblée nationale, puisque c’est la quatrième fois au total que cette réforme est validée par les parlementaires de la Chambre basse, majoritairement favorables à cette évolution sociétale. « En 2022, j’avais pris l’engagement d’ouvrir ce chemin avec les Français. Avec gravité, avec humilité, et dans le plein respect de notre démocratie, cet engagement est tenu », a salué Emmanuel Macron à l’issue du scrutin. » | Par Wally Bordas et Agnès Leclair | jeudi 16 juillet 2026

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Tarte aux tomates multicolores et à la moutarde

MADAME FIGARO: Une recette ensoleillée à réaliser en deux temps trois mouvements.

Cette capture d'écran provient de Madame Figaro. | Tarte aux tomates multicolores et à la moutarde, recette extraite de Tartes rustiques de Emilie Franzo, paru aux éditions Marabout. Emilie Franzo

Durée : 50min | Difficulté : Facile

Cliquez ici pour la recette.

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How America's Military Was Taken Over by White Supremacists | How Power Works with Matt Kennard

Jul 17, 2026 | Matt Kennard joins us on the PolJOE sofa to unpack his new book - Irregular Army: How the US Military Recruited Neo-Nazis, Gang Members and Criminals.

Kennard details how, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan dragged on, the Bush administration faced a recruitment crisis. Rather than reintroducing the draft, it loosened enlistment standards, opening the door to recruits who would previously have been barred from service. Drawing on years of investigative reporting, interviews with veterans, whistle-blowers and extremists themselves, Kennard breaks down how those policies reshaped the culture of the US military and created consequences that are still unfolding today.

He also examines the wider political legacy of those decisions, arguing that the culture fostered has since spilled into American public life - particularly through the second Trump administration. He examines the role of Pete Hegseth, explaining why his retreat from tackling extremism has institutionalised the very trends that began during the War on Terror.