LE FIGARO : Un incendie s’est déclaré ce vendredi dans un centre logistique de Wildberries en Russie après une attaque de drones qui n’a fait aucune victime. Depuis juillet, l’Ukraine a ciblé une vingtaine de sites de cette plateforme de commerce en ligne russe.
Un incendie s'est déclaré vendredi dans un centre logistique du géant russe de l'e-commerce Wildberries à Ekaterinbourg, dans l'Oural, après une nouvelle attaque contre des entrepôts de cette compagnie, dans le viseur des drones ukrainiens depuis mi-juillet. « Des pompiers sont déployés dans le centre logistique de la compagnie à Ekaterinbourg, dans la région de Sberdlovsk, où un incendie s'est déclaré à cause d'une attaque », a annoncé Wildberries dans un communiqué, en assurant que tout le personnel a été évacué à l'avance. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 7 août 2026
Friday, August 07, 2026
L'Espagne menace l'Italie de mesures de rétorsion si les contrôles aux frontières sont maintenus
LE FIGARO : « Nous appelons le gouvernement italien à revoir sa position, à mettre fin aux contrôles et à traiter les Espagnols comme les autres citoyens européens », avertit un communiqué du gouvernement espagnol.
L'Espagne a menacé vendredi 7 août l'Italie de mesures de rétorsion si Rome ne lève pas cette semaine la suspension de l'accord de libre circulation de Schengen qu'elle a instaurée à la suite de l'afflux massif de migrants dans l'enclave espagnole de Ceuta. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 7 August 2026
L'Espagne a menacé vendredi 7 août l'Italie de mesures de rétorsion si Rome ne lève pas cette semaine la suspension de l'accord de libre circulation de Schengen qu'elle a instaurée à la suite de l'afflux massif de migrants dans l'enclave espagnole de Ceuta. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 7 August 2026
What the Bible Really Says about Sex and Gender (According to Scholars)
Keith Edwards: The Truth about Trump's Wig... Reveale!
Donald Trump’s hair a a copy of his mother’s hair. He's a mammy’s boy! 😊 — © Mark Alexander
'He Wants Money' | Trump Wins Dramatic Appeal to Hide Finances In BBC Trial
Aug 7, 2026 | “Trump’s hoping for a settlement to avoid having to reveal anything.”
Trial lawyer and former Manhattan prosecutor, Catherine Christian, explains how the US president is attempting to pivot his defamation suit strictly toward "reputational harm" to keep his finances hidden.
That bloody man! — © Mark Alexander
Trial lawyer and former Manhattan prosecutor, Catherine Christian, explains how the US president is attempting to pivot his defamation suit strictly toward "reputational harm" to keep his finances hidden.
That bloody man! — © Mark Alexander
Benjamin Antoine: Lebt es sich besser in England oder Deutschland? | Eure Fragen beantwortet
Aug 7, 2026 | Willkommen! Ich heisse Benjamin, komme ursprünglich aus England und lebe seit über 15 Jahren in Deutschland.
Auf diesem Kanal geht es um die deutsche Sprache, Kultur und den Alltag – aus der Perspektive eines Engländers, der Deutschland mit der Zeit immer besser verstehen gelernt hat. Ich teile persönliche Geschichten, Beobachtungen und die kleinen Dinge, die mir erst nach vielen Jahren aufgefallen sind.
Auf diesem Kanal geht es um die deutsche Sprache, Kultur und den Alltag – aus der Perspektive eines Engländers, der Deutschland mit der Zeit immer besser verstehen gelernt hat. Ich teile persönliche Geschichten, Beobachtungen und die kleinen Dinge, die mir erst nach vielen Jahren aufgefallen sind.
Strafanzeige gegen Anthony Fauci: Kommt der Ex-Corona-Berater ins Gefängnis?
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Ein republikanisch geführter Senatsausschuss will Anthony Fauci strafrechtlich belangen. Der Fall ist juristisches Neuland – mit ungewissem Ausgang.
Der juristische Streit um den amerikanischen Immunologen und ehemaligen Regierungsberater Anthony Fauci steuert auf ein Grundsatzverfahren zu, wie es die USA in dieser Form noch nicht erlebt haben. Der Grund: So deutlich das Votum des Senatsausschusses für Heimatschutz auch ausfiel, so unklar ist, ob es am Ende wirklich zu einer Anklage kommt – und ob die dafür nötigen rechtlichen Schritte überhaupt Bestand haben.
Im Zentrum steht eine Frage, die es in dieser Zuspitzung juristisch noch nicht gab: Kann jemand das Recht zu schweigen verlieren, weil ein Präsident ihn vorsorglich begnadigt hat? Fauci selbst hatte sich bei seiner Anhörung in der vergangenen Woche mehr als hundertmal auf sein Aussageverweigerungsrecht berufen. Er begründete das mit der Annahme, die Anhörung sei letztlich darauf angelegt gewesen, ihn zu einer falschen Aussage zu verleiten. » | Franz Becchi | Freitag, 7. August 2026
Related article here.
Und hier ist ein Artikel auf Deutsch.
Der juristische Streit um den amerikanischen Immunologen und ehemaligen Regierungsberater Anthony Fauci steuert auf ein Grundsatzverfahren zu, wie es die USA in dieser Form noch nicht erlebt haben. Der Grund: So deutlich das Votum des Senatsausschusses für Heimatschutz auch ausfiel, so unklar ist, ob es am Ende wirklich zu einer Anklage kommt – und ob die dafür nötigen rechtlichen Schritte überhaupt Bestand haben.
Im Zentrum steht eine Frage, die es in dieser Zuspitzung juristisch noch nicht gab: Kann jemand das Recht zu schweigen verlieren, weil ein Präsident ihn vorsorglich begnadigt hat? Fauci selbst hatte sich bei seiner Anhörung in der vergangenen Woche mehr als hundertmal auf sein Aussageverweigerungsrecht berufen. Er begründete das mit der Annahme, die Anhörung sei letztlich darauf angelegt gewesen, ihn zu einer falschen Aussage zu verleiten. » | Franz Becchi | Freitag, 7. August 2026
Related article here.
Und hier ist ein Artikel auf Deutsch.
Le Pakistan, l’Arabie saoudite et la Turquie signent un accord de défense
LE FIGARO : Le pacte, appelé par al-Arabiya « accord de défense conjoint de La Mecque », lie les trois pays dans un contexte marqué par la guerre au Moyen-Orient.
L’Arabie saoudite, le Pakistan et la Turquie ont signé vendredi 7 août un accord de défense, a rapporté la chaîne de télévision saoudienne al-Arabiya, après l’annonce d’un sommet de dirigeants de ces trois pays. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 7 août 2026
Kochen im Tal mit Stephan Schnieder: Brathähnchen
Um das Rezept zu kriegen, klicken Sie bitte hier.
Waleed Asadi: Spicy Kufta & Rice | Levantine Meatballs in Tomato Sauce | كفتة
Important Moments in Minnesota's LGBTQ+ History | Full Documentary
July 27, 2023 | ”Out North: MNLGBTQ History" explores the untold past of Minnesota's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community and celebrates the strides the state has made since the gay liberation movement began in the 1970s.
The film lifts up the stories of well-known and largely unknown LGBTQ Minnesotans who found each other and spoke out when it was a tremendous risk to do so. The film explores some of the important ways that Minnesota has played a significant role in the national movement for LGBTQ equality. …
The film lifts up the stories of well-known and largely unknown LGBTQ Minnesotans who found each other and spoke out when it was a tremendous risk to do so. The film explores some of the important ways that Minnesota has played a significant role in the national movement for LGBTQ equality. …
Chip Franklin Skewers Stephen Miller
Vulgar language alert!
Fauci Facing Jail after Refusing to Answer Covid Questions
THE TELEGRAPH: Scientist accused of covering up government funding may be found in contempt of Congress
Screenshot taken from this Telegraph article. | Dr Anthony Fauci being sworn in before a Senate committee during which he refused to answer a question | Credit: Alex WROBLEWSKI/AFP
Dr Anthony Fauci could be jailed for up to a year after being found in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer a single question during a Covid hearing.
The scientist, who helped spearhead the White House Covid-19 task force, invoked the Fifth Amendment and claimed the Senate committee was trying to coerce him into perjuring himself to justify criminal charges.
The Fifth Amendment allows individuals in the US to remain silent under questioning to protect against self-incrimination.
He accused its Republican chairman, Senator Rand Paul, of having an “unhinged obsession” with him. » | Telegraph’s US Staff | Thursday, August 6, 2026
This whole thing resembles a witch-hunt. — © Mark Alexander
Dr Anthony Fauci could be jailed for up to a year after being found in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer a single question during a Covid hearing.
The scientist, who helped spearhead the White House Covid-19 task force, invoked the Fifth Amendment and claimed the Senate committee was trying to coerce him into perjuring himself to justify criminal charges.
The Fifth Amendment allows individuals in the US to remain silent under questioning to protect against self-incrimination.
He accused its Republican chairman, Senator Rand Paul, of having an “unhinged obsession” with him. » | Telegraph’s US Staff | Thursday, August 6, 2026
This whole thing resembles a witch-hunt. — © Mark Alexander
Seized on Their Way to Gaza, Activists Tell of Abuse in Israeli Custody
THE NEW YORK TIMES: In interviews, more than 20 people who tried to break an Israeli blockade described beatings, electric shocks and other abuse after being captured. Israel denied the accusations.
Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | Arno Meyns, a Belgian activist, at Istanbul’s airport in May after being released and deported by Israel. He said he was beaten in custody. | Credit: Ozan Kose/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
When Arno Meyns tried to sail to Gaza in May, Israeli forces intercepted his boat at gunpoint, took him to an Israeli ship and, he said, shoved him into a darkened shipping container.
Barefoot and soaked in seawater, Mr. Meyns found up to four men waiting there to attack him, he said.
“They started kicking me right away. It was dark. They punched me, too. They stopped for a moment, and then started again,” said Mr. Meyns, 34, a Belgian who is a captain for small commercial vessels.
Mr. Meyns was among more than 400 activists on a flotilla of roughly 50 boats who were apprehended on the Mediterranean Sea by Israel as they tried to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
The stated goal of the activists, who sailed from Turkey on May 14, was to bring food and humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged enclave. In reality, many expected to be detained, like those who had participated in similar flotillas, before reaching the territory. They hoped that media coverage of their journey would call attention to Israel’s restrictions on supplies to Gaza, which tightened after the war began — and which later contributed, experts said, to famine in parts of Gaza. » | Catherine Porter, Elisabetta Povoledo and Nimet Kirac | Reporting from Paris, Rome and Istanbul, the reporters spoke to 24 people who were detained when Israel intercepted their convoy. They also reviewed several activists’ medical records and spoke to legal experts about the Israelis’ actions. | Friday, August 7, 2026
When Arno Meyns tried to sail to Gaza in May, Israeli forces intercepted his boat at gunpoint, took him to an Israeli ship and, he said, shoved him into a darkened shipping container.
Barefoot and soaked in seawater, Mr. Meyns found up to four men waiting there to attack him, he said.
“They started kicking me right away. It was dark. They punched me, too. They stopped for a moment, and then started again,” said Mr. Meyns, 34, a Belgian who is a captain for small commercial vessels.
Mr. Meyns was among more than 400 activists on a flotilla of roughly 50 boats who were apprehended on the Mediterranean Sea by Israel as they tried to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
The stated goal of the activists, who sailed from Turkey on May 14, was to bring food and humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged enclave. In reality, many expected to be detained, like those who had participated in similar flotillas, before reaching the territory. They hoped that media coverage of their journey would call attention to Israel’s restrictions on supplies to Gaza, which tightened after the war began — and which later contributed, experts said, to famine in parts of Gaza. » | Catherine Porter, Elisabetta Povoledo and Nimet Kirac | Reporting from Paris, Rome and Istanbul, the reporters spoke to 24 people who were detained when Israel intercepted their convoy. They also reviewed several activists’ medical records and spoke to legal experts about the Israelis’ actions. | Friday, August 7, 2026
Eternal Life? The Secrets of the Centenarians | DW Documentary
April 20, 2026 | In the villages on Sardinia's east coast, people live longer than almost anywhere else in the world. But why? Is it due to nutrition? The good weather? Or genetics? Scientists around the world are attempting to solve the mystery.
91-year-old Antonangelo leads a busy life. Every morning, he goes to milk his flock of sheep and later, turns that milk into cheese. "Work is my life, if I stop, I'll die,” says Antonangelo. Like many Sardinians in the mountain regions, he and his wife eat almost exclusively local produce. Their recipes for a long life are exercise and healthy food.
Giuseppino is already 100 years old and still manages most of the steep paths in his home village of Villagrande on foot. Is the strenuous hillside location the secret of his longevity? Giuseppino's family takes care of him, but he still lives alone in his flat and is bursting with energy. For him, a positive attitude and a sense of humor are key to a long life.
Despite a good deal of research, the secrets of the Blue Zones still haven’t been fully explained. But one study from the region does concludes that genetics play an important role in the first half of life. For 91-year-old Carolina, it’s clear that an intact family is a prerequisite for a long life. She has no intention of going into an old people's home. For her, the most important thing is for a mother to grow old with her children. And traditional food preparation is still one of her favorite pastimes.
91-year-old Antonangelo leads a busy life. Every morning, he goes to milk his flock of sheep and later, turns that milk into cheese. "Work is my life, if I stop, I'll die,” says Antonangelo. Like many Sardinians in the mountain regions, he and his wife eat almost exclusively local produce. Their recipes for a long life are exercise and healthy food.
Giuseppino is already 100 years old and still manages most of the steep paths in his home village of Villagrande on foot. Is the strenuous hillside location the secret of his longevity? Giuseppino's family takes care of him, but he still lives alone in his flat and is bursting with energy. For him, a positive attitude and a sense of humor are key to a long life.
Despite a good deal of research, the secrets of the Blue Zones still haven’t been fully explained. But one study from the region does concludes that genetics play an important role in the first half of life. For 91-year-old Carolina, it’s clear that an intact family is a prerequisite for a long life. She has no intention of going into an old people's home. For her, the most important thing is for a mother to grow old with her children. And traditional food preparation is still one of her favorite pastimes.
« Elle est devenue une politicienne comme les autres » : Giorgia Meloni face aux surenchères de la droite radicale
LE FIGARO : À un an des législatives, la dirigeante nationale-conservatrice est concurrencée par le parti aux slogans xénophobes et prorusses du général Roberto Vannacci, qui lui reproche d’avoir trop dérivé vers le centre.
Les partisans du général Roberto Vannacci font la queue devant l’auditorium de la Conciliation. En ce matin de juin, non loin de la basilique Saint-Pierre de Rome, ils sont plus d’un millier à avoir revêtu leurs habits du dimanche pour participer à l’assemblée fondatrice du parti d’extrême droite Futuro Nazionale. « Giorgia Meloni n’a pas tenu ses promesses », déplore Massimiliano Ravanelli, venu de Sicile, qui a voté pour elle en 2022 mais se dit « déçu » par son action à la tête du gouvernement. Jean-Baptiste Jaccod, originaire du Val d’Aoste, estime que « l’Italie est en train de sombrer ». « Nous voulons renvoyer chez eux les migrants qui volent et tuent, couper les vivres à Zelensky et mettre fin à l’asservissement de notre pays par les bureaucrates européens », annonce le député des Pouilles Rossano Sasso, qui a quitté la Ligue de Matteo Salvini, en février dernier, avec le général Vannacci. » | Par Cyrille Louis Envoyé spécial à Rome | vendredi 7 août 2026
Steve Rosenberg: Russia Selling "Anti-crisis Petrol" to Counter Fuel Shortages
Aug 7, 2026 | Today’s Russian papers report on Russia’s “Anti-crisis petrol” – lower grade fuel now being sold “to prevent a petrol shortage.” One paper warns: “regular use of lower grade petrol” causes problems for modern cars. Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities have sparked summer supply problems.
Thailand School Shooting Leaves At Least Six Dead and 15 Injured | BBC News
Aug 7, 2026 | At least six people have died in a school shooting on the outskirts of Thailand's capital Bangkok, according to reports citing police.
The suspected shooter, a 14-year-old male student, has also been found dead.
One witness recalled how the suspected shooter walked from room-to-room before shooting a teacher.
Authorities have asked the public to stay away from the vicinity of the Debsirin School in Nonthaburi.
The suspected shooter, a 14-year-old male student, has also been found dead.
One witness recalled how the suspected shooter walked from room-to-room before shooting a teacher.
Authorities have asked the public to stay away from the vicinity of the Debsirin School in Nonthaburi.
Thursday, August 06, 2026
Canada's Prime Minister Just Burst Out Laughing at Trump
Homophobie im Islam: Wie verbreitet ist das?
Aug 6, 2026 | Nach dem Anschlag auf den CSD in Berlin kommt schnell raus: Der Täter war als islamistischer Gefährder eingestuft. Laut Verfassungsschutz gibt es fast 29.000 Menschen in Deutschland mit einem sogenannten Islamismuspotenzial und 410 islamistische Gefährder. Sie alle eint unter anderem: Hass auf LGBTQ. Der Verfassungsschutz spricht von Queerfeindlichkeit als "fester Bestandteil aller islamistischen Ideologien".
In unserer Doku treffen wir Tugay, einen Ex-Salafisten. Er hatte sich dieser islamistischen Strömung angeschlossen, um sich von seiner Homosexualität zu heilen. Er sagt: Deutschland muss sich endlich gegen den Islamismus stellen - und auch gegen die Queerfeindlichkeit, die dahintersteckt.
Doch auch für viele andere Gläubige ohne islamistische Denkweisen passen Homosexualität und Islam nicht zusammen.
Wir fragen uns: Wie verbreitet ist Queerfeindlichkeit grundsätzlich unter Muslimen?
In unserer Doku treffen wir Tugay, einen Ex-Salafisten. Er hatte sich dieser islamistischen Strömung angeschlossen, um sich von seiner Homosexualität zu heilen. Er sagt: Deutschland muss sich endlich gegen den Islamismus stellen - und auch gegen die Queerfeindlichkeit, die dahintersteckt.
Doch auch für viele andere Gläubige ohne islamistische Denkweisen passen Homosexualität und Islam nicht zusammen.
Wir fragen uns: Wie verbreitet ist Queerfeindlichkeit grundsätzlich unter Muslimen?
Hantavirus : un touriste ayant transité en France testé positif
LE FIGARO : Ce patient, désormais isolé en Espagne, avait peu de symptômes et n’en présente plus aujourd’hui. Toutes les mesures sont mises en place pour retracer les étapes de son parcours.
Un nouveau cas de hantavirus de la souche Andes a été détecté chez une personne franco-argentine ayant transité par la France durant la deuxième quinzaine de juillet, à l’occasion d’un « voyage touristique », avant d’être isolée « avec sa famille en Espagne », a annoncé jeudi 6 août le ministère français de la Santé. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 6 août 2026
Un nouveau cas de hantavirus de la souche Andes a été détecté chez une personne franco-argentine ayant transité par la France durant la deuxième quinzaine de juillet, à l’occasion d’un « voyage touristique », avant d’être isolée « avec sa famille en Espagne », a annoncé jeudi 6 août le ministère français de la Santé. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 6 août 2026
Democracy Now! Top US & World Headlines
Democracy Now! can be supported here.
America is falling into a New Dark Age! — © Mark Alexander
NYC Mayor Mamdani Reacts to Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan Victory | Full Remarks
August 5, 2026 | New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reacts to Dr. Abdul El-Sayed's victory in Michigan's Democratic U.S. Senate primary, congratulating the progressive candidate while pushing back against criticism from Republican leaders.
Speaking during a press conference, Mamdani praised El-Sayed's campaign message of "money out of politics, money in your pocket, Medicare for All," saying it resonated with working-class Americans despite tens of millions of dollars in outside spending. He also dismissed comparisons labeling El-Sayed a "Mini Mamdani," joking, "He can lift a lot more than I can," while arguing Republicans are out of touch with voters' real concerns.
Speaking during a press conference, Mamdani praised El-Sayed's campaign message of "money out of politics, money in your pocket, Medicare for All," saying it resonated with working-class Americans despite tens of millions of dollars in outside spending. He also dismissed comparisons labeling El-Sayed a "Mini Mamdani," joking, "He can lift a lot more than I can," while arguing Republicans are out of touch with voters' real concerns.
Streit um Corona-Aufarbeitung eskaliert: US-Republikaner wollen Immunologen Fauci strafrechtlich belangen
Er ist schon seit Jahren eine Hassfigur für US-Präsident Donald Trump und die Republikaner. Nun drohen dem Immunologen und früheren Corona-Regierungsberater Dr. Anthony Fauci schwerwiegende juristische Konsequenzen.
Der Ausschuss für innere Sicherheit und Regierungsangelegenheiten des US-Senats will am heutigen Donnerstag um 15.30 Uhr deutscher Zeit darüber abstimmen, ob Fauci wegen Missachtung des Kongresses – also des US-Parlaments – angeklagt werden soll. » | Von Lars von Törne | Donnerstag, 6. August 2026
Acclamé par des milliers de jeunes à Assise, le pape Léon XIV appelle à une « civilisation de l’amour »
LE FIGARO : Le pape Léon XIV a rencontré des milliers de jeunes Européens ce jeudi 6 août, à Assise (Italie), à l’occasion du 800e anniversaire de la mort de saint François.
Le pape Léon XIV s’est offert un bain de foule lors de son arrivée à Assise, en Italie, ce jeudi 6 août. Des milliers de jeunes venus de toute l’Europe sont venus l’acclamer sur la place de la basilique Sainte-Marie-des-Anges, à l’occasion du 800e anniversaire de la mort de saint François. La basilique a été construite autour de la chapelle où François d’Assise fonda son mouvement au XIIIe siècle et mourut en 1226. » | Par Marion Deygas | jeudi 6 août 2026
Le pape Léon XIV s’est offert un bain de foule lors de son arrivée à Assise, en Italie, ce jeudi 6 août. Des milliers de jeunes venus de toute l’Europe sont venus l’acclamer sur la place de la basilique Sainte-Marie-des-Anges, à l’occasion du 800e anniversaire de la mort de saint François. La basilique a été construite autour de la chapelle où François d’Assise fonda son mouvement au XIIIe siècle et mourut en 1226. » | Par Marion Deygas | jeudi 6 août 2026
Iran : le président iranien juge la communication avec le guide suprême « très difficile »
LE FIGARO : Massoud Pezeshkian affirme que la communication avec le guide suprême Mojtaba Khamenei est « très difficile » depuis sa nomination. Blessé lors de la guerre avec Israël et les États-Unis, le nouveau dirigeant reste discret.
Le président iranien Massoud Pezeshkian a affirmé mercredi que la communication avec le guide suprême Mojtaba Khamenei, qui n'est pas apparu en public depuis sa nomination en mars, était « très difficile en ce moment ». « La communication avec lui est très difficile en ce moment mais sa présence constitue quoiqu'il en soit un atout majeur pour nous, qui nous permet de continuer », a déclaré Massoud Pezeshkian lors d'une allocution télévisée, au sujet du fils et successeur d'Ali Khamenei, tué au premier jour de la guerre lancée par Israël et les États-Unis contre l'Iran le 28 février. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 6 août 2026
Le président iranien Massoud Pezeshkian a affirmé mercredi que la communication avec le guide suprême Mojtaba Khamenei, qui n'est pas apparu en public depuis sa nomination en mars, était « très difficile en ce moment ». « La communication avec lui est très difficile en ce moment mais sa présence constitue quoiqu'il en soit un atout majeur pour nous, qui nous permet de continuer », a déclaré Massoud Pezeshkian lors d'une allocution télévisée, au sujet du fils et successeur d'Ali Khamenei, tué au premier jour de la guerre lancée par Israël et les États-Unis contre l'Iran le 28 février. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 6 août 2026
Steve Rosenberg: The Language of War: How Moscow Describes Its War on Ukraine
Sandra Navidi: Die Trump’sche Testosteronkrise: Das Männlichkeitsbild der Republikaner
Europe’s Control of Its Fate Is Tested by Iran and Ukraine Wars, Wildfires and Migration
THE NEW YORK TIMES: A brutal summer has exposed how much Britain, France, Spain and other European countries are under pressure from forces largely out of their control.
Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | Firefighters in Lanton, a town southwest of Bordeaux, France, last week. | Credit: Pierre Crom/Getty Images
Once again in recent days, Europe has seemed to be watching from the sidelines as its destiny is shaped by outside forces.
Would President Trump choose to restart a massive war with Iran and drive up the cost of oil? Would global warming drive wider and worse wildfires, even as several already raged across the continent? Would a sudden, unexplained surge of people across the Moroccan border into a Spanish exclave — almost all of whom were immediately sent back — divide the bloc’s leaders and fuel the far right?
It has already been a brutal summer for Europe: two wars, record heat, rising inflation and deep anxiety about food, energy and security. The back-to-back crises are prompting calls for joint action, urgent Zoom meetings between different groups of presidents and prime ministers, and political hand-wringing in parliaments from Poland to the United Kingdom.
But like so much else that has happened in the past several years, many of Europe’s challenges are out of its control. » | Michael D. Shear | Michael Shear often writes about the challenges facing European countries as they are forced to rely less on support from the United States. | Thursday, August 6, 2026
Once again in recent days, Europe has seemed to be watching from the sidelines as its destiny is shaped by outside forces.
Would President Trump choose to restart a massive war with Iran and drive up the cost of oil? Would global warming drive wider and worse wildfires, even as several already raged across the continent? Would a sudden, unexplained surge of people across the Moroccan border into a Spanish exclave — almost all of whom were immediately sent back — divide the bloc’s leaders and fuel the far right?
It has already been a brutal summer for Europe: two wars, record heat, rising inflation and deep anxiety about food, energy and security. The back-to-back crises are prompting calls for joint action, urgent Zoom meetings between different groups of presidents and prime ministers, and political hand-wringing in parliaments from Poland to the United Kingdom.
But like so much else that has happened in the past several years, many of Europe’s challenges are out of its control. » | Michael D. Shear | Michael Shear often writes about the challenges facing European countries as they are forced to rely less on support from the United States. | Thursday, August 6, 2026
Wednesday, August 05, 2026
Why Congress Wants a Closer U.S.-Israel Defense Partnership
THE NEW YORK TIMES: A proposal making its way through Congress would integrate the U.S. and Israeli defense and intelligence apparatuses more tightly. Some worry that it is a bad idea.
For decades, the United States has supported Israel’s security by providing billions of dollars a year in military assistance and by working with its close partner on intelligence, missile defense and weapons development.
Now, with U.S. political support for sending military funding to Israel dropping off sharply, Congress is considering phasing out the financial commitment and instead undertaking a far more integrated defense and technology partnership built around legally mandated defense industrial cooperation between the two nations.
Both the House and Senate have included such a proposal in the annual defense policy bill, laying the groundwork for melding U.S. and Israeli defense and intelligence capabilities in profound ways that some critics find alarming.
President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel are pushing for the shift, which comes as lawmakers on the right and left have grown increasingly hostile to sending taxpayer dollars to Israel’s military.
Supporters argue the move would benefit the United States, allowing it to capitalize on Israel’s defense and intelligence innovations. They say it would elevate the U.S.-Israel relationship from one of donor and recipient to a strategic partnership.
But some lawmakers fear that such deep ties could blur the lines between supporting an ally and effectively allowing Israel’s military to become intertwined with the Pentagon in ways that could be dangerous and difficult to unwind. » | Robert Jimison | Reporting from the Capitol | Wednesday, August 5, 2026
For decades, the United States has supported Israel’s security by providing billions of dollars a year in military assistance and by working with its close partner on intelligence, missile defense and weapons development.
Now, with U.S. political support for sending military funding to Israel dropping off sharply, Congress is considering phasing out the financial commitment and instead undertaking a far more integrated defense and technology partnership built around legally mandated defense industrial cooperation between the two nations.
Both the House and Senate have included such a proposal in the annual defense policy bill, laying the groundwork for melding U.S. and Israeli defense and intelligence capabilities in profound ways that some critics find alarming.
President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel are pushing for the shift, which comes as lawmakers on the right and left have grown increasingly hostile to sending taxpayer dollars to Israel’s military.
Supporters argue the move would benefit the United States, allowing it to capitalize on Israel’s defense and intelligence innovations. They say it would elevate the U.S.-Israel relationship from one of donor and recipient to a strategic partnership.
But some lawmakers fear that such deep ties could blur the lines between supporting an ally and effectively allowing Israel’s military to become intertwined with the Pentagon in ways that could be dangerous and difficult to unwind. » | Robert Jimison | Reporting from the Capitol | Wednesday, August 5, 2026
« Io sono una donna ! » : Giorgia Meloni, une femme contre les féministes
LE FIGARO : Sa condition de femme et la manière dont elle l’envisage occupent une place centrale dans le parcours peu commun de la dirigeante italienne, bien qu’elle n’épouse pas la cause des féministes.
Giorgia Meloni a bien failli ne pas naître. Elle confie au tout début de son autobiographie (1) que sa mère, tombée enceinte alors qu’elle avait déjà une fille en bas âge, et que son couple battait de l’aile, fut sur le point d’avorter avant d’y renoncer in extremis. Son compagnon, militant communiste et comptable de profession, disparut du domicile familial deux ans après sa naissance afin de s’installer aux Canaries, où il écopa d’une peine de prison pour trafic de cannabis. L’enfant avait 11 ans lorsqu’elle prit la décision de ne plus jamais le revoir. Elle a grandi dans un univers féminin, élevée par une mère qui gagnait sa vie en écrivant des romans à l’eau de rose, aux côtés d’une sœur dont elle ne s’est jamais éloignée. « Le besoin constant d’être à la hauteur et acceptée dans un environnement surtout masculin, observe-t-elle en référence à sa carrière politique, vient probablement du manque d’amour de mon père. »
Sa condition de femme et la manière dont elle l’envisage occupent une place centrale dans un parcours peu commun. Giorgia Meloni aime à souligner qu’elle a brisé de multiples plafonds de verre en devenant tour à tour la plus jeune ministre, la première chef d’un grand parti national et la première présidente du Conseil de l’histoire italienne. À l’automne 2019, devant ses partisans rassemblés à Rome, elle en tira une anaphore mémorable. « Je suis Giorgia, je suis une femme, je suis une mère, je suis italienne, je suis chrétienne, scanda-t-elle devant un public enthousiaste, et vous ne me l’enlèverez pas ! » Un duo de DJ milanais remixa aussitôt son discours, dont il confia par la suite avoir voulu tourner en ridicule les accents identitaires. L’effet atteint fut cependant l’inverse de celui recherché. Leur morceau, qui fit un tabac sur internet, amplifia brusquement sa notoriété. » | Par Cyrille Louis, envoyé spécial à Rome | mercredi 5 août 2026
Gay Lives in Straight Marriages | Dr. Jallen Rix
Donald Trump and MAGA Have No Shame | Steve Schmidt
Trump is living in Cloud Cuckoo Land! — © Mark Alexander
Steve Jobs and the Apple Story - From Rebel to Tech Titan | DW Documentary
August 5, 2026 | As Apple turns 50, this film tells the story of the tech company that revolutionized our world, along with its opportunities and downsides. Has this tool of liberation become an instrument of control?
Founded 50 years ago, Apple grew from a counterculture movement into a global corporation. The film looks back at the breathtaking rise of headstrong visionary Steve Jobs, who never gave up on his dream despite fierce competition, his destructive perfectionism and even his ousting from his own company.
Colleagues and companions shine light on the expertise behind Apple: designer Hartmut Esslinger created Apple's legendary 'Snow White' design language, and typographer Erik Spiekermann developed ground-breaking typefaces. People like Daniel Kottke, a former flat mate of Steve Jobs and one of the first Apple employees, share insights into the inner workings of the legendary team. Andy Cunningham, who was sacked by Jobs a total of five times, also weighs in.
Founded 50 years ago, Apple grew from a counterculture movement into a global corporation. The film looks back at the breathtaking rise of headstrong visionary Steve Jobs, who never gave up on his dream despite fierce competition, his destructive perfectionism and even his ousting from his own company.
Colleagues and companions shine light on the expertise behind Apple: designer Hartmut Esslinger created Apple's legendary 'Snow White' design language, and typographer Erik Spiekermann developed ground-breaking typefaces. People like Daniel Kottke, a former flat mate of Steve Jobs and one of the first Apple employees, share insights into the inner workings of the legendary team. Andy Cunningham, who was sacked by Jobs a total of five times, also weighs in.
Un député veut taxer les cigarettes pour financer la lutte contre les incendies
LE FIGARO : EXCLUSIF - Face à la pollution et aux départs de feu causés par les mégots jetés dans la nature, Yannick Neuder propose une contribution des industriels. Elle servirait aussi à financer la réparation des milieux contaminés par ces déchets.
Faut-il ajouter une taxe de plus sur les cigarettes pour financer la lutte contre les incendies ? Le député LR Yannick Neuder, ancien ministre de la Santé sous François Bayrou, va déposer une proposition de loi (PPL) pour créer un fonds alimenté par les industriels du tabac. Il servirait à aider les services d’incendie et de secours à investir pour mieux s’équiper, mais aussi à financer la régénération des milieux naturels après un incendie, tout comme la dépollution des sols et des eaux contaminés par les jets de mégots.
« Il ne s’agit pas d’un dispositif moralisateur qui vise les consommateurs ou les buralistes », défend Yannick Neuder auprès du Figaro. Concrètement, le député propose une contribution de 15 euros pour 1000 cigarettes vendues, facturée directement aux industriels. Cela représente environ 30 centimes pour un paquet de 20 cigarettes, « mais l’industriel n’est pas obligé de la reporter directement sur le prix de vente ». En se basant sur les ventes de 2025, cela représenterait 350 millions d’euros de recettes supplémentaires. » | Par Thibaut Déléaz | mercredi 5 août 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Houthis Threaten to Expand Red Sea Attacks, and Claim Strike on Saudi Tanker
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Saudi Arabia has not commented on the claim by the Houthis, who are backed by Iran and have vowed to close “all access routes” to Saudi oil shipments.
The Houthis, an Iranian-backed militia in Yemen, said Wednesday that they had struck a Saudi oil tanker in the northern Red Sea, and they threatened to intensify attacks there in an effort to close “all access routes” to Saudi oil shipments.
The Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said the group had fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi tanker called Wafa near the Saudi port city of Yanbu, though he did not say when the attack had occurred. The Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Houthis’ claim.
The Houthis declared a blockade of Saudi shipping last month. The territory they control in Yemen is near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow waterway that leads into the southern end of the Red Sea.
The group claimed on Wednesday to have attacked eight ships linked to Saudi Arabia since the blockade. The strikes have forced some shipping companies to reroute to the northern part of the Red Sea. The group’s latest threat suggested that it would pursue Saudi tankers there also, in waters heading toward the Suez Canal, another crucial artery for global trade. The global oil price, after two days of declines, jumped 1 percent on Wednesday, to about $80 a barrel. » | Euan Ward and Ismaeel Naar | Euan Ward reported from Beirut, Lebanon, and Ismaeel Naar from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.| Wednesday, August 5, 2026
The Houthis, an Iranian-backed militia in Yemen, said Wednesday that they had struck a Saudi oil tanker in the northern Red Sea, and they threatened to intensify attacks there in an effort to close “all access routes” to Saudi oil shipments.
The Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said the group had fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi tanker called Wafa near the Saudi port city of Yanbu, though he did not say when the attack had occurred. The Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Houthis’ claim.
The Houthis declared a blockade of Saudi shipping last month. The territory they control in Yemen is near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow waterway that leads into the southern end of the Red Sea.
The group claimed on Wednesday to have attacked eight ships linked to Saudi Arabia since the blockade. The strikes have forced some shipping companies to reroute to the northern part of the Red Sea. The group’s latest threat suggested that it would pursue Saudi tankers there also, in waters heading toward the Suez Canal, another crucial artery for global trade. The global oil price, after two days of declines, jumped 1 percent on Wednesday, to about $80 a barrel. » | Euan Ward and Ismaeel Naar | Euan Ward reported from Beirut, Lebanon, and Ismaeel Naar from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.| Wednesday, August 5, 2026
HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN: Turkish Doner Kebab You Can Actually Make at Home, Even on Stove-top
June 9, 2021 | Doner [also döner] is known worldwide. This is a Turkish delicacy and it is usually cooked on special vertical rotisseries designed for doner kebab. It's also quite easy to make doner at home, even better than the ones you can find in European or American kebab shops.
In this video, I'll show you how to make an amazingly flavorful doner at home with a mix of lamb and beef, which will definitely impress you and your friends. Get ready for the best homemade doner kebab recipe!
Information about the lamb fat: Lamb fat is traditionally used in kebabs and doners for its unique taste and is a signature ingredient in Turkish meat dishes. In Turkey, traditionally "fail fat" from the lamb is used, however this part of the lamb is usually not available in Europe or the U.S. Instead, you can also ask your butcher for lamb fat trimmed from the belly or ribs of the lamb. This will also add a very similar flavor to your kebabs and doner.
Click here for a full list of the ingredients. Then click on ‘more’.
HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN can be supported on Patreon here.
“Ayran is a popular, traditional cold yogurt beverage made from just three simple ingredients: yogurt, water, and salt. Widely considered the national drink of Turkey, it is light, frothy, tangy, and savory.”
To make it, you’ll need:
“Yogurt: Plain yogurt forms the creamy base.
Water: Chilled water is blended in to thin the yogurt into a drinkable consistency.
Salt: A pinch of salt is added to enhance flavor and provide a savory profile.
Texture: Whisked or blended until a light, foamy layer forms on top"
[Source: Google AI]
In this video, I'll show you how to make an amazingly flavorful doner at home with a mix of lamb and beef, which will definitely impress you and your friends. Get ready for the best homemade doner kebab recipe!
Information about the lamb fat: Lamb fat is traditionally used in kebabs and doners for its unique taste and is a signature ingredient in Turkish meat dishes. In Turkey, traditionally "fail fat" from the lamb is used, however this part of the lamb is usually not available in Europe or the U.S. Instead, you can also ask your butcher for lamb fat trimmed from the belly or ribs of the lamb. This will also add a very similar flavor to your kebabs and doner.
Click here for a full list of the ingredients. Then click on ‘more’.
HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN can be supported on Patreon here.
“Ayran is a popular, traditional cold yogurt beverage made from just three simple ingredients: yogurt, water, and salt. Widely considered the national drink of Turkey, it is light, frothy, tangy, and savory.”
To make it, you’ll need:
“Yogurt: Plain yogurt forms the creamy base.
Water: Chilled water is blended in to thin the yogurt into a drinkable consistency.
Salt: A pinch of salt is added to enhance flavor and provide a savory profile.
Texture: Whisked or blended until a light, foamy layer forms on top"
[Source: Google AI]
Paul Krugman: An Explosion of Misery
Trump and his acolytes are disgusting, cruel, people who are devoid of all compassion, mercy, decency and honesty. They should never have been entrusted with the levers of power in the first place. — © Mark Alexander
Israels Ministerpräsident zu Trumps Gaza-Plan: „Wir haben nicht zugestimmt, es ist nicht unser Entwurf“
Israels Regierungschef Benjamin Netanjahu hat den Plan von US-Präsident Donald Trump für ein Ende des Kriegs im Gazastreifen erneut abgelehnt. „Wir haben nicht zugestimmt, es ist nicht unser Entwurf“, sagte Netanjahu in einem in der Nacht zum Mittwoch in Onlinediensten veröffentlichten Video. Trump hatte seine Pläne für eine Entwaffnung der Hamas und einen Rückzug der israelischen Armee als „Meilenstein“ bezeichnet.
Trumps Team glaube, „dass es für eine Entwaffnung der Hamas und eine Entmilitarisierung des Gazastreifens sorgen kann. Das prüfen wir“, sagte Netanjahu weiter. Er habe Änderungsvorschläge gemacht. Netanjahus teils rechtsextreme Koalitionspartner erhöhten in den vergangenen Tagen den Druck, die Vereinbarung abzulehnen. » | Tagesspiegel | Mittwoch, 5. August 2026
Aux États-Unis, l’épidémie de « diarrhées explosives » fait deux morts
LE FIGARO : Une enquête a permis de déterminer qu’une partie des contaminations était liée à la consommation d’une laitue iceberg produite au Mexique.
Dans l’État du Michigan, deux personnes sont décédées après une contamination à cyclosporose, une maladie d’origine alimentaire provoquant des diarrhées explosives, a annoncé le département local de la Santé et des Services sociaux. Selon les centres américains de prévention et de contrôle des maladies (CDC), 6707 cas ont été confirmés aux États-Unis entre le 1er mai 2026 et le 27 juillet. Parmi eux, 423 ont conduit à une hospitalisation. Fin juillet, 45 États américains avaient signalé des cas.
Cette maladie intestinale causée par un parasite microscopique appelé cyclospora, se contracte après l’ingestion d’aliments ou d’une eau contaminée. Lorsque des symptômes se présentent - ce n’est pas toujours le cas - , il s’agit de diarrhées « avec des selles fréquentes et parfois explosives », s’accompagnant de vomissements ou de crampes comme l’indique l’agence de santé publique. » | Par Solène Vary | mercredi 5 août 2026
Dans l’État du Michigan, deux personnes sont décédées après une contamination à cyclosporose, une maladie d’origine alimentaire provoquant des diarrhées explosives, a annoncé le département local de la Santé et des Services sociaux. Selon les centres américains de prévention et de contrôle des maladies (CDC), 6707 cas ont été confirmés aux États-Unis entre le 1er mai 2026 et le 27 juillet. Parmi eux, 423 ont conduit à une hospitalisation. Fin juillet, 45 États américains avaient signalé des cas.
Cette maladie intestinale causée par un parasite microscopique appelé cyclospora, se contracte après l’ingestion d’aliments ou d’une eau contaminée. Lorsque des symptômes se présentent - ce n’est pas toujours le cas - , il s’agit de diarrhées « avec des selles fréquentes et parfois explosives », s’accompagnant de vomissements ou de crampes comme l’indique l’agence de santé publique. » | Par Solène Vary | mercredi 5 août 2026
Waleed Asadi: Middle Eastern-style Eggplant Bruschetta
This is the correct pronunciation of the word ‘bruschetta’ as told to us by an Italian lady here »
Trump's Phantom Enemies
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