THE NEW YORK TIMES: María Corina Machado is being honored for her push for democracy even as she backs President Trump’s military buildup and aggressive campaign against Venezuela.
When the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that it would award María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s de facto opposition leader, the peace prize, it lauded her for pursuing a peaceful transition to democracy.
But as Ms. Machado prepares to formally receive the award on Wednesday, the committee has come under criticism over her statements as U.S. warships amass in the Caribbean and the Trump administration readies to make a possible move against Venezuela’s autocratic leader.
Ms. Machado has firmly embraced President Trump’s military buildup and has publicly expressed her support for using force to oust the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro.
She has also repeated debunked claims that Mr. Maduro manipulated U.S. elections, fueling accusations that she is amplifying misinformation to gain favor with the Trump administration. » | Genevieve Glatsky and Henrik Pryser Libell | Genevieve Glatsky reported from Bogotá, Colombia, and Henrik Pryser Libell from Oslo. | Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Leer en español.
Venezuelan Dissident Appears in Norway After Missing Nobel Ceremony: María Corina Machado, who spent over a year in hiding in Venezuela, greeted supporters in Oslo, hours after her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in her name. »
Thursday, December 11, 2025
How German Politicians Are Responding to the US National Security Strategy | DW News
Trump Attacks Europe in Blunt Politico Interview | DW News
Donald Trump Melts Down at Black Woman When She Asks about His Lies
Venezuela Decries ‘Act of Piracy’ after US Forces Seize Oil Tanker Off Country’s Coast
THE GUARDIAN: Footage uploaded to X by US attorney general shows its forces landing on the tanker in major escalation of Trump’s pressure campaign
US forces have seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, in a major escalation of Donald Trump’s four-month pressure campaign against the South American country’s dictator, Nicolás Maduro, whose government called the seizure “an act of international piracy”.
Trump confirmed the operation on Wednesday, saying: “We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela – a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized actually.”
“It was seized for a very good reason,” the US president added, declining to say who owned the vessel.
Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, posted footage of the seizure on X. The grainy, unclassified 45-second video shows US forces landing on the tanker from a helicopter.
In an accompanying statement, Bondi said the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the US Coast Guard, with support from the Department of Defense, had “executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran”. » | Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro and Andrew Roth in Washington | Thursday, December 11, 2025
US forces have seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, in a major escalation of Donald Trump’s four-month pressure campaign against the South American country’s dictator, Nicolás Maduro, whose government called the seizure “an act of international piracy”.
Trump confirmed the operation on Wednesday, saying: “We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela – a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized actually.”
“It was seized for a very good reason,” the US president added, declining to say who owned the vessel.
Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, posted footage of the seizure on X. The grainy, unclassified 45-second video shows US forces landing on the tanker from a helicopter.
In an accompanying statement, Bondi said the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the US Coast Guard, with support from the Department of Defense, had “executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran”. » | Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro and Andrew Roth in Washington | Thursday, December 11, 2025
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Donald Trump Is Pushing to Illegally Put His Face on Our Money
The End of Trump?
Sablé étoile des neiges de Noël
MADAME FIGARO : Ces petites étoiles au sucre glace sont à tester d'urgence pour Noël ou pour la Saint-Sylvestre.
Voici la recette de ces délicieux biscuits de Noël.
Übrigens sind diese Weihnachtsgebäck meine Favoriten überhaupt. Ich kenne sie von meinem damaligen Aufenthalt in Zürich, wo sie Weihnachtssterne genannt werden. — © Mark Alexander
Übrigens sind diese Weihnachtsgebäck meine Favoriten überhaupt. Ich kenne sie von meinem damaligen Aufenthalt in Zürich, wo sie Weihnachtssterne genannt werden. — © Mark Alexander
Why Did Trump Give America’s Struggling Economy an “A+++”?
Trump is a corrupt clown and his economy is sh**, except perhaps for the superrich. Kick the B out of the White House asap! Trump belongs in JAIL! — © Mark Alexander
I Blog for Free. Isn’t It HIGH TIME that YOU Became a Follower?
MARK ALEXANDER: After all the pleasure that I have brought you, isn’t it high time that YOU bring me a little pleasure, too?
What’s your problem? FOLLOW ME!
Mark Alexander
What’s your problem? FOLLOW ME!
Mark Alexander
Trump Says Zelenskyy Using War as Reason Not to Hold Election | BBC News
Dec 10, 2025 | US President Donald Trump has repeated calls for Kyiv to hold elections and claimed it was "using war" as a reason not to do so. He said: "You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it's not a democracy anymore."
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's five-year term as president was due to end in May 2024, but elections have been suspended in Ukraine since martial law was declared after Russia's invasion.
Speaking to reporters after Trump's comments, Zelenskyy said he was "ready for the elections" and he would ask for proposals to be drawn up which could change the law.
It comes as Trump criticised European leaders as "weak" and suggested the US could scale back support for Ukraine.
Trump is NOT WORTHY of the high office he holds. He is the WORST president in American history. — © Mark Alexander
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's five-year term as president was due to end in May 2024, but elections have been suspended in Ukraine since martial law was declared after Russia's invasion.
Speaking to reporters after Trump's comments, Zelenskyy said he was "ready for the elections" and he would ask for proposals to be drawn up which could change the law.
It comes as Trump criticised European leaders as "weak" and suggested the US could scale back support for Ukraine.
Trump is NOT WORTHY of the high office he holds. He is the WORST president in American history. — © Mark Alexander
Pleiten auf Rekordhoch, Haushalte verarmen – und Merz hat immer noch keinen Plan
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Während immer mehr Firmen kippen und Haushalte ins Minus rutschen, fährt die Industrie laut Ifo-Institut ihre Investitionen drastisch zurück. Wo ist Merz? Ein Kommentar.
Vor wenigen Tagen meldete das Jüdische Krankenhaus Berlin nach 260 Jahren Insolvenz in Eigenverwaltung an, ausgelöst durch Reformdruck, Sparbeschlüsse und explodierende Kosten. Kurz davor fiel in Thüringen die 116 Jahre alte Porzellanmarke Könitz, die zwei Weltkriege, die DDR-Planwirtschaft und die Nachwendezeit überstand, aber nicht mehr die Kombination aus Rechtsstreit und steigenden Produktionskosten.
Und nun rutscht mit Mocopinus auch ein traditionsreicher Holzverarbeiter in die Insolvenz – mit Sitz in Ulm und Standorten unter anderem in Leipzig. Und das ausgerechnet in einer Branche, die eigentlich boomt. » | Liudmila Kotlyarova | Mittwoch, 10. Dezember 2025
Vor wenigen Tagen meldete das Jüdische Krankenhaus Berlin nach 260 Jahren Insolvenz in Eigenverwaltung an, ausgelöst durch Reformdruck, Sparbeschlüsse und explodierende Kosten. Kurz davor fiel in Thüringen die 116 Jahre alte Porzellanmarke Könitz, die zwei Weltkriege, die DDR-Planwirtschaft und die Nachwendezeit überstand, aber nicht mehr die Kombination aus Rechtsstreit und steigenden Produktionskosten.
Und nun rutscht mit Mocopinus auch ein traditionsreicher Holzverarbeiter in die Insolvenz – mit Sitz in Ulm und Standorten unter anderem in Leipzig. Und das ausgerechnet in einer Branche, die eigentlich boomt. » | Liudmila Kotlyarova | Mittwoch, 10. Dezember 2025
Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines
Donald Trump is such a vile, coarse, wulgar, racist man. It is truly difficult to understand how Americans could have been so stupid to have re-elected him into office. In so doing, they have not only ruined their own country, but they have potentially ruined the West as well. — © Mark Alexander
Enya : Caribbean Blue | Official Video
Marlene Dietrich : Lili Marlene | deutsche Version | Reupload
Rauchen werden die Politiker nie ausradieren können. NIE! Rauchen ist viel zu sexy. Es is auch cool. Es ist immer cool gewesen und wird immer cool sein. Kein Politiker kann diese Tatsache ändern. Möglicherweise wird das Rauchen von Zeit zu Zeit aus der Mode fallen, aber seien Sie sicher, es wird immer wieder in die Mode kommen. Eine Kippe zu rauchen ist für viele ein Hochgenuß. Kein wohlwollender Politiker kann diese Tatsache ändern. — © Mark Alexander
What Is Everyone Talking About This Week: (Whisper It) Is Smoking Back?
COUNTRY LIFE: You’d be forgiven for thinking that young people are a bunch of mopes, who refuse to drink, go dancing or have sex and are ruining British nightlife for all — but you're wrong, says Will Hosie.
Listen to the media (not me, mind) and you’d be forgiven for thinking that young people are a bunch of mopes, who refuse to drink, go dancing or have sex and are ruining British nightlife for all. Rejoice, then, for the tide is turning. A recent book by Norwegian sociologist Willy Pedersen argues that binge drinking in one’s youth can improve career prospects. People have taken note: The Hart in Marylebone, is rammed every night.
Although there’s something to be said for correlation over causation — those who can afford a £7 pint have likely had a leg up in other parts of life — this hasn’t stopped columnists from extolling the virtues of hard living. ‘My generation,’ wrote former British Vogue editor Alexandra Schulman in the Mail on Sunday recently, ‘drank our way to the top.’ With pride, I daresay.
Teenagers addicted to vapes are now using cigarettes to wean themselves off'
They smoked, too — several packs a day. To the chagrin of doctors, nurses and vape lobbyists, the habit is back with a vengeance. Riding the success of her culture-lassoing album, West End Girl, Lily Allen graced the runway last month for 16Arlington sporting a glamorous Holly Golightly-style dress and the ultimate style accessory: a Vogue. » | Will Hosie | Monday, December 8, 2025
ITVX: Smoking to be banned for future generations in Wales as landmark bill voted through: People turning 18 from 2027 will never be able to legally buy cigarettes in Wales. / That's after the Senedd voted to pass a landmark Bill affecting anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. / From 2027, it will become illegal to sell tobacco to anyone who is 18 years old. »
MAJORCA DAILY BULLETIN: Last orders for smoking on bar and restaurant terraces in Spain: Government gets tough as tobacco prices increase again »
No wonder the far right is gaining in strength right across the continent (including in the UK). Politicians have lost all common sense. They sweat the little things whilst the continent is under existential threat from Russia! Are simple pleasures and fun to be outlawed for future generations now? These bans MUST FAIL. They will HAVE TO BE OVERTURNED! And these ridiculous politicians must be kicked out of office.
By the way, I write this as a non-smoker. As an ex-smoker to be precise. In fact, I notice that it is the tenth of December. That being the case, it is precisely THREE YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS since I smoked my last cigarette. Naturally, as I had been a lifelong smoker, I am very proud of my achievement. In April, it will be exactly four years that I will be smoke-free.
However, smoking gave me years and years of pleasure so, just because I have quit, I do not expect the rest of the world to quit with me. I do not wish to deny others one of life’s greatest pleasures: smoking a fine cigarette, especially with a quality drink.
Were I to be in the position of doing so, there are many things in this world that I might consider banning, but that certainly would not be smoking a humble cigarette.
The western world is turning into a madhouse! — © Mark Alexander
Listen to the media (not me, mind) and you’d be forgiven for thinking that young people are a bunch of mopes, who refuse to drink, go dancing or have sex and are ruining British nightlife for all. Rejoice, then, for the tide is turning. A recent book by Norwegian sociologist Willy Pedersen argues that binge drinking in one’s youth can improve career prospects. People have taken note: The Hart in Marylebone, is rammed every night.
Although there’s something to be said for correlation over causation — those who can afford a £7 pint have likely had a leg up in other parts of life — this hasn’t stopped columnists from extolling the virtues of hard living. ‘My generation,’ wrote former British Vogue editor Alexandra Schulman in the Mail on Sunday recently, ‘drank our way to the top.’ With pride, I daresay.
Teenagers addicted to vapes are now using cigarettes to wean themselves off'
They smoked, too — several packs a day. To the chagrin of doctors, nurses and vape lobbyists, the habit is back with a vengeance. Riding the success of her culture-lassoing album, West End Girl, Lily Allen graced the runway last month for 16Arlington sporting a glamorous Holly Golightly-style dress and the ultimate style accessory: a Vogue. » | Will Hosie | Monday, December 8, 2025
ITVX: Smoking to be banned for future generations in Wales as landmark bill voted through: People turning 18 from 2027 will never be able to legally buy cigarettes in Wales. / That's after the Senedd voted to pass a landmark Bill affecting anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. / From 2027, it will become illegal to sell tobacco to anyone who is 18 years old. »
MAJORCA DAILY BULLETIN: Last orders for smoking on bar and restaurant terraces in Spain: Government gets tough as tobacco prices increase again »
No wonder the far right is gaining in strength right across the continent (including in the UK). Politicians have lost all common sense. They sweat the little things whilst the continent is under existential threat from Russia! Are simple pleasures and fun to be outlawed for future generations now? These bans MUST FAIL. They will HAVE TO BE OVERTURNED! And these ridiculous politicians must be kicked out of office.
By the way, I write this as a non-smoker. As an ex-smoker to be precise. In fact, I notice that it is the tenth of December. That being the case, it is precisely THREE YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS since I smoked my last cigarette. Naturally, as I had been a lifelong smoker, I am very proud of my achievement. In April, it will be exactly four years that I will be smoke-free.
However, smoking gave me years and years of pleasure so, just because I have quit, I do not expect the rest of the world to quit with me. I do not wish to deny others one of life’s greatest pleasures: smoking a fine cigarette, especially with a quality drink.
Were I to be in the position of doing so, there are many things in this world that I might consider banning, but that certainly would not be smoking a humble cigarette.
The western world is turning into a madhouse! — © Mark Alexander
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)