With Orban Out, the Pianist András Schiff Plans a Return to Hungary

With Orban out, the pianist András Schiff plans a return to Hungary
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/a...

Trump is too deranged to continue in office - Times columnist Matthew Parris:
www.thetimes.com/article/a1eb...

Bolloré ousts France’s most respected book publisher, triggering exodus of more than 200 writers from Hachette imprint Grasset (probably a world first). Bernard Arnault further tightens his grip on his own media. France’s top CEOs dine with Le Pen. Does it all make sense ? It kinda does to me.

More than 100 writers quit French publisher in protest against rightwing owner Vincent Bolloré Tycoon’s media empire accused of pushing far-right ideas, as writers say: ‘We refuse to be hostages in ideological war’

More than 100 writers quit French publisher in protest against rightwing owner Vincent Bolloré
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

(Next record to beat: nine years of war in Afghanistan.)

Should have realised this earlier, but I just noticed that for Russia, the war in Ukraine has already lasted longer than World War 2.

Trump’s Erratic Behavior and Extreme Comments Revive Mental Health Debate

Trump’s erratic behavior and extreme comments revive mental health debate
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/u...

Hungarian voters strengthen Europe’s liberal case - @breakingviews.reuters.com here:
www.breakingviews.com/columns/brea...

Hungary's message to Putin: In Europe, even autocrats get off the stage when voters show them the exit sign.
www.breakingviews.com/columns/brea...

Can Sam Altman be trusted ?
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Putin’s Post-Iran Paranoia The Russian president has curtailed his schedule, and Moscow has virtually no cell service. The official explanation is about Ukrainian drones, but Putin is clearly spooked by the attacks on his old a...

Putin’s post-Iran paranoia - @juliaioffe.bsky.social here:
puck.news/putins-post-...

Iran throws Ukraine a triple dose of trouble The Middle East conflict is ‌giving Russia a financial lifeline through higher oil prices, and could divert much-needed military gear to the ​Gulf. Meanwhile Hungary’s blocking of 90 bln ​euros of aid...

Iran throws Ukraine a triple dose of trouble - www.breakingviews.com/columns/cons... @pierrebri.bsky.social

Wanted: Crises-ready innovator for top ECB job President Christine ​Lagarde may resign before ⁠her term ends ​next year. Her ​successor faces economic storms, and will have to ​decide what to ​do with a 6.3 ‌trln ⁠euro balance sheet. The right pic...

Wanted: Crises-ready innovator for top ECB job - www.breakingviews.com/columns/big-... @pierrebri.bsky.social

Pete Hegseth’s broker looked to buy defence fund before Iran attack Morgan Stanley wealth manager approached BlackRock about multimillion-dollar investment for US defence secretary

Meanwhile at the corrupt court of the crooked king:
www.ft.com/content/744e...

POLITICO Poll of Polls — Hungarian polls, trends and election news for Hungary POLLING FROM ACROSS EUROPE. UPDATED DAILY. Hungary — National parliament voting intention Hungary is going to the polls to elect a new parliament on April 12. What is Poll of Polls and how does it …

Let's not celebrate too soon, but take a step back and start hoping - Magyar up, Orban down
www.politico.eu/europe-poll-...

Exclusive: How UBS helped Epstein accomplice Maxwell buy her hideout, 'Tucked Away' UBS transferred nearly $8 million from an account held for an entity set up by Maxwell.

How UBS helped Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell buy her hideout, 'Tucked Away' - a Reuters investigation:
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

Can This Russian Bakery Survive a 3,500% Tax Increase?

Can this Russian bakery survive a 3,500% tax increase?
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/28/w...

Hungary charges journalist who revealed minister was in touch with Moscow
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

Exclusive: At least 40% of Russia's oil export capacity halted, Reuters calculations show At least 40% of Russia's oil export capacity is at a halt following Ukrainian drone attacks, a disputed ​attack on a major pipeline and the seizure of tankers, according to Reuters calculations based ...

At least 40% of Russia's oil export capacity halted, Reuters calculations show
www.reuters.com/business/ene...

‘Russia is a country dominated by the culture of criminals’: filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa on the legacy of Stalinism The Ukrainian director’s ‘Two Prosecutors’ depicts a 1937 fight for justice but, he says, its relevance to today is all too clear

‘Russia is a country dominated by the culture of criminals’: filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Scott Bessent says 15% global tariff ‘likely’ to be imposed this week US Treasury secretary says duty is set to increase from 10% rate introduced after last month’s Supreme Court defeat

Man without a clue comes clean saying he doesn’t have a clue
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

As Trump Bashes Spain, the German Chancellor Looks On

As Trump bashes Spain, German chancellor looks on
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/u...

UK Green Party seizes second place in polls as Labour hits record low
www.thetimes.com/article/b91c...

“To be free, you must be feared” - Macron announcing hardening of France’s deterrence policy, including future deployment of nuclear-carrying fighter jets in 7 European countries including Germany and Poland.

LVMH shut down in Russia when the war started. But it kept a storied hotel that serves sanctioned clients When the war in Ukraine started in February 2022, LVMH shuttered its Louis Vuitton, Dior and Bulgari boutiques in Russia days before Europe imposed export sanctions on luxury goods.

How Bernard Arnault keeps serving rich sanctioned clients in St Petersburg
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Bill Gates admits affairs with Russians but denies ‘illicit’ behaviour The billionaire told staff that he had trysts with two women and apologised for his links to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein

The nuclear physicist excuse
www.thetimes.com/article/8038...

Christine Lagarde receives €140,000 from BIS despite payment ban for ECB staff Employees are not allowed to accept money from third parties for work related to the central bank

Christine Lagarde receives €140,000 from BIS despite payment ban for ECB staff - @olafstorbeck.ft.com here:
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor post-arrest picture hung in the Louvre Everyone Hates Elon, a protest group, placed He’s Sweating Now — taken after King’s brother spent 11 hours in custody — in the Paris museum

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor post-arrest picture hung in the Louvre

www.thetimes.com/article/9cb8...

Moscow’s war funding sows seeds of long-term slump Russia is trying to sell $35 bln of seized assets to plug its fiscal deficit as its budget is gasping for air. It can still finance the Ukraine war, but the state’s tighter control of a slowing econom...

Moscow’s war funding sows seeds of long-term slump www.breakingviews.com/columns/cons... @pierrebri.bsky.social