International Relations

Iran seems to have been waiting for this war for years. Its leadership is hydra-headed, programmed to replace itself. It has so far proven surprisingly capable of responding to attacks with speed and strategy despite its enemies' claims it has been decapitated. - @SimCityAT

Yes, indeed.   

I wonder about the foreign prisoners aka hostages held in Evin prison on trumped charges.

Iran is a very different animal to Venezuela.

Words coming out of Trump's mouth seem to be suggesting he's going to pull out.   How typical.  Come in, screw it up and clear off.

BTW, adverts on Saudi Airlines are all about Trump's hotels and branding.   Talk about a turn off.  I can see that brand being poisionous for several generations.  If I were the Saudis I'd be running in the opposite direction from DJT.

EU/HU:

Hungarian foreign minister admits calling Russia's Lavrov during key EU meetings

"Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó has confirmed he regularly contacts Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov during private EU meetings following reports alleging routine communication during breaks in Brussels meetings. Szijjártó said talking to other partners is the essence of diplomacy."

I'd call those phone calls reporting in to handlers.   He was speaking at election rallies and someone held up a banner which said, "Got your apartment in Moscow yet?"   

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg547ljepvzo

Traders bet hundreds of millions of dollars on oil contracts just minutes before US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the US would postpone strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure.

"So there has been some speculation about insider trading. We don't know if that's true, but hopefully there will be some sort of investigation into that," she (Rachel Winter), added.

Just a guess, but I suspect a number of people have bribed Trump

It goes like this:

1. Trump makes a post that tells the world of talks with Iran
2. Oil prices fall
3. Trump's mates buy low
4. Iran tells the truth that there are no talks
5. Oil prices go up
6. Trump's mate sell and make millions.

Trump gets his cut.

...Just a guess, but I suspect a number of people have bribed Trump - @Fred

That's not how you spell blackmailed.

HU:

PM Orbán: We will take over and transform Brussels

"Opening the event, Prime Minister Orbán described the gathering as a historic first, with patriotic parties convening in Budapest to adopt a common declaration in defense of European nations and freedom. Responding to claims that Hungary is isolated, the prime minister rejected the criticism, pointing to the presence of allied leaders as proof of a growing international alignment.....etc"

The delusion is in full swing as OV spirals towards the plughole. 

I remember a manifesto from one of the major parties in the UK.  At the time, it was considered completely delusional.   Some commentators labelled it "the longest suicide note in history".

I'm getting shades of that and deja-vu in Orban's increasing desperation and extremism. 

...Just a guess, but I suspect a number of people have bribed Trump - @Fred
That's not how you spell blackmailed. - @Aidan in HCMC

Someone on the radio said a $1.5B trade/bet was placed 5m before Trump's messaging.

More security holes than a swiss cheese plant.

...Just a guess, but I suspect a number of people have bribed Trump - @Fred

That's not how you spell blackmailed. - @Aidan in HCMC

Someone on the radio said a $1.5B trade/bet was placed 5m before Trump's messaging.
More security holes than a swiss cheese plant. - @fluffy2560

I suspect the "inside traders" will be, as we say in Newfoundland, busier than a dog with two dix.

...Just a guess, but I suspect a number of people have bribed Trump - @FredThat's not how you spell blackmailed. - @Aidan in HCMCSomeone on the radio said a $1.5B trade/bet was placed 5m before Trump's messaging.More security holes than a swiss cheese plant. - @fluffy2560I suspect the "inside traders" will be, as we say in Newfoundland, busier than a dog with two dix. - @Aidan in HCMC

In Hungary we have a political party called "the two tailed dog" (party).   

They parody the establishment but haven't really got any traction (or action so to speak).

They are quite popular.  Not sure what their "real" policies are.  We might find out on the 12 April (Election Day).

Their logo:

https://youtu.be/sjLg8WFU4bI?si=2mx-dMLYSUlhfxw-

Really?

The first world leader in history to crap himself on live TV.

That was one bubbly fart.

The president of the United State of his underwear 🤣

HU:

Intercepted, injected with substance, cash taken: Ukraine bank staff details Hungarian seizure

"Over €70 million in Ukrainian Oschadbank's cash and gold remain seized in Hungary as the details emerge for the first time about how the Ukrainian team were detained and questioned by Hungarian authorities.

Hungarian customs authorities had all the necessary documents and had approved Ukraine’s Oschadbank cash and gold transit in advance, before the convoy was stopped and detained by Hungary’s anti-terrorism police, bank employees and officials said.

For the first time since the incident on 5 March, a member of the cash-in-transit team revealed more details about what happened that day on the Budapest ring road."

Report implies OV has personally ordered the money/valuables to be held for 60 days.  Obviously no-one in their right mind believes this is an anti-money laundering investigation.

HU:

Went to the petrol/gas station today and got 15,014 HUF (37.32 EUR) of petrol for my 2.5T 4L 4WD hobby car.  It's a gas guzzling monster but an agile performer in stressful conditions.

Anyhoo, I got 21.76L for my 15K HUF.   That's 690 HUF / litre (1.72 EUR/litre) .

Now the vaguely interesting part, the discount on 95 unleaded is 95 HUF (0.24 EUR, 595 HUF / litre), so I paid 12,947 (EUR 32.19 total) for the 21.76L.

So, we're being "subsidised" (or not ripped off) by 0.24 EUR/litre.

And for those in neighbouring countries, they did NOT ask to see the local registration documents.  They didn't seem to care.  Interesting in itself.  Deja-vu back from previous days on fuel subsidies that were widely enjoyed by drivers from AT and SK etc. 

I read that Slovenia (click for article) now has fuel rationing.  Makes me wonder if Melamine is going to be asking Herr Peace (Trump) what he's up to, screwing with her relatives. 

I expect we'll see people stockpiling fuel soon enough and visiting the stations with jerry cans.

IR/US:

Why Marines and The 82nd Airborne Division Are Being Sent to Iran

"Paratroopers leaping down from Osprey choppers and swarming onto the shores of Kharg Island under a hail of gunfire...could this be the next phase of fighting in the Iran war?

The Pentagon is sending its prestigious 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East— elite soldiers trained to parachute into hostile foreign territory and take control of the area.

The deployment, leaked to media on Tuesday, is just the latest round of forces being directed to the region as the U.S. gears up for a potentially huge escalation in the war — a possible invasion of Iran's oil export hub."

Article describes scenarios for troop deployment. 

The potential attacks as described above are guaranteed to see serious injuries and deaths amongst the invasion forces.

Trump will have to explain that to his voter base.

You remember them, the voters who were promised no more wars.

If I'm being honest, I would like to see mass US casualties amongst their invasion force. The US needs a big, and preferably embarrassing,  defeat in order to put them off more wars.

Something like Vietnam, but more sudden.

Trump's tweets this morning smack of massive hysteria as his "plan" circles the plughole.  Not dissimilar to the hysteria going on here as the HU government implodes.

I cannot see anyone coming to help the US or doing anything at all if he puts boots on the ground on Kharg Island.   NATO is not for waging war on Iran, even if they are reprehensible Islamic fascists. Or Cuba or Venezuela for their equally questionable belief system.

Trump fails to understand that money is not everything where fanaticism is involved.  In other words, people do not think like him.  He'll never be able to understand.  He hasn't got it in him.

I think he thought a war would revive his poll numbers.  It has worked before - like for Thatcher and the Falklands.  But this is a whole different ball game.

If he does put boots on the ground, perhaps this is the time for China to menace Taiwan again.  Apparently they have only 11 days of oil left.

Hegseth asked for $200B a while back, so we're looking at 6 months more fighting at a cost of $1B a day.

BTW, there was a report the Russian ships enroute to Cuba that would break the blockade have changed course.  Presumably Trump traded something with Putin.  Again! Putin says Jump and Trump says "how high?".   

...Trump will have to explain that to his voter base.
You remember them, the voters who were promised no more wars...
- @Fred

After serving 2 terms, he's a "lame duck" president. He cannot be re-elected for a third term.

I'm thinking that he might not give a flying-fiddlers-f**k about his voter base or public opinion in general. I mean, he literally has no skin in the game, unlike the men he's sending into battle.

...Trump will have to explain that to his voter base.
You remember them, the voters who were promised no more wars...
- @Fred
After serving 2 terms, he's a "lame duck" president. He cannot be re-elected for a third term.
I'm thinking that he might not give a flying-fiddlers-f**k about his voter base or public opinion in general. I mean, he literally has no skin in the game, unlike the men he's sending into battle. - @Aidan in HCMC

"A lot of you may die, but it's a sacrifice I'm prepared to take" - Lord Farquaad in Shrek.

I was hoping there could be damage limitation as it's a long time to wait until he's fully hobbled.

Propaganda is fun, or at least trying to sort out the truth can be.

The first thing to assume is that both sides are liars, it being a case of how much they are lying rather than if they are telling the truth.

Iran claims to have shot down an F18 - Plausible, but I would like to see solid evidence. The US says they have not lost any aircraft, but we know that's a lie.

Iran claims to have hit the Abraham Lincoln- Possible but all I've seen so far looks unconvincing. Some mainstream news is reporting it, but the evidence is dodgy at best. We'll have to wait and see.

The Ford claims to have retired from the battle due to a Non-combat related fire - I don't fully believe that one either. These things are designed for battle and have fire suppression systems all over the ships, but a kitchen fire got out of control???? Sounds fishy.

UKR/KSA:

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia sign defence cooperation deal, Zelensky says

"Ukraine and Saudi Arabia signed an “agreement” on defence cooperation that lays the foundation for future contracts and technological cooperation, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday during a visit to the oil-rich Gulf nation that has come under attack since the February 28 launch of the war in Iran. "

Well done Ukraine.  I wonder how much that deal is worth?  €90B maybe?

HU:

Hungarians' growing anger at living in EU's 'most corrupt state'

Last statement in the article:

"Opposition leader Peter Magyar, Orban's top rival in the upcoming vote, has pledged to recover the funds if elected and to investigate how the current leaders and their families have grown so rich."

Post-election, assuming, Tisza are winners, I cannot see the OV groupies retaining their wealth of which Mezaros and OV's Hatvanpuszta are the most obviously stated by media as in your face, visible corruption examples.

RU/Cuba/USA:

Russian Oil Tanker nears Cuba in test of US resolve on blockade

"Russian officials confirmed Wednesday that Moscow is sending fuel to Cuba as humanitarian aid, intensifying geopolitical tensions as a Russian oil tanker likely bound for the island approaches the Caribbean. Moscow’s announcement comes amid a US effort to choke off oil supplies to Havana that has led to a worsening energy crisis and an unfolding humanitarian disaster.  "

Commentator says Cuba generates about 50% of its energy needs via solar/renewables.  They lack any capacity to store energy.   Tanker on the way has 750K barrels which would be several weeks of consumption.

US/UKR/RU:

Ukraine: US tied guarantees to Donbas withdrawal — Zelenskyy

"Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has said the United States linked future security guarantees to Kyiv's withdrawal from the Donbas region. The comments have gone down well in Russia, which is stepping up its offensive."

Once again, the US kisses Putin's rear end.

US/UKR/RU:
Ukraine: US tied guarantees to Donbas withdrawal — Zelenskyy

"Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has said the United States linked future security guarantees to Kyiv's withdrawal from the Donbas region. The comments have gone down well in Russia, which is stepping up its offensive."

Once again, the US kisses Putin's rear end. - @fluffy2560

That's a Russian speaking region that were not allowed to vote after the CIA led coup that removed the democratically elected government of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian dictatorship should be happy to let them go as it guarantees no pro-Russian government will ever be elected should they return to democracy.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy … 026-03-27/

The Ukrainian regime is adding to the world oil crisis by attacking Russian oil producers.

Perhaps it's time to stop supporting the coup government of that country and see democracy restored.

The righteous side in any war, the US in this case, always tries to subdue news that shows what their attacks are doing to civilians.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DXqmdVlNciQ

The reports show a lot of what really happens when an idiot starts a war, but this is the Beeb talking about US attacks.

It's not how many children the US is killing, but the fact it's being reported that's important.

The US grip on the world, gained through bribery and threats,  is slipping fast.

We are at a turning point in history - The collapse of the state that has started more wars than any other.

HU:

THE PRICE OF A VOTE

Recent YouTube documentary in the Hungarian language on election gerrymandering and intimidation in Hungary.  Only released 1 day ago and already 1M views. Check Settings to switch on automatically generated subtitles for other languages as you wish. Shows the awful state of some villages in Hungary and the apparently treatment of ethnic minorities (i.e. Roma).

Filmmakers say:

"When we started filming six months ago, we only intended to make a documentary about vote buying. We received information from 14 counties, conducted more than 60 interviews, and traveled 20,000 kilometers.

According to our interviewees, the lives and votes of people in rural areas are influenced not only with money, but also through drugs and intimidation. Mayors, insiders, law enforcement officials, and victims explain how this network operates, and how it affects those whom Fidesz relies on most during elections."

HU:

Austrians get in on the act - set YT settings for translation.

Wie Viktor Orban Ungarn und Europa schadet / Hogyan árt Orbán Viktor Magyarországnak és Európának

Gist is about OV's corruption.  Hatvanpuszta, Felcsut and Mezaros features in some detail -   now complete with Zebras.

There are rumours some big wigs have already moved their money to Dubai (good move eh?).  Rumour mill says there's actually a bank there owned by the elite for money laundering.

Austria becomes latest to propose social media ban for children

Austria has announced plans to ban social media for children aged under 14, becoming the latest country to consider introducing restrictions for children online.

It follows lengthy negotiations within the conservative-led three-party coalition government, but it is not yet clear how or when the ban will be implemented.

Announcing the plans, Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler of the Social Democrats said the government could not stand by and watch as social media made children "addicted and also often ill".

He said it was the responsibility of politicians to protect children and argued that the issue should be treated no different to alcohol or tobacco: "There must be clear rules in the digital world too."

In future, said Babler, children under 14 would be protected from algorithms that were addictive.

"Other information providers have clear rules to protect young people from harmful content." These, he said, should now be implemented in the digital space.

Austria is the latest among a growing number of countries to consider restricting social media access for children, citing concerns about potentially harmful content made available to them on the platforms.

In a landmark case in the US on Wednesday, a jury found two social media giants had intentionally built addictive algorithms that harmed young people's mental health.

Social media companies point to under-13s being disallowed from joining their platforms - though questions remain about how strictly this is enforced - and versions of their sites with parental controls when challenged on questions of harm.

Australia introduced a ban for under-16s in December, becoming the first nation to do so.

France's lower house approved a ban for under-15s in January. In a post on X French President Emmanuel Macron thanked Austria for "joining the movement".

The UK government has launched a consultation on banning social media for under-16s, while Denmark, Greece, Spain and Ireland are also considering similar moves: Spain and Ireland for under-16s, and Denmark and Greece for under-15s.

Austrian Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr, from the liberal Neos party, stressed the "harmful" nature of social media, adding: "People need to learn how to use it responsibly."

The state secretary for digitalisation, Alexander Pröll, from the conservative ÖVP, said that a draft bill codifying the ban would be presented by the end of June.

The bill is expected to contain technical details of an agreed mechanism to verify people's ages when accessing social media platforms. Babler said Austria could use an EU system if it was ready, but that it would pursue a national plan if not.

The general secretary of the far-right opposition Freedom Party, Christian Hafenecker, condemned the plans as "a direct attack on young people's freedom of expression and freedom of information".

However, Austrian political analyst Thomas Hofer said the proposed ban seemed to be proving popular.

"The government is trying to evoke the feeling that, in turbulent times, they have at least something under control," he told the BBC.

"Such a ban is very popular, also among parents. So, it's one of the easy points that they can make across party lines.

"In most other fields, the governmental parties are on the defence, though, be it the economy, the budget deficit or rising prices."

The coalition government's proposed social media ban has been agreed alongside controversial reforms to secondary schools, which include more lessons on democracy and artificial intelligence, and a cut in the number of Latin lessons.

Austria becomes latest to propose social media ban for children
Austria has announced plans to ban social media for children aged under 14, becoming the latest country to consider introducing restrictions for children online.

...... - @SimCityAT

I think it's a good idea BUT it is easy to get around restrictions in a few seconds. Kids will find a solution. 

But I am happy to hear about the US court case.  They've got away with it far too long.

I'm pretty much dead against Facebook etc (not withstanding the irony of being here commenting).

For years I've been in a guerrilla war with ad blockers and wot-not.

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war … ad-oblast/

3 nights of bombing oil facilities means more oil fuel supply woes, and higher pump prices for countries that support Ukraine's unelected government.

The UK is experiencing very high petrol and diesel prices, but they are paying Ukraine to make them even higher.

The UK government is clearly stupid.

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026 … -gulf-tour

The west gave Ukraine the money and resources to develop and build anti-drone technologies.  Ukraine is now selling the very thing the US, EU, and UK gave them the cash for.

EU and UK Taxpayers are paying Ukraine to make money by selling weapons.

Tens of thousands of anti-Trump protesters have been attending "No Kings" rallies on Saturday across the US.

More than 3,200 events ‌were planned in all 50 states, and organisers hoped it would be the biggest single-day protest in US history.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the rallies were backed by "leftist funding networks" with little real public support.

The "only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them", Ms Jackson said in a statement.

Houthis vow to continue strikes after joining conflict

Houthi rebels in Yemen have said they will continue military operations "in the coming days" after firing a missile at Israel earlier today. Meanwhile, three journalists have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon.

The Houthis - officially known as "Supports of God" or "Ansar Allah" in Arabic - are a group of Shia Islamist rebels based in western Yemen.

The group formed in the 1990s as a movement to promote the rights of Zaidi Shias and the Houthi tribe, from which the group gets its name.

It opposes US and Israeli influence in the Middle East - with its slogan containing the words "death to America", "death to Israel" and a "curse upon the Jews".

Backed by Iran and allied with other Islamist groups in the region such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, it has also accused Saudi Arabia of "colluding" with the US.

The death of the group's founder, Hussein al Houthi, at the hands of the Yemeni military, sparked a civil war - the Houthi insurgency - in 2004.

The group, now led by his brother, Abdul-Malik al Houthi, also took part in the 2011 Yemeni revolution, gaining further territory.

Since then, it has furthered its area of influence and controls much of Yemen's western seaboard down to the Bab al Mandeb Strait - the entrance to the Red Sea.

The Houthis attacked ships in the Red Sea in response to Israel's war in Gaza.

The group, which supports Hamas, vowed to target vessels it believes are heading to and from Israel.

Iran war, day 29 - what you need to know

1. Yemen's Houthis confirm a missile was fired at Israel overnight - marking the first time the country has become involved in the war;
2. The rebel group later vowed to continue military operations "in the coming days";
3. Three journalists have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon;
4. Kuwait International Airport has been hit by several 'Iranian drones';
5. Iran's central military command said it targeted a US logistics vessel near the port of Salalah in Oman;
6. An attack on a base in Saudi Arabia yesterday has left at least 12 US soldiers injured, two seriously, a US official has told Reuters;
7. Pakistan will host talks with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt tomorrow to discuss "where negotiations are heading" over ending the war.

The United States is preparing a ground invasion of Iran, according to the Washington Post.

The Pentagon is readying for weeks of troops on the ground, the Post said, citing US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

It reported that any operation would "fall short of a full-scale invasion" and plans could ⁠involve raids by Special ​Operations and conventional infantry ​troops.

Whether President Donald Trump would approve any ​of those plans ​remains uncertain.

Trump previously said that a ground invasion was a "waste of time" because Iran had already "lost everything".

More recently, he said "I'm not putting troops anywhere", although he added "If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you. But I’m not putting troops".

The ‌Trump ⁠administration has been planning to ​send thousands of soldiers from the US Army's 82nd Airborne to ⁠the ​region.

But deploying troops on Iranian soil faces significant opposition among Americans, according to polls.

The Post said a recent survey carried out by the Associated Press and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago showed 62% of respondents oppose the use of ground troops, with just 12% in favour.

HU:

10 ÉV GYŰLÖLET | Film az orbáni gyűlöletpolitikáról (with English subtitles).

"Gergely Laki and Bálint Klopfstein-László’s feature-length documentary, 10 Years of Hate traces with a dozen experts how Viktor Orbán cemented his power once the refugee crisis had subsided, and how hate became the basic rule of the Orbán regime. "

Another video aimed at Orban in the run up to the April 12 election here in Hungary:

Who are you, Viktor Orban?

"A look back at the Prime Minister for the past 40 years.  This 17-minute video shows how the Prime Minister’s opinion, values and position on enemies have changed over the past 40 years.   The old Orbán has deteriorated, or we can see his real face now, and so far he has only changed his masks! Who is the real Viktor Orban?"

Use the Settings feature in YT to generate English language subtitles.

He's won a lot of elections.

All hail democracy

https://www.rt.com/news/636691-russian- … -blockade/

Russia has sent a tanker to bust Trump's Cuba blockade.

Trump has chickened out of attacking it.