International Relations

@fluffy2560
- @SimCityAT

He's just delusional.   

He says every day the war is nearly over but only today the Iranians said they consider the blockade a violation of the ceasefire.

War was supposed to be over in a couple of weeks and we're what, at about 6 weeks?   

Truth is that he's lost the plot.

HU (Euronews):

Video. Magyar beats Orbán - What's next for the EU? MEPs go head-to-head

In this new edition of The Ring, broadcast from the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs Daniel Freund (Greens) and Sander Smit (ECR) debate the outcome of the Hungarian election and what it means for Europe.

Daniel Freund was a vocal critical of Orban.   The other guy, dunno.

BTW, election posters from this historic change of government regime are changing hands at HUF 500 each.

USA (MSNOW):

Bizarre story of RFK Jr and his collection of mammal genitals.

‘How do you find the penis of a dead raccoon?’ MJ shocked, stunned by old RFK Jr. story in new book

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. once pulled the family sedan to the side of the road after spying a dead raccoon and swiftly cut off its sex organs so he could “study them later,” The New York Post reports. The incident is discussed in the new book “RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise.”

Looks like the silly season has started early.

Jesus or a Red Cross doctor healing Epstein?
- @SimCityAT
According to reports I read, there was a spin they were going to put on it to say the image had been doctored but Trump, ailing brain that he has, thought he was supposed to say he was a doctor.

Make of that what you will! - @fluffy2560

Stupidest meme ever!

USA (MSNOW):
Bizarre story of RFK Jr and his collection of mammal genitals.

‘How do you find the penis of a dead raccoon?’ MJ shocked, stunned by old RFK Jr. story in new book

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. once pulled the family sedan to the side of the road after spying a dead raccoon and swiftly cut off its sex organs so he could “study them later,” The New York Post reports. The incident is discussed in the new book “RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise.”

Looks like the silly season has started early. - @fluffy2560

They say it is good to have a hobby!!

@fluffy2560
- @SimCityAT
He's just delusional.
He says every day the war is nearly over but only today the Iranians said they consider the blockade a violation of the ceasefire.

War was supposed to be over in a couple of weeks and we're what, at about 6 weeks?

Truth is that he's lost the plot. - @fluffy2560

Power has gone to his head§

He does at like a King and not a pres.

Acting like a school yard bully is not a good look for the USA.

Power has gone to his head§
He does at like a King and not a pres.
Acting like a school yard bully is not a good look for the USA. - @Marilyn Tassy

Our king (back in the UK) is not the type of king Trump wants to be.

Trump is losing his marbles day by day.   Definitely got some loose screws going on there.

I've often wondered who is pulling his strings.  There must be a whole load of people managing him.  Power behind the throne seems unidentifiable.  The only one I know the name of is Stephen Miller.  A total fascist.

USA (DW):

Trump as Jesus:  Joke or Blasphemy?

I found this an interesting discussion with a professor of theology.

About 16m long and in English.

https://dailynewshungary.com/peter-magy … ers-april/

https://dailynewshungary.com/peter-magy … ers-april/ - @SimCityAT

Are they eating the dogs?

So, what has the new dude in Hungary said so far?

He's going to ban all the opposition press from producing news

He's going to buy Russian oil

He's going to ban a lot of immigrants, and he knows it's against EU law.

Sounds like a stonkingly good lefty.

He's going to ban a lot of immigrants, and he knows it's against EU law.
- @Fred

No its not, again you have no idea about the EU.

https://dailynewshungary.com/peter-magy … ers-april/ - @SimCityAT

I think this is about the investments by the Chinese.   There's a large battery factory people are against and quite probably they want to get out of those contracts or at least take it under HU control.  There are a lot of voices against the factory, even from Fidesz supporters.  They are very against the pollution and water usage.   The factory is almost entirely staffed by Chinese people.

I don't think it will affect Article 50 residents so I'm not that bothered by any reports like that.   Might be fake news.   

https://dailynewshungary.com/peter-magy … ers-april/ - @SimCityAT
I think this is about the investments by the Chinese. There's a large battery factory people are against and quite probably they want to get out of those contracts or at least take it under HU control. There are a lot of voices against the factory, even from Fidesz supporters. They are very against the pollution and water usage. The factory is almost entirely staffed by Chinese people.
I don't think it will affect Article 50 residents so I'm not that bothered by any reports like that. Might be fake news. - @fluffy2560

Ah, so it's aimed at a single group, thus racist in nature.

He's going to ban a lot of immigrants, and he knows it's against EU law.
- @Fred
No its not, again you have no idea about the EU. - @SimCityAT

Yup, knows nothing about it.  Waste of space engaging.

The holiday atmosphere is still here but people are concerned a bit.  Just happy to see OV out. It's a major undertaking to de-Orbanise the government - the Curia, the media regulator, president etc, all need to be replaced.

There's a new discussion locally that they need to stop the broligarchs getting away with the cash they've scammed with the collusion of the government.  Until MP is in the driving seat, not much to see.   The EU was here.  Looks like the EUR 17 billion could be released early.

Russia-aligned Rumen Radev set to win Bulgarian election

Bulgaria's pro-Russian former president set for strong election win, exit polls show

so it begins

In other news, the US has released footage of their armed forces firing on an unarmed ship, then landing forces to take it over.

www.bbc.com/news/videos/c3w30l6qz49o

This used to be called piracy, but it appears to be acceptable these days. Personally, if I were a high ranking Iranian, I would load a ship full of vertically alligned launchers - then hit the switch as the pirates board.

That should take a couple of helecopters full of pirates out.

so it begins - @SimCityAT

I looked at the footage and I couldn't see they blew a hole in the engine room.  Looked more like warning shots to me.  Low calibre weapon, maybe 50 or 35mm, not shelling as such. I think they hit the steering gear.

I really think Donny has bitten off more than he can chew.  His mind is in direct conflict with everyone who matters.   He makes statements which have no basis.  It's like he thinks he knows more than other people.   

He's on his own on this one, no-one is interested in supporting him. Even the Iranians are not turning up at the talks and who can blame them.  No-one is going to accept that kind of coercion.

There's more talk of 25th Amendment being activated.  That'll never happen soon enough to stop the conflict.  Maybe mid-terms will help.

Meanwhile I noted that renewables are once again at the forefront of Donny's BS.  Who in their right mind is going to push for more oil dependency when clearly everyone is being held to ransom by the conflict in the ME? 

I noticed the oil price has gone up again.  Report says 5% up overnight.  I read on UK sites, a $10 increase in a barrel of oil increases price at the pump by £0.07 (say, around 0.1 Euro).

BG (Euronews):

Europe Today: Russia-friendly Radev wins in Bulgaria as Orbán hints at lifting EU Ukraine loan veto

Interview with Martin Vladimirov, Centre for the Study of Democracy, on Bulgaria’s political and economic outlook. Euronews’ Sándor Zsíros on the latest developments around Viktor Orbán and his apparent willingness to unblock the EU’s €90 billion loan for Ukraine.

BG looks like it's circling the toilet again.  Radev has been labelled as another Fico or a Trojan-horse for Putin.  Meanwhile, analysis from commentators on Orban's defeat shows that voters valued EU membership more than Fidesz thought.  The shock therapy segment on dismantling Orbanism is significantly interesting.  Tisza supporters will have high expectations.  The comparison with PL is worth thinking about.  Meanwhile, BG could learn lessons on trying to kill off EU relations.  The UK has not learnt its lesson yet.  UK PM is too busy messing around with Peter Scandalson.  And where's Farage gone?  Disappeared as his model of Trumpism is also down the toilet.  Maybe the same for all those populists - Meloni is not doing well with Trump.  Looks good.

BG looks like it's circling the toilet again. Radev has been labelled as another Fico or a Trojan-horse for Putin. - @fluffy2560

Not to mention the democratically elected leader.

You either accept the stated will of the people, or you reject democracy.

📞 Az Egyesült Királyság miniszterelnöke, Keir Starmer tegnap telefonon egyeztetett Magyarország új miniszterelnök-jelöltjével, Péter Magyarral.

A miniszterelnök gratulált a választási győzelemhez, és kiemelte, hogy ez új fejezetet nyithat Magyarország számára.

Hozzátette: ez egyben lehetőséget teremt arra is, hogy az Egyesült Királyság és Magyarország több területen is tovább mélyítse együttműködését.

A felek arról is egyeztettek, hogyan tud a két ország közösen fellépni az orosz agresszióval szemben.

Ukrajna kapcsán Keir Starmer megköszönte Magyar Péter támogatását annak érdekében, hogy Ukrajna továbbra is meg tudja védeni magát Oroszország folytatódó támadásaival szemben.

Megállapodtak abban, hogy hamarosan ismét egyeztetnek.

•••

📞 The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, spoke to Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect, Péter Magyar yesterday.

Prime Minister Starmer began by offering his congratulations, adding that Prime Minister-elect Magyar’s election victory marked a new chapter for Hungary.

That chapter offered a new opportunity for the UK and Hungary to deepen their relationship across all areas, the Prime Minister added.

The leaders also discussed how both countries could work together to tackle Russian aggression.

On Ukraine, Prime Minister Starmer thanked Prime Minister-elect Magyar for his support to ensure Ukraine could continue to defend itself from Russia’s barbaric attacks.

They looked forward to speaking again soon.

BG will regret it in the end, but they have had 8 elections in 5 years. What needs to stop is the corruption.

Russian aggression- A cheesy load of old rubbish.

The National Endowment for Democracy,  a very thinly disguised CIA cover, ran a revolution that removed the democratically elected government in that country.

The revolutionary government immediately removed voting rights for the Russian speaking areas.

Then we saw the revolutionary government attack separatist forces that tried to resore the elected government. There were a lot of killings, and lots of people arrested without charge, then held without trial. A 2025 ECHR ruling found the revolutionary government at fault and ordered compensation.

Ukraine, hailed as a democracy under threat from the nasty Russians, hasn't held an election since 2019, and that one excluded everyone who would vote against the government.

If you want democracy in Ukraine, restore and recognise the pre-revolution, internationally verified, freely elected government, then hold free and fair elections.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/a … iddle-east

I'm absolutely amazed that people are stupid enough to believe propaganda,  even after we know the truth of so many CIA run coups against democracies.

Ukraine is just one more on the list, but fools want to believe the narrative designed to make cash regardless of how many die.

BG will regret it in the end, but they have had 8 elections in 5 years. What needs to stop is the corruption. - @SimCityAT

Yes, agreed.  I don't think Radev is the person to do much as he's already been president and is part of the system.

Demographics in BG are an issue.  The population is declining.  Villages are emptying and everyone is heading West to richer parts of the EU.  It'll be a country of older people on low pensions.

There's a policy Radev has which is not to arm Ukraine.  I fail to see the logic in this position.  It  was the same as Orban's position.  If not arming UKR, what then? UKR surrenders?  Makes no sense at all. 

BG was a supplier of ammunition to Ukraine.  Rheinmetall has a deal with a local BG company to make 100K 155mm shells in BG yearly.  It was signed last year.  Surely they aren't going to reverse that deal.  Weirdly, Radev said they wouldn't object to private companies supplying Ukraine.  What a strange stance to take as surely the  BG government regulates arms sales.  I've no idea what that is about.

Anyway, we shall see what kind of pro-Kremlin policies will come out of BG and Radev.

USA (MSN NOW):

Orban stood between Putin and Trump

Not sure that's correct what he said about Orban. Orban was both Putin and Trump's useful idiot.

He was very right on the way Orban lost.

EU (Euronews):

EU population to fall by 12% by 2100: Which countries will decline the most?

Projected population changes across Europe vary significantly, with the EU population set to fall by 53 million by 2100. Experts point to the role of immigration in explaining differences between countries. By 2100, one in three Europeans will be over 65.

Not looking good for the EU population.

EU (Euronews):EU population to fall by 12% by 2100: Which countries will decline the most?Projected population changes across Europe vary significantly, with the EU population set to fall by 53 million by 2100. Experts point to the role of immigration in explaining differences between countries. By 2100, one in three Europeans will be over 65.Not looking good for the EU population. - @fluffy2560

That's just shy of 4 generations from now (74 years).

The great-great-grandchildren of today's Europeans will figure it out.

EU (Euronews):EU population to fall by 12% by 2100: Which countries will decline the most?Projected population changes across Europe vary significantly, with the EU population set to fall by 53 million by 2100. Experts point to the role of immigration in explaining differences between countries. By 2100, one in three Europeans will be over 65.Not looking good for the EU population.  - @fluffy2560 That's just shy of 4 generations from now (74 years).The great-great-grandchildren of today's Europeans will figure it out. - @Aidan in HCMC

They might do.  They might not.   

I'm unlikely to personally be involved as I've probably optimistically got only 20 years left on Earth.  I'm 65 - not far away from 66.   My kids might be involved as the youngest is 16.

The good news is that someone might think I'm worth giving a job to, even if I'm in my later 60s.  Older people are popular in DIY stores - they've got experience fixing things.  And I like DIY. I could do 4 to 6h 3 days a week when I've got my pension at 66 and thrown in the towel professionally.

HU (DW):

Hungary: Orban-era LGBTQ rules breach EU laws, ECJ finds

The EU's top court has found that Hungary's 2021 laws on issues including transgender and homosexual identity and sex offenses breach various EU laws. This includes Article 2 of EU Treaty, to protect human dignity.

The contentious reforms — dubbed "the amending law" in Hungary and introduced under outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party — sought to limit children's access to information about transgender and homosexual issues and to ease public access to the criminal records of sex offenders, among other changes.

Tuesday's ECJ judgment will put pressure on Hungary's incoming government led by Peter Magyar, who won a landslide in elections against longstanding PM Orban earlier this month, to alter or abolish the laws "without delay" or face sanctions from Brussels.

No surprises there - it was always going to turn out to be against the OV government. 

However, what will Magyar Peter and Tisza and the new government do about it?  As a lawyer and EU-leaning, MP will just reverse OV's previous nonsense. I wonder if OV sits at home mulling over what he did wrong without recognising, he's the dinosaur.

Looks like this thread might be working again.

We should obey the rules of this thread otherwise it'll get suspended again.

US (via DW):

Trump uninjured after shooting at Correspondents' Dinner

I doubt this attack on Trump will lead to increased gun control.

I was speculating with others elsewhere why this happened - what are the drivers that cause people to pick up weaponry to target anyone?

The President is unsurprisingly an expected target.

US (via DW):
Trump uninjured after shooting at Correspondents' Dinner

I doubt this attack on Trump will lead to increased gun control.

I was speculating with others elsewhere why this happened - what are the drivers that cause people to pick up weaponry to target anyone?

The President is unsurprisingly an expected target. - @fluffy2560

It looks very strange if you ask me.

Staged?

Staged?
- @SimCityAT

What is a Militarily Top Secret Ballroom?

That's an absurd description.   What's so top secret about bad dancing?  Maybe the fact that he was caught on camera boogie-ing with Epstein.

Anyway, I hope the lady dog walker throws a spanner in his works.

And so it begins.

This is what "democracy" looks like? Has me wondering who the sponsors advertising on the station might be or, if the license is approved, whether the station owners will receive state funding. We'll soon see, I guess.

And so it begins.This is what "democracy" looks like? Has me wondering who the sponsors advertising on the station might be or, if the license is approved, whether the station owners will receive state funding. We'll soon see, I guess. - @Aidan in HCMC

This is great news!  I am glad to see people are taking advantage of the new freedoms. I sincerely hope some of the victimised radio stations get reinstated quickly as they were very popular.   The newspaper system will need to be broken up as well.  All good.

Meanwhile, OV is not taking up his parliamentary seat.   Rumour is that he'll leave the country.  He has to because he's probably going to go to jail eventually but it'll take some years.   His daughter and son-in-law (very rich for unknown reasons) are hiding out apparently in the USA.  It's the only place he can go until Trump is out and he'll lose his protection.  Whoever comes in next will probably throw OV under the bus although in the general scheme of things, Hungary is too inconsequential to affect anyone. 

Interestingly, others "involved" in the alleged OCG (organised crime group) known as Fidesz have disappeared.   There's an emerging debate on what to do with Hatvanpuszta, Orban's "father owned farm".  Suggestions have been childrens' home, hospital, old folks home and a bunch of other things. They say large numbers of trucks have been removing stuff stored there. There's no news on the zebras (cf. Escobar's hippos) supposedly located there. 

As part of the new regime, it looks like the NAV (tax office) has started looking at the unexplained wealth of individuals who were obvious faces of patronage under the NER ( Nemzeti Együttműködés Rendszere or National Cooperation System).  Their bank accounts are being blocked according to some reports.   The most obvious target for investigation is Mezaros and his fancy yacht, football club and this that and the other empire.

Obviously, it's going to take years to unravel these complex business empires. 

Meanwhile, Mrs Fluffy and I have been invited to a Tisza party at the Parliament by our new mayor. 

Jimmy Kimmel just responded directly to Melania Trump during his opening monologue on Monday night after the First Lady called for his firing: "I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject. I do. And I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it."

"You know how sometimes you wake up in the morning and the First Lady puts out a statement demanding you be fired from your job? We've all been there, right? What a day.

"As you know, they had to cancel the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington on Saturday night after a man with multiple guns and knives crashed the party and may have shot a Secret Service officer. Fortunately, the guy was wearing a bulletproof vest and is okay. He was charged today. No one was hurt, thank goodness. A lot of people were shaken up on a night that is supposed to be light-hearted.

"The White House Correspondents' Dinner, if you don't know, it used to be an annual event before Trump showed up, but every year they'd have a comedian roast the room. The President, the Vice President, members of the press—everybody got roasted. I did it once; I hosted it. It was a lot of fun.

"But this year they said, 'No comedian. We're bringing in a mentalist instead.' So on Thursday, three days before the event, in order to keep that cherished tradition alive, I did my own version of the correspondents' dinner on my show. I put on a tuxedo. We pretended we had an audience of luminaries. We used old footage of the Trumps, of Pete Hegseth, J.D. Vance, Kid Rock, Vanilla Ice, and all the members of his cabinet, and we made it seem like they were all together in a room. We had a little roast.

"Again, this was Thursday, and there was no big reaction to it until this morning, when I greeted the day facing yet another Twitter vomit storm, and a call to fire me from our First Lady, Melania Trump, saying I should be fired because of a joke I made, again, five nights ago.

"It was a pretend roast. I said, 'Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at her. So beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.' Which obviously was a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they're together. It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he's almost 80 and she's younger than I am. It was not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination, and they know that. I've been very vocal for many years, speaking out against gun violence in particular.

"But I understand that the First Lady had a stressful experience over the weekend, and probably every weekend is pretty stressful in that house. And also, I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject. I do. And I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it... because, by the way, I also should point out: Donald Trump is allowed to say whatever he wants to say, as are you, and as am I, as are all of us. Because under the First Amendment, we have as Americans a right to free speech."