Germany’s rising far-right AfD is split over Israel. Jews call party ‘a danger’ either way

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/germanys-rising-far-right-afd-is-split-over-israel-jews-call-party-a-danger-either-way/

As millions of German voters head for the polls on Sunday, pollsters predict historic success for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party. Since its inception in 2013, the AfD has been plagued by antisemitic incidents and the leadership appears to be split over its attitude towards Israel and the war in Gaza.

This struggle within the AfD came to light in October last year, when parliamentarian and AfD co-chair Tino Chrupalla criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his ongoing support for Israel in the form of weapons exports to the Jewish state.

Trump exposed as cuts help Musk's Tesla & deportation 'cruelty' decoded: Geraldo x Ari

The Observer view of US foreign policy: A dangerous new international order is unfolding

 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/22/the-observer-view-of-us-foreign-policy-a-dangerous-new-international-order-is-unfolding

The incoherence and disdain for facts that characterises Trump’s approach is seen again in his handling of Ukraine. He says he wants to end the war with Russia – a laudable aim that most people share. But instead of supporting impartial, independent mediation, the US president has turned against Ukraine’s leader, Volodymr Zelenskyy, labelling him a dictator, and falsely implying that he profits from the war. Such projection is revealing. Trump’s ire stems in large part from Zelenskyy’s rejection of a $500bn minerals deal Trump wants as “repayment” for US aid. He seemed at one point to issue a de facto ultimatum: “Give me the cash, or I’ll back Russia.” Facing a loss of US support, Kyiv is reconsidering the deal under duress. But the war is no closer to ending.

Race policies or Israel - what's really driving Trump's fury with South Africa?

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn04lpe38rwo

One job is to work out what is really driving Donald Trump. Nomvula Mokonyane, Deputy Secretary General of the ANC, does not believe this is solely about the issue of land and thinks South Africa's position over Israel may well be the driver.

She says: "Our view is that we need to let our government engage the American administration, so that then we understand whether are we dealing with the issue of the expropriation of land, or are we dealing with many other issues… related to Palestine and so on and so forth."

Hungarians will decide whether Ukraine can join the European Union, Orbán says

 https://thehill.com/homenews/ap/ap-international/ap-hungarians-will-decide-whether-ukraine-can-join-the-european-union-orban-says/?usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%253D&amp_kit=1&tbref=hp

Orbán, considered the Kremlin’s closest partner among EU leaders, has been the bloc’s primary impediment in its efforts to assist Ukraine in the country’s struggle to defend against Russia’s full-scale invasion. He has frequently criticized, and threatened to veto, EU sanctions against Russia over its aggression, but has ultimately always voted for them.

Orbán, a Trump ally, has applauded the U.S. administration’s actions to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, claiming, with no evidence, that the agency was used to fund liberal causes in Hungary aimed at toppling his government.

Israel delays release of Palestinian prisoners, citing ‘humiliating’ handovers of hostages

 https://thehill.com/homenews/ap/ap-international/ap-family-confirms-body-handed-over-by-militants-overnight-was-israeli-mother-shiri-bibas/?tbref=hp

Families and others rallied again Saturday night in Tel Aviv to pressure Netanyahu’s government for a deal.

“How is it possible that President Trump and special envoy (Steven) Witkoff are more committed to the return of Israeli hostages than you are?” said Naama Weinberg, cousin of deceased hostage Itay Svirsky. “Netanyahu, these are your citizens who were abandoned on your watch!”

Hamas later released a video showing two hostages still held, Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa Dallal, as they sat in a vehicle and spoke under duress at the handover for Shem Tov, Cohen and Wenkert. A group representing hostages’ families called the video “sickening.”

Laughing Off Trump’s Agenda Would Be a Fatal Error

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/laughing-off-trumps-agenda-would-be-a-fatal-error/

Since Donald Trump first took office in 2016, we have struggled to answer whether his defining characteristic—and that of his administration—is ignorance, incompetence, greed, or malevolence.

You might ask whether choosing among these base traits is useful, given that each clearly plays some role shaping the outcomes with which we must now contend. But it matters. If Trump and those around him are merely not up to the job, or they are just bumbling clowns, then it’s easier to shrug off what they say and do. If they lack the capacity to achieve their goals, then we needn’t worry so much— all we need do is cringe and wait for it all to collapse beneath the weight of its own stupidity.

But it has become increasingly clear that the roots of the current U.S. administration are not just reckless. Recent developments have shown that laughing off Trump & Co. is a dangerous miscalculation.

How a U.S. President Pivoted Toward Russia

 https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-relationship-4decfe96?mod=hp_lead_pos7

When President Trump met Russia’s Vladimir Putin for their first bilateral summit, in the Finnish capital of Helsinki in July 2018, the two men cloistered themselves for hours with no advisers present.

Once they emerged to a packed news conference, Trump tossed a gift from the Russian president—a soccer ball meant for Trump’s son Barron—to the front row where America’s senior-most officials sat. Trump then stunned his team by saying he believed Putin, and not America’s own intelligence services, about whether Russia interfered in the 2016 elections that brought him to power.

Israel delays release of terrorists until humiliating ceremonies stop

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/404338

Prime Minister's Office announces that it has been decided to delay the release of the terrorists due to the humiliating ceremonies held by Hamas. Terrorists who were set to be released were returned to their prison cells.

'It's morally disgusting': Trump torched for saying Ukraine 'should have never started' Putin's war

'This is a dictator': New York Post cover shows cracks in right-wing over Trump's comments

Shin Bet arrests two Israeli Jews who drove terrorists to Bat Yam ahead of bus bombings

 https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-843160

The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) arrested two Jewish-Israeli suspects and are investigating their potential involvement in transporting the terrorists that planted bombs on buses in the Bat Yam area of central Israel on Thursday evening, Israeli media reported on Friday. 

The two are also charged with attempted murder.

From saviour to Judas… How Trump’s pivot on Russia also endangers his own country

 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/22/from-saviour-to-judas-how-trumps-pivot-on-russia-also-endangers-his-own-country

Candidate Trump, touting a just peace, pledged to end the war in a day. Now he praises Vladimir Putin, claims Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is “a dictator” and backs a settlement on Moscow’s criminal, one-sided terms. This deranged collapse into craven capitulation, this transition from American saviour to American Judas, took less than a month. It’s contemptible.

Ukraine is in shock over Trump’s unforced concessions and pro-Russia lurch: no return of occupied territory to Kyiv; no Nato membership, no US security guarantees, no troops. Less art of the deal, more art of the steal. Zelenskyy’s too-true jibe about Trump living in a “Russian disinformation bubble” hit a nerve, recalling the Mueller report on 2016 election collusion with the Kremlin.

One in Four Canadians See US as 'Enemy' Country

 https://www.newsweek.com/canada-us-relations-enemy-poll-tariffs-2034766

According to the Leger poll conducted between February 14 and 17, 27 percent of Canadians now consider the U.S. an enemy, while 30 percent still see it as an ally. Another 27 percent view it as neutral. The poll surveyed 1,500 Canadians and 1,000 Americans. It was not assigned a margin of error as it was conducted online.