World News

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/45786751

The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group surprised many with the intensity of its attacks on Israel in the current conflict.

April 11, 2026

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/45784988

Duration - 2:54 [a video about Cuba from the news collective Belly Of The Beast]

U.S. lawmakers Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) traveled to Cuba to see the impact of sanctions firsthand. After visiting hospitals, Rep. Jayapal describes what she saw: premature babies struggling in incubators, mothers without food, and hospitals facing power outages. She says U.S. policy causing scarcities in Cuba is “an act of war.”

cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/11289283

On 12 April 2026, the Global Sumud Flotilla will once again set sail in a coordinated civilian initiative aim at breaking Israel’s unlawful blockade on the occupied Gaza Strip. Featuring more than 70 boats and 3,000 participants from 100 countries, the Spring 2026 mission includes a dedicated medical fleet of 1,000 healthcare professionals, carrying vital supplies to help Gaza’s decimated healthcare system. The mission seeks to deliver assistance to Palestinians enduring Israel’s ongoing genocide and decades of cruel apartheid. Responding to the launch of the Spring 2026 mission, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director of Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns said:

“The Global Sumud Flotilla is a powerful symbol of international solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, who are enduring an ongoing genocide and an inhumane blockade now approaching its 19th year. Israeli authorities must ensure safe passage for these unarmed activists and human rights defenders. There must be no repeat of Israel’s unlawful interceptions and arbitrary detentions that occurred in 2025, including the seizure of the Madleen and other vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, nor of the abuse and ill-treatment inflicted on activists during their detention last October.

• The fact that these civilian missions continue to sail in the first place is a direct indictment of the international community’s devastating inaction.

• Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International

“As the occupying power, Israel is legally obligated to ensure that Palestinians in Gaza have unfettered access to humanitarian aid, ranging from basic goods to life-saving supplies and goods, yet it continues to blatantly disregard its legal obligations and the binding provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, in violation of international law.

“The fact that these civilian missions continue to sail in the first place is a direct indictment of the international community’s devastating inaction. States must uphold their legal obligations under international law and take concrete steps to help bring an end to Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, including by pressuring Israel to end its unlawful blockade, which continues to inflict relentless suffering on Palestinians. States must also ensure the protection of those taking action to stop Israel’s impunity for its violations of Palestinians’ rights in Gaza.”

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/45741592

April 9, 2026

As a fragile cease-fire takes hold, Iran is sorting through the wreckage from U.S.-Israeli strikes, which have exacted a heavy toll on its civilian infrastructure. The New York Times has verified damage to 22 schools and 17 health care facilities, a fraction of the devastation in the war so far.

The scale of devastation is likely far greater than The Times’s analysis. The Iranian Red Crescent Society, the country’s primary humanitarian relief organization, said on April 2 that at least 763 schools and 316 health care facilities had been damaged or destroyed in the war.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/45714503

[a video about Cuba from the news collective Belly Of The Beast]

Hundreds of Cuban women gathered at Mariana Grajales Park in Havana to denounce the Trump administration’s intensification of the U.S. government’s 60-year economic war on Cuba.

According to Teresa Amarelle Boue, Secretary General of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC, for its acronym in Spanish), women are among the sectors of the population most directly affected by U.S. sanctions.

For women, the impact is felt both in their professional and personal lives, as many bear the primary responsibility for running households and caring for children and the sick, tasks that have become increasingly difficult under the tightened embargo. This is the case of Cecilia Valdés, a caregiver daughter who explains that her mother has been unable to access medication due to restrictions caused by the embargo.

Tuesday’s gathering also paid tribute to the 96th anniversary of Vilma Espín, the late leader of the organization, who devoted much of her life’s work to the empowerment of women within the Cuban Revolution.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/45713810

In a series of Situation Room meetings, President Trump weighed his instincts against the deep concerns of his vice president and a pessimistic intelligence assessment. Here’s the inside story of how he made the fateful decision.

April 7, 2026

https://archive.ph/e2trF

Military conflict in the Middle East triggered a seismic shift in the global energy market, at times pushing crude oil prices above 100 USD per barrel and diesel prices to 238 USD per barrel, prompting many countries to declare a state of emergency.

However, with the proactive and flexible application of solutions by authorities and businesses, the domestic market is gradually stabilising and fuel supply is ensured.

Diversifying supply sources

Le Ngoc Son, Chairman of the Board of Members of the Viet Nam National Energy and Industry Group (Petrovietnam), said that the unit’s crude oil production in the past three months reached 2.63 million tons, exceeding the plan by 10.4% and increasing by 10.2%; while Petroleum production (excluding Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Plant) exceeded the plan by 11%, an increase of 8.4% compared to the same period in 2025.

The group and its member units are currently actively working with partners to seek and diversify sources of crude oil, petroleum products, and raw materials for blending and fuel production, thereby maintaining stable and uninterrupted petroleum production and supply to the economy.

Dung Quat Refinery is operating at 120% of its equivalent capacity to increase supply to the market; Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Plant has accelerated the diversification of crude oil sources, thereby enhancing flexibility in choosing alternative sources, limiting the risk of disruption, and ensuring stable operation.

To proactively secure domestic supply, Viet Nam Oil Corporation (PVOIL) increased import volumes and opened new bidding lots compared to the plan. Fuel supply operations at over 900 gas stations were maintained smoothly, meeting consumer demand.

Units in the oil and gas exploration and production sector continued to maintain production levels and optimise capacity while ensuring safety and efficiency, contributing to meeting the crude oil needs of domestic refineries.

In addition, Viet Nam Gas Corporation (PV GAS) received its first imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment of 2026 at the Thi Vai LNG terminal, with a volume of 63,000 tonnes, contributing to stabilising the domestic energy market. Furthermore, the corporation imported nearly 43,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and this figure is expected to increase in the future.

The Dung Quat Refinery is operating at high capacity to meet market demand.

“To contribute to ensuring national energy security, Petrovietnam Group will implement a comprehensive set of solutions, from flexible management to enhancing market analysis and forecasting capabilities; proactively diversifying crude oil sources, increasing production and import of petroleum products, and strengthening coordination and improving efficiency throughout the entire chain; proactively developing response scenarios; and researching and proposing a ‘rapid response’ mechanism to market fluctuations,” emphasised Le Ngoc Son, Chairman of the Board of Members.

According to the Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex), when some previously existing regional supply sources were affected by export restrictions and bans, the group and its member units urgently sought and implemented alternative import options from other markets, including Asia and Southeast Asia, to ensure the maintenance of import volumes and meet domestic consumption needs.

Flexible solutions

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East caused a sharp surge in crude oil prices at the end of March, more than 2.5 times higher than before the conflict erupted, plunging many countries into a fuel crisis.

In Southeast Asia, the Philippines declared a national state of emergency; Thailand witnessed long overnight queues at gas stations; and Myanmar suffered fuel price increases of over 55%. Amidst this volatile landscape, Viet Nam emerged as a bright spot in the region by responding with a multi-layered, flexible, and in-depth stabilisation strategy, yielding impressive results in curbing rising prices.

According to a representative from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, within just one month, the fuel price stabilisation fund was activated nine times, with an estimated total expenditure of 5.3 trillion VND (approximately 217 million USD).

By the end of March, for the first time in history, the government decided to advance 8 trillion VND (approximately 303 million USD) from the increased central government budget revenue for 2025 to support the fund.

Simultaneously, the government implemented several fiscal tools such as reducing preferential import taxes on some petroleum products to 0% from March 9th to April 30th, 2026; reducing the environmental protection tax to 0% on gasoline (excluding ethanol), diesel, and aviation fuel from midnight on March 26 to April 15; cutting the special consumption tax on gasoline from 8-10% to 0%; and exempting value-added tax declarations while still allowing input tax deductions.

The estimated total reduction in budget revenue is approximately 7.2 trillion VND/month (approximately 295 million USD), a figure the government considers “necessary to stabilise prices and reduce cost pressure.”

According to experts, the flexible combination of the fuel price stabilisation fund, tax and fee adjustments, and dynamic operating mechanisms demonstrates a relatively balanced model between protecting consumers, maintaining macroeconomic stability and avoiding long-term budget burdens.

The mechanism of budget advances with a commitment to repayment within 12 months is a crucial differentiating factor, demonstrating fiscal discipline in an emergency context and reflecting the flexibility in management and rapid policy responses of the government.

In reality, the energy crisis shows no signs of ending, and global oil prices continue to fluctuate sharply. However, the flexible application of sufficiently strong policy tools, swift action, and close coordination among ministries and agencies have helped Viet Nam gradually overcome the energy crisis, firmly protecting its fuel defences while meeting the consumption needs of the people and the economy.

cross-posted from: https://expressional.social/users/Peter_Link/statuses/116360964164898976

Emergency #protest against bombing of Iran in #Detroit, #Michigan, #USA on April 7 at 4pm ET

Tuesday night Trump plans for the #US Dept of #War to hit all the cities in #Iran with power plants, which is most of them, with heavy bombs. Please remember, bombs shred people. He is going for the Kill.

#Tuesday, April 7 at 4 pm protest this deranged, horrific violence at the McNamara Federal Building demanding NO BOMBING IRAN! (and no bombing in #Lebanon, #Palestine, #Gaza...) Supported by Macomb Defenders Rising, Peace Action of Michigan, Moratorium Now, Anti-Fascist Organizing Coalition and Michigan Coalition Against Genocide.

#Trump said yesterday, when asked what his goal is in Iran, said "we will take their #oil. They cannot stop us."

These are all massive #WarCrimes. We need every person of conscience to show and make clear to our children, to the world and for our legacy that we stood strong.

#NoWarWithIran
#Israel #US #news #politics #USpol
@worldnews

$1,500,000 per month. $40,000 per operator. Bonuses per kill.

A lawsuit was just UNSEALED in federal court(here it is https://cja.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/001.Complaint.2025.12.23.pdf). Here's what nobody is telling you:

• The company was called Spear Operations Group. Incorporated in Delaware. Run by a former commando out of San Diego.
• Their client was the UAE government. 23 targets. Multiple confirmed kills.
• The team flew chartered jets from New Jersey to carry out assassinations overseas.
• They brought body armor, explosives, booby-trapped vehicles, and whiskey.
• Drone footage was used for pre-hit reconnaissance and to document the strikes.
• The founder admitted everything on record: "There was a targeted assassination program. I was running it. We did it."
• The former US. military personnel who ultimately chose to join Spear in2 December 2015 did so at rates of upwards of $20,000 per month plus bonuses, well3 above the market rate they would have received for typical private security work4 abroad.

They're showing you "private security firms protecting US interests."

They're NOT showing you that former US special operators are selling assassination services to foreign governments from American soil with near-zero legal consequence.

Here's the logic chain:

• US trains elite operators at massive cost
• Operators go private
• Foreign governments buy their services
• Operators use US legal cover while executing foreign government hit lists
• Victims have no recourse except a lawsuit a decade later
• The system that trained them takes no responsibility

If this program was illegal, why has no one been prosecuted?

If the State Department "never authorized" this, why haven't the operators been charged?

Complete silence.

This is not a rogue contractor story. This is the dynamic of the Yankee beast and the US puppets.

The source for the body -> https://x.com/LimitlesCobz/status/2040021555850215928

Some additions are mine

Additional sources -> https://cja.org/what-we-do/litigation/usmercenaries/