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Trump’s Promise to Bomb Iran ‘Like Never Before’ Faces Brutal Logistics — Expert

Sputnik – 07.04.2026

Destroying Iran’s power grid and bridges is easier said than done, according to former Pakistan Air Force colonel Sultan M. Hali.

Here’s why:

  • No Yugoslav-style campaign: Iran’s vast size and limited tanker basing options rule out a repeat of the 1999 Kosovo air war
  • Vulnerable tankers: Long distances force refueling aircraft to operate from exposed forward bases or on risky long-range missions
  • Layered air defenses: Russian-made Tor-M1 and indigenous Bavar-373 systems threaten low/medium-altitude strikes
  • Dual threat to carriers: Drone swarms can overwhelm defenses, while short-range ballistic and cruise missiles can target ships and bases

“The danger is not absolute, but it is significant enough to force US planners into cautious, resource-intensive operations,” the expert said.

Germany seeks to restrict stays abroad for men of fighting age – Berliner Zeitung

RT | April 7, 2026

German men who remain abroad for more than three months without prior approval may start facing penalties under a military-related legal requirement, according to the Berliner Zeitung.

The rule obliges men of fighting age, between the ages of 17 and 45, to obtain permission before extended stays abroad. It came into force on January 1, 2026, but April is when the first three-month period expires and enforcement may begin, the outlet has said.

Germany is in the process of a massive military buildup, with plans to spend reportedly more than €500 billion (around $580 billion) on defense by 2029. German officials have set 2029 as the deadline for the armed forces to be “war-ready” for a potential conflict with Russia. … continue

Ukrainian drone strike kills 12-year-old boy and parents in Russian region

RT | April 7, 2026

A twelve-year-old boy and his parents have been killed in an overnight Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Vladimir Region, according to Governor Aleksandr Avdeev. The family’s five-year-old daughter survived with burns.

Emergency crews extinguished a fire that broke out after the family’s home was struck in the attack. […]

Also on Tuesday, Zaporozhye Governor Evgeny Balitsky reported that a Ukrainian drone had struck a school in the village of Velikaya Znamenka, injuring five children and one adult.

The Russian Defense Ministry has said 45 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight over several regions. … Full article

Evidence points to Ukraine being behind TurkStream attempted sabotage, but that should come as no surprise

Remix News | April 7, 2026

Secret service documents allegedly prove that the Ukrainians planned to blow up the Turkish and Blue Stream pipelines years ago, permanently cutting Europe off from cheap Russian gas, reports Magyar Nemzet, citing a report out of Ellenpont.

However, Serbia’s intelligence chief is denying that Ukrainians were the perpetrators, instead claiming that they had reports of a possible attack planned by a certain migrant gang group of radical muslims but had not considered it legitimate intel. However, this same chief also does not rule out that Ukraine was the contractor behind the scheme.

The Serbian section of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline was set on fire in a sabotage operation on Sunday. Since this pipeline supplies Hungary with gas, blowing up the pipeline would have put the country’s gas supply at risk.

The portal also reported that, in response to the explosives found near the TurkStream pipeline in Serbia last weekend, a presenter on one of Zelensky’s propaganda TV stations stated: “If the Ukrainians want to blow up the Turkish Stream, they will blow it up.” … continue

Sri Lanka secures supplies of Russia oil – minister

RT | April 7, 2026

Sri Lanka will purchase crude oil from Russia after reaching an agreement with Moscow amid the energy crisis spurred by the Middle East conflict, the island nation’s transport minister, Bimal Rathnayake, has said.

Rathnayake told TASS on Monday that “energy is our priority today,” adding that the US-Israeli war on Iran has triggered a disruption in supplies to Sri Lanka.

“Russia’s deputy energy minister [Andrey Rudenko] visited Sri Lanka a few days ago. The deputy foreign minister has also visited Sri Lanka. They reached an agreement on oil supplies to the country,” Rathnayake told the news agency.

He added that the first crude supplies from Russia are expected in mid-April. … continue

Nations across Asia strike direct deals with Iran for Hormuz passage

Al Mayadeen | April 7, 2026

As US President Donald Trump threatens to “obliterate” Iran’s energy infrastructure unless it reopens the Strait of Hormuz, a growing number of countries are now negotiating directly with Tehran to secure safe passage for their ships. … continue

IRGC commander declares ‘new phase’ of reprisal attacks against aggressors

Press TV – April 7, 2026

Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force has declared the start of a “new phase” in Iran’s retaliatory operations against the US aggression, as the elite force warned earlier that any violation of red lines by the enemies will trigger a crushing response.

Posting a video on social platform UpScrolled, Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi said, “And now, the new phase of the war [has begun] with fresh, twin launchers for Fateh and Kheibar Shekan missiles, all previous strikes doubled.”

In a statement announcing the launch of the wave 99 of Operation True Promise 4, the IRGC reiterated that Iran “has not been and will never be the one to initiate attacks on civilian targets.”

However, it added that the IRGC “will not hesitate to retaliate against despicable aggressions on civilian facilities.”

In response to any further attack on Iran’s civilian infrastructure, the IRGC forces “will inflict such damage on the infrastructure of the US and its partners that they will be deprived of the region’s oil and gas for years to come.”

The IRGC said that Washington’s regional allies need to be aware of the fact that the IRGC has so far “shown great restraint and exercised caution in selecting its targets for retaliation, out of respect for good neighborly relations.”

But the Iranian Armed Forces, the statement added, will cast aside all such considerations and self-restraint from now on. … Full article

Missiles Hit Saudi Arabia’s Key Industrial Hub — Reports

Sputnik – 07.04.2026

A large explosion was reported in the industrial area of Jubail, one of the world’s key petrochemical centers, producing around 60 million tons and accounting for roughly 6–8% of global output, Fars News reported.

The area hosts major projects including Saudi petrochemical giant SABIC, as well as the Sadara complex (with US-based Dow Chemical shareholders) and the Amiral project involving Aramco and TotalEnergies.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said seven ballistic missiles launched toward the Eastern Region were intercepted and destroyed.

Authorities added that debris fell near energy facilities, with damage currently being assessed.

Israel’s air defenses overwhelmed by cluster-warhead Iranian missiles: Reports

Press TV – April 7, 2026

Iran’s changing tactics in firing missiles toward the Israeli-occupied territories have created a real challenge for the Israeli regime’s missile interceptor systems, according to sources within the regime who say the systems are effectively failing to counter the growing threat of Iranian missiles.

A Tuesday report by IRNA cited analyses published in the Israeli media showing that Iran’s increasing use of missiles equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV) has become a major challenge for Israeli air defense systems. … continue

Why The F-15 Pilot Rescue Fiasco Became Iran’s Huge Operational Win

Sputnik – 07.04.2026

Despite ultimately recovering the aviators, the US operation to rescue F-15 crew members downed in Iran “was a debacle,” political analyst Tobias Nase tells Sputnik.

He argues that the true outcome of the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) effort was concealed from the public “to hide the fact that it turned into a huge operational success for Iran.”

Visual evidence indicates that during the operation, two C-130s and several helicopters were damaged and later destroyed—”either by Iran or by US forces themselves once it became clear they were no longer airworthy,” speculates the political analyst.

“That still marks these aircraft as losses,” he says.

Capturing the pilots would have been a major propaganda win for Iran, but even without that, they scored significant gains: they first shot down an American F-15, then located the CSAR operation base, forcing US forces to retreat in chaos—something Serbia failed to achieve when the stealth Nighthawk was downed during the 1999 Yugoslav war.

As for US casualties, with a CSAR that likely involved 100–200 troops on the ground, even if no bodies were publicly recovered, those troops could still have been retrieved and evacuated, the analyst contends.

“The US is again hiding the real casualties of this war. Every dead soldier risks eroding Trump’s public support,” he observes.

Iranian synagogue destroyed in US-Israeli overnight airstrike on Tehran

Press TV – April 7, 2026

A historic synagogue belonging to the Jewish community in Tehran has been destroyed in a pre-dawn airstrike carried out by the United States and the Israeli regime, Iranian officials and community representatives confirm.

The attack, which occurred on Tuesday at approximately 3:00 AM local time, targeted the synagogue located in a residential area of the capital.

The building was completely demolished, and nearby residential homes sustained severe damage.

Homayoun Sameyeh Najafabadi, the Jewish community’s representative in the Iranian Parliament, said no casualties or injuries were reported as the strike took place during early morning hours when the building was empty.

Sameyeh Najafabadi added that the synagogue was a place of worship that held significant historical value as one of Iran’s oldest Jewish houses of prayer.

“The Torah scrolls that were kept in this synagogue, which held a very high status, have also been destroyed and remain buried under the rubble,” he said.

The attack occurred during the Jewish holiday of Passover (Pesach), one of the most significant festivals in the Jewish calendar.

The Jewish community representative strongly condemned the strike, emphasizing that Tehran’s Jewish community has consistently opposed Zionist actions.

“Unfortunately, the criminal Zionist regime targeted a synagogue belonging to the Iranian Jewish community during the days of Passover, in light of the community’s firm stance in condemning the regime’s actions and its anti-Zionist positions,” Sameyeh Najafabadi stated. … Full article

Two pharmacists killed as US-Israeli aggression targets 25 Iranian pharma units in 40 days

Press TV – April 7, 2026

American and Zionist aggressors have so far attacked 25 pharmaceutical companies and units across Iran, killing at least two pharmacists, as nearly 40 days have passed since a US-Israeli military coalition waged an unprovoked war of aggression against the Islamic Republic.

Hadi Ahmadi, head of the Public Relations Office of Iranian Association of Pharmacists, provided the figures in a statement on Tuesday, noting that two major companies, namely Tofigh Daru and Iran’s Pasteur Institute, were directly struck by US and Israeli missiles.

The Tofigh Daru pharmaceutical research and production facility as well as the Pasteur Institute of Iran, which is the oldest and most prestigious research and public health center in Iran and the entire West Asia founded in 1920, were heavily damaged earlier this month. … Full article

Striking Iran’s Infrastructure Would Have Little Military Impact – Report

Sputnik – 07.04.2026

US threats to target Iran’s electricity grid, refineries, and desalination plants would have devastating consequences for civilians while offering little military advantage, even the US-based Atlantic Council acknowledged.

“Striking Iran’s water-related infrastructure will immediately spark a crisis of disease, hunger, and thirst among Iran’s civilian population,” the report said.

The report also warns that targeting Iran’s infrastructure risks destabilizing the entire region. Gulf states, heavily dependent on energy-intensive desalination, could face severe water shortages within days if tensions escalate.

Rather than weakening Iran militarily, such actions could deepen mistrust of the United States and further aggravate the regional conflict.

“Destroying Iran’s civilian energy and water infrastructure would likely only serve to prolong and escalate the conflict,” the authors warn.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with strikes on its civilian infrastructure in multiple posts on Truth Social.

What’s Behind U.S./Israeli Strikes On Iranian Pistachio Factories?

Inside The Role Zionist Billionaires Lynda and Stewart Resnick Have Played In Shaping The Iran War

The Dissident | April 6, 2026

Open source reports have indicated that “The pistachio warehouses of Iranian Pistachio Company near Rafsanjan Airport were targeted by American/Israeli fighter jets in the first week of Farvardin”, “ which has been described as “the heart of Iran’s pistachio industry.”

This strike was likely a gift to Lynne and Stewart Resnick, the Zionist billionaires who own the California-based Wonderful company, the largest producer of pistachios in the world. … continue

Senior BBC Iran reporter exposed as opposition activist

By Wyatt Reed | The Grayzone | April 7, 2026

After a top reporter at the BBC drew outrage for publishing a quote demanding Iran be nuked, she’s been revealed as a dedicated regime change activist whose career was launched by a CIA-founded propaganda network. Serious questions remain about the BBC’s editorial process. … Read article

BBC Caught Fabricating Quote Of An Iranian Calling For The U.S. To Drop An ‘Atomic Bomb’

The Dissident | April 7, 2026

Ghoncheh Habibiazad, a pro-regime change Iranian reporter living in London, who works for the BBC, has been caught seemingly fabricating a quote of a supposed Iranian citizen supporting the U.S. “using an atomic bomb, or levelling Iran.” […]

By fabricating the most recent quote attempting to paint a picture of Iranian cheering for a U.S. nuclear strike and “levelling Iran” Ghoncheh Habibiazad and the BBC have been fully exposed as propagandists for the war on Iran and the CIA/Mossad/MI6 , masquerading as neutral reporters concerned for human rights. – Read full article

Fungal Infections: The Cleanup Crew

An Essay on Athlete’s Foot, Candida, Ringworm, and Why the Fungus Is Not Your Enemy

Lies are Unbekoming | March 27, 2026

When Tom Cowan was thirteen, he ate a lot of candy and licorice and had athlete’s foot. The doctors told him it was contagious. They gave him creams. The creams didn’t work, or they worked temporarily and the fungus came back. At seventeen, he read a book called Sugar Blues by William Dufty. He quit sugar completely. Within a few months, every trace of athlete’s foot disappeared and never returned.¹

That was over fifty years ago. In the decades since, Cowan built a medical practice where he treated fungal conditions — athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm, candida overgrowth — hundreds of times. His approach never changed. No antifungal creams. No nystatin. Clean up the diet, stop the sugar, address the toxic load. In his own account: he never once had to prescribe antifungal medication, and the conditions resolved.²

The question is why that works. And the answer restructures everything conventional medicine claims to know about fungal “infection.” … continue

How I fell foul of the BBC thought police

By Charlie Spedding | TCW Defending Freedom | April 5, 2026

THE BBC recently featured a United Nations report which claimed the Earth’s ‘Energy Balance’ was dangerously disrupted by excess heat caused by rising carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels. This is false for many reasons, but rather than explain why, I want to discuss the BBC.

This story was on the evening news and also on the website. I read many of the comments posted online. The majority were worried and adamant that we must ‘do something before it is too late’. I wanted to reassure people that there is nothing happening to the climate that could be described as a crisis and carbon dioxide is not the control knob of planetary weather patterns. I decided it was best to direct them towards some of the world’s leading physicists rather than attempt to explain it myself. This is what I tried to post on the BBC website:

‘May I respectfully suggest that everyone worried about a man-made climate crisis do some research. I recommend the work of Prof Richard Lindzen, Prof William Happer, Prof Willie Soon, Nobel Laureate John Clauser and the CO2 Coalition. Most people don’t realise how much we are all manipulated by vested interests including the mainstream media. Be smarter than most and learn from world experts.’

The website moderators informed me that my post had been deleted because it broke their house rules: ‘We reserve the right to fail comments which . . . are considered likely to disrupt, provoke, attack or offend others, are racist, sexist, homophobic, sexually explicit, abusive or otherwise objectionable; contain swear words or other language likely to offend.’

I appealed against their decision… continue

UK police arrest activists protesting US aggression on Iran near RAF base

The UK has authorized the US to use British military bases to carry out “defensive” operations against Iran

Press TV – April 6, 2026

The British police have arrested seven people over supporting the banned group Palestine Action at an anti-war protest near a Royal Air Force (RAF) air base in eastern England used by US armed forces for aggression on Iran.

The five men and two women arrested at a peace encampment just outside the Lakenheath airbase had gathered with other activists on Sunday to protest the use of the base as a departure point for US aircraft involved in the US-Israeli war of aggression on Iran.

The Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, which organized the protest, said the seven had been arrested wearing clothing with the message saying, “We oppose genocide, we support Palestine Action.”

Police said the protesters had been arrested “on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organization.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government banned Palestine Action as a “terrorist” organization last year, making it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group.

In February, a court ruled that the ban was “disproportionate” and interfered with the right to free speech. But the government has appealed, and the ban remains in effect.

More than 2,700 people have been arrested and hundreds charged over rallies in support of the group, according to protest organizers Defend Our Juries. … Full article

Army Kills Palestinian, Shoots Child in Gaza

IMEMC | April 6, 2026

On Sunday evening, Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian and injured several others, in addition to shooting a child in the head, in the devastated Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli military drones fired at displaced Palestinians in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, killing one Palestinian and wounding several residents, some seriously.

The slain Palestinian has been identified as Abdul-Rahman Amer Al-Khodari and was killed near the Al-Jazeera Club in Gaza city.

Th Health Ministry said, besides Abdul-Rahman, four Palestinians were injured, and were rushed to a hospital.

It added that the soldiers also shot a 3‑year‑old child, Malik Abu Luli, in a separate Israeli attack involving live fire targeting displaced families in the coastal enclave. … Full article

The End of NATO

By Salman Rafi Sheikh – New Eastern Outlook –  April 6, 2026

The war between the United States and Iran has become not only a military crisis in the Middle East but also a turning point for the transatlantic alliance, exposing deep divisions between Washington and its European allies.

When Donald Trump publicly derided NATO as a “paper tiger” and threatened to withdraw the United States from the alliance over Europe’s refusal to back the Iran war, it signaled more than frustration; it exposed a strategic rupture. As this conflict unfolds, Washington is discovering that military strength without allied support is not dominance, but isolation. The Iran war may yet end on the battlefield, although it is unlikely to be a US victory. But politically, it is already reshaping—and dramatically weakening—the foundations of American global power. … continue

Ukraine Attacks Caspian Pipeline Consortium Facilities to Put Economic Damage on US Energy Companies

Sputnik – 06.04.2026

On the night of April 6, the Ukrainian regime, in an attempt to destabilize the global hydrocarbon market and halt the supply of petroleum products to European consumers, attacked facilities of the marine transshipment complex in Novorossiysk using fixed-wing attack drones, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Ukrainian regime deliberately targeted facilities of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, an international oil transport company, in order to inflict maximum economic damage on its largest shareholders – energy companies from the US and Kazakhstan.

As a result of the Ukrainian drone strikes, the pipeline of the offshore berthing facility and the loading/unloading pier were damaged, and four petroleum product storage tanks caught fire.

In addition, on the night of April 6, Ukrainian drones also attacked civilian infrastructure in the city of Novorossiysk, including apartment buildings and private residential homes, resulting in injuries to civilians, including children.

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium is the largest route for transporting oil from the Caspian region to global markets.

The pipeline, stretching over 1,500 kilometers, connects oil fields in western Kazakhstan to a marine terminal in Novorossiysk.

The consortium brings together major fuel and energy enterprises from Russia, the United States, Kazakhstan, and several Western European countries.

Notably, it includes the American company Chevron. … Full article

37 days of war on Iran cost US staggering $42bln, tracker shows

Al Mayadeen | April 6, 2026

The US aggression against Iran has cost American taxpayers over $42.1 billion in nearly 37 days of war, according to the Iran War Cost Tracker portal.

The portal’s real-time tracking is based on a Department of War briefing for the US Congress on March 10, which stated that Washington spent $11.3 billion in the first six days of its aggression on Iran and plans to spend an additional $1 billion each subsequent day of the war. … continue

Baghdad tells Asian refiners, traders to begin loading Iraqi crude amid Iranian exemption

The Cradle | April 6, 2026

Baghdad has told Asian traders and refiners they can begin loading Iraqi oil into tankers for transit through the Strait of Hormuz following an Iranian exemption to transit the strategic waterway.

After the US and Israel began their unprovoked attack on Iran over one month ago, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to target vessels linked to the US and Israel with missile and drone strikes.

The move forced Iraq to cut its oil production by some 70 percent, as Baghdad had no major alternate route for exporting oil, which funds 90 percent of the state budget, and as its oil storage facilities quickly reached capacity.

Iraqi oil exports subsequently plunged by roughly 97 percent, to an average of 99,000 barrels per day (bpd).

However, in a notice sent on Sunday, Iraq’s State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) announced that Iraqi oil shipments were now “exempt from any potential restrictions.”

It asked Asian buyers to begin loading crude into vessels, saying export terminals, including in the city of Basra on the Persian Gulf, were “fully operational.” … continue

Befooled by Iran’s grand strategy, Trump hits out. But to what end?

By M. K. BHADRAKUMAR | Indian Punchline | April 6, 2026

… It is a wrong notion that Iran’s foreign policy simply reflects its revolutionary values or theocratic government. Far from it; the country’s resistance to the US, its nuclear ambitions, and its pursuit of influence and proxies across the Middle East are driven by a grand strategy based on the legacy of colonialism and a constant search for independence and security. Thus, Iran will never capitulate. Trump will learn this home truth ultimately, and it is going to be a humbling personal experience that may even destroy his presidency. – Full article

Under fire, Moscow and Tehran close ranks

US–Israeli escalation is accelerating, rather than weakening, the Russia–Iran axis, reshaping the Caspian into a contested strategic corridor.

By Hazal Yalin | The Cradle | April 6, 2026

Hours after the US and Israel – increasingly referred to in some circles as the “Epstein coalition” – attacked Iran on 28 February, Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a sharply worded response, describing the assault as “a deliberate, premeditated, and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state, in direct violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international law.”

When interpreting diplomatic texts in general – and Russia’s statements in particular, given its near-obsessive adherence to traditional diplomacy – the importance of terminology is often overlooked. The concept of “aggression” is not an ordinary one; it signifies a violation of the very spirit of the UN Charter, especially Article 2(4). … continue

Iran, US receive Pakistan-mediated plan for ceasefire then final deal

Al Mayadeen | April 6, 2026

Iran and the United States have received a plan to end hostilities that could come into effect on Monday and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported, citing a source aware of the proposals.

A framework to end the US-Israeli war on Iran has been put together by Pakistan and exchanged with Tehran and Washington overnight, the source told Reuters, outlining a two-tier approach with an immediate ceasefire followed by a comprehensive agreement.

“All elements need to be agreed today,” the source said, adding the initial understanding would be structured as a memorandum of understanding finalized electronically through Pakistan, the sole communication channel in the talks. … continue

Iran submits demands for end to war as mediators scramble ahead of Trump deadline

The Cradle | April 6, 2026

Iran announced on 6 April that it has conveyed its demands on a potential ceasefire with the US and Israel through intermediaries, as US President Donald Trump’s threat to bomb Iranian energy and water infrastructure looms.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told a news briefing that Tehran has communicated its demands “based on national interests” through regional mediators.

“We have formulated our own set of demands based on our interests and considerations. We are not ashamed to voice our legitimate and logical demands,” he said when asked about the prospect of an end to the war.

Iranian officials have previously stated that Tehran has four main conditions for an agreement: an end to the war and guarantees against future military attacks, compensation for losses during the conflict, recognition of formal control of the Strait of Hormuz, and no limits on its ballistic missile program.

Baghaei stressed that Iranian leaders are committed to continuing the war to defend the country from US-Israeli attacks if necessary.

“Expressing our positions quickly and courageously should not be interpreted as backing down,” he said.

The ministry at the same time expressed doubts about US intentions, stating that “America destroyed the path of diplomacy in months in the worst way, and the world sees that its claims do not match its actions.”

“America gives no value to the security of the region’s countries, and its only obsession is maintaining the existence of the Zionist entity,” the statement added. … continue

Iran Threatens Retaliatory Strike on Stargate AI Project in UAE

OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco, and SoftBank stand to lose $30 billion.

By Kurt Nimmo | Another Day in the Empire | April 6, 2026

Iran has threatened to follow through on its threat to strike tech operations in Israel and the Persian Gulf emirates. Brigadier General Ebrahim Zolfaghari, IRGC Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters spokesperson, in a video released on April 5, singled out the AI Stargate data center in the UAE. He threatened “complete and utter annihilation” of the $30 billion facility in Abu Dhabi and extended the threat to other US and Israeli tech targets.

In early March, the IRGC attacked Amazon’s AWS data centers in Bahrain and Dubai, triggering outages. It was the first time a “hyperscale cloud provider” suffered a military attack, notes Tom’s Hardware. Earlier this month, the IRGC claimed to have hit Oracle’s data center in Dubai, although this was denied by Oracle.

“Should the USA proceed with its threats concerning Iran’s power plant facilities the following retaliatory measures shall be promptly enacted,” warned Zolfaghari. “All power plants, energy infrastructure, and information and communications technology of the Zionist regime, and all similar companies within the region that have American shareholders shall face complete and utter annihilation.” … continue

Barak Ravid Launders Deception To Allow Trump To Back Off Of His Power Plant Threat – Again

The Dissident | April 6, 2026

The Trump administration is seemingly creating another deception, claiming that Iran wants to give concessions to the United States to yet again back off on its threat to target Iranian power plants and bridges if they do not agree to open the Strait of Hormuz. … continue

US sent ‘a lot’ of arms to Iranian protesters – Trump

RT | April 6, 2026

The US sent “a lot” of weapons to Iranian protesters during unrest in January, President Donald Trump has told Fox News.

The demonstrations, initially driven by economic grievances and marred by violence, were openly incited at the time by Trump, who threatened the Iranian authorities with retaliation for suppressing the unrest. Tehran described the demonstrations as foreign-instigated and accused the US and Israel of fueling the movement, blaming armed provocateurs for deadly clashes.

In a phone interview on Sunday, Trump told reporter Trey Yingst that Washington had carried out a covert effort to arm demonstrators. He claimed the plan had little effect because Kurdish intermediaries allegedly kept the weapons instead of delivering them. … continue

Another Iranian petrochemical plant bombed in US-Israeli aggression

Press TV – April 6, 2026

Iran’s Oil Ministry says US-Israeli attacks have targeted petrochemical complexes in the southern Iranian province of Bushehr, just days after similar plants came under attack in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

The National Petrochemical Company (NPC) said in a Monday statement that utility and marginal facilities located in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, which hosts major Iranian petrochemical plants in the coastal county of Asaluyeh, had come under attack earlier in the day.

The NPC said it was investigating the scale of the damage inflicted on the facilities, adding that fire caused by the attack had come fully under control.

The company said there had been no dangerous chemical leaks or fatalities from the attacks.

Another statement from Persian Gulf Mobin Energy, a company providing utility services to petrochemical plants in the region, said that the US-Israeli attacks had inflicted damage on parts of its installations. … Full article

Iran slams US-Israeli attack on heavy water facility as ‘crime against human health’

Press TV – April 6, 2026

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says US-Israeli attack on Iran’s heavy water facility is a crime against science and human health, vowing to continue the path of scientific progress despite the aggression.

“Our scientific progress will not be halted, nor will our resolve to serve global peace/health,” the body wrote in a post on X on Monday.

This determination, it noted, is immune to the aggressors’ February 28-present atrocities against Iran’s peaceful nuclear energy facilities, including the sites used towards advancing nuclear medicine, such as the country’s heavy water facilities.

The AEOI, meanwhile, highlighted the gravity of the attacks targeting such installations, stating, “Heavy water & its derivatives are vital for medicine, disease treatment & advanced industries. US-Israeli attack on Iran’s heavy water facility is a crime against science & human health.”

So far throughout their imposed aggression, the United States and the Israeli regime have struck such facilities as the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran, the Khondab heavy water complex in the central Iranian city of Arak, and a yellowcake production facility in Ardakan, Yazd, which is similarly located in the country’s central areas.

The AEOI has denounced the strikes as instances of “war crimes.” … Full article

IRGC intel. chief Majid Khademi martyred in US-Israeli aggression

Al Mayadeen | April 6, 2026

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the martyrdom of Brigadier General Majid Khademi, a senior intelligence official, following a joint US-Israeli attack carried out at dawn.

In an official statement, the IRGC said Khademi, who headed both the Intelligence Protection Organization and the Intelligence Organization of the force, was killed as a result of aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.

According to the statement, Khademi had spent nearly five decades serving Iran’s national security apparatus, playing a central role in countering hostile plots and safeguarding the country’s internal stability. … Full article

Dozens killed, including 10 children, in overnight US-Israeli air raids across Iran

Press TV – April 6, 2026

Following overnight US-Israeli air raids across Iran, dozens of civilians, including six children, have been martyred.

The Public Relations Office of Tehran EMS reported early Monday that four girls and two boys under the age of ten were among the victims — children who, the agency stated, “fell victim to violence that had no connection to their innocent and childlike lives.”

The agency added that further details — including the precise location of the incident, the number of possible injured, and the status of rescue operations — would be announced later.

Earlier, Baharestan county’s governor said residential areas in the county were targeted in the early hours of the morning in US-Israeli strikes.

He stated that two residential units in the Qaleh Mir housing complex were destroyed, with 15 people confirmed dead and 20 injured so far, all transferred to medical facilities.

Search and rescue teams remain on site, he added, and operations are continuing to locate any additional victims.

Meanwhile, Morteza Heydari, Deputy Governor for Political and Security Affairs in Qom Province, who visited the scene, reported that a strike on a residential area in the city of Qom at around 1:00 a.m. has so far killed nine residents and injured 19 others.

The political deputy of Shahriar’s Governor’s Office reported that a US-Israeli strike targeted two residential buildings in the Shahedshahr area, resulting in nine fatalities and the complete destruction of both homes.

According to the official, the victims include four children, two women, and three other individuals who were on the upper floors of the buildings at the time of the attack.

Rescue teams are continuing debris removal and search operations, as one child remains trapped under the rubble. … Full article

Ukrainian drone smashes into apartment block in Russia

RT | April 6, 2026

A Ukrainian drone struck an apartment block in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk during a large-scale attack on cities in southern Russia, which left eight civilians injured, officials said.

Krasnodar Region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said air raid sirens rang in several coastal cities from Sunday through Monday, including the resort town of Sochi.

In Novorossiysk, a home to a commercial port and a naval base, two children and one adult were injured in a small house, while three others were injured in an attack on an apartment block. In a separate incident, two people were injured on a road between Novorossiysk and one of the villages.

Kondratyev said six apartment blocks and two individual houses were damaged, while drone fragments fell on several industrial sites.

The Russian Defense Ministry said 148 drones were intercepted in different regions on Sunday night.

On Friday, a Ukrainian drone sank the Russian grain ship Volgo-Balt 138 in the Sea of Azov, killing one person on board, a local official said.

The Kremlin said that the US-mediated talks were placed on hold due to the war in the Middle East.

Apricot Seeds, Essiac Tea, and the Destruction of Natural Medicine

An Essay on How Whole Foods Get Reduced to Failed Drugs

Lies are Unbekoming | April 1, 2026

… Cowan’s recommendations follow directly from the analysis.

For apricot seeds: eat three to six whole, organically grown seeds daily, chewed and swallowed. Those with a cancer diagnosis might eat somewhat more. Cowan himself ate three to four daily for years. Do not take synthesised vitamin B17 in pill form or intravenously. The synthesised compound follows the same degradation pattern the essay has described — decreased effectiveness, increased side effects, including symptoms described as cyanide-like toxicity.

The cyanide narrative deserves direct address. Moss demolished it systematically. In 1978, an estimated fifty to one hundred thousand patients were taking over one million grams of laetrile monthly. Two, possibly three deaths occurred from accidental overdoses — in each case involving circumstances unrelated to normal oral consumption of whole seeds. The FDA’s claim that amygdalin “contains cyanide” is chemically misleading. Unless proper enzymatic conditions are met, Moss wrote, “cyanide is as firmly bound in the amygdalin molecule as a brick in a solid brick wall. One might as well state that table salt is poisonous because it contains chlorine.” Sugiura’s mice received eight grams per kilogram per day — the human equivalent of roughly a pound daily — with no toxicity whatsoever.

For Essiac tea: Cowan recommended investigating the EC formula, specifically the product from genuineec.com, which he assessed as faithful to the original preparation. The protocol involves drinking the slurry daily for three to six months. This is not a casual supplement; Cowan emphasised that the positive outcomes he observed over his career came from “very diligent use.”

The deeper principle beneath both recommendations is the one that runs through the entire history: trust the whole food. The apricot kernel is not a vehicle for delivering vitamin B17. Essiac is not a vehicle for delivering burdock extract. The medicine is the whole preparation, consumed within a context of nourishing food, clean living, and the body’s own capacity to heal. Every attempt to reduce these medicines to their isolated parts has produced the same result — diminished effectiveness and manufactured grounds for dismissal. … Read full article

NIAID/NIH and USDA Fund Bioengineered Chimeric Influenza Viruses Built Using Pandemic H1N1 Components: Journal ‘Science Advances’

100% infection in exposed animals—mutations associated with immune evasion arise

By Jon Fleetwood | April 4, 2026

A new peer-reviewed study published last month in Science Advances says that U.S. government–funded researchers engineered chimeric influenza viruses using components from the 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain—and achieved a 100% infection rate in exposed animals.

The engineered viruses mutated during infection, generating changes associated with immune evasion.

The work was funded in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The research was conducted within the Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR/CEIRS), a federally backed network focused on influenza surveillance, vaccine development, and pandemic preparedness.

You can contact NIAID here, the NIH hereHHS here, and the USDA here to voice opposition to taxpayer-funded chimeric research on pandemic pathogens—particularly after Congress, the White House, the Department of Energy, the FBI, the CIA, and Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) all acknowledged that the deadly COVID-19 pandemic was “likely” the result of a laboratory incident.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump recently signed legislation into law allocating at least $5.5 billion in taxpayer funding for a future influenza pandemic.

Villains of Judea: Sidney Gottlieb

Inside the mind of the CIA’s most prolific torturer

José Niño Unfiltered | April 4, 2026

… Sidney Gottlieb was a quintessential product of the post-war era, leveraging the vast, unaccountable powers of the CIA to brutalize the innocent while remaining shielded by the very systems he helped build. Despite his facade of humble repentance, Gottlieb’s career exemplifies how his kinfolk seized the levers of American power to secure a world tailored to the interests of organized Jewry.

In practice, Gottlieb served as the architect of a sadistic apparatus, ensuring the CIA remained the lethal vanguard for the preservation of the Judeo-American empire. – Read full article

Colonizers Assault 3 Citizens, Burn 2 Farms in Nablus, Ramallah

IMEMC | April 5, 2026

Illegal Israeli colonizers assaulted a Palestinian young man and burned two farms in Qusra town, south of Nablus in the northern West Bank. Settlers assaulted two Palestinian women in the town of Birzeit, north of Ramallah, in the central West Bank.

On Saturday night, Israeli settlers assaulted a Palestinian young man and burned two poultry farms belonging to citizens in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus. … continue

Soldiers Shoot One, Assault and Abduct Others, Near Hebron

IMEMC | April 5, 2026

Israeli forces shot a Palestinian young man with live ammunition in Beit Ula town, northwest of Hebron in the southern West Bank. Soldiers also abducted three citizens, including a young woman and assaulted others in Hebron city and the towns of Ethna and Doura, to the west and southwest.

Media sources reported that Israeli forces positioned at the Apartheid Wall, west of Beit Ula town, opened fire towards Palestinian young men who were in the vicinity.

Soldiers shot one young man in the back with live ammunition; he was transported to the hospital where his condition was described as moderate.

Earlier Saturday, occupation forces abducted and assaulted the citizens Basem Mu’taz al-Junaidi and Zakaria Abdullah al-Atrash after storming and ransacking their homes in Hebron city.

Soldiers abused and abducted the citizen Bara’a Muhammad al-Awawda, 27, after invading and ransacking her home in Ethna town, west of Hebron.

Israeli forces stormed the home of the citizen Jibril Badr Al-Talahmeh in Al-Burj village, near Doura town, and brutally assaulted him, causing injuries to his head, chest, and abdomen. … Full article

Israeli Soldiers Shoot Palestinian Child In Beit Furik

IMEMC | April 5, 2026

Israeli occupation soldiers shot and injured a Palestinian child on Sunday morning during an invasion of Beit Furik, east of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said its medical crews treated a 14‑year‑old boy who was struck with live ammunition in the leg when Israeli soldiers invaded the town.

The PRCS added that its paramedics evacuated the child to a hospital in Nablus for further treatment, and his condition was described as stable. … Full article

Five Palestinians killed in fresh Israeli attacks in Gaza

Palestinian Information Center – April 5, 2026

GAZA – Five Palestinian citizens were martyred in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, as the occupation forces persisted in their ceasefire violations for the 176th consecutive day.

Medical sources in Gaza reported in the morning that a young man with special needs was killed after being shot by Israeli forces in southern Khan Yunis. His body was transferred to Nasser Hospital.

At dawn Sunday, four Palestinians were killed and others were wounded in an Israeli strike that targeted a group of security personnel east of Gaza City.

Gaza’s civil defense service reported that four bodies and several wounded people were taken to hospitals following an airstrike in Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood.

Eyewitnesses said an Israeli drone bombed a group of security personnel near al-Shawa Square in the neighborhood.

In northern Gaza, a woman was injured when Israeli forces opened fire at her in Beit Lahia.

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation army launched different attacks on residential areas and displacement camps, sparking panic among displaced families.

Israeli strike kills three people, injures others in Lebanese town of Siddiqin

Palestinian Information Center – April 5, 2026

BEIRUT – Three people were killed and others were injured on Sunday in an Israeli aerial attack on the town of Siddiqin as part of a series of intense airstrikes that targeted wide areas of southern Lebanon.

The towns of Kfar Dounin, Batoulay, ash-Shihabiyah, Ain Baal, Kafra, Siddiqin, and Wadi al-Hujeir witnessed a wave of overnight strikes.

The town of Kfar Hatta in the Sidon district was reportedly hit by more than six air raids. The strikes killed one person, injured several others, and caused extensive material damage.

On Saturday evening, an Israeli airstrike on the town of Kfar Hatta in southern Lebanon killed a displaced family of five, including three children.

The family had fled its home in Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh district seeking safety, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

The Israeli occupation army also launched artillery and aerial attacks on other areas of southern Lebanon last night and on Sunday morning.

Hezbollah hits Israeli warship off Lebanon’s coast, sets it aflame

Press TV – April 5, 2026

Fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement have carried out an operation in retaliation for the Israeli acts of aggression against Lebanon, targeting a military vessel off the coast of the Arab nation before it could launch any hostile action.

According to a statement issued by the group on Sunday, Hezbollah members targeted an Israeli military ship 68 nautical miles off the Lebanese coast, stressing that the vessel was preparing to carry out its aggressions against Lebanese territory.

“The targeting operation was carried out with a naval cruise missile after monitoring the target for hours, and it was confirmed to have been directly hit,” the statement noted. … continue

Iran slams US strikes on B1 bridge, Mahshahr petrochemical plants as ‘blatant acts of state terrorism’

Press TV – April 5, 2026

Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has called on the UN to denounce the US-Israeli strikes on the B1 bridge and the Mahshahr petrochemical plants as blatant acts of “state terrorism” and”war crimes.”

“I wish to bring to the attention the grave breaches of international humanitarian law, acts of terrorism and war crimes perpetrated by the United States and the Israeli regime through the deliberate and indiscriminate targeting of civilian and critical infrastructure in Iran,” Iravani wrote in a letter addressed to Secretary-General of United Nations, António Guterres, and the President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Jamal Fares Alrowaiei.

On Wednesday, the US airstrikes deliberately targeted the Karaj-Tehran Bl Bridge, a major civilian transportation artery connecting Tehran to its western suburbs.

This critical infrastructure was struck in multiple waves, resulting in its partial destruction and causing significant civilian casualties.

This heinous crime, openly acknowledged by US President Donald Trump in a public social media statement, was followed, on Saturday, by deliberate strikes on the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone in Khuzestan, a hub of Iran’s industrial and energy infrastructure employing a large civilian workforce, he continued.

These unlawful attacks were neither incidental nor spontaneous, according to Iravani.

They were preceded and accompanied by repeated, explicit and public threats made by Trump to deliberately target Iran’s civilian and critical infrastructure, he added. … continue

UK direct participant in war on Iran: Russian ambassador to UK

Al Mayadeen | April 5, 2026

The UK has become a direct participant in the US-Israeli aggression on Iran by permitting American aircraft to operate from UK bases for strikes against Iran, Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrey Kelin told RIA Novosti.

In early March, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that London had approved a US request to use its military bases for attacks on Iranian missile depots.

“They like to claim here that the United Kingdom is allegedly on the sidelines, offering only minimal ‘defensive’ support to allies while pushing for a diplomatic solution. Who are they fooling? Aside from the naive British public,” Kelin said.

“Allowing the Americans to launch strikes on Iran from their bases and deploying military aircraft to the region amounts to direct involvement, no matter how Keir Starmer tries to present the matter differently. I believe Iran’s leadership has taken due notice,” he added. … Full article

In letter to UN chief, Araghchi warns of dire consequences of US-Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities

Press TV – April 5, 2026

Iran’s foreign minister has raised serious concerns over the adverse consequences of US-Israeli airstrikes on the Iranian civilian nuclear facilities, notably the Bushehr nuclear power plant, emphasizing that such attacks expose the region to the risk of radioactive contamination.

In identical letters addressed to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the members of the Security Council on Saturday, Abbas Araghchi said that the US-Israeli assaults on Iranian nuclear installations happen regardless of the fact that these facilities are devoted exclusively to peaceful purposes and are operating under the IAEA’s comprehensive safeguards regime.

“These unlawful attacks expose the entire region to the risk of radioactive contamination with grave humanitarian and environmental consequences, and as such shall not be left unattended,” the letters read. … continue

Why the CIA conspiracy to invade Iran with Kurdish militias failed

By Robert Inlakesh | Al Mayadeen | April 5, 2026

At the beginning of the US-Israeli War on Iran, stories were circulated about the United States attempting to use Kurdish militia groups in order to wage a ground offensive against Iran. Yet the strategy never ended up getting off the ground. Understanding the context helps explain what happened

On February 22, just prior to the joint US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, five Kurdish-Iranian militant factions held a conference declaring a historic unity agreement had been reached. As a result the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), Khabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan, and a branch of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan came together. They declared themselves the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan (CPFIK), explicitly to fight against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

For long, Tehran had argued that these groups were being backed by the Western and Israeli intelligence agencies. However, journalists also adopting this analysis were often framed as being conspiracy theorists. That was, of course, until a few days into the US-Israeli war on Iran, when it emerged that the Trump administration was openly in talks with them, encouraging an invasion of Iran’s Western borders.

Then came the bombshell report from CNN, whose sources alleged that the CIA had been covertly working to arm these Kurdish-Iranian groups based in Iraq. So, at this stage, and shockingly so, there is no conspiracy to unravel as it has already been exposed. … continue

Why Are Upbeat US Claims About Mission to Rescue Pilot ‘Highly Questionable’?

Sputnik – 05.04.2026

President Donald Trump earlier wrote on Truth Social that the US carried out an operation to rescue an F-15 airman “without a single American killed, or even wounded.”

“Success in military terms is measured not only by the extraction of personnel but also by the cost incurred. If the US indeed lost aircraft and other equipment during the mission, then the operation cannot be deemed an unqualified success,” former colonel of Pakistan’s Air Force Sultan M. Hali told Sputnik.

“Rescue missions involving dozens of warplanes penetrating hostile airspace and engaging Iranian defenses are inherently dangerous. Historically, governments often downplay or delay acknowledgment of casualties to maintain morale and political optics,” Hali explained.

That’s why “it is difficult to accept at face value” Washington’s allegations on the rescue mission, according to the former colonel of Pakistan’s Air Force.

“The destruction or capture of advanced assets represents a strategic setback,” which “undermines deterrence, emboldens adversaries, and raises questions about the sustainability of such operations,” he concluded.

Aircraft destroyed during US ‘rescue’ of downed F-15 pilot cost more than $100 million each

The Cradle – April 5, 2026

Iran announced on 5 April the destruction of multiple US aircraft, including two military helicopters and two C-130 transport planes carrying US special forces seeking to rescue a downed US fighter pilot.

The alleged rescue operation “ended in complete failure with the timely presence of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” a statement issued by the spokesman for the Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said.

The statement said that US President Donald Trump was in a “state of panic” and trying to hide the operation’s failure, “through lies and psychological warfare.”

It added that the helicopters and transport planes were shot down in a joint operation involving the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), Army, Basij paramilitary forces, and police commandos.

Iran released images and video Sunday showing charred wreckage of US military aircraft destroyed at an abandoned airport south of Isfahan. US forces had apparently used the airport as a makeshift base to launch the operation to rescue a US pilot whose F-15 warplane was shot down on Friday.

Footage showed the destruction of at least two C-130 transport planes and one MH-6 Little Bird special operations helicopter. The C-130 is a specially equipped plane used to carry out covert infiltrations and extract troops from behind enemy lines. The MH-6 is a lightweight helicopter used by elite commando units. … continue

Washington University removes professor who condemned US-Israeli war on Iran

Press TV – April 5, 2026

The University of Washington has removed a professor from his role as director of its West Asia Center after he criticized the illegal US-Israeli aggression against Iran and condemned Zionism.

Aria Fani, who will remain an associate professor at UW’s Jackson School of International Studies, said the new interim, Daniel Hoffman, told him last week he was fired from his leadership role at the West Asia Center.

Fani, who was born and raised in Iran and came to the US when he was 18 years old, said he was hired for his research on Iran. However, he told the Times that he now feels “profoundly hurt and betrayed” by his removal.

“There is a chilling effect on not just my academic freedom, but that of my colleagues; anyone who dares to speak out against the war and against aggression,” he said. … continue

Al Mayadeen voices solidarity with Dr. Marandi amid death threats

Al Mayadeen | April 5, 2026

Al Mayadeen Media Network has expressed full and unwavering solidarity with Professor Mohammad Marandi in response to online campaigns openly calling for his assassination.

Marandi, a distinguished Iranian academic with global recognition, has been targeted by pro-Israeli accounts on X, including a verified account that posted a $1 million bounty explicitly calling for his assassination.

Despite repeated requests for the post’s removal and the suspension of the account, the platform and its CEO, Elon Musk, have taken no action.

Al Mayadeen characterized the spread of such content on global media platforms as ‘blatant, intelligence-driven terrorism,’ expressing profound outrage and disbelief that US-owned media outlets would permit calls for the extrajudicial killing of academics and scientists.

The network condemned these assassination threats as a manifestation of ‘cowboy-era barbarism,’ underscoring that Professor Marandi wields only his voice and his commitment to independent thought.

Al Mayadeen further highlighted the stark hypocrisy in permitting such threats against a peaceful academic while systematically curtailing the voices of those associated with resistance movements. … continue

US imposes satellite imagery blackout over West Asia amid Iran strikes

Al Mayadeen | April 5, 2026

US satellite imagery provider Planet Labs will stop releasing high-resolution images of West Asia, following a request from US President Donald Trump’s administration. The decision comes amid escalating retaliatory attacks by Iran on US military assets in the region, which have raised concerns about sensitive information being visible to adversaries. […]

The blackout limits independent monitoring of US military losses in Iran and reduces the ability of analysts, journalists, and researchers to verify developments on the ground. Open-source intelligence, long a tool for public scrutiny and strategic analysis, will now be heavily restricted. – Full article

Serbia thwarts plot to bomb Russia-Hungary gas pipeline – Vucic

RT | April 5, 2026

The Serbian authorities have discovered explosives of “devastating power” planted near a key gas pipeline transporting Russian energy to Hungary, President Aleksandar Vucic has announced, adding that he has briefed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on the matter. This comes after Ukraine essentially shut down Russian oil supplies to Hungary through its territory.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Vucic said “two large packages of explosives with sticks” were found in the municipality of Kanjiza, around 10 km from the Hungarian border.

The city of Kanjiza is located near the Balkan Stream gas pipeline – the regional extension of the TurkStream pipeline. The Balkan Stream runs through Türkiye, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, and currently ends at Slovakia’s border. Hungary imports 7.4-7.6 billion cubic meters of gas annually via Serbia. … continue

Russia Warns of Retaliation as UK Authorizes Seizure of Vessels

teleSUR – April 5, 2026

Russia has warned that British government attempts to seize vessels linked to Moscow will trigger retaliatory measures currently being prepared, with the Russian ambassador stating that London authorities will face a surprise response.

The warning came from Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrei Kelin, who urged the British government to consider the consequences of its actions and the fate of illegally seized cargo. He added that shipowners will inevitably turn to international courts to demand payment of damages and related costs stemming from any seizures.

Last March, London authorized its military forces to board sanctioned vessels transiting British territorial waters. The UK plan also includes closing the English Channel passage to the so‑called shadow fleet, which transports Russian energy products to international markets. … continue

Two conscription officers stabbed in Ukraine

RT | April 5, 2026

Two conscription officers were stabbed in central Ukraine on Saturday as the campaign to send more men to fight Russia continues to be marked by physical confrontations and tense altercations between draft officials and the public.

The campaign, known as ‘busification’, often involves officers ambushing military-age men on the streets or raiding workplaces, after which they force them into minibuses that transport them to recruitment centers. In some cases, the raids are met with protests, while families and friends attempt to free the unwilling recruits.

According to a recruitment office in the city of Vinnitsa, the officers had stopped the suspect for a document check, after which he “suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed two soldiers several times.” The servicemen were hospitalized, one of them in critical condition.

The authorities said the suspect had been in violation of military registration requirements since 2025. […]

Ukraine has seen an uptick in cases of violence related to forced mobilization in recent months. On Thursday, a conscription officer was fatally stabbed in the western city of Lviv, where there has traditionally been strong support for Ukraine’s war effort.

Videos of raids often show bystanders shouting insults at officers. Olga Reshetilova, Ukraine’s top human rights official, said teenagers have been “harassing” service members in public after watching videos of the mobilization campaign, which she described as “an alarming signal.” … Full article

Battle for Bulgaria: The EU opens a new front in its election war

RT | April 4, 2026

Though the Hungarian election is only a week away, another threat is already manifesting for the EU’s elite: This time in Bulgaria, where left-wing populist and former President Rumen Radev wants to shut off the money tap to Ukraine, and his opponents want Brussels’ censorship machine to save them. Here we go again.

On April 19, Bulgarians will vote in the country’s eighth parliamentary election in five years. Called after the resignation of Rosen Zhelyazkov following street protests in November, the election pits centrist Boyko Borissov – a former prime minister – and his pro-EU GERB-SDS coalition against the emerging left-leaning Progressive Bulgaria coalition, headed by Radev. […]

Despite the EU and Sofia possessing the means, motive, and opportunity to contest a win by Radev, the situation may not arise. Progressive Bulgaria is currently polling at around 31%, comfortably above GERB-SDS’ 21%, but not enough for an outright majority. This suggests that the April 19 vote may lead to another fragmented parliament, with Radev either forced to dilute his positions to build a coalition, or stymied until another election is called.

Regardless, the fact that the EU has already intervened in four elections since 2024, and has its thumb on the scales of another two at present, suggests that Brussels takes the populist threat to its authority seriously. It is becoming clear that the European Commission will invoke the specter of Russian interference any time a dissenting voice arises, whether on the left, like Radev, or the right, like Orban.

Brussels wields a toolbox full of hammers, and to the EU bureaucracy, every problem looks like a nail. With the bloc’s economy reeling and almost every pro-Brussels government under water in the approval tables, the question that will be answered in Hungary and Bulgaria, and in every EU election to come, is for how long the Brussels bureaucracy can keep forcing its will onto voters who clearly want an alternative. … Full article

Mexico Speeds Up Biometric ID Rollout

Christina Maas | Reclaim The Net | April 3, 2026

Mexico’s government wants you to believe that handing over your fingerprints, iris scans, and facial data is voluntary. President Claudia Sheinbaum has said so publicly.

But by July 2026, every one of the country’s roughly 130 million mobile phone lines must be linked to a biometric national ID, and unregistered numbers get suspended on July 1.

Refuse the biometric credential and lose your phone. … continue

How Canada leads the way in closing down Zionist charities

By David Miller | Al Mayadeen | April 4, 2026

From mid-2024 through to early 2026, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) revoked or suspended the charitable registrations of eight organizations directing funds to activities in the Zionist entity, citing breaches of the Income Tax Act, including inadequate records, failure to operate exclusively for charitable purposes, and prohibited support for foreign military entities. This article examines each of the cases in order to salute those involved in bringing the genocidal ‘charities’ low, but also to assess which tactics and targets were successful in order to apply the lessons of Canada more widely to the US, UK, Australia and beyond. … continue

Mother and Her Children Among Many Abducted in West Bank

IMEMC | April 3, 2026

Israeli occupation forces carried out a series of invasions across the occupied West Bank overnight and into Friday morning, breaking into homes, assaulting residents, and abducting several Palestinians, including a mother and her children. The soldiers also invaded a mosque near Hebron and assaulted a worshipper.

Local sources reported that Israeli soldiers invaded the town of az-Zawiya, west of Salfit in the central West Bank, where they broke into the home of former detainee Ayman Hamed.

The troops abducted Ayman’s wife and children in an apparent attempt to pressure him to surrender himself. The invasion was accompanied by gunfire and extensive searches of homes and property.

In Bethlehem in the southern West Bank, Israeli forces abducted Mohannad Jaber Hasanant, 20, from the Dheisheh refugee camp, south of the city, after breaking into and searching his family’s home.

In Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem, soldiers invaded the city, broke into the home of Mohammad Zaghloul, and severely assaulted him, causing various injuries.

Israeli forces also carried out a separate invasion in az-Zawiya, west of Salfit in the central West Bank, where they broke into the home of Ayman Moqadi, searched the property, and assaulted members of his family. … Full article

Israeli strike on civilian vehicle in Gaza Strip kills one, injures three

MEMO | April 4, 2026

One person was killed and three others injured after the Israeli army targeted a civilian vehicle on Salah al-Din Street in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday, Anadolu reports.

The attack comes amid ongoing Israeli violations of a ceasefire in effect since Oct. 10, 2025.

These breaches have resulted in the deaths of 713 Palestinians and injuries to 1,940 others since the agreement took effect.

Israel launched its genocide in Gaza in October 2023 that lasted two years, killing more than 72,000 people and injuring over 172,000 while causing widespread destruction affecting around 90% of the territory’s infrastructure.

Christian schools in Jerusalem under threat as Israel restricts teachers

RT | April 3, 2026

Christian schools in Jerusalem are facing a growing crisis after Israel moved to restrict West Bank teachers from working in the city. The decision affects more than 200 educators across 15 historic institutions, raising fears that some schools could be forced to close due to a shortage of qualified local staff.

Church officials warn the move – which they consider politically motivated – could have wider consequences for the Christian presence in Jerusalem, while teachers say it threatens their livelihoods and ability to access the city.

The restrictions follow a 2025 bill targeting Palestinian educators trained in West Bank universities – a justification disputed by those affected.

RT’s Charlotte Dubenskij reports from Jerusalem… video report

Two children martyred, 22 injured in Israeli attack on Habboush, South Lebanon

Al Mayadeen | April 4, 2026

Two children were martyred and 22 others wounded on Saturday after an Israeli attack targeted the town of Habboush in the Nabatieh District in southern Lebanon, according to a preliminary toll issued by the Emergency Operations Center at Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health.

This Israeli aggression brings the total number of martyrs since March 2 to 1,422, with injuries reaching 4,294, per the Ministry’s daily report.

Earlier in the day, two civilians were also martyred, two others injured, and a third member of the same family reported missing after “Israel” bombed a home in Ain Baal, east of Tyre in southern Lebanon, the National News Agency reported. … continue

IDF accused of endangering UN peacekeepers with Israeli flag

RT | April 3, 2026

The IDF has erected an Israeli flag beside a UN peacekeeping position in southern Lebanon, a move that could draw fire on peacekeepers, the body has warned.

The incident comes amid escalating exchanges between Israeli forces and Lebanon-based Hezbollah along the border, which have increasingly drawn UN troops into the line of fire. In recent days, three Indonesian members of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were killed in two separate incidents and another peacekeeper was wounded by a stray bullet.

At a UN press briefing on Thursday, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said peacekeepers had demanded that the flag be removed after it was raised near a position by the village of Kfar Kila. He added that Israeli forces had expanded their incursions west of the UN-demarcated Blue Line, with tanks and clashes reported in Sector West.

The flag “undermines the perception of UNIFIL’s impartiality and risks drawing fire towards peacekeepers amid the ongoing clashes that we are seeing,” Dujarric told reporters, urging all parties to avoid any action that could further endanger the mission. … Full article

Abu Dhabi’s Kill List: Inside the Israel–UAE Mercenary Death Squads from Yemen to Serbia

By Freddie Ponton | 21st Century Wire | April 4, 2026

A Gulf monarchy hired an Israeli‑Hungarian mercenary and a team of American special forces veterans to run a black‑budget assassination program against a civilian political party in Yemen. It did this while posing in Washington and Brussels as a “stability partner” under Iranian threat and a responsible host for U.S. bases.

This article follows that kill program from a bombed party office in Aden, through a Belgrade weapons arrest and a murdered lawyer, all the way to a world where Western pundits can credibly fear being targeted by deniable squads trained by allies. If you want to understand how state power, private military contractors, and “counterterrorism” rhetoric have fused into a market for political murder, this is a story for you. … continue

Iran forces 1,500 US sailors out of key Bahrain base with sustained missile, drone strikes: Report

The Cradle | April 4, 2026

One thousand five hundred sailors were evacuated back to the US from their naval base in Bahrain after it was attacked by Iranian missiles and drones early in the war, National Public Radio (NPR) reported on 4 April.

Bahrain is the home of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, making it a central hub for projecting US naval power in West Asia.

However, the oil-rich island is located in the Persian Gulf, just over 100 miles (around 161 kilometers) from the Iranian coast, and well within range of Iranian drones and missiles.

At the time the US and Israel launched their unprovoked war on Iran on 28 February, around 8,000 US military personnel were stationed at the base on the island, known as Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain.

Video circulating on social media showed Iranian drones and missiles striking the NSA base multiple times on the first day of the war. Satellite imagery from the company Planet shows at least seven buildings in and near the base that were struck in the first week of the war.

The attacks forced the US military to evacuate 1,500 sailors and their families back to the US from the NSA base, a Navy spokesman acknowledged to NPR.

In addition to the base in Bahrain, US soldiers have been evacuated from other US military bases in the region, NPR wrote.

Since then, sailors have been arriving at the US naval base in Norfolk, Virginia, with little more than the clothes they could fit in a backpack. Evacuees left cars and furniture behind as they rushed to leave. Norfolk community groups responded by collecting basic supplies like hygiene products and distributing them to the evacuated troops and their families.

“The base was asking for donations of toiletries and different things for the sailors coming back, because they were coming back with nothing,” said Derrick Johnson, commander of American Legion Post 327 in Norfolk.

In a sign of the threat to US personnel from Iranian missiles and drones, the Pentagon issued a call on 27 March for vendors who are able to ship pre-made shelters to protect troops in bases in West Asia.

The department is looking for private contractors to provide “prefabricated, transportable, hardened shelter systems designed to protect personnel from blast and fragmentation threats,” according to a new federal contract notice posted Monday. … Full article

One martyr, 5 injuries in US attack on Iraqi border crossing with Iran

Al Mayadeen | April 4, 2026

On Saturday, Major General Omar Al-Waeli, head of the Iraqi Border Ports Authority, confirmed the martyrdom of one person and injuries to five others following an attack on the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Basra reported that movement at the crossing has been completely suspended, adding that US warplanes targeted the Iranian passport hall at the border point. … continue

Iran Blasts US-Israeli Bombardment of Universities, Killing of Scientists

Sputnik – April 4, 2026

The US and Israel have attacked more than 30 Iranian universities since the start of this war, and murdered over 60 professors since June 2025, Minister of Science, Research and Technology Hossein Simaee Sarraf told Sputnik.

“These professors…did not die as a result of a single attack or bombing. The US and Israel deliberately targeted them and planned their killing. This is a crime not only against international law, but a moral one,” Saraf said.

Iran’s scientific development is the “heritage of all humanity,” and “cannot be stopped” by the US and Israel’s brutal attacks, the minister stressed.

The 1979 Revolution endowed Iran with “millions” of scientists and young researchers.

The coalition can’t kill them all, Saraf noted.

US dismantling international law in its war against Iran while claiming ‘false’ victory: Legal scholar

Press TV | April 4 ,2026

The Trump administration is declaring “false victory” in its war of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran while actively dismantling international humanitarian law (IHL), says a legal scholar at Queen’s University Belfast.

In an interview with the Press TV website, Alannah Travers, a PhD student at Queen’s University Belfast School of Law, said the US President Donald Trump’s warning to “bomb Iran back to the Stone Age” reveals a dangerous disregard for legal norms.

She noted the irony that Iran was actually a cradle of innovation during the real Stone Age.

“Listening to President Trump declare a false victory (yet again) while simultaneously threatening to bomb a nation of 90 million people back to the Stone Age made me think of what legal scholars have termed the ‘warification’ of international humanitarian law,” Travers said. … continue

‘This war is Israel’s war’: World facing ‘security breakdown’, says Qalibaf

Press TV – April 4, 2026

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says the ongoing aggression is “Israel’s war,” adding that its security repercussions and resulting losses have extended beyond the region and affected the wider world.

“This war is Israel’s war, and the resulting security breakdown and losses have affected the world,” Qalibaf said in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic.

He added that Iran has prepared for this confrontation and proven its ability to defend itself.

“Iran was forced to target US bases and interests in the region to preserve its presence,” he said, warning that any further escalation against Iran “will be met with a decisive and broad response” directed at US interests.

According to Qalibaf, maintaining stability in the region serves the interests of all regional states, and Iran considers sustainable security a priority.

He added that countries in the region are capable of safeguarding their interests through bilateral and multilateral security arrangements “without foreign interference.” … continue

IRGC decries attack on US embassy in Riyadh, says executed by ‘Israel’

Al Mayadeen | April 4, 2026

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps’ (IRGC) has rejected accusations that it was responsible for an attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, emphasizing instead that it was a false flag operation carried out by the Israeli entity.

In Statement No. 54 of Operation True Promise 4, the IRGC’s Public Relations Department condemned the attack on the embassy, which was reported by The Wall Street Journal, stressing that, recalling the Israeli occupation’s regional strategies, “this action was certainly carried out by Zionists.”

The IRGC confirmed that the Iranian Armed Forces’ target list has been clearly identified, adding that Iran had already informed neighboring countries of the necessary warnings to “prevent further escalation.”

The IRGC also warned that West Asia “must remain vigilant against provocations from the American–Zionist current,” which aims to destabilize and destroy the region. … continue

How a fake Iranian terror group was invented to proscribe IRGC in Europe – The story of Ashab al-Yamin

By David Miller | MintPress News | April 2, 2026

A series of arson attacks and alleged incidents targeting alleged Jewish-linked sites across Europe have been attributed to a little-known group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), or Ashab al-Yamin. The group has been widely described in media and security circles as an Iran-backed network, allegedly linked to the IRGC.

Since March 9, HAYI has been credited with what some analysts describe as “hybrid warfare” style operations spanning multiple countries from Greece and Belgium to France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Among the most high-profile incidents was the burning of four ambulances in Golders Green, North London, on March 22.

The emergence of this group coincides with the escalation of the US-Israeli war against Iran. In parallel, media outlets and pro-war commentators have warned that Tehran could expand the conflict by carrying out attacks across Europe.

But a closer examination raises serious questions about its actual existence and the pro-Israel groups pushing this narrative.

Several of the incidents attributed to HAYI do not appear to have directly targeted Jewish communities. Others remain murky, with limited verified information about the perpetrators. And beyond scattered claims and online statements, there is little concrete evidence that this group as described actually exists.

In the fog of war, narratives can move faster than facts.

At the same time, governments across Europe and the UK are moving to formally designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization — a policy long pushed by pro-war, pro-Israel lobbying networks. Many of the same actors amplifying the HAYI narrative are also leading that campaign within Western media to manufacture consent for war and accelerate this political objective of proscription. While raising the possibility that unverified claims of an Iran-linked threat are being leveraged to shape public fear and justify sweeping new security measures tied to the widening war.

This investigation examines each reported attack, the sources promoting the HAYI narrative, and how claims of a coordinated campaign may be shaping public perception — fueling fears of rising antisemitism, calls for expanded security measures and proscribing the IRGC as a terrorist organisation amid an illegal war. … continue

Iran blasts EU hypocrisy as EU invokes international law over Hormuz

Al Mayadeen | April 4, 2026

The Iranian Embassy to the United Kingdom has vehemently censured the latest remarks by the Chief of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas, sharply criticizing the double standards of Western countries regarding the unprovoked US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic.

The diplomatic mission in a post on X wrote: “‘International law’? That’s rich. What does it say about US & Israeli regimes military aggression against sovereign states and assassinating their leaders? About the Minab school attack that killed 170 students?”

“Or attacks on civilian infrastructure, pharma factories, desalination plants?” the post added.

Taking a swipe at the EU’s top diplomat, the embassy said it is ridiculous that “international law” only seems to matter when it fits “your narrative.”

“You never hold aggressors accountable, only the victims,” the Iranian embassy added. … continue

Strike on Bushehr Nuclear Plant Destroys Attackers’ Non-Proliferation Credibility – Russian MFA

Sputnik – 04.04.2026

Russia is increasingly alarmed by reports of new strikes on Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and strongly condemns new shelling, which resulted in human casualties, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday.

“We are increasingly alarmed by reports of new missile strikes on the Bushehr NPP on April 4. We are studying the incoming information on this matter. We strongly condemn this atrocity, which has led to human casualties,” Zakharova was quoted as saying by the ministry.

Strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran that are under IAEA safeguards are an indelible stain on the reputation of those launching the missiles, Zakharova added.

Zakharova further urged to cease the strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, to “prevent the worst.”

“The Russian side is taking every effort to draw the attention of the international community and the global public to the fact that the situation at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is increasingly approaching a dangerous point,” she added.

Earlier in the day, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said that the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site came under fire from the United States and Israel, and one of its employees was killed.

Restoration of Aluminum Production at EGA Plant in UAE May Take Up to 12 Months – Company

Sputnik – 04.04.2026

The restoration of aluminum production at Abu Dhabi plant of the Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) company, the largest aluminum producer in the Middle East, may take up to 12 months, EGA said.

On March 28, the government of Abu Dhabi said that six people were injured as a result of debris from an intercepted missile falling on the Kezad special economic zone. Later, EGA said that the plant in Al Taweelah was seriously damaged. The plant was fully evacuated, and facilities were put into emergency shutdown mode.

“To resume operations at the smelter, EGA must repair infrastructure damage and progressively restore each of the reduction cells. Early indications are that a complete restoration of primary aluminium production could take up to 12 months,” a statement read. … Full article

There is no military solution to Strait of Hormuz

By M. K. BHADRAKUMAR | Indian Punchline | April 4, 2026 

… Israel is spreading alarmist stories that Saudi Arabia is following the footfalls of the UAE to get the US to intervene militarily to force open the Strait of Hormuz. On the contrary, Saudis are working with like-minded countries to create underpinnings of regional stability in the fluid situation adjusting to the shift of tectonic plates. The leitmotif of the Islamabad meeting of FMs recently — Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia plus Pakistan — was actually more about regional and global stability than for arranging a meeting between JD Vance and Steve Witkoff with Iranian officials. … Read full article

One Of America’s Leading Neo-Cons Has Turned Against The Iran War And Israel

The Dissident | April 3, 2026

There are few American Neo-conservatives more influential than Robert Kagan.

In 1997, Kagan co-founded the Project for a New American Century (PNAC), the Neo-con think tank responsible for staffing the Bush administration with hawks such as Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Paul Wolfowitz, and played a large role in the Iraq War in 2003.

In 2010, Kagan founded a new think tank, the Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI) which was instrumental in pushing for a new Cold War with Russia.

Kagan’s wife, Victoria Nuland was instrumental in the proxy war in Ukraine, playing a leading role in the maidan coup of 2014 ,as Assistant Secretary of State for the Obama administration, and again played a leading role in the proxy war in Ukraine as the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs for the Biden administration, including in blocking the peace deal in Istanbul in April of 2022 and in the bombing of the Nord Stream pipeline.

However, Kagan has begun to change his tune since Trump launched a war on Iran for Israel, sounding more like a John Mearsheimer realist than the leading champion of American regime change that he has always been.

Kagan is still an American imperialist, but the Iran war has forced him to admit that the war is actually doing more to destroy the American empire and its ability to wage a new Cold War on Russia and China, and that Israel is a strategic liability- even for the U.S. empire. … continue

NATO’s structural collapse – the outcome of deviation from reality

Global Times | April 3, 2026

When Donald Trump threatened to withdraw the US from NATO, Western capitals seemed not to show particular surprise; it was clear they had anticipated it.

But the more important question is why, at this particular moment, such a statement could be made at all.

NATO’s current crisis is the consequence of a slow, structural erosion that has been underway for decades. It is also due to its inability to keep pace with the rapidly developing multipolar world. … continue

Attack in the Bosphorus exposes NATO weaknesses and tensions among allies

By Lucas Leiroz | Strategic Culture Foundation | April 3, 2026

The recent attack on the Turkish oil tanker M/T Altura, which took place on March 26, 2026, near the Bosphorus region, makes clear a problem that many analysts still avoid acknowledging: NATO can no longer guarantee the security of even its own members. The operation, carried out by Ukraine, should not be seen as an isolated episode, but as part of a broader pattern pointing to the alliance’s practical erosion.

NATO was founded on the principle of collective defense. However, when a member state has its interests directly affected by the actions of an actor supported by the alliance itself, that principle loses coherence. The M/T Altura case highlights a contradiction that is hard to ignore: the alliance has proven unable to limit the actions of external partners against the assets of its own members.

The lack of an effective response to the incident is also striking. There are no clear signs that NATO’s internal mechanisms have been activated to hold anyone accountable or to prevent similar actions. This suggests not only institutional weakness, but also failures in coordination and strategic direction. In practice, some actors appear to operate with broad autonomy, even when their decisions directly affect the security of member states.

In this context, Ukraine’s role becomes central. Heavily funded and armed by NATO countries, Kiev has been adopting an increasingly direct and, at times, reckless posture. The fact that such an operation targeted the interests of a country like Turkey reveals a lack of alignment within the alliance. Instead of coordination, what emerges is a dynamic in which tactical decisions produce broader consequences for formal allies. … continue

Poll finds world views China better than US

Xinhua | April 4, 2026

A poll conducted by Gallup found that China surpassed the United States in global approval ratings in 2025, with a median of 36 percent approving of China’s leadership, compared with 31 percent for the United States.

Gallup’s report published Friday said China’s five-percentage-point advantage over the United States is the widest it has recorded in China’s favor in nearly 20 years.

The recent shift reflects a decline in US ratings alongside an increase for China. Median approval of US leadership fell from 39 percent in 2024 to 31 percent in 2025, returning to earlier lows, while China’s approval rose from 32 percent to 36 percent, according to the report.

The latest results are based on Gallup surveys conducted in 2025 in more than 130 countries, with around 1,000 respondents in each country. They do not account for recent U.S. foreign policy moves since the beginning of 2026, including its attack on Iran and its withdrawal from 66 international organizations.

Approval of US leadership has declined across many US allied nations, including many NATO partners, and sunk the most in Germany by 39 percentage points.