Aletho News

Iran condemns US tanker seizures as ‘state-backed piracy’

Al Mayadeen | April 27, 2026

Iran has sharply condemned the United States over its latest seizures of oil tankers carrying Iranian crude, describing the actions as unlawful aggression and a direct assault on international trade and maritime security.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused Washington of attempting to legitimize what he said was “outright piracy”, rejecting US claims that the operations are backed by legal authority.

“This is the outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas,” Baghaei said, warning that the United States is normalizing coercive seizures under the guise of law enforcement. “They operate with government-issued warrants, sail under official flags, and call their plunder ‘law enforcement’.”

The remarks came in direct response to a statement by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who said American forces had intercepted the tanker M/T Majestic in the Indian Ocean under a “court-approved seizure warrant” while it was carrying approximately 1.9 million barrels of Iranian oil. She added that another vessel, M/T Tifani, had been seized earlier under similar legal grounds, also transporting roughly 1.9 million barrels.

Pirro framed the operations as “lawful enforcement”, stating that US authorities would continue to “relentlessly investigate, track, and pursue” such cases to deny sanctioned actors the ability to profit from what she described as illicit maritime activity. [..]

“The United States must be held fully accountable for this brazenly lawless behavior, which strikes at the heart of international law and international free trade,” Baghaei said.

Iran has signaled it will not leave such actions unanswered, with Iranian forces detaining foreign vessels in recent days in what officials describe as reciprocal measures. – Full article

Boston Mayor Wu drops multi-billion-dollar climate plan shaped by only 208 people — it comes for gas stoves, small landlords, solo drivers, & restaurant kitchens

MassDailyNews | April 27, 2026

BOSTON — Mayor Michelle Wu just released a 212-page climate plan that tells Bostonians how they’ll need to heat their homes, what kind of stove they can cook on, how they should get to work, and what their landlord will have to spend on building upgrades — all in the name of cutting the city’s emissions in half by 2030.

What it doesn’t tell them is how much any of it will cost.

The 2030 Climate Action Plan, released this month, is Boston’s most ambitious climate document to date — a sweeping roadmap built on five “climate justice principles,” dozens of strategies across buildings, transportation, energy, and coastal resilience, and a level of bureaucratic ambition that would be impressive if it came with a price tag.

208 people shaped this plan

The city ran a public survey from April to May 2025 to gather input. The number of Bostonians who responded: 208. In a city of 675,000.

Of those 208 respondents, 88% described themselves as “very concerned” about climate change — which tells you less about Boston’s priorities and more about who fills out government surveys.

Neighborhood workshops followed, held in Chinatown, Dorchester, East Boston, Mattapan, Roslindale, and Roxbury. The sessions were co-hosted with community partners and focused on “climate justice.” One engagement spotlight highlighted an event at the Dudley Greenhouse that drew 18 people.

This is the public mandate behind a plan that will touch every building, vehicle, and energy bill in the city.

What’s in the 212 pages

The plan doesn’t read like a budget proposal. It reads like a graduate thesis with a to-do list stapled to the back. Here’s what it actually commits to:

Buildings — the big one. Boston has 86,000 buildings. Nearly 60% were built before 1950. The plan expands BERDO — the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance — which already requires large buildings to cut emissions. Now smaller buildings are in the crosshairs. The city wants 70,000 small buildings decarbonized and weatherized, and about half of the buildings covered by BERDO will need to take action by 2030.

Buildings that can’t meet emissions standards can pay “Alternative Compliance Payments” — a penalty tax that gets funneled into the Equitable Emissions Investment Fund. … continue

EPA, NOAA Greenlit 17,000 Gallons of Toxic Lye Dumped Into Gulf of Maine for ‘Climate Change’

By Jon Fleetwood | April 27, 2026

In a historic and deeply controversial federal action, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), alongside NOAA, NOAA Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, authorized the first-ever permitted ocean geoengineering experiment involving the release of approximately 65,000 liters—roughly 17,000 gallons—of 50% sodium hydroxide solution, commonly known as caustic soda or lye, into U.S. federal waters off the coast of Massachusetts.

The LOC-NESS (Locking Ocean Carbon in the Northeast Shelf and Slope) experiment, led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, involved dispersing this highly corrosive chemical mixture into the Wilkinson Basin, approximately 38 miles off Cape Cod. … continue

Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Juniors Sidelined from European Cup Over Bureaucratic Obstacles

Sputnik – 27.04.2026

Russian juniors in rhythmic gymnastics group routines cannot take part in the 2026 European Cup due to lengthy administrative procedures for obtaining neutral status, as well as the subsequent refusal of registration by European Gymnastics.

The Russian Gymnastics Federation submitted documents for neutral status applications for eight athletes—Anna Gryaznova, Vladislava Gayvoronskaya, Elizaveta Malashenko, Alexandra Ponomareva, Kira Pryn, Miroslava Monina, Alisa Kirpicheva, and Elvira Belyaeva—in late March, and repeatedly requested expedited approval from World Gymnastics (WG) between April 3 and April 21, including an appeal to the WG president. […]

After months of preparation, the junior team lost its chance to compete due to uncoordinated administrative procedures. Despite the IOC’s public commitment to facilitating youth athletes’ access to participation, the administrative mechanisms of both World and European Gymnastics continue to create barriers. … Full article

German party leader calls for compulsory military service

RT | April 27, 2026

Germany should reintroduce compulsory military service in order to increase the size of its armed forces, Markus Soder, the leader of Bavaria’s Christian Social Union (CSU), has said.

“For us it’s clear: if the Bundeswehr is to become Europe’s largest army, military service is unavoidable,” Soder told Bild in an interview on Sunday. […]

Earlier this month, the head of the European Defense Agency (EDA), Andre Denk, suggested that compulsory military service could be reinstated in the EU. He also said that his home country of Germany would likely go down this path eventually.

Croatia, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland, and the UK have all either reintroduced conscription, increased intake, or raised age limits for military service and reservists. … Full article

Putting Nukes in Finland Won’t Make Country Safer, Finnish Politician Cautions

Sputnik – 27.04.2026

Stationing nuclear weapons in Finland will not make the country safer, Armando Mema, a member of the Freedom Alliance party, told Sputnik on Monday in response to the government’s plans to allow the import and storage of such weapons on Finnish soil.

“Changing the law and allowing the import of NATO countries’ nuclear weapons will not make Finland safer,” Mema said.

The politician added that NATO, which had promised “not to expand an inch to the east,” is now beefing up its military presence in Finland and wants to place nuclear weapons there.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has described Finland’s plans to allow the import of nuclear weapons into the country as a “concentrated confrontation.”

On April 23, the Finnish government submitted to parliament a proposal to amend the Nuclear Energy Act and the Criminal Code, which would lift the current ban on the import, manufacture, storage and use of nuclear weapons within the country.

Ukrainian drone strike kills worker at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant

RT | April 27, 2026

A Ukrainian drone strike has killed an employee at Russia’s Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the facility’s press service said in a statement on Monday.

Ukrainian forces have repeatedly attacked Europe’s largest nuclear facility since it came under Russian control in 2022, soon after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. … continue

New US strike on alleged ‘narco-trafficking’ vessel in Pacific Kills 3

Al Mayadeen | April 27, 2026

The United States military carried out another strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, killing three people and bringing the total death toll to at least 185 in its continued unchecked military aggression under the guise of drug enforcement.

According to the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the attack targeted a boat allegedly linked to drug trafficking routes. The strike was ordered by General Francis L. Donovan of the Marine Corps, who heads the command responsible for military operations across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Footage released by the command showed the targeted vessel engulfed in flames while moving through open waters. … Full article

What the West Hides About Soviet Role in De-Colonization

By Ekaterina Blinova – Sputnik – 27.04.2026

The Soviet Union played the key role in de-colonization and development of the Global South, former Soviet and Russian diplomat Veniamin Popov tells Sputnik.

The West is downplaying the Russian role in the liberation and shaping of the post-colonial world, says Popov.

• The USSR backed Egypt during the 1956 Suez Crisis and helped build the hydroelectric Aswan High Dam
• It drove the 1960 UN General Assembly resolution on independence for colonized nations
• It supported Indian independence from British rule and kept strong ties with its leaders
• It also played a key mediating role in ending the 1965 India–Pakistan war
• The USSR and Cuba helped Angola resist an invasion by the South African apartheid regime

“Who would like to admit that you—the West—have consistently been on the wrong side of history, while the Soviet Union, and now Russia, backed the main currents of global development?” the former diplomat says.

“They find it impossible to admit that they are losing now, and that many countries in Asia and Africa gained their independence thanks to the efforts of the Soviet Union.”

Villains of Judea: Douglas Feith

The shadow architect of the Iraq War

José Niño Unfiltered | April 27, 2026

Few individuals embody the conflict between American national interest and the demands of world jewry as sharply as Douglas Feith. Throughout his career, Feith has operated as a consummate advocate for the Jewish state, positioning himself within the highest echelons of the U.S. government to ensure that American military and foreign policy served as a potent instrument for his own tribal convictions. From his early days in the pro-Israel lobby to his role in architecting the catastrophic Iraq War, Feith’s career is a study in the subordination of American sovereignty to the priorities of the Jewish people.

General Tommy Franks, who commanded the invasion of Iraq, famously said he had to deal with “the fucking stupidest guy on the face of the earth almost every day” — referring to Feith, as documented in Bob Woodward’s Plan of Attack. Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell’s chief of staff at the State Department, separately stated: “Seldom in my life have I met a dumber man.” Irrespective of his perceived deficiencies, Feith was able to reach the apex of the national security establishment and fundamentally reshape American foreign policy for the benefit of Israel.

The Zionist convictions Feith brought to the highest levels of American government were not adopted in adulthood but absorbed in childhood. … continue

What a president, a movie star, a congressman, and a cell phone all dared to say

By Jasim Al-Azzawi | MEMO | April 27, 2026

Richard Nixon was not a man given to moral clarity. But in the privacy of the Oval Office, away from the choreography of statecraft, he spoke with a bluntness that history rarely forgives and seldom forge “Let me explain something about the Jewish lobby in this country. They believe that being for Israel first does not mean that you’re putting America second. But an American president”, he insisted, “has to approach it differently. He’s always got to think first of what is best for America. An American president must make a decision that does not, in effect, give the Israelis a blank check”.

Nixon went further. “Every Jewish prime minister that I have known has enlisted American Jews to bring as much pressure as possible in the political process on American presidents”. These were not the words of a fringe voice or a conspiracy theorist. They were the words of the thirty-seventh president of the United States, speaking in the calculated, unsentimental register of realpolitik.

Marlon Brando, the greatest actor of his generation, arrived at similar conclusions through a different door, not the back corridors of power, but the front lots of Hollywood. When asked why he refused to accept the coveted Oscar award, he was unsparing: “Because of the increasing control of Zionists in Hollywood. They own the studios”, he said. “They shape the stories. They decide who gets heard and who doesn’t. I saw it clearly, and I couldn’t be part of that system anymore”. The actor who had made the whole world feel the weight of a man’s grief or ambition had looked behind the curtain and refused, on grounds of conscience, to keep performing.

Then there is Paul Findley, a Republican congressman from Illinois who served twenty-two years in the House of Representatives and, upon losing his seat, did the thing that defeated politicians rarely do: he told the truth about why. In his landmark 1985 book, They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel’s Lobby, Findley documented with meticulous and damning precision how the American Israel Public Affairs Committee — AIPAC — had become the dominant force shaping Washington’s posture toward the Middle East. The lobby, Findley wrote, had developed a near-perfect system for punishing those who deviated and rewarding those who complied. His conclusion was stark: what passed for American policy toward Israel and the Palestinians was not policy at all. It was capitulation, dressed in the language of alliance. … continue

US pension fund invests hundreds of millions in weapons firms supplying Israel

The Cradle | April 27, 2026

The Virginia Retirement System (VRS), which manages pension benefits for the US state of Virginia’s public sector workers, holds a staggering $394 million in investments linked to weapons makers and shipping companies supporting Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and wars on Lebanon and Iran, according to a 23 April report released by a coalition of Palestinian advocacy groups.

The report was prepared by the VRS Divest from Weapons & War campaign, the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), and the People’s Embargo for Palestine. It draws on publicly available financial data and records obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests.

The report presents a detailed accounting of the VRS’s investments in many of the world’s largest weapons makers as part of its $122 billion portfolio.

Lockheed Martin is the VRS’s single largest holding at $94.8 million. The firm produces the F-35 fighter jet and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. Both have been used extensively by the Israeli military during its more than two-year Genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. … continue

US bill to grant Americans serving in Israeli army same rights as US troops

MEMO | April 27, 2026

US lawmakers push to grant American soldiers serving in the Israeli army the same legal protections as US troops, in a move without precedent for any other foreign army. The bill would place some 20,000 dual citizens fighting for Israel on a legal par with Americans serving the US.

Details of the Israel first carve out was reported in Military.com. The legislation passing through Congress would, for the first time in American history, treat service in a foreign army as legally equivalent to service in the US armed forces — but only where that foreign army is Israeli occupation army.

House Resolution 8445, tabled by Republican Congressmen Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania and Max Miller of Ohio, would amend Title 38 of the US Code so that Americans who fight for Israel are treated “in the same manner as service in the uniformed services” of the US. Over 20,000 American citizens serving in the Israeli military are expected to benefit if the changes come into effect.

US veterans’ benefits and military protections are, under existing law, tied to service in the American armed forces. The Bill departs from that principle by extending two of the most consequential US protections to Americans fighting for a foreign state. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act caps interest rates on debt during active service and halts evictions and foreclosures. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act compels American employers to hold open the jobs of those called to service.

Under H.R. 8445, an American returning from a tour with the IDF could demand their old job back from a US employer, halt a foreclosure on a US home, and benefit from interest-rate caps on US debt  on the basis of foreign military service. … continue

Palestinian injured by Israeli gunfire north of Jerusalem

Palestinian Information Center – April 27, 2026

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM – A Palestinian young man suffered a bullet injury on Sunday evening when the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at him near the separation wall in the town of al‑Ram, north of Jerusalem.

The Red Crescent said that its paramedics administered first aid to a young man who was shot in the leg with live ammunition near the al‑Ram wall before transferring him to the hospital for medical assistance.

This was the second such incident near the separation wall in the town on the same day, as another Palestinian worker was shot in the thigh by Israeli forces at dawn while attempting to reach his workplace in the holy city.

Many Palestinians from the West Bank try to enter Israel every day for work, and have no choice but to risk entering without permits.

The Israeli occupation regime prevents the development of an independent Palestinian economy by restricting imports, exports, industrial development and movement, and by taking over land reserves and other Palestinian resources. This leaves Palestinians with no possibility of making a substantial living within the West Bank.

Israeli Colonizers Open Fire, Assault Palestinians in West Bank

IMEMC | April 27, 2026

Illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers carried out multiple coordinated attacks on Palestinians and their property on Sunday and Monday in Bethlehem and Ramallah, firing live rounds, assaulting residents, stoning vehicles, and uprooting olive trees.

In the Bethlehem district, colonizers opened live fire at Palestinians working their land in the Jabal Harasa area east of Beit Sahour. No injuries were reported from the gunfire.

However, colonizers later assaulted 23‑year‑old Omar Muhannad Shallan, beating him severely across his body. He was transferred to Beit Jala Governmental Hospital for treatment.

Local sources noted that colonizers have recently intensified attacks in the Harasa area in attempts to seize land and prevent Palestinians from accessing their property.

On Sunday evening, colonizers attacked Palestinian vehicles at the western entrance of Deir Dibwan east of Ramallah in the central West Bank, gathering under the bridge and stoning passing cars, causing damage, and blocking the town’s entrance.

In a separate attack north of al‑Bireh in the central West Bank, colonizers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles from inside an Israeli military tower positioned at the northern entrance to the city, shattering the windows of several cars.

In the town of Turmus Ayya northeast of Ramallah, colonizers uprooted dozens of olive trees in the Ras al‑Dar area.

Earlier the same day, colonizers had cut down nearly 400 olive trees—some more than 45 years old—in the town’s agricultural plain. The trees belonged to residents Ahmad Abu Salama, Abdul‑Hamid Abu al‑Qatin, and Abdullah Abu al‑Qatin. … Full article

Inside Gaza’s water crisis: ‘Israel’ kills engineers, blocks supplies

Al Mayadeen | April 27, 2026

Attacks by Israeli forces have killed at least 19 Palestinian water facility workers since the beginning of the war on Gaza, with the most recent incidents occurring within days of each other in mid-April.

An attack on the al-Zein well in northern Gaza left one engineer martyred and four wounded, causing severe structural damage to a facility serving thousands of residents, according to a The Guardian report published on Monday. … continue

Israel destroys power, water infrastructure of Christian town in southern Lebanon

Press TV – April 27, 2026

Israeli forces have destroyed the power and water systems of a Christian town in southern Lebanon, as the regime continues to violate a ceasefire between the two sides.

The regime’s forces on Sunday bulldozed solar panels in the predominantly Christian town of Debel in southern Lebanon, cutting electricity that powers homes and the town’s water supply, and leaving civilians without essential services.

The destruction also extended to homes, roads, and olive groves, further crippling daily life in the area.

With its solar network wiped out, the town is now struggling without power or reliable access to water.

The town of Debel has been the scene of the Israeli regime’s brutality and crimes several times.

It recently saw an Israeli soldier film himself smashing a statue of Jesus, an act that drew widespread anger and underscored the broader pattern of destruction affecting both civilian infrastructure and religious sites. … Full article

‘An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership’: Merz

Al Mayadeen | April 27, 2026

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that Iran’s leadership is effectively “humiliating” the United States amid the ongoing war.

Speaking publicly, Merz argued that Washington does not seem to have a coherent plan and raised doubts about how the US intends to bring its involvement to a close.

“The Iranians are clearly stronger than expected and the Americans clearly have no truly convincing strategy in the negotiations either,” Merz said during a school visit in Marsberg, located in his native Sauerland region.

He emphasized the difficulty of disengaging from such wars, noting, “The problem with conflicts like this is always: you don’t just have to get in, you have to get out again. We saw that very painfully in Afghanistan for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq.”

Merz continued, “At the moment, I do not see what strategic exit the Americans will choose, especially since the Iranians are clearly negotiating very skillfully — or very skillfully not negotiating.” … continue

China slams US ‘abusive sanctions’ on refineries over alleged links to Iran

Press TV – April 27, 2026

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denounced the US for imposing sanctions on Chinese refineries over alleged links to Iran.

During a press conference on Monday, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Lin Jian said: “China always opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law.”

Lin’s remarks came after the US Treasury on Friday announced new Iran-related sanctions and issued a general license allowing the wind-down of transactions involving Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co.

The Treasury also imposed sanctions on a major independent Chinese refinery, often referred to as “teapot” refineries, which operate largely in the eastern province of Shandong, and nearly 40 additional entities.

Department of State spokesperson Thomas Pigott claimed the measures are part of broader efforts to curb what Washington falsely called Iran’s illicit oil trade.

“China urges the US to abandon the wrong practice of abusive sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction,” Lin stated.

He added that China “will firmly safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.”

China also called on the US to demonstrate “sincerity” in resolving its prolonged standoff with Iran over its nuclear program, while censuring the joint US-Israeli military aggression against the country. … Full article

Pakistan Throws Open Its Gates for Iran’s Transit Trade to Third Countries

Sputnik – 27.04.2026

Iran and any other nation can now ship transit goods via Pakistan — as long as they provide a cashable bank guarantee equal to Pakistan’s import charges.

Pakistan has officially opened six land routes for the transit of goods to Iran. The “Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026” came into force on April 25.

Essence of the Decision

Iran—and any third country—may now transport transit goods through Pakistan, subject to one key condition: the provision of a cashable bank guarantee equivalent to Pakistan’s applicable import levies. … continue

Hormuz traffic stays muted as US continues naval blockade of Iran

Al Mayadeen | April 27, 2026

Shipping movement through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a fraction of pre-war levels, with no breakthrough in sight in stalled Iran-US negotiations, new shipping data showed on Monday.

At least seven vessels crossed the strategic waterway over 24 hours, in line with the suppressed activity recorded in recent days. The ships were mainly dry bulk carriers, including vessels departing Iraqi ports and one dry bulk ship from an Iranian port, according to tracking data from Kpler and satellite analysis by SynMax.

The figure represents a stark drop from the average 140 daily passages recorded through the Strait before the US and “Israel” launched a war on Iran on February 28, 2026, which has effectively choked one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints. … Full article

Iran to charge ships passing Strait of Hormuz in rial: Lawmaker

Press TV – April 27, 2026

A motion being prepared in the Iranian parliament to regulate future transit through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf stipulates that ships allowed to pass through the key waterway must pay tolls in Iranian rial currency.

The chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Ebrahim Azizi, said on Monday that charging tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz is part of an 11-article motion being prepared in the parliament.

Azizi told state TV that the motion has been discussed and finalized in his committee and will become law once ratified in a vote in the main chamber of the Iranian parliament.

He said the motion contains some smart and well-considered measures that are based on a decree by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, who said last month that Iran must introduce a new system of governance in the Strait of Hormuz.

Azizi said the measures include a total ban on transit for ships owned by or linked to the Israeli regime, as well as restrictions on passage for vessels connected to hostile countries and their affiliates. … continue

Talks would resume if US accepts 3-phase framework Iran put forward

Al Mayadeen | April 27, 2026

Iran has informed mediators of a proposed three-phase framework for negotiations and says talks could resume if the United States agrees to the plan, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Tehran reported.

The proposal, as described by our correspondent, outlines an initial phase focused on ending US-Israeli aggression and securing guarantees that fighting will not resume against Iran and Lebanon. During this stage, Iran would not discuss any other issues, the report said.

The plan envisions coordination with Oman

If agreement is reached on the first phase, discussions would move to a second stage centered on the management of the Strait of Hormuz. The plan reportedly envisions coordination with Oman to establish a new legal framework governing the strategic waterway.

The third phase would address Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran would only be prepared to discuss after agreements are reached on the first two phases, according to the report.

This is happening as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has departed for Moscow, leading a diplomatic delegation.

Iranian ambassador in Moscow, Kazem Jalal, said earlier that Araghchi is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow, where he will hold consultations on the latest developments regarding negotiations and the ceasefire.

Six Palestinians Injured in Hebron Polling Center Invasion

IMEMC | April 25, 2026

Israeli occupation forces invaded a local election polling center in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, assaulting residents and injuring six Palestinians during an attack on Khallet Al‑Mayya area, east of Yatta in Hebron in the southern West Bank.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said its medical teams in Hebron treated six Palestinians who were beaten by Israeli soldiers after the army invaded the polling center designated for local council elections in Khallet Al‑Mayya. Medics provided all six with field treatment at the scene.

Media sources reported that Israeli forces invaded the village and fired stun grenades and toxic tear gas at residents, causing additional cases of suffocation from inhaling the gas. All those affected were treated on site. The sources added that soldiers also smashed several civilian vehicles during the invasion.

Khallet Al‑Mayya is part of a cluster of villages east of Yatta that includes six population centers: Khallet Al‑Mayya, Al‑Deirat, Erfa’eyya, Umm Lasfa, Al‑Boweib, and Umm Ash‑Shaqhan.

Israeli attacks kill more Palestinian civilians amid Gaza truce violations

Press TV – April 26, 2026

A series of new Israeli military attacks have killed at least four Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as the regime continues its relentless ceasefire violations across the besieged Palestinian territory.

In the first incident, an Israeli airstrike killed one person near the central village of al-Mughraqa on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Israeli gunfire and tank shelling killed two others near Gaza City.

In a separate attack, Israeli forces shot and killed a 40-year-old woman in Khan Yunis in the southern part of the territory.

Violence in Gaza has persisted despite the October 2025 ceasefire, with Israel carrying out almost daily attacks on Palestinians. … Full article

‘I’m burning’: Lebanese reporter recounts colleague’s last words after Israeli strike

RT | April 26, 2026

Wounded Lebanese journalist Zeinab Faraj has described the Israeli strike that killed her colleague Amal Khalil, prompting Beirut to accuse West Jerusalem of war crimes.

In an interview filmed from her hospital bed, Faraj broke down in tears as she recounted the ordeal and her final moments with Khalil. […]

Khalil is the ninth journalist killed by Israel in Lebanon since US-Israeli strikes on Iran reignited the conflict, according to Lebanese authorities. Previously, a March 28 IDF strike on a marked press car killed Al-Manar correspondent Ali Shoeib, whom Israel claimed was a Hezbollah operative without evidence. RT correspondent Steve Sweeney and cameraman Ali Rida Sbeity were also targeted on March 19, but survived with minor injuries. – Video interview

Israel steps up violent bombardment of south Lebanon during ‘ceasefire’

The Cradle – April 26, 2026

The Israeli army has escalated its violent and indiscriminate attacks on south Lebanon on 26 April, hours after Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to strike Hezbollah with “force.”

Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks hit several areas, including Deir Antar, Zawtar al-Sharqiya, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in the south, on Sunday afternoon.

An Israeli strike also hit Burj Qalawiya, killing one person and injuring three others. Earlier, a café near the Kfar Tebnit roundabout was bombed.

At least ten injured people were transferred to hospitals for treatment after the attack on Kfar Tebnit.

The Israeli military’s Arabic spokesman released a new threat earlier on Sunday, ordering the forced displacement of 7 additional villages in southern Lebanon: Mayfadoun, Shoukin, Yohmor, Arnoun, Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, and Kfar Tebnit.

“In light of the terrorist Hezbollah party violating the ceasefire agreement, the [army] is compelled to act against it forcefully. The [army] does not intend to harm you. Therefore, out of concern for your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and stay at a distance of no less than 1000 meters outside the specified area. Anyone present near Hezbollah elements, their facilities, or their combat means is endangering their life,” he claimed.

The statement coincided with Israel’s continued systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure in Taybeh and Bint Jbeil.

Hezbollah has been responding to the violations with operations targeting occupation forces in the south, as well as rocket and drone launches toward settlements near the border. … Full article

Israeli forces raid Syria’s Dara’a, Quneitra countryside, set up checkpoints

Press TV – April 26, 2026

Israeli occupation forces have carried out incursions into several villages in the countryside of Syria’s southwestern provinces of Dara’a and Quneitra, where they conducted searches and set up temporary checkpoints.

The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that an Israeli convoy consisting of around ten military vehicles raided the village of Jamla in the Yarmouk Basin area west of Dara’a province early on Sunday morning.

The force withdrew after a short period and positioned itself on the road linking Jamla to the nearby Saisoun village.

This came hours after an Israeli convoy made up of two tanks and two military vehicles entered the eastern Tal al-Ahmar hill in southern Quneitra and took up positions inside prefabricated rooms it had brought to the site on Friday. … continue

IRGC says to reverse engineer 15 undetonated US missiles uncovered in southern Iran

Press TV – April 26, 2026

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has discovered 15 undetonated US missiles in the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan and thousands of bomblets in the northern province of Zanjan, less than a month after a US-Israeli aggression on Iran halted with a ceasefire.

The IRGC’s Imam Sajjad Corps, based in the provincial capital of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan, said in a Sunday statement that its bomb disposal teams had successfully neutralized more than 15 heavy American missiles in the province.

The statement said the missiles were mostly of the GBU and BLU types and other advanced models, adding that the weapons had been transferred to technical and research units of the IRGC for reverse engineering.

It said the Imam Sajjad Corps had neutralized or destroyed more than 60 missiles and drones, including bunker busters, cruise missiles, and advanced drones, since the beginning of the US-Israeli aggression in late February. … continue

Liberation From War

By Manlio Dinucci | Global Research | April 26, 2026

… Following the war against Russia, Italy is becoming increasingly involved in the conflict against Iran.

US drones and aircraft are stationed at the Sigonella base in Sicily, from where they carry out missions in the Middle East to identify targets in Iran and guide US missile and bomber strikes. For the war against Iran, US forces are also using other bases in Italy, such as Aviano and Camp Darby. The Italian government has now decided to send two military ships to the Strait of Hormuz, even without a UN mandate, officially for mine clearance. As these ships would be in a war zone, including within Iranian territorial waters, should they be threatened with attack or attacked by Iranian forces, they would be flanked by Italian Navy strike units, officially “for protective purposes”.

Italy would thus effectively enter the war alongside the United States. … Read full article

Major fire erupts at UK base used for US bombers

RT | April 26, 2026

A large fire broke out at a Royal Air Force (RAF) base in west England on Sunday morning. In recent months, it was used by the US to launch operations against Iran, and was recently the target of anti-war protests.

According to the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, crews were called to RAF Fairford shortly after midnight on Sunday.

“The fire involved a single-story industrial storage building. It was brought under control safely and there were no casualties,” the service said in a statement.

Videos circulating on social media show a large blaze above warehouse buildings visible from the street, with an enormous plume of smoke rising up into the night sky.

RAF Fairford houses USAF B52 and B1 bombers, and serves as a key European operations center for Washington. Hundreds of anti-war protesters rallied outside the base on Saturday, demanding that the UK shut down military facilities used in the war on Iran. … continue

What Is Asthma?

An Essay on Asthma, Agnotology, and the Cause That Is Not Unknown

Lies are Unbekoming | April 24, 2026

The Admission

The World Health Organization’s current asthma fact sheet states that “many factors have been linked to an increased risk of developing asthma, although it is often difficult to find a single, direct cause.”¹ The United States National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute puts it more plainly: “The exact causes for developing asthma are unknown and may be different from person to person… Because the exact cause is unknown, you may not be able to prevent asthma in yourself or your children.”² The United Kingdom’s National Health Service agrees: “The exact cause of asthma is unknown.”³ The Mayo Clinic concurs for childhood asthma specifically: “causes aren’t fully understood.”⁴ The Cleveland Clinic is briefer: “Experts aren’t sure what causes asthma.”⁵

In 2018, a twenty-three-author Commission published in The Lancet proposed something more radical. After reviewing the state of the field, the authors concluded that the word “asthma” should be retired. It was, they argued, “a label for a heterogeneous mix of pathologically distinct processes poorly represented by our current physiological and symptom-based classification system.” They noted that progress in reducing asthma admissions and mortality had stalled in the prior decade.⁶ The Commission’s lead author, Ian Pavord, is among the most cited respiratory physicians in the world. His position, after a career studying the condition, was that the condition does not exist as a coherent diagnostic entity.

The Global Asthma Report places worldwide prevalence at approximately 262 million people.⁷ Every one of them has been given a diagnosis whose name the field’s senior authorities propose to abandon, for a condition whose cause the field’s public-facing institutions declare beyond their capacity to identify. … continue

Kaiser Insider Sent Me Internal Guidance Concerning Shots and Medications for Newborns

By Aaron Siri | Injecting Freedom | April 23, 2026

Someone inside Kaiser sent me the below internal guidance concerning shots and medications for newborns.

It tells Kaiser employees that the “approach to how we introduce and administer routine newborn … Hepatitis B vaccine” is to “avoid saying ‘it’s optional’ or ‘you can refuse’ unless directly asked” and to tell parents that “we will be giving” instead of asking consent to give. This is the antithesis of informed consent. Yet Kaiser calls it “excellent patient and family care.” … Full article

AAP Pushes Adults to Get Vaccinated Before Visiting Newborns — Doctors Explain Why That’s Dangerous

By Brenda Baletti, Ph.D. | The Defender | April 21, 2026

… The Academy of American Pediatrics offers a sample letter that people can send to their friends and family, letting them know they aren’t welcome to visit a new baby until they get vaccinated. The letter says:

“The best way to support us is getting up to date with vaccines before your visit. No big deal if you are not up to date now! You can always get the whooping cough (Tdap) and the flu vaccines at your doctor’s office. Pharmacies also offer vaccinations. Make sure you complete the Tdap shots at least 2 weeks before visiting.”

‘Pertussis vaccine makes you more likely to transmit the infection to others’

Dr. Paul Thomas, a pediatrician, told The Defender that research shows cocooning, particularly for whooping cough, may actually put infants at greater risk. “This practice should be abandoned,” he said.

Thomas explained that the acellular pertussis vaccine doesn’t prevent infection; it only suppresses symptoms. A vaccinated person can still catch and silently spread whooping cough — without knowing it.

Research suggests this asymptomatic transmission may actually be the main driver of the ongoing whooping cough resurgence. So requiring Tdap for visitors may not reduce risk to the baby, and could theoretically increase it.

In his book “Vax Facts: What to Consider Before Vaccinating at All Ages & Stages of Life,” Thomas wrote:

“Since pertussis is most dangerous in the first year of life, that [cocooning] seemed like a great approach. The problem is that numerous studies have now shown that the current vaccine does not prevent infection, and it does not prevent transmitting the infection to your baby or to others. In fact, it looks like getting the pertussis vaccine makes you more likely to transmit the infection to others.”

Thomas said that the “new” acellular pertussis vaccines have been around for decades — they were introduced in the U.S. in the 1990s. Since then, and in response to vaccination, he said Bordetella pertussis strains have evolved to lack a protein called pertactin, which is one of the targets of the vaccine.

“The vaccines are no longer very protective, which explains why we are seeing more pertussis than ever,” Thomas wrote. “This is not an issue of the unvaccinated but rather of vaccine failure.” … Full article

When a Train Ticket Costs Your Passport: The Eurail Breach and the Digital ID Problem

By Ken Macon | Reclaim The Net | April 25, 2026

Eurail wanted people’s passport number to let them ride a train. Now that data is for sale on the dark web, and some of the 308,777 people caught up in the breach are being told to cancel their passports and pay for replacements out of their own pocket.

The Dutch company, which sells the Interrail passes used by young travelers across 33 European countries, confirmed this week that a sample of the stolen dataset has already surfaced on Telegram.

“We can confirm that data copied during the security incident has been offered for sale on the dark web and a sample dataset has been published on Telegram,” a spokesperson said. “Customers whose personal data was included in the sample dataset are being informed directly where contact details are available to us.”

The full haul contains exactly the material identity thieves dream about, including passport numbers, passport expiry dates, full names, home addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth. For users of the EU’s DiscoverEU program, which hands out free travel passes to young people, the exposed records also include photocopies of passports, bank account details, and some health data.

The breach happened on December 26, 2025. Eurail only began notifying affected individuals on March 27, 2026, three months after hackers walked out with the files and a full month after the data appeared on a cybercrime forum. … continue

Court Forces German Chancellor Merz to Open Files on 300 “Insult the Chancellor” Cases

By Cindy Harper | Reclaim The Net | April 25, 2026

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has used the German state to pursue around 300 criminal investigations against people accused of insulting him, and his Chancellery spent months trying to keep the public from finding out which prosecutors were handling the cases. That wall has now come down. … continue

Hamas says holding municipal elections in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah is an ‘important step’

MEMO | April 25, 2026

Holding municipal elections in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip is an “important step,” a Hamas spokesman told Anadolu on Saturday.

Hazem Qassem’s remarks came as voting for local elections in the occupied West Bank and Deir al-Balah began earlier in the day.

“Holding elections in the city of Deir al-Balah is an important step, and we hope that appropriate conditions will be provided to hold them in all governorates and municipalities of the Gaza Strip,” Qassem said.

“We also hope that conditions will be created to hold comprehensive elections,” he said, calling for “reorganizing the Palestinian house and holding legislative and presidential elections.”

Saturday’s voting marks the first time in 22 years that municipal elections are taking place in Deir al-Balah, relatively one of the least damaged cities in the enclave during Israel’s two years of genocidal war.

Qassem appreciated the efforts of authorities in Gaza to complete the electoral process, saying: “Our instructions were clear on the need to ensure the success of this process, and that it takes place under suitable conditions so that the Palestinian citizens can express their opinion through the ballot box.”

Palestinian factions, including Hamas, held meetings with various parties “to ensure a suitable political and field environment,” he added.

Regarding the situation on the ground, Qassem said Israel “committed a major massacre against the people of the Gaza Strip in continuation of the war of extermination,” arguing that this is “evidence that the war has not stopped.” … Full article

Pregnant mother and her two children killed in Israeli strike on Gaza residence

MEMO | April 25, 2026

A pregnant woman and her two children were killed in a strike on a residential building in Beit Lahia, located in the northern Gaza Strip, on Saturday, Anadolu reports.

The victims were identified by Khaled El-Tanani, the husband and father of the deceased, who stated that the family believed the location was a safe area.

He further noted that the strike occurred during a period of a declared ceasefire, a claim that underscores the ongoing volatility and danger faced by civilians in the region. … Full article

‘Territorial Theft With Better Branding’: Israel Keeps Advancing Its ‘Yellow Line’ in Gaza

By Stephen Prager | Scheer Post | April 24, 2026

One Palestinian American researcher warned that Israel is seeking “annexation without legal burden.”

Israel’s gradual advancement of its “yellow line” to occupy more territory in the Gaza Strip is fueling concerns that it is seeking to effectively annex and colonize the majority of the territory without any formal agreement.

The Guardian reported on Wednesday that Israel has been steadily pushing the truce line to take control of more Palestinian territory in the six months since a “ceasefire” was reached in October.

The yellow line drawn on the ceasefire maps had Israeli troops in control of about 53% of Gaza’s territory, cramming nearly 2 million displaced Palestinians into a territory less than half the size of the one they inhabited before.

But an analysis by Forensic Architecture shows Israel has unilaterally shifted the line westward over the past six months to the point where it controlled about 58% of the strip by December in an occupation zone that continues to grow.

Palestinians living in Gaza reportedly woke up to learn that large yellow concrete blocks denoting the ceasefire line had suddenly moved and that they were now living in a free-fire area, where the Israeli military considers any Palestinian person or vehicle a legitimate target.

The Associated Press found in January that at least 77 Palestinians have been shot on sight when they’ve found themselves on the wrong side of the yellow line or even just near it, even though the line’s boundaries are ill-defined and fluid. … continue

Lebanon Ceasefire in Name Only as Israeli Enemy Kills Citizens, Bombs Houses in South

Al-Manar | April 25, 2026

Six Lebanese citizens were martyred on Saturday as the Israeli enemy steps up attacks on southern Lebanon, in violation of the ceasefire that took effect earlier this month.

Al-Manar’s correspondent in southern Lebanon reported two drone strikes targeting a truck and a motorcycle in the town of Yuhmor Al-Shaqeef, near Nabatieh.

Shortly after, the Lebanese Health Ministry announced that the Israeli strikes on Yohmor Al-Shaqeef led to the martyrdom of four people.

Earlier on Saturday, an Al-Manar correspondent in Western Bekaa reported that a mother of four children, succumbed to wounds sustained by an Israeli attack on the town of Suhmor.

Meanwhile, the Israeli enemy continued its systematic campaign to destroy southern border towns, with wide-scale demolitions being carried out in the towns of Khiam, Bint Jbeil, and Naqoura on Saturday, our correspondents across southern Lebanon reported.

Our correspondents reported Israeli artillery shelling targeted the towns of Houla, Al-Qantara, Al-Tiri, and Deir Seryan. Occupation forces also torched a number of homes in the town of Taybeh.

Later on Saturday, the warplanes carried out airstrikes on the southern Lebanese towns of Kounin, Safad Al-Batikh, and Al-Jmeijmeh.

The Public Health Ministry’s Emergency Health Operations Center announced in a statement that an Israeli enemy raid on the town of Safad al-Batikh in the Bint Jbeil district resulted in two martyrs and 17 wounded. … Full article

Iran war launched at ‘Israel’s’ request: US memo debunks Trump claims

Al Mayadeen | April 25, 2026

A US State Department legal memo has confirmed that Washington’s military attacks on Iran were carried out in support of “Israel”, contradicting earlier claims by President Donald Trump that the decision was made independently.

Published on April 21 by Legal Advisor Reed D. Rubinstein on the state government website, the document titled “Operation Epic Fury and International Law” outlines the “justification” for US attacks launched on February 28 against Iranian missile systems, naval assets, production facilities, and nuclear infrastructure.

The memo explicitly states that the United States is engaged in the war “at the request of and in the collective self-defense of its Israeli ally,” invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter. … continue

How Israel moved Hermes 900 drone production to Serbia to hide from Iranian missiles

By Ivan Kesic – Press TV – April 25, 2026

The Israeli regime has quietly embarked on an effort to relocate production of its most important long-range strike drone – the Hermes 900- outside the occupied territories.

In Serbia, it has found its latest and most controversial partner. The strategy is simple: protect Tel Aviv’s supply chain from Iranian ballistic missiles.

On March 7, 2026, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić made a cryptic announcement. Serbia, he said, would soon open a factory for “the most serious drones in the world” with a foreign partner from the Israeli regime.

By early April, reports had uncovered the full scope of the deal. Elbit Systems – the largest military company in the occupied territories and a firm repeatedly named by UN experts as profiting from the ongoing genocide in Gaza – had agreed to establish a joint drone production facility in Šimanovci, just thirty kilometers west of Belgrade.

The factory, which could begin operations as early as late April 2026, is designed to produce two types of unmanned aerial vehicles, including a long-range model capable of flying at altitudes exceeding six kilometers.

While most media attention has focused on the emerging arms race between Serbia and Croatia, a far more consequential story has gone largely unreported.

What makes this deal particularly significant is not merely the technology transfer or the financial terms, but the strategic logic driving it.

The Israeli regime, having suffered devastating losses of its Hermes 900 fleet during the recent US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, is desperately seeking to diversify its production base – outside the reach of Iranian retaliation. … continue

Cost of US Operation Against Iran Exceeds $61Bln – Reports

Sputnik – 25.04.2026

The cost of the US operation against Iran has exceeded $61 billion, according to the Iran War Cost Tracker.

The portal updates data in real time and calculates the funds required to maintain personnel, ships deployed to the region, and other related expenses. The calculation methodology is based on a Pentagon report to Congress, which stated that the first six days of the operation cost $11.3 billion, and further expenses will amount to $1 billion per day. … Full article

Mainstream media ignoring Pentagon leak footage – journalist

“Why have CNN, NBC, ABC not covered the story?”

RT | April 25, 2026

Major US networks have turned a blind eye to an explosive undercover video in which a senior Pentagon official spoke about Ukraine’s rampant corruption and civilian casualties resulting from the war on Iran, O’Keefe Media Group journalist Michael Casey has told RT.

Speaking to RT on Friday, Casey weighed in on footage that O’Keefe Media Group released earlier this week, apparently showing Andrew Hugg, a Pentagon nuclear safety officer, revealing secrets to a woman he met on a dating app.

The official was recorded confirming that US airstrikes did cause collateral child casualties in Iran, discussing nerve agents stored in Maryland, and alleging that Ukrainian officials had pocketed US taxpayer funds going back to the Obama administration. … Full article

US to Struggle to Legally Justify Blockade of Strait of Hormuz – South Korean Association

Sputnik – 25.04.2026

The United States will find it difficult to justify the legality of the imposed maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Subeom Choi, secretary general of the Korea Arctic Shipping Association said.

“Under traditional law governing naval blockades, key requirements include prior notification, effectiveness, impartial enforcement, and due regard for humanitarian considerations. Accordingly, the legal defensibility of a unilateral blockade of Iranian ports remains highly questionable,” Choi said.

He added that maritime blockades are typically considered part of a maritime military conflict and are imposed under the UN Charter and in accordance with UN Security Council sanctions.

“From the standpoint of international law, the action is open to serious legal dispute,” he added.

On April 13, the US Navy began blockading all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that accounts for approximately 20% of the world’s oil, petroleum products, and LNG supplies. Washington maintains that non-Iranian vessels are free to transit the strait as long as they do not pay a toll to Tehran.

Latest targets of US sanctions: China-based oil refinery, 40 shippers

Al Mayadeen | April 25, 2026

The administration of US President Donald Trump on Friday imposed new sanctions on a Chinese independent oil refinery under the pretext of purchasing large volumes of Iranian oil, in a move that comes ahead of anticipated talks between Washington and Tehran.

The US Treasury Department named Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery as a key buyer of Iranian crude and petroleum products, placing it under sanctions alongside roughly 40 shipping firms and vessels alleged to be part of Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet”.

Beijing condemned the measures, describing them as unilateral and unlawful. China’s embassy in Washington warned against disrupting normal trade and called on the US to stop using sanctions as a political tool against Chinese companies. […]

Analysts note that smaller refineries remain relatively insulated due to minimal exposure to US financial channels, suggesting that sanctions on Chinese banks facilitating transactions would be more effective in limiting purchases. … Full article

EU economic sanctions ramp up NATO war plan on Russia

Strategic Culture Foundation | April 24, 2026

The European Union announced its 20th round of economic sanctions against Russia this week. The bloc of 27 nations began imposing sanctions on Moscow when the conflict in Ukraine erupted in February 2022. Every six months, the EU has been extending these economic measures, which Brussels claims is support for Ukraine to “deter Russian aggression.”

The 20th round of sanctions unveiled this week attempts to go much further in inflicting damage on the Russian economy. It was flagged as the biggeset package yet and a “multi-layered targeting of key sectors” of the Russian economy, primarily its energy industry.

It is tempting to dismiss the EU sanctions policy as feeble and a form of insanity. The bloc keeps repeating an action expecting a different result each time, when the record shows that the action of sanctions is having little detrimental impact on Russia. If anything, it is the EU that has suffered an economic downturn as it unilaterally cut itself off from Russian oil and gas, the traditional source of affordable energy feedstock for European industries. Russia’s economy has not crashed as was anticipated when the sanctions were first imposed more than four years ago. In fact, the Russian Federation has maintained a robust economic performance as it finds alternative markets in Asia for its oil and gas products. The soaring price for a barrel of crude due to the reckless U.S.-Israeli aggression on Iran has given Russia a further boost.

However, it would be a mistake to simply brush off the EU sanctions as futile and self-defeating.

There is a more blatant and sinister aspect to the new round of sanctions. … continue

Six injured after Ukrainian drone strike deep inside Russia – governor

RT | April 25, 2026

Six people were injured early on Saturday when a Ukrainian drone hit a residential building in central Ekaterinburg, about 1,700 km inside Russia, according to regional Governor Denis Pasler. He added that fifty residents were evacuated due to safety concerns.

Moscow has repeatedly highlighted that Kiev is attacking civilians because it cannot halt Russian advances on the battlefield.

One woman was hospitalized following the attack, Pasler said. […]

The Russian Defense Ministry has stated that 127 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight over several regions.

The remote-controlled aircraft were shot down over Crimea, Tatarstan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Orel, Smolensk, Rostov, Volgograd, Astrakhan, Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions, as well as over the Black Sea. … Full article

U.S. Pacific Strike Kills Two in Anti-Drug Operation

teleSUR | April 25, 2026

A United States military strike in the Pacific Ocean left at least two people dead after a vessel allegedly linked to drug trafficking was destroyed in international waters near Colombia, according to official information released Friday.

The operation is part of an ongoing campaign led by U.S. Southern Command under the “Southern Spear” plan. The command reported the results on its official X account and shared video footage of the strike.

U.S. authorities state that the campaign aims to disrupt drug trafficking routes toward the United States. Since August 2025, at least 182 people have been killed and 55 vessels destroyed in U.S. operations across the Caribbean and Pacific.

The latest strike was the fourth in a two-week period. It took place on the same day Colombian President Gustavo Petro held his first meeting with Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez after visiting Miraflores Palace in Caracas. … Full article

Russia’s Dmitriev Says Countries Will Cooperate Once World Defeats ‘Globalist Virus’

Sputnik – 25.04.2026

MOSCOW – Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Russia’s special presidential representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, said on Saturday that the countries of the world will cooperate with each other when they defeat the “globalist virus.”

“Imagine Russia, the US, China, the EU, India and other countries working together once the world overcomes the globalist virus,” Dmitriev said on X.

Dmitriev was commenting on remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron, who claimed that the United States, Russia, and China had supposedly joined forces to confront Europe.