Morocco has broken its silence on the deadly Ceuta and Melilla border crossings, rejecting claims the migrant surge was spontaneous. The statement comes amid competing narratives over the crisis. While some regional leaders have linked the events to broader geopolitical tensions involving Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, Morocco's Interior Ministry blamed trafficking networks, misleading information, legal misunderstandings and Spanish court decisions.

Vice President JD Vance spent 21 gruelling hours negotiating with Iranian officials in a high-stakes attempt to end the ongoing Iran War. The result? A Memorandum of Understanding so vague that both sides walked away claiming victory, yet agreeing to nothing.

As the world watches, both nations remain locked in a stalemate with rigid "bright red lines." The U.S. demands a guarantee against nuclear weapons and a permanently open Hormuz Strait, while Iran is calling for total sanctions relief, war reparations, and continued control over its nuclear assets.

Joining Piers Morgan to navigate this diplomatic minefield is Doron Spielman, the newly appointed international spokesman for Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Professor Mohammed Marandi and lawyer Alan Dershowitz.

Uncensored tackles the tough questions: Can this administration steer us away from a war that is draining U.S. munitions, inflating global gas prices, and shattering crucial alliances? Is peace even possible, or are we witnessing the inevitable escalation of a conflict that no one can control?

Cross posted from https://lemmy.ca/post/68743161

Why did the United States want Muammar Gaddafi gone?

For over four decades, Gaddafi ruled Libya with a strong and controversial hand, positioning himself as a revolutionary leader in Africa and the Arab world. But his relationship with Western powers, especially the United States, was complex and often hostile.

This documentary explores the hidden geopolitical interests, oil politics, and international power struggles that led to Libya’s collapse and Gaddafi’s downfall. Was it really about democracy and human rights—or something deeper?

Discover the untold story behind one of the most dramatic regime changes in modern history. #Gaddafi

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega aims to exclude “traitors” and “coup-plotting” opposition members from elections, while also seeking to extend the presidential term from six to seven “renewable” years, according to a draft constitutional reform sent to Congress.

US President Donald Trump has again signalled support for selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkiye, brushing aside Israeli objections. The potential deal remains blocked by US legal restrictions after Ankara’s purchase of Russian air defence systems, while Israel argues the sale would undermine its military advantage in the region.

It is incredibly painful for us to think they will take our children away as though they were garbage

My daughter lived there, on the sixth floor, and all those concrete slabs are piled on top of each other. We have been here for 11 days. With no hope. Look, look at how thick those slabs are. Do you think four or even ten men can move that? The longer they take, the more likely it is that people who are still alive may be dieing down there.

But the commander is not the only person who matters. Every human being trapped here matters.

Nate Polson from "Canadian Prepper" wanted to know from me what is going on in Germany at the moment and why it seems like NATO is gearing up for a war with Russia. We talked about Cognitive Warfare (the battle for your hearts and minds) and why switching off the news and going into the woods can help you become a stronger voice for peace.

Cross posted from https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10132860

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10132693

A coalition of 21 cybersecurity and intelligence agencies has warned that Russian state-sponsored hackers continue to compromise internet-facing routers by exploiting weak configurations and known vulnerabilities, enabling them to steal device configurations and gain insight into victims' networks.

The joint cybersecurity advisory was issued by ... cybersecurity authorities from Australia, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, France, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Finland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and the US.

...

The agencies identify communications, defense industrial base, energy, financial services, government, and healthcare organizations as being at the highest risk. While the campaign focuses on routers, the attackers are primarily interested in the sensitive information stored on them, such as network configurations and credentials that can facilitate follow-on compromises.

...

Archived

As Trump's America 250 shenanigans take over Washington, anti-war veterans, service members, and military families will march on Philadelphia for Freedom Over Fascism. Mike Prysner, US Army veteran and executive director of the Center on Conscience and War, tells BT Live that amid Trump’s belligerence in Venezuela, Iran and Cuba, conscientious objector filings have surged higher than at any point since 9/11. From the soldier on the ship that launched missiles at Caracas, to the officer at Guantanamo watching ICE detainees get processed like terrorists, Prysner says the fissures are everywhere: 'There's such a variety of things the Trump administration is doing that's causing people to take this very bold and brave and courageous step.

"We saw a massive surge once the Iran war began — bigger than at any point during the entire global war on terror."

Why the anti-war movement inside the military itself may be one of the most powerful forces pushing back against Trump.

Cross posted from https://lemmy.ca/post/66688724

American imperialism has set its sights on total domination of all the other regions of the planet. The world was shocked by the US and Israel’s aggression against Iran. New war crimes are being committed. The blood of civilians is being shed. Within two months the US President has destroyed the leadership of two sovereign countries. In both cases outright lies have been used to justify aggression. The pretext for the attack on Venezuela was groundless accusations of the president having links with the drugs trade. In the case of Iran equally false accusations of developing the nuclear weapon were used. All this cannot but bring to mind the US aggression against Iraq and Powell holding up a vial with white powder.

HÀ NỘI — General Phan Văn Giang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, on Thursday chaired a working session in Hà Nội with the General Staff on the “Sustainable Air Defence Dome” operational plan and combat methods for countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Also attending were General Nguyễn Tân Cương, member of the Party Central Committee, Standing member of the Central Military Commission, Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defence; Senior Lieutenant General Phạm Hoài Nam, member of the Party Central Committee, Standing member of the Central Military Commission and Deputy Minister of National Defence; and Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Văn Hiền, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of National Defence.

The “Sustainable Air Defence Dome” operational plan is a key strategic initiative aimed at building a wide-area, multi-layered, robust and modern air defence posture capable of early detection, rapid response and effective interception, thereby firmly safeguarding national airspace and designated targets.

According to the General Staff, the plan builds on traditional experience while incorporating advances in science and technology to enhance surveillance, command and control, and coordination among forces, with the Air Defence – Air Force Service playing the core role.

Regarding a military workshop on combat methods for countering UAVs held last month, delegates agreed it provides an important foundation for refining operational approaches against various types of unmanned aerial vehicles, with both theoretical and practical significance.

It is expected to improve the effective organisation and employment of armed forces, equipment and force posture under modern warfare conditions.

Concluding the session, General Giang commended the General Staff, the Air Defence – Air Force Service, and relevant agencies and units for their research and development of the “Sustainable Air Defence Dome” plan, as well as for successfully organising the workshop on UAV countermeasures.

He called for continued refinement of the plan in line with practical realities to ensure feasibility, synchronisation and effectiveness. He also stressed the need to step up research, master technologies, expand international cooperation, and train high-quality human resources to meet requirements in the new context.

The recent workshop for military personnel has emphasised the shift in military doctrine driven by the evolving role of UAVs in modern global conflicts.

To counter the threat of drones being used as decoys or precision strike tools, the defence ministry's leadership advocates for a multi-layered air defence framework that integrates advanced radar detection with sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities, according to Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Văn Hiền.

The primary objective is to modernise combat methods through rigorous personnel training, technological innovation, and the development of unified management databases.

Ultimately, these measures aim to enhance national defense readiness by ensuring the military can effectively detect, suppress, and utilise drone technology in a rapidly changing security landscape.— VNS

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay Ngô Minh Nguyệt recently met in Montevideo with Juan Castillo, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uruguay (PCU) and Uruguay's Minister of Labour, to advance bilateral cooperation and discuss ties between the two communist parties.

At the meeting, Nguyệt briefed Castillo on the outcomes of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV), as well as Việt Nam's political and economic situation, foreign policy and development orientation in the period ahead.

For his part, Castillo congratulated Việt Nam on the success of the 14th National Party Congress and reaffirmed his commitment to communist and socialist ideals. He also affirmed a policy of peace and friendship, along with coordination with leftist political parties worldwide to tackle common challenges.

Castillo expressed his wish to strengthen cooperation with the CPV, focusing on fostering the exchanges of information and theory. He also said he hopes to access documents and resolutions from the 14th Congress in Spanish or English, as well as materials on Việt Nam's development theory and practice.

According to Castillo, the PCU is ready to coordinate and share materials to support the development of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Museum. A photo archive centre in Montevideo currently stores many valuable images and materials on Việt Nam and is expected to support information exchange between the two sides.

Regarding activities honouring President Hồ Chí Minh in Uruguay, Castillo said a book titled Selected Works of President Hồ Chí Minh, compiled by the PCU, has been published and has drawn wide public interest. He added that leftist groups in Uruguay are coordinating on a project to build a statue of President Hồ Chí Minh in Montevideo.

Castillo also expressed his desire to boost coordination with Vietnamese institutions such as the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education, and Mass Mobilisation and Tạp chí Cộng sản (Communist Review) to compile and publish additional research materials, contributing to greater public understanding of Việt Nam and President Hồ Chí Minh. — VNA/VNS

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping has put forward a four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, calling for staying committed to the principles of “peaceful coexistence, national sovereignty, international rule of law, and a balanced approach to development and security”, while reiterating China’s willingness to play a constructive role in promoting peace and facilitating talks.

Xi made the remarks on Tuesday when meeting in Beijing with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

His remarks came as the situation in the Middle East remains tense since the United States and Israel jointly launched military strikes on Iran on Feb 28, triggering a sharp escalation of conflicts across the Middle East and hitting the world economy and energy security.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the current situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region, and Xi put forward the four-point proposal for safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Xi said that the Gulf states in the Middle East are close neighbours that cannot move away, and it is important to support them in improving their ties, work to build a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security architecture of the Middle East and the Gulf region, and consolidate the foundation for peaceful coexistence.

He emphasised that the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Gulf states should be earnestly respected, and the safety of their personnel, facilities and institutions vigorously safeguarded.

The authority of international rule of law should be upheld to prevent the world from falling back to the law of the jungle, Xi said, highlighting the importance of upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

He also said that development and security should be coordinated, and all parties should work to create a sound environment for and bring positive energy to the development of the Gulf states.

China stands ready to share with the Gulf countries the opportunities rising from Chinese modernisation, and work with them to nurture a fertile ground for regional development and security, he added.

The crown prince said that the UAE commends China’s responsible and constructive role in international affairs, and its efforts in promoting political settlement of the crisis in the Middle East.

The UAE is committed to staying in close communication and coordination with China to facilitate a ceasefire between the relevant sides, restore peace and stability in the region as soon as possible, maintain international shipping security, and prevent further impact on the global economy and energy security, he said.

Since the conflict in the Middle East began, China has been working to help bring about a ceasefire and an end to the crisis through diplomatic efforts. Foreign Minister Wang Yi made multiple phone calls with parties including Iran, Israel, Russia and the Gulf states. Zhai Jun, the special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, traveled to the region as part of a mediation effort.

On March 31, China and Pakistan issued a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region, which embodies the international consensus for a ceasefire and peace.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Xi also expressed China’s readiness to work with the UAE to build a more solid, resilient and dynamic comprehensive strategic partnership. The two countries should continue to provide mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, maintain high-level exchanges and strengthen strategic mutual trust, he said.

He underlined the need for both countries to enhance synergy between development strategies, tap into the potential and deepen win-win cooperation, and enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral platforms such as the UN and BRICS to counter international and regional uncertainties with a stable China-UAE relationship. — CHINA DAILY/ANN

“Cuba is not alone” is not motto, it is reality

International

Blocked and threatened by the main imperialist power, the US, Cuba resists and adds support. It is increasingly aid that reaches the country, through states or the solidarity movement, and the rejection of American policy against the Cuban people and their Revolution is growing.

The repudiation of the increase in the blockade against Cuba extends as its effects are known in the daily life of the Cuban people. In recent weeks, demonstrations of support for Cuba have taken place in several countries, ending the blockade and threats from the US, including military aggression.

In Belgium, in front of the U.S. Embassy, there were many trade unionists, political party leaders, solidarity movement activists and Cuban residents in Belgium who demanded the immediate end of the blockade. In Rome, a demonstration under the motto “Cuba is not a threat” toured historical areas of the city, ending at the Gate of São Paulo, symbol of the Italian resistance to Nazi-fascism. In Paris, one of the French cities in which actions took place, the protesters concentrated next to the Eifel Tower, in a journey promoted by organizations from the most varied areas of social intervention. Together with the U.S. consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa, activists from the South African Communist Party, the African National Congress (ANC), COSATU and other organizations that are part of the solidarity movement, condemned the aggressive U.S. policy against Cuba and reaffirmed solidarity with the Caribbean country.

In Portugal, like Avante! last week, two major initiatives took place in Lisbon: the Conference “Cuba, the Revolution and the World”, in the framework of the celebrations of Fidel Castro’s centenary, which this year is marked, and a Concert of solidarity, entitled “All for Cuba!”.

At the same time, solidarity campaigns are underway to break the blockade and send medicines, food, hospital and school supplies to Cuba and everything else that the American aggression seeks to prevent it from reaching the Cuban people. In Portugal, in the framework of the campaign “For Cuba! End to the Block!” already headed to Cuba a container with diverse material and others will follow. A few days ago the second “European train” arrived in Cuba with solidarity aid, 28 days after the first, in which the Portugal-Cuba Friendship Association participated.

Political and material support

More than a thousand workers from the Cienfuegos refinery work uninterruptedly, 24 hours a day, to secure gasoline, diesel and gas from Russia’s oil donation, the Communist Party of Cuba newspaper Granma reports. The President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, thanked Russia for its solidarity and praised his country's close and fraternal relations with Russia and China.

Meanwhile, the People's Republic of China expressed its support for the joint declaration of Brazil, Mexico and Spain, presented in Barcelona on the 18th. The three countries, and also China, express concern about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, resulting from the energy siege imposed by the US since the end of January this year, and reiterate the need to respect its territorial integrity. Affirming the defence of principles of international law, these countries have pledged to step up aid to Cuba.

China’s position was reaffirmed by a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who stressed that: “China is ready to work with all parties to firmly support Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security.”

In addition to political support, China has been expanding cooperation with Cuba on energy or food. It has also accelerated the deployment of photovoltaic equipment to hospitals and medical centers and the communities most affected by the power outages. The objective is to contribute to the reduction of the immediate impacts of blackouts and to increase the capacity of electricity generation in the country.

Particularly active in sending material aid to Cuba has also been Mexico, which by the voice of its President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has reaffirmed its opposition to the blockade and its determination to continue support for the Caribbean country and its people.

Resistance and unity

Cuba has begun a national campaign to support the “irrenounceable vocation of peace, essence of the Cuban nation”. Under the motto “My signature for the homeland”, this initiative will cover workplaces, educational institutions and public entities, with the aim of supporting the recent statement of the Cuban Government, which denounces the claims of military aggression and the brutal energy siege by the US, which aggravates the genocidal policy of blocking the last six decades. The first to sign the text was the President of the Republic, Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Already at the beginning of the month, hundreds of young people paraded in Havana, motorcycle, bicycle, scooters and other vehicles, to celebrate the anniversaries of the Pioneers Organization José Martí and the Union of Young Communists. At a time when 80% of the population lived all their lives under the blockade, the leader of the UJC, Meyvis Estévez Echeverría, declared that from the Cuban youth one can only expect “continuity and unity around the Party and the Revolution”.

For May 1, new days of resistance, unity and anti-imperialist struggle are expected.

Where do you want to push us?

NATO assumes 55% of the world’s military spending

Opinion

NATO and the European Union continue to push the insane policy of increasing military spending, arms escalation, militarism and war, with what it represents of death, suffering and destruction and attack on living conditions, rights, peace and the security of peoples. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), world-wide military expenditure reached US$2,887 billion in 2025. It should be noted that the military expenditures of the 32 countries that are part of NATO totaled 1.581 billion dollars, that is, 55% of the world's military spending, that is, more than the sum of the military expenditures of all the remaining 161 countries that make up the UN.

The European continent has contributed significantly to boosting the increase in military spending worldwide, accounting for the largest increase in regional terms, with military spending increasing by 14% in a year, reaching US$864 billion. The 29 European countries that are part of NATO accounted for 559 billion dollars, that is 65% of that total, which represented an increase of about 23% compared to 2024. Two examples: Germany was the country that spent the most, with its military expenditures growing by 24% compared to the previous year, reaching US$114 billion, about 2.3% of GDP; Spain increased its military expenditure by 50%, totaling 40.2 billion dollars, also exceeding 2.0% of GDP.

After starring in decades of military aggression in Europe, Asia, the Middle East or Africa, this dizzying increase in military expenditure is due to the hysterical warlike spiral promoted by NATO and the European Union, in which the instigation and insistence on the prolongation of the war in Ukraine is inserted, in the continuation of decades of systematic enlargement of NATO, aiming at the siege and confrontation with Russia. It is recalled that the U.S. imposed on its NATO “allies” the increase of its military expenditure up to 5% of GDP – a target to be reached until 1935 –, in the framework of a statement of division of responsibilities and sharing of burdens within this political-military warmonger bloc, which has been embodied in the demand that they finance (even more) and be instruments (even more aligned and subservient) in the service of the interests of imperialism.

The finding of the acceleration and size of NATO’s increase in military spending, but also of the EU, is added to an immense list of intentions, decisions, measures and actions of a warmongering character, immediately the announced ambition of the transformation of the EU into a political-military bloc, the European pillar of NATO – a process in which some also play the nuclear card –, sustained from the fallacious “Russian threat”. However, the reality is demonstrating that the intentions of imperialism face strong and courageous resistance and that the decisive issue is the struggle of peoples for the sake of peace, sovereignty, rights, and their solidarity with the peoples facing the brutal interference and aggression of imperialism.

Pedro Warrior