In this reporter vlog, Ione explores the reality of a nation in transition - from the streets of Caracas to the coastal state of Sucre. What has actually changed since the US announced it would “run” the country? …
The Shrewd Economist
Democracy is an illusion! It’s become a political system fostered by the élite, for the élite, in order to fool the people that they have a stake in the system. In actual fact, they have virtually none. The whole political system in the modern era, despite having noble beginnings, is now used to benefit the few at the expense of the many. – Mark Alexander, June 29, 2018
March 26, 2026
I Travelled Venezuela after Maduro’s Capture - Here’s What’s Really Happening | Rare Access
Mar 26, 2026 | On a rare journalist visa, BBC South America Correspondent Ione Wells travels across Venezuela, just weeks after the US military operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro.
In this reporter vlog, Ione explores the reality of a nation in transition - from the streets of Caracas to the coastal state of Sucre. What has actually changed since the US announced it would “run” the country? …
In this reporter vlog, Ione explores the reality of a nation in transition - from the streets of Caracas to the coastal state of Sucre. What has actually changed since the US announced it would “run” the country? …
Labels:
Venezuela
Richard Wolff: Iran War Destroys Global Economy & US Empire
Physical Oil Shortages within 2-3 Weeks, Says Energy Expert
Mar 25, 2026 | “I think within the next two to three weeks you will see physical shortages”
Drilling North Sea oil “won’t change the whole crisis situation” but it will help to maximise our supply and reduce the likelihood of oil shortages, says Nick Butler, former vice president for strategy and policy at BP and Gordon Brown advisor.
Drilling North Sea oil “won’t change the whole crisis situation” but it will help to maximise our supply and reduce the likelihood of oil shortages, says Nick Butler, former vice president for strategy and policy at BP and Gordon Brown advisor.
Labels:
energy crisis,
North Sea Oil
Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Cuban health care was once the pride of the island. Now the U.S. oil blockade is upending even basic medical care.
As a nationwide blackout in Cuba stretched into a second day this past weekend, the stakes were rising for Jorge Pérez Álvarez.
The 21-year-old suffers from a genetic disease preventing his lungs from pumping air on their own. He needs a ventilator at all times to keep breathing.
His ventilator’s backup battery is supposed to last more than a day, but that has been tested repeatedly in recent weeks, including three nationwide outages that each pushed up against its limits. And with the power out for hours every day, there is hardly enough time to recharge it.
“I don’t know how long we can keep going,” said his mother, Xenia Álvarez, standing near her son’s crumpled body in his bedroom in a poor neighborhood of Havana. “His life depends on electricity.”
The U.S. oil blockade on Cuba is fast exhausting the country’s supply of fuel, causing daily blackouts, food shortages, canceled classes and black-market gas prices approaching $40 a gallon. It is also crippling Cuba’s universal health care system, a state institution once considered a triumph for a poor nation, but is now struggling to provide basic care.
In interviews, six Cuban doctors said that rapidly deteriorating conditions at hospitals and clinics across Cuba were causing deaths that would otherwise be preventable.
“I can’t tell you how many deaths, but I’m sure there are more than in the same period last year,” said Dr. Alioth Fernandez, chief anesthesiologist at Havana’s largest pediatric hospital. “I see it in shift handovers, in colleagues’ comments and in children I’ve operated on.”
The blockade’s effects are cascading through the system. Hospitals are canceling surgeries and sending patients home because doctors and nurses can’t commute to work. Clinics are struggling to administer treatments like chemotherapy and dialysis because of power outages. » | By Ed Augustin and Jack Nicas | Photographs by Jorge Luis Baños | Ed Augustin and Jorge Luis Baños reported from Havana. | Thursday, March 26, 2026
Leer en español.
As a nationwide blackout in Cuba stretched into a second day this past weekend, the stakes were rising for Jorge Pérez Álvarez.
The 21-year-old suffers from a genetic disease preventing his lungs from pumping air on their own. He needs a ventilator at all times to keep breathing.
His ventilator’s backup battery is supposed to last more than a day, but that has been tested repeatedly in recent weeks, including three nationwide outages that each pushed up against its limits. And with the power out for hours every day, there is hardly enough time to recharge it.
“I don’t know how long we can keep going,” said his mother, Xenia Álvarez, standing near her son’s crumpled body in his bedroom in a poor neighborhood of Havana. “His life depends on electricity.”
The U.S. oil blockade on Cuba is fast exhausting the country’s supply of fuel, causing daily blackouts, food shortages, canceled classes and black-market gas prices approaching $40 a gallon. It is also crippling Cuba’s universal health care system, a state institution once considered a triumph for a poor nation, but is now struggling to provide basic care.
In interviews, six Cuban doctors said that rapidly deteriorating conditions at hospitals and clinics across Cuba were causing deaths that would otherwise be preventable.
“I can’t tell you how many deaths, but I’m sure there are more than in the same period last year,” said Dr. Alioth Fernandez, chief anesthesiologist at Havana’s largest pediatric hospital. “I see it in shift handovers, in colleagues’ comments and in children I’ve operated on.”
The blockade’s effects are cascading through the system. Hospitals are canceling surgeries and sending patients home because doctors and nurses can’t commute to work. Clinics are struggling to administer treatments like chemotherapy and dialysis because of power outages. » | By Ed Augustin and Jack Nicas | Photographs by Jorge Luis Baños | Ed Augustin and Jorge Luis Baños reported from Havana. | Thursday, March 26, 2026
Leer en español.
Labels:
Cuba,
US blockade,
US sanctions,
USA
March 25, 2026
Richard Wolff: China Won the Economic War; the West Fragments
Labels:
China,
Dr Richard Wolff,
Iran War,
the West,
USA
Steve Rosenberg: Russian Newspaper Slams Internet Blackouts & Growing Restrictions inside Russia
Labels:
Russia,
what the papers say
March 24, 2026
'We Learned the Lesson...': EU Chief Makes Shocking Admission During Speech at Australian Parliament
Mar 24, 2026 | World News: In a striking moment at the Australian Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a candid admission, saying “we learned the lesson…” during a major speech that touched on global security, economic resilience, and shifting geopolitical realities. Her remarks have sparked widespread attention, as she reflected on past challenges and the need for stronger international cooperation in an increasingly unstable world.
Addressing lawmakers, the EU chief highlighted lessons drawn from recent global crises, emphasizing the importance of unity, preparedness, and strategic independence. The speech underscores Europe’s evolving stance on global partnerships and its approach to emerging threats. Watch the full address as Ursula von der Leyen delivers a powerful message on lessons learned, future strategy, and the changing world order.
Addressing lawmakers, the EU chief highlighted lessons drawn from recent global crises, emphasizing the importance of unity, preparedness, and strategic independence. The speech underscores Europe’s evolving stance on global partnerships and its approach to emerging threats. Watch the full address as Ursula von der Leyen delivers a powerful message on lessons learned, future strategy, and the changing world order.
US Plays with Total War Insanity | Patrick Henningsen
Where Have Cuba's Friends Gone? | DW News
Mar 24, 2026 | Cuba is facing one of its worst crises in decades. After the U.S. imposed a near total oil blockade on the island — and warned of tariffs on any country willing to supply fuel — Cuba’s long standing alliances in Latin America have begun to crumble.
With Venezuela’s President Maduro removed and its oil shipments cut off, the island has plunged deeper into blackouts, shortages and a growing humanitarian emergency.
Why are Cuba’s traditional left wing allies staying silent? And how is U.S. pressure reshaping diplomacy across the region?
DW speaks with Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, to understand why Mexico, Brazil and Colombia are keeping their distance and what Cuba’s future could look like as it becomes increasingly isolated.
With Venezuela’s President Maduro removed and its oil shipments cut off, the island has plunged deeper into blackouts, shortages and a growing humanitarian emergency.
Why are Cuba’s traditional left wing allies staying silent? And how is U.S. pressure reshaping diplomacy across the region?
DW speaks with Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, to understand why Mexico, Brazil and Colombia are keeping their distance and what Cuba’s future could look like as it becomes increasingly isolated.
Labels:
Cuba
L'Australie et l'Union européenne signent un vaste accord de libre-échange
LE FIGARO : L’accord a été signé par la présidente de la Commission européenne Ursula von der Leyen et le premier ministre australien Anthony Albanese, à Canberra.
L'Australie et l'Union européenne (UE) ont signé mardi à Canberra un vaste accord de libre-échange, conclu au terme d’années de négociations pour stimuler le commerce bilatéral, malgré les protestations d’agriculteurs européens. Le texte a été signé lors de la première visite de la présidente de la Commission européenne Ursula von der Leyen dans le pays depuis son entrée en fonction, alors que les deux partenaires font face à des incertitudes renforcées par la guerre au Moyen-Orient.
L’Australie et l’UE sont également convenus de renforcer leur coopération en matière de défense et d’améliorer l’accès européen aux minéraux critiques australiens. Bruxelles comme Canberra cherchent à diversifier les débouchés de leurs exportations, pour faire face aux pressions des États-Unis et de la Chine. L’UE est aujourd’hui le troisième partenaire commercial bilatéral de l’Australie et sa deuxième source d’investissements étrangers. « L’UE et l’Australie sont peut-être géographiquement très éloignées, mais nous ne pourrions être plus proches dans notre vision du monde », a déclaré Mme von der Leyen. « C’est un moment important pour notre nation, nous sécurisons un accord avec la deuxième économie du monde », a souligné le premier ministre australien Anthony Albanese. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 24 March 2026
À cause du Brexit, la Grande-Bretagne est laissée pour compte ! — © Mark Alexander
L'Australie et l'Union européenne (UE) ont signé mardi à Canberra un vaste accord de libre-échange, conclu au terme d’années de négociations pour stimuler le commerce bilatéral, malgré les protestations d’agriculteurs européens. Le texte a été signé lors de la première visite de la présidente de la Commission européenne Ursula von der Leyen dans le pays depuis son entrée en fonction, alors que les deux partenaires font face à des incertitudes renforcées par la guerre au Moyen-Orient.
L’Australie et l’UE sont également convenus de renforcer leur coopération en matière de défense et d’améliorer l’accès européen aux minéraux critiques australiens. Bruxelles comme Canberra cherchent à diversifier les débouchés de leurs exportations, pour faire face aux pressions des États-Unis et de la Chine. L’UE est aujourd’hui le troisième partenaire commercial bilatéral de l’Australie et sa deuxième source d’investissements étrangers. « L’UE et l’Australie sont peut-être géographiquement très éloignées, mais nous ne pourrions être plus proches dans notre vision du monde », a déclaré Mme von der Leyen. « C’est un moment important pour notre nation, nous sécurisons un accord avec la deuxième économie du monde », a souligné le premier ministre australien Anthony Albanese. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 24 March 2026
À cause du Brexit, la Grande-Bretagne est laissée pour compte ! — © Mark Alexander
March 23, 2026
Has Meloni Turned against Trump over Iran as Key Referendum Tests Her Leadership?
Mar 23, 2026 | Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s criticism of the US-Israeli war on Iran has exposed cracks in her relationship with US President Donald Trump.
She was supposed to be Europe’s ‘Trump whisperer’ but Meloni has even compared the Iran war to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Italian public opinion is firmly against being drawn into the conflict and this weekend Meloni faced a key test of her leadership with a crucial referendum on judicial reform.
So, has Meloni chosen domestic loyalty over transatlantic relations?
Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:
Riccardo Alcaro, Head of Research of the Programme at the Istituto Affari Internazionali
Marta Grande, Former President of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Chamber of Deputies of Italy
Amy Frederiksen, Republican Strategist
She was supposed to be Europe’s ‘Trump whisperer’ but Meloni has even compared the Iran war to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Italian public opinion is firmly against being drawn into the conflict and this weekend Meloni faced a key test of her leadership with a crucial referendum on judicial reform.
So, has Meloni chosen domestic loyalty over transatlantic relations?
Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:
Riccardo Alcaro, Head of Research of the Programme at the Istituto Affari Internazionali
Marta Grande, Former President of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Chamber of Deputies of Italy
Amy Frederiksen, Republican Strategist
Labels:
Donald Trump,
Giorgia Meloni,
Iran War,
Italy
Stock Markets Plunge after Trump’s Ultimatum on Iran
THE GUARDIAN: Stocks slump in Asia and Europe, gold slides and investors brace for higher oil prices after US president’s threat
Global stock markets dropped sharply on Monday after Donald Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants unless the strait of Hormuz is opened.
Stock markets in Asia and Europe slumped at the start of the week. Japan’s Nikkei share index dropping by 3.4%, China’s CSI 300 down 2.8%, and the South Korean Kospi fell 6.5%.
In Europe, Spain’s Ibex was off 1.9%, France’s CAC 40 index declined 1.5%, Germany’s Dax dropped 1.9% and the FTSE 100 fell nearly 1.5%.
The US president said on Saturday that he was giving Iran 48 hours – until shortly before midnight GMT on Monday – to open the strait, which carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
Tehran has said it will “irreversibly destroy” essential infrastructure across the Middle East, including vital water systems, if the US follows through on Trump’s threat. » | Lauren Almeida | Monday, March 23, 2026
Global stock markets dropped sharply on Monday after Donald Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants unless the strait of Hormuz is opened.
Stock markets in Asia and Europe slumped at the start of the week. Japan’s Nikkei share index dropping by 3.4%, China’s CSI 300 down 2.8%, and the South Korean Kospi fell 6.5%.
In Europe, Spain’s Ibex was off 1.9%, France’s CAC 40 index declined 1.5%, Germany’s Dax dropped 1.9% and the FTSE 100 fell nearly 1.5%.
The US president said on Saturday that he was giving Iran 48 hours – until shortly before midnight GMT on Monday – to open the strait, which carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
Tehran has said it will “irreversibly destroy” essential infrastructure across the Middle East, including vital water systems, if the US follows through on Trump’s threat. » | Lauren Almeida | Monday, March 23, 2026
Labels:
stock markets
March 22, 2026
Top Economist: Why the Iran War Will Destroy the US Empire
Labels:
Donald Trump,
Prof Steve Keen,
Trump regime,
US Empire,
USA
Iran erklärt: Straße von Hormus ist offen – außer für Schiffe von „Feinden“
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Die Straße von Hormus sei weiterhin passierbar, erklärt der iranische Vertreter bei der UN-Seefahrtsorganisation. „Feindliche“ Schiffe seien allerdings ausgenommen.
Eine Passage durch Straße von Hormus bleibt nach iranischen Angaben möglich, mit Ausnahme von Schiffen, die mit „Irans Feinden“ in Verbindung stehen, wie die iranische Nachrichtenagentur Mehr auf Telegram mitteilte. Das habe der Iran in einer Stellungnahme an die Internationale Seeschifffahrts-Organisation (IMO) erklärt, hieß es.
Der Schiffsverkehr durch die Straße von Hormus ist aufgrund des Iran-Kriegs stark eingeschränkt. Die strategisch wichtige Handelsroute ist für etwa ein Fünftel der weltweiten Öl- und LNG-Transporte von zentraler Bedeutung. Die weitgehende Blockade hat weltweit für steigende Energiepreise gesorgt. » | Anika Schlünz | Sonntag, 22. März 2026
Iran-Krieg: Spanien friert die Mieten ein: Spanien beschließt wegen des Iran-Kriegs einen Mietenstopp. Das milliardenschwere Entlastungspaket gegen die Kriegsfolgen führte zuvor zu massivem Streit in der Koalition. »
Eine Passage durch Straße von Hormus bleibt nach iranischen Angaben möglich, mit Ausnahme von Schiffen, die mit „Irans Feinden“ in Verbindung stehen, wie die iranische Nachrichtenagentur Mehr auf Telegram mitteilte. Das habe der Iran in einer Stellungnahme an die Internationale Seeschifffahrts-Organisation (IMO) erklärt, hieß es.
Der Schiffsverkehr durch die Straße von Hormus ist aufgrund des Iran-Kriegs stark eingeschränkt. Die strategisch wichtige Handelsroute ist für etwa ein Fünftel der weltweiten Öl- und LNG-Transporte von zentraler Bedeutung. Die weitgehende Blockade hat weltweit für steigende Energiepreise gesorgt. » | Anika Schlünz | Sonntag, 22. März 2026
Iran-Krieg: Spanien friert die Mieten ein: Spanien beschließt wegen des Iran-Kriegs einen Mietenstopp. Das milliardenschwere Entlastungspaket gegen die Kriegsfolgen führte zuvor zu massivem Streit in der Koalition. »
Labels:
Iran,
Iran-Krieg,
Straße von Hormus
Iran Warns of ‘Irreversible Damage’ to Regional Infrastructure If Power Plants Attacked
THE GUARDIAN: In a post on X, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that critical infrastructure and energy facilities in the Middle East could be “irreversibly destroyed” if Iranian power plants are attacked. He wrote:
”Immediately after the power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, the critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and oil facilities throughout the region will be considered legitimate targets and will be destroyed in an irreversible manner, and the price of oil will remain high for a long time.”Click here for more » | Sunday, March 2026
Labels:
Donald Trump,
Iran,
Iran War,
power plants
‘The Stakes Are Enormous’: How a Prolonged Iran War Could Shock the Global Economy
THE GUARDIAN: Donald Trump’s ‘little excursion’ is likely to have long-term effects, from oil prices to inflation to growth, say experts
In the days after the US and Israel first bombed Iran, financial markets bet the economic fallout from Donald Trump’s “little excursion” in the Middle East would be short-lived.
“There are risks from higher oil prices longer term. But this is a tail risk,” one US-based fund manger said after the airstrike killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “History has shown time and time again that geopolitical flare-ups like this tend to be short-lived. This one should prove to be no exception.’’
Goldman Sachs told clients it expected temporary disruption. “Oil prices to decline throughout the year. But risks are skewed to the upside,” its analysts wrote. UniCredit suggested crude would be capped at about $80 a barrel. “Given its struggle for survival, the Iranian regime has an incentive to keep its response measured”.
Three weeks later, the prospect of a drawn-out war is causing mounting economic problems. Oil prices have soared above $100 a barrel, European gas prices have doubled, volatility stalks financial markets, and consumers worldwide are bracing for a surge in living costs. Central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, Bank of England and European Central Bank, warn the war could have a material impact on inflation and dent global growth.
“Market wisdom still holds that the war will end quickly, with the strait of Hormuz soon to reopen,” said Albert Edwards, a senior analyst at Société Générale. “Maybe the market is right, but in my opinion the risks are asymmetric that stagflation bursts the complacency bubble.”
With each day, more problems are emerging. From the soaring price of petrol and diesel for motorists, to cancelled flights and the worst travel disruption since the Covid pandemic. » | Richard Partington | Sunday, March 22, 2026
In the days after the US and Israel first bombed Iran, financial markets bet the economic fallout from Donald Trump’s “little excursion” in the Middle East would be short-lived.
“There are risks from higher oil prices longer term. But this is a tail risk,” one US-based fund manger said after the airstrike killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “History has shown time and time again that geopolitical flare-ups like this tend to be short-lived. This one should prove to be no exception.’’
Goldman Sachs told clients it expected temporary disruption. “Oil prices to decline throughout the year. But risks are skewed to the upside,” its analysts wrote. UniCredit suggested crude would be capped at about $80 a barrel. “Given its struggle for survival, the Iranian regime has an incentive to keep its response measured”.
Three weeks later, the prospect of a drawn-out war is causing mounting economic problems. Oil prices have soared above $100 a barrel, European gas prices have doubled, volatility stalks financial markets, and consumers worldwide are bracing for a surge in living costs. Central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, Bank of England and European Central Bank, warn the war could have a material impact on inflation and dent global growth.
“Market wisdom still holds that the war will end quickly, with the strait of Hormuz soon to reopen,” said Albert Edwards, a senior analyst at Société Générale. “Maybe the market is right, but in my opinion the risks are asymmetric that stagflation bursts the complacency bubble.”
With each day, more problems are emerging. From the soaring price of petrol and diesel for motorists, to cancelled flights and the worst travel disruption since the Covid pandemic. » | Richard Partington | Sunday, March 22, 2026
Labels:
global economy,
Iran War
How the Gulf Countries Are Responding to the Iran War Energy Shock
Mar 21, 2026 | As energy prices rise, the US is increasingly looking for ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping.
So what are the workarounds? And can any of them stave off an energy crisis?
So what are the workarounds? And can any of them stave off an energy crisis?
Labels:
energy crisis,
Gulf States
Iran Launches Attack on Israel’s Top Secret Nuclear Facility in Negev Desert | BBC News
Mar 21, 2026 | Iranian missiles have struck an Israeli town housing the country’s top secret nuclear facility, believed to be the site of its nuclear weapons arsenal. The Shimon Perez Negev Nuclear Research Centre contains a nuclear reactor and is close to the town of Dimona in the Negev desert in southern Israel.
Around 100 people are reported to have been injured in Dimona, when the missiles hit residential buildings. There are unconfirmed reports of multiple deaths. Injuries and deaths were also reported in the southern Israeli city of Arad. Iran said the strike on Dimona was in retaliation for an Israeli attack earlier in the day on its nuclear facilities at Natanz. Iran's nuclear agency said the site had come under attack but there had been no leakage of radioactivity.
Iran’s state news agency said: “The enemy has once again received an unforgettable lesson. The missile attack on the Dimona area has once again sent a clear message: No area is safe from Iranian missiles. The enemy must surrender before it is too late.”
The United Arab Emirates also reported many people injured there in the latest missile attacks by Iran. The UAE’s defence ministry said it had intercepted hundreds of missiles. Israel and the US have continued their airstrikes on Iran’s capital Tehran, while US Central Command said it had degraded Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
G7 foreign ministers have issued a statement calling for an “immediate end” to Iranian strikes in the Gulf region. They also said they were prepared to take measures to protect global energy supplies.
Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Joe Inwood, Esyllt Carr and Damian Grammaticas.
Around 100 people are reported to have been injured in Dimona, when the missiles hit residential buildings. There are unconfirmed reports of multiple deaths. Injuries and deaths were also reported in the southern Israeli city of Arad. Iran said the strike on Dimona was in retaliation for an Israeli attack earlier in the day on its nuclear facilities at Natanz. Iran's nuclear agency said the site had come under attack but there had been no leakage of radioactivity.
Iran’s state news agency said: “The enemy has once again received an unforgettable lesson. The missile attack on the Dimona area has once again sent a clear message: No area is safe from Iranian missiles. The enemy must surrender before it is too late.”
The United Arab Emirates also reported many people injured there in the latest missile attacks by Iran. The UAE’s defence ministry said it had intercepted hundreds of missiles. Israel and the US have continued their airstrikes on Iran’s capital Tehran, while US Central Command said it had degraded Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
G7 foreign ministers have issued a statement calling for an “immediate end” to Iranian strikes in the Gulf region. They also said they were prepared to take measures to protect global energy supplies.
Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Joe Inwood, Esyllt Carr and Damian Grammaticas.
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