📢 🇨🇦 ♀️ 'We have to get ready for large-scale conflicts,' says Canada's military chief

As well as being the first woman to lead Canada's armed forces, General Jennie Carignan is also in command as her country pushes to rearm on a scale not seen since the Cold War.

This includes expanding the full-time military, bolstering the number of reservists and attempting to get up to 300,000 civilians to join a "strategic reserve" - a pool of people with some form of training that could be called upon in the event of a major crisis.

"The world has changed," General Carignan told Sky News. "We have to get ready for large-scale conflicts, more conventional, so we need a different military to do that and different capability."

A need to protect vital interests is one reason why Mark Carney's Canadian government is exploring the possibility of joining a multinational force of like-minded nations led by the UK, with a focus on this region as well as the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic.

"I think I'm here today because Canada decided to remove systemic barriers in our military 40 years ago," she said, when asked how she broke through that glass ceiling.

As for the main challenges that she faced along the way, the military chief said: "Perceptions. Perceptions that women are weak, perceptions that you can't be in a combat role and be a mother at the same time.

"I'm sure there will be [more female military chiefs] because it's totally possible and NATO allies are removing systemic barriers as well, and it's only a question of time."

https://news.sky.com/story/we-have-to-get-ready-for-large-scale-conflicts-says-canadas-military-chief-13530556

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🔋 🇨🇳 🚢 The world's biggest battery maker across EVs, energy storage and AI data centres, is now electrifying ships. CATL batteries have been deployed in 900 ships, mostly smaller craft which operate close to the Chinese coastline, ports and river systems.

The Chinese group, which controls 37 per cent of the market for EV batteries and 22 per cent for energy storage systems in power grids and data centres, has deployed batteries on about 900 ships, mostly smaller craft operating close to the Chinese coastline, at ports or in rivers.

Electrifying parts of the maritime sector is central to Beijing’s broader goals of decarbonisation and reducing reliance on foreign resources. The International Maritime Organization aims to halve global shipping emissions, which account for 3 per cent of total carbon emissions, by 2050.

Batteries, which are best suited to nearshore operations, are among a suite of alternatives to highly polluting heavy-fuel oil. Chinese companies are also exploring commercialisation of clean fuels such as green methanol, ammonia and hydrogen.

The hunt for alternatives has gained greater urgency after the world’s energy supply chains were rocked by US-Israeli attacks on Iran and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transport route for oil and gas from the Middle East.

Battery prices have declined sharply over the past two decades, with lithium-ion costs falling 90 per cent since 2010. Cheaper batteries have been fundamental to the boom in EVs.

📎 Financial Times

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🚛 🇮🇪 ⛽️ Ireland is currently experiencing massive protests over the price of fuel jumping over 20% in the last few weeks and the shortages starting to occur.

500 out of around 1200 fuel stations in the Republic of Ireland are set to run dry by the end of the day as protests continue to grow.

There are also rumours that hauliers are planning the same in the UK starting Tuesday 14th April.

📎 Carolina Lion

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🛢 🇺🇸 🚢 Empty VLCCs (~2 million barrel capacity each) currently heading for the US Gulf Coast.

📎 Rory Johnston

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🏹 🇨🇳 🇮🇷 US intelligence indicates China is preparing weapons shipment to Iran amid fragile ceasefire, sources say - Natasha Bertrand

US intelligence indicates that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, according to three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments.

The systems Beijing is preparing to transfer are shoulder-fired anti-air missile systems known as MANPADs, the sources said, which posed an asymmetric threat to low-flying US military aircraft throughout the course of the five-week war and could again if the ceasefire falls apart.

Trump indicated during a press conference on Monday that the F-15 fighter jet shot down over Iran last week was hit by a “handheld shoulder missile, [a] heat-seeking missile,” and Iran said it had used a “new” air defense system to hit the jet without providing more details. It’s unclear if that system was Chinese manufactured.

Chinese companies have continued to sell the Iranians sanctioned dual-use technology that enables the Iran to keep building weapons and enhance its navigation systems, sources said, but the Chinese government directly transferring weapons systems would mark a new level of assistance.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/11/politics/us-intelligence-iran-china-weapons

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🇺🇸❌🇮🇷❗️ — United States President Donald J. Trump announces the start of a Naval Blockade on Iran, saying that all ships that pay the Iranian-charged toll will be seized by US Navy and no ship will be allowed to enter or leave the Straits

So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not.

Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz. At some point, we will reach an “ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT” basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, “There may be a mine out there somewhere,” that nobody knows about but them.

THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted.

I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran.

No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.

We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits.

Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!

Iran knows, better than anyone, how to END this situation which has already devastated their Country.

Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft and Radar are useless, Khomeini, and most of their “Leaders,” are dead, all because of their Nuclear ambition.

The Blockade will begin shortly. Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade. Iran will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION.

They want money and, more importantly, they want Nuclear.

Additionally and, at an appropriate moment, we are fully “LOCKED AND LOADED,” and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!

President DONALD J. TRUMP

@BellumActaNews

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🇺🇸🇮🇷 — US Vice President JD Vance:

"We couldn't bridge the gaps. This is bad news for Iran much more than this is bad new for the US".

@TheWarReporter

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🇺🇸❌🇮🇷 — US Vice-President JD Vance about the negotiations:

"The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon."

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🎥🇺🇸🇵🇰 - The American delegation led by Vance is departing the Serena Hotel in Islamabad for Nur Khan airbase to fly back to U.S.

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🇬🇷✝️📹 — Good Friday celebrations in Santorini, a Greek Island in the Aegean sea yesterday, April 10, 2026

@BellumActaNews

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🇮🇱❌🇮🇷 — Israeli Prime-Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

The campaign against Iran is not over — we still have more to do.

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🇺🇬❌🇹🇷 — Uganda’s military chief demands $1 billion from Turkey & “the most beautiful woman in that country for a wife"

He accuses Turkey of pursuing expansionist policies in Africa and says if his demands are not met, he will close the Turkish Embassy in Uganda in 30 days

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🚨🇺🇸🇮🇷🇵🇰 - Talks between the United States and Iran have entered their fifth hour after dinner, with Vice President JD Vance and his team sitting across from Iranian delegation leader Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and his team, as Pakistani mediators facilitate the discussions.

It is now expected the talks will also continue tomorrow.

- Pakistani official to CNN

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🇺🇸🇮🇷 — The American newspaper The Washington Post has published an article suggesting to President Trump that, if no agreement is reached, he should assassinate the Iranian negotiating team.

@TheWarReporter

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👨‍🚀 🌎 🚀 Next year (2027) we will see NASA's Orion dock to SpaceX's HLS for docking and crewed operational hardware testing and China's Lanyue do an uncrewed landing on the Moon.

In 2028 we will see China's Mengzhou do a crewed orbital mission around the moon and Artemis IV land mankind on the Moon using SpaceX's HLS.

For 2029 and beyond, not only will Artemis assemble a permanent Lunar base, China will also build their own (International Lunar Research Station).

📎 Truthful

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💰 🇺🇸 💵 The US Dollar now represents ~46% of global FX and gold reserves, the lowest in at least 26 years.

This percentage has declined -15 points since 2017.

Excluding gold, the US Dollar makes up 57% of global reserve currencies, the lowest since 1994, according to IMF data.

This comes as central banks have aggressively accumulated gold and diversified into other currencies.

The last time the US Dollar fell below 50% of global reserves was in 1990-1991, a period marked by elevated inflation, a recession, and a crisis of confidence in the US economy.

📎 KobeissiLetter

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🚜 🇮🇪 ⛽️ Local National Party members are supporting the protests in Tallaght again today.

📎 National Party

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✈️ 🇺🇸 🇮🇷 As the dust settles following more than five weeks of sustained U.S. combat operations against Iran, we now have the clearest picture yet of the toll taken on American aircraft during Epic Fury. After flying more than 13,000 sorties, the U.S. lost at least 39 aircraft throughout the 39-day operation, with another 10 damaged to various degrees.

America’s drone fleet absorbed the heaviest losses, accounting for more than 60% of total combat attrition. Up to 24 USAF MQ-9A Reaper drones were destroyed, according to the latest reporting from Jim LaPorta and CBS. Five fighters were downed while in the air, four F-15E Strike Eagles and one A-10 Warthog. An F-35A was hit over Iranian airspace, marking the first known combat damage to a 5th-generation fighter, but the pilot made an emergency landing safely. 20% of attrition was due to friendly fire, including three F-15Es shot down over Kuwait, or the deliberate destruction of assets to prevent capture during a combat search and rescue mission in Iranian territory. Some losses, however, will be felt more than others, such as the prized E-3G Sentry that was totally destroyed.

https://www.twz.com/air/operation-epic-fury-u-s-aircraft-losses-visualized

📎 Ian Ellis

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—❗️🇺🇸/🇵🇰/🇮🇷 Iranian TV:

Iran’s delegation has talked to Pakistan and conveyed its red lines for upcoming negotiations:

1. Iranian control and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz
2. War reparations / sanctions relief
3. Unblocking all frozen assets
4. A permanent ceasefire on all fronts in the region

(Interesting, nothing mentioned about the right to continue enriching)

@Middle_East_Spectator

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🇺🇸❌🇮🇷❗️ — United States President Donald J. Trump says that Iran broke the initial agreement by not opening the Hormuz Straits and says that Iranian leadership committed an act of Dishonor by doing such

Iran promised to open the Strait of Hormuz, and they knowingly failed to do so.

This caused anxiety, dislocation, and pain to many people and Countries throughout the World.

They say they put mines in the water, even though all of their Navy, and most of their “mine droppers,” have been completely blown up.

They may have done so, but what ship owner would want to take the chance?

There is great dishonor and permanent harm to the reputation of Iran, and what’s left of their “Leaders,” but we are beyond all of that.

As they promised, they better begin the process of getting this INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY OPEN AND FAST!

Every Law in the book is being violated by them.

I have been fully debriefed by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, on the meeting that took place in Islamabad through the kind and very competent leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan.

They are very extraordinary men, and continuously thank me for saving 30 to 50 million lives in what would have been a horrendous War with India.

I always appreciate hearing that — The amount of Humanity spoken of is incomprehensible.

The meeting with Iran began early in the morning, and lasted throughout the night — Close to 20 hours. I could go into great detail, and talk about much that has been gotten but, there is only one thing that matters — IRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS! In many ways, the points that were agreed to are better than us continuing our Military Operations to conclusion, but all of those points don’t matter compared to allowing Nuclear Power to be in the hands of such volatile, difficult, unpredictable people. My three Representatives, as all of this time went by, became, not surprisingly, very friendly and respectful of Iran’s Representatives, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri, but that doesn’t matter because they were very unyielding as to the single most important issue and, as I have always said, right from the beginning, and many years ago, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!

@BellumActaNews

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🇺🇸🇮🇷 — US President Trump shared an article suggesting he has the option of enforcing a naval blockade on Iran.

@TheWarReporter

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🇮🇷❌🇺🇸 — IRGC-affiliated media Tasnim News Agency says Iran tried to steer talks toward a common framework, but claims U.S. “natural greediness” prevented progress.

@BellumActaNews

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💸📉❗️ — Bitcoin falls under $72,000 after Vice President JD Vance says the US failed to reach a deal with Iran during negotiations in Pakistan.

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🇺🇸❌🇮🇷 — After 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad, US Vice-President JD Vance says that United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have not reached an agreement:

"We’ve had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement — and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States of America."

@BellumActaNews

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🇮🇱❌🇮🇷🚀🔄 — Israeli Prime-Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

Khamenei wanted to hide both missile production and nuclear production deep, deep under a high mountain, in such a way that even B-2 aircraft could not reach it.

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🇺🇸🛰❗️— The Frontline Report team found the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) through a detailed analysis of Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, confirming its continued presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

▶️ The imagery, captured yesterday, April 10, provides definitive visual evidence that the carrier strike group (CSG) remains on station.

📍 Coordinates:

33.52705, 29.28950

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🚨🇺🇸🇮🇷🇵🇰 - The #Iranian and #American expert teams, which entered the negotiations a few hours ago, are currently exchanging written documents on the issues. Another round of talks will likely be held later tonight (its currently 10PM) or tomorrow.

- Iranian state medias

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🚨🇺🇸🇮🇷🇵🇰 - United States and Iran negotiations resume in Islamabad, after two hours of discussions and a short break. - Pakistan state-media PTV.

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📝Russia Seeks Middle East Settlement📝

on RF mediation efforts in Middle East settlement

It is still too early to discuss the peace talks that are supposed to take place in Pakistan (especially since they have not even started yet). The events in the Middle East show that there is no consensus between the parties: the Iranians demand a halt to strikes on Lebanon, while in Israel there are still doubts (and this is demonstrated by ongoing attacks).

Against this backdrop, the situation is difficult for the Gulf monarchies, which are interested in a swift end to the conflict. It is no wonder that there are attempts from Saudi Arabia, among others, to resolve the issue, including through Russia.

🔻What is this about?

▪️In early April, about a month after Vladimir Putin’s conversation with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a new contact took place. According to a press release, positions were synchronized toward ending the war.

▪️Moreover, this course of events was even proposed by some Russian Muslims: the head of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, Albir Karganov, already in March called for organizing a council to discuss the future of peace at the level of the heads of Muslim countries.

▪️The choice was not accidental, considering that Saudi Arabia hosts religious shrines sacred to Muslims, which annually attract millions of pilgrims. Contacts with Russia regarding the resolution seem very timely.

▪️Especially since in the summer of 2025, during the first war, Mohammed bin Salman supported Iran and advocated for de-escalation of relations with Iran through dialogue and reducing overall regional tensions.

❗️Even from a factual perspective, there is no sign of a desire for peace from the US or Israel. The Americans demand the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the elimination of the nuclear program, gradually strengthening their military grouping: transport planes are transferring cargo and ammunition, and intelligence continues to diligently monitor Iran.

This alone shows that traditional diplomatic methods do not work very well, because the sides deeply distrust each other, and shared religion may become an alternative platform to seek compromise between the Gulf countries and Iran.

At least, the ground for this exists.
#Iran #Russia #SaudiArabia

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@rybar

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🇶🇦 Ras Laffan Outage to Persist for Years, Delivering a Structural Blow to Global LNG Supply

Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial complex, the world's single largest LNG production hub and the operational heart of QatarEnergy's export empire, faces a prolonged recovery timeline with significant capacity losses expected to persist for years. The facility sustained damage during the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, and initial assessments indicate that the outage is not a matter of weeks or months but a multi-year disruption to global gas supply at a time when European and Asian buyers are already stretched.

Ras Laffan is the origin point for roughly 77 million tonnes per annum of LNG, representing approximately one fifth of global LNG trade. Qatar is the primary supplier of pipeline and LNG gas to several European economies that have been trying to reduce Russian dependency since 2022. A multi-year capacity reduction from Ras Laffan would force buyers to compete aggressively for US LNG cargoes, Australian output, and any incremental supply from East Africa — none of which can be scaled quickly enough to fill a Qatar-sized gap.

If the recovery timeline holds at several years, the global LNG market is entering a structural tightness regime that no short-term diplomatic outcome can resolve.

🔎 Source

@songofoil

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