MOSCOW, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Russia is preparing to send crude oil and fuel cargoes to Cuba in the near future, Izvestia newspaper said on Thursday, citing the Russian embassy in Cuba. Cuba is grappling with fuel shortages after the U.S. moved to choke off its oil supplies. The communist-run island has warned international airlines that jet fuel will no longer be available, the latest sign of fast-worsening conditions.

The country has long relied on Venezuela for much of its jet fuel, but it has not received crude or refined products from its closest ally since mid-December, when Washington moved to block Venezuelan exports.

"Supply of crude and oil products is expected from Russia to Cuba in the near future as humanitarian aid," a Russian embassy diplomat told the newspaper.

Izvestia said Russia last sent oil to Cuba in February 2025, delivering 100,000 metric tons. The Kremlin declined to comment directly on the reported plan but said it was in contact with Havana to discuss possible support.

"We are in close contact with our Cuban friends, and we are discussing options for providing them with assistance," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Asked whether Washington might escalate tariffs on Russian goods if Moscow helps Cuba, Peskov said: "We wouldn’t want any escalation, but on the other hand, we don't have much trade with the United States right now. We'd probably count on constructive dialogue and a solution to existing problems through dialogue."

Russia has said Cuba's fuel situation is critical and accused the U.S. of trying to "suffocate" the island's economy. Moscow has pledge to oppose any form of military intervention and voiced solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela.

Russia also said on Wednesday it would suspend flights to Cuba once Russian tourists leave the island.

Sanctions are having less and less impact on the country’s economic performance, FM Lavrov says. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country will not allow any further resolutions containing sanctions against North Korea in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

The Russian top diplomat also mentioned that it is unrealistic to expect the adoption of a resolution lifting sanctions already imposed. “Expecting that we would introduce a resolution to lift the sanctions and that it would be adopted is simply not serious,” Lavrov said. According to the Russian foreign affairs minister, sanctions against North Korea are having less and less impact on the country’s economic performance.

“Pyongyang, in the past three or four years that I have been going there, has been improving. New neighborhoods are being built, everything is clean and beautiful,” Lavrov said, praising North Korea’s new Wonsan beach resort.

Earlier, authorities in the Asian country said Russian tourists would receive “maximum priority at that wonderful complex.”

The Moscow-Pyongyang alliance has strengthened significantly since the signing of a military cooperation treaty between the two countries in June 2024, which provides for bilateral military support in the event of external aggression, as well as after the participation of North Korean troops in the liberation of the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces.

Dmitry Peskov says Moscow is in contact with Havana. On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russia is evaluating possible mechanisms to support Cuba in the face of the tightening U.S. blockade.

Peskov said Moscow is in contact with Cuban authorities to explore ways of providing assistance, although he did not specify what type of aid President Vladimir Putin’s government could offer from Russian territory. “Unfortunately, Cuba is far from us. It is not easy to get there. But even so, we will discuss with the Cubans possible ways to provide assistance,” the Kremlin spokesman said, emphasizing that the island is facing serious difficulties due to Washington’s hostile policies.

“In Cuba, the problem is not fuel. The problem is the U.S. blockade. I do not think it is right for one country to strangle another and its people,” Peskov said, referring to fuel shortages affecting basic services such as electricity supply, transportation, and health care. Previously, on Jan. 29, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a “national emergency” on the grounds that Cuba represents an alleged “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security.

He imposed tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba, arguing that the Caribbean nation is aligned with countries Washington considers hostile, allows the presence of groups designated as terrorists, and permits the deployment of “sophisticated military and intelligence capabilities” from Russia and China.

In response, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel firmly rejected the White House’s accusations, calling them unfounded and asserting that they are intended to justify the blockade the Caribbean nation has faced for decades.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also questioned U.S. pressure on Cuba and Venezuela. The top diplomat denounced Washington’s neocolonial practices and reaffirmed Moscow’s solidarity with the peoples of both countries.

“Remaining at the center of our attention is the fight against any neocolonial practice, from unilateral coercive measures to military interventions. In this context, we reaffirm our solidarity with the peoples of Venezuela and Cuba,” the foreign minister said.

Mexico City, Feb 12 (Prensa Latina) The Cuban ambassador here, Eugenio Martínez, highlighted today the arrival on the island of two ships from Mexico with more than 800 tons of material aid, and expressed his gratitude to the North American country.

“The Havana coastline welcomes the two ships of the Mexican Navy with the material aid donated by #Mexico to #Cuba. Thank you, Mexico! Very soon the Cuban people will be in port,” the diplomat stated in a message through his account on the social network X.

Last Sunday, some 814 tons of basic food supplies and personal hygiene items departed for the Caribbean country from the port of Veracruz on the logistics support ships Papaloapan and Isla Holbox, of the Navy.

“The ships are arriving in Cuba today. As soon as they return, we will send more support of different kinds,” President Claudia Sheinbaum stated earlier during her usual meeting with the media.

Groups within society, such as the Militant Solidarity Collective "Go for Cuba" and the Association of Cubans Residing in Mexico, are also organizing to collect food supplies for Cuba, amidst a tightening of the blockade imposed by Washington.

US President Donald Trump signed the executive order on January 29 declaring a supposed national emergency and establishing a process to apply tariffs to goods from countries that supply crude oil to Cuba.

Organizations and authorities have warned that depriving Cuba of access to oil would paralyze the country and constitute collective punishment considered by international law as genocide and the greatest violation of human rights.

Diverse voices in Mexico and the rest of the world, from parliamentarians to social organizations and political parties, have spoken out in support of the Caribbean nation in the face of the United States' energy siege, described as unfair, cruel and anachronistic.

Beijing backs Havana against U.S. blockade, pledging aid within its capacities. On Wednesday, China reiterated its political support for Cuba amid widespread power outages on the island and ongoing U.S. oil blockade.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing “firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security” and “resolutely opposes inhumane actions and behaviors that deprive the Cuban people of their right to subsistence and development.” Lin added that China “will provide support and assistance to Cuba within its capacities.”

When asked about possible concrete aid, including fuel supplies or financial support, Lin avoided detailing specific measures, noting that the content of any cooperation must be discussed with “the competent authorities” and handled “through bilateral channels.”

The remarks come as Cuba experiences generalized power outages linked to difficulties in its electricity system, and as Beijing renews calls for Washington to lift its 60-year blockade.

China has publicly urged the United States to “immediately end the blockade, sanctions and any form of coercive measures against Cuba.”

In recent weeks, the Chinese government announced shipments of food assistance, including a cargo of 90,000 tons of rice, along with an “emergency financial assistance” line worth US$80 million. In 2024, Beijing had already granted Cuba an additional US$100 million in aid.

Support was also reiterated at the diplomatic level during recent high-level meetings. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi voiced opposition to the “interference of external forces” during talks in Beijing with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

Rodriguez’s visit to the Chinese capital formed part of a broader tour aimed at securing backing from Havana’s traditional allies, as Cuba confronts economic and energy challenges intensified by the U.S. blockade.

Brasilia, Feb 12 (Prensa Latina) Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) today rejected imposing precautionary measures against the Acadêmicos de Niterói samba school, which will pay tribute to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Rio de Janeiro Carnival.

The actions against the parade of that institution were requested by the Novo (Minor Libertarian Party) and Missão (Extra-Parliamentary Ancap Party) parties, who alleged supposed early electoral propaganda in the samba-enredo inspired by the president, in a context prior to the elections next October, in which Lula will seek re-election.

According to information released by the TSE itself, the rapporteur for the case, Estela Aranha, considered that the imposition of prior censorship on artistic manifestations is not appropriate without concrete elements that demonstrate an infringement of electoral legislation.

According to the minister, restricting artistic and cultural expressions in advance, solely because of their possible political content, constitutes prior censorship and a disproportionate restriction on democratic debate.

The court understood that any irregularities should be analyzed later, based on the facts that had occurred, and not through assumptions about the content of the parade, in a decision adopted unanimously by the members of the Court.

The proposal from Acadêmicos de Niterói, under the title From the top of Mulungu comes hope: Lula, the worker of Brazil, will address the political trajectory of the ruler, a historical figure of the Brazilian trade union movement and founder of the Workers' Party (PT).

In their petition, the plaintiffs also questioned the use of public resources in organizing the show and requested the imposition of fines, in addition to prohibiting the dissemination of content related to the tribute.

However, the TSE indicated that the main process will continue its processing to evaluate, if applicable, the existence of any violation of the rules on early campaigning.

The honorary president of Acadêmicos de Niterói, Anderson Pipico, stated that the theme of the samba-enredo was made official on July 9, 2025, the same day that the US president, Donald Trump, announced tariffs of 50 percent on Brazilian products, which were revoked months later.

Furthermore, he stated that the parade will present Lula as a historical figure, not as a pre-candidate, as the focus will be on the president's career and not on attacks against his opponents.

According to the UOL portal, the inaugural float will feature a representation of the president as a child and a star, a symbol of the PT (Workers' Party), and the parade is expected to include an allegory about his family's journey from Pernambuco to São Paulo.

The school consulted electoral law experts to develop the plot, and this justified, for example, the decision to tell the story from the perspective of Doña Lindu, the president's mother, Pipico explained, as quoted by that media outlet.

The move comes amid pressure from the U.S. to expedite negotiations to end the war. On Wednesday, the Financial Times reported that Ukraine is preparing plans to hold a presidential election alongside a national referendum on a potential peace agreement with Russia. The move comes amid pressure from the U.S. to expedite negotiations to end the war.

“The Americans are proposing that the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer, and they will likely exert pressure on the parties in line with this timetable,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters last week. According to the FT report, Ukraine’s parliament would introduce legal changes in March and April to allow voting under wartime conditions.

The country remains under martial law, which currently prohibits national elections. Zelensky intends to announce the election and referendum plans on Feb. 24, the fourth anniversary of the start of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the FT report said, citing officials involved in the planning.

The second round of U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Both sides agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange but failed to achieve substantive breakthroughs on core issues such as territorial arrangements and a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament overwhelmingly backed a key financial aid package for Ukraine. A total of 90 billion euros (US$107 billion) in loans will fund Ukraine’s budget.

The loan is aimed at covering two-thirds of Ukraine’s financial needs for 2026 and 2027, according to media reports.

The Army will open a new dining hall at one of its largest bases later this month, which the service has closely modeled off cafeterias on college campuses. Soldiers will be given $39 worth of what the Army is calling “freedom dollars.” Freedom dollars is the term the Army is using to refer to the funds that are taken out of soldiers’ paychecks to go toward meals at dining facilities. Typically, soldiers can only get a set number of food items per meal card swipe. Now, individual items are assigned a value, and soldiers can spend up to their allotted daily amount. This system will be implemented at the new dining halls, which the Army has taken to calling campus-style dining venues. “The ability to go get three meals that are high-quality breakfast, lunch, and dinner is baked into that monetary allowance,” Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, commanding general of Army Materiel Command, said Monday. Mohan spoke with reporters on a call as the service offered details for its overhaul of base dining facilities. The move is part of an ongoing plan by the Army to redesign its dining facilities so they more closely resemble those at college campuses. Army officials also gave reporters a look at a planned “campus-style dining venue” set to open Feb. 18 at Fort Hood, Texas. The dining halls are run by Compass Group USA, Inc., which the Army has contracted with to run its new facilities based on the company’s history of running airport lounges and handling the meal-planning for college sports teams, Mohan said.

infinite privatization upon the imperialist military

might as well start letting people buy their officer's commissions like the Brits back in the day. hell, let 'em raise up their own private mercenary regiments, why not

The company served a free sample lunch last Saturday to 75 enlisted soldiers and spouses at Fort Hood’s “Bistro 42,” which draws its name from the year the base was established — 1942. Bistro 42 has expanded hours and is open from 6:30 am to 8 p.m., without closing in between meal times — a move that Army officials say will accommodate soldiers with hectic schedules. Fort Hood’s facility has a mobile food truck and seven food stations with options ranging from smoothies, acai bowls, Italian food, specialty burgers and salads. In addition to eating in the dining hall, soldiers will be able to place online orders through a mobile phone app and pick up their meals at a designated drop zone or have them delivered.

uh, how does Army DoorDash even work? like, literally the ENTIRE POINT OF MILITARY BASES is to concentrate the soldiers in one location with all the surrounding infrastructure necessary for them to live being easily accessible - what next, just dissolve the bases and have the troops rent out a regular apartment?

Mohan gave an example of what an enlisted soldier’s daily meal plan for $39 could look like:

• 7:30 a.m. overnight oats ($2)
• 8:35 a.m. online app order for an omelet with veggies ($5) and fresh fruit ($2)
• 11:45 a.m. dining hall meal of grilled chicken breast sandwich, home fries, side salad, drink and dessert ($10.50)
• 3:45 p.m. food truck snack of two brisket tacos and slaw ($9)
• 6:30 p.m. 42 Bistro meal for Peri Peri chicken, balsamic bean salad, drink and dessert ($8)
• 9 p.m. snack of hummus and carrots ($2.50)

“That is a lot of food,” Mohan said, adding that soldiers might try to supersede that amount but their chain of command “has to really educate them on how this is going to work.” The Army has budgeted a certain amount for each meal, but any leftover dollars that soldiers don’t use for one meal will be rolled over to use later that day. If soldiers do want more food than the $39 will cover, they “can choose to pay out of pocket for what they go over,” Kim Hanson, an Army Materiel Command spokesperson, told Task & Purpose. The first set of campus-style dining halls are planned for Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Stewart, Georgia; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Drum, New York; and Fort Carson, Colorado, and the Army has announced plans to expand it to nearly 10 other bases. The next campus-style dining venue is planned to open in March at Fort Carson. Each facility is run by a professional chef and a registered dietitian who can make “on the spot” changes to the menu based on ingredient availability from local vendors and “to account for fresh fruits and vegetables” that are available in a particular season, according to Mohan. As a way to convince soldiers to spend more time at the new dining halls, the Army has installed WiFi and plans to host community events like cooking classes or officer professional development courses. The Army is also leaving it up to senior base commanders to decide whether their specific dining hall will sell beer and wine. “We tell our soldiers, ‘hey, look, go carry a rifle, but on Friday night, you can’t have a beer in a restaurant,’” Mohan said. “I think that we have to take a step back and trust our soldiers.”

The “vast majority” of soldiers will probably eat breakfast at the dining hall and many will go to the food truck for lunch, but dinner is where they expect to see more variance since “soldiers tend to do other things,” Mohan said. “But we want to give them the option.” By having the dining halls stay open until 8:30 p.m. or 9 p.m., Army planners hope it will give soldiers a “long window for them to use that entitlement,” he added. The overhaul is also part of an effort to get more customers, like military families or civilians who work on post, into the Army’s dining hall by offering a la carte options that are equivalent or even more cost-effective than local restaurants. “After church on Sundays, we go to our favorite restaurant. I get a three-egg omelet, and it cost me $12. A three-egg omelet at Bistro 42 with three eggs, a protein, three vegetables, cheese or whatever is going to be $5.75 and so it’s going to be very, very competitive,” he said. “We hope that it will draw in not only the soldier population, but also families, particularly those that are younger and have less financial resources.” The Army is still trying to decide on its second set of facilities to be revamped, which will include dining halls at bases in Alaska, Hawaii and Europe. The Army is also planning upgrades to dining halls run by the Army Transformation and Training Command, where soldiers attend Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training.

First infantry fire support vehicles (Heavy Weapon Carrier) based on GTK Boxer AFV will begin arriving from Australia to German military units in just a few weeks. And this is a year later, because they were initially supposed to be received in 2025. As Hartpunkt writes, new armored vehicles will be precisely serial, not pre-production samples, and will be used for personnel training. It's expected that training will begin in July 2026. It's stated that delivery delays are related to the testing procedure, namely the integrated conformity confirmation procedure, for which a full-fledged vehicle arrived from the industry only in the summer of 2025. That is, work could begin only then. Also clarified that the sample transferred in May 2024 was suited only for several tests, not full-fledged trials. Rheinmetall's comment provides even more details, noting that the procedure is divided into two phases, the first of which has already ended. The second phase began at the start of 2026, and electromagnetic tests are already underway. Now, it's expected that this process will be completed by the end of this year.

Defense Express recalls that despite the presence of industrial facilities in Germany, fire support vehicle production for the Bundeswehr is carried out in Australia. Perhaps this, to some extent, contributed to delays in industry, because, although in theory variants of both countries should be similar, Germany had certain differences, such as different cargo placement and a local fire control system. Overall, the fire support vehicle based on the Boxer is equipped with a Lance turret similar to that of the Puma IFV. This provides an armament of a 30mm MK30-2 gun, a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, and a launcher for MELLS ATGM, which is a local variant of the Israeli Spike. Germany ordered 123 such armored vehicles for 1.9 billion euros, and another 750 million euros for support during 5 years after arrival, including training. They will arrive to replace Wiesel 1. Recall that in fall 2025, Germans also contracted Schakal IFVs.