Thousands demand ministers put ‘renters before their super-rich mates’The National Housing Demonstration saw tenants protest in central London with the backing of more than 50 grassroots groups, trade unions tenant unions such as Acorn, Generation Rent and Greater Manchester Tenants Union, as well as politicians from Your Party and the Greens.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/thousands-demand-ministers-put-renters-their-super-rich-matesCivil resistance activists detained in Manchester over alleged plan to raid high-end storesTake Back Power, a civil resistance activist group, confirmed its supporters had been arrested. All members of the group remained in police custody for questioning, it said. Police in Manchester said the group were believed to have been training for a mass shoplifting campaign, intending to steal from high-value stores and supermarkets and redistribute the stolen goods.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/19/civil-resistance-activists-detained-in-manchester-over-alleged-plan-to-raid-high-end-storesThe center-left coalition of former President Radev will win Bulgaria’s election, exit poll suggestsThe poll conducted by Trend research group showed Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria earning 39.2% support, edging out the center-right GERB party of its veteran leader, Boyko Borissov, which is expected to capture 15.1% of the vote. Despite the huge gap between the two groups, the predicted percentage may not be enough for Radev to form a one-party government, and he will face the uphill task of looking for partners to govern.
https://apnews.com/article/bulgaria-election-radev-borissov-corruption-3e20cf8eef356337f724fd967efb72cfUS military seized Iranian-flagged container ship, Trump saysTrump said that a US navy guided missile destroyer had warned the Touska to stop in the Gulf of Oman, but the vessel did not. “[Our] Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room,” Trump said, adding that US marines now have custody of the vessel.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/19/trump-us-seizes-iran-flagged-cargo-shipIsraeli military publishes map of south Lebanon territory under its control despite ceasefireStretching east to west, the deployment line on the map runs 5-10 km deep from the border into Lebanese territory, where Israel has said that it plans to create a so-called buffer zone. Israeli forces have destroyed Lebanese villages in the area, claiming their aim is to protect northern Israeli towns from Hezbollah attacks. It has created buffer zones in Syria and in Gaza, where it controls more than half the enclave.
https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-publishes-map-s-lebanon-territory-under-its-control Kataib Hezbollah ties Iraq PM to Al-Maliki or Al-Sudani blocs In a statement, the group’s security official, Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, outlined four political and security positions, stressing that “it is not acceptable for one group to monopolize the four presidencies.” He indicated that if allies within the Coordination Framework —a coalition of Shiite parties aligned with Iran, that forms the largest bloc in parliament— fail to secure the nomination of either State of Law Coalition (SLC) leader Nouri al-Maliki or caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, priority would shift to selecting a candidate from their respective blocs.
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Kataib-Hezbollah-ties-Iraq-PM-to-Al-Maliki-or-Al-Sudani-blocs Following his participation in “Dignity” sit-in protest | Caretaker Government pursues media activist in Idlib This comes as part of a series of retaliatory measures against activists who defied the campaigns of “treason accusations and demonization” that preceded the sit-in. Pro-government media outlets and figures launched a widespread disinformation campaign accusing the organizers at times of being linked to “foreign agendas,” and at other times of being “remnants of the former regime,” in an attempt to strip their demands of legitimacy.
https://www.syriahr.com/en/381245/Colombia reigns in Coca Cola bottler after environmental abuse claimsThe new license only allows the company to consume 1.9 liters per second, forcing a 42% reduction in the company’s bottling capacity. Instead of the 10-year license the company has been granted since its arrival in La Calera in the 1990’s, the CAR’s latest license will have to be renewed in 2031 after another “rigorous technical and judicial analysis.”
https://colombiareports.com/colombia-reigns-in-coca-cola-bottler-after-environmental-abuse-claims/Global leftists rally in Spain hoping to spark resurgence against far rightSpearheaded by Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose outspoken opposition to U.S. President Trump’s foreign policy has boosted his image, the summit was buoyed by hopes that the far-right surge may have peaked, with Trump's polling numbers falling, Hungary's Victor Orban ousted after 16 years in government and the French far-right underperforming in last month's municipal elections.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-mexico-spain-pledge-send-more-aid-cuba-2026-04-18/Karen Resistance Captures Two Regime Bases Over Thingyan HolidaysOn April 12, fighters from the KNU, People Defense Forces (PDF) and All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) seized the Lay Kay military base in Mon State’s Bilin Township. Strategically located at the border of Mon and Karen states, the base housed the regime’s Light Infantry Battalion 2 and served as a gateway for the regime’s counteroffensive attacking the KNU’s brigades 7 and 5 in Hpa-an and Hpapun.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/war-against-the-junta/karen-resistance-captures-two-regime-bases-over-thingyan-holidays.htmlNepali Communist Party Criticizes Government Over Evictions and Policy ConcernsThe statement mentions that activities carried out in the name of squatter management have left victimized families stranded and increased the risk of weakening the trust of marginalized communities in the state. 'We urge the government not to carry out such actions without making proper arrangements for rehabilitation,' the statement said. Meanwhile, the party has also demanded immediate control over rising inflation and black marketeering, which it claims have increased following the formation of the new government.
https://english.ratopati.com/story/59643/ncp-objects-to-squatter-uprising-and-ban-on-student-organizationsAustralian state Labor government defends unconstitutional anti-protest lawFor the second time in six months, the Labor government in the state of New South Wales (NSW) has defiantly defended imposing sweeping anti-protest legislation despite courts striking the laws down for violating the Australian Constitution. “The NSW government absolutely stands by the decision to introduce this legislation,” Premier Chris Minns declared on Thursday. “We believe it was necessary and important for Sydney at the time.”
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2026/04/18/gvtg-a18.html