US Navy Loses Rare and Expensive Drone Over the Persian Gulf

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

(The MQ4C Triton drone. Source: CNN )

米海軍、希少で高価なドローン失う　ペルシャ湾上空

2026.04.16 Thu posted at 17:27 JST

（CNN） 米海軍は先週、所有する中で最も高価な部類の航空機をペルシャ湾上空で失った模様だ。

14日に発表された海軍安全司令部の報告書によると、「MQ4Cトライトン」ドローン（無人機）が9日に墜落した。作戦の安全保障上の理由から、墜落地点は非公開とされている。

CNNが航空機追跡サイトの「フライトレーダー24」のデータを検索したところ、MQ4Cは9日にイタリアのシゴネラ海軍航空基地を離陸し、ペルシャ湾上空で消息を絶ったことが分かった。

同機はホルムズ海峡上空を飛行していたが、海峡上空を離れた後、高度約1万5000メートルから約2700メートルまで降下し、レーダーから消失した。

飛行データによるとトライトンは飛行中、地上のパイロットとの通信が途絶えたことを示すスコーク信号を発信した。その約70分後、高度約1万3400メートルまで降下した際に、緊急事態を示すスコーク信号を発信。その後も同じスコーク信号を発信し続け、協定世界時（UTC）午前10時12分に高度約2800メートルでレーダーから消えた。

飛行追跡データからは喪失の原因を特定できず、海軍はMQ4Cが墜落したという情報のみを公表している。

製造元のノースロップ・グラマン社はトライトンを「世界最高峰の無人海上情報収集・監視・偵察・標的設定機」と形容している。

ジェットエンジンを搭載し、航続距離約1万3700キロを誇るMQ4Cは、24時間以上の飛行が可能だ。

このドローンは海軍艦隊の中でも最も希少な機体の一つであり、ノースロップ・グラマン社によるとわずか20機しか製造されていない。また、1機あたり約2億4000万ドル（約380億円）という極めて高価な機体でもある。これはF35Cステルス戦闘機の2倍以上の価格に相当する。

Translation

US Navy Loses Rare and Expensive Drone Over the Persian Gulf

(CNN) The US Navy appeared to have lost one of its most expensive aircraft last week over the Persian Gulf.

According to a report from the Naval Security Command released on the 14th, an MQ4C Triton drone crashed on the 9th. The crash site was being kept secret for operational security reasons.

CNN searched the aircraft tracking site called “Flightradar24 data”, it revealed that the MQ4C took off from Sigonella Naval Air Station in Italy on the 9th and disappeared over the Persian Gulf.

The aircraft was flying over the Strait of Hormuz, and after leaving the airspace above the strait, it descended from an altitude of approximately 15,000 meters to approximately 2,700 meters and disappeared from radar.

Flight data indicated that during flight, the Triton transmitted a squawk signal indicating a loss of communication with the pilot on the ground. Approximately 70 minutes later, while descending to an altitude of approximately 13,400 meters, it transmitted an emergency squawk signal. It continued to transmit the same squawk signal until it disappeared from radar at an altitude of approximately 2,800 meters at 10:12 AM UTC.

The cause of the loss could not be determined from the flight tracking data, and the Navy had only released information that the MQ4C crashed.

Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer, described the Triton as "the world's top unmanned maritime intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting aircraft."

Equipped with a jet engine and boasting a range of approximately 13,700 kilometers, the MQ4C could fly for more than 24 hours.

This drone was one of the rarest aircraft in the Navy fleet, with only 20 ever manufactured, according to Northrop Grumman. It was also extremely expensive, costing approximately $240 million (about 38 billion yen) per unit. This would be more than twice the price of an F-35C stealth fighter jet.

              So, the US Navy appears to have lost one of its most expensive aircraft last week over the Persian Gulf. This drone is one of the rarest aircraft in the Navy fleet, with only 20 ever manufactured and is also extremely expensive. I am interested in knowing why it crashed.

US Study: The accumulation of "marbled meat" in the thighs increases with the consumption of ultra-processed foods

Recently CNN.com.jp reported the following:

(Diet with 29.5% processed food at the left vs 87.1% at the right)

太ももに蓄積する「霜降り肉」、超加工食品の摂取が多いほど増加　米研究

2026.04.15 Wed posted at 11:00 JST

 （CNN） 見事な霜降りの入った高級肉のように見える画像は、きめ細かく柔らかなステーキを思わせる。しかしこれは、超加工食品が年間摂取カロリーの87％を占めていた62歳の女性の太ももをMRIで撮影した画像だった。

米カリフォルニア大学のゼーラ・アッカヤ氏によると、この女性の食事はシリアルやチョコレート菓子、キャンディ菓子、清涼飲料水や加糖飲料が中心だったという。

筋肉繊維の間や内側に隠れた脂肪は深刻な健康問題の兆候かもしれないと同氏は指摘する。アッカヤ氏のチームは、膝（ひざ）の骨粗しょう症リスクがある人の筋肉内脂肪に対して超加工食品が及ぼす影響について調査した。

超加工食品は、体重増加や肥満、がん、心血管疾患、2型糖尿病、うつ病といった慢性疾患との関係が指摘されており、寿命を縮める可能性さえある。

米疾病対策センター（CDC）によれば、米国の成人はカロリーの50％以上を超加工食品から摂取している。子どもの場合、その数字は62％に跳ね上がる。

今回の調査対象となった別の61歳の女性の場合、やはり太ももの筋肉に「霜降り」はあったものの、それほどの量ではなかった。この女性の年間の食事に占める超加工食品の割合は約29％だった。

「こうした人たちはMRI検査の時点で膝の変形性関節症の兆候はなかったにもかかわらず、既に筋肉の質の低下が見られたことは特に懸念が大きい」とアッカヤ氏は話す。

犯人は超加工食品？

今回の研究結果は14日の放射線医学誌に掲載された。研究チームは、膝変形性関節症の予防と治療を目的とする全米規模の調査プロジェクト「変形性関節症イニシアチブ」に参加した615人のMRI診断画像を分析。対象者の平均年齢は60歳、体格指数（BMI）は27で、膝の変形性関節症の兆候がある人はいなかった。

BMIは25～29.9が過体重、30～34.9が肥満、35～39.9は肥満度2、40以上は「重度の」肥満（肥満度3）と分類される。

食事の29.5％を超加工食品が占める61歳女性の場合、BMIは32.6だった。一方、超加工食品の割合が87.1％だった女性のBMIは31.8と、61歳女性に比べればやや低く、活動スコアも高かったにもかかわらず、太ももの「霜降り」の量ははるかに多かった。

「カロリー摂取量に関係なく、全般的に超加工食品の摂取量が多いほど、大腿（だいたい）筋の筋内脂肪が多かった」。論文筆頭著者のトーマス・リンク氏はそう解説する。

米ニューヨーク大学のミリアム・ブレデラ氏は今回の研究について、超加工食品が筋肉の霜降り化の原因になっていることを証明したわけではないとしながらも、「強い関係」が見られたと指摘。「ただ、どのくらい超加工食品を食べ続ければ筋肉がこうなるのかは分からない」とした。

その上で、「分かっているのは、筋肉内に蓄積した脂肪がある場合、運動と健康的な食生活を始めれば、間違いなく筋肉の質は改善できるということ」とブレデラ氏は話し、「年を取ってからよりも若い時の方がずっと簡単だが、やればできる」と言い添えた。

Translation

US Study: The accumulation of "marbled meat" in the thighs increases with the consumption of ultra-processed foods

(CNN) The image, which looks like a finely marbled, high-quality cut of meat, resembled a tender steak. However, this was an MRI scan of the thigh of a 62-year-old woman whose annual calorie intake consisted of 87% ultra-processed foods.

According to Zella Akkaya of the University of California, this woman's diet mainly consisted of cereals, chocolates, candies, soft drinks, and sugary beverages.

Akkaya pointed out that fat hidden between and inside muscle fibers might be a sign of serious health problems. Akkaya's team investigated the effects of ultra-processed foods on intramuscular fat in people at risk of knee osteoporosis.

Ultra-processed foods had been linked to weight gain, obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression, and might even shorten lifespan.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American adults obtained more than 50% of their calories from ultra-processed foods. For children, that figure jumps to 62%.

In the case of another 61-year-old woman included in this study, while she did have some "marbling" in her thigh muscles, it wasn't as pronounced. Ultra-processed foods accounted for approximately 29% of this woman's annual diet.

Akkaya said "The fact that these individuals showed no signs of osteoarthritis of the knee at the time of MRI scans, yet they already exhibited a decline in muscle quality and is particularly a big concern."

Ultra-processed foods as the culprit?

The findings of this study were published in the Journal of Radiology on the 14th. The research team analyzed MRI images of 615 participants in the "Osteoarthritis Initiative," a nationwide survey project aimed at preventing and treating knee osteoarthritis. The average age of the participants was 60, their body mass index (BMI) was 27, and none showed signs of knee osteoarthritis.

A BMI of 25-29.9 is classified as overweight, 30-34.9 as obese, 35-39.9 as obesity level 2, and 40 or higher as "severe" obesity (obesity level 3).

A 61-year-old woman whose diet consisted of 29.5% ultra-processed foods had a BMI of 32.6. In contrast, a woman whose diet consisted of 87.1% ultra-processed foods had a BMI of 31.8, which was slightly lower than the 61-year-old woman, yet she had significantly more "marbling" in her thighs, despite having a higher activity score.

Thomas Link, as the lead author of the paper explained that "Regardless of calorie intake, the higher the overall intake of ultra-processed foods, the more intramuscular fat in the thigh muscles."

Miriam Bredera of New York University noted that while the study didn't prove that ultra-processed foods directly cause muscle marbling, a "strong correlation" was observed. He said "However, I don't know how long you have to keep eating ultra-processed foods to get muscles like that."

On top of that, Bredera said “What I do know is that if you have fat stored in your muscles, you can definitely improve the quality of your muscles by starting exercise and a healthy diet," and added that " It's much easier when you're young than when you're older, but you can do it if you try. "

So, fat hidden between and inside muscle fibers may be a sign of serious health problems. Ultra-processed foods have been linked to weight gain, obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression, and may even shorten lifespan. Apparently, the plain fact is that regardless of calorie intake, the higher the overall intake of ultra-processed foods, the more intramuscular fat could be found in the thigh muscles.

家庭主婦因發佈抵制選舉的貼文被判監可緩刑

Recently the standard.com.hk reported the following:

Housewife gets suspended jail term for election boycott post

The Standard - NEWS

25-02-2026 17:04 HKT

A 61-year-old housewife was sentenced on Wednesday to two months in prison, suspended for 18 months, for sharing online posts that incited others not to vote in the 2025 Legislative Council General Election.

The defendant, surnamed Ma, pleaded guilty at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts to illegally inciting another person not to vote or to cast an invalid vote through a public activity during the election period.

Magistrate Peter Yu Chun-cheung said the Legislative Council election concerns the well-being of all Hong Kong citizens, describing the offense as serious in nature and detrimental to the overall interests of Hong Kong.

He said that even if the defendant had not given careful thought before reposting the content, the court could not ignore the serious consequences caused by the act of forwarding it.

The post shared by Ma was originally published by Tong Wai-hung, who had called on others to boycott the election on social media.

The magistrate had earlier issued a warrant for Tong, who had already left Hong Kong. He is currently wanted by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Translation

家庭主婦因發佈抵制選舉的貼文被判監可緩刑

一名61歲的家庭主婦週三被判處兩個月監禁，緩刑18個月，罪名是在網路上分享煽動他人不參加2025年立法會大選的貼文。

被告姓Ma，在西九龍裁判法院承認在選舉期間透過公開活動非法煽動他人不投票或投無效票。

裁判官Peter Yu Chun-cheung表示，立法會選舉關係到全體香港市民的福祉，並指出此案罪名性質嚴重，有損香港整體利益。

他表示，即使被告在轉發內容前沒有仔細考慮，法庭也不能忽視轉發行為造成的嚴重後果。

Ma分享的貼文最初由Tong Wai-hung發佈，Tong曾在社交媒體上呼籲他人抵制這次選舉。

裁判官先前已對已離開香港的Tong Wai-hung發出逮捕令。他目前亦正被廉政公署通緝。

So, a housewife was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for 18 months, for sharing online posts that incited others not to vote in the 2025 Legislative Council General Election. Apparently, the punishment for sharing online posts regarding opinions on an election is harsh.

中國GDP比預期強勁，得益於基礎建設支出（2/2）

 Recently the New York Times reported the following:

China’s G.D.P. Stronger Than Expected, Led by Infrastructure Spending (2/2)

A steep slide in housing prices has left consumers less prosperous and less willing to spend, but the government is pouring money into new rail lines and other projects.

By Keith Bradsher - Reporting from Beijing and Yancheng, China

April 15, 2026

(continue)

China remains better positioned than other major economies to weather disruptions to oil and gas supplies from the war in Iran because of its large stockpiles of fossil fuels and dominant position in renewable energy. But China’s March trade data showed some unexpected shifts that sharply narrowed the country’s trade surplus.

China’s exports of toys and footwear, once strong categories, fell as higher plastic costs from the war in the Middle East squeezed manufacturers. Chemical companies have continued raising prices, suggesting further pressure in the months ahead.

Exports of rare-earth metals also plummeted in March. Beijing severely restricted shipments to Japan, amid a dispute over relations with Taiwan.

The most notable change has been a surge in semiconductor imports, as China rapidly builds data centers for artificial intelligence. Computer chip purchases jumped in January and February and hit a record high in March, up 54 percent from a year earlier in U.S. dollar terms.

A weak renminbi, China’s currency, has made computer chip imports more expensive, adding to the drag on the economy. Beijing has kept its currency weak to boost exports, making Chinese goods more competitive abroad.

But that same currency weakness raises import costs. The increasing semiconductor costs also reflect heightened global demand for the computer chips needed to power A.I. While the renminbi has strengthened slightly over the past year, it remains far weaker than what economists consider its true market value.

Export sectors that rely heavily on steel are thriving in China these days. Domestic steel is cheap because of chronic oversupply and reluctance to close state-owned steel mills. With other countries’ tariffs limiting direct exports of steel, manufacturers are channeling the glut into finished goods like cars and ships, which face fewer trade barriers.

Li Rongchun, who owns a small business in Yancheng supplying acetylene and oxygen to nearby shipyards, said he had more orders than he could handle. “Right now, shipyards are building a lot of oil tankers and container ships, and many foreign clients are coming,” he said.

But in another nearby town, the picture is far more bleak. A resident who gave only his family name, Shao, said that property prices at complexes in his neighborhood had dropped by more than half over the past year and that even steep discounts were not enticing buyers.

“There are just too many empty apartments — even at very low prices, no one wants to buy them,” he said.

Residential construction has slowed sharply over the past four years, but apartment sales have declined even faster, leaving a growing glut of unsold homes and making buyers wary of committing their savings to a purchase.

Mr. Kuijs said prices were likely to keep falling this year before bottoming out next year. But with residential construction already down so much, there isn’t much room for building activity to fall further. Any stabilization would ease a major drag on growth.

“That drag will remain this year,” Mr. Kuijs said, “but it probably won’t be as intense as it was in previous years.”

Translation

中國GDP比預期強勁，得益於基礎建設支出（2/2）

房價暴跌導致消費者收入減少，消費意願下降，但政府正大力投資新鐵路和其他項目

（繼續）

由於擁有龐大的化石燃料儲備和在再生能源領域的主導地位，中國比其他主要經濟體更能抵禦伊朗戰爭造成的油氣供應中斷。但中國3月的貿易數據顯示，出現了一些意料之外的變化，導致該國貿易順差大幅收窄。

玩具和鞋類出口曾是中國出口強項，但由於中東戰爭導致塑膠成本上漲，製造商面臨壓力，這些出口量下降。化工企業持續漲價，預示未來幾個月將面臨更大的壓力。

稀土金屬出口在3月也大幅下滑。在關於日本與台灣關係有爭議之下，北京嚴格限制了對日的出口。

最顯著的變化是半導體進口激增，因為中國正在快速建造人工智能數據庫。 1月和2月電腦晶片採購量大幅成長，3月創下歷史新高，以美元計價年增54%。

人民幣疲軟導致電腦晶片進口成本上升，進一步拖累了經濟成長。北京一直維持人民幣疲軟促進出口，提升中國商品在海外的競爭力。

但人民幣疲軟也推高了進口成本。半導體成本的上漲也反映出全球對人工智能所需電腦晶片的需求不斷增長。儘管人民幣在過去一年略有走強，但仍遠低於經濟學家認為的真正市場價值。

目前在中國，那些嚴重依賴鋼鐵的出口產業正蓬勃發展。由於長期供應過剩以及不願關閉國有鋼鐵廠，國內鋼鐵價格低廉。由於其他國家的關稅限制了鋼鐵的直接出口，製造商正將過剩的鋼鐵轉向汽車和船舶等成品，這些產品面臨的貿易壁壘較少。

Li Rongchun在Yancheng經營一家向附近造船廠供應乙炔和氧氣的小企業，他說訂單已經應接不暇。他說: 「現在造船廠正在建造大量的油輪和貨櫃船，很多外國客戶也來了」。

但在附近的另一個城鎮，情況卻黯淡得多。一位只透露姓Shao的居民說，他所在社區的房價在過去一年下跌了一半以上，即使大幅降價也無濟於事。

他說:「空置的住宅單位太多了 - 即使價格很低，也沒人願意買」。

過去四年，住宅建設速度大幅放緩，但住宅單位銷售速度下降得更快，導致大量房屋滯銷，也讓購屋者對拿出積蓄去買房猶豫不決。

Kuijs先生表示，房價今年可能會繼續下跌，明年才會觸底。但由於住宅興建大幅下滑，建築活動進一步下降的空間已經不大。任何穩定措施都將緩解增長所面臨的主要阻力。

Kuijs先生說: “這種阻力今年依然存在” ， “但可能不會像往年那麼嚴重。”

So, strong investments in rail lines and other infrastructure have offset weak consumer spending and a shrinking trade surplus. China’s consumer services sector has been struggling. Exports have propped up the Chinese economy through much of its housing slump since 2021. But this time they fail to offset broader weakness after a surge in the import of computer chips. I am interested in know how will the economy perform in the medium-term using infrastructure investments to offset weak consumer spendings. I am also interested in knowing where the investment money comes from.

中國GDP比預期強勁，得益於基礎建設支出（1/2）

Recently the New York Times reported the following:

China’s G.D.P. Stronger Than Expected, Led by Infrastructure Spending (1/2)

A steep slide in housing prices has left consumers less prosperous and less willing to spend, but the government is pouring money into new rail lines and other projects.

By Keith Bradsher - Reporting from Beijing and Yancheng, China

April 15, 2026

Strong investments in rail lines and other infrastructure offset weak consumer spending and a shrinking trade surplus as the Chinese economy continued to grow in the first three months of the year.

China’s National Bureau of Statistics announced on Thursday that the country’s gross domestic product grew 1.3 percent from the last three months of 2025. If that pace continues through the year, the Chinese economy will expand at an annual rate of about 5.3 percent.

In comparison with the same period last year, China’s gross domestic product was 5 percent larger in the first quarter. The figures came in slightly above economists’ forecasts for 4.8 percent growth.

One reason this year’s growth looked stronger was that the statistical agency said Thursday that the economy was weaker in the first half of last year than previously reported. That made this year’s results look better by comparison.

A long, steep slide in apartment prices has eroded China’s household savings, prompting many people to cut spending. Retail sales rose just 2.4 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, and only 1.7 percent in March, considerably weaker than what most economists had expected. Car sales fell 17 percent in the quarter after the government scaled back subsidies that had driven a boom last year.

That sluggishness contrasts sharply with an 8.9 percent increase in infrastructure investments in the first quarter from a year ago, as spending surged on the electricity grid, sewer lines and rail lines. China has long relied on building roads, bridges, ports, and other infrastructure projects to revive a slowing economy. But rising debt, especially among local and provincial governments, is making this strategy harder to sustain.

China’s consumer services sector has been struggling. Restaurants have closed across the country, and those still open echo with empty tables. Xiao Nan Guo, a nationwide chain offering Shanghainese cuisine at premium prices, exemplifies the downturn. After peaking at 139 outlets in 2015, it quietly shuttered most of its remaining locations in early February.

Exports have propped up the Chinese economy through much of its housing slump since 2021. But this time they failed to offset broader weakness after a big surge in China’s largest category of imports, computer chips.

Weak demand at home has pushed Chinese companies to seek growth abroad. Exports grew during the first three months of this year at their fastest quarterly clip in more than four years, led by electric car exports, up 78 percent, and a 50 percent rise in shipments of lithium batteries. Louis Kuijs, chief economist for Asia and the Pacific at S&P Global Ratings, said overseas sales were keeping factories busy across China.

“It has been robust exports that have been a key driver of industrial production and G.D.P.,” he said.

It is unclear if export strength will last. Tariffs and rising raw material costs from the war in Iran appeared to weigh on the Chinese economy in March. Chinese officials are expected to press for relief from U.S. tariffs at a summit next month in Beijing between President Trump and Xi Jinping, China’s top leader.

(to be continued)

Translation

中國GDP比預期強勁，得益於基礎建設支出（1/2）

房價暴跌導致消費者收入減少，消費意願下降，但政府正大力投資新鐵路和其他項目

今年頭三個月，中國經濟持續增長，鐵路和其他基礎設施的強勁投資抵消了消費支出疲軟和貿易順差收窄的影響。

中國國家統計局週四公佈，2025年第四季中國國內生產毛額（GDP）季增1.3%。如果這項成長率維持到年底，中國經濟全年成長率將達到約5.3%。

與去年同期相比，中國第一季GDP成長5%，略高於經濟學家先前預測的4.8%的增幅。

今年經濟成長看起來更強勁的原因之一是，國家統計局週四表示，去年上半年的經濟疲軟程度低於先前公佈的數據。這使得今年的經濟成長數據相比之下顯得更好。

長期且大幅下跌的房價侵蝕了華人家庭的儲蓄，促使許多人削減開支。第一季零售額年增僅2.4%，3月更是只有1.7%，遠低於多數經濟學家的預期。由於政府縮減了去年推動汽車市場繁榮的補貼，本季汽車銷量下降了17%。

這種疲軟的局面與第一季基礎設施投資年增8.9%形成鮮明對比，電力網路、污水管道和鐵路建設的支出大幅增加。長期以來，中國一直依靠建設道路、橋樑、港口和其他基礎設施項目來提振放緩的經濟。但不斷上升的債務，尤其是地方和省級政府的債務，使得這項戰略難以持續。

中國消費服務業一直舉步維艱。全國各地的餐廳紛紛關門歇業，仍在營業的餐廳也門可羅雀。以高價上海菜聞名的全國連鎖餐廳小南國 (Xiao Nan Guo) 是這一頹勢的典型例子。該餐廳在2015年達到139家門市的鼎盛時期後，於今年2月初悄悄關閉了剩餘的大部分門市。

自2021年以來，出口一直是支撐中國經濟度過房地產市場低迷時期的主要力量。但這次，由於中國最大進口類別 - 電腦晶片 - 的大幅增長，出口未能抵消整體經濟的疲軟。

國內需求疲軟迫使中國企業尋求海外增長。今年前三個月，中國出口季度增長創四年多來最快，由電動車出口增長78%，鋰電池出貨量增長50%所帶動。標普全球評級亞太區首席經濟學家Louis Kuijs表示，海外銷售使中國各地的工廠保持了繁忙的生產狀態。

他說:「強勁的出口一直是工業生產和GDP的關鍵驅動力」。

出口強勁勢頭能否持續尚不明朗。 3月份，關稅以及伊朗戰爭導致的原物料成本上漲似乎對中國經濟造成了壓力。預計下個月在北京舉行的特朗普總統與中國最高領導人習近平峰會上，中國官員將敦促美國取消對華關稅。

（待續）

Up to 5,000 Cuban Fighters on Russian Side, US Report

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

最大5000人のキューバ人戦闘員がロシア側で参加か 米報告書

2026年4月15日午後8時12分

ウクライナ情勢

アメリカのニュースサイトは、ウクライナで最大5000人に上るキューバ人の戦闘員がロシア側について戦うなどして協力しているとするアメリカ国務省がまとめた報告書の内容を報じました。

アメリカのニュースサイト、アクシオスは14日、国務省がまとめた報告書の内容として、ウクライナへの軍事侵攻を続けるロシアを支援する外国の戦闘員の国籍で特定が可能なもののうち、キューバ人が最大規模のグループの1つとして浮上していると伝えました。

1000人から最大5000人が常時、ロシア側について戦闘に参加していると分析し、外交や政治面でも協力しているとしています。

一方、キューバ政府が戦闘員を派遣したかどうかは公開されている記録では確認できないものの、黙認したなどの兆候があるということです。

この報告書は、今月一部の議会の委員会に送付されたとしています。

アクシオスは、トランプ政権がキューバに対して政権交代を迫るための圧力を強めるなかで報告書の内容が明らかになったとして「キューバは、世界中でアメリカの国益を損なっている」と述べる上院議員の発言もあわせて報じています。

ロシア軍は、北朝鮮やアフリカなどから集めた兵士を投入し、不足した兵力を補ってきたとされています。

Translation

Up to 5,000 Cuban Fighters on Russian Side, US Report

April 15, 2026, 8:12 PM

Ukraine Situation

American news sites had reported on a US State Department report stating that up to 5,000 Cuban fighters were cooperating with Russia in Ukraine and fighting on its side.

The American news site Axios reported on the 14th that the State Department report indicated that, based on their nationality, Cubans were one of the largest groups of foreign fighters supporting Russia's military invasion of Ukraine,

The report analyzed that between 1,000 and up to 5,000 Cuban fighters were consistently participating in combat on the Russian side, and were also cooperating diplomatically and politically.

At the same time, while publicly available records did not confirm whether the Cuban government had sent fighters, there were indications that it tacitly approved the act.

This report was reportedly sent to some congressional committees this month.

Axios also reported that the report's contents came to light as the Trump administration increased pressure on Cuba to force a change of government, and quoted a senator as saying, "Cuba is harming American national interests around the world."

The Russian military was said to have been supplementing its troop shortages by deploying soldiers recruited from North Korea, Africa, and other regions.

So, American news sites have reported on a US State Department report stating that up to 5,000 Cuban fighters are cooperating with Russia in fighting Ukraine. Probably, this is the reason why Russia sent oil to Cuba to alleviate the oil shortage problem.

China's March Export Growth Slows Significantly; the Focus is How High Oil Prices Will Affect

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

中国 3月輸出額 伸びが大幅鈍化 原油高がどう影響するか焦点

2026年4月14日午後6時04分

中国

中国の3月の輸出額は、ヨーロッパや東南アジア向けが伸びたことから、去年の同じ月と比べて2％余り増えました。ただ、前の2か月間と比べると伸びが大幅に鈍化していて、イラン情勢の緊迫化に伴う原油価格の高止まりが、今後、どう影響するかが焦点です。

中国の税関当局が、14日に発表した貿易統計によりますと、3月の輸出額は、去年の同じ月と比べてドル換算で2.5％増加しました。

このうち、

▽アメリカ向けは、トランプ政権による関税措置の影響で26％余り減った一方、

▽ヨーロッパや東南アジア向けが伸び、アメリカの減少分を補いました。

ただ、21％余り増加した前の2か月間と比べると、輸出額の伸びは、大幅に鈍化しました。

イラン情勢の緊迫化に伴って原油価格の高止まりが続けば、中国の主要な輸出先の内需が冷え込み、輸出に悪影響がおよぶという指摘も出ていて、今後、原油価格の高止まりが中国の輸出にどう影響するかが焦点です。

一方、輸入額は、去年の同じ月と比べ、27.8％増加しました。

また、日本との貿易は、日中関係が悪化する中でも輸出額が3％余り、輸入額が35％余り、それぞれ増えました。

Translation

China's March Export Growth Slows Significantly; the Focus is  How High Oil Prices Will Affect

April 14, 2026, 6:04 PM

China

China's March exports increased by more than 2% compared to the same month last year, driven by growth in exports to Europe and Southeast Asia. However, compared to the previous two months this represented a significant slowdown, the focus now would be on how the persistently high crude oil prices due to the escalating tensions in Iran could affect the situation.

According to trade statistics released by Chinese customs authorities on the 14th, March exports increased by 2.5% in dollar terms compared to the same month last year.

Of this,

▽On the one hand exports to the United States decreased by more than 26% due to tariff measures imposed by the Trump administration,

▽Exports to Europe and Southeast Asia increased, offsetting the decline in exports to the United States.

However, compared to the previous two months, when exports increased by more than 21%, the growth in export value decreased significantly.

With tensions escalating in Iran and persistently high crude oil prices, there were also concerns that the slowdown in domestic demand in China's major export markets could negatively impact exports. The focus now would be how persistently high crude oil prices might affect Chinese exports.

On the other hand, imports increased by 27.8% compared to the same month last year.

Furthermore, trade with Japan saw increases of over 3% in exports and over 35% in imports respectively, even amid deteriorating Japan-China relations.

So, China's March exports increased by more than 2% compared to the same month last year, driven by growth in exports to Europe and Southeast Asia. However, compared to the previous two months this represented a significant slowdown. Apparently, the persistently high crude oil prices due to the escalating tensions in Iran is affecting China’s trading performance.