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A way forward for the majority who love and aspire to build a better world
Moldova announced attempts
to resume money transfers
with Russia
November 23rd, 12:11am
(Izvestia.ru)
The Moldovan government is trying to resume
money transfers from Russia. This - was
announced on November 22, by the
Prime Minister of Moldova,
Dorin Rechan.
"The government ----- is looking for opportunities for our
citizens who are in Russia, to send money to Moldova. Conversely, those who live in Moldova could transfer
money to Russia," he said on Exclusiv TV.
Rechan also blamed the US, which imposed
sanctions, for the impossibility of money
transfers between the countries.
"They say --- that we have banned money transfers from
Russia. It was not the government that stopped them
- but these companies were subject to international
sanctions, including those imposed by the United
States," the Prime Minister stressed.
According to him, this has affected hundreds of
thousands of Moldovans. He added that labour
migrants in Russia annually ------- send about
$1 billion to their relatives in Moldova ------
which supports the republic's economy.
Earlier, on November 21st, Rechan said that it is
important for Moldova to restore relations with
Russia after the end of the conflict in Ukraine.
According to him, they are now "very tense".
Earlier, on November 20, the former president, leader of
the opposition Party of Socialists, Igor Dodon, stressed
-- that the strategic partnership between Moldova and
Russia should be resumed, and -- sanctions should
be lifted.
Relations between Russia and Moldova.... began to
deteriorate after Maia Sandu won the presidential
election in the republic in 2020. In 2022, Moldova
joined the sanctions against Russia, and dozens
of diplomats from Chisinau were expelled.
In April of this year, the republic's Foreign Minister -
Mihai Popsoi, said that relations between Chisinau
and Moscow - are at the lowest level in the entire
history of modern Moldova.
Merkel --- called the construction of
Nord Stream 2politically justified
November 22nd, 1:43pm
(RT.ru)
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in an
interview with Der Spiegel, said that she
remained true to her decisions on Nord Stream 2.
"I considered Nord Stream 2 to be politically
justified," she said, to "Country.Ru".
Merkel noted that the gas pipeline provided an
opportunity for Germany to maintain close
economic ties with Russia.
Earlier, Der Spiegel wrote that the German government
knew about the preparation of sabotage on the Nord
Streams - but did not attach any importance to this.
It was also reported that the Ukrainian Ambassador
to the UK, Valery Zaluzhny, who used to be the
commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army,
offered to commit sabotage on the
Turkish Stream gas pipeline
in the Black Sea.
____________________________
In Germany, they told about the
"loud slap" to Scholz & Barebok
Marina Sovina (Editor of the
Operational Information Dept)
November 21st, 10:42pm
(Lenta.ru)
The decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu is a "resounding slap in the
face" - to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and
the Foreign Minister, Annalena Burbock.
This was stated by the head of the party "Union of
Sarah Wagenknecht - for Reason and Justice", by
member of the Bundestag Sarah Wagenknecht
in the social network Facebook (a social
network banned in Russia; owned by
the Meta Corporation, which is
recognized as extremist in
the Russian Federation
and banned).
She noted, that Berlin transfers almost half of its
weapons to the Israeli army. "What else does it
take for the German government to stop aiding
and abetting... the Netanyahu government's
war crimes in Gaza?" the politician asked.
According to her, the decision to impose an
arms embargo on Israel is "long overdue."
Earlier, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu
and former Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, for "crimes against humanity and war crimes
committed at least between October 8,
2023 and May 20, 2024."
The Permanent Representative of the Jewish state to
the UN, Dani Danon, called this decision the highest
manifestation of diplomatic terrorism.
_________________________________________
In Germany,Ukraine was reproached ---
for the Storm Shadow strikes on Russia
by Marina Sovina (Editor of the
Operational Information Dept)
November 21st, 10:06pm
(Lenta.ru)
Alice Weidel, co-chair of the Alternative for Germany
(AfD) party, criticized Ukraine for using British Storm
Shadow missiles to launch attacks on Russia. On
this topic, she spoke in the social network X.
The politician noted - that Kiev acts irresponsibly.
She urged to abandon actions that contribute to
the escalation of the conflict and seek a
diplomatic solution.
"The traffic light [ruling coalition] and the CDU/CSU
bloc are preparing for war,only the AfD stands
for peace!"
Earlier, journalist Simon Jenkins warned that Storm
Shadow strikes deep into Russia... will lead to a
deterioration of the situation in Ukraine.
According to him, the shelling of Russian territory --- will not be able to reverse the situation on the battlefield, but will only aggravate the conflict.
______________________________________
Pistorius announced plans to
nominate Scholz for the post
of chancellor from the SPD
November 21st, 7:47pm
(aiazvestia.ru)
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) is going
to nominate the current head of government, Olaf
Scholz for the post of Chancellor of Germany.
This was announced on November 21st, by
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
"Olaf Scholz is a strong chancellor, and he is a
suitable candidate for the post of chancellor,"
the Tagesschau portal quotes him as saying.
According to Pistorius, Scholz's discretion, is
of particular importance "in unstable times."
The Minister also announced his refusal
to nominate himself for this post.
"I have just informed the leadership of our party
that it is not necessary to count on me as a
candidate for the post of chancellor,"
he stressed.
Earlier, on November 18th, Pistorius said that the SPD
will decide on the choice of a candidate at the party
conference no later than January 11 and called
Scholz the most likely of them.
______________________________
Germany to Provide Ukraine
With 4,000 AI-Powered
Mini-Taurus Drones
November 18th, 1:03pm
(teleSUR)
On Monday, German Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius,
confirmed that his country will deliver 4,000 German
drones powered by artificial intelligence to Ukraine.
“From what I’ve heard, the Americans are now allowing
the Ukrainians to use ATACMS -- with a range of 300
kilometres - to target inside Russia as well. It’s a
decision that is not mine to judge -- but it will
undoubtedly help the Ukrainians. For us,
it doesn’t change the situation,”
he stated.
During a visit to the MBDA armaments consortium in
southern Germany, journalists asked Pistorius
whether he anticipated increased pressure
from Ukraine to receive Germany’s long
-range Taurus cruise missiles.
He said he could not answer that and reiterated that
there would be “no” change in Germany’s stance.
Nevertheless, Pistorius confirmed that Germany would
begin delivering 4,000 AI-controlled attack drones to
President Zelensky’s regime.
This type of weaponry will represent - “another really
important asset for the Ukrainian forces, especially
when it comes to --- targeting logistics chains and
command posts inside enemy territory,” he said.
The so-called Mini-Taurus drones can penetrate 30 to
40 kilometres, strike command posts and logistics
nodes ------ and have the capability to undermine
enemy electronic defenses to hit their targets.
Meanwhile, German government deputy spokesperson -
Wolfgang Büchner reiterated Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s
refusal to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine,
emphasizing that.. “the Chancellor has set
certain limits he does not want to cross
& has clearly stated that this position
will not change. These long-range
weapons will not be delivered.”
Scholz.. has repeatedly stressed the importance of
organizing military support in a way that does not
lead to an escalation of the war, Büchner added.
Regarding the U.S. decision, Büchner declined to
comment, noting that the German government
has refrained from commenting on individual
decisions made by the other countries
supporting Ukraine.
German Foreign Affairs Minister, Annalena Baerbock,
however, described the US decision as “important”
at this moment....... clarifying that it does not
represent a change of course, but rather,
an “intensification” of the existing
support for Kyiv.
She implied... that international law grants Ukraine
the right to strike projectile launch sites in enemy
territory, adding that any other country would
do precisely the same.
Western air defense systemsunlikely
to intercept Russian missiles—
France’s Le Monde
November 22nd, 12:37pm
(TASS)
Western air defense systems are capable of detecting
the launch of a Russian intermediate-range ballistic
missile, but they are unlikely to destroy it, French
daily Le Monde reported on Friday citing a high-
ranking military official with the country’s Air
and Space Force.
"[Ukrainian] allies are capable of detecting this type of
threat using warning systems, but it is unlikely that
they will be able to neutralize this threat. There
is only about 30 minutes left to respond," the
French daily quoted its unnamed military
source as saying.
After the missile is launched, it is impossible
to find out whether it is equipped with a
nuclear warhead, the source added.
According to the French military source, Russia's
recent use of the Oreshnik intermediate-range
ballistic missile should be taken in the
context ---- of possible negotiations
regarding the ongoing Ukrainian
conflict ----- with the new US
Administration headed by
President Donald Trump.
"The Russians want to be in a position of strength,
to show what they are capable of and that they
are determined," the French officer added.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced earlier in the
day - that the country’s latest Oreshnik intermediate-
range ballistic missile hit all the targets at a major
Ukrainian military-industrial enterprise in Dnepr
(Dnepropetrovsk) with its MIRVed warheads.
"On November 21st, 2024, in response to the use of
American-and British-made long-range missiles
against facilities on Russian territory, the
Armed Forces delivered a combined
strike on one of the Ukrainian
military-industrial sites in
Dnepropetrovsk.''
''For the first time the Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate
-range ballistic missile with a non-nuclear payload was
employed in combat conditions in the strike. The goal
of the strike was achieved. All the warheads hit the
facility," the ministry said in a statement.
On November 19th, Russian President Vladimir Putin
signed a decree approving the Foundations of State
Policy in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence, the
country’s updated nuclear doctrine.
The fundamental principle of the doctrine, is that
the use of nuclear weapons is a measure of last
resort to protect the country’s sovereignty.
The emergence of new military threats and risks,
prompted Russia to clarify the conditions for the
use of nuclear weapons. In particular --- the
amended doctrine... expands the range of
countries and military alliances subject
to nuclear deterrence, as well as the
list of military threats that such
deterrence is designed
to counter.
In addition, the document states that Russia will now
view any attack by a non-nuclear country supported
by a nuclear power as a joint attack. Moscow also
reserves the right to consider a nuclear response
to a conventional weapons attack -- threatening
its sovereignty, a large-scale launch of enemy
aircraft, missiles, and drones -- targeting
Russian territory, their crossing of
the Russian border --- and an
attack on its ally, Belarus.
____________________________
In France --- the procedure for
removing Macron from power
--- is launched
by Victoria Kondratieva
(Editor of the Mir dept)
November 20th, 5:30pm
(Lenta.ru)
The France Insoumise party, has re-submitted a request
to launch the procedure for removing French President
Emmanuel Macron from power. This is reported by
the AFP news agency.
"The chairman of the Legislative Commission ------ Florent
Boudier, must now consider our initiative. If he refuses,
he will violate our constitutional right to choose texts
for our faction," said Matilda Pano, the head of the
party's parliamentary faction.
It is noted that the request was approved by
the lower house of the French Parliament.
On September 5, Macron appointed Michel Barnier as
the country's prime minister. The 73-year-old former
Foreign Minister and ex- EU commissioner
represents the Republican party.
On the same day, Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the
New Popular Front coalition of leftist parties, called
for protests over the appointment of a new prime
minister. According to him, the decision to give
the post to Barnier - indicates that the results
of the parliamentary elections - won by the
left coalition - were stolen.
Iran Activates Advanced Centrifuges
in Retaliation for IAEA Resolution
November 22nd, 3:09pm
(al Manar)
Iran has denounced a United Nations nuclear
watchdog resolution as “unjustifiable”
initiating the operation of advanced
centrifuges in reciprocal response.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy
Organization of Iran (AEOI)... issued a joint
statement early Friday ---- announcing the
activation of ---- “a substantial number of
advanced centrifuges of various models.”
The statement emphasized, that the move is a
defensive measure to protect Iran’s national
interests and address its increasing need
for a civilian nuclear program, in line
with its obligations - under the
Comprehensive Safeguards
Agreement.
The action follows a resolution passed by the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Board of Governors --- which accused
Tehran of inadequate cooperation,
and called for a “comprehensive”
report on its nuclear activities
by spring 2025.
The resolution passed.. with 19 votes
in favour, 3 against, & 12 abstentions.
Iran described the resolution as a “non-consensus”
measure driven by the “pressure and insistence”
of the US, UK, France and Germany, despite
lacking support from nearly half of the
35-member Board of Governors.
“The actions of the three European nations and the
United States — countries with a documented
history of reneging on their commitments...
including under the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action (JCPOA) and resorting to
unlawful sanctions and pressures
against the Iranian nation - are
both confrontational and
unjustifiable,” the
statement read.
It criticized the resolution as “politically motivated”
and warned.... it undermines the constructive
atmosphere fostered during IAEA Director
General Rafael Grossi’s recent visit
to Tehran.
“This politicized and destructive measure undermines
..the positive momentum achieved between Iran and
the Agency and blatantly contradicts the professed commitment of the 3 European nations and the
United States to preserving the integrity and
impartiality of the IAEA. It lays bare their
use of the nuclear issue as a pretext to
advance illegitimate objectives,”
the statement added.
Despite its condemnation of the resolution, Iran
reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with
the IAEA within the framework of the
Safeguards Agreement.
“The principled policy of the I.R. of Iran -------- has
consistently been to engage constructively with
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
within the framework of rights and obligations
enshrined in the Treaty on the NPT and the
Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement,”
it said.
Iran signed the JCPOA in 2015, proving the peaceful
intent of its nuclear program to six world powers.
However, the deal has been in jeopardy since the
United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018 and
reimposed sanctions on Tehran.
In response to unmet commitments by other
signatories, Iran began rolling back its
JCPOA obligations in 2019.
Source: Iranian media
_______________________________
Szijjarto calledsanctions against
Gazprombank--- a threat to
Europe's energy supply
by Semyon Zimin
November 22nd, 2:59pm
(Komsomolskaya Pravda)
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign
Economic Relations Peter Szijjarto said that the
inclusion of Gazprombank in the US sanctions
list - is aimed at jeopardizing the stability of
the supply of energy ---- in Central Europe.
On his page in social networks, he noted that such a
decision aims to create additional problems for a
number of countries in the region.
Despite external pressure, the Hungarian government
is making every effort to ensure the country's energy
security --- Szijjarto stressed. According to him,
Budapest is actively working to resolve the
situation together with international
partners - in order to avoid the
negative consequences
of sanctions.
In another publication, the minister criticized the
actions of the United States, saying that the US
leadership encourages the use of long-range
missiles by Ukraine -- to strike at Russian
territory. Szijjarto expressed concern -
that such steps put the world at risk
of a global conflict.
According to him, some pro-military forces in the West
ignore the possible catastrophic consequences and
continue to move along the path of aggravation.
_________________________________
Russian journalists not accredited
for UNESCO IPCC meeting
November 22nd, 2:01pm
(RT.ru)
Russian journalists were not accredited to attend
the meeting of the International Program for the
Development of Communication (IPCC) and
were not allowed access to the UNESCO
headquarters, the Russian Permanent
Mission to the organization said.
The UNESCO secretariat "declares freedom of speech
only in words, but in practice it restricts the rights of
journalists," the diplomats said.
RT condemned the inaction of UNESCO, which ignores
attacks on Russian journalists. In its latest report - on
the safety of journalists - the organization once again
did not say a word about the safety of Russian
media employees.
In particular, the report does not mention numerous
cases of violence against RT journalists and other
Russian media outlets, including murders and
attempted murders.
____________________________________________
‘Bolivar Act’To Become the New
U.S. Weapon AgainstVenezuela
November 22nd, 1:12pm
(teleSUR)
It prohibits agencies from entering into contracts
with any entity that maintains relationships
with the Venezuelan government.
During the past week, the U.S. has intensified its
unconventional aggressions against Venezuela.
Acting in blatant disregard for the Bolivarian
nation’s sovereignty, Secretary of State
Antony Blinken recognized far-right
politician Edmundo Gonzalez as
the supposed president of
Venezuela. But that’s
not all.
Currently, both the Democratic and Republican
parties are pushing for the approval of the
“Banning Operations and Leases with the
Illegitimate Venezuelan Authoritarian
Regime Act” (Bolivar Act).
Commonly referred to as the “Bolivar Act,” this bill
was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives
on November 18. However --- before it becomes law it must secure approval from the Senate.
What Does the Bolivar Act Establish?
The Bolivar Act prohibits U.S. agencies from entering
into contracts with any entity that maintains
significant commercial relationships with
the Venezuelan government, except for
....those agencies approved by the
Secretary of State for reasons
of “national interest.”
This provision -- expands the scope of existing
sanctions, introducing greater uncertainty for
international actors conducting operations in
Venezuela. The term “significant commercial operations” is not clearly defined in the bill,
leaving the interpretation of its scope to
the discretion of the State Department
- and the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). This legal ambiguity
could be used as a tool to adjust
sanctions according to U.S.
strategic interests.
To increase discretion in applying unilateral U.S.
sanctions, the Bolivar Act also establishes
exceptions for licenses issued by the
Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC).
These licenses allow transnational companies
such as Chevron and Repsol to continue
operating in Venezuela.
Once the discretion to determine which companies
or individuals are subject to sanctions is granted,
the State Department could permit flexibility
based on the strategic priorities of the
incoming Trump administration.
Marco Rubio, the next head of the State Department,
has been a fervent advocate for stricter sanctions
against Venezuela and Cuba, which has allowed
him to position himself as the spearhead
against progressive Latin American
governments.
However, the Bolivar Act excludes activities related to
humanitarian assistance and intelligence operations,
which have historically been used to interfere in
the internal affairs of Latin American countries
by funding opposition media and NGOs.
What Does the Bolivar Act Imply?
In an interview with Truth Mission, economist
Francisco Rodriguez stated that the Bolivar
Act is more symbolic than effective, as it
does not introduce new sanctions but
reinforces “a firm stance” against
Venezuelan President
Nicolas Maduro.
The practical impact of the legislation, however,
could be significant. By converting executive
provisions into legislative norms, the Bolivar
Act limits the U.S. Executive Branch’s
ability to modify or eliminate
sanctions in the future.
In response, the Venezuelan National Assembly
approved, in its first discussion, the Simon
Bolivar Special Law Against the Blockade
and for the Defense of the Country. This
instrument aims to protect Venezuelan
interests against U.S. economic
aggression.
The Venezuelan law ---- includes provisions for the
permanent political disqualification --- of citizens
who promote foreign actions against Venezuela.
It also proposes the recovery of assets from
opposition figures who have conspired
against the Bolivarian nation
from abroad.
_____________________________________
China against double standards
in international law—
Foreign Ministry
November 22nd, 12:54pm
(TASS)
China condemns double standards and the biased
application of international law, Chinese Foreign
Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian stated at a briefing.
"China --- has always opposed the manipulation of
international law by individual countries to serve
their own interests -- rather than respecting it
or applying double standards. I would like to
emphasize -- China has consistently urged
the ICC to remain objective and fair, in its
decisions - and to exercise its functions
& powers in accordance with the law,"
China's foreign ministry spokesman
stressed - commenting on the US's
reaction to ICC arrest warrants
against Israeli PMi Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense
Minister Gallant -- as well as the decision against Russia's President, Vladimir Putin.
He also highlighted -------- Washington's use of double
standards, in handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
within the United Nations. "The United States - used
its veto power unilaterally to block a draft resolution
on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, thus undermining
the efforts of the Security Council and the global
community. The world could clearly see how the
US applies its double standards," Lin Jian said.
Earlier --- the United States blocked a draft resolution
prepared by the ten non-permanent members of the
Security Council ---- calling for an immediate and
unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This
marks the 5th time Washington has blocked
resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza
since tensions escalated in the Middle
East ----- in October 2023. The United
States has also opposed Palestine's
bid for full membership in the UN.
On November the 21st, the ICC announced it had issued
arrest warrants -- for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav
Gallant - for alleged war crimes and crimes against
humanity committed between October 8, 2023 and
May 20, 2024 on Palestinian territory, including
the Gaza Strip.
US President Biden called the decision ''unjustifiable'' ---- and ''outragious''.
The ICC also demanded the arrest of Mohammed
Deif, commander of the Palestinian Hamas
military wing, who was declared dead
by the Israeli army in August.
For his part, EU top diplomat Josep Borrell said the EU
considered the arrest warrants issued by the ICC for Netanyahu and Gallant --- to be binding.
________________________________________
November with less
homicides in
El Salvador
November 22nd, 10:41am
(Prensa Latina)
November registers today 17 days free
of homicides, according to a morning
report of the National Civil Police.
No gang-related murders were registered on Thursday,
November 21. “We ended Thursday, November 21,
with 0 homicides in the country,” the institution
said on its official X account.
Although it will not reach the 27 days without fatalities
recorded in October ------ the month of November will
apparently rank among the safest in recent times
as a result of the effectiveness of the Territorial
Control Plan and the exceptional regime.
Meanwhile.... the authorities continue their offensive
against the groups responsible for the violence, and,
the day before, the Attorney General’s Office issued
144 arrest warrants against gang members
involved in different crimes.
The operation was aimed at capturing members of
the Mara Salvatrucha operating in San Miguel,
Usulután and La Unión.
The authorities specified that ---- among the accused
there are 103 who will be notified in the penitentiary
centres where they are already in prison.
During the action, vehicles, cell phones, computers
and other objects linked to the different criminal
acts - were seized.
Although the authorities released close to 10,000
innocent people, the number of alleged gang
members in prison is close to 80,000,
according to official statistics.
____________________________
Health system crisis
persists in Haiti
November 22nd, 9:40am
(Prensa Latina)
Haiti's public health system is undergoing a
profound crisis affecting the population,
especially pregnant women.
''Today ---- the country does not have a public maternity centre. The only maternity hospital that existed was
the one in Chancerelles. It has been operating for
months,'' doctor Ronald Laroche stated, in
Le Nouvelliste.
''There is nowhere for a pregnant woman to give birth,
and the few places that exist -------- are paralyzed.''
''We are in a terrible situation, catastrophic, whose
severity is not measured in general terms,'' the
doctor said ------- lamenting the death of four
women who needed a cesarean section....
but did not have access to gynecologists
or anesthesiologists because they were
unable to reach them - because of the
violence.
The violence in the country took a dramatic turn in
the health field, as the situation worsened to the
point,, where both public and private hospitals
became a disaster, Dr. Laroche said.
“In the absence of a functioning health system and the
face of escalating violence, human lives continue to
be lost -- every day, hence the authorities and the
international community must become aware
of this health agony ---- and act quickly,”
Laroche concluded.
__________________________
Young Cubans prepare for
big day of voluntary work
November 22nd, 9:36am
(Prensa Latina)
The 65th anniversary of the first voluntary work
called in Cuba by Ernesto Che Guevara will be
commemorated by young people here from
today until next Saturda
Throughout the island, youth will mobilize to support
activities related to food production and recovery
from recent weather events.
According to the call of the Young Communist League
(UJC), the participants will also collaborate with the
rescue of organoponics, the constructive
maintenance of health centres, and
education, the coffee harvest, the
sugar harvest, sanitation, and
hygiene, among other tasks.
Yasmany Rodríguez, a member of the National Bureau
of the UJC, explained to the newspaper Juventud
Rebelde, that the objective will be to achieve an
organized, massive, and productive day, “in
which youth with their contribution in the
voluntary work pay the deserved tribute
to who was their greatest inspiration
and example the Heroic Guerrilla.”
On November 23, 1959, the first day of voluntary work
was carried out.. in El Caney de las Mercedes, the
municipality of Bartolomé Masó --- in Santiago
de Cuba, headed by Ernesto Che Guevara.
The idea arose... to build a School City for 20 thousand
children, children of peasants of the Sierra Maestra,
which would become, in the words of Che, “a
permanent symbol of the worker-peasant
alliance where our revolutionary power is based.”
________________________________________
France, Germany and ItalyCall on the EU
to Act Quickly to Prevent Economic
Decline
November 22nd, 8:36am
(teleSUR)
Trump’s election as president should serve as a
wake-up call for Europe to prioritise its own
interests, Italian minister Urso said.
On Friday, the economy ministers of France, Germany,
and Italy, called for joint action by the EU - to bolster
competitiveness against the US and China.
“Collectively,we need to pick up the pace of action,”
emphasized France’s Economy Minister, Antoine
Armand... during the closing session of the
Trilateral Business Forum organized in
Paris by the business associations of the three countries.
He warned that, if decisions continue to be
delayed, “entire sectors will be wiped out.”
“What we need ---- is a policy that strengthens Europe’s
industrial base,” stated German Secretary of Economy
Bernhard Kluttig. He stressed that “it’s important that
we act together” and, most critically, “we must act
immediately” with “sensible pragmatism,” which
includes simplifying regulation.
“We need to act fast, fast, fast,” - echoed Italy’s
Economy Minister, Adolfo Urso - who referred
to the repercussions of accumulated delays,
as detailed in Mario Draghi’s report on
Europe’s competitiveness issues.
For Urso ---- Donald Trump’s election as U.S. president
should serve as a wake-up call for Europe to respond
and prioritize its own interests - as Washington does.
“Europe’s problem isn’t the U.S. or China, because
Europeans can’t decide for those countries. The
problem is - that Europe doesn’t decide,” Urso
pointed out, insisting that EU environmental
policy must align with strategic autonomy
and address the realities of the world
pragmatically. This - does not mean
abandoning the major goals of the
European Green Deal but rather
reorienting them ---- “without
giving up either prosperity
or independence.”
The German secretary stressed that the EU needs
“trade agreements” in the current context and
specifically advocated for the agreement
negotiated with Mercosur --- which is
currently blocked, primarily due to
France’s firm opposition, citing
significant potential harm to
its agriculture.
Kluttig also noted that ----- “reducing bureaucracy, is a
decisive factor for progress,” adding that businesses
should not be forced to expand administrative
control departments, but should - instead -
increase their number of engineers ----
to accelerate innovation.
On Friday... the Movement of French Enterprises
(MEDEF), the Federation of German Industries
(BDI), and General Confederation of Italian
Industry (Confindustria) signed a joint
declaration calling for a boost in
competitiveness, a reduction
in bureaucracy, accelerated
innovation, and facilitated
investment..... through a
single capital market.
“We must move from words to action,” demanded the
MEDEF president, Patrick Martin -- who announced
his intention to present this declaration to the EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen.
In their declaration, the business organizations
stated - that the next months leading up to
Trump’s inauguration would be crucial
for Europe to make a decisive shift.
Otherwise, “opportunities will be
lost, and it will be too late.”
_____________________________
Venezuela sends 2nd shipment
of humanitarian aid --- to Cuba
November 21st, 5:30pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Venezuelan Government sent another shipment
consisting of more than 200 tons of humanitarian
aid to Cuba on Thursday to compensate for the
damage caused by the hurricanes that hit the
Caribbean island in recent weeks.
The solidarity shipment departed from the port of La
Guaira, in the state of the same name (north), in the
presence of Bolivarian Foreign Minister, Yván Gil,
and Cuban Ambassador, Dagoberto Rodríguez,
among other officials.
The head of Venezuelan diplomacy.. explained to reporters that the shipment left for the port of
Santiago de Cuba (east) and is made up of
more than 200 tons of aid, including
construction materials ---- and
support for communities.
“We are talking about more than 54,000 items
inside these more than 20 containers,”
he said.
Gil pointed out that this aid from Venezuela ---- is to
address an emergency caused by climate change
that has impacted the Cuban nation, which was
affected by hurricanes Oscar, which first hit
the far east of the country, and in early
November by Rafael, which hit
the west.
Cuba was also affected by two earthquakes, the
largest of which measured 6.7 on the Richter
scale and caused material damage to
homes and infrastructure.
The Venezuelan foreign minister stressed, “We have
received Cuban solidarity at all times, the Cuban
people and their Government have always
been there to support us, in literacy, in
medical and technical missions, in
agriculture and food.”
He reaffirmed that the Venezuelan Government will
always be responding with “a lot of solidarity and
strength to support sister Cuba in the context of
the strategic bilateral alliance that we have and
the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our
America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP).
On November 6th, the Bolivarian Republic sent the first
shipment of humanitarian aid containing construction
materials, primary care and other items.
In his program Maduro Live de Repente, broadcast on
social networks, radio and Venezolana de Televisión,
President Nicolás Maduro informed that mattresses,
roofs, cleaning materials, parts, food, and stoves,
among others, were sent.
He added... that they have been waiting for the
activation of the joint support of Nicaragua,
Bolivia, Venezuela, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and
the entire Caribbean.
The Alliance is the expression of unity and love,
Maduro said, and assured that --- “Cuba has
brothers who love and support it and
we are going together, ALBA-TCP
and Venezuela.”
____________________________________
Brazil’s Police accuse Bolsonaro
and others - of attempted coup
November 21st, 3:25pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Federal Police (PF) of Brazil today accused
former President Jair Bolsonaro, and 36 other
people of alleged crimes to violently abolish
the Democratic Rule of Law, coup d'état
and criminal conspiracy.
The 884-page investigation report
was forwarded to the Supreme
Federal Court (STF).
Among the accused..... is former General Walter
Braga Neto, ex Minister of Defense (2021-2022),
This is the first time former president Bolsonaro
faces accusations ------ of being responsible for
conspiring against democracy in the country.
The Police, who also sent the document to Bolsonaro’s
defense lawyer, Braga Netto -- and the leader of the
Liberal Party, Valdemar Costa Neto, indicate.. the
alleged conspirators had organized themselves
into several cells, according to their tasks.
This helped investigators learn about
individual responsibilities.
One group was in charge of spreading misinformation
and attacking the electoral system; another was
tasked with “inciting military personnel
to join the coup d’état.”
There was also a “legal core”, to support pro coup
actions, one for the parallel intelligence and a
third one to promote coercive measures.
As the next step, the Police must forward the report
to the Attorney General’s Office, which would then
proceed to assess the information and decide
whether or not to file charges against those
involved, something the Attorney General,
Paulo Gonet, is not likely to do
until next year.
The delay will largely follow
from the case’s complexity.
The police accusation is based -- to a good extent on
testimonies given by Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid,
former assistant to Bolsonaro, who did so --- in
exchange for lenient treatment.
Commanders of the Army and the Air Force in the
Bolsonaro Government (2019-2022) told the PF
that the he had presented them with the coup
project, with - only then - commander of the
Navy, Almir Garnier, accepting his plans.
____________________________________
Pezeshkian ---- to the US & Europeans:
You are killing women and children
November 21st, 2:49pm
(PressTV)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, says the US
and certain European states have always adopted
hypocritical approaches as bombs manufactured
at their factories are killing women and minors
worldwide.
“You are a party which kills women and children
with bombs. Shame on you!,” he said in the
southeastern city of Zahedan on Thursday.
His remarks came after the Third Committee of the UN
General Assembly adopted a resolution tabled by
Canada and supported by the West, accusing
Iran of a “violation of its international
obligations".
The draft resolution, approved by a vote of 77 in favour,
28 against - as well as 66 abstentions - on Wednesday
......claimed that “respect for human rights” had
deteriorated in the country.
Iran’s deputy permanent representative to the United
biased, and hypocritical” resolution against Iran.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran ---- categorically rejects the
unjust and politically motivated resolution concerning
the human rights situation in our country. While we
acknowledge... that there is always room for
improvement - it is crucial to underscore
the selective, biased, and hypocritical
nature of this resolution,” she said.
There are no boundaries to the hypocrisy, blatant
double standards, and selective application of
human rights in the foreign policy of Canada
and its allies, Ershadi stated.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran remains steadfast ------- in
its commitment - to promoting and protecting human
rights. It will.. continue its constructive cooperation
& engagement with UN human rights mechanisms
as well as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)."
These accusations of human rights violations against
Iran come - as the humanitarian situation is further
deteriorating in the Gaza Strip, due to Israel’s
brutal aggression - and the failure of the
international community - to put
an end to it.
Backed by the United States and its Western allies --
Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023.
The bloody onslaught on Gaza has, so far, killed 44,056
Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured
104,268 others. Thousands more are also missing
and presumed dead under rubble.
___________________________________________
Siluanov announced Russia's plans
to use the proceeds from frozen
assets of the West
November 20th, 7:27pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Russia intends to use the proceeds from frozen assets of the West as a response. This statement was made on November 20th by the Minister of Finance of the
Russian Federation Anton Siluanov on the TV
channel "Russia 1".
"We also........ have frozen resources of Western investors
and Western financial market participants, companies.
The proceeds from these assets will be used in the
same way as the actions of those countries that
have frozen our gold and foreign exchange
reserves and use the proceeds from the
placement of these reserves," he said.
Siluanov stressed that this is Russia's response to the
same actions of the West. In addition -- he noted that
the measures will be implemented after information
about the West's unfriendly actions.
Earlier, on November 15, a senior representative of the
EU told reporters that in the spring of 2025, the EU
intends to transfer €1.9 billion from the frozen
Russian assets - to Ukraine.
Earlier, on November the 12th, Estonian Kaya Kallas, a
candidate for the post of head of EU diplomacy, said
that the transfer of assets to Russia is legal.
At the same time, the chairman of the State Duma
Committee on the Financial Market, Anatoly
Aksakov --- in an interview with Izvestia ---
refuted her words, calling the decision
of Western politicians to confiscate
Russian frozen assets - illegal.
On October 23rd, the EU Council approved the issue of
a loan to Ukraine in the amount of €35 billion, repaid
from the frozen assets of Russia. It was specified ---
that it is the EU's contribution to the G7 loan in the
amount of up to €45 billion. The maximum loan
repayment period is 45 years.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called the loan to
Ukraine at the expense of frozen assets of
the Russian Federation a new fraudulent
scheme of Brussels --- to appropriate
someone else's property.
She stressed that Moscow's decisive response to
what is happening - will not be long in coming.
Western countries have stepped up military and
financial support for Kiev against the backdrop
of the Russian special operation to protect the
Donbass, which was announced by Russian
President Vladimir Putin on February 24,
2022, after the situation in the region
worsened --- due to shelling by the
Ukrainian military. Soon - the EU
approved the decision to freeze
the assets of the Central Bank
of the Russian Federation.
_________________________________
The analyst explained the decision of
embassies to suspend work in Kiev
November 20th, 3:59pm
(RT.ru)
Alexey Podberezkin, Director of the Centre for Military and Political Studies at MGIMO, commented in an interview with kp.ru on the decision of a number of embassies of foreign countries in Kiev to suspend work, due to possible security threats.
According to him, Washington expects an escalation
after allowing Kiev to strike deep into Russia with
long-range weapons.
"I am absolutely convinced that there will be strikes on
heating networks and electricity, and, of course, to
remain in the city without heat, without sewerage,
without water supply, to put it mildly, is not very
comfortable," said Podberezkin.
He also recalled cases of unintentional rockets
hitting embassy buildings, as was the case,
for example, in Yugoslavia.
"If it is a fairly serious missile, such as the X-101 or X-
32, then it will just be a big crater. And the rats.... ran
away from the sinking ship," the analyst concluded.
On November 20, the Embassies of Italy and Greece
in Kiev announced the suspension of work
due to security threats.
The US Embassy in Kiev was also closed
due to reports of an alleged air attack.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman,
Maria Zakharova, said that Ukraine is
no longer valuable to the West.
__________________________________
The former president of Abkhazia called
the protests in the country an attempt
at a coup d'etat
November 19th, 4:22pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Opposition protests in Abkhazia, during which demonstrators entered the republic's parliament, were an attempted coup.
This was stated by the retired President
of the country Aslan Bzhania, in an
interview with Izvestia.
"It was an attempted coup d'etat. The action was
planned, it was organized by a certain part of
the opposition. Of course, I will analyze it in
order to understand the underlying causes
of this phenomenon," Bzhania said.
He noted that the protests will most likely not end
there, but without his resignation, the
consequences would have been
more severe.
The ex-president believes that Abkhazia suffered
serious reputational damage because of the
incident, because many people, including
investors, are afraid.
Bzhania noted that the protesters had different
motives, for example, among them were
people who were sincerely mistaken
and thought that the course of the
President of the republic was
allegedly wrong and the
country needed to
change power.
The politician drew attention to the fact that the
footage from the demonstrations showed that
the demonstrators were not in the mood for
dialogue. In addition, they used force,
although they had no right. This
resulted - in the seizure of the
parliament building complex,
but the opposition failed to
take power by force.
The former president pointed out that many residents
of Abkhazia have weapons under the law, which he
himself considers too loyal. If the protests had
continued, some of the parties might have
"lost their nerve", and it is not known
how people would have used
their weapons.
Bzhania noted that those who demanded his
resignation, do not yet have their own
program, and their ideas, which the
ex-president himself heard about,
coincide with his views.
Earlier in the day, Bzhania resigned, fulfilling his part of
the agreement with the opposition, which he agreed to
amid protests in the country. Later, the President's
resignation was accepted by the Parliament of
the republic. Together with Bzhania, the head
of the Government of Abkhazia, Alexander
Ankvab, will leave the post, but other
ministers will remain in place.
Earlier, on November 11th, clashes occurred near the
building of the State Security Service of Abkhazia in
Sukhum. Prosecutor General of the republic Adgur
Agrba said that operatives detained several
people that day, and then decided to
release them.
Later, on November 15, a truck of protesters broke
down the gate of the fence around the parliament
building, some of the protesters entered the
internal territory, and the opposition
clashed with the police. Bzhania
said the next day that he was
ready to resign --- if the
demonstrators left
the parliament.
________________________________
Uruguay’s 2024 Presidential Election:
Key Candidates, Issues, and
Runoff Insight
November 19th, 4:08pm
(teleSUR)
Tomorrow at 19:00 (local time), presidential candidates
Yamandú Orsi of the Frente Amplio Party (FA) and
Álvaro Delgado of the Partido Nacional (PN)
will conduct their final campaign events.
Yamandú Orsi will conclude his tour in Las Piedras, a
town where the FA secured 54% of the valid votes
in the October elections.
Meanwhile, Álvaro Delgado will deliver his last speech
at the Obelisk in Montevideo, where his coalition
received 43% support.
In the final weeks of the campaign, Orsi has
concentrated on key locations, visiting
Velázquez, Lascano, and Cebollatí,
three areas in Rocha where the
FA did not win against
coalition parties.
In contrast, Delgado has hosted an event on
the Montevideo Rambla, visited 15 cities in
the interior, and met with various officials.
In the most recent presidential debate, Yamandú Orsi
was deemed the winner by 88% of his potential
voters, while Álvaro Delgado garnered support
from 86% of those planning to vote for him,
according to El Observador.
Orsi focused on presenting programmatic proposals,
while Delgado adopted a more confrontational
stance, emphasizing criticism of the
Broad Front and its policies.
As they approach the election, both candidates aim
to attract undecided voters, whose decisions will
be crucial in determining who will govern
Uruguay for the next five years.
_____________________________________
Lula rules out wars ----- in
G20 summit discussions
November 18th, 12:55pm
(Prensa Latina)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ruled
out the issue of armed conflicts and wars as the
central theme of the discussions at the G20
Leaders' Summit that begins today in
Rio de Janeiro.
During an interview with Globonews television station,
Lula specified ---- that his choice was guided by a
strategic vision aimed at the needs of the most
vulnerable, instead of focusing attention on
global warlike confrontations.
“I think I made sure ----- not to bring the war to the G20
because otherwise we would not be discussing other
things that are important for the people who are not
at war, who are the poor people, who are the
invisible ones in the world that people
often do not see,” he pointed out.
He emphasized - that the priority of his agenda, is aimed
at issues such as hunger, racial and gender inequality,
in addition to other social challenges that affect
billions of people around the world.
For the progressive leader, the debate on wars,
while relevant, should not overshadow the
needs of the most disadvantaged.
“These are the people..... who are hungry, the people
who are despised, the victims of racial inequality,
the women -- who are victims of gender politics.
That’s why I’ve made a point - of bringing these
issues instead of bringing wars,” he explained.
Although he avoided focusing on armed conflicts
in the discussions, Lula reaffirmed Brazil’s and
the G20’s commitment to the pursuit of peace
in regions of conflict.
“We are going to give a recommendation that we want
peace in the Gaza Strip, we want peace in Lebanon,
peace in Ukraine and we want to put an end to all
wars,” he remarked.
The president also drew attention to the global
economic impact of armed conflicts.
_______________________________________
Hunger and Poverty, Are Not
the Result of Scarcity, Lula
Says - at the G20 Summit
November 18th, 11:26am
(teleSUR)
On Monday, Brazilian President Lula da Silva
inaugurated the Group of 20 (G20) summit
in Rio de Janeiro, emphasizing - that
eradicating hunger is essential to
achieving a world at peace.
The progressive leader painted a grim picture for the
heads of state and government of the world’s most
powerful economies, including Joe Biden (United
States) and Xi Jinping (China).
“Today ----------- the world is worse off. We have the highest
number of armed conflicts since World War II and the
largest number of forced displacements... ever
recorded. Extreme climate phenomena are
showing their devastating effects in all
corners of the planet,” he said, and
denounced -- the widening social
gaps.... in the aftermath of the
COVID-19 pandemic.... which
left a world with 733 million
hungry people.
“Such a figure ------- is as if the combined populations of
Brazil, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, South
Africa, and Canada, were going hungry,” warned
Lula, who deemed it “unacceptable” ----- that
trillions of dollars are allocated to military
expenditures and called on G20 leaders
to end hunger ------- a “scourge that
shames humanity.”
“Hunger and poverty are not the result of scarcity or
natural phenomena but are the product of political
decisions that perpetuate the exclusion of a large
part of humanity,” said the Brazilian president ----
who experienced hunger firsthand ---- during his
childhood in Brazil’s harsh northeastern region.
Lula’s statements came moments after the launch of
the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, an
initiative spearheaded by the Brazilian president
and founded with 147 members.... among which
Argentina, currently led by far-right President
Javier Milei, is notably absent.
Over the next two days, G20 leaders will meet at the
Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro to discuss
how to eradicate hunger, reform international
organizations, and advance the
energy transition.
Currently, the G20 comprises Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India,
Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea,
Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South
Africa, Türkiye, the UK and the US.
As of 2024, it also includes two
regional bodies: the EU and
the African Union.
____________________________
Abkhazian president tasks
Security Council with
maintaining order
after protests
November 18th, 9:21am
(TASS)
Abkhazia’s President Aslan Bzhania has tasked the
country’s Security Council with maintaining law
and order in the republic, the presidential
press service said.
"The head of state gave specific instructions to
Security Council members to prevent illegal
actions," it said, after the first meeting of
the Abkhazian Security Council meeting
after the outbreak of protests.
According to the presidential press service,
participants in the meeting, which was
chaired by the president, discussed
the current situation and how to
stabilize it.
_________________________________
Armed men -- block Abkhazian cabinet
officials from accessing workplaces
November 18th, 8:37am
(TASS)
Armed individuals are preventing employees of
Abkhazia's Cabinet of Ministers from entering
their workplaces, the republic's presidential
press office reported.
"Armed individuals ----- are preventing employees of the
[Abkhazian] Cabinet of Ministers from entering their
workplaces. According to... available information,
the building of the Cabinet of Ministers located
in the city of Sukhum, Lakoba Street 21, is
also blocked by the opposition," the
agency said.
Early on November 18, armed individuals did not allow
ministry employees to go to their workplace, the
presidential press centre wrote, quoting
Abkhazia's acting Culture Minister,
Dinara Smyr.
At the same time, the administrative building of the
Cabinet of Ministers at 9 Zvanba Street - continues
to operate as usual, a TASS correspondent reports.
This building houses Abkhazia's Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Education,
the Fund for Disabilities, the Pension Fund and
the Road Fund... as well as Apsnypress news
agency and several republican newspapers.
On November 15, Abkhazia’s parliament was expected
to consider the ratification of the agreement with
Russia...... on the implementation of investment
projects in Abkhazia by Russian legal entities,
but the session was canceled ---- after the
lawmakers failed to agree on its agenda.
The opposition, meanwhile, demanded that the issue
be removed from the agenda ----- entirely. Later, the
opposition demanded President Aslan Bzhania
resign. However, Bzhania refused to step
down and called on people not to yield
to provocations.
Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman,
Maria Zakharova said that Russia had not interfered
in Abkhazia’s domestic processes and hoped that
the situation would be settled peacefully.
The ministry warned Russian nationals ------ against
traveling to Abkhazia. Deputy Speaker of Russia’s
Federation Council (upper house of parliament),
Konstantin Kosachev, told TASS that Russia
supports the constitutional order in the
friendly country and stressed that
Russia has never supported
state coups.
___________________________________
Secret prisonsin Ukraineoverseen
by Western intelligence —
former SBU officer
November 18th, 6:31am
(TASS)
The operations of secret prisons and torture facilities
in Ukraine... are carried out with the approval and
under the supervision of Western intelligence
services, former employee of the Security
Service of Ukraine (SBU) Alexander
Mazur, told TASS.
"Western intelligence knows everything ------- the number
of prisons, who is held there, and who is in charge. All
the information - is reported to the top officials. They
oversee 100% of the operations, and they are fully
aware of everything. Nothing happens without
their approval," Mazur said.
_____________________________
G7 leaders confirmed their desire...
to harm Russia through sanctions
November 16th, 4:21pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The leaders of the Group of Seven countries... made
a statement in support of Ukraine, in which they confirmed their desire to harm Russia through sanctions. The corresponding statement..
was published on the official website
of the association on
November 16.
"The G7 --- reaffirms its commitment to impose
serious costs on Russia through sanctions,
export controls.... and other effective
measures," the statement said.
In 2024, Italy holds the G7 presidency -- which
also includes the US, Canada, Japan, France,
Germany and the UK.
On the same day, Alexander, a German entrepreneur
and public figure, a direct descendant of Otto von
Bismarck ---- told Izvestia at the BRICS and EU symposium, that he hopes for the return of
diplomatic relations between Germany
and Russia. At the same time,
he noted that anti-Russian
sanctions are useless.
On November 9th, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep
Borrel, said that the organization is preparing the
15th package of anti-Russian sanctions. It is
assumed that it will include a ban on the
export of energy carriers from the
Russian Federation.
On October the 14th, EU Parliament member Lebos
Blaga, said in an interview with Izvestia that
sanctions against Russia -- mean a long-
term prospect of economic suicide
in Europe.
Western countries increased sanctions pressure on
the Russian Federation after the start of a special
operation to protect the civilian population of
Donbass, which was announced on
February 24, 2022.
________________________________
Abkhazian Civic Chamber establishes group - for negotiations between authorities, opposition
SUKHUM, November 16th, 3:10pm
(TASS)
The Civic Chamber (CC) of Abkhazia established a
group for negotiations between the authorities
and the opposition, the Apsnypress news
agency reported.
Previously, CC members Sokrat Dzhindzholia and
Ruslan Khashig voiced their initiative to act as
mediators in the negotiations between
President Aslan Bzhania and the
Abkhazian opposition.
"The special group, established by the Civic Chamber
------ for negotiations between the authorities and the
opposition, informed both sides about the potential
options.... to settle the ongoing political crisis. The
group’s representatives, led by CC member, former
Prime Minister of Abkhazia Sokrat Dzhindzholia,
met with the opposition leaders - and President
Aslan Bzhania," the news agency said, adding
that the negotiations, which started today,
will continue tomorrow.
The Parliament of Abkhazia was supposed to review
the ratification of the agreement with Russia
regarding Russian legal entities’ investment
projects in the republic. The parliamentary
session was canceled ---- because the law-
makers were unable to approve its agenda.
The opposition expressed its disagreement and
demanded another parliamentary meeting
to remove this issue altogether.
Several hundred people ----- took to the streets at the
parliament building. They were able to surround and
occupy the entire government buildings complex.
The Security Council of Abkhazia called the situation
tense. Later, the opposition called on President
Bzhania to resign. In response, he stated that
he will continue his duties and called on the
people not to succumb to provocations.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria
Zakharova said that Russia, which does not
interfere in Abkhazia’s internal issues,
expects that the current situation
would be resolved by peaceful
means, exclusively.
The Foreign Ministry advised
Russian nationals to refrain
from visiting Abkhazia.
___________________________
Serbian MP: you have to be a complete
idiot not to understand the prospects
of BRICS
November 16th, 2:41pm
(RT.ru)
You have to be a complete idiot not to understand the
prospects for BRICS unification, Serbian MP Dragan
Stanojevic told RT.
Stanojevic noted that BRICS is a new reality.
"This is a new market, a new economic potential, a
new political potential, a new security," he said.
Unlike BRICS, countries receive only blackmail and
conditions that restrict freedom - from the EU, Stanojevic stressed.
Earlier, the head of the German Council for Constitution
and Sovereignty, Ralf Niemeyer, said that Germany
should join BRICS as soon as possible.
________________________________________
Venezuela Offers Immediate Aid
to Central American Countries
Affected by Storm Sara
November 16th, 1:23 pm
(teleSUR)
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry released a statement
on Saturday --- saying that the Caribbean country’s government will supply urgent aid to the nations
affected in Central America after the passage
of tropical storm Sara.
“The Bolivarian Government, makes available to the nations concerned ----- and immediately to ----- the government of President Xiomara Castro of Honduras, the technical and human capabilities ----- of the Simón Bolívar Humanitarian Task Force”multidisciplinary team, whose main function is to promote mitigation of the effects of natural disasters in Venezuela and other countries.
Sara landfell on Friday about 165 kilometres (105
miles) west-northwest of Cabo Gracias, on the
border between Honduras and Nicaragua ----
-- according to the US National Hurricane
Centre (NHC) - which reported Sara will
rain 25 to 50 centimetres, during this
journey -- and up to 75 centimetres
in isolated areas.
Venezuelan government’s statement highlights -- that the
aid given to the countries -- will provide any support in
“solidarity that is considered appropriate in the face
of any emergency situation that may arise as a
result of this new natural event.”
In this regard, Venezuela expressed its solidarity
and willingness to accompany the peoples and
governments of Central America, especially
the Republic of Honduras, Nicaragua,
Belize, Guatemala and Mexico.
“Venezuela remains attentive to the cooperation plans
that it will determine to support in these difficult
circumstances and, we reiterate our
commitment to accompany the
nations.... of the Central
American region,” the
statement marks.
In addition, the Bolivarian government reaffirmed
that the union and solidarity between the
peoples of Venezuela - and Central
America ------ are “the basis for
overcoming any challenge.”
______________________________
Colombia promotes land reform
November 16th, 9:14am
(Prensa Latina)
The Colombian government will buy 60,000 hectares of
land for some 220 million dollars, as part of national
actions to promote the agrarian reform, according
to sources from the National Land Agency (ANT).
ANT will also invest approximately 120 million dollars
more to support productive projects, thereby
strengthening the rural and economic
development of the country.
The aforementioned programs... will be executed, thanks
to ...agreements signed with the Special Assets Society (SAE) and the Victims’ Reparation Fund, with a view to
expedite the purchase of land from these entities and
provide resources to compensate victims. Director of
the ANT, Felipe Harman, explained that, in order to achieve these goals ---- the agreement with both
entities ----- has already been signed.
According to the source, the acquisition of lands for
the Reparation Fund is linked to the Government’s
decision to allocate the assets handed over -- as
part of a demobilization of former paramilitary
forces --- the United Self-Defense Forces of
Colombia, so that they can be effectively
used for reparation.
On the other hand, the Agency and the Victims Unit
identified properties in the Fund’s inventory that
were illegally occupied -- by people proxies of
criminal groups & will proceed to purchase
those assets --- to deliver them to
peasant families.
In addition, credits will be facilitated to
projects related to food production.
“The Agrarian Reform does not end with the
delivery of land, but with the planting of crops,” Harman said.
__________________________________
Georgia’s ruling party - scores
53.93% in elections, wins 89
mandates — CEC results
November 16th, 5:58am
(TASS)
Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia
party has won the parliamentary elections with
53.93% of the vote and received 89 mandates
out of 150, according to the final data of the
Central Election Commission (CEC), which
CEC Secretary Giorgi Javakhishvili
read out.
At the final session, Javakhishvili announced the
percentages of votes gained by all parties.
Apart from Georgian Dream, four opposition parties
broke the 5% barrier. Coalition for Change gained
11.03% and 19 mandates, Unity — National
Movement — 10.17% and 16 mandates,
Strong Georgia — 8.81% and 14
mandates and Gakharia for
Georgia — 7.78% and
12 mandates.
Javakhishvili reported that over 2.1 million people
voted out of more than 3.5 million eligible voters,
with approx. 34,900 ballots declared invalid.
The CEC session is being held amid protests by the
opposition and its supporters outside the building.
Earlier in the session, opposition CEC member David
Kirtadze threw black paint from a cup onto CEC
chief Giorgi Kalandarishvili’s face and suit.
Following a necessary break, the session resumed,
with Kalandarishvili continuing to preside with a
patch covering his paint-stained eye.
_______________________________________
Press service: Bzhania did not sign
the document on revocation of
the investment agreement
November 16th, 12:03am
(RT.ru)
The press service of the President of Abkhazia, Aslan
Bzhania, said that he did not sign the document on
withdrawing the draft law - on ratification of the
Russian-Abkhazian agreement on investment
projects from the parliament.
"The President did not sign the document on withdrawing the draft law, "On ratification of the agreement between the Government of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the
implementation of investment projects by Russian legal entities, in the territory of
the Republic of Abkhazia" ...from the parliament," TASS reports.
Earlier, Apsnypress said that Bzhania discussed
security issues in Abkhazia with the
security forces.
On November 15, the opposition in Abkhazia, whose
representatives stormed a complex of government
buildings, put forward a demand to dismiss the
leader of the republic, Aslan Bzhania, and
hold early presidential elections.
President Bzhania then said that he would not resign
and would continue to work at his post, like other
"The prevalence of obesity.... has grown particularly
rapidly - doubling in the last three decades among
both adult men and women," the publication says.
However, it is emphasized that if the US government's
health and nutrition policy -- is not improved, then by 2050, the share of adults with obesity or
overweight, will exceed 80%.
Earlier - the head of the cancer centre "SM-Klinika",
oncologist, Professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences,
and an excellent student of Russian healthcare,
Alexander Seryakov, warned ---- that being
overweight can cause the appearance
of malignant neoplasms.
Natalia Tananakina, MD, an endocrinologist at
Meditsina JSC (Academician Roitberg Clinic),
also spoke about ''hormones'' ...that affect the appearance of weight and obesity.
______________________________________
Slovak MEP calls BRICS-- the
future of the global economy
November 16th, 10:40pm
(RT.ru)
Lubos Blaha, a member of the European Parliament
(EP) from Slovakia, called BRICS the future of the
global economy. On November 15, the official
announced this in his Telegram channel.
"We have come to meet with our partners from Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa. We want to
send a message that the only way to peace is
through dialogue, and diplomacy. Let's be
frank: BRICS is the future of the global
economy. BRICS is the future, my
friends," Blaha said.
These days ------- the MEP is attending an international
conference on the prospects for social and economic
cooperation between BRICS and European countries
and organizations.... which is being held in Sochi.
Together with him, his colleague, a member of the
European Parliament from the Czech Republic,
Ondrej Dostal, arrived at the conference.
Blaha noted that the unification summit held in Kazan was a huge success for Russian diplomacy
The MP also stressed that, while the West is becoming
more and more isolated, more and more strong states
are joining the BRICS.
Earlier in the day, it became known that the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, discussed with the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab
Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
the importance of developing trade
within the global economy.
Moreover... on November 15th, Helga Zepp-Larouche,
founder of the International Schiller Institute, and a
German activist, said in an interview with Dialogue
Works, that Germany could overcome the crisis ---
if it cooperated with BRICS.
She added that if Germany understood its own interests ---- it would offer BRICS countries
cooperation ---- "because they want to
overcome the neocolonial past, stop
being purely exporters and raw
materials appendages... of
producing countries."
And to do this they need engineering
personnel... which Germany has,
the activist noted.
_______________________________________
UAE Foreign Ministry ------ BRICS membership
is designed to promote economic prosperity
November 16th, 9:07pm
(RT.ru)
The UAE Foreign Ministry said that the country's
accession to BRICS ---- is designed to promote
global economic development and prosperity.
"Joining BRICS reflects the UAE's commitment to
promoting economic prosperity, and building
strategic and economic partnerships," the
ministry said on its social network page.
In addition... the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
the country stressed: that the UAE strives to
promote the common goals of sustainable
development and of global prosperity,
strengthening its status ------ as a
reliable multilateral partner
and as..... an important
international centre.
On November the 15th, it became known that
Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, have
become BRICS partner countries.
Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov, also held
talks with Deputy Prime Minister and concurrently
Interior Minister of the United Arab Emirates,
Seif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
____________________________________
President of Abkhazia, Bzhania
-- has left the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic
November 15th, 8:57pm
(Izvestia.ru)
President of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania on Friday, November 15, left the building of the Ministry
of Internal Affairs of the republic, from
where, he addressed supporters.
"The president ----- has left the building of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs and will stay in the village of Tamysh,"
the Telegram channel of the presidential press
service reported.
Sukhum city: how the protests in Abkhazia ended
The main roads are unblocked, all detained
oppositionists have been released, and
tourists... are not in any danger.
Earlier in the day, it became known that in Abkhazia,
a truck of protesters --- broke down the gate of the
parliament fence -- and some of the protesters
entered the territory. It is noted - that there
were clashes between protesters and the
police. Participants of the action threw
eggs and plastic bottles at law
enforcement officers.
___________________________________
The US national debt reached
an historic high, exceeding
$36 trillion
November 15th, 3:35pm
(RT.ru)
The volume of the US federal government's debt to
creditors has updated its historical maximum,
exceeding $36 trillion.
This is evidenced by the data of the US Debt Clock.
As of 18:34 Moscow time, the US national debt
reached $36,000,906,230.
In late October, The Wall Street Journal reported that
the Republican and Democratic Parties of the United
States agreed to ignore the size of the national debt
and budget deficit of the country.
___________________________________
Venezuelan Attorney General Reports - on
Review of Post-Election Violence Cases
November 15th, 1:45pm
(teleSUR)
This review seeks to consolidate the institutional
commitment to peace, justice, and human rights,
said Saab.
On Friday, Venezuela's Attorney, General Tarek William
Saab announced that his office has requested that
the courts ----- review the cases of 225 citizens
detained during the episodes of right-wing
violence ---- that took place after the
presidential elections on July 28.
“We have requested 225 reviews of measures for those
prosecuted for the events that shocked the country
and left a regrettable figure of 28 citizens dead,
nearly 200 people injured, and 500 public and
private assets destroyed,” he said in a
press conference.
Previously, through a statement, Saab announced that,
“after exhaustive investigations based on new clues
and evidence,” the Attorney General’s Office has
coordinated actions with the Judiciary to carry
out those reviews.
This review process proceeded in accordance with
the provisions of Article 285 of the Constitution of
the Republic, the Attorney General’s Office also
pointed out.
As a result of these investigations, the Prosecutor’s
Office requested a review of the measures applied
to the defendants, “considering that Venezuela is
based on higher values, such as life, justice and
human rights, as well as due process enshrined
in article 49 of the Magna Carta, highlighting
the right to defense, the presumption of
innocence and trial by natural judges.”
The review requested by the Prosecutor’s Office, seeks
to facilitate the reunification of the accused with their
families ---- and to consolidate the commitment of the
Venezuelan institutions to peace, justice, and
human rights, Saab pointed out.
Initially, some 2,400 people were imprisoned... for being
related to acts of violence that occurred between July
29 and 30, according to official information. During
those days, the Venezuelan “authorities arrested
people who sought to promote chaos, anxiety,
and terror in the country,” Saab recalled and
denounced that the leaders of the far-right
organizations that promoted the
incidents .....fled abroad.
“We will continue to review the cases that merit
review,” the Attorney General said - warning
that “those who have been responsible for
violent actions --- will be punished.”
_______________________________________________
Clashes break out in front
of Abkhazia's parliament
building
November 15th, 12:19pm
(Prensa Latina)
Detractors of the current government of Abkhazia
clashed with security agents in the vicinity of the
parliamentary seat in Sukhumi, Sputnik news
agency reported today.
This Friday -- demonstrators who were protesting in front of the parliamentary seat - drove a truck against the security fence of the venue, despite the fact that law enforcement
officers tried to prevent it, according to the news agency.
Despite the fact that the parliament building is still
cordoned off by security forces -- the opponents
burst into the premises ---- and demanded the
resignation of the government of the small
self-proclaimed republic in the South
Caucasus.
Earlier, the legislative assembly postponed until next
week debates on the ratification of an investment
agreement with Russia -- which was the first
to recognize Abkhazia’s secession from
Georgia in 2008.
The opposition contests the agreement, which
was signed in Moscow late last October and
would allow Russian companies to
implement investment projects
in Abkhazia.
Supporters of the document argue that the republic
does not have the resources to revive key sectors
of the economy on its own.
On November 11th, Abkhazia’s parliament passed a rule
regulating the legal status of ‘multifunctional centres’, mentioned in the investment agreement with Russia.
Dissatisfied with the event, several opposition activists
assaulted a deputy and were detained; their arrest
triggered mass protests the next day and
blockades of the main bridges and
roads into Sukhumi..... but the
activists were eventually
released.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, former Georgian
territories, proclaimed their secession from
Tbilisi shortly before the breakup of the
USSR in 1991.
At the end of August 2008, Moscow recognized
the independence of both former Georgian
autonomies.
The independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is
also recognized by Nauru, Nicaragua, Venezuela
and Syria.
_________________________________________
Colombian Foreign Minister
announces the country's
desire to join BRICS
November 14th, 9:34pm
(RT.ru)
Bogota is interested in joining BRICS, Colombian
Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said in an
exclusive interview with Izvestia newspaper.
"Colombia is looking at this with interest,
yes, of course," the diplomat said.
Murillo added that Colombia is now looking with great
interest at what is happening with the BRICS. At the
same time, he stressed that the association offers
an "alternative point of view".
Earlier it was reported that Libya is interested in
joining BRICS, the corresponding possibility is
currently being studied in the country's
government circles.
In addition, the head of the German Council for
Constitution and Sovereignty, Ralf Niemeyer,
called on Germany to join BRICS - as soon
as possible.
_____________________________________
Trump nominated Kennedy Jr. for
the post of Secretary of Health
November 14th, 9:26pm
(RT.ru)
US President-elect Donald Trump -- has proposed
Kennedy Jr. as the country's Minister of Health
and Human Services.
"It is expected that Trump will choose Robert Kennedy
Jr. for the post of Secretary of Health and Human
Services,"reports Fox News.
Earlier, Congressman Matt Getz was nominated for the
post of Secretary of Justice and Attorney General of
the United States in the Trump administration.
The new US leader also proposed Senator Marco
Rubio... for the post of US Secretary of State.
_____________________________________
China andRussia to Advance
Law-Enforcement, Security
Cooperation
November 14th, 12:37pm
(teleSUR)
They are willing to continue working together
to safeguard political security and combat
transnational crimes.
On Wednesday, the 9th meeting of the China-Russia
law-enforcement and security cooperation
mechanism was held in Beijing.
Chen Wenqing, a senior official of the Communist Party
of China (CPC), co-chaired the meeting with Sergei
Shoigu, secretary of the Russian Federation
Security Council.
Chen, head of the Commission for Political and Legal
Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, said that --- in
recent years, the leaders of the two countries have
reached a series of important consensuses on developing the China-Russia comprehensive
strategic partnership of coordination for a
new era, while bilateral relations have
continued to develop at a high level.
Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic ties, Chen said that China
is ready to work with Russia to fully implement the
important consensus reached by the two heads
of state and push for the steady and long-term
development of China-Russia relations in the
new era.
Since the establishment of the China-Russia law-
enforcement & security cooperation mechanism
11 years ago, relevant departments of the two
countries have cooperated closely in
safeguarding political security,
anti-terrorism and judicial
assistance, and achieved
many practical results,
Chen said.
China is willing to deepen strategic communication
with Russia, promote close coordination and
cooperation between departments of the
two sides, work together further in
safeguarding political security,
cybersecurity, Belt and Road
security and combating trans
-national crimes, to better
ensure the overall
development and
stability of the
two countries,
Chen added.
Shoigu said that Russia is willing to comprehensively
advance security and law-enforcement cooperation
with China to better safeguard the security
interests of both countries.
_________________________________________
Elon Musk supported the idea of
life imprisonment for doctors
who change the sex of
children
November 14th, 10:29am
by Ekaterina Kosobokova
(Komsomolskaya Pravda)
American businessman Elon Musk supported the
proposal for life imprisonment for doctors who
perform sex reassignment operations
for children.
His comment on the social network X was a reaction
to the statement of one of the users, who called for
life imprisonment of doctors who perform sex
reassignment operations for children. So a
resident of the country commented on an
article in the Times newspaper, which
reports that over the past five years
in the US, at least 14,000 children
have undergone "surgical or
chemical castration."
Earlier, Musk supported the opinion of Florida Governor
Ron Desantis, who said that in his state it is forbidden
to change the sex of a child. According to the
entrepreneur, this should in principle
be a criminal offense.
In the summer, the businessman announced the
relocation of the headquarters of his company
SpaceX to Texas from California, where it was previously located.
Musk explained his decision by rejecting the law on
LGBT*, which was signed by California Governor
Gavin Newsom.
Among other things, the document stipulates the right
of schools not to inform parents about their child's
intention to change their gender, as well as
about the child's sexual orientation.
* Recognized as an extremist organization
and banned in Russia
______________________________________________
SalvadoransDo Not Forget the
Jesuits Massacred During
the Civil War
November 14th, 9:20am
(teleSUR)
Former President Cristiani ...was implicated in the 1989
murders of the six Jesuits and two Salvadoran women.
On Wednesday, the community at the Central American
University (UCA) remembered the victims of the civil
war in El Salvador (1980-1992) on the 35th
anniversary of the massacre of six
Jesuit priests, five Spanish, and
two Salvadoran women.
The event ---- included the inauguration of the exhibit
“Traces of Memory” at the Monsignor Oscar Romero
Centre on the UCA campus. The exhibit features
nine altars with candles, photographs, flowers,
and personal items of some of the victims.
The commemoration remembers civilians—mostly
women, children, and elderly—who were killed in
massacres such as El Mozote, El Calabozo, El
Sumpul, and the killings at Tenango and
Guadalupe. It also honours figures like
Monsignor Romero, Father Rutilio
Grande, the Jesuit priests, and
four Dutch journalists --- all
murdered --- by members
of the Salvadoran Army.
“The UCA martyrs - in some way - represent all of El
Salvador’s martyrs - all those who gave their lives
for an unfulfilled ideal of justice and rights. What
we aim to do here is not only commemorate our
UCA martyrs but to recognize the whole history
of martyrdom, suffering...... and longing for
freedom and justice --- that we continue
to be denied today,” said Nicaraguan
Rodolfo Cardenal, director of the
Romero Centre.
“We are where we are... because there is a past. If I lose
the memory of that past - I don’t know where I am, and
if I don’t know where I am, I can’t move into the future
-- or others will take me into the future, but not myself.
The Salvadoran people, like any other, have the right
to determine their future,” he added.
The exhibit will be open to the public --- until November
30, coinciding with the start of the preliminary hearing
against 11 people - including former President Alfredo
Cristiani (1989-1994), implicated in the 1989 murders
of the Jesuits and two Salvadoran women.
In the early hours... of November the 16th, 1989, amid
the largest guerrilla offensive during the Salvadoran
civil war, an elite army unit executed the priests
and the two women - on the UCA campus.
The Salvadoran war, mainly fueled by poverty, social
inequality, and military repression, erupted after the
assassination of Monsignor Romero (March 1980) -
and left 75,000 dead, around 8,000 disappeared,
and hundreds of massacres. The conflict pitted
the U.S.-backed Salvadoran Army against the
guerrilla group Farabundo Marti National
Liberation Front (FMLN), which later
became a political party and
governed the country for
20 years.
___________________________
Venezuela Increases Oil
Production Despite U.S.
Sanctions
November 13th, 12:52pm
(teleSUR)
Over the past five years ---- U.S.-EU pressure measures
have impacted the Venezuelan GDP by US$642 billion.
In October, the state-owned company Petroleos
de Venezuela (PDVSA) ...increased its average
production to reach 989,000 barrels per day
(bpd), marking a 4.8 percent increase
compared to the 943,000 bpd
produced in September.
A recent report by the Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC) highlighted --- that this
growth, equivalent to an additional 46,000 bpd,
reflects a positive trend in Venezuela’s
oil industry.
October’s production --- also shows a significant 25.8
percent increase, compared to October 2023 -- when
output stood at 786,000 bpd, indicating Venezuela’s
productive potential. This South American country
holds the largest proven oil reserves in the world.
Additionally, the price of Venezuelan oil, known as
Merey 16 --- has also recovered, with an increase
of US$3.39 in October - representing the largest
rise among OPEC crudes. Recently, Venezuela
strengthened its production capacity..... by
signing several cooperation agreements
with transnational companies such as
Spain’s Repsol and France’s Maurel
& Prom.
Historically, hydrocarbon exports have been
Venezuela’s primary source of foreign
currency revenue. In recent years..
however, arbitrary US sanctions
have impacted the operations of its oil industry.
Despite having the world’s largest proven oil reserves,
the economic sanctions imposed by the US and EU — including 947 unilateral coercive measures — have
led to a drastic decline in production and exports.
These circumstances... have limited the country’s
opportunities for economic recovery, prompting
Venezuela to seek alternatives, to revive its
industry and restore its role in the global
energy market.
Over the past five years, U.S.-EU pressure measures
have impacted Venezuela’s GDP by US$642 billion,
said Vice President Delcy Rodriguez during last
week’s meeting of the Venezuela-Russia
Business Council.
___________________________________
Argentine Judges Uphold Conviction
Against Former President
Fernandez-Kirchner
November 13th, 12:23pm
Previously, Cristina denounced the lack of impartiality
of the judges, highlighting their ties to the right-wing
politician Macri.
On Wednesday, the Federal Chamber of Criminal
Appeals confirmed the sentence of six years in
prison - and “permanent disqualification from
holding public office” ---- against the former
Argentine President -- Cristina Fernandez-
Kirchner (2007-2015), in a case involving
irregularities in public works contracts.
In Deecember. 2022, Federal Oral Court No. 2 sentenced Fernandez-Kirchner... for the fraudulent administration of public funds ----- in the “Vialidad” case ----- which investigated 'irregularities' in the awarding of 51 public works contracts to companies owned by the businessman Lazaro Baez -- during the
administration... of her late husband,
former President, Nestor Kirchner
(2003-2007), and herself, in the
province of Santa Cruz.
Judges Mariano Borinsky, Gustavo Hornos, and Diego
Barroetaveña, ruled to sentence Fernandez-Kirchner
to six years in prison - & permanent disqualification
from holding public office “finding her criminally responsible... for the offense of fraudulent
administration... to the detriment of
the public administration.”
This decision..... could impede a potential candidacy of the former president in the 2025 legislative elections although it is expected that Fernandez-Kirchner will file an appeal with the Supreme Court ----- a process that could take several months or even years.
Senator Carlos Linares’ text reads -- “My deepest solidarity and support for our colleague Cristina Fernandez-Kirchner, once again a victim of political and judicial persecution, in a case without evidence. This attack is not against Cristina --- but against what she represents: sovereignty and social justice.
''There is no doubt that what they want is to put an end
to popular governments that care for the people.
Today - more than ever - we embrace you,
Cristina. No matter how hard it tries,
the judicial mafia - will not be able
to outlaw the love of the people.”
On Tuesday, Cristina Fernandez-Kirchner, who was not
present in court -- published an extensive statement
in which she anticipated a ruling against her and
denounced an attempt to proscribe her.
The Argentine former president, who has frequently
claimed to be the target of judicial and political
persecution, argued that the Vialidad case is
a show, intended to achieve her permanent
disqualification from holding public office.
She also denounced the lack of impartiality of the
judges who upheld her sentence and highlighted
their ties to former President Mauricio Macri
(2015-2019).
In addition to upholding the sentence for fraudulent
administration of public funds, the Chamber today,
rejected the prosecution’s request to also convict
her of the crime of illicit association, and
confirmed the sentences of other
defendants.
Among them are businessman Lazaro Baez, former
Public Works Secretary, Jose Lopez, and the
former Director of the National Highway
Administration, Nelson Periotti.
The judges confirmed the acquittals of former Federal
Planning Minister Julio De Vido, former Deputy
Secretary of Public Works - Abel Fatala,
the former Santa Cruz Highway Dept
official Hector Garro, and Carlos
Kirchner, former official of the
Federal Planning Ministry.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Argentina:
The Government has renamed the Nestor Kirchner
gas pipeline, in its attempt to erase the country's
political and ideological cultural symbols. pic.twitter.com/ypmSYAifoy
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish)
November 12, 2024
_______________________________________
The New Venezuelan State To Be
Based on Direct Democracy:
President Maduro
November 12th, 12:34pm
(teleSUR)
From November 14 to 16, Venezuelans will participate
in a “Grand National Congress,” --- where they will discuss development proposals stemming from
over 90,000 assemblies.... which were held
across the country with the involvement
of 3.2 million citizens.
“Currently ---- in which country does a sitting and re-
elected President -- call upon the entire population
to reflect on the homeland and build the future?,”
Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro asked in a meeting with the coordinators of the “Five
Generations Forging the Bolivarian
Revolution”, namely, the Heroic
Precursor Generation, the
Founding Generation, the
Golden Intermediate
Generation...... the
Young Generation
and the Brilliant
Generation.
In this meeting, which aimed to generate a discussion
agenda to analyze the process of transformation and
the territorialization of public policies, Maduro
stated that the upcoming Grand National
Congress --- should deliver three
main outcomes.
In line with the “Seven Transformations” development
plan, the first result must be the construction of a
new hegemony that allows for the construction
of a true and inclusive democracy to
empower Venezuelans.
The Seven Tranformation plan covers the period from
2025 to 2031. It is based on Commander Hugo
Chavez’s strategic planning approach and
aims to address the country’s needs.
A second expected outcome.... is the refoundation of the
Venezuelan State --- which will be based on justice and
direct democracy, with a focus on territory & people.
“We are going to shake the foundations of the
bourgeois state, and build a communal,
democratic, and popular state,”
Maduro declared.
Finally, the third outcome to be achieved ---- is Vision
2054, a plan through which Venezuela will establish
itself as a Latin American power. “This is a great
task!” said the Bolivarian leader, urging all
Venezuelans to join in this objective.
Also present at today’s meeting at the Miraflores
Palace were National Assembly President Jorge
Rodriguez, the Five Revolutionary Generations
Coordinator Francisco Ameliach, and several
members of the Precursor Generation ---
including Maria Leon, Noeli Pocaterra,
Marelis Marcano, and Fernando Soto.
____________________________________
Apsnypress: opposition tried to
break into the state security
building in Abkhazia
November 12th, 12:24am
(RT.ru)
The opposition tried to break into the state security
building in Abkhazia, the republican highway was
blocked, two bridges were blocked by tractors.
According to Apsnypress, the clashes occurred after
the authorities of the republic detained four people
who had previously attacked a member of the
Parliament of Abkhazia after a meeting on
the adoption of a draft - that directly
affects the implementation of the
agreement with Russia - on
investment activities of
Russian legal entities
in the republic.
In connection with the current situation, President
Aslan Bzhania, held an emergency meeting of the
Security Council. The heads of law enforcement
agencies reported on the measures taken to
prevent illegal actions.
Earlier, the newspaper Respublika reported
that mass riots began in Abkhazia.
____________________________________
North Korea has ratified the strategic
partnership agreement with Russia
by Maria Mamaeva
November 11th, 9:36pm
(Komsomolskaya Pravda)
North Korea has ratified the Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership Agreement with Russia. This is reported
by the national radio of the DPRK "Voice of Korea".
The agreement on strategic Partnership between the
Russian Federation and the DPRK --- was signed on
June 19th, 2024, in Pyongyang, during the visit of
Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea.
According to the relevant document, States undertake
to provide any military assistance, in the event of an
armed attack on one of the parties to the treaty. It
is also aimed at developing relations between the
two countries in a number of areas... including
education, medicine, science and tourism.
Earlier it was reported that Russian President
Vladimir Putin also signed the law on
ratification of the Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership Treaty
between Russia and
the DPRK.
It is noted, that the agreement will enter into force
from the moment of the exchange of instruments
of ratification ....and will be open-ended.
_______________________________________
The UN General Assembly Committee
adopted a resolution of the Russian
Federation ---- on combating the
glorification of Nazism
November 11th, 5:36pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The Committee of the UN General Assembly (GA), on
Monday, November 11th, adopted a resolution of the Russian Federation on combating the glorification
of Nazism.
The resolution was co-sponsored - by dozens of
countries, including Armenia, Belarus, China,
Mali, North Korea, Serbia, and South Africa.
According to an RIA Novosti correspondent, 116
countries supported adoption of the resolution.
Against - 54 countries, including Ukraine,
the US, UK, Germany, France, Canada,
Hungary, and Japan.
11 abstained..
Russia has submitted a document, consisting of 74
points, aimed at countering revision of the history
and results of the Second World War.
The document --- calls on States to take concrete
measures ---- including legislative changes and
educational programs, to prevent distortion of
historical truth ---- and to ensure compliance
with international human rights obligations.
The resolution condemns the glorification and
propaganda of Nazism --- including acts of
vandalism, such as putting pro-Nazi
graffiti on monuments to
war victims.
It is necessary to prohibit any solemn
honouring of the Nazi regime - and
its allies.
The document calls for --- the elimination of all forms of
racial discrimination, including legislative measures,
if necessary. It also condemns the use of
educational materials that promote
racism based on ethnic origin,
nationality or religion.
"Russia will do everything to stop
------ and finally eradicate Nazism"
Vladimir Putin on the day of the 80th anniversary of
the liberation of Leningrad, recalled the genocide
during the war.
Earlier, on October 19, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Sergei Vershinin said that the Russian Foreign Ministry
is concerned... about the changed attitude towards
Nazism in the countries of the collective West,
which has now taken the form... of an open
justification. According to him - today -
a number of states openly encourage
the "war" with memorials to soldiers
-liberators and mass graves, at the
same time as glorifying the Nazis
--- and their accomplices.
___________________________________
International Leaders Celebrate
Daniel Ortega’s 79th Birthday
November 11th, 5:05pm
(teleSUR)
Numerous world leaders....... have expressed their
congratulations ------ to the emblematic leader of
the Sandinista Revolution.... in commemoration
of the 79th birthday of Nicaragua’s president,
Daniel Ortega.
The president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
Nicolas Maduro, along with the First Combatant Cilia
Flores, sent a letter on behalf of the Venezuelan
government and people.
In the message... President Maduro highlights Ortega’s
unwavering commitment and dedication to his nation:
“I want to express my sincerest congratulations to
you on this special date as we celebrate 79 years
of your tireless leadership and deep commitment
to your people.”
The Venezuelan leader also wished Ortega health
and success, hoping that he continues to guide
his country toward peace and progress.
From Cuba, President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez
joined in the congratulations through social media
.....sending a “warm hug” and best wishes for health and prosperity.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ------- also conveyed his
congratulations to Ortega, highlighting his contribution
to the strategic relations between the two countries.
In his letter, Putin expressed confidence that
“by uniting our efforts we will ensure the
future development of these relations
for the well-being of the Russian
and Nicaraguan peoples.”
Additionally, Aslan Bzhani, president of Abkhazia,
joined in the celebrations, recognizing Ortega’s
tireless service and thanking Nicaragua for its
recognition of Abkhazia’s independence.
In his letter, Bzhani wished good health - and
new successes to the Nicaraguan president.
Daniel Ortega, leader of the Sandinista National
Liberation Front ---- has been the president of
Nicaragua, since January 2007. During his
tenure, the country has made significant
progress in the fight against poverty &
has implemented policies aimed at
stabilizing - and renewing -
Nicaraguan society.
_________________________
Russia’s Mir payment system -------
to be connected to Iran’s Shetab
November 11th, 9:41am
(PressTV)
Russia's Mir and Iran's Shetab payment systems
will be connected on November the 11th, 2024.
The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) says Russia’s Mir
payment network will be connected to Iran’s
Shetab banking system, as the 2 countries
boost their financial cooperation.
It announced that the measure would take place
during a Monday ceremony, with CBI Governor
Mohammad Reza Farzin and chairmen of
Iranian banks.
By connecting the two countries’ local payment
systems, Iranian banking cards can be used at
automated teller machines (ATMs) in Russia,
the CBI said.
Therefore, it added, every person with an Iranian
banking card can receive his funds in rubles
from Russian ATMs.
The CBI further said... that the second phase of the link-
up process will allow Russian nationals to use Iranian
ATMs, and the third phase will make Iranian Shetab
cards acceptable at point-of-sale (POS) terminals
installed in Russian stores.
Farzin had earlier said ---- that the deal to connect
Russia’s Mir and Iran’s Shetab payment systems
had been finalized during his talks with Russian
officials on the sidelines of the Financial
Congress of the Bank of Russia, in
St. Petersburg, in July.
Iran and Russia, both subject to illegal Western
sanctions, have over the past years deepened
their relations in various fields, including the
economy and trade.
They are also in talks to launch a payment
messaging service that could rival SWIFT,
a dollar-based international system that
has banned the two countries because
of US pressure.
_________________________________
Fico: Zelensky shocked
byTrump's victory
November 9th, 3:27pm
(RT.ru)
Vladimir Zelensky is shocked by the victory
of Republican Donald Trump in the US
presidential election.
This was stated by the Prime Minister
of Slovakia, Robert Fico.
"Zelensky is shocked that he won.... and there
could be a stop to aid from the United States,"
RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
According to Fico, Zelensky is afraid of the end
of the conflict in Ukraine, and his concern is
related to the lack of a political mandate
for him at present.
Earlier, Fico said that the EU is aware of the
''difficult situation of Ukraine'' - at the front.
_______________________________________________
China denouncesPhilippines ---
over two South China Sea acts
November 9th, 2:59 pm
(teleSUR)
On Friday -- China blasted the enacting of two acts by the
Philippines that infringe upon its maritime rights, urging
Manila ...to avoid unilateral actions that may escalate
the dispute --- and complicate the situation in the
South China Sea.
The Foreign Ministry condemned and opposed the so-
called “Maritime Zones Act” and “Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act”, which were signed into law by the President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on Friday.
Beijing summoned the Philippine ambassador to
China and made solemn protests over the acts,
the ministry’s spokeswoman Mao Ning said
at a daily news conference.
The so-called “Maritime Zones Act” - illegally includes
Huangyan Island and most of China’s Nansha Islands
and its adjacent maritime areas in the Philippines’
maritime zones, Mao noted.
Manila is attempting to further solidify the illegal
arbitral award concerning the South China Sea
through domestic legislation, which seriously
violates China’s territorial sovereignty and
maritime rights and interests, she said.
China’s territorial sovereignty, as well as its maritime
rights and interests in the South China Sea, are
based on solid historical and legal evidence
and are in accordance with international
law, including the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the
Sea, Mao said, adding that
it will not be influenced
by the Philippine act.
The spokeswoman reiterated, that China does not
accept or recognize the so-called arbitral award
on the South China Sea, which is “illegal, null
and void”, adding “we oppose and do not
accept any claim or action based on
the award”.
The Philippines is seeking to justify its illegal claims
and actions in the South China Sea --- by approving
the act.... in the name of implementing UNCLOS,
which Mao said is also “illegal, null and void”.
This so-called legislation ------- seriously violates the
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South
China Sea and will make the situation in the South
China Sea more complex.
China will firmly oppose any infringement activities and
provocations by the Philippines in the South China Sea
based on the acts, Mao said, urging the Philippines to
earnestly respect China’s territorial sovereignty and
maritime rights and interests, and maintain peace
and stability in the South China Sea.
China reserves the right to take any
and all measures necessary,
she added.
Speaking of the so-called “Archipelagic Sea Lanes
Act”, Mao noted that various parts of the act are
not compatible with international law and
resolutions of the International
Maritime Organization.
“We ask the Philippines.... to earnestly abide by
international law and not to undermine other
countries’ lawful rights under UNCLOS and
other international laws.”
Also on Friday, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the
National People’s Congress issued a statement to
reject and denounce ---- the so-called “Maritime
Zones Act”, saying that China has sovereignty
over the Nansha Islands, Zhongsha Islands
and their adjacent waters, and China has
jurisdiction over these relevant
maritime areas.
The top legislature -------- urged the Philippines to
immediately stop its illegal actions that infringe
on China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime
rights -- and stop any actions that deliberately
undermine overall China-Philippines relations.
_____________________________________
Putin ----- conveys condolencies to
Pakistan after terrorist bombing
November 9th, 10:11am
(Prensa Latina)
Russian President Vladimir Putin today expressed
his condolences to his Pakistani counterpart
Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif for the consequences of the
terrorist attack on the Quetta
railway station.
The Slavic leader’s telegram, published on the
Kremlin’s website on Saturday -- said Putin
expressed his deepest condolences, and
strongly condemned the barbaric crime,
whose victims included women
and children.
‘We trust that the organisers of the crime
will be punished,’ reads the message
from the Russian head of state.
He also expressed his intention to continue to work
closely with Pakistani partners, to fight all forms
and manifestations of terrorism.
On Saturday, an explosion occurred at a railway station
in the Pakistani city of Quetta, in the province of
Balochistan, killing more than 20 persons
and injuring some 40 others.
According to Chief Superintendent of Police
Muhammad Baloch --- quoted by the Geo
News television channel, the incident
appears to be a suicide bombing.
The Pakistani provinces of Jaiber Pakhtunkhwa
(northwest) and Balochistan (west) suffer
sporadic attacks by separatist and
terrorist groups ------- based in
neighbouring Afghanistan.
Last September ---- 27 attacks were reported in
Balochistan, killing 22 people and injuring 48; in August there were 43 attacks, killing 125 and injuring 77, according to Geo News,
which cites data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and
Security Studies.
_______________________________
PDVSA and Rosneft big partners
in the bulk of new Venezuela-
Russia agreements
November 8th, 6:09 pm
(teleSUR)
Venezuela and Russia consolidated their bilateral
cooperation on Thursday by signing various
strategic agreements during the 18th
meeting of the High Level Inter-
governmental Commission,
held in Caracas with the
participation - of the
Russian Vice Prime
Minister, Dmitry
Chernyshenko.
The most notable agreements include memoranda of
understanding between the state oil companies
PDVSA and Rosneft for training and technical
advice on energy security.
In addition, an agreement was established with TNG
Group for oil services and extra-heavy crude oil
recovery technology in the Orinoco Oil Belt, a
region that houses important hydrocarbon
reserves over a 600-kilometre stretch.
In terms of security, both nations signed
an agreement on intelligence, counter-
intelligence and counter-espionage.
The aeronautical sector --- also benefited from an
agreement between Conviasa and RT Project
Technologies SA for the development of
information technologies.
«Venezuela remains a strategic partner and powerful
ally of Russia in the region,» Chernyshenko noted
during the meeting, emphasizing the importance
of «improving the structure of the economy and
diversifying it to form a sustainable and self-
sufficient economic model.»
For her part, Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez
highlighted the previous work of 13 subcommittees
and announced future developments.. in Russian
gas fields in Venezuela. «May this new edition
allow for a new model to make us more
independent, to make us more
sovereign,» she said.
The Russian ambassador to Venezuela, Sergei Melik,
had anticipated on Wednesday -- that both countries
would build new financial, commercial & logistical
links to face international sanctions - mainly from
the United States.
________________________________________
Luis Arce Could Not Present His
Annual Report to the Nation
in the Bolivian Parliament
November 8th, 2:09pm
(teleSUR)
On Friday, President Luis Arce was unable to deliver his fourth annual report in the Bolivian parliament
because legislators allied with former President Evo Morales, disrupted the occasion.
Bolivian Vice President David Choquehuanca, who also
presides over the Legislative Assembly, was about to
begin the parliamentary session when a group of
legislators from the Movement Towards
Socialism (MAS) approached the
main stage.
Pro-Morales legislators disturbed a floral arrangement
placed in front of the stage and threw tomatoes and
water at Choquehuanca, while his security team
covered him with a jacket.
The Bolivian vice president eventually left the venue, and the session could not be convened. A few
minutes later, President Arce, responded to
the events..... by writing on social media.
On Friday, following the events that took place in the
Legislative Assembly, President Arce delivered his
report to the nation from a raised platform...... in Murillo Plaza.
__________________________________________
The EU Council * extended the mandate
of the mission to train the Armed
Forces of Ukraine ...until
November 2026
November 8th, 2024, 1:58pm (Izvestia.ru)
The EU Council has extended the mandate of
the training mission to train the Ukrainian
military for two years, and it will work
until November 15, 2026. This was
announced on November 8 on
the website of the
EU Council.
"Today, the Council decided to extend the mandate of
the EU Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine - for
another two years, until November 15, 2026, with
a budget allocation of almost €409 million for
the period from November 14, 2024 to
November 15, 2026," the
statement said.
It states that EUMAM continues to be a key EU aid tool
for Ukraine. According to the new decision of the EU
Council, the ''mission'' will cooperate with NATO,
namely with the alliance's Security Assistance
and Training Program for Ukraine (NSATU)...
and employees will exchange information
in a transparent and reciprocal manner.
The EU Council added that -- since the establishment of
EUMAM on October 17, 2022, the mission has trained
63,000 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and
by the end of winter 2024/25, this figure is planned
to increase --- to 75,000.
Earlier, on October 14, the head of European diplomacy
Josep Borrel announced the extension of EUMAM for
two years, asserting that the only possible action
for the EU, in the framework of the Ukrainian
conflict, can only be to increase support
for Kiev.
At the same time --- in September --- a prisoner of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine said that instructors who
train soldiers in the Ukrainian army, do not have
combat experience - they undergo a 3-month
training course in the UK - and then begin
to ''train'' other soldiers.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, which
Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, announced on
February 24th, 2022, continues. The decision
was made against the background of the
worsening situation in the region.
[* The ''EU Council'' is run by the U.S.]
_______________________________________
President Sheinbaum: 1% of
G20 Arms Spending: Should
Be Redirected to the Poor
and Women
November 8th, 1:27pm
(teleSUR)
On Friday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum
announced she will propose to the members of
the Group of Twenty (G20) that 1 percent of
their military spending be allocated to
fighting poverty and defending
women’s rights.
“We’re going to defend what our project represents,”
she said, anticipating what she will propose at
the G20 summit, which will take place in
Rio de Janeiro on November 18.
“We will propose, for example, that 1 percent of military
spending be allocated to assist the world’s most needy. We are proud of the cultural power we represent and we will showcase the results Mexico has achieved,” said Sheinbaum, whose participation in the Rio de
Janeiro Summit is notable... given that former President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador never attended a G20 meeting.
“It’s not the market that solves problems. That is what
we are going to present to the G20 with great pride,”
Sheinbaum said, emphasizing the importance of
the state --- in opening paths for development
in Latin America.
“We will also advocate for women’s rights - and show
how Mexico has made progress in that regard,” she
added, referring to how women used to live in
a position of subordination and “kept their
heads down.”
Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramon de la
Fuente indicated that his nation is interested in
seeing topics... such as gender equality,
sustainable development, as well as
advancing the digital agenda,
analyzed more clearly in
international forums.
He also mentioned that officials from Canada, China,
South Korea, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, and
the United Kingdom have requested bilateral
meetings with President Sheinbaum, who
will be the only confirmed female
leader at the G20 meeting.
The Mexican president ---- will spend one day at the Rio
de Janeiro Summit, where she will participate in two
plenary sessions and the opening session --- which
will focus specifically on the fight against hunger
and poverty. In the afternoon, she will attend
another meeting on the reform of global
governance institutions, said
De la Fuente.
As of 2023, the G20 comprised Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India,
Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye,
the UK & US. It also includes the EU and
the African Union.
_______________________________________
Estonia will deprive citizens of
third countries,except for the
EU and NATO countries,
of the right to vote
November 8th, 12:21pm
(RT.ru)
According to the proposed amendments to
the Estonian Constitution, citizens of all
third countries outside the EU & NATO
will be deprived of the right to vote
in local elections.
This is reported by ERR.
The bill was signed by 61 deputies of the
Estonian Riigikogu (Parliament) out of
101 people's deputies, TASS reports.
"If the bill is adopted, the number of residents
who have the right to vote in local elections
will be reduced by about 72,000 people,"
the document says.
Earlier, the mayor of Tallinn and vice-chairman of
the Social Democratic Party of Estonia, Yevgeny
Osinovsky, criticized the proposal to deprive
citizens of Russia and Belarus living in the
country - of their voting rights.
_______________________________________
Evo Morales Supporters Suspend
Roadblocksto Hold Talks With
Bolivian Government
November 8th, 10:37am
(teleSUR)
On Friday, former Bolivian President Evo Morales
ended his hunger strike after his supporters
announced a ''temporary'' suspension of
road blockades..... to begin talks with
President Luis Arce’s administration.
After six days, the leader of the Movement Toward
Socialism (MAS) ended a hunger strike he had
started ---- to pressure Arce into initiating
discussions on the release of nearly
100 social activists who were
detained during 24 days of
road protests.
Morales is also demanding - that the judicial
proceedings against him for alleged human
trafficking and statutory rape be stopped,
and that he be allowed to run as a
presidential candidate in the
2025 elections.
Next Sunday, the Pact of Unity, a coalition of social
and political organizations supporting Morales,
will hold a meeting to assess the progress
of the dialogue, with representatives of
the Arce administration.
Dieter Mendoza, secretary of the Mamore Bulo Bulo
Federation ----- which represents coca growers,
stated that the Pact of Unity will reactivate
the road blockades if the detained are
not immediately released.
“We have always viewed Brother Morales --- as a leader
in the struggle since his days as an activist. And this
time, was no exception,” Mendoza emphasized,
referring to the hunger strike upheld by the
MAS leader. “If our demands are not met
within the next 72 hours, we will
resume the road blockades,”
he added.
The dialogue between the Arce administration and
Bolivian social organizations, began on Friday, at
the Ombudsman offices, where representatives
from both sides set up working groups ---- to
address issues related to the economic
and political crisis in the
Andean country.
“We will not address matters related to electoral
institutions or the authorization of candidacies.
Those issues --- fall under the jurisdiction of
other institutions,” said Deputy Minister
of Autonomy, Alvaro Ruiz.
________________________________
Lula bet on Harris but now hopes
for a “civilized relationship”
during Trump’s term
November 7th, 6:48pm
(teleSUR)
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,
who last week publicly declared his support for
the Democrat Kamala Harris, said Wednesday
that he hopes tfor a “civilized” relationship with the president-elect of the US, Donald Trump.
“I think that Kamala winning the elections ------ is much
safer to strengthen democracy in the United States,”
Lula said in a recent interview with the French
channel TF1, declaring his support for the
then Democratic presidential candidate,
who was defeated by the Republican
in the elections on Tuesday.
This Wednesday.... in an attempt at damage control,
the Brazilian president said: “I do not know Trump
personally. I know Trump from what they say,
from the news I read about him, from what
he says on television. But I hope to have
with him the civilized coexistence that
I already had with Bush, who was
from his party.”
“That is the relationship I want to establish”, Lula da
Silva reiterated in an interview with the television
network RedeTV.
He said he wants a relationship between heads of
state, “each with their own national interests,”
and not between politicians with
ideological differences.
“When an issue arises that we need to discuss,
we will do it by phone. We call him. I hope that is the relationship,” he noted.
Celso Amorim, Lula da Silva’s advisor on international
issues, said he hopes that Trump, who will begin his
new term at the head of the White House on
January 20, will be pragmatic like Bush.
“My expectation is that he will be as pragmatic as Bush
was,” Amorim told Folha Sao Paulo, adding: “President
Lula is pragmatic. And Trump tends to be more
pragmatic than the other time. This
makes conversations easier.”
______________________________________
Russia & Venezuela consolidate -- their strategic alliance
November 7th, 6:28pm
Public and private business sectors from Venezuela
and Russia meet in Caracas to celebrate the XVIII Meeting of the High Level Intergovernmental Commission (CIAN) between the two countries.
Within the framework, of the XVIII Meeting of the High
Level Intergovernmental Commission (CIAN) between
Russia and Venezuela, Venezuela's Foreign Minister
Yván Gil welcomed on Thursday the Vice President
of the Government of the Russian Federation,
Dmitry Chernyshenko.
This meeting -- supported by President Nicolás Maduro,
represents a key opportunity -- to strengthen bilateral
cooperation in various areas, in a context of growing
strategic collaboration between both nations.
During the event, the importance of the alliance in the
search for joint and sovereign development ------ was
highlighted, especially in the face of international
sanctions and pressures.
On Wednesday, the Executive Vice President of
Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, also participated
in the binational Business Council. On that
occasion, the Venezuelan official high-
lighted the economic achievements
of both countries, despite the
international blockades
and sanctions.
She also stressed that the strategic partnership
with Russia has allowed both countries to build
an independent and self-sufficient path, facing
economic challenges...... through growth
and cooperation.
“Neither blackmail nor Unilateral Coercive Measures
will derail the separate path that Russia and
Venezuela have consolidated to develop
together, with sovereignty and self-
determination,” said the vice
president.
This bilateral success, she said, reflects the strength
and commitment of both countries in their struggle
for self-determination - and in defense of their
economic and political independence.
For his part ------ the Russian ambassador to Venezuela,
Sergey Mélik-Bagdasárov, emphasized the anti-fascist
alliance between both countries during his speech at the International Anti-fascist Parliamentary Forum, in Caracas.
Mélik-Bagdasarov highlighted Russia’s historic role in
the fight against fascism, and the importance of this
forum as a tool to counter global neocolonialism. He
also referred to Russia’s support for Venezuela in
its attempt to join the BRICS, clarifying that the
refusal to join was not a veto, but a temporary
lack of consensus.
“Administrative and bureaucratic issues cease to
be important when there is the idea, the union
and friendship between our countries,” said
the diplomat --- reinforcing the vision of a
global bloc that defends the sovereignty
of the countries of the global south
against external pressures.
______________________________
The political scientist, pointed out:
the fear of the Kiev regimebefore
residents of the south of Ukraine
November 7th, 1:03pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Odessa and Kharkiv failed to be "Ukrainized", which
causes fear among Kiev officials. Residents of
southern Ukraine are increasingly hating the
country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky,
whose term of office expired in May.
This was stated on November the 7th in an interview
with Izvestia, by political analyst Ruslan Kalinchuk.
Earlier, the Ukrainian MP Solomiya Bobrovskaya said
that the authorities had always underestimated the residents of the south of the country in their "pro-
Russian views" ---- and did not fully support the
Ukrainians "who held a statist position there."
According to Ukrinform, she also expressed
concern that Southerners are sympathetic
to Russia.
"Bobrovska's emotions --- are understandable: so much
effort and money has been spent on Ukrainization of
the Russian-speaking south-east of Ukraine... and
the desired result ------- has not been achieved.
Bobrovska's words show that Kiev is afraid
of the Kharkiv and Odessa residents,"
Kalinchuk commented.
In his opinion, in the conditions of increasing hatred for
Zelensky, against the background of the lawlessness
of the ''shopping centres'', the appalling economic
situation & the increasingly obvious catastrophe
of the Ukrainian army, pro-Russian residents of
the south-east of the country - can "simply
sweep away....... the Nazi regime."
The interlocutor of the publication stressed, that
it could not be otherwise, because Odessa was
founded by Empress Catherine II, it is a hero
city --- that combines different cultures.
"And all this, Odessa residents should refuse?
And for what? What can Ukrainizers offer
Odessa residents?" the expert asked.
Earlier, on October 26th, residents of Odessa staged
a riot during the raid of the shopping centre on the
market due to forced mobilization. According to
media reports, military enlistment officers
detained a large number of men.
Earlier, on October 7th, in Odessa on Catherine Square, a
woman tried to hang the flag of the Russian Federation
on the pedestal of the removed monument to the
Russian Empress Catherine II. It was reported
that some eyewitnesses were outraged by
these actions and prevented her, after
which the woman was detained.
The Director of the Institute of New Society, Vasily
Koltashov on October 14th in a conversation with
Izvestia, commenting on this situation, drew
attention to the fact that the Kiev regime
has a fascist nature, and the laws do
not protect citizens.
Formally, all Ukrainians have the right to express their
position, but in reality tens of thousands of people in
this country have been thrown into prison for their
opinions. Because of this, many residents of
Ukraine pretend that they, allegedly,
support Kiev.
_______________________________________
The media reported on the EU's fears
- of a trade war with the US - after
Trump's success in the election
November 6th, 3:18pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The EU states fear ---- that after the success of
Republican candidate Donald Trump in the US
presidential election, a new trade war may
begin --- between the EU countries and
Washington. This was reported on
November 6 by the publication
Politico.
It recalled that in 2018, as President of the United
States, Trump, for reasons of national security,
imposed a duty on steel in the amount of 7%
and a tariff on aluminum imports at a rate
of 10%.
Analysts and officials from Europe - suggest that,
becoming head of state for the second time, the
Republican will take tougher measures.
Politico notes --- that the EU now depends on the supply
of US liquefied natural gas and the "security umbrella"
of the United States.
"We need to be prepared for a much more aggressive
tone ------ and possible attempts at coercion in
transatlantic trade diplomatic relations,"
David Kleimann, a senior trade
expert at the ODI think tank,
told the publication.
Trump - according to Politico - may impose tariffs on
Chinese goods, try to change the global trade order
based on rules --- and deliver a "fatal blow" to the
World Trade Organization (WTO).
The Kiel Institute for World Economy in Germany
predicts that due to the Republican measures,
the EU's gross domestic product (GDP) will
fall by 0.5%, and German production
will decline by 3.2%.
Earlier, on October 22, Politico reported that the EU is
preparing for a large-scale trade war with the US, if Trump wins. A senior European diplomat, told the
publication that if the Republican returns to the
White House ------ the association will strike "a cruel and rapid retaliatory blow."
An official from one of the EU countries expressed
confidence --- that Europe will win the trade war.
The election of the 47th President of the United States
took place on November 5. At most polling stations,
the counting of votes has been completed and the
results are known: in the national vote, Trump
receives 51% of the vote, and the Democrat
candidate Kamala Harris — 47.4%. At the
same time, according to the latest data
published by CNN... Trump won 276
electoral votes ---- at the threshold
of 270, Harris received 223 votes.
The politician has already called himself
the 47th president of the United States.
___________________________________________
Peskov said that Russia is
confidently keeping its
margin of safety
November 6th, 2:25pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Russia confidently maintains its safety margin.
This was stated on November 6 by the official
representative of the Kremlin Dmitry Peskov
in the framework of the federal educational
marathon "Knowledge.The first ones."
"You will probably ask me..... how to insure against these
difficult times. The only way to do this, is to have a fair
margin of safety. This, also applies to our country as
a whole. And this applies to any individual in our
country," Peskov said.
The official representative of the Kremlin - pointed out
that the state's margin of safety is a strong economy,
absolute financial stability, & high rates of economic
and industrial growth. Such factors ---- insure Russia against the unpredictability that it faces on its way.
Peskov recalled that the Russian budget 24 years ago,
was slightly larger than the budget of the city of New York in the US, but now - the Russian Federation has
taken the place of the fourth or fifth economy in the
world. Peskov stressed that Russia has come a
long way, survived after the collapse of the
USSR ...and the subsequent series of
changes, coped with the attempts
of the West to "punish" it --- for
trying to be independent. All
citizens of the country have
participated in creating a
considerable reserve in
the economy --- which
helped --- not only to
survive - but also -
to move forward.
Earlier, on October 28, Associate Professor of the
Department of Economic Policy and Economic
Measurements of GUU, Maxim Chirkov,
explained: that the Russian economy
is growing ...because - its ability to
resist competitors - is increasing.
Western sanctions..... are self-
defeating and its economies
are weakening ------ while
Russia ---- has seen an
increase in domestic
demand that offers
new opportunities.
On that day, Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting on economic issues drew attention to
the fact that the Russian economy continues
to grow ...and the country's gross domestic
product (GDP) for the period from January
to August... increased by 4.2%.
Earlier, on June 5th, Putin said that Western countries
intended to undermine the Russian economy within a
few months after the start of the special operation,
but they did not succeed, and, according to the
World Bank ----- the Russian economy has
reached the fourth in the world.
___________________________________
Puerto Ricans Go to the Polls
to Elect Their Authorities
November 5th, 10:42 am
(teleSUR)
On Tuesday, Puerto Ricans began voting in a general
election that is expected to be historic, due to the
tight race between the ruling New Progressive
Party (PNP) and the Country Alliance
(Alianza de Pais).
Polling places will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm for
citizens to elect a governor, representatives, senators,
and mayors of the island. At many polling stations in
the metropolitan area, dozens of people were lined
up before the official opening to cast their votes,
despite heavy rain.
The candidates for governor are ---- Jenniffer Gonzalez
(PNP), Juan Dalmau (Country Alliance), Jesus Manuel
Ortiz (Popular Democratic Party), and Javier Jimenez
(Project Dignity).
According to a poll ...published on Sunday by the main
local newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, Gonzalez is projected
to win the governorship (37 percent), followed by
Dalmau (29 percent), Ortiz (22 percent), and
Jimenez (7 percent).
However, in a previous survey, the newspaper
El Vocero, only gave Gonzalez 31 percent,
resulting in a virtual tie with Dalmau.
If the Country Alliance candidate wins, it would be the
first time in Puerto Rico that a pro-independence
candidate, not part of the two main parties,
achieves the governorship.
The Country Alliance, made up of the Puerto Rican
Independence Party (PIP) and the Citizen Victory
Movement (MVC) -- has garnered significant
popular support and endorsements from
well-known artists... like Bad Bunny,
Ricky Martin, and Residente.
Even if the Country Alliance secures second position in
the 2025 election -- it will have a resounding success,
given that the PNP and the PPD are the parties that
have alternated in power ---- for decades in
Puerto Rico, a ''Free Associated State''
of the United States.
Amid this closely contested race, fears of fraud have
also emerged, especially after a court approved a
request from the PNP... to allow the counting of
early votes even if there is no representation
from all political parties in the process.
In this election, Puerto Ricans will also vote on
a referendum, regarding the political status of
the island, choosing between ---- statehood
(annexation to the U.S.), independence, or
sovereignty in free association, although
it is ''non-binding'' because it does not
have Washington's approval.
___________________________________
Venezuela’s Future Will Never Depend
on What the U.S. Decides:
President Maduro
November 5th, 8:39am
(teleSUR)
On Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
stated that the destiny and future of Venezuela -
will never depend on decisions made in the US.
“We will continue with our work. Our destiny and future
will never depend on what is decided in the North,” he
said, referring to the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
In this context, the Bolivarian leader emphasized that
his nation would not be swayed by the failed policies
of Venezuelan oligarchies, regardless of whether
Donald Trump or Kamala Harris is elected.
“Some think that by turning Venezuela into a colony,
the country will prosper. What about Puerto Rico?
Let me ask: can you name a single country - that
has been intervened by the US and is better off? Examples like Afghanistan and Libya are clear.
Simply put, the fate of our people and of the
Global South depends on our own hands,
our work, and our effort,” Maduro
highlighted.
Regarding... the recent development of the Venezuelan
economy, Maduro noted that the tax authorities have
managed to triple tax revenue over the past year,
thanks to the growth of the real economy.
“There is still much to do. We need to strengthen the
system, to prevent tax evasion,” he said, stressing
that tax revenues are used to improve healthcare,
education, housing construction, and
social protection.
“Our focus --- is on the growth of a productive economy
integrated with the world, an economy not based on
oil and invulnerable to U.S. criminal sanctions. This
is how we will face any circumstances that come
our way - from here on,” Maduro explained.
_____________________________________________
In Zaporozhye region
unfurled 100-metre
flag of Russia
November 4th 2:57pm
(Vesti.ru)
In Zaporozhye region, participants of the All-Russian
educational forum "Yug Molodoy" unfurled a
100-metre flag of Russia, in honour of
National Unity Day.
In addition, children from 83 regions of the country
sang the Russian national anthem, a cappella.
According to the organizers, the goal of the campaign
is to show --- that young people from all over the
country are ready to build a common future
of the country, together.
The forum also hosts a grant competition, where
participants can submit their projects.
The forum will be held from November 1 to 6 at the
Mayak Creation Centre in Zaporizhia region,
which was previously opened by
Vladimir Putin.
This year, more than 1,500 applications
were submitted for participation in
the forum.
_________________________________
Oreshkin saidthat many of the actions
of Russia and BRICS in the economy
are not public
November 4th, 2:29pm
(RT.ru)
Russia and the BRICS countries...... do not make public
many projects and actions in the economic sphere, so
as not to attract the attention of unfriendly states.
This was stated at the international symposium
"Creating the Future" by Deputy head of the
Russian Presidential Administration,
Maxim Oreshkin.
"You don't all know what's going on. Because it
is better to do some things quietly, without
attracting attention," he said.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,
speaking at the international symposium
"Creating the Future", said that the
volume of mutual settlements in
national currencies in foreign
trade between the BRICS
countries... reached
about 65%.
____________________
Fascism is the Tool of Those
Who Believe They Own
the World: Rodriguez
November 4th, 1:28pm
(teleSUR)
On Monday, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, participated in the opening of the World Anti-Fascist
Parliamentary Forum ------ held at
the Caracas Convention Centre.
“Fascism is the strategy and tool used by those who
consider themselves the rulers of the world, who
promote only one way of conceiving life -- and
who try to eliminate -- any form of rebellion
inherent to the human condition,” he said.
“As peaceful Venezuelans ---- we raise our voices against
one of the worst plagues currently afflicting humanity.
Fascism is neither a political ideology nor a way of
addressing social, political, and economic
contradictions.Fascism -is a crime,”
Rodriguez emphasized.
“In the name of fascism, the 20th century was stained
with blood, becoming one of the most violent eras
that humanity has ever experienced. Millions
of Europeans -- hundreds of thousands of
Asians, and thousands of Americans,
died because of fascism,” he said,
noting --- that fascism exposes
the homicidal nature of
false democracies.
A text reads... “Jorge Rodriguez inaugurates the World
against one of the worst plagues of humanity. Yes,
one can be free. Yes, one can resist the actions
of criminal empires’.”
“In fascism, supposed democracies strip off their
masks and reveal their true nature.They are
homicidal and genocidal regimes - where
people are willing to push violence - to
its extreme expressions,” Rodriguez
pointed out ---- stressing that
this criminal violence ----
is often inflicted upon
innocent populations.
He further explained that fascism rises under “the
hypocritical gaze” of those who profit from death
and bombings, as evidenced by the economic
boom of the U.S. military industry, which
takes place at the cost of thousands
of Palestinians killed.
“Every hospital, university, and school destroyed in
Gaza means profit for the war barons of the U.S.
military-industrial complex,” Rodriguez said,
emphasizing that military contractors are
as genocidal as the Israeli occupation
forces deployed by Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Those who manufacture the bombers, bombs,
missiles, and planes used to bomb innocent
civilians in Palestine, are equally ------
murderers,” he reiterated.
Currently, the World Anti-Fascist Parliamentary Forum
brings together over 300 legislators from more than
70 countries - in Caracas, where they will meet for
two days ------- to discuss topics such as, peace,
democracy, imperialism, fascism, and Zionism.
_______________________________________
Evo Morales Starts Hunger Strike
to Demand a National Dialogue
November 2nd, 5:12pm
On Friday, former Bolivian president Evo Morales
started a hunger strike to demand a national
dialogue as the only way to resolve the
political differences.... between the
current government of President
Luis Arce and the social
organizations that are
being mobilized.
“We started the hunger strike from the Territorio de
Lucha --- convinced of the need to find solutions to
the problems that today face the Bolivian people,”
said Evo Morales, through a post in his X official
account accompanied with a video of Morales
stating that he is not “afraid” and that he
“will not leave Bolivia.”
In the face of the hunger strike and the rising tensions
with Arce’s government the former president said he
and his political fellows “will stand firm in defense
of better days for our country and demand the
immediate release of our comrades unjustly
arrested during the day of protest.”
Morales previously insisted that the government must
withdraw all military and police personnel. ”We also
call for the establishment of two dialogue tables
--- to discuss economic and political issues.
Persecution and repression must stop”.
Ponciano Santos, the leader of the Confederation of
Peasants and member of the People’s General Staff
affiliated with former president Evo Morales, said
that there will be no suspension of blockades
and pressure will increase against the
current government.
On the other hand... the Bolivian Foreign Minister denounced on Saturday before the international community a “destabilizing escalation” against
the democratic system due to road blocks that
continue in the centre of the country.
The Bolivian government also denounced ------- that on
Friday three military units were taken by followers of
the former president in the tropics of Cochabamba, which ---- “constitutes a threat and a risk for the
entire Bolivian population with unforeseeable
consequences”.
___________________________________
Protest rally against parliamentary
elections outcome in Tbilisi over
November 2nd, 5:12pm
(TASS)
The thin protest rally against the outcome of
the October 26 parliamentary elections
finished in downtown Tbilisi, a
TASS correspondent reports.
Several activists gathered in front of the parliamentary
building on Saturday evening. Although the action
involved very few people, several police units
were deployed to the site. The protest
was held peacefully.
Opposition parties did not participate in the rally.
They plan to stage a protest near the parliamentary building on November 4th and to announce their
future plans.
Georgia held its parliamentary election on October 26th,
with 18 parties involved, including the ruling Georgian
Dream - Democratic Georgia party, which has been in
power for 12 years.
Electronic ballot boxes were used during these
elections for the first time. The ruling party
secured 53.93% of the vote, allowing the
Georgian Dream to form a government
independently.
Additionally, the Coalition for Change (11%), the Unity
- National Movement (10.16%), the Strong Georgia
coalition (8.8%), and the Gakharia For Georgia
party (7.76%) have also won seats in
parliament, while other parties
failed to surpass the five%
election threshold.
President Zourabichvili and all the opposition
parties refuse to recognize the election
results, slamming them as rigged.
__________________________________
BRICS to consider expanding
group in 2025 — Lavrov
November 2nd, 4:49pm
(TASS)
BRICS will look to bring more full-fledged members into
the organization in 2025, Russia's Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with TV BRICS.
When asked how BRICS influences the global
landscape..... the top Russian diplomat said,
"It influences domestic processes -- in the
sense that being informed about BRICS’
work -- its achievements and the plans it sets and implements, people want
to join this equitable and mutually
beneficial process."
"People in countries of the global East vote primarily
for politicians proclaiming their plans to establish
closer relations with BRICS, one way or another.
I have already said that a number of countries
..are seeking full-fledged membership. This
issue will be considered throughout the
next year," he said.
He noted however that "many want
to take part in BRICS events."
"There are... more than 30 of them. As I have said,
criteria for the partner country category will be
agreed upon. After the summit in Kazan, the
Russian presidency sent invitations to
several countries that applied to join
our work. Ten such countries enjoy
a consensus among the existing
BRICS members," Lavrov said.
"We have an accord... that ---- as soon as we receive a
reply from the invited country -- this country will be
proclaimed as joining BRICS as a partner country.
We believe that they will have an opportunity to
take part in all BRICS events," he added.
"A separate format of meetings, involving only full-
fledged members is most likely to be preserved,
and all other formats, including Outreach Plus
ones, meetings of foreign and other ministers
(of economy, energy, trade, health, culture)
will be open to them," Lavrov said.
"We want partner countries to join this work.
They will take part in practically all events.".
_______________________________
PNC re-vindicates struggle
on Balfour Declaration’s
anniversary
November 2nd, 1:39pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Palestinian National Council (PNC) highlighted on
Saturday - the Palestinians' cause and just struggle
and ratified their historic right to their land and to
defend themselves by all means, as guaranteed
by international laws and conventions.
This stance was voiced in a press release issued on
the 107th anniversary of the so-called Balfour
Declaration, which includes the promise of
then-British Foreign Secretary, Arthur
James Balfour ---- to give Palestinian
land to Zionists to establish a state.
The Council -- held Britain and the international
community responsible for what it called the
crime of usurpation of the Palestinian land
and condemned the Balfour Declaration
and its legal and moral consequences
until this day.
It demanded an apology
and accountability for
this historic crime.
The note underscored the need to thwart all colonial
projects of Judaization and work seriously to regain
national unity.
____________________________
Hamas and Fatah Agree on
Future Management of
the Gaza Strip?
November 2nd, 1:19pm
(teleSUR)
The Palestinian armed defense group Hamas and
Fatah, the main ruling party of the Palestinian
National Authority (PNA), agreed on a future
management of the Gaza Strip.. when the
conflict with Israel ends that preserves
the unity of Palestine during their
meetings yesterday and today
in Cairo.
The Hamas delegation, is headed by the deputy head
of the politburo, Khalil al-Hayya, and includes the
member of the politburo, Basem Naim, and the
head of national relations, Hussam Badran.
On the other hand, the Fatah delegation is composed
of Vice President Mahmoud al-Aloul, PLO Executive
Committee member Azzam al-Ahmad and the
Palestinian National Council chairman
Rawhi Fattouh.
Egyptian sources close to the negotiations, where the
Arab country participates as mediator, pointed out to
the Spanish press agency EFE -- that both Fatah and
Hamas “showed more flexibility and positivity” for
the establishment of the so-called “Community
Support Committee”.... the body that would
govern the Gaza Strip, affiliated with the
PNA and would administer the territory
with the presence of independent
figures in its ranks.
“The Community Support Committee will be formed by
a presidential decree of the Palestinian president,
Mahmoud Abbas and will be responsible for the
administration of the Gaza Strip. It will be
affiliated with the ANP, and will include
independent figures”, the source said.
A possible agreement.. would allow the committee to
manage humanitarian aid, civil affairs and crossings
in Gaza. However, the Palestinian Authority (PA)
and Fatah are not interested in forming a new
government at this time, and Egypt... has
reservations about solutions that can
not be implemented quickly.
The PA rejected a plan.... for the participation of the
United Arab Emirates in the post-war governance
of Gaza.
For its part... a Hamas official said the group was open
to solutions proposed by Palestinians, but anticipated
------ that Israel would obstruct any agreement.
_______________________________________
Thirteen countries receive
BRICS partner status —
Indian Foreign Ministry
November 2nd, 10:17am
(TASS)
Thirteen countries have been granted BRICS partner
status following the group’s summit in Kazan, the
country's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Randhir
Jaiswal said at a briefing.
"Thirteen states have been admitted as partner
countries. It was ..a collective decision of the
BRICS nations," he said. Jaiswal emphasized
that partner country status is distinct from
full membership.
The 16th BRICS Summit, the key event of Russia’s
chairmanship in the association... was held in
Kazan on October 22-24. On the second day
of the summit, participants adopted the
Kazan Declaration.
The BRICS group was founded in 2006 by Brazil,
Russia, India, and China, with South Africa
joining it in 2011.
On January 1, 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia
and the United Arab Emirates became its full-fledged
members. The Kazan summit became the first to be
attended by the new members of the association
as full-fledged members.
After the event, Russian President Vladimir Putin said
that the list of partner countries -- had been agreed
upon, but didn't provide details on its composition.
He explained that invitations will be sent to these
states first, and once positive responses are
received, the list will be announced.
____________________________________
Turkiye’s exports... hit record high
in October, surpassing $23.6 bln
— trade minister
November 2nd, 6:45am
(TASS/)
Turkiye’s exports in October exceeded $23.6 bln,
which is 3.6% more than in the same period last
year, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said.
"Turkiye’s exports in October --- increased by 3.6%
compared to last year and exceeded $23.6 bln.
The growth reached $800 million, which is a
record for October," the minister said in
a statement broadcast by TRT Haber
TV channel.
According to Bolat, Turkiye’s exports for 10 months
of 2024 amounted to $216.4 bln, compared to
$209.7 bln a year earlier, while exports
increased by 6.7 bln.
Turkiye’s imports since the beginning of the year
amounted to $282 bln, compared to last year it
decreased by 7.2% or $22 bln, the Turkish
minister said. As a result --- the foreign
trade deficit decreased to $28.6 bln,
which is also a record, the
minister added.
The Turkish authorities reported earlier that --- at the
end of last year the volume of the country’s exports
amounted to $255.8 bln, imports - $361.8 bln.
The largest volume of deliveries to Turkiye in 2023
came from Russia - at $45.6 bln. Germany ranked
first in terms of exports, with $21.9 bln.
____________________________________________
Iran ships two satellites to Russia for
launch atop Russian carrier rocket
— media
November 2nd, 5:52am
(TASS)
Iran has shipped two privately developed satellites to
Russia for launch atop a Russian Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket, news agency Tasnim reported on Saturday.
The satellites Kowsar and Hodhod developed by the
Iranian company, Space Omid, are scheduled for
launch on November 5 from Russian territory.
The launch will represent the first effort to launch
Iranian satellites built by young engineers of the
private company, whose average age is 25
years, it said.
The Kowsar satellite, is intended for the Earth’s remote
sensing and satellite imagery. The Hodhod satellite is
a telecoms spacecraft designed to improve the
quality of data transmission in Iran,
after its launch.
Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos reported
earlier on Saturday that a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket
with two Ionosfera-M heliogeophysical spacecraft
and 53 small satellites as hosted payloads had
been installed at a launch pad of Vostochny
spaceport in the Russian Far East and the
liftoff was scheduled for 2:18 a.m.
Moscow time on November 5.
__________________________________
WP says - the amount of lawsuits against Google exceed all the accumulated wealth in the world
November 1st, 3:20pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The amount of the claims of Russian TV channels against the US multinational corporation Google
LLC, is all world wealth. This was reported on
Friday, November 1, by The Washington Post
referencing to the Boston Consulting Group.
According to the company's analysts, Google's fine of
two undecillion rubles (an undecillion, is a number
with 36 zeros) exceeds the entire world's wealth,
which is estimated at $477 trillion.
This amount also exceeds... the entire global gross
domestic product (GDP), which, as the newspaper
notes, in 2023 was $105 trillion.
Google's parent company Alphabet is one of the five
most expensive companies in the world. Its cost is
approximately $2 trillion, which is a million times
less than the amount of the fines.
Earlier, on October 31st, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry
Peskov said that the fine imposed by Google in the
amount of two undecillions, is symbolic.
He stressed that the company has no right to restrict
the actions of Russian broadcasters. Therefore, the
current situation should be a reason for Google's
management to pay attention to violations.
The management of the YouTube video hosting company, owned by Google, announced in
March 2022 that it would immediately
block Russian media channels that
are funded by the state.
It was noted --- that the site removes content about the
special operation of the Russian Federation to protect
the Donbass - which "violates the policy" of the video
hosting company.
On the same day, YouTube blocked the channels
of Izvestia, REN TV and Channel Five. Some
programs are also restricted.
On July 10, it became known that since the beginning
of 2024, the YouTube administration has already
blocked 83 channels of Russian public figures
and state media that speak out in support of
the Russian Federation and the actions of
the authorities. A total of 207 channels
have been restricted from the server
since 2020.
The Russian court demanded that the company restore
the accounts of Russian media outlets, and otherwise
pay penalties. Google ignored the request, so it was
ordered to pay a fine. On October 29, it was
reported that its amount.... has already
amounted to two undecillion rubles.
________________________________________
President MileiHits Argentines With
New Increase in Service Rates
November 1st, 1:48pm
(teleSUR)
This week, Argentine President Javier Milei approved
a series of increases in public service rates, set to
take effect on November 2nd. The new measures
include a 2.5% rise in electricity rates and a
2.7% increase in gas rates.
At the provincial level, the Province of Buenos Aires authorized an 8% increase in electricity rates,
which will directly impact bills --- from
October's consumption.
The scope of increases - extends to other services as
well. Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos (AySA) - will
implement a 4% hike in water & sewage services
for the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA),
after a 5% rise in October.
Rentals are not exempt from this inflationary trend.
Contracts tied to the repealed Rental Law --- will see an
adjustment of approximately 227%, according to the
Rental Contract Index (ICL). Once these contracts
end, rental price ''adjustments'' - will depend on
''negotiations'' between landlords and tenants.
Another significant development, is the 50% increase
in taxi fares in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
(CABA), which took effect on November 1st, closing
out the rate adjustment scheme for the second
half of the year.
On Thursday night, social organizations joined in a
“National Blackout” to protest recent hikes in
public service rates in Argentina.
Between November 2023 and October 2024, electricity
rates rose by an average of 433.6%, with an uneven
impact ......across different social groups.
For example, while average wages rose only 154%, the electricity rate for the N3 population segment (middle class) surged by 758%. The N2 segment
faced rises of 555%, yet the minimum wage
grew by only 86% over the past year.
Natural gas services --- have followed a similar trend:
between November 2023 and September 2024, rates rose by 164%, with a proportionally more severe
impact.... on low- and middle-income sectors,
while high-income segments experienced
significantly smaller increases.
Mexico’s Presidentconfirms
upcoming fuel shipment
to Cuba
October 31st, 5:15pm
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum,
confirmed today - that her government will
ship fuel to Cuba, in a bid to help Havana
overcome the current energy crisis.
Support is already being provided to Cuba, the
president stated during a conference, when
she said that Mexico will export 400,000
barrels of oil to the island.
She emphasized that Mexico is supportive
to Cuba for humanitarian reasons.
Mexico has never been in favor of the blockade
(of the United States government) on Cuba,
as we believe that it is an act that directly
impacts on the well-being of its people,
said Sheinbaum.
Last week, Sheinbaum spoke of the “technical support
to Cuba in the face of the current energy emergency”
and announced that they were analyzing “whether
fuel aid is also necessary.”
“We will always be supportive. The Federal Electricity
Commission (CFE) is in contact (with Cuba) through
the Foreign Ministry (regarding) whatever the
Cuban people may need so as to provide
them support. It is essentially
technical aid,” she
said then.
“At one time we assisted Cuba --- and we are seeing
whether fuel aid is also necessary as humanitarian
aid, and (we do it) for the Cuban people, obviously,
and for the country,” she insisted.
Back then, she also reiterated Mexico’s opposition
to the hostile policies applied by the White House
against the people and Government of Cuba.
Cuba is experiencing an energy contingency caused
by fuel shortages and obstacles to guaranteeing
the modernization and operation of its power
generation plants, due to the US blockade.
In addition, it is undertaking recovery efforts following
the recent passage of Hurricane Oscar through
the eastern part of the island.... which left at
least eight dead - and significant economic
damage, especially in four municipalities
in the Guantánamo province.
_______________________________
Nebenzia invited Britain's Permanent
representative to the UN ------ to visit "impoverished Russia"
October 30th, 11:24pm
(RT.ru)
Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vassily
Nebenzia, responded to the statement of his British
counterpart, Barbara Woodward, about
"impoverished Russia", suggesting
that she personally visit
the country.
Nebenzia ------ thanked the British Permanent
Representative to the world organization for
her "touching concern for the Russian
budget" and invited her to Russia,
so that she could be convinced
of her statements.
"But I'm afraid that what you will see
will disappoint you, because your
characterisation is so clearly
contradicted" ------ TASS
quoted him as saying.
Earlier, Nebenzia said that the West
"broke another bottom" by calling
a meeting of the UN Security
Council on Ukraine.
___________________________________
Thai Foreign Minister confirms the
country's readiness to join BRICS
October 30th, 11pm
(Izvestia.ru)
As a result of the BRICS summit in Kazan, no expansion
was announced; the BRICS members.. only identified a
list of partner states. However, Thailand still intends
to join BRICS as a full member, the country's
Foreign Minister, Marit Sangyamphong,
confirmed to Izvestia.
"Given all this, and the contribution that we can make,
Thailand confirms - its readiness and determination
to become a full member of BRICS - at the earliest
opportunity. We are talking about contributions -
especially in the areas of international finance,
food security, the green transition and supply
chain development. In addition ---- given the country's strategic position ---- and unique ability to build bridges while maintaining good relations with everyone --- we are confident that Thailand can become
the link -------- that will make the
BRICS more interconnected
and influential," the
minister said.
Thailand officially applied for
BRICS membership in June.
_______________________________
187 countries called on the UN
to lift sanctions against Cuba
October 30th, 10:57pm
(Lenta.ru)
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said --- that the
overwhelming majority of countries for the 32nd time
spoke at the United Nations (UN) in favour of lifting
sanctions against Cuba. He wrote about this... in his Telegram channel.
Maduro clarified that Venezuela also demanded the
lifting of sanctions against Cuba. He stressed that
"Cuba deserves and has earned the right to
choose its own path of development in
peace and complete freedom."
The politician also expressed solidarity with Cuban
President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Raul Castro and the
Cuban people. He said that Venezuela is ready
to look for concrete solutions ----- that will
improve the lives of the two countries.
"A new world is possible, and we, the
free peoples, will build it,"
he concluded.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry assessed the easing of US sanctions against Cuba.
The official representative of the department, Maria Zakharova.... considered that the
measures are limited in nature.
In her opinion, the easing does not remove
the "tough economic siege" on Havana.
__________________________________________
Milonov urged to check the planting
of the Halloween cult--- in Russia
by Anastasia Rumyantseva
October 30th, 9:01pm
(RT.ru)
State Duma deputy Vitaly Milonov proposed to conduct
an inspection of the planting of the Halloween cult in
Russia. A copy of the appeal ---- addressed to the
chairman of the Investigative Committee of
Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, is available to RT.
"The facts of the celebration of so-called Halloween in
our country, come to my attention. These events, at
first glance, have the character of religious occult
events, the purpose of which is to turn our fellow
citizens away from following traditional religious
beliefs and instilling obscurantist superstitions,"
Milonov stressed.
He added that the celebration of this "event" does
not help foster love for the traditions of Russia.
"I ask you to study this phenomenon --- and conduct a
check on the planting of the Halloween cult - in our
country. Maybe there are more serious destructive
forces behind this "holiday" than it may seem at
first glance," the appeal says.
In October 2023, Mikhail Vetrov, the chairman of the
Association of Manufacturers of Children's Goods,
Works and Services, suggested considering the
possibility of replacing Halloween, with a
traditional harvest festival.
__________________________________
Kazachok landing module of
ExoMars-2022 mission
returns to Russia —
Roscosmos
October 30th, 1:34pm
(TASS)
The Kazachok robotic lander of the cancelled
2nd stage of the Russian-European ExoMars-
2022 mission for exploring Mars, has been
returned to Russia, Roscosmos said.
"The Kazachok module for the ExoMars program has
been returned to Russia," the statement reads.
The joint Russian-European ExoMars project -- included
two phases - the ExoMars-TGO orbital probe equipped
with Russian and foreign research instruments
meant to study the atmosphere of Mars, as
well as the Kazachok descent module
and the Rosalind Franklin rover.
The orbital part of the mission was successfully
delivered to Mars in 2016 and is now actively
studying the composition and properties of
the atmosphere of the Solar System's
fourth planet.
The launch of the other part of ExoMars --- was
canceled by the European side in early 2022
due to events in Ukraine.
____________________________
COP16, a moment of brilliance
for Colombian diplomacy
October 30th, 11:06am
(Prensa Latina)
For the first time, a high-level segment for this type of
event has been installed and the call brought to this
southwestern city, some high-ranking dignitaries,
including the presidents of Armenia, Suriname,
Ecuador, & Guinea Bissau, the vice president of Bolivia & the head of Haiti’s Presidential Transitional Council, Leslie Voltaire.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, António
Guterres, also arrived in the capital of Valle del
Cauca, and took the opportunity to thank the
host country for holding the meeting and
praised its commitment --- to achieve
peace with nature.
In a meeting with President Gustavo Petro, the UN
leader highlighted the Government’s renewed
focus - on the implementation of the 2016
Final Peace Agreement with the extinct
Revolutionary Armed Forces - People’s
Army and expressed his support, for
the ongoing efforts to consolidate
peace through dialogue.
The rest of the dignitaries were also
received by the Colombian ruler.
_______________________________
DPRK and Russia -------are
expanding cooperation in
information technologies
October 30th, 10:43am
(Prensa Latina)
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
and the Russian Federation.. are deepening their
cooperation - on information & communications
technology (IT), the state news agency KCNA
reported today in Pyongyang.
This is the purpose of an exhibition inaugurated on
Tuesday, at the Palace of Science and Technology
with the participation of companies and scientific
institutions dedicated to the field in both nations.
The event, entitled IT, digital development and
cooperation, showcases products, research
work and innovations on this field - in order
to take advantage of the best experiences
for the economic and social development
of the two countries.
In his opening speech, Ju Yong Il, Minister of
Information Industry of the DPRK, expressed
the aspiration of the DPRK to keep abreast
of global IT trends .....and to enrich them
with its own programs and resources.
For his part, Russian Deputy Minister of Digital
Development, Post and Mass Communication
Andrei Zarenin expressed willingness to
cooperate with the DPRK on this field
------ in line with the Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership Agreement
signed by President Vladimir
Putin and Chairman of the
State Affairs Committee
Kim Jong Un.
Signed last June, during Putin’s visit to the DPRK,
the treaty covers cooperation in military matters,
“Look, the polls have spoken; Uruguay expressed itself
through democracy and freedom. Tonight Uruguay has
shown that the coalition is the most-voted for political
project in our country,” declared the Partido
Nacional candidate.
With 91.13 percent of votes counted, Broad Front has
accumulated 949,983 ballots of the 2,217,473 cast,
National Party has 592,677, and Colorado Party
has 353,422.
__________________________________
Imedi exit poll: The Georgian Dream party won about 56.1% of the vote in the elections
October 26th, 5:20pm
(RT.ru)
This is evidenced by the exit poll data
of the government TV channel, Imedi.
The second place, according to exit polls,
is occupied by the Coalition for Change
(12.6%).
The United National Movement party.... which
is part of the Unity-National Movement union
...is gaining 11.6%. In fourth place.... is the
Strong Georgia coalition, which has
7%.
As of 16:00 Moscow time, the turnout for
the parliamentary elections in Georgia
was 50.6%.
______________________________________
Lula Faked Accident to Not
Attend the Brics Summit,
Venezuela’s AG Says
October 26th, at 1:06pm
Tarek William Saab, Attorney General of Venezuela
accused this Saturday the president of Brazil, Luiz
Inácio Lula da Silva, to use the accident he had a
week ago to lie to the BRICS Summit -- and thus
veto the Caribbean nation’s entry to the group.
“Direct and close sources from Brazil - inform me that
President Lula da Silva ------- manipulated an alleged
accident to use it as an alibi in order not to attend
the recent BRICS Summit,” said Saab about Lula’s
absence at the BRICS meeting --- after an alleged
accident, he had a week ago, in which he struck
the back of his head, after falling at the official
residence of the Presidency.
The Venezuelan General Prosecutor added -- in a
statement spread on Saturday that that version
was nothing more than a deception... to carry
out the veto against Venezuela, “evading its
responsibility to President Putin, the other
attending leaders --- and, in particular,
President Nicolás Maduro Moros.”
Saab stated that which ran with much force as a
rumour, seems to be corroborated by the video
released yesterday by the Brazil’s Presidency,
where the president Lula looks healthy, using
his faculties..... “acting with total cynicism
while there is great discomfort in the Latin American left & revolutionary movements of the world - by the unworthy, nefarious performance of its government at that Summit --- by vetoing and attacking Venezuela in a cowardly way, & obeying the instructions of our peoples’ historical
enemies.”
On October the 24th, Venezuela rejected Brazil’s
veto to prevent its entry into the BRICS group,
and denounced - that the Brazilian Foreign
Ministry’s representation, led by Brazil's
Ambassador, Eduardo Paes Saboia had
“decided to maintain the veto ----- that
Bolsonaro applied to Venezuela, for
years -------- reproducing the hatred,
exclusion & intolerance promoted
from Western power centres -- to
prevent, for now --- the entry of
Bolívar’s homeland, into
this organization.”
Although during the summit Venezuela received
support from several participating countries, to
formalize its entry into the bloc, the Bolivarian
nation rejects the veto --- as it constitutes an
aggression towards Venezuela and reflects
current geopolitical tensions, where
Western powers attempt to limit
Venezuelan influence.
Venezuela also highlighted the Venezuelan people’s
indignation ------ at this “inexplicable and immoral aggression” ------ and reaffirmed Venezuela’s
commitment to self-determination and
the sovereign equality of states.
Despite not achieving inclusion in BRICS, Maduro
expressed optimism about the future, stating
that “a new world has been born” and that
Venezuela remains part of a free world -
without hegemonies.
__________________________________________
China is going to create more
than 12 million jobs in 2024
October 25th, 3:10pm
(trud.ru)
China will continue to improve policy measures aimed
at prioritizing employment. This --- was stated by the
press service of the Ministry of Human Resources
and Social Security of the People's Republic of
China, as reported by the Xinhua
news Agency.
According to the representative of the department,
Chen Yongjia, the Chinese authorities have set a
goal to create more than 12 million new jobs by
the end of 2024. According to him, to achieve
this goal, the ministry will launch campaigns
to create jobs in key sectors, such as
advanced manufacturing and the
"silver" economy.
At the same time, the official noted, such measures
as reducing taxes and fees, as well as subsidies
to stabilize employment... reducing the rates of
unemployment insurance premiums, insurance
reimbursements and subsidies for vocational
training, and creating educational centres –
including in the digital and green economy
sectors --- will be used to the maximum.
He added... that the Ministry will provide special
assistance to unemployed university graduates
and encourage employers to offer them
internship opportunities to ensure
overall stability in youth
employment.
According to official data, from January to September
of this year ---- about 10.5 million jobs were created in
cities and urban-type towns in China. During this time
the Chinese government has provided more than 150
billion yuan (about $ 21.1 billion) to businesses and
workers --- to support employment.
_______________________________________
Nabiullina spoke about the Central
Bank's goal to keep inflation at 4%
by Elmira Aliveya
October 25th, 3:10pm
(Komsomolskaya Pravda)
The Bank of Russia aims to reach the level of 4%
inflation, in early 2026. This was announced by
the Chair of the Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina
at a press conference following the meeting
of the Board of Directors of the regulator.
Last year, Central Bank analysts predicted 5.1%
inflation by the end of 2024, and in 2025 they
lowered the forecast to 4%. It is also noted,
that analysts have already modeled a plan
for tightening monetary policy, & lowered
inflation expectations. It is necessary,
in order for inflation ------- to return to the target.
Regulators also expect that in 2025 it
will be possible to reduce annual
inflation to 4.5-5%.
Previously, KP.RU said that the Central Bank held
a regular meeting of the Board of Directors on
monetary policy. The Central Bank raised its
key rate to a record 21% per annum on
Friday, October 25th.
______________________________
Mearsheimer: BRICS summit showed
that Putin wins in all directions
by Sergey Gapchuk
October 25th, 3:03pm
(Komsomolskaya Pravda)
Russian President Vladimir Putin --- is gaining the upper
hand over the West, he overcomes sanctions and wins
in the conflict in Ukraine, US political scientist and
expert on international relations, Professor John
Mearsheimer said, in an interview with the
Judging Freedom YouTube channel.
"Everything that is happening is yet another proof
that Putin wins, he wins on sanctions, he wins on the battlefield, he is not an outcast,"
the expert stressed.
He noted that the US attempt to isolate Putin at the
international level and turn him into a pariah has
categorically failed. An example of this failure
was the BRICS summit, which was attended
by leaders of various countries, including
India, the professor noted.
According to him, BRICS is an impressive institution
that demonstrates that it will become more
impressive over time.
Mischimer concluded that this is bad news for
the United States ...and good news for Putin.
As the KP website wrote earlier -- John Mearsheimer,
following the BRICS summit in Kazan - said that the
US, NATO and EU had not achieved their main goal
- to turn Russia, and its President, Vladimir Putin, into a pariah in the international arena.
The expert stressed that the professor also pointed
out that the White House's policy on Ukraine was
a complete failure. The Kiev regime is on the
verge of collapse, European economies
have gone into a deep depression...
and the United States itself is far
from in the best economic and
political condition as a result
of the decisions taken by
the US administration.
Back in August, John Mearsheimer noted that Vladimir
Putin is well aware that the United States and other
Western countries have already exhausted their
resources of military assistance to the Armed
Forces of Ukraine and will not be able to
have a serious impact on changing
the course of hostilities in the
special operation zone.
_______________________________________
Nicaragua's Vice President ----- calls
US and NATO enemies of humanity
October 25th, 2:34pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Russia is fighting fascism, while the United States and
NATO have become "enemies of humanity." This was
announced on October 24 by the Vice-President of
Nicaragua, Rosario Murillo.
The politician -------- whose words are quoted by the
official portal 19Digital, stressed the importance
of Nicaragua's participation in the BRICS
summit in Kazan and called the event
itself --- important for promoting
multipolarity, fair trade - and
international cooperation.
In addition, the Vice President thanked
Russian President Vladimir Putin for
inviting her to the summit.
"At this very important meeting -- we recognized the
great battle that the Russian Federation is waging
against fascism -- which is financed, armed and promoted by who? The United States, which,
unfortunately for the whole world, is the
enemy of humanity, the United States
and NATO," Murillo said.
She pointed out that Nicaragua ----- "deeply rejects" the
unilateral sanctions that the United States imposes on
its Western allies - because it is "illegal aggression."
The Latin American state, according to Murillo, is
fighting against imperialists and colonialists.
The Vice President noted - that Russia and China play a
fundamental role in the world and develop cooperation
for the development of the world, based on the
principles of respectful solidarity.
"Russia will do everything to stop
- and finally eradicate - Nazism".
Vladimir Putin on the day of the 80th anniversary of
the liberation of Leningrad recalled the genocide
during the war.
Earlier, on October 11, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov said that the countries of the EU) and NATO
again turned to Nazi ideas, by supporting the
Kiev regime. The Minister stressed, that
this is a dangerous process.
Earlier, on June 12, Lavrov pointed out that because of
the actions of the United States and its allies in the
world, there was a threat of a revival of Nazism.
The West stirs up such sentiments --- and
uses it against Russia.
The BRICS 2024 Summit was held in
Kazan from October 22 to 24, 2024.
BRICS is an interstate association of countries.
Prior to that, the summit at the level of the
heads of its member states was held in
Johannesburg in August 2023.
As a result... the BRICS members decided on an historic
expansion. From January 1, 2024, Brazil, Russia, India,
China and South Africa; were joined by Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.
__________________________________________
Cuba and Bolivia Are Honoured to
Join BRICS as Partner Countries
October 25th, 10:52am
(teleSUR)
In the past year, over 26 countries have
also requested to join this economic
cooperation group.
On Friday, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said
his nation feels honoured to have been included
as a partner country of BRICS, an economic
cooperation group led by Brazil, Russia,
India, China, and South Africa.
“Cuba --- is honoured to join BRICS as a partner country.
These five letters represent a great hope for the Global
South countries in the challenging journey toward a
more just, democratic, equitable, and sustainable
international order,” he said, through
social media.
“Cuba reaffirms its interest and commitment to join and
work alongside the BRICS members --- in defense of
multilateralism, peace, international law, and the
development of an agenda of cooperation that
addresses the Global South’s priorities,”
stated Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister
Bruno Rodriguez.
Previously, participants at the BRICS Summit held
in Kazan, adopted a resolution incorporating 13
nations as BRICS partners, although this does
not mean they are yet full-fledged members.
On Thursday, Bolivian President Luis Arce also
expressed his satisfaction with the inclusion
of his nation as a BRICS partner.
“We have made significant efforts and advances with
the perspective of becoming a full BRICS member, a
bloc that advances each day in consolidating a new
multipolar world --- based on brotherhood, inclusion, cooperation, and mutual benefit, in the framework
of respect for sovereignty and self-determination
of peoples,” he said.
“This step represents the most important achievement
of our foreign policy, with results that will have a
multidimensional character, covering matters
related to geopolitics, culture, the economy,
finance, and trade. This contributes... to
advancing our objectives of economic
growth with industrialization and
income redistribution,” Arce
pointed out.
Over the past year, BRICS has significantly expanded
its membership --- adding full members such as the
United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
More than 26 countries have also requested
to join this economic cooperation group.
These 13 countries -- received
BRICS partner country status:
Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Algeria,
Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand,
Uganda and Vietnam.
__________________________________________
Vulin: Belgrade considers realistic
a referendum on joining BRICS
or the EU
October 24th, 10:23pm
(RT.ru)
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Vulin said in
an interview with TASS.. that Belgrade considers it
realistic to hold a referendum on joining BRICS
or the EU within two to three years.
The politician noted that earlier the only opportunity for
Serbia was only the European Union, but today BRICS
is becoming increasingly popular among Serbs
and in general in Serbia.
"Now BRICS has become a real alternative for us, and
a realistic one at that. I believe that within two,
maximum three years we will have to make
a decision --- on what we want: the
EU or BRICS," TASS quoted
Vulin as saying.
According to him, this decision will be made by
the citizens of Serbia during the referendum.
Earlier, Vulin, in an interview with RT, said that the
attractiveness of joining BRICS is related to the
economy. In addition, he called BRICS
the hope of humanity.
____________________________________
If you want to know what
BRICS is planning, read...
https://pdfupload.io/docs/e1231f66
0000000000000000000000000000000
Foreign Minister: Saudi Arabiawill continue to strengthen relations with BRICS
October 24th, 7:43pm
(RT.ru)
Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said
that the kingdom will continue to strengthen relations
and expand cooperation with BRICS.
This is stated.... in the statement of the Saudi Foreign
Ministry following the participation of Prince Faisal
in the outreach/BRICS Plus meeting in Kazan.
"His Highness the Minister confirmed that the kingdom will continue to strengthen its partnership with the BRICS group and expand the horizons of cooperation in all areas, striving to achieve development and prosperity at the international level,"
TASS quotes the message.
_______________________
Third day of the BRICS Summit:
a big family on the road to
a just world
October 24th, 7:03pm
(DAN news agency)
The sixteenth BRICS summit in Kazan...... has officially
ended. The leaders of the participating countries and
the states closest to the union held several meetings
today..... where they exchanged assessments on the
current situation in the world, with an emphasis on
security. Donetsk News Agency has collected the
main topics of the main international event of
this year.
BRICS Plus/Outreach format
This format includes countries that are not part of the
association.. or are located in close proximity to the
participants. Representatives of the CIS countries,
Asia, Africa and Latin America, were invited to
the meeting.
Vladimir Putin suggested discussing the situation in
the world with an emphasis on security and the
situation in the Middle East... which "gives
pain in the heart of the vast majority of
people on the planet."
As the head of state noted, Russia is ready to offer the
world an initiative on the organization of equal and
indivisible security in Eurasia, which can only be
created together.
The participants.. also touched upon other difficult
topics. We expectedly touched upon the situation
around Ukraine. The leaders of the two countries
have once again come to the conclusion that the
Ukrainian crisis must be resolved through
dialogue and diplomacy.
On this track, Russia also positively notes the efforts of
China and Brazil, which previously presented a peace
plan at the UN General Assembly, and in general, is
grateful to everyone who is ready to help.
The leaders of the two countries, did not have enough
time to fully express themselves -- so they continued their conversation... at a working breakfast without
cameras. Not even a single summing-up material
will be enough to cover all that the BRICS
representatives talked about.
Nevertheless, the general conclusion of the meeting, is
that unification is one big family that strives for a world
where the opinions, interests, sovereignty, culture, and
religion of each of the peoples will be taken into
account. So far, as it was stated; ''they'' -- are
trying to prevent this.
Press conference
The key event of the day was the press conference of
the Russian president, which was attended by about
300 media representatives, including those from
unfriendly countries.
The President praised the organization of the summit,
noting that the new participants -- Egypt, Iran, the
United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia
----- have already understood the advantages of
the association, where you can work together
on the basis of mutual respect.
The two leaders agreed to expand their partnership in
three main areas: politics, trade and culture. A new
format of participation for 13 partner countries
was also agreed, which will serve as a kind
of filter on the way to fully-fledged
BRICS membership.
Putin spoke openly not only about what was achieved
- or failed to be achieved - in BRICS, but also,
traditionally ---- gave detailed answers on
all issues on the international agenda,
including - the situation in Ukraine:
"Threatening Russia is pointless,
because it only cheers us up."
For foreign guests..... the President explained where the
roots of the Ukrainian crisis come from and also spoke about the latest data..... from the special military operation zone, and the Kursk region ----- which
Kiev attacked in early August: Russian troops
are confidently advancing in all directions....
and Ukraine's losses ---- in the Kursk region,
for more than a month ------ reached 26,000
militants. Putin also said that at present,
Russian forces - are eliminating a large
group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
that was previously blocked.
Despite the losses, Kiev is ready to continue senseless
provocations ---- in order to justify assistance from the
Americans before the US elections. Thus, the Kiev
regime is determined... to influence the results
of the vote.
It also became known that Moscow recently received
a proposal from the Turkish side to consider the
possibility of new peace talks. However,
Zelensky refused as soon as Putin
accepted the offer. "We told the
Turks: 'Guys ------ thank you, of
course, for your participation,
but you will first deal with
your customers.... then,
whether they want it
or not, let them say
so directly...''' the
President said.
According to Putin, the Kiev authorities are irrational
.....and do not want to negotiate..... because they
understand that they will have to lift martial
law and hold elections.
During the conversation, the Head of the Russian state
closed the topic and clearly outlined the interests of
the Russian Federation. "We are ready to consider
any options for peace agreements based on the
realities on the ground, and we are not ready
for anything else," he said.
Leaderboards' ratings
The leaders of the BRICS countries and invited
representatives of other countries thanked
Vladimir Putin, for the high level of
organization of the summit
in Kazan.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the
summit the most successful, highlighting Russia's
chairmanship. "This time, in Kazan -- new BRICS
member countries took part in the work of the
association. BRICS has become stronger,"
the South African leader stated.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "BRICS has
a huge potential to make our planet better and
more sustainable. This summit, is special."
Chinese President Xi Jinping: "Thank you to President
Putin and the Russian government for organizing this
BRICS leaders' dialogue. We must lead reforms to
create a fair system of global governance."
The presidency of the association.. is transferred from
the Russian Federation... to the Federative Republic
of Brazil. Putin expressed readiness to assist the
Republic in further work and implementation of
all the provisions of the Kazan Declaration.
_________________________________________
UN Secretary General Guterres:
BRICS will play an important
role in global security
by Sergey Kudrin
October 24th, 11:16am
(Komsomolskaya Pravda)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is taking
part in the BRICS summit in Kazan, which is chaired
by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the whole
of Russia, commented on the role of the
association on the world stage.
According to him, BRICS can play a key
role in shaping global security.
"We believe in BRICS --- and that the community can play
an important role in achieving the goals set (for global
development and security - ed.)," Guterres said, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.
At the same time, Guterres stressed that -- although the
UN needs reforms and modernization, the values of the
Charter of the United Nations will remain inviolable. It
is necessary -- to defend the rule of law, sovereignty
and independence of all States without exception,
and BRICS is the organization that can achieve
such goals.
________________________________________________
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Vulin:
I am ready to give my life --- to
preserve relations with the
Russian Federation
by Maria Mamaeva
October 24th 11:15am
(Komsomolskaya Pravda)
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin said
that he is ready to give his life to preserve the
country's relations with Russia. He said
this in an interview for the TASS
news agency.
As the Serbian politician stressed, he is very proud of
his relations with the Russian Federation. Vulin said
that Russia and Serbia.. should move towards a
rapprochement, since the development of
mutual ties, works for the benefit of
both countries.
"I will fight for them (relations with Russia - ed.) until
the last day of my life. And, if it costs me my life,
then this, is not a very high price," the Deputy
Prime Minister of Serbia said -- answering a
question about threats against his person
and fears for his life.
Previously KP.RU reported on the statement of
Alexander Vulin - that the Serbian leadership
is very satisfied with the quality of military
equipment purchased from Russia and is
ready to continue purchasing it.
___________________________________
Sun rising from East,truly setting
in the West ---- Iran FM says after BRICS summit
October 24th, 9:20am
(PressTV)
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has
underscored the growing power of the
BRICS group of countries that has
overshadowed that of the West,
at the conclusion of the bloc's
16th annual summit.
"Main takeaway: the sun is rising from the East, and
truly setting in the West," he said in an X post on
Thursday, a day after BRICS leaders issued a
joint declaration at the end of their
meeting in Russia's Kazan.
Araqchi, who accompanied President Masoud
Pezeshkian on his trip to Russia to attend the
BRICS summit, also hailed the Iranian chief
executive's "fruitful engagement" with
world leaders on the sidelines of
the event.
The BRICS group of fast-developing economies
initially consisted of Brazil, Russia, India,
China, and South Africa.
This year, it was expanded to include Iran, Egypt,
the UAE and Ethiopia --- as new members.
The group promotes a multipolar world order and is
often seen as an alternative to Western economic
and political hegemony.
Also speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the top
Iranian diplomat - said BRICS is turning into a
new power bloc in the international arena,
consisting of the countries that oppose
unilateralism and seek a fairer world
system free of the monopoly of
Western institutions.
"With the help of non-Western states and those of
the so-called Global South, the BRICS countries
----- are seeking to have their own voice in
international relations and systems -----
and get rid of the sheer unilateralism
pursued by the US and other
Western countries,"
he added.
In their declaration at the end of the Kazan summit,
the BRICS leaders.... expressed deep concern over
the harmful impact of illegal, unilateral sanctions
on the global economy, noting that they
"negatively affect" economic growth,
energy, and food security, and
exacerbate world poverty
& environmental needs.
The BRICS summit began on Tuesday. The main
BRICS meeting took place on Wednesday while
outreach/BRICS Plus sessions are scheduled
for Thursday, the final day of the event.
____________________________________________
Vietnam keento boost strategic
partnership with Malaysia
October 24th, 8:29am
(Prensa Latina)
Vietnamese Parliament Speaker Tran Thanh Manh, has
expressed Vietnam's interest in boosting the strategic
partnership with Malaysia --- to make it deeper, more
substantive and more effective.
Vietnam’s National Assembly is willing to create all
favorable conditions for cooperation between the
two countries, Thanh Manh said upon receiving
Malaysian House of Representatives Speaker
Tan Sri Dato’ Johari Bin Abdul.
The potential for collaboration between the two
countries is still great ---- said the Vietnamese
authority, who recommended strengthening
it in the fields of investment, technology,
tourism, trade and energy, in order to
expand the commercial space and
maximize.... the comparative
advantages of each side.
Thanh Manh also called upon support for training
Vietnamese localities and companies on the
production and certification processes of
Halal products and for further facilitating
the import of these goods from Vietnam.
He also suggested studying.. and proceeding to open
more direct flights connecting famous places in the
two nations, contributing to promoting trade and
tourism --- as well as promoting cooperation
programs in training and human resource
development in areas where both sides
have strengths and needs.
Regarding legislative cooperation, Thanh Manh
advocated... increasing contacts between the
two countries’ organs and the Parliamentary
Friendship Groups to exchange professional experiences in the fields of legislation,
supervision ---- and important
decision-making.
The Malaysian House of Representatives Speaker is
on a working visit from October 22nd to 25th with
the goal of strengthening cooperation with the
National Assembly of Vietnam.
___________________________________
Indian PM calls
BRICS Summit
productive
October 24th, 8:22am
(Prensa Latina)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the 16th
BRICS Summit, which took place in Kazan, Russia, as
very productive, and appreciated the meetings
he held with several world leaders.
In a comment on social media after his return to Delhi,
the head of government also thanked President
Vladimir Putin, the Russian people and
government, for their hospitality.
The Indian Foreign Ministry issued a statement - saying
that the dignitaries of the BRICS member nations
held productive discussions on strengthening
multilateralism, the fight against terrorism,
promoting economic growth, seeking
sustainable development and
addressing the concerns
of the Global South.
Speaking at the event, the Indian Prime Minister said
there are high expectations -- of the positive role to
be played by the BRICS as a diverse and inclusive
platform... in the face of current challenges for
humanity, and called on the group to adopt
a people-centred approach to address
issues such as wars, economic
uncertainty, climate change
and terrorism.
He also stressed the need ---- for an early adoption of a
Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism
at the United Nations to combat the threat and called
for taking into account the hopes, aspirations and
expectations of countries in the Global South.
Modi stressed the need to prioritize small and medium
-scale industries, and assured that the bloc’s startup
forum, an Indian initiative to be launched this year,
will add significant value to the BRICS
economic agenda.
The head of government spoke with several of his
peers from BRICS member countries and nations
invited to the event. Among his meetings, the
Indian press... particularly highlights those
held by the Prime Minister with President
Vladimir Putin, with whom he reviewed
an extensive agenda ---- that included
trade, the economy, energy, defense,
connectivity, education, and ties
between peoples.
The Indian PM and the Chinese president -- expressed
their satisfaction with the recent agreement between
the two countries --- for the complete disengagement
and resolution of problems in the border territories,
and agreed that stable, predictable and friendly
bilateral relations between India and China
will have a positive impact on regional
and global peace and prosperity.
______________________________________
Bolivian and Russian presidents
held talks at BRICS Summit
Kazan, Russia
October 24th, 8:14am
(Prensa Latina)
The presidents of Bolivia and Russia, Luis Arce and
Vladimir Putin, respectively, held bilateral talks
in the context of the 16th BRICS Summit.
Sources from the Bolivian Foreign Ministry stated that
the leaders discussed -- collaboration in nuclear
technology, contracts related to lithium,
climate issues and educational
cooperation.
On July 12th, 2023, during the 15th Summit in
Johannesburg, South Africa... Arce officially
expressed, in a message to the leaders of
the quintet of founding nations, Bolivia’s
willingness to be part of the bloc, and
advocated for.... “complementarity,
solidarity, inclusion, consensus,
mutually beneficial cooperation,
respect for the sovereignty and
self-determination of peoples.”
He also called for the predominance of “horizontal
multilateralism, seeking that the presence and
interests of emerging economies --- play a
decisive role on international stages.”
In his speech, the president pointed out that the
expansion of this group of countries will allow
nations to access international markets
without the need to compromise their
dignity, without political conditions -
sanctions or militaristic intimidation.
“We firmly believe that the incorporation of Bolivia into
the BRICS would be mutually beneficial, due to the
concurrence in strategic areas, such as energy,
natural resources, agriculture, food production
for export, science and technology,” he said.
Arce added that this step will provide new approaches
to cooperation, financing and strategic investments
in critical infrastructure for integration, given
Bolivia’s privileged geographical position
and its status as the world’s leading
lithium reserve.
The meeting of the bloc began last Tuesday,
addressing an agenda that includes issues
of politics and security, the economy and finance, and cultural and
humanitarian contacts.
On Wednesday, it was announced ---- that 13 countries
were accepted as members of the group as partners
(not yet full members): Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda,
Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
_________________________________________
Cuba --------- Raúl Castro meets with
high-ranking Chinese party official
October 24th, 3:46am
(Prensa Latina)
The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Raúl Castro,
received Li Shulei, member of the Political
Bureau and the Secretariat and head of
the Propaganda Department of the
Central Committee of the
Communist Party of
China (CPC) ...on
Wednesday.
During the meeting, they addressed the excellent state
of inter-party relations and the importance of the
mechanism of theoretical seminars - for
the exchange of experiences in the
processes of building socialism.
The Cuban leader sent a warm greeting to the general
secretary of the Communist Party and president of
the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, whom
he thanked for his strong stand of solidarity for
Cuba, in these complex times, due to the
intensification of the US blockade.
On Tuesday, Li Shulei met with PCC First Secretary
Miguel Díaz-Canel, who stressed that this visit
“ratifies the importance that both parties
grant - to the exchange of high-level
political delegations - because it
is a milestone in strengthening
our historic relations.”
The Chinese party leader will stay in Cuba until
Thursday. He is accompanied... by a broad
representation of CPC officials, as well
as experts from various research
centres in his country.
This gentleman picks holes in the intellectual ''mistakes'' of the West and points to the best solution for the world's people.
Britain's enemy is not Russia but its own ruling class, UN report confirms by John Wight November 19th, at 2:48pm
John Wight has written for a variety of newspapers and websites, including the Independent, Morning Star, Huffington Post, Counter- punch, London Progressive Journal, and Foreign Policy Journal.
As the UK political establishment rips itself to pieces over Brexit, a far greater crisis continues to afflict millions of victims of Tory austerity.
A devastating UN report into poverty in the UK provides incontrovertible evidence, that the enemy of the British people, is the very ruling class that has gone out of its way these past few years to convince them it is Russia.
Professor Philip Alston, in his capacity as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, spent two weeks touring the United Kingdom. He did so, investigating the impact of 8 years of one of the most extreme austerity programs among advanced G20 economies in response to the 2008 financial crash and subsequent global recession.
What he found was evidence of a systematic, wilful, concerted and brutal economic war, unleashed by the country's right-wing Tory establishment, against the poorest and most vulnerable section of British society – upending the lives of millions of people who were not responsible for the aforementioned financial crash and recession, but who have been forced to pay the price.
From the report's introduction:
"It…seems patently unjust and contrary to British values that so many people are living in poverty. This is obvious to anyone who opens their eyes: to see the immense growth in foodbanks, and the queues waiting outside them, the people sleeping rough in the streets, the growth of homelessness, the sense of deep despair - that leads even the Government to appoint a Minister for Suicide Prevention - and civil society to report in depth, on unheard of levels of loneliness and isolation."
Though as a citizen of the UK, I respectfully beg to differ with the professor's claim, that such social & economic carnage, seems "contrary to British values,"(on the contrary - it is entirely in keeping with the values of the country's Tory establishment, an establishment for whom, the dehumanization of the poor and working class, is central to its ideology), the point he makes about it being "obvious to anyone who opens their eyes," is well made.
For it is now the case that in every town and city centre in Britain, it is impossible to walk in any direction for more than a minute, before coming across homeless people begging in the street. And the fact that some 13,000 of them, are former soldiers, casualties of the country's various military adventures in recent years, undertaken in service to Washington, exposes the pious platitudes peddled by politicians & the government as reverence for the troops & their 'sacrifice,' as insincere garbage.
As inequality increases, the wealthy and powerful become more desperate to cling onto their gains and distract us - with imagined threats and political sideshows - such as Jingoism, Russophobia and red-baiting...
Overall, 14 million people in the UK are now living in poverty, a figure which translates into an entire fifth of the population. Four million of them are children, while, according to Professor Alston, 1.5 million people are destitute – that is, unable to afford the basic necessities of life.
And this is what the ruling class of the fifth largest economy in the world, a country that parades itself on the world stage, as a pillar of democracy and human rights, considers progress.
The values responsible for creating such a grim social landscape, are compatible with the 18th, not the 21st century. They are proof positive, that the network of elite private schools – Eton, Harrow, Fettes College et al. – where those responsible for this human carnage are inculcated with the sense of entitlement and born to rule ethos that defines them, are Britain's hotbeds of extremism.
Professor Alston:"British compassion for those who are suffering, has been replaced by a punitive, mean-spirited, and often callous approach, apparently designed to instill discipline where it is least useful, to impose a rigid order on the lives of those least capable of coping with today's world, and elevating the goal of enforcing blind compliance, over a genuine concern to improve the well- being of those at the lowest levels of British society."
Here, set out above in bold relief, is the barbarism that walks - hand in hand - with free market capitalism. It is the same barbarism that was responsible for pushing post-Soviet Russia into a decade-long economic and social abyss, in the 1990s, and the values that have pushed 14 million people in the UK into the same economic and social abyss, in our time.
Austerity, it bears emphasizing, is not and never has been, a viable economic response to recession, in a given economy.
Instead, it is an ideological club, wielded on behalf of the rich and big business, to ensure that the price paid for the said economic recession, is borne exclusively by those least able to bear it - namely the poor and working people. It is class war by any other name, packaged and presented, as legitimate government policy.
However in Britain's case in 2018, this is a war like no other, because, as Professor Philip Alston's report lays bare, one side in this war has been throwing all the punches and one side has been taking them.
As the saying goes, wars take place when the government tells you who the enemy is; revolutions take place when you work it out for yourself.
(Source - RT)
_______________________________________________
Keiser Report: Reality of Creditor Jubilees
- fantastic - asks ''why don't we act like Jesus preached - and forgive debt?''
When what we do now, is what led to the slavery of feudalism: by refunding the creditors, instead!
Neocons have taken over Committee: UK's FCO Committee Report 'Through the Looking Glass' by Neil Clark
''The decision not to intervene in Syria has had very real consequences for Syrians, their neighbours, the UK and our allies. We believe the Government needs to under- stand the role the UK's inaction has had, and learn the lessons from it, for the future.''
Between December 2015 and June 2016 there were a total of 51 British air strikes in Syria. This year, there has been further bombing, including the targeting of military bases near Damascus and Homs in April.
"We believe that the consequences of inaction can be every bit as serious as intervening," the Foreign Affairs committee report states.
How can we explain this extraordinary attempt to portray Britain's extensive and well-documented operations in Syria as 'not intervening'? After all so much is on the public record, including, on the Ministry of Defence website, details of RAF air strikes.
A look at the membership of the Foreign Affairs Committee is illuminating. Its chair, Tom Tugendhat, Tory MP for Tonbridge and Malling, is a hard- core neocon and a former member of the Intelligence Corps. Peter Oborne, the highly respected political commentator, wrote about the 'neocon coup' that took place on the committee last year and warned us of its consequences. But how many were paying attention?
Other members of Tugendhat's committee include Ian Austin, the Labour MP who likened Russia's holding of the World Cup to Nazi Germany's hosting of the 1936 Olympic Games, and who told Jeremy Corbyn to "sit down and shut up" when he was criticizing the Iraq war.
Then we've Chris Bryant, a signatory to the statement of principles of the uber neocon, Henry Jackson Society, and Priti Patel, who stepped down from the Cabinet, in 2017, when it was revealed she had undisclosed, unofficial meetings with Israeli ministers.
In fact, if we look at the composition of the committee and compare it to the far more balanced one under the chairmanship of Crispin Blunt, (which produced a critical report on the UK government's intervention in Libya in 2016) it's no surprise we've got the document we have.
Neocons know that after the disasters of Iraq and Libya, 'interventionist' foreign policies have been utterly discredited. So, the only way out is to portray Syria, however ludicrously, as an example of UK 'non-intervention', in the hope that some people might fall for it and support 'rectifying' the 'inaction' at some point in the near future. Perhaps in response to a non- independently verified chemical weapons attack in Idlib, later this month?
The Foreign Affairs Committee report, which makes George Orwell's 1984 look quite understated, is perfectly timed for that.
(Source - taken from longer article on RT, Beyond Orwellianism') :
Rail’s funding for enhancements during 2019-24 will be
£9.4bn followingthe government’s spending review.
This is down almost 10% on the £10.4bn which rail regulator
the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) had previously calculated.
The reduction was omitted from Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s
announcement last week when he told the Commons the
government would deliver on “record investment plans
in infrastructure.”
Industry experts have said the decision is likely to affect a
number of forthcoming projects, which they say calls into
question Britain’s ability to rebuild following the corona-
virus pandemic.
The government defended its decision,saying it continues
to“invest significant sums in modernising our railway” but
admitted it was“closely examining”spending to“strive for
a better deal for taxpayers”given the scale ofsupport
for railways.
A Department for Transport spokesman added: “We must
ensure that, where necessary, projects are reviewed to
reflect the changing demand for rail services as a
result of the pandemic.”
Rail unions have warned the decision threatens jobs when
Britain should be investing and building its way out of the
Covid and climate crisis — also hitting out at the govern-
ment also over its latest environmental targets, which
were announced today.
Transport Salaried Staffs’ Associationgeneral secretary
Manuel Cortes said: “On the day when the government
has committed itself to increased binding targets to cut emissions, it is foolhardy to cut investment to the green transport offered by our railways.
“The fact that this spending cut didn’t feature in the Chancellor’s
speech, in which he lauded record investment in rail, but was
instead snuck out, says it all. The Tories are duplicitous -
and their commitment to levelling up and investing in
our futures, is paper thin.
“Without doubt cutting investment in our railways is both short-
sighted and reckless, particularly when borrowing costs are at
a historic low.
“You can’t trust Boris Johnson and this lot as far as you can
throw them.”
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said itwas timefor the
government to “come clean” on what it plans to cut.
He added: “How is Britain to be rebuilt after Brexit, and after
the pandemic, which has ravaged this country’s economy?
And what has happened to this government’s promises?
“This revelation puts a question mark over not only some long-
planned, and much-needed, improvements to our transport
infrastructure, but to the whole question of rebuilding this
country after the pandemic.”
Environmental campaigners hit out at the government’s continued
spending on road building while snatching back cash to improve
rail infrastructure.
Greenpeace UK’s Sam Chetan-Welsh: “The Chancellor is happy
to waste £27bn on road building schemes that will tear up our
countryside --- adding to harmful air pollution and climate-
wrecking emissions that we desperately need to reduce.
“But when it comes to the little money that was available
for upgrading our railways, he’s snatched it back at the
first opportunity.
“This is completely indefensible, as is his attempt to bury this
bad news, by leaving it out of last month’s spending review.
“Rishi Sunak either doesn’t get that we’re in a climate
emergency or he simply doesn’t care.”
RMT representatives demanded thegovernment reverse the
cuts and instead invest and build its way out of the corona-
virus and climate crises.
The union said the spending cut could jeopardise planned
works to electrify parts of the rail network, threatening both the creation of new skilled jobs and Britain’s carbon reduction promises.
General secretary Mick Cash said: “These massive cuts to
rail infrastructure budgets are a shameful indictment of the
government’s understanding of the importance of our rail
network and fly in the face of their stated objective of
building and investing our way out of the
Covid-19 crisis.
“At a time when our economy and transport links need a
once in a generation investment in rail to create skilled
jobs and shift passengers and freight off the roads
and on to rail, this Tory austerity by stealth, will
only serve to do the opposite.”
_________________________
Unison says Welsh Labour must democratise leadership contest by Peter Lazenby Friday, July 27, 2018
Labour’s biggest trade union affiliate in Wales is demanding that the party democratise the process of electing its Welsh leader.
At present, there are three blocks of voters in leadership elections – party members, affiliated trade union members and elected members of legislative bodies (the Westminster Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, and the European Parliament).
Each block of votes carries the same weight.
The Labour Party in Wales has around 25,000 individual members and 76,400 affiliated union members.
It has 58 legislators - 29 Welsh Assembly members, 28 MPs and one MEP - whose combined voice counts for one-third in leadership elections.
Unison says the voice of MPs, AMs and MEPs in a leadership election “is completely out of proportion,” compared with party and trade union members.
The union wants a 50-50 split between party members and union members, with legislators simply have one vote each.
Unison Cymru/Wales Labour Link chair, Dan Beard, said:
“We cannot support the disproportionate voting bloc of elected members continuing in its present form.
“The Labour Party is the fastest-growing political party in western Europe, and it’s time we agreed a more democratic method of electing our leaders.
“It’s vital unions retain a significant voice, when electing the leader and deputy leader of Welsh Labour.
“Unions helped establish the Labour Party at the beginning of the last century and we have supported it through some very difficult times.
"Our members help to keep the Labour Party’s feet on the ground, and in touch with its natural supporters.
“Reforming the electoral college will mean that, whoever becomes the new leader of Welsh Labour, will have a firm mandate from the members and trade unions --- to work together, to deliver the policies contained in the manifesto.”
A pioneering new report argues that thousands more engineering jobs could be created, by stopping the renewal of the Trident missiles system.
The report, Defence Diversification: International Learning for Trident Jobs, was published today by the Nuclear Education Trust. It examines various government and Civil Service initiatives in Britain, western Europe and the United States.
It argues that an internationally led programme to diversify the work of Trident’s workers, would cost far less than it would to renew the cold-war-era nuclear weapons system — estimated to be between £180 billion and £205bn over the next several decades.
The authors claim that further jobs — particularly in the skilled engineering sector — may be created by ditching Trident, and point to the decline in British arms industry employment, in which 263,000 jobs have vanished since 1980.
CND general secretary Kate Hudson said that the report demonstrates, from real-world examples, how the scrapping of unpopular projects such as Trident doesn’t have to mean the loss of high-skill employment.
“Far from it, in fact — if there is the political will to fully engage with defence diversification, far more high- skilled jobs can be created in the engineering sector,” she said.
Shadow minister for peace & disarmament Fabian Hamilton commented that while it is not Labour’s policy to get rid of Trident, “a defence diversification strategy would go hand in hand with Labour’s plan to invest in our economy.
“We do not lack the talent, we simply lack the funding.
“There is no denying that Trident is a major employer in some parts of the country, so proper funding must be made available so those in high-skilled work stay in high-skilled work.
“High-skilled jobs are good for our economy and, if we decide to transition away from Trident, defence diversification is the only way to ensure that the vital skills used in the development of Britain’s nuclear weapons, are not lost.”
The study argues that workers and local communities must be lead decision makers in diversification decisions related to nuclear weapons, and that serious government intervention - at every level - must be taken in their support.
Vatican calls for more regulation of markets, financial systems, condemns ‘economic cannibalism’ May 17th, at 10:52am
The Vatican called on Thursday for more regulation of markets and financial systems.
A major document says economic crises showed they were not able to govern themselves, and needed a strong injection of morality and ethics.
‘Considerations for an Ethical Discernment Regarding Some Aspects of the Present Economic-Financial System,’ jointly prepared by the doctrinal office and the department on human development, appeared to take aim at the plans to further de-regulate markets in some countries, such as the US, Reuters said.
The document attacked the “economic cannibalism” of some financial practices, saying profit for the sake of profit and not for the greater good, was “illegitimate.”
The Vatican condemned an “amoral culture of waste” that has created oligarchies in some countries, while leaving great masses of impoverished people “without any means of escape.”
The pronouncement is considered official teachings of the Catholic Church and could affect the attitude of the church’s 1.2 billion members.
Marx's theory still shines with truth: Xi May 4th, at 10:53am
Xinhua - Two centuries on, despite huge and profound changes in human society, the name of Karl Marx is still respected all over the world and his theory still shines with the brilliant light of truth, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a grand gathering in Beijing to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth.
Xi said Marx is the "teacher of revolution for the proletariat and working people all over the world, the main founder of Marxism, creator of Marxist parties, a pathfinder for international communism and the greatest thinker of modern times."
"Today, we hold this grand gathering with great veneration to mark the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth, to remember his great character and historic deeds and to review his noble spirit and brilliant thoughts," Xi said at the event.
''With noble ideals and no fear of difficulty or adversity, throughout his life, Marx devoted himself to perseveringly striving for the liberation of humanity, scaling the peak of thought in his pursuit of truth, and the unremitting fight to overturn the old world and establish a new one'', according to Xi.
''Marx is not only a great figure who bore the weight of the world, but also an ordinary person with a passion for life, who was sincere and true to his friends'', Xi said.
''The most valuable and influential spiritual asset that Marx left us is the scientific theory named after him -- Marxism. Like a spectacular sunrise, the theory illuminated the path of humanity's exploration of the law of history, and humanity's search for their own liberation'', Xi said.
"The thought and theory of Marx are of his times and go beyond his times," Xi said. "They are the essence of the spirit of that times and the essence of the spirit of all humanity."
Xi said Marxism is a scientific theory that reveals the rules of human society's development, in a creative manner.
Having developed the materialist conception of history and surplus value theory, Marx showed how humanity would leap from the realm of necessity, to the realm of freedom, and also showed the road for people to realize freedom and liberation, Xi said.
Marxism, the first ideology for the liberation of the people themselves, is a theory of the people.
"Marxism, for the first time, explored the path for humanity's freedom and liberation from the stance of the people, and pointed out the direction, with scientific theory, toward an ideal society with no oppression or exploitation, where every person would enjoy equality and freedom," Xi said.
Stressing that practicality is a prominent characteristic of Marxism that makes it different from other theories, Xi said Marxism is a theory of practices that directs the people to change the world.
It is an open theory that is constantly developing and always stands at the frontier of the times, Xi said.
"That is why it is always able to keep young, explore the new issues in the development of the times and respond to the new challenges for human society."
The general secretary said that over the 170 years since publication of The Communist Manifesto, Marxism had been spread around the world, unrivaled in the history of human ideology in terms of the breadth and depth of its influence.
After the end of World War II, a large number of socialist countries were established, Xi said, stressing that the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially, has greatly increased the socialist strength in the world.
"There might be setbacks in the development of socialism in the world, but the overall trend for human society's development has never changed, and it will never change," Xi said.
"Marxism has not only profoundly changed the world, but also China," Xi said.
The reverberations of the October Revolution in Russia brought Marxism-Leninism to China, pointing out the direction forward, offering a brand new choice for the Chinese people in their struggle to survive, and setting the scene for the birth of the CPC.
Since the CPC's birth, it has combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of the Chinese revolution and construction, transforming the Chinese nation from "the sick man of East Asia" to one who has stood up, by uniting and leading the people through long-term struggle.
"This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only through socialism, can we save China," Xi said.
Since reform and opening up, the CPC has combined the fundamental principles of Marxism, with the reality of China's reform and opening up, and the nation who stood up, has grown rich.
"This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only through socialism with Chinese characteristics, can we develop China," Xi said.
In the new era, the CPC again combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of China in this new era, uniting and leading the people in "under- taking the great struggle, building the great project, advancing the great cause and realizing the great dream."
The Chinese nation has come to embrace a tremendous transformation, as the one who has grown rich, now, is becoming strong.
"This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only by adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, can we realize national rejuvenation," Xi said.
"It is perfectly right for history and the people to choose Marxism, as well as for the CPC to write Marxism on its own flag, to adhere to the principle of combining the fundamental principles of Marxism, with China's reality, and continuously adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the times."
_____________________________________
China lifts 740 mln rural poor out of poverty since 1978 September 3rd, at 12:57pm
Xinhua - China lifted 740 million people in rural areas out of poverty from 1978 to 2017, roughly 19 million each year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Monday.
The poverty ratio in rural areas dropped 94.4 percentage points during the same time period with an average annual decrease of 2.4 percentage points, according to the NBS.
NBS data shows that China's poverty relief achievements have contributed more than 70 percent to global poverty alleviation work, in the past 40 years.
The average annual income of rural residents in impoverished areas rose an average of 10.4 percent each year from 2012 to 2017, up 2.5 percentage points from the average for rural residents.
Over the past five years, over 68 million people were lifted out of poverty in China. The country aims to further lift 10 million people out of poverty this year and eradicate poverty by 2020.
China recently released guidelines on winning the battle against poverty in the next three years, in order to prepare the nation for eradicating poverty by 2020.
According to the guidelines, the impoverished people should be guaranteed food & clothing, and children from poor families should be guaranteed a 9-year compulsory education. Basic medical needs and living conditions of the impoverished, should also be guaranteed.
People whose annual income is lower than 2,300 yuan (337.3 U.S. dollars), are defined as living below the poverty line, in China.
Almost half of Russians see USSR collapse as shameful – poll January 17th, at 12:11pm
The collapse of the Soviet Union is considered a reason to be ashamed, by 45 percent of Russians, according to a recent opinion poll. The only option that scored higher, is Russia’s failure to eradicate poverty.
The poll, conducted in late 2018, by the Levada Center is its latest study of what Russians are proud and ashamed of, about their nation. The demise of the USSR, saw a rebound in popularity from a low point of 28 percent in mid-2015, and is at a level comparable with the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The only more popular answer is Russia’s failure to eradicate poverty, which was named as a reason to be ashamed, by 61 percent of the people polled. This answer has topped Levada’s polls, for decades.
Russians are also ashamed of fellow countrymen treating each other disrespectfully (37 percent), Russia’s failure to catch up economically with the Western powers (24 percent), the out- come of Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms (24 percent), and Joseph Stalin’s reign of terror (21 percent).
On the opposite side of Russians’ national identity are the qualities and events, people are proud of.
Defeating Nazi Germany in World War II remains the one thing Russians are overwhelmingly proud of (87 percent).
There is also the role that the country played in space exploration – about half are proud to belong to a space pioneering nation.
The third most popular option is accepting Crimea (the breakaway former Ukrainian region) as part of Russia again, which is seen as a point of national pride, by 45 percent.
Many people are also proud of Russian literature, science, and martial prowess, Soviet-era industrialization and the best qualities of the Russian character, like resolve and patience.
A record 75 percent said Russia is definitely, or most likely, a great nation today, while 88 percent believe that it should be one.
There was no apparent correlation between wishing greatness for Russia and regretting the USSR’s collapse, the agency noted, suggesting that Russians expect a great nation to - first and foremost - provide social justice, and protection.
Sixty-two percent said the Russians are a great people.
Levada remarked that about 80 percent of the people polled, identified themselves as Russians.
When asked what makes them feel connected to their people, most respondents named national history (53 percent), Russia’s land (35 percent), their place of birth (33 percent), and the nature that they call their own (25 percent).
The formal national symbols, including the flag, the coat of arms, and the national anthem, was the least popular option (5 percent).
Interestingly, religion is a relatively small factor in Russian national identity (9 percent).
(Source - RT)
____________________________________________
Number of Russians who regret collapse of USSR hits 10-year high December 26th, 2017, at 7:20am
The number of Russians who regret the collapse of the Soviet Union has reached its highest level since 2009, with almost an equal share saying the event could have been avoided.
A public opinion poll conducted by the independent Levada Center in late November this year found that 58 percent of Russians now regret the collapse of the USSR. Twenty-five percent said they felt no regret about this, and 16 percent could not describe their feelings in one word.
When researchers asked those who regret the end of the USSR what the primary reasons were behind their sentiments, 54 percent said that they missed a single economic system, 36 percent said they had lost the feeling of belonging to a real superpower, 34 percent complained about the drop in mutual trust among ordinary people, and 26 percent said that the collapse had destroyed the ties between friends and relatives.
The same research showed that 52 percent of Russians think that the collapse of the USSR could have been avoided, 29 percent said that the event was absolutely inevitable, and 19 percent did not have a fixed opinion on the matter.
The share of those who regret the demise of the Soviet Union has risen continuously over the past decade, but in 2009 it was even higher than today – at 60 percent. The all-time high – 75 percent – was recorded in 2000.
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly addressed the issue of the collapse of the USSR in his speeches. In an address to the Russian parliament in 2005 he called the event the greatest geopolitical disaster of the 20th century and a cause of major disruption for the Russian people. In September 2016, Putin said the Communist Party should have transformed the Soviet Union into a democratic state, rather than see it break into separate nations.
At the same time, Putin has always emphasized that he and other Russian officials have no plans to revive the USSR, and has expressed anger that people cannot accept this. He's also accused Western governments of deliberately confusing modern Russia with the USSR and harming the interests of ordinary people, on the pretense of preventing an imaginary threat.
Historian:Russia's October Revolution Was Inevitable, Relatively Bloodless November 10th, at 4:33pm by Ekaterina Blinova
The October Uprising of 1917 became the logical conclusion of the February Revolution, Michael J. Carley, a professor of history at the Universite de Montreal has told Sputnik. According to the academic, the Russian Revolution was inevitable and occurred because evolutionary processes of change to benefit the lives of ordinary people had failed.
"February 1917 marked the beginning of a revolutionary change in power in Russia, that was accomplished in October," Michael Jabara Carley, professor of history at the Université de Montréal and the author of "Silent Conflict: A Hidden History of Early Soviet-Western Relations,"told Sputnik, commenting on the 100th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution.
"The tsarist order was bankrupt and doomed. Almost everyone at the time said so. The immediate cause of the bankruptcy was the Great War [The First World War]," the Canadian academic stressed, adding that "the result was calamity marked by millions of casualties, large territories lost and an economy thrown into chaos, by the unsustainable financial and economic demands of fighting a world war."
Russian Provisional Government: 'Neither Revolutionary, Nor Democratic'
The so-called February Revolution, which is regarded as a combination of a popular uprising with an elitist anti- monarchist plot, led to the abdication of Russian Emperor Nicholas II and the establishment of the Provisional Government.
Still, the Provisional Government"was neither revolutionary nor democratic,"the academic pointed out: The crux of the matter was that it was largely controlled by the "bourgeois" urban and rural elites and old tsarist establishment"that was opposed to the revolution and attempted to block its further development."
October Uprising Was Relatively Bloodless
The professor explained why, contrary to popular belief, the October Revolution of 1917 that took place on November 7 (October 25 in the Julian calendar) was relatively bloodless.
"Well, in the first instance because the Provisional Government was utterly discredited. It had no popular support. It was a head without a body. It could give orders or issue decrees, but had no power to enforce them. In a revolutionary period, power comes from the support of the insurgent masses and the Provisional Government had none,"Carley told Sputnik.
The professor suggested that 1917 could have been averted if old elites as well as their forebears had not blocked"political and economic evolutionary processes"in Russia.
'Provisional Government Became a Cork in the Bottle'
"The Provisional Government became a cork in the bottle holding back the revolution,"the historian said."The revolutionary masses in Petrograd [Saint Petersburg] and elsewhere put pressure on their socialist leaders to blow the cork out of the bottle…. It was the Bolsheviks who put themselves at the head of the mass movement & articulated its demands, essentially peace, bread and land."
He pointed out, however, that"the Bolsheviks themselves were not united on all the big issues and most importantly on the seizure of power in October (the Julian calendar)."
"I would propose that the Provisional Government collapsed of its own rot. The insurgent masses led by the Bolsheviks only had to kick it over,"Carley remarked.
Was the October Revolution of 1917 Inevitable?
"It is a question impossible to answer except in this way: popular revolutions come about because political and economic elites over time are too selfish to share wealth and power with the masses,"Carley responded."Like the tsarist autocracy, they treat the masses as a resource to be exploited and rung dry. When evolutionary processes of change fail, revolution is often the result."
According to the academic, it is wrong to think that such revolutions succeed "because of the evil genius and cruelty of a small revolutionary elite"
"They succeed because of mass support and effective, responsive leadership."
The question then arises as to whether it was possible to follow an evolutionary path, rather than go through a revolution.
"A revolution occurred because evolutionary processes of change to benefit the lives of ordinary people had failed,"the professor responded."Serfdom, inequality, exploitation, violence, continued unabated until 1917."
October 1917: 'Driver of Transformations Across the Globe'. Revisiting the October Revolution of 1917.
Addressing the 14th Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that"the largely utopian social model and ideology" the Soviets tried to implement initially following the 1917 revolution became "a powerful driver of transformations across the globe, caused a major revaluation of development models, and gave rise to rivalry and competition, the benefits of which were mostly reaped by the West."
The Canadian professor disagrees that the term "utopian" could be used with regards to the "Communist model," for instance.
"Is free, public education for everyone, no matter what their class, nationality or religion, utopian? Is the elimination of illiteracy, utopian? Are women's rights, or universal health care, utopian? Was the desire to create a more equal society, socially, economically and politically, utopian?"Carley asked, adding"in fact, that Soviet society was eventually able to withstand and then to destroy almost single- handedly, the so-called invincible Nazi 'colossus.'"
Still, he believes that the 1917 revolution certainly was"a powerful driver of transformations"around the world since it"inspired successful revolutionary movements in China, Vietnam, Korea, and Cuba."
As Putin noted during his Valdai speech "many Western achievements of the 20th century were an answer to the challenge posed by the Soviet Union," such as"raising living standards, forming a strong middle class, reforming the labour market and the social sphere, promoting education, guaranteeing human rights, including the rights of minorities and women, overcoming racial segregation."
Red October: Allied Intervention and 'Beginning of Cold War'
The October Revolution became the trigger for the Civil War (1917-1922) and prompted the Allied intervention of major foreign powers in Russia.
The Canadian academic pointed out that the October Uprising "produced an immediate violent reaction by the United States, France and Britain, whose elites attempted to overthrow the Soviet government."
"The foreign intervention against Soviet Russia fed a civil war and exacerbated the violence of the counter-revolution by many times over,"Carley said."On its own, the former tsarist elite could never have mounted such violent resistance to the October Revolution."
The professor underscored that after their failure to overthrow the Soviets,"the Western powers spent the next 70 years, with the exception of a truce between 1941-1945, in trying to harm or bring down the USSR and all those revolutions to which it had given birth."
According to the academic, the Cold War started in October (November) 1917.
"Just ask the Chinese, Vietnamese, Cubans, or N. Koreans about the frightful price of resistance to US and Western hegemony,"Carley remarked."Or for that matter, we might ask, if we could, the soldiers, sailors and workers of Soviet Russia, what price they had to pay, to defend their revolution."
(Source - Sputnik)
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Communist leader dispels new Russian budget as "oligarch orientated" October 28th, 2017 Fort Russ News - KtovKurse translated by Inessa Sinchougova
Communist Party leader, Gennady Zyuganov, called the draft federal budget for 2018-2020, "a budget of the oligarchy", which will increase stagnation and poverty.
On Friday October 27th, the State Duma considered the first reading of the draft budget for 2018 for the planning period 2019-2020. According to the draft of the Ministry of Finance, the budget deficit in 2018 will be 1.3 trillion rubles or 1.37% of GDP, in 2019 it will be 867 billion rubles or 0.84% of GDP, and in 2020 - 960 billion rubles or 0.87% of GDP.
Such a budget Zyuganov considers "a budget for the oligarchy, where further stagnation and deepening of poverty in the country will occur."
In his opinion, the draft budget does not meet the current challenges and can only aggravate the split in Russian civil society.
The Communist Party leader stressed that incomes and expenditures are constantly declining. Zyuganov noted that "in plain language" this means that the "share of the national pie" created by the working people is constantly shrinking in the budget.
Zyuganov's main issue with the budget was the reduction in government expenses for 14 out of 13 articles listed within. He explained that for eight of these articles, expenses are simply cut, and for four other articles, a small increase is offset by inflation, and as a result, real costs are below the ones prophesized.
According to Zyuganov, the current budget policy "creeps of the old Gaidar-Chubais reforms. It does not smell of modernization, nor a breakthrough for the future."
"I do not know why the president has not reacted to this helplessness, to this impotence of the financial and economic blockade on behalf of the government," Zyuganov said.
President Vladimir Putin does not oversee forthcoming bills until they pass all the stages of parliamentary negotiation - that is until his signature is required. It remains to be said that a majority of Russia's parliament and governmental organs, are liberal representatives, both economically and culturally, whereby it is only the President that stops certain bills being passed.
Without looking at the document in detail (which is not yet available to the public) it makes sense to assume that the Communist Party leader has every right to become concerned at this early stage.
Zyuganov's Communist Party enjoys the second most popular rating in the Russian political sphere, after United Russia (Vladimir Putin.)
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And a Record Number of Russians Want Socialism Back !!!
First published in Komsomolskaya Pravda Translated by Kristina Kharlova
The number of those nostalgic for the Soviet Union, is now growing steadily.
According to the findings of sociologists, 56% of respondents now express regret for the collapse of the Soviet state.
A majority of Russians regret the collapse of the Soviet Union, and do not mind if it's restored — conclude the sociologists of "Levada-centre".
2016 sees a record number of respondents nostalgic for the Soviet Union, in the whole history of public opinion surveys.
At the same time, the percentage of those who don't long for the Union, decreases over time: if, in November of last year it was 37%, today only 28% do not feel any pity.
58% of Russians would like a socialist system and the Soviet Union to be restored, and 31% say they don't want the Soviet Union back.
Over half of respondents, 51%, believe that it was still possible to save the country in 1991 while 33% of Russians say the collapse was 'inevitable'.
Experts, meanwhile, note that those most nostalgic for the Soviet Union don't yearn so much for the Soviet ideology, as for the stability, justice, confidence in the future, secure jobs, free education, medical care and housing.
Serbia:Mass anti-NATO demonstrations silenced Nothing has been the same since NATO brutally bombed Yugoslavia 17 years ago. The 5th column, trained by NATO, took over the destroyed country to continue the job that the West had started.
The economy collapsed, the country was ripped apart, and the Army, dismissed.
Year by year, malicious plans brainstormed by NATO, and executed by the government, are pushing all of the Balkans into the deep maw of the West's 'modern' imperialism.
The latest move was the Agreement with NATO about logistics. Parliament has approved, and the President has signed, an agreement which gives NATO soldiers immunity and freedom of movement on the territory of Serbia. The same people who killed thousands of innocent Serb civilians are now given freedom and immunity. NATO personnel rule the roost in Serbia
NATO personnel are exempt from paying taxes, VAT and/or customs duties. The adoption of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), lets NATO soldiers use Serbia's infrastructure, with free transit across the whole territory of Serbia, as well as protection from the law -- being given 'special status' while staying in Serbian territory.
However, although almost two decades have passed since NATO's cruel attack, most Serbs have not forgotten how important freedom is -- which is the main problem for the ruling elite.
In the mainstream media, news about signing the agreement with NATO, was published as small & irrelevant. In a couple of sentences, mainstream journalists wrote about it, as if it was tomorrow's weather forecast, but they couldn't fool people.
Boiling situation hidden by Government
The situation was boiling. A few patriotic parties and war veterans managed to organize a protest -- & expected no more than a thousand people in Belgrade, to show their disagreement with the ruling party's decisions.
On the 20th February, more than 15,000 Serbs, mostly youth, came onto the Belgrade streets to join in with the protesters. Even the police were surprised, quickly trying to reinforce -- fearing nonverbal shows of disagreement.
The mainstream media weren't at all interested in massive protests in the capital city. They just reported, after the protest, that there were only a couple of hundred demonstrators.
Amongst all media, just one, the alternative patriotic website, Srbin info, sent reporters to the vicinity, to cover the whole protest.
It was the only media that had pictures and videos of the massive protests, showing the huge number of protesters.
During the protest, over 2,000 readers per second were following their live streaming of the demonstrations. Each minute, their website was gaining more followers.
Just a couple of minutes after the end of the peaceful protest, huge cyber-attacks began.
The weak website couldn't defend itself from the biggest attacks in its history, & the web- site eventually crashed. Attacks continued for 24 hours, never letting the website repair.
The only possible source of the attacks on the website & freedom of the speech, is the ruling elite. There is no one else who would be able to manage such strong attacks.
The main problem for the alternative, free media in Serbia is that the web providers, most of them belonging to the SBB company, part of the Soros foundation, don't want to reveal who was behind the attacks. However, some opposition forces, also attacked by hackers, discovered that the IP address of the hacker belongs to one of the directors of SBB company.
It is also interesting that 25% of web providers and some mainstream media in Serbia - belong to David Petraeus, former director of the CIA.
Despite their crashed website, Srbin info reporters managed to find way to send the real story & used Facebook to spread the truth. A video showing the masses of people protesting, was viewed by over 1,700,000 Facebook users --- a huge number for Serbia, with its 7 million population.
For 48 hours after the attack, the website was closed.
Thanks to its loyal readers, who appreciate Srbin info's fight for freedom of speech, donations were collected to make a new website, with better protection.
But the problem of having a neutral web provider who will not sabotage the website -- after orders from the Government -- still exists. A much worse problem.... is that the once proud and honorable Serbia, is now under the boots of imperialists.
‘Appalling injustice’overturned as UK court clears names of Post Office workers wrongfully convicted due to faulty software
April 24th, 11:09am (RT)
Dozens of former Post Office workers have had
their convictions for theft and fraud thrown out
--- after an accounting system used in their
branches was later deemed faulty,
bringing partial closure to a
decades-old legal scandal.
Some 39 subpostmasters were cleared on Friday of
wrongdoing after being accused of stealing from
their offices. Their cases hinged on a soft- ware programme called Horizon.
The system, developed by the Japanese firm Fujitsu,
was used by the Post Office to keep track of trans-
actions and accounting. There was one problem:
the software had a bug, that caused accounting
errors, leading to hundreds of suspected cases
in which employees were accused of theft.
According to reports, some employees even used their
own money to try and correct the software’s account- ing errors, and avoid accusations of wrongdoing.
Between 2000 and 2014, the Post Office prosecuted 736
subpostmasters based on data outputted by Horizon.
Six other convictions were overturned back in
December. According to the BBC, the
miscarriage of justice is one of the
largest the UK has ever seen.
Shockingly, the Post Office “knew there were serious
issues about the reliability of Horizon” but didn't take
action, to investigate possible defects, concluded a
judgment issued by the Court of Appeal of the Royal
Courts of Justice in London. Instead of looking into
the matter, the Post Office consistently claimed that
Horizon was reliable, effectively “steamrolling” any
employee who challenged the software’s accuracy,
one of the presiding judges commented.
Many former employees who were slapped with criminal
charges due to Horizon’s bug went to prison or had their
lives ruined in other ways. One ex-employee spent nine
months in prison in 2007 after her Post Office branch
reported a shortfall of £59,000. The ordeal took her
away from her two children and “destroyed
everything.”
Another subpostmaster who was convicted of theft in
2008 and spent more than three years behind bars
denounced the Post Office as a “disgrace” and
demanded that the “bullies” responsible for
pressing the charges against ex-workers, such as himself, be held accountable.
Post Office chief executive Nick Read expressed his regret
over the episode, and said that the quashing of convictions
served as a “vital milestone” in correcting past wrongs by
his organisation, adding there should be compensation
for the victims that “reflects what has happened.”
In December 2019, the Post Office settled a civil claim
brought by 555 ex-employees for £57.75 million, but
did not admit liability.
Prime Minister Borish Johnson also weighed in,
describing the scandal “an appalling injustice
which has had a devastating impact on these
families for years.”
No one has yet been held accountable for the scandal. The
government launched an 'inquiry' into the matter last year,
but campaigners seeking justice say that the investigation
lacks teeth and suffers from a conflict of interest because
it is being carried out by the Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy, which runs the
Post Office.
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LEN RE-ELECTED - VICTORY FOR LEFT!
"Serving you, our members, is the greatest privilege of my working life. I'm proud to have stood shoulder- to-shoulder with you in your struggles and proud to have been asked by so many, to continue to fight for you"
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The Corbyn Supporters From Hell - Attila The Stockbroker,15th Oct 2015 at The Blue Boar Hotel, Maldon, Essex, UK
ONE UNION
Two weeks before Brexit, the African Union announced a new single African passport that permits holders to enter any of the 54 AU member states without a visa – an interesting turn in African history which NO-ONE in the West knows or cares about ! What a stunning reflection of how far our mindset and media are, from the 'world community' we say we love.
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ADAM JOHANNES, CO-CONVENOR, PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY
“Most people under 40 have never been a member of a trade union. So unions are irrelevant, right? Wrong. Unions are more relevant than ever before. With in- work poverty, zero hours contracts and precarious employment, trade unions urgently need to make inroads into the private sector where the majority of us work, but a majority are still un-unionised.”
3 recent campaigns show how this might be done -
1. BETTER THAN ZERO
"Better than Zero" is an exciting campaign launched last year by the Scottish TUC to combat employers using zero-hours contracts. It is run by young people for young people to take on the issue of insecure work. Its activists are mostly in their teens or twenties. The campaign calls upon an older generation not to stand by while a generation of young people are forced into insecure work.
It has responded to tip off from employees in workplaces charging staff for training or uniforms, and bars and restaurants where workers tips are taken by the company. It's fought against people routinely expected to work additional late hours at short notice, with little or no thought given to how they'll get home & whether they will be safe.
The campaign uses direct action, stunts and creative protests such as targeting bars and restaurants with 'flash mob choirs', activists and former staff posing as customers, before each stand up in a restaurant to make speeches while other activists leaflet out- side, Halloween funeral marches on exploitative employers, or, memorably, activists clad in chemical-spill clean up garb placing several popular bars & restaurants in 'quarantine', for exploitative work practices. A recent campaign victory saw restaurant chain Las Iguanas end a policy of deducting money from staff tips.
2. SPORTS DIRECT
Unite has waged a dynamic fightback against Sports Direct including pickets of over 30 stores across the UK, occupations, direct action such as the unfurling of a #SportsDirectShame banner by Newcastle United fans at the club owned by Sports Direct boss, Mike Ashley, other banner drops from bridges, shareholder action, and a social media campaign,
Sports Direct is Britain's biggest sportswear company. It made over a billion in profits last year, but the majority of its workers agency staff are on zero hour contracts with no holiday or sick pay, and no guaranteed work from one week to the next. It has been called more 'workhouse' than workplace with intense surveillance and searches of staff, a culture of fear, bullying and intimidation rife.
Unite's campaign had forced the issue of its Victorian working conditions into national media & a company review. Unite demands all staff are re-employed on permanent contracts on a living wage. So far they have won a pay rise for staff and the company is now being investigated by HM Revenue & Customs after the union exposed it for effectively paying under the minimum wage.
3. PIZZA EXPRESS
Unite scored a victory against Pizza Express after exposing and ending the company deducting a proportion of staff's hard earned tips as an 'admin fee', recruiting new members. The campaign involved union activists going into Pizza Express branches to speak to waiting staff, weekly pickets, handing out hundreds of flyers with customers given a ‘scrap the admin fee’ postcard to leave with their cash tips, and finally a 'meal of justice' when protesters went into a restaurant, enjoyed a meal and when the bill came, one person stood up and told customers about the admin fee while others handed out postcards. Customers often respond with spontaneous applause.
We need to think creatively of how to bring politics into the workplace whether collections for refugees in Calais, foodbanks or local homeless, organising delegations from our work to local protests, or even setting up People's Assembly networks with likeminded people we work with.
Cardiff People's Assembly is part of The People's Assembly Against Austerity, a UK anti-cuts network sponsored by eight trade unions. Locally we have worked with Unison defending our city's library service & PCS to organise solidarity with museum workers, we will be supporting Unite Community's day of action against benefit sanctions. With much of our nation's workforce unorganised in their workplace in unions, joining movements like ours can boost people's confidence to stand up to their employers and build workplace organisation.
In the 1980s Thatcher declared war on the unions --- as a prelude to letting the market rip through society --- transforming us into a highly unequal low pay, low skill economy. The assault on the 'social wage' means we now have the highest private rents, highest energy bills, highest rail fares, and most expensive university education in the EU. Now the Trade Union Bill aims to take out a key part of the resistance to extend the cuts, privatisation and outsourcing agenda and shift even more power and wealth from the 99% to the 1%.
Our economy is dominated by low paid jobs. Low pay makes people insecure. A low pay economy and tax avoiding corporations make it hard to invest in public services. Joining a union is one way to fight back.
Profit Is The Only Concern For Railway Privateers 2016 Thursday 29TH DEC
The only way to have a public transport system worthy of the name is to have a fully nationalised railway,says GORDON MARTIN
All things transport have been making the news in Scotland for a number of months and the signs are this isn’t going to change in the dark winter months ahead.
Scotland’s railways have been subjected to an unprecedented level of scrutiny and criticism with opposition politicians, media columnists and some trade union officials calling for Nicola Sturgeon to sack her Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP.
In my view the roots of the public’s dissatisfaction with Scotland’s railways goes back to the Scottish government’s ill-conceived decision to award the ScotRail franchise to a state-owned rail operator.
Unfortunately for passengers and the ScotRail workforce, the state in question was not our own — and the Netherlands now benefits from profits made by its state company, Abellio, out of ScotRail.
A public-sector bid from Scotland was not allowed when the franchise was awarded to Abellio for a 10-year period. With profit the first and only concern of the profiteers at Abellio, a major dispute with Scotland’s biggest rail union RMT was highly predictable.
Abellio’s attack on the role of the guard on our trains brought a summer of discontent as industrial action spread across much of the Scottish rail network.
The Scottish government quickly showed its true colours. The normally very assured and competent First Minister committed a monumental blunder when she disgracefully inferred the strike was only about who pushed a button to open and close train doors.
While the SNP government very often claims to be on the side of working-class communities, it remains very much a political party wedded to capitalism. The First Minister should have taken the trouble to speak to disabled passengers or those travelling on Scotland’s trains who feel vulnerable in any way about how crucial the role of the guard is in making their journey a safer, more relaxing experience.
Thankfully the Scottish government and Abellio ScotRail finally saw sense and a negotiated settlement was reached which was favourable to RMT and which will see safety-trained guards remain in place.
Following on from our successful efforts to Keep The Guard on the Train, RMT has launched a high- profile “Safer Scottish Trains” campaign designed to ensure trains, stations & rail infrastructure in general are properly resourced and managed to ensure the best possible service is delivered.
Everyone, in particular disabled people, should be able to travel on a 21st-century rail network without having to check ahead days in advance to ensure staff will be in place to assist them.
At the same time, Westminster and the European Union have also intervened in a negative way which may have serious repercussions for rail workers and passengers in the years ahead.
Earlier this month Chris Grayling, Transport Secretary in Theresa May’s rotten Tory government, delivered a speech which potentially takes the rail industry back to the complete fragmentation foisted upon the people of Britain by the hapless government of John Major in the 1990s.
Grayling now seeks to reintroduce “competition” into rail infrastructure, maintenance and repairs.
Inevitably this will eventually lead to the complete break-up of Network Rail. The centralised standards implemented by this public-sector organisation will be discarded and profit and loss will become the decisive factor in deciding the standards for maintaining the rail infrastructure. This is a frightening scenario with potentially deadly outcomes and RMT will fight this with everything we have.
The latest plans for railways across the EU, the ultimate bosses’ club, are contained within the Fourth Railway Package which MEPs are voting on. These proposals make it mandatory to put rail passenger services out to competitive tender. With the Scottish government recently beginning to engage with the rail unions and others regarding a public-sector bid for the ScotRail contract, the 4th Railway Package underlines how fragile and fleeting this public-sector bid could ultimately be.
Scotland’s ferry sector also had a fair amount of publicity in the last year or so, with RMT engaged in a high-profile, long-running and ultimately successful campaign to keep CalMac ferries in public ownership.
RMT stands by our assertion that the Clyde and Hebridean ferry service did not have to go out to tender under the Teckal exemption.
Unfortunately, the Scottish government are keen to be seen as good Europeans, despite the negative impact on the Scottish people, and meekly went along with directives from the EU.
The uncertainty for island communities and the stress for the CalMac workforce while their future was unclear, was not high on the government’s agenda.
Unfortunately it looks highly likely that the workforce and the islanders on the Northern Isles are about to be put through the same uncertainty as their counterparts on the west coast.
The government is once again meekly following diktats from Brussels by putting the Northern Isles ferry service out to a competitive tendering process, despite the people of Britain voting to leave the EU, including a sizeable section of the Scottish working class.
RMT has a clear and principled position which is to insist that the Northern Isles contract is brought back into public ownership forthwith.
We demand an immediate end to the exploitation of eastern European seafarers. These workers, employed on a Scottish government contract, are being paid wages at a derisory rate while being denied the protection of a trade union agreement with wages and conditions covered by collective bargaining agreements.
As part of our ongoing Save our Seafarers campaign, we have highlighted this disgraceful fact to the media and the public with our slogan SNP — Ships of Shame.
This is causing the government and, in particular, the Transport Minister a great deal of embarrassment. I make no apologies for this and I sincerely hope the embarrassment will lead to action before too much longer.
It is clear to everyone, with the possible exception of right-wing profiteering zealots, that the only way to have a public transport system worthy of the name is to have a fully nationalised railway, properly resourced, with adequate staffing levels --- together with a publicly owned ferry operator, working exclusively on behalf of ferry users and the Scottish government, & money raised reinvested --- instead of lining the pockets of private shareholders.
Gordon Martin is Scottish regional organiser of the RMT.
(source - Morning Star)
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Tory aid-dumping revelation means the money should be seized and used by Mike Sivier
The worst part of this is, it suggests that people who said the International Aid budget could be used in better ways, were right.
The Times reports that the Tories have been ‘dumping’ billions of pounds in aid into shady World Bank funds, to sit unused indefinitely – in order to "keep up the appearance" of meeting the government’s commitment to donating 0.7% of the UK’s GDP in foreign aid.
According to the Times, at least £9 billion has been transferred like this in the past 5 years. Rather than helping developing countries, the money, which is spread across over 200 different bank accounts, simply sits there – doing nothing except rack up World Bank ‘administration fees’.
UK International Development Secretary Priti Patel’s only qualification for her job appears to be the fact that she had previously wanted to get rid of it and the funding it oversees. This seems to be the standard Tory qualification for any ministerial role that is supposed to help people – Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt infamously wrote a book, before becoming Health Secretary, that called for abolition of the ’60-year-old mistake’ of the NHS.
Clearly, to a Tory, maintaining the appearance of doing something is far more important than actually doing it – especially if it helps you put cash into the bank accounts of your backers and allies and ideally while you get rid of the very thing you’re supposed to be looking after. If you hear Tories say ‘reform’, run for cover – or better yet, get the pitchforks out.
Source: Keeping up appearances: aid-dumping shows Tories care for PR, not people The SKWAWKBOX
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Left Looks To Unite To Protect Its Power Base CHARLEY ALLAN
The Labour right was desperate to see the back of “Red Len,” as the tabloids call him.
But Len won his victory. Now’s the perfect time to join Unite, with full membership costing just £3.50 a week, reduced to 50p for the unemployed.
The AWL and its allies may have won the national committee battle, but they won’t win the OMOV war --- if the movementists get organised.
A new current called Opening Momentum has rallied round the point that anti-OMOVers had denied members their advertised right to “vote in national-level elections.”
And it’s crucial that every member who really believes in the fabled “new kind of politics” turns up to their local branch meetings - if they have them - to halt plans for a parallel party.
This is bigger than Momentum. We need to see much more direct democracy in Labour itself, although there will always be resistance from those who benefit most from the delegate system.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of new Labour members and Momentum’s top priority --- should making sure their voice is heard at next year’s party conference.
The Labour left can’t afford to be crushed again on the conference floor, as happened this year.
While Momentum was dazzling everyone with its World Transformed free festival, right faction Labour First was distributing fliers to let delegates know when and where vital votes were taking place.
Critically, Momentum must:- have slates of candidates ready when local constituency parties select conference delegates in thecoming months.
The new left movement needs to get serious if it wants to win the looming electoral battles within Labour, the trade unions and the grassroots.
Defending, strengthening and expanding this power base at the ballot box, will take back the leadership, and keep the movement fighting fit for the general election.
• Chat to Charley on Twitter: @charleyallan.
(source - Morning Star)
A New Lucas Plan For The Future by David King
The ideas pioneered by the Lucas workers are just as, or more, relevant now than in the 1970s, and there are strong political similarities in the situation.
As in the ’70s, we have an economic crisis caused by unjust economic policies and the failure of successive governments’ industrial strategy.
As usual, this has hit the working class hardest, and anger over this is being channelled into racism against immigrants. Now, the environmental effects of industrial capitalism are far more evident than 40 years ago, already creating wars, militarisation and widespread concern about insecurity.
Finally, introduction of new technologies threatens structural unemployment on a scale considerably greater than the ’70s.
The Tory government’s response to the economic and political crisis, despite continuing to publicly espouse neoliberal principles, looks a lot like a classic Keynesian economic stimulus package.
In the last few months it has made decisions to go ahead with a range of industrial infrastructure megaprojects — Hinkley C, fracking, HS2 and the Heathrow third runway, as well as pressing ahead with spending £200 billion on Trident renewal.
A key element in the case for all these projects is the jobs that they will generate or preserve, although the jobs estimates are bound to be inflated, while the price tag will be massively underestimated.
Compared to the ’70s, far fewer jobs will be created in this way because, due to automation and mechanisation, they are all highly capital rather than labour-intensive.
The Lucas Aerospace workers’ idea of socially useful production suggests a far better way forward.
Even in the early phase of the environmental movement, before most socialists realised the significance of these issues, the Lucas Plan acknowledged that protecting the environment is part of the concept of socially useful production.
With the exception of HS2, all the new projects are environmental anathema, and the damage that project would do to the English countryside and people’s homes and communities, for the sake of saving 30 minutes of executives’ time, makes it emblematic of neoliberalism.
The working-class people who voted for Brexit are demanding jobs and regeneration of their communities, but these industrial vanity projects are not the solution.
Now is the moment to realise the proposals of the Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group (Million Climate Jobs Campaign), which is often seen as a successor to the Lucas Plan.
We should be investing in renewable energy, home insulation, public transport etc as part of the international trade union initiative of Just Transition, ie transition to a low-carbon economy with job protection for workers in industries that need to be phased out.
Imagine what could be achieved in regional economic renewal and environmental benefits with the Trident billions.
But exactly how that money should be spent should not be decided by economic planners alone.
One of the great strengths of the Lucas Plan was that it came from the bottom up, from workers, not managers.
Recognising that they could not, by themselves, define what people need, the Lucas workers began to work with various regional communities to develop “popular planning for social need.”
In London, the Greater London Council created technology development networks that involved users, for example disabled people, in technology design.
These traditions of bottom-up local planning have been continued by various citizens’ local planning initiatives, such as Just Space in London, and would be vital to a democratic solution to the crises.
The current economic and environmental crises are symptoms of a deeper crisis in the industrial capitalist mode of production, and they demand a fundamental rethink of how we produce the basic things that people need for a decent life.
One of the less well-remembered, but crucial aspects of the Lucas Plan was the workers’ struggle against the automation and deskilling of their work with computer-controlled machinery, a struggle shared with trade unionists around the world in that period.
As Phil Asquith of the Lucas Combine puts it, “Harold Wilson’s ‘white heat of the technological revolution’ was burning up workers’ jobs.’
The continuation of this trend over the last 40 years is a major source of the jobless recoveries and income polarisation that are creating the “squeezed middle” of angry, Daily Mail- reading, Brexit voters.
Forecasts suggest that digital technology will eliminate half the jobs in the economy over the next 20 years, but its track record shows that it creates far fewer new jobs to replace them.
One response to this that has become popular on the left is the belief that automation will usher in a post- capitalist society, if we can only feed those useless human workers with basic income.
This is a complex argument, but one thing for sure is that this was not the Lucas workers’ philosophy.
Instead of: “Demand Full Automation, Demand Universal Basic Income, Demand the Future,” they would have reminded us that the romance of high-technology leads to what historian of technology David Noble aptly called: “Progress without people.”
The Lucas workers’ slogan would likely have been: “Demand Democratic Control of Technology, Demand Socially Useful Production, Demand Equality and Sustainability.”
They were very clear that the idea of socially useful production is also about how things are produced.
There is no point in socially useful products if they are made in a way that alienates and deskills the workers who produce them.
They went on to design “human-centred technologies,” in which the point was to use and develop workers’ skills, rather than design them out of the production process.
A skills and people-based, more labour-intensive approach is, in the era of Brexit and environmental crisis, a much better way to create a socially just, sustainable economy than old-fashioned, capital- intensive high-tech mega projects. This is the agenda we will be discussing in Birmingham today.
(source - the Morning Star)
Construction Workers Can’t Be Expected To Work Into Their Sixties by Brian Rye (source - The Star)
British governments seem to think one of two things about construction workers: they're either superhuman, or they don’t give a toss about them. That would be the logical conclusion, given the raise in the pension age, to 68.
With the state pension age due to rise to 67 by 2026 and 68 by 2044, our political elites seem to believe that we are breeding a race of human beings with quite exceptional physical capabilities.
While professional sportspeople are pretty much done by their mid-thirties, with their strength, speed and stamina leeching away by the day, the British construction worker - if you believe our politicians - lives in a world that defies conventional science.
Despite the early starts, the exposure to the elements, the heavy lifting, the long hours, the poor diet & susceptibility to minor injury, these lions of the labour force are all going to get their telegram from the king - because the stats say we’re all living longer.
Sadly, if you have a shred of common sense you will immediately know this is not true.
Construction workers are the same as any other human being. Like professional sportspeople, they can feel their physical abilities start to wane from their mid-thirties.
The only difference being: construction workers have to stay in the game. & not only that, given the increase in the pensionable age, the game just went into extra time.
Empathy is a wonderful characteristic for a human being to possess because it creates understanding and caring for others.
So we have to ask ourselves, as our besuited, overweight politicians sit back in their comfy chairs before skipping off to their subsidised three-course meal in the House of Commons - with a glass of wine or two — how much empathy are they feeling with their compatriots in construction?
Can they imagine the freezing mornings, the hours of standing up, the repetitive physical work or the greasy chips for lunch? It would seem not.
Recent research carried out by the TUC, in a report called Postponing the Pension, shows that a significant proportion of the population won’t reach the pensionable age of 68 in any fit state to enjoy their retirement.
The results show that half a million workers within five years of the state pension have had to leave work for medical reasons, and that nearly half of 60 to 64-year-olds stopped working before their official retirement age.
This is why Ucatt is currently trying to get the Labour Party to support policies that would mean a future Labour government would introduce a flexible pension age for physically demanding professions.
Construction work is hugely physically demanding because it involves prolonged standing, highly repetitive work, heavy lifting, working with the hands lifted to shoulder height or higher, and working with the back twisted or bent forward. It can lead to musculoskeletal disorder, cardiovascular disease and long-term sickness absence.
These work conditions and their effects need to be factored into the calculation of a pensionable age. It is only fair.
At 60, most politicians are on a few company boards, are picking up consultancies, maybe writing a book and reaping the benefits of a lifetime’s work.
The current presidential candidates in the US are 68 (Hillary Clinton) and 70 (Donald Trump) - beneficiaries of a lifetime of comfort, good food, little or no physical exertion and excellent healthcare on demand.
These individuals see no reason to retire - they’re feeling fine. Construction workers often aren’t feeling fine.
We all know that one in four people in Britain will now live to 100 — but what about the other three? At what age will they be checking out? And what jobs are they doing?
According to figures from the government’s own Office for National Statistics, doctors and accountants are outliving builders and cleaners, by as much as eight years.
Men in professional occupations can expect to live to 80, almost eight years longer than those in unskilled jobs, whose life expectancy is 72.7. So people are not all the same - shock, horror! Comparing the accountant to the construction worker is comparing apples with oranges - and yet our governments conveniently ignore this.
Our ageing population and the fears surrounding the viability of the state pension in the future has caused the political class to legislate in a heavy- handed, insensitive and unsophisticated way.
The phrase “we’ve all got to work longer” is bandied about by those sitting comfortably behind a desk. For those leading a more active life, this phrase is just a plain, old-fashioned threat.
To quote ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn: “Living longer doesn’t mean we are able to work longer in physically demanding jobs like that of the firefighter, police officer or paramedic. And it’s not just in the emergency services. Construction workers, care workers and prison officers cannot be expected to work into their sixties. We need a flexible pension age that allows people to work for as long as they want to.”
Ucatt’s campaign plainly states “68 is too late.” It’s a campaign that needs to be fought to a victory - for the sake of thousands of British workers. We need to present our case, find broad support and build empathy within the country. And we have to find acceptance that it may cost us all a little bit more while we’re of working age.
Otherwise we will all be using another well- known phrase: “flogging a dead horse.”
We’ll leave the last words to Mr Corbyn: “If we want dignity for all in old age, then it has to be paid for.”
Brian Rye is acting general secretary of Ucatt.
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Britain’s workers feel stressed and insecure (originally in the Morning Star) by Carolyn Jones
The UK's 31 million workers are among the most insecure, stressed and unhappiest in Europe.
No wonder! According to the latest report by the Institute of Employment Rights (IER), the evidence is damning.
On average, UK workers work more hours per week, more days per year, more years before retirement -- after which, they receive lower levels of pension -- than most of their European counterparts.
In comparison to other European workers they generally receive less education and training, and (because of lack of employer investment) their productivity is lower.
They get fewer paid holidays than almost all European comparators and their pay is so low that a great proportion of them are in poverty --- with the state subsidising employers’ low wages.
And it doesn’t end there. The UK has a high proportion of its workforce in so-called “self- employment,” agency work, temporary work, and/or on zero-hours contracts.
It has more part-time workers who want full- time jobs, than other European countries.
UK workers have less entitlement to redundancy pay, sick pay, and maternity pay, than most European workers.
Workers’ rights to remedies for unfair dismissal and discrimination are set low and have been made practically unenforceable by the imposition of high access fees.
In the UK, unlike most European countries, there is no ministry of labour, no labour inspectorate and a negligible complement of health and safety inspectors.
All this in the fifth richest nation in the world. It is obscene. So what’s to be done?
An excellent starting point is the establishment of Jeremy Corbyn’s Workplace 2020 initiative. Launched in May 2016, the aim of the project is to start a national conversation on what work should be like in 2020.
Under the chairmanship of Ian Lavery, shadow trade union minister, the Labour Party wants to hear the good, the bad and the ugly stories about working life in Britain.
On a recently launched website people can submit their comments, complaints and suggestions on a range of workplace issues.
So whether it’s job security, pay and pensions, training and apprenticeships, diversity and equality, trade unions or health and safety that raises your passion, there’s scope to feed into the policy agenda.
Once again the Labour leadership team is turning out to the country for ideas rather than assuming it knows best in the corridors of power.
Labour is already committed to raising the minimum wage, banning zero-hours contracts, ensuring workers are given access to justice, and giving temporary workers the same rights as permanent staff. But it recognises that more needs to be done -- not just to secure fairness at work but to rebuild the UK's economy and industry.
So, at the request of Jeremy Corbyn and Ian Lavery, the IER drafted a contribution to the review, using 15 of its academic and legal experts. At the heart of our proposals is the need to ensure the voice of the UK’s 31 million workers is heard & respected -- in government (via a ministry of labour), in the economy (via a national economic forum) and in industry (via sectoral employment commissions).
The manifesto offers 25 major policy recommendations for consideration.
It proposes changing the way in which working conditions are regulated. It moves responsibility for workplace regulation from legislation to collective bargaining.
It calls for the repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016, the removal of tribunal fees and the introduction of fundamental & enforceable rights for workers, enforceable in a labour court with the assistance of labour inspectors.
The Thatcher concept of individual rights for individual workers has to go. It does little for workers, it’s costly to enforce and it fails to deliver fairness at work.
IER’s manifesto offers a system based on the collective voice of workers, negotiating collectively agreed standards & delivering collectively enforced fairness at work.
A new framework of labour law should be built on the following 10 points:
A ministry of labour
A national economic forum
Sectoral employment commissions
Sectoral collective agreements and wages councils’ orders
Workplace bargaining
A strengthened framework of statutory employment rights
Labour courts and labour inspectors
Employment tribunals
Stronger support for freedom of association and collective rights
The right to strike
Carolyn Jones is director of the Institue of Employment Rights
A manifesto for labour law: Towards a comprehensive revision of workers’ rights --- is available from IER. Go to www.ier.org.uk for more information.
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Why Labour is putting energy reform at the heart of its green agenda Jeremy Corbyn
No issue better connects the environment to people’s lives than energy. To deliver clean, affordable electricity,we need to change our undemocratic system of supply.
We are on course for a climate catastrophe. 2016 is set to be the hottest year on record. Unless the Paris agreement’s target of limiting the rise in temperatures by 1.5C is met, heatwaves like that in 2003, which killed tens of thousands of people in Europe, will become the norm. And that's before considering rising sea levels and desertification, that will sink cities, and kill and displace millions, or the fact that the Earth has already lost half its wildlife, in the past 40 years.
The task for politicians is to propose real solutions to the single most important issue facing humanity. Too often, the environment is considered a matter for scientists, enthusiasts & activists. To increase public understanding and energise the political debate, we need more than facts – we need a programme that resonates with people’s every- day experiences, offering not just warnings, but opportunities and improvement.
No issue better connects the environment to people’s lives than energy. In Britain today, 7 million households struggle to pay their bills because of spiralling costs, while the big six energy companies have seen their profits rise by more than tenfold since 2007. The energy market is not just expensive, inefficient and polluting – it is, above all, undemocratic.
In order to deliver clean, affordable heating and electricity we need to change the whole system of energy supply. When energy is driven by the needs of people, it will be greener – because saving the planet is in the interests of everyone.
That is why I am today announcing a bold new set of policies which will pioneer a democratic, community- led system of energy supply. Over the course of the next parliament, we will use public investment and legislation to promote the creation of over 200 local energy companies, giving towns, cities & localities the powers they need to drive a clean, locally accountable energy system with public, not-for-profit companies.
At the heart of this policy will be a new generation of community energy co-operatives. We will create 1,000 of these co-operatives with the support of a network of regional development banks, and legislate to give them the right to sell energy directly to the communities they serve.
At the same time as building a new publicly run, locally accountable energy system, we will invest in the high quality homes & insulation needed to make Britain environmentally sustainable. We will create a National Home Insulation programme to insulate at least 4m homes to energy efficiency standard B or C. In the private rented sector, we will set compulsory standards at the same level & end the misery of cold rented accommodation. This would save millions of people money on their bills as well as saving energy that is currently wasted on poorly insulated homes.
In order to have any hope of keeping the rise in temperature to 2C – let alone meeting our Paris agreement target of 1.5C – we need to keep 80% of fossil fuels in the ground. This can and must be done. Scotland is already on course to generate 100% of its electricity by renewables, & Britain has an ample supply of wind & water. In government, I'll commit to generating 65% of Britain’s electricity from these sources by 2030.
All of these measures will create secure, skilled employment for hundreds of thousands of people. As part of our transition to a low-carbon economy, we estimate that we will create 316,000 jobs in wind, solar and wave power. We'll use a £500bn national investment programme, with a National Investment Bank and a network of regional development banks, to ensure that these jobs and opportunities are created in places where they are most needed – in coastal towns and areas with high unemployment.
Too often, environmental catastrophe is explained in the same terms as an asteroid hitting the earth. But the problems and the solutions are political – they are about the prioritisation of profit over the needs of people and, at the heart of it all, a lack of democracy in how decisions are made. By democratising our energy supply, and giving people power over their own destinies, we can rebuild and transform Britain so that no one and no community, is left behind.
_________________________
Together --- Stronger!
Change, when it comes, will not come from Westminster. The campaign to save our NHS must become a visible reality on every high street and a priority for Labour members.
The NHS is at breaking point, and as Keep Our NHS Public secretary John Lister says: “by 2020 it will all be over.”
To reverse the damage of four more years of A&E closures, outsourced or pared-down services and reduced access, could verge on the impossible.
MPs who obsess over the need to attract Tory voters may find that the champions who saved a local A&E win more hearts and minds than a lorryload of anti-immigration mugs ever could.
________________________________________
HELP JOHN DUNN
John Dunn, ex-miner and a Labour Party member for 45 years, was blocked from voting for Corbyn, because he challenged Owen Smith for exploiting the legacy of Orgreave for electoral purposes.
He has been told he is suspended from the Labour Party.
John says: "45 years continuous membership and they couldn't even address me by my name"
It looks like the NEC are creating their very own blacklist.
Labour grew hugely under Corbyn and the ''guess'' is --- most of new members were Corbyn supporters.
A DREAM COME TRUE
Support for Jeremy Corbyn from Tyrone O’Sullivan, a fourth-generation south Wales miner, who led a workers’ buy-out of Tower Colliery, to save it from closure.
"I’ve been close to Jeremy since the miners’ strike. Knowing the man, knowing his abilities and his education, it was a dream come true for me when he became leader. His ideas and values are more necessary, here in south Wales, than probably anywhere else in the country. He wanted victory for Labour, but only under our terms - for a change."
O’Sullivan, a lifelong Labour member, says Jeremy is the only true socialist we have had as leader --- for 20 or 30 years.
____________________________________
PEOPLE DESERVE RESPECT
Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership opponent flaunted his contempt for democracy by backing a second referendum on UK membership of the EU.
And MPs pressured Jeremy Corbyn to resign, by constant smears, media lies and attacks on Labour's membership !!!
No wonder the Unite policy conference has overwhelmingly backed mandatory reselection of MPs - to ensure genuine democratic accountability in the party.
____________________________________
Unite pushes for reselection of MPs by Conrad Landin
Candidates ‘should reflect members’ views’
Labour's largest affiliate is now behind the push for mandatory reselection of MPs, as Jeremy Corbyn critics have “destabilised” the party, to ditch anti-austerity policies.
Delegates at general union Unite’s conference are resolved to support the approach, in order “to ensure democratic accountability, and the rights of party members to select candidates that reflect their views.”
Currently, sitting MPs are only subject to a “trigger ballot” -- where they automatically become the candidate -- unless a super- majority of branches in the constituency support a new selection.
London and eastern region's delegate, Kevin Parslow: “The current trigger mechanism is difficult, & weighted in favour of the incumbent.
“We put ourselves up as reps and branch officers for election regularly.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable for MPs to put themselves up for re-selection. They should be accountable to us, and not to Murdoch’s press: they're there because they have the Labour Party name on the ballot paper.”
Mike Hedges, another London delegate: “Four weeks ago I would have spoken against this motion--- but after the treachery of 172 MPs --- we have no option.”
The union’s leaders are also mandated to “support moves to bring more democracy into policy-making -- by returning powers to the party conference.”
A Unite spokesperson:
“This vote simply reflects the immense frustration that our members feel. They look at the conduct of some within the party, the challenge to the elected leader, and they feel angered.
“They want Labour fighting the Tories, not among themselves.”
KEEP FIGHTING FOR MORE DEMOCRACY!
Momentum and Labour are engaged in a huge consultation to expand democracy in Labour...
WHY NOT PASTE THE LINK BELOW AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION?
http://www.peoplesmomentum.com/democracy-review
* * *
With 640,000 members - and a huge 200,00 joining in just 2 weeks- Labour was the largest left-wing party in Europe.
If you haven't done so already, join Labour, join Momentum, and let's rebuild #BuildOurMovement.
join.labour.org.uk
join.peoplesmomentum.com
_________________________________
GMB Wins Lidl Recognition by Peter Lazenby Ruling affects hundreds of warehouse staff
The Star - General union GMB has won a landmark legal ruling giving hundreds of warehouse workers at giant cut-price supermarket chain Lidl the right to be represented by the union.
The German-owned chain opposes union recognition and resisted the union’s claim.
But the Central Arbitration Committee, whose decisions are legally binding, supported the GMB case, and gave the union full rights to represent and negotiate on behalf of its 223 members among warehouse workers at Bridgend, south Wales.
GMB now presses ahead with its campaign for recognition at 8 more Lidl warehouses across England and Scotland.
National secretary Justin Bowden says: “Lidl’s attempts at union-busting were quite properly thrown out by the judge --- in a massive victory for rights at work.
“[Wednesday’s] ruling opens the gates to not only improving employees’ pay & terms and conditions at the Bridgend site, but is also a major victory for the GMB’s campaign for a trade union voice at the workplace.
“The suggestion that Lidl’s workers don't need the option of a trade union to stick up for them and fight for their interests is baloney, pure and simple.
“As a result of today’s ruling, employees will get the chance to decide for them- selves, if the company’s own ‘personal personnel hotline’ is any match for an independent union taking their side & defending their interests in the workplace.”
GMB Wales and south-west regional secretary John Phillips adds: “Regrettably, Lidl continues to show both hostility towards GMB & shameful disregard for the wishes of its own workforce, with expensive challenges against fair and objective decisions made by independent third-party organisations.”
Lidl is also resisting attempts by shop workers’ union Usdaw to recruit and represent staff in its supermarkets.
An Usdaw spokesperson said: “Lidl will not even let our representatives into stores, to talk to staff.”
Lidl has 637 stores & 9 regional distribution centres --- employing over 18,000 staff. Its ambitions to expand in Britain, could see it more than double in size --- with plans for 1,500 stores & 2 more distribution centres.
_______________________________
Tax offices’ own cleaners don’t get minimum wage
Cleaners at 6 government offices on Mersey- side walked out over their employer’s failure to pay them the legal minimum wage.
The staff began the two-day strike, because they have not received that £7.20-an-hour rate the government introduced on April 1.
_____________________________________
Wales: 50,000 days lost due to teacher stress
The number of teachers off sick due to stress in Wales has soared by thousands in just one year, new research shows.
Stress-related illness caused the 51,795 sick days: an increase of 2,568 on 2014, freedom of information figures revealed.
______________________________
Unions stood by Corbyn & McDonnell
The entire labour movement could have been concentrating all of our efforts - on bringing down this mean government.
Instead, 172 Labour MPs launched an attempted coup on Corbyn. If it's true that Angela Smith MP described the 10,000 activists, including general secretaries of affiliated trade unions, who were at a recent pro-Corbyn rally, as “dogs,” --- then serious questions need to be asked about the relationship between the PLP and the trade union movement.
Every trade union in Britain has regular elections for shop stewards, branch secretaries, and their general secretary.
It's time those who fund the Labour Party demanded the same level of democracy for sitting MPs.
Anything less than a mandatory reselection of MPs before every parliament is now untenable.
Let’s get this straight: none of these MPs backed Corbyn for leader, most of them abstained in the Welfare Reform Bill, many of them voted for the Iraq war, & to this day, hero-worship Tony Blair.
The 172 Labour MPs aren't just trying to change the Labour leader -- they are plotting to drag the movement back to a Blairite view of politics.
The vote of no confidence wasn't just an attempt to oust Corbyn --- it was a declaration of war on the entire organised left.
The gloves are off and there’s no going back. Everyone will need to decide: which side are you on? I stand with Corbyn and McDonnell.
Dave Smith is co-author, with Phil Chamberlain, of Blacklisted: The Secret War between Big Business and Trade Unionists, (New Internationalist Publications).
________________________________
RMT: We Must Fight Assault On Our Rights Union ‘disappointed’ with lack of action from TUC
Unions should move to take “generalised” strike action: with or without a go-ahead from the TUC, RMT activists insisted.
The union was meeting in Cardiff that week --- but you wouldn't know it, if you'd read the Welsh press!
Delegates at the transport union’s annual general meeting in Cardiff expressed disappointment that fiery rhetoric about defeating new anti-strike laws was not followed up with action.
The union unanimously passed a motion expressing concern at the TUC’s “lack of campaigning” on the issue and called for a “high-profile campaign.”
Leeds delegate Trevor Howard said: “Personally, my own view is that the TUC is a waste of space and it needs to be reorganised.”
The Trade Union Act, which received Royal Assent last month, imposes arbitrary thresholds on strike ballots & other curbs on labour movement activity.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It’s fundamentally undemocratic when you put these thresholds in.”
He said unions must respond to the law by ramping up their organising. “Whatever we do, we’ve got to make sure we get our members’ support,” he said.
And he praised Jeremy Corbyn’s Workplace 2020 agenda, which aims to introduce new labour rights.
“What we need to be doing is turning the tables,” he added: “We’ve got to get an alternative to this legislation --- to get us positive rights.”
Cash blasts ‘self-indulgent MPs’ for sabotaging left’s moment
“Self-indulgent” Labour MPs have squandered the left’s best moment to go on the offensive, RMT's general secretary, Mick Cash, stressed.
He used his address to the transport union’s annual general meeting to warn of “massive fights ahead” amid “political and economic turmoil.”
He said the divisions in the Tory Party and shockwaves in the world of capital should have been an opportunity for the left to get its message across. But he said this had been sabotaged by the frontbenchers resigning and calling for Jeremy Corbyn’s head.
He fumed: “What have they done? Self-indulgence. They’ve created division, they created a lack of leadership of progressive forces.
“They’ve created a situation where, if we’re not careful, we’ll have a Tory government ------ and worse, a Tory government supported by Ukip.
“We need to seize the opportunity to put forward an agenda to fight against austerity, against cuts and for workers’ rights. But that won’t happen if our politicians in London are playing the game they’re playing.
“Ordinary working people are sick of the political class and what they’re doing --- and yet they’re doing it again.”
_______________________________________
Putschist MPs ‘Let The Tories Off The Hook’ Unions rally round previous Labour leader
Union reps on Labour’s ruling executive signed a defiant statement to show that Mr Corbyn still has institutional support.
The leader of Labour’s most recent affiliate Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack pointed his hoses at the quitters, saying their action was “co-ordinated to cause maximum damage” to Mr Corbyn.
“It is bizarre that some of the MPs making the loudest criticism of Jeremy Corbyn over the referendum -- completely failed to convince the electorate in their own constituencies,” he said.
“After the referendum, Labour should be setting out policies to defend jobs, public services & wages, as an exit from the EU is negotiated. Instead, some Labour MPs are playing irresponsible & silly games, from their Westminster bubble.”
Unite south-east secretary Jenny Formby, one of the executive members behind the statement in support of Mr Corbyn, said it was “nonsense” to blame him for the result. “Now, more than ever, is a time for loyalty and unity,” she stormed.
Communication Workers’ Union leader Dave Ward fired off a missive, stating Mr Corbyn “has our full support” as leader.
“Jeremy Corbyn is, and remains, the catalyst for change in the Labour Party and the country,” he said. “Those who seek to oust him, represent the politics that forgot ordinary people.”
And food union BFAWU turned up the heat. They said plotters would “only serve to let the Conservative government off the hook for the damage they've heaped upon our communities & the crisis they've caused in pursuit of power.”
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WHERE IS MOST UK YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT?
WALES!
(WHERE IN WALES? GUESS !!!)
Youth unemployment rates in some parts of Britain, such as the North East, have reached the highest recorded level ever, recent data gathered by the GMB union shows.
The GMB report says unemployment rates among people aged between 18-25 have hit record levels.
Wales is top of the unemployment list, with almost 23,000 claimants. The GMT reveals that some parts of Wales have a jobless rate of 37%.
Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary:
"In the UK there are nearly 400,000 young workers aged 18-24 claiming jobseeker's allowance. When you add to that number the rest of the young people not in jobs, but seeking work, the real number is more than double that figure.”
The number of young UK job seekers is really almost one million;- which makes this young generation the real victims of the current recession in Britain.
Kenny again: “The Government is in denial that it is deliberately creating unemployment.”
This is while reports say almost 150,000 jobs are under threat across the country.
What Wales needs is AN ECONOMY
ONE THAT WILL LAST
"Regional aid" - artificially importing factories that owe no allegiance to Wales - has failed.
Innovation means NEW ! New thinking.
Stop moaning about the past. Start building an economy NOW, for our youngsters.
Or else!!!
New means old, if you want to build a genuine economy. From the ground up, means exactly that!
Agriculture, producing smart new food and drinks. But based on our strengths.
All the land we need is here, and if we look up, 80 percent of Wales' "valley" land is up in the air, like Penrhys!
And it's almost unused. Imagine! All that land from the Rhondda over to Aberdare and beyond.
I'm sure people with vision can see orchards and new products... new ways of working, etc.
All it requires is a WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE.
ALL TOGETHER NOW FOR PEACE
The UK's TUC is calling on the UK government to end its meddling policies in the Middle East and North Africa. “The “war on terror” is still continuing and has failed, after ten years, to bring the promised peace and stability to either the Middle East or the wider world,” the motion says...
UK FOLLOWING US DOWN THE DRAIN
Last year’s table of 10 top EU economies - assessing income, prices, working culture & public spending, put the UK in last place.
The UK now has the 4th-highest retirement age of any country averaging 63.1 years - and this,thanks to the Tories AND a supine work-force, is set to keep rising higher and higher.
Average net household income after tax, (and remember, this "average" includes the stinking rich) is £37,172 a year, but even after ignoring the ridiculously high "average", this is now much lower than the average amount earned in Ireland, the Netherlands & Denmark, where there are less of the obscenely rich, to distort the figures.
In Wales, we know that the "average" worker earns far less than this: (£15,000 after tax)
Life for most in the UK is set to get even worse - if people don't fight back - as public services are to be cut more, after the next Spending Review ..and will lead to budget cuts of up to 40% in many public service departments.
France and Spain again top the quality of life index, as workers there have more paid holidays, earlier retirement, lower prices, longer life expectancy and, just to rub it in... better weather.
There are no separate figures for Wales.... why?
Could it be that knowing... might lead to discontent or is it because Welsh workers, with their vibrant economy, as they stop mindlessly following London... and build their new economy, are now so well off, that the English might get jealous? Yeah, right!
The lesson is obvious. Strong unions with gutsy membership abound on the continent, while UK residents sink apathetically down & down & down.
As Tony Blair said: we British are "special".
We think life gets better for us if we let the bankers of London exploit the rest of the world, and our non-working workforce sinks into apathy and selfishness...
Makes you proud, doesn't it! Does it?
WORKERS ACROSS EUROPE UNITE & FIGHT TO STOP CUTS PEACE - NOT WAR AND LOOTING !
Workers from across Europe took part in a major demonstration in Brussels --- to demand that austerity measures be dropped in favour of an end to wars & for peaceful reconstruction.
Europeans took to the streets of Brussels to demonstrate against wage & pension cuts and diminishing job opportunities.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), one of the EU's leading unions, says that about 100,000 people from 30 countries took part, and police estimates say 20,000.
“Cutting in a recession's crazy and we must fight it,” AFP quotes the ETUC's general secretary, a prominent UK union leader.
Marches also took place in Portugal, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Serbia, Romania, Poland, Ireland and France.
The rallies coincided with a general strike in Spain where the government froze pensions and cut the salaries of government workers.
“This is the worst economic crisis in the post- war history of Western Europe,” the eTUC leader adds.
"We call for a rethink and a change - in Spain and in Europe. We are mobilizing, and they will have to listen to us."
The union says European workers could be the main victims of a financial crisis set off by bankers and traders.
Many European governments have imposed reductions in wages, pensions & employment - to deal with the escalating economic issues.
The OECD has released its long awaited Action Plan to curb "base erosion and profit shifting" (BEPS) by large multinational enterprises.
"The OECD Action Plan has the ambition to effectively curb tax evasion by large multinational enterprises – but it is a plan, and it needs effective commitments by governments and effective implementation,” says ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
The Action plan consists of 15 measures to strengthen corporate income tax rules and prevent tax avoidance through manipulating intra-group transfer pricing between subsidiaries, and the use of empty shell companies in low tax jurisdictions.
Tax challenges created by globalised production and service systems, the digital economy and increasing importance of "intangibles" – r & d, and intellectual property – feature prominently in the OECD Action plan.
