“We had a record day of participation in the general elections of
communal popular consultation to choose the projects”, which
he considered an overwhelming victory for the will for peace
and the decision-making capability of the communities in
the country.
He described the new communal State as “democracy, freedom,
participation and protagonism,efficiency and effectiveness
---- in building works, freedom, and fraternity.”
“That's the communal State, the true State: of participatory social democracy, of justice and law ---- which it contemplates in our beloved 1999 Constitution”
---- he affirmed.
______________________________________________
A New Era of Energy:
China is Buildingan
Artificial Sun
November 24th, 3:22pm
(Pravda.ru)
China's project to build a thermonuclear reactor, often referred to
as an "artificial sun," is still in the development phase. Despite
this, the country aims to become a leading global producer
of nuclear energy - by the end of this decade.
This step aims to increase the share of nuclear power generation in
the country's overall energy basket and could serve as a catalyst
for the industrial revolution in Asia.
In addition to building new nuclear power plants, China -- is actively
experimenting with thermonuclear fusion, and setting long-term
goals --- for producing energy from renewable sources for its
energy systems.
________________________________________
Europe in danger:low gas reserves
--- and dependence on US imports
by Oleg Artyukov
November 24th, 2:37pm
(Pravda.ru)
The EU is rapidly increasing its dependence
on energy supplies from the United States.
This year, the European Union has already purchased $200 billion
worth of energy resources from the United States, and the share
of US LNG in European imports has increased from 45 percent
to 60 percent.
The EU Commissioner for Trade pointed out that the
EU is fulfilling its commitments under recent trade
agreements, and the increase in the US share
of LNG supplies, is a direct result of
long-term contracts.
In addition to LNG, significant volumes of supplies are also
made up of nuclear fuel and oil, which allows us to reach
the figure of 200 billion dollars ---- in less than a year.
The agreement reached on July 27 between EU Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald
Trump provides for the imposition of 15% tariffs on
almost all EU exports to the United States.
In return, the EU pledged to significantly increase its purchases
of US energy resources, technologies, and weapons. According
to the document, by 2028, the total amount of purchases of
LNG, nuclear fuel, and weapons should reach $750 billion.
In addition, the EU must purchase at least \$40 billion worth of
US semiconductors.. to upgrade its data centres. Plans are
also in place to increase military and defense equipment
purchases, further increasing the European military-
industrial complex's dependence --- on the US.
As this energy dependence increases, Europe is showing signs
of vulnerability, especially during periods of seasonal demand.
Gazprom reported that from November 19 to 21, the EU recorded a
record daily gas withdrawal from underground storage facilities
for these dates ....over the entire observation period.
According to Gas Infrastructure Europe, consumption from UGS
has reached historic highs, although the real winter cold
has not yet set in.
On November 21, the EU storage capacity reached
its lowest level in ten years, at 80 percent.
The Russian company noted that in case of severe and
prolonged frosts, the existing reserves may not be
sufficient to guarantee the supply to consumers.
The current selection season began with a relatively low
injection rate of only 83 pct on average across Europe,
according to Gazprom.
The risks are particularly evident in Germany and the
Netherlands, which rank first and third in Europe in
terms of gas storage capacity, with their storage
facilities only 76% and 72% full, respectively.
This starting level reduces the European gas system's
resilience to potential extreme cold weather --- and
creates additional price volatility in the market.
The EU's increasing dependence on US energy supplies
and related long-term contracts is leading to a range
of negative consequences...... that are already
becoming apparent.
First, structural risks to European energy security are increasing.
With sharp fluctuations in demand, the EU is becoming less
flexible, with a significant portion of its imports tied to
fixed contracts - with limited room for maneuver.
Secondly, political dependence on the US is increasing. Purchases
worth hundreds of billions of dollars are turning relations into an
area where economic decisions are increasingly intertwined
with US foreign policy interests.
EU countries are losing some of their autonomy in determining
their own energy strategies, and their ability to pursue
independent policies regarding alternative suppliers
is diminishing.
Thirdly, long-term commitments to purchase US' LNG -- creates price
vulnerability. LNG imported from the US is generally more expensive
than pipeline gas, and its high share in the EU's energy mix makes
the entire system more costly for industries and households.
These costs inevitably affect the competitiveness of European
manufacturers, especially energy-intensive industries, which
are already facing increased operating costs. In a global
competitive environment, particularly with China and
the US, these imbalances ------- could exacerbate
Europe's de-industrialization.
Finally, the transition to US gas dominance - reduces diversification,
a key principle of energy security. The EU formally states, it avoids
dependence on a single external supplier, but in reality, it replaces
1 dominant party with another, albeit in a different political guise.
Such a concentration - creates long-term risks, especially if the
domestic political agenda in the United States changes - or if
the US decides to use energy supplies as a tool of pressure
- in trade or geopolitical issues.
___________________________________
Colombia announces incentives
--- to stimulate electric mobility
November 24th, 1:55pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Ministry of Mines and Energy of Colombia today
announced a broad incentive package aimed at
accelerating the development of charging
infrastructure for electric vehicles
in the country.
Thanks to the regulatory update, the portfolio noted,
operators will be able to contract energy in the
unregulated market, without power limits - or
monthly consumption -- which offers greater
flexibility and better negotiation conditions.
Additionally, the energy allocated to charging electric
vehicles will be exempt from 20% of the contribution,
which reduces direct costs for those who develop
this infrastructure, the entity added.
According to the communication released, the measures
seek to boost sustainable mobility, attract investment
------ and reduce operating costs for cargo service
providers throughout the national territory.
According to the minister, Edwin Palma, the incentive
package makes Colombia one of the countries
withthe best conditions to invest in its
charging infrastructure.
“We are removing barriers and creating an environment
that stimulates innovation and clean mobility. The
energy transition is not only an environmental
objective, it is an engine of development.
Each new charging station means
employment, technology and
competitiveness for our
regions”, he noted.
The ministerial portfolio added that to the most recent
measures is added access to those benefits
contemplated in Law 1715 of 2014 and
Law 2099 of 2021, which include -------
exemption from tariffs and Value
Added Tax (VAT)... accelerated
depreciation ---- and discounts
on income tax, in accordance
with a procedure established
by Resolution of the Mining
and Energy Planning Unit
736 ------ of 2025.
__________________________
Grandma's apartments, turn into a trap:
a new wave of lawsuits leaves buyers
with nothing
November 24th, 10:32am
by Mark Ulyanov
(Pravda TV)
In Russia, the number of cases where apartments purchased from
pensioners are returned to their former owners through court
proceedings is rapidly increasing. Elderly sellers --- are
increasingly claiming that they were pressured into
signing documents by fraudsters, and courts are
often siding with them. As a result, buyers are
left without both their homes and the money
they paid. According to the Russian Real
Estate Guild, the number of such cases
has increased by almost 15% and is
expected to continue growing in
the coming year.
Experts consider the problem to be widespread: deputies are
already preparing amendments to protect bona fide buyers.
Lawyers advise carefully checking the seller, including
their mental state, and notarizing all the certificates,
but even this, doesn't guarantee a victory in court.
__________________________________________
Díaz-Canel attends
the inauguration
of Fihav 2025
November 24th, 10:16am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, attended today the
inauguration of the 41st edition of the Havana International
Fair (Fihav 2025), considered the largest commercial
showcase in the country and the Caribbean.
At its usual headquarters at the Expocuba fairgrounds, from
November 24 to 29, businessmen and delegations from
around the world attend this exchange which, as
explained by the organizers of the event,
welcomes 47 countries ..and the EU.
In a press conference prior to Fihav 2025, the deputy prime
minister and minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign
Investment (Mincex), Oscar Pérez-Oliva, ratified
the participation of 16 official delegations
from Venezuela, Mexico, Bulgaria - the
Eurasian Economic Union, the Czech
Republic, Iran, Congo, Zimbabwe,
Comoros, Angola and
South Africa.
In addition, the director of the Colón Free Zone of Panama, the
executive secretaries of ALBA-TCP, of the Latin American
Economic System (SELA), and the general secretary of
Aladi, to which are added 15 trade and investment
promotion agencies.
Fihav brings new features in 2025, with five thematic areas:
Made in Cuba, The energy transition, IA Cuba, Cuba Única,
and the Integration Mechanisms Forum. Joined to the VIII
Investment Forum... the updating of the Opportunities
Portfolio, product presentations, and National Days.
In parallel, the Caribbean Banking Forum will take place with
the objective of strengthening regional financial integration
between the countries of the Caribbean Community
(Caricom), on November 26 and 27, at the Parque
Central hotel.
There is also a space for five business forums with some of the
Island's main trading partners: Russia, Vietnam, Iran, Türkiye
and Argentina, at the same time, information will be
provided ----- on new foreign investment policies
aimed at attracting greater foreign capital.
For his part, the president of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce,
Antonio Carricarte, ratified the attendance of some twenty
Chambers of Commerce, and specified that 240
companies will participate on the Cuban side.
Of these, 181 are state and 61 are
private MSMEs.
When referring to Fihav's objectives, Carricarte explained... that it
is not limited to exports, but to the promotion of joint businesses
that allow chaining --- and putting the production capacities
available in the country --- in order to produce products
for both the domestic market ...and for export.
__________________________________________
Colombia: Vice President describes
versions against her ---- as infamy
November 24th, 7:53am
(Prensa Latina)
The vice president of Colombia, Francia Márquez, today described
as infamy, the accusations that have arisen in the last hours, in
which, as she emphasized, they intend without any evidence
to involve her with criminal acts and criminal organizations.
“I categorically reject these malicious versions. There is no reliable
evidence that can prove my link with these illegal groups. The only
thing that is presented is an alleged WhatsApp message, said by
a criminal using my name to give himself importance to other
criminals. I have never seen that character --- in my life”,
reads the statement released by the vice president.
The vice president's statement alludes to a report released the day
before by the Noticias Caracol channel where an alleged message
written by the leader of the armed group, Central General Staff, is
revealed, alias Iván Mordisco, in which he comments on the
alleged granting of resources to Márquez's campaign
in 2022.
About it, the vice president stated that she has never seen the
character in question in her life and that trying to turn that
into a fact is irresponsible and an act of bad faith that
seeks to affect her name, her integrity and her
commitment to the Colombian people.
“My campaign was genuine, transparent ----- and supported by
thousands of Colombians who believed in change. I have
never received support from criminals. I have never
met criminals. I will never lend myself to any dark
pact. Anyone who claims otherwise must prove
it in court”, she asserted.
She also called on the media and opinion leaders to act
responsibly, not amplify lies --- and verify information
before turning rumours into headlines.
The country, she noted, deserves serious journalism, not
an echo of slander that puts the dignity and physical
and moral integrity of people ...at risk.
“I tell Colombia that I continue with a good heart, with the
one who saw me in the streets sowing hope for change.
We remain firm ---- until dignity becomes customary”,
she concluded.
_________________________________
Left in Spain -- supports the
resigning Attorney General
November 24th, 7:36am
(Prensa Latina)
The resignation today of the State Attorney General, Alvaro
García Ortíz, the Spanish political hornet's nest stirred up
a polarization that it maintains in the clash between the
left and the right.
Although it was expected news, after the ruling was announced,
but not the arguments of the Supreme Court (TS) ruling last
Thursday ----- the act of formalizing the prosecutor's
departure, revived the call for political discord.
The Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, described this Monday the
TS's condemnation of García Ortiz as ignominious, which --- in his
opinion will go down in history as one of the «most blatant
attempts by the reactionary judiciary to interfere in the
political life of the country».
At a breakfast with the press sponsored by Europa Press, Urtasun
highlighted the irregularity of knowing the ruling before the
sentencing - in a case as sensitive as this one, based
on «extremely weak evidence».
García Ortíz was disqualified from holding public office for two
years and now must pay a fine of 7,200 euros to Alberto
González Amador, a partner of the regional leader
of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, for - allegedly
- revealing procedural secrets.
The Minister of Culture, who is also spokesperson for the Sumar
group, said that, with respect for the work of the majority of
judges in Spain, he disqualified the message sent by the
TS, when «someone ends up being convicted of
investigating a crime» of alleged tax fraud
(González Amador), who «gets away
with it» (free and without guilt).
For her part, the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities,
Diana Morant, pointed out that the Government welcomes «with
enormous respect» the resignation of García Ortiz, who today
sent a letter in this regard to the ''Minister of Justice'',
Félix Bolaños.
Morant reiterated the Executive's point of view of recognition
of the work done by the Attorney General until now ------- «in
favour of fair justice, in favour of the prosecution of crime”.
On the opposite level -- the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-
Almeida, a figure of the opposition Popular Party (PP), stressed
that García Ortiz did not present his resignation out of «dignity
or gallantry» but because he was....... «a criminal who has
been convicted».
«He should have resigned once the procedure was opened. He
should have resigned once he was put on the bench and, of
course, convicted. It's not that he has resigned, it's that he
can't do anything else. Let's see --- if we are still going to
consider that this is a gesture of dignity and gallantry»,
snapped the Madrid mayor.
__________________________________________
China advances the schedule ----- and
prepares launch of Shenzhou-22 ship
November 24th, 6:53am
(Prensa Latina)
China will launch the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft tomorrow, a
mission that is ahead of schedule established after the
incident in Space that left Shenzhou-20 unable to
return to Earth.
The astronauts of the Shenzhou-20 mission - returned on
November 15 aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, after
their own spacecraft was damaged by space debris.
According to the Office of Manned Space Engineering, the
return trip on Shenzhou-20, was the original plan, but it
could not be done ....as a small crack was detected in
the window glass of the spacecraft's reentry module.
This left members of the Shenzhou-21 mission aboard the
Chinese space station Tiangong, but without a ship
ready for emergency undocking - if necessary.
Hence, the space program advances the launch of Shenzhou-22,
although the statement does not explain the protocol to follow
in this case ....once it reaches Tiangong.
China - has a schedule for relieving its manned missions every six
months, a time that astronauts dedicate in Space to carrying out
The Minister of the Interior of Ecuador, John Reimberg,
today denied the possibility of visits from the press or
the Ombudsman, César Córdova, to a new maximum
security prison..... in the coastal province of
Santa Elena.
“Get out of your head - that there will be visitors, this is a
maximum security centre. There are no shows, or soap
operas here. A special regime is followed and security
and medical care are guaranteed for all detainees”,
the official said this Thursday... in an interview
with a local radio station.
In statements to Radio Diblu FM, Reimberg maintained that this penitentiary centre --- houses the most dangerous criminals in the country and that any external entry - will put national security at risk.
“There are the terrorists, the leaders of the most violent criminal
organizations. We are not going to allow it to become a media
show or a platform for human rights defenders to come and
take photos or generate narratives that benefit criminals”,
reimberg stated.
Earlier it was learned that the Ombudsman, César Córdova.. asked
the Ministry of the Interior to visit the flagship penitentiary centre
of the Government of Daniel Noboa to determine the conditions
of the centre, which is still unfinished.
“We want to know how the commissary, food and the provision of
drinking water are, which is the situation in which all deprivation
centres must be operating”, Córdova declared to the press.
In response, the minister noted that he has many other prisons to
visit where there are problems of overcrowding and extortion.
The official's statement occurs ----------- after increased criticism from
human rights organizations and opposition sectors .....regarding the
management of the country's penitentiary centres ------ many under
military control since the declaration of an internal armed conflict.
On November the 10th, a few days before the referendum and
popular consultation that Noboa lost last Sunday, the
president announced the sending of the 300 «most
dangerous» prisoners.. to the new penitentiary,
called Cárcel del Encuentro, despite the fact
that as he acknowledged, its construction
is unfinished.
Among those detained there.. is former vice president Jorge Glas,
whose defense denounced inhuman treatment in the new prison.
Former vice president Sonia Vera's lawyer... described an
absolute lack of drinking water, permanent confinement
--- and an absence of any medical care.
The facility was one of Noboa's campaign promises in the face of
violence and overcrowding in Ecuadorian prisons, where more
than 500 inmates have been murdered since 2021, most of
them in massacres and riots ...due to clashes between
rival gangs.
____________________________________
Democracy & Francoism: Spain
fractured ------- by far-right rise
November 20th, 1:01pm
(Prensa Latina)
Fifty years after the death of the dictator Francisco Franco, and
the establishment of democracy, a fractured Spain remembers
the date today, marked by the rise of the extreme right.
The mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, of the conservative Popular Party (PP), shook public opinion this Thursday, by commenting that Francoism, “....is a stage in history that has its positive and negative sides”.
According to a survey by the Centre for Sociological Research (CIS),
21.3% of Spaniards believe that the Franco dictatorship was good
or very good.... for the country.
The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, in any
case, paid tribute to the Spanish miracle and called to defend
democracy at a time when some young people say they are
nostalgic, highlighting a certain split in the country.
“That November 20 --- not only marked the end of the last Western
European dictatorship, but the beginning of a journey that was to
lead us to recover freedom and prosperity and reconquer a lost
democracy», Sánchez wrote in a note published in the digital
media eldiario.es.
In parallel, in a speech in the Congress of Deputies, he vehemently
defended freedom of the press and the irreplaceable value of
journalism during the presentation of the series, ‘Anatomy
of a Moment’, about what happened in the so-called 23F,
when there was a failed coup attempt by the Franco
dictatorship --- in 1981.
The Chief Executive had previously commented in the digital
medium that now, “when some idealize authoritarian regimes
and cling to nostalgia for a past that never was …this is
when we must take a step forward ----- in defense of a
freedom that was taken from us for so many years».
Today's date was seen through another prism by the far-right Vox
party, which praised the supposed successes of Franco's regime,
taking advantage of its rise in citizenship with more than 18%
of the electorate's preferences, according to the CIS.
On the other hand, King Felipe VI, will preside over two events this
Friday at the Royal Palace and in Congress, to remember the 50th
anniversary of the restoration of the monarchy, post dictatorship.
Several figures will be absent, including the emeritus monarch
Juan Carlos I, Vox and the Government's partners, mainly in
the Sumar group.
The non-participation of Juan Carlos I, said the Zarzuela Palace, is
for personal reasons of not wanting to be at institutional events,
although - at the same time - there is controversy due to his complimentary comments about Franco - in a book
published about his memoirs.
Franco -- has been buried on the outskirts of Madrid, since
his remains were exhumed from Cuelgamuros, the name
acquired by the old Valley of the Fallen.... by the
Democratic Memory Law.
Some nostalgic fans and their families
gathered at the place.
_________________________________________
Russian Foreign Ministry: Putin and Modi
Will Take Relations between Moscow
and New Delhi.....to a New Level
by Marfa Mamaeva
November 19th, 11:47pm
(Gazeta.ru)
President RF Vladimir Putin will sign documents on cooperation
in the trade, economic and investment spheres during his visit
to India, together with the country's Prime Minister Narendra
The attendance and extension of a day of protest today tends to
support the rejection of an influential opposition journalist to a
recent survey that assigns majority ''approval'' to President
José Jerí.
After that survey, the communicator César Hildebrandt described
it as alien to reality -- and rejected the CPI company survey that resulted in an approval rating for Jerí of 59.9 percent.
He also recalled that the imprisoned former advisor to former
ruler Alberto Fujimori (1990 – 2011), Vladimiro Montesinos...
who managed the intelligence services - confessed in the
trial against him ---- that he paid bribes to polling companies like CPI.
Conservative analysts celebrated the figure...... and many of the
comments indicated that the figure could express the contrast
between the almost unanimous rejection of the defenestrated
former president Dina Boluarte and the informal jerí media.
In any case, the important participation in yesterday's day of
protest, mainly in Lima and the southern city of Cusco –
with big demonstrations in regions such as Arequipa,
Chiclayo and others, confirmed --- according to the
'paper La República -- that “citizen discontent
persists ------- throughout the country”.
The protest was promoted by the new and youthful Generation Z
movement, coinciding with organizations such as the General
Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP) and the student
federations of the National University of San Marcos
and Católica.
One day before, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Rospigliosi,
appeared with an attitude that various media outlets considered threatening, warning that the Police --- “have to repress violent protesters”, which was described by many ---- as a repressive intrusion into government jurisdictions.
Added to this - was a large police deployment that included
the use of a network of 700 video surveillance cameras
- and drones.
However, the marches were peaceful in their demand to eliminate
various laws passed by the Conservative Parliament, that they
weaken laws against organized crime responsible for almost
daily deaths --- without President Jerí even raising it in the
Legislature, and where there are no signs of any about
face, either.
In Lima, the march paid tribute to the urban music singer-
songwriter known as “Truko”, killed by the rebound of a
bullet fired by a police officer ----- apparently infiltrated
among a group of protesters who were chasing him,
after discovering him hiding amongst them.
Also last night, the protesters evoked the memory of the death,
at the hands of the Police, of the young protesters Inti Sotelo
and Bryan Pintado, five years ago, as they were protesting
against Jeri's promotion to the Presidency - after the
congressional dismissal of Martín Vizcarra, in a
move that forced Merino to resign.
_____________________________________
Cuba advocates at the UN
for comprehensive reform
of the Security Council
November 15th, 9:09am
(Prensa Latina)
Cuba advocated for a UN Security Council that effectively
plays its role in maintaining peace and security, faced
with an international scenario that is increasingly
complex and challenging today.
Speaking at the Security Council's Open Debate on its working
methods, the chargé d'affaires of the Permanent Mission of
Cuba, Yuri Gala, stressed the importance of this, in the
context of the organization's 80th anniversary and
under the strict terms of the UN Charter.
Ambassador Gala insisted that the reform of the Security Council
cannot be postponed ---- and that it must be addressed through
detailed discussion of five key issues, as stipulated in the
General Assembly decision 62/557.
“Otherwise, the long-awaited comprehensive and profound
reform, that guarantees that the Security Council is
transparent, democratic and representative,
can not be achieved”, he emphasized,
during the session.
The Cuban diplomat expressed concern with the persistence of a
tendency in the Council to work in formats closed to the rest of
the member states of the multilateral organization, on whose
behalf it must act, in accordance with Article 24 of the
UN Charter.
Gala considered it regrettable, that the Security Council continues
to make decisions without addressing the concerns of the States
targeted that are not members of the body and forcing action on
draft resolutions ----- when considerable differences still persist.
The manipulation and selective use of the Council's methods
and practices must cease, based on political domination
agendas, stressed the representative of Cuba.
He warned that these types of strategies, far from contributing
to ending conflicts, exacerbate divisions and undermine the
entity's role in preserving international peace and security.
The Security Council must adhere to its mandate without
usurping the powers of the General Assembly. “Strict
respect for the UN Charter is essential to guarantee
the credibility and legitimacy of the Council -- and
the Organization in general”, he concluded.
Gala's intervention stood out in Cuba's news week at the UN,
where the island's representative also participated in a
plenary meeting of the General Assembly on topic 89:
“Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency.”
During her participation, the alternate permanent representative
of Cuba, Ambassador Daylenis Moreno --- reaffirmed in the
General Assembly... her country's commitment - to the
peaceful use of nuclear energy and the promotion
of international cooperation.
Cuba was also present at the debate on item 76 of the agenda
of the UN General Assembly, related to the “Report of the
International Criminal Court”, in which he expressed his
commitment to fight against impunity and to work for
an impartial - and truly independent - international
criminal justice system for the UN.
______________________________________
Manufacturing industry
grew 5.2% in Colombia
November 15th, 9:07am
(Prensa Latina)
Real production of the manufacturing industry in Colombia
grew 5.2 percent year-on-year last September, while sales
in the sector during the same period grew 5.3 percent,
it was known today.
According to the National Administrative Department of
Statistics (DANE), employed personnel also reported
an increase of 0.8 percentage points.
Of the 39 industrial activities represented by the survey, a
total of 30 recorded positive data in their real production,
and added 6.1 percent to the total annual variation.
The source noted that the subsectors with the greatest growth
in real production... and that contributed the most to the total
variation: were coffee threshing (59.6 percent), manufacture
of motor vehicles and their engines (45.8) and manufacture
of other types of transport equipment (32.7).
_______________________________________________
Armed Forces disable aircraft
in southwestern Venezuela
November 14th, 8:05pm
(Prensa Latina)
The head of the Strategic Operational Command of the
Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Ceofan), Domingo
Hernández, reported today - the neutralization of a
'plane in the Pedro Camejo municipality, Apure
state (southwest) of Venezuela.
With this aircraft there are a total of 416 unused - since the
entry into force of the Control Law for the Comprehensive
Defense of Airspace in 2012 and 25 during the course of
this year, the general in chief detailed.. through his
account on the social network Instagram.
He explained that the airship was identified in patrol and
reconnaissance missions - “air-terrestrial security and
defense of route, zone and area, by members of the
Armed Forces organized into Joint Combat Rapid
Response Units.
Hernández indicated that the hostile aircraft was identified
in the vicinity of the Pedro Camejo municipality and was
“surreptitiously hidden, masked with artificial mesh
and covered with vegetation in a gallery forest”,
adjacent to an improvised illegal track.
The latter, he commented ---- was used as a platform logistics
structure for the Armed Terrorist Groups, Drug Traffickers of
Colombia, known as Tancol, in disrespect of national
control laws for the comprehensive defense of
airspace ---- and in flagrant violation of our
national sovereignty.
The Ceofan high command stressed, that Venezuela maintains
“firm in its resolution of independence or nothing, in territorial
defense & in the fight against the scourge of drug trafficking”.
We will not be a platform for transnational criminal structures
The Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, today signed a
contract to purchase 17 Gripen fighter jets, from the
Kingdom of Sweden for a cost of 16.5 billion pesos
(about $4.4 billion at the current exchange rate).
The agreement was signed at the Marco Fidel Suárez Air Base
in Cali ---- the site where the president went to lead the commemoration ceremony, of the one hundred and
sixth Anniversary of the Colombian Aerospace
Force (FAC).
In the opinion of the president, the signing of the
pact ..marks an historic moment for the country.
“The contract for 16.5 billion pesos --- is being signed between
the Ministry of Defense of Colombia and the company Saab
of Sweden, for the acquisition of 17 Gripen aircraft - air
superiority with the highest technology --- that will
strengthen security and defense, and will have
an impact on our social and environmental
responsibility --- on energy, water and
health issues”, he stated.
He also highlighted - that the agreement symbolizes much
more than an acquisition of strategic capabilities, since
“it represents a partnership between two nations that
believe in peace, progress -- and the defense of life”.
He added that the alliance renews the will of both countries
to build together ---- a path of cooperation, respect and
shared development.
''With the signing of the agreement for the acquisition of air
superiority aircraft --- we celebrate a new chapter in a
relationship built on 151 years of friendship, trust
and mutual cooperation'' --- highlighted the
president. ''Here I put my signature and
I hope there are 150 more years of
friendship and understanding
---- between Sweden and
Colombia,'' he noted.
As previously disclosed, the new aircraft will replace the
Israeli IAI Kfir, with more than 40 years of service and
which have already reached the limit of their useful
life --- despite successive modernizations.
Deliveries are agreed from 2027 and will end in 2032.
A Gripen aircraft is powered by a General Electric F414G
engine, in addition to being equipped with AESA Raven
ES-05 radar and a Skyward-G infrared system -- which
gives it great situational awareness and the ability
to operate in war scenarios.
__________________________________________
Slovak Prime MinisterRejects EU's
Plan....to Allocate€140 Billion
to Ukraine
by Pavel Khrushchev
November 14th, 6:54pm
(Gazeta.ru)
Fico said ----- he would never support
the EU's €140 billion plan for Ukraine
The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, categorically
rejected the EU’s proposal to allocate €140 billion to
Ukraine - saying that the funds would prolong the
military conflict for another two years. A video
of his speech was published on the Youtube
channel of Fico’s party.
The Slovak Prime Minister emphasized that under his
leadership, the country would not support any
financial or other assistance schemes for
Kyiv aimed at continuing the hostilities.
"I will never, ever agree to 140 billion
(euros) for Ukraine," Fico said.
On November 14, The European Conservative newspaper
wrote that von der Leyen is “obsessed” with the conflict
in Ukraine, while a number of EU countries are “tired”
of helping Kiev. The publication says, that the head
of the EC, spoke about the fact that the EU “will
provide Ukraine with a loan --- which Ukraine
will return.... if Russia pays reparations.”
It is about a sum of €140 billion, which in practice means
"an increase in debt for Ukraine and an additional
financial burden ------- for Europeans."
The authors noted that Europe's assistance to Ukraine, is dividing the unity of the political bloc.
__________________________________________
Sky News: Epstein ------ called Trump
a dangerous person in a 2017 letter
November 14th, 2:56pm
(RT.ru)
In one of his letters, US financier Jeffrey Epstein
described US President Donald Trump as a
dangerous person.
This statement was made by the British TV channel
Sky News. According to the broadcaster -- this
refers to a letter written by Epstein in 2017.
"...Yes, he is dangerous," a fragment of
the letter is quoted in the publication.
___________________________________
Russia Orthodox ------- reacted to the words
about the role of women as "housewives"
by Anastasia Rumyantseva
November 14th, 2:49pm
(RT.ru)
Mikhail Ivanov, a deputy of the Bryansk Regional Duma, and
chair of the All-Russian Public Movement Russia Orthodox,
expressed his opinion in an interview with RT --- on the
statement made by the priest Yevgeny Popichenko,
who claimed that a woman's role is to be a
"household fairy."
"We have deep respect for the institution of the church, and
for the opinions of its ministers. However, when it comes
to social and economic issues, we must also consider
the realities of today," Ivanov said.
He emphasized that modern life demonstrates the huge
contribution of women ----- in all areas of activity.
"Today --- it is impossible to imagine our society... without female
doctors who save lives, without female teachers who educate
new generations, and without female managers who
contribute to the development of our businesses
and regions. This is not just a job, but a true
service to our country," the deputy said.
In his opinion, to say... that a woman's role is
limited to the home, is to ignore the obvious.
"Women are the drivers of the economy --- a significant part of
our labour and intellectual power. Their work for the benefit
of the country deserves the highest recognition ----- and
respect," Ivanov added.
According to him, it is important... to preserve and support
traditional family values, but at the same time, we cannot
ignore the fact that women in modern Russia - have the
right to self-realize in their professions and public life.
"Our goal is to create the conditions in which women can
harmoniously combine their aspirations, whether it's
building a strong family or pursuing a successful
career. Many of our female compatriots.. are
successfully navigating this challenge ---
and their example is deeply inspiring,"
Ivanov concluded.
Earlier, as reported by the RT Telegram channel, Archpriest
of the Russian Orthodox Church Yevgeny Popichenko
said that a woman's role is to be a "home fairy"
and she should not work.
It is noted that a video of his words
.......is spreading on the network.
_________________________________________
The shutdown highlights- the
US government dysfunction
November 14th, 11:37am
(PressTV)
After more than six weeks, the longest stoppage
in the nation's history, the United States federal
government is getting back to work.
After 43 days, the Democratic Party abandoned its effort
to preserve personal health care insurance subsidies,
and just days after their win in last week's minor
elections, voted to end the holdout.
US model tarnished again as longest
government shutdown ever..... ends
The shutdown is so globally unusual because no other country
reacts to a lapse in funding bills by shutting down operations,
giving the world the impression that the US government is
divided, dysfunctional and poorly designed.
Republicans have played a game of chicken with food
assistance, travel safety and federal paychecks, all
because they will stop at nothing ------ to cut your
health care.
The only thing that congressional Republicans are more loyal
to than Donald Trump is to cutting the health care of the
American people.
Representative Sarah McBride, Democrat
The record-long government shutdown ends as US
President Donald Trump signs the funding bill.
Absolutely no question in anybody's mind now that the
Democrats were responsible for this, what happened?
Millions of American families went
without food on their table.
You had millions of Americans stranded in airports
with their flights canceled and delayed.
You had troops and federal employees wondering
where their next paycheck would come from.
Mike Johnson, Speaker of The House, Republican
US government shutdown sparks anti-Trump protests
The federal government shutdown, now in its sixth week, is
the longest in US history, costing the economy $20 billion
weekly and affecting 1.2 million civil service workers,
critically impacting services for the lower class,
including school meals.
I think we look ridiculous. I think it looks like we can't
figure anything out. We can't sit down in a room and
have a conversation, which is exactly
what happened.
I think everybody suffered. I definitely don't
think this is a win for the Democrats.
It's putting off the inevitable.
Again, I don't know necessarily that it's a win
for the Republicans, but since it's not for the
Democrats, it almost seems like it has to be.
Member of Public 01
The Democrats' capitulation comes despite
increasing grassroots resistance towards
Donald Trump's right-wing policies.
Polls also consistently showed - that Republicans had
been blamed for the shutdown more than Democrats.
I don't think in a situation like this anybody really wins.
I think both sides will try to use it for political
currency, or to demean the other side.
And I think that's part of the problem. That cooler heads
are not prevailing in recent history; it's so polarized.
Member of Public 02
The end of the shutdown may have come about.... for
one simple reason; the upcoming Christmas holidays.
The agreement does not resolve the budget deadlock,
as it only authorizes the Trump administration to
spend money until February 1 of next year.
The accord may have been driven by the political desire
to prevent snarled air travel and long food lines during
the Christmas holidays.
____________________________________________
Argentina:Another condemnation
of repressors of the dictatorship
November 14th, 10:29am
(Prensa Latina)
More than 40 years after Argentina recovered democracy, the
conviction finally came in Córdoba of two repressors of the
last civil-military dictatorship who are today celebrated
by human rights organizations and relatives of
the victims.
15 years after the historic trial that convicted Jorge Rafael Videla
and Luciano Benjamín Menéndez for the crimes committed in
Penitentiary Unit N°1 in the San Martín neighbourhood, the
Federal Oral Court N°1 of the province of Córdoba, issued
a new ruling in a key case for memory, truth and justice.
The court sentenced Osvaldo César Quiroga, a former military
man, to life imprisonment, and Gustavo Rodolfo Salgado, a
former police officer, to ten years in prison, both accused
of participating in the murders of 31 political prisoners
detained at UP1 from April to October 1976.
The magistrates considered Quiroga's responsibility as co-author
of the homicides, classed as treachery ---- and by the plurality of
participants proven ------- to the detriment of Miguel Hugo Vaca
Narvaja, Gustavo Adolfo De Breuil and Arnaldo Higinio
Toranzo, among other victims.
Meanwhile, Salgado was found criminally responsible as
co-author of the illegitimate deprivation of liberty and
torment ------ aggravated by Luis Alberto Urquiza's
condition as a politically persecuted person.
For prosecutor Facundo Trotta, the ruling largely complies
with what was requested by the Public Ministry, both in
the evaluation of the evidence and in the magnitude
of the sentences imposed. However, he expressed
his disagreement with the court's decision to
release the convicted, considering that the
seriousness of the crimes, and the
sentences handed down - justify
preventive confinement until
the sentences are final.
“This does not bring life back to the former detainees but
at least their families see that justice was finally done”,
Córdoba professor Gladys Canelo told Prensa Latina,
who also pointed out, that she has a cousin still
missing since that disastrous time.
The Córdoba analyst and political leader Sergio Ortiz considers
it positive that the two repressors have finally been convicted,
although he shares prosecutor Trotta's complaint that Quiroga
and Menéndez remain free until the sentence is final, instead
of having been immediately detained --------- as would have
been correct.
The complete foundations of the sentence will be announced
on December 16, 2025, the twentieth business day after the
verdict is read. These two repressors were acquitted in a
trial in 2010.
Ortiz told Prensa Latina that the three political prisoners were
taken from UP1 and shot simulating an escape attempt.
In total –he recalled - 31 militants from that time
were murdered in this way.
“They were crimes committed in 1976, and only now is there
a conviction, on top of that these repressors had been
acquitted in 2010, that is, that another 15 years
passed until there was finally a conviction”,
Ortiz said.
The Federal Court of Appeals of Córdoba, with the approval of the
Supreme Court of the Nation --- ordered the carrying out of a new process. Both instances agreed that the initial acquittals had not adequately assessed the evidence presented by the prosecution --- and the complaints.
The 2010 trial, which convicted the main people responsible for
the repressive circuit of Córdoba, then marked a turning point
by recognizing the existence of a systematic extermination
plan and the judicial complicity of officials -- who failed to investigate the deaths of the detainees.
_______________________________________________
India reduces incidence
of tuberculosis
November 14th, 1:27am
(Prensa Latina)
India reduced the incidence of tuberculosis by 21 percent
from 2015 to 2024, almost double the rate of decline
observed internationally, according to the latest
world report cited here today, in New Delhi.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), from 237
new cases per 100 thousand inhabitants in 2015 there was
a decrease to 187 in 2024, which is one of the largest
reductions in the incidence of tuberculosis.
This result is due, among other aspects, to the South Asian
country's innovative case detection approach - driven by
the rapid adoption of new technologies and large-scale
community mobilization, said the Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare.
The above has allowed treatment coverage in the country
to exceed 92 percent in 2024, compared to 53 percent
in 2015, highlighted the government entity.
Likewise, there is no significant increase in the number of
patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB)
in the country and the success rate of treatment under
the TB Mukt campaign Bharat Abhiyan, increased to
90 percent.
Likewise, the mortality rate has decreased from 28 per 100
thousand inhabitants in 2015 ------- to 21 per 100 thousand
inhabitants in 2024, which reflects real progress, in
reducing deaths from this disease.
This progress has been made ---- thanks to the nearly tenfold
increase in government funding and the program's proactive
approach to combating the disease with an emphasis on
the asymptomatic variant in high-incidence settings,
indicated the Indian Ministry.
For early detection, the South Asian nation has a network
of laboratories that includes 9,391 rapid molecular
testing centres ---- and 107 culture and drug
sensitivity testing laboratories.
In addition, it has more than 500 portable chest X-ray units
with artificial intelligence throughout the country, and an
additional 1,500 pieces of equipment are currently
being delivered to states and territories.
Likewise, through 178,000 centres of the Ayushman Arogya
Mandir program, which offers services to cover preventive,
health promotion, curative, rehabilitative and palliative
care, it has been possible to decentralize services
and bring attention closer to the communities.
Among other actions, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
also expands the nutritional support provided to tuberculosis
patients through the distribution of food baskets to patients.
_________________________________________________
Chinese astronauts from Shenzhou-20
will return aboard another ship
November 14th, 1:23am
(Prensa Latina)
Astronauts from the Shenzhou-20 mission will return to
Earth aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, after their
own spacecraft was damaged by space debris,
official sources reported today.
According to the Office of Manned Space Engineering,
Shenzhou-21 successfully separated from the
Tiangong and Chen Dong space station
complex, and Chen Zhongrui and
Wang Jie are in good health.
According to the source, the return trip on Shenzhou-20, as
was the original plan, it cannot be done because a small
crack was detected ---- in the window glass of the
spacecraft's reentry module.
Experts identified the problem after photographic analysis,
design verifications, simulation studies and wind
tunnel testing.
According to the report, the most likely cause was the
external impact of space debris, making it unsuitable
for manned return.... according to safety criteria.
The Shenzhou-20 spacecraft will remain in orbit for
further experiments, the statement concluded.
Shenzhou-20 was launched last April from the Jiuquan
space centre and transported astronauts Chen Dong,
Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie to Tiangong, where
they have stayed for more than six months.
The return of the ship was scheduled for this last week
after the arrival of the new crew aboard Shenzhou-21.
The Democrats 66 (D66) party, led by Rob Jetten, won
the parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, the
Electoral Council confirmed today.
The president of that body, Wim Kuijken, announced the
final results in a public hearing and noted that the D66
obtained 29,668 more votes than its closest rival, the
Freedom Party (PVV), led by Geert Wilders.
Both political forces won 26 seats in the
150-member lower house of Parliament.
The result confirms the D66 as the overall winner and
positions Jetten to lead the upcoming coalition
negotiations and form a new government.
Of the 27 parties that ran in the elections...... 15 obtained
enough votes to secure representation in the legislature.
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy... won 22
seats, the Green Left-Labour alliance (GroenLinks-PvdA)
won 20, and the Christian Democratic Call, won 18.
Kuijken stated that the results are reliable and
that no irregularities were detected.
The election was called after the PVV withdrew from the
ruling coalition in June over a dispute over migration,
prompting the resignation of Prime Minister Dick
Schoof's cabinet.
With the victory of D66, negotiations to form a coalition,
are expected to determine the composition of the next
Dutch government.
____________________________________________
China ---- lifts suspension of
chicken exports from Brazil
November 7th, 11:06am
(Prensa Latina)
The Chinese Government, through the General Customs
Administration of the Asian country (GACC), lifted the
restrictions imposed on the export of chicken meat
from Brazil, the administration of Luiz Inácio Lula
da Silva confirmed today.
The official note indicates that «the decision, effective
immediately, was made ---- based on the results of the
risk analysis carried out by the Chinese authorities».
Brazil is the world's largest exporter of chicken meat,
responsible for approximately 35 percent of the
global market.
The temporary suspension of exports had been adopted
by Beijing in May --- after the confirmation of the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HAI) on a commercial farm located in the municipality
of Montenegro, state of Rio Grande do Sul.
The virus caused the death of approximately 15,000 birds, and 2,000 more were sacrificed preventively.
In addition, more than 1,700,000 eggs distributed in
Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais and Paraná were
destroyed... to prevent the spread of the virus.
Authorities implemented strict measures to contain the
outbreak, including installing seven sanitary barriers
to disinfect vehicles, inspecting 540 properties
within a 10-kilometre radius... around the
outbreak, and the suspension of bird
events in the state.
Since June 18, after the completion of the property's
disinfection procedures - and all required health
actions, Brazil maintains its status as an
IAAP-free country.
_______________________________________
They blame the US Government
shutdown for chaos at airports
November 7th, 10:16am
(Prensa Latina)
United States Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy,
said today that the reduction in flights ordered by the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is directly
related to the government closure, the
longest in history.
The cancellation of hundreds of flights starting this Friday
is due to the shortage of air traffic controllers, during this
Government blackout.
Duffy, and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, announced the
decision to reduce 10 percent of flights at 40 high-impact
airports... nationwide.
“If anyone wants to question us...... I answer: Open the
Government!”, Duffy said in statements to CBS News.
As he explained “we have to take unprecedented measures
because we are in an unprecedented situation with the
(government) closure”.
Duffy admitted that it has been impossible to pay air traffic
controllers, which is causing many absences from work
while if they stay in their jobs they are overloaded.
“We saw controllers working six days
a week, 10-hour days”, he said.
Local media reported that SkyWest, the largest regional
airline in the US, which operates flights for four major
airlines..... recorded the highest number of
cancellations on Friday ---- at the 40
airports affected by FAA cuts.
About 172 flights were canceled early in the morning,
which was 6% of the day's total, CNN reported,
based on data from the FlightAware tracker.
While, among airports, Chicago O'Hare topped the list
with 40 cancellations, followed by Atlanta Hartsfield
-Jackson --- with 38.
Since October 1, the partial closure of the Government
began after being left without financing with the start,
that day, of fiscal year 2026.
___________________________________________
G.A. Zyuganov's congratulations on the Day
of the Great October Socialist Revolution
November 6th, 7:29pm
(Press Service of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of the Russian Federation)
Dear comrades, My friends!
I sincerely congratulate you on the 108th anniversary of the Great
October Socialist Revolution! This fateful day forever changed
the course of history, paving the way for social justice and
genuine democracy. For millions of workers around the
world the Great October Revolution became a symbol
of liberation from centuries of oppression and the
triumph of equality and brotherhood.
The Aurora's volley heralded the birth of a new type of state - the
state - of workers and peasants. Overcoming the severe trials of
the Civil War and foreign intervention --- the Soviet people, under
the leadership of the Bolshevik Party, selflessly built their future.
In just two decades, mass illiteracy was eliminated. Thousands
of industrial giants were built. Dneproges, Magnitogorsk
Metallurgical Plant, Uralmash, and GAZ – these
symbols of the era, created a powerful
scientific and industrial potential
that allowed us to survive and
win - the most terrible war.
The Soviet Union was the first country in the world, to establish a
system of universal free education and healthcare, guaranteeing
the right to work, rest, housing --- and a dignified old age.
Knowledge and health were no longer a privilege for
the elite; they became the common property of
the entire nation.
It was October.. that opened the way to the stars for humanity.
The first satellite and the first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, were
a triumph of socialism, as a system where the highest value
is the human being. The USSR proved to the world, that it is possible to build a civilization based - not on greed and competition - but on principles of equality, justice, and collective creation.
Today, we are - once again - witnessing the enduring
power of the ideas of the Great October Revolution.
transportation, while humanoids are used in research,
teaching, tourist guides and cultural tourism.
He expressed his hope - that in the future humanoid robots will
enter homes, helping with household chores, elderly care and
school attendance, although they still require a process of
growth and improvement.
Zhou highlighted that production, with more than one
hundred key components, drives the development
of the entire industrial chain.
Prensa Latina - also visited Shandong Zhongke Advanced
Technology Co. ----- to learn about its NeuroSci wireless
electroencephalography (EEG) system - which allows
the acquisition of up to 64 channels of brain signals
and applications.... in neuroscientific research,
neurological diseases and brain-computer
interfaces (BCI).
Li Weimin, the institution's top representative, said the company
benefited from the collaboration with the Chinese Academy of
Sciences and the favorable business and talent environment
in Jinan.
The manager specified that the NeuroSci system enables BCI
experiences, including drone control and writing through
thinking, thereby demonstrating the reliability of signal
acquisition, algorithm processing - and interaction
with external devices.
Li stressed: the company develops non-implantable
interfaces ----- considered safer, and cheaper.
Likewise, he advanced plans for implantable interfaces that
allow stronger and more stable brain signals, with the
potential for practical applications in the daily lives
of patients.
The director noted that the institution has made advances
in advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and
rehabilitation, integrating neuroengineering,
EEG and robotics.
Youbaote and Zhongke's projects --- reflect China's technological
capabilities in humanoid robotics and brain-computer interfaces,
and, at the same time, they consolidate the country as a global
benchmark in innovation applied to industry, health, and
scientific research.
_______________________________________________
Partial closure of the US
government on the 30th
October 30th, 10:37am
(Prensa Latina)
Republican and Democratic legislators in the US Senate
could reach an agreement next week to end the partial
shutdown of the federal government, which entered its
thirtieth day today.
The closure or shutdown, at the rate it is going, could cost
the United States economy up to 14 billion dollars,
according to official information.
According to estimates, such a loss would reduce the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for the fourth quarter
by a maximum of 2.0 percent due to the break in
public spending, revealed the Congressional
Budget Office (CBO).
The economy will be affected by the delay in federal spending
on employee compensation, goods and services, and food
stamps for low-income Americans, the CBO revealed.
“Although most of the real GDP decline will recover over time,
the CBO estimates that between $7 billion and $14 billion
will not recover”, the agency's director, Phillip
Swagel, warned.
In a letter sent yesterday to House Budget Committee Chairman
Jodey Arrington (Republican of Texas), Swagel wrote that “the
effects of the shutdown on the economy are uncertain. These
effects depend on the decisions made by the administration
throughout the closure”.
About 750,000 federal workers were placed on unpaid leave
after government funds ran out on October 1, when fiscal
year 2026 began.
At this time there is a rush to end the legislative impasse due
to the expiration of subsidies from the Affordable Care Act
(known as Obamacare) ------ that will skyrocket health
insurance premiums.
Also......... due to the imminent interruption of funding for the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the
salaries of military workers... as the stagnation continues.
The previous shutdown occurred between December 2018
and January 2019, lasted 35 days and is considered the
longest in United States history so far. The president
then .....was Donald Trump.
_________________________________________________
Cuba thanks Venezuela for
humanitarian aid after
Melissa passed
October 30th, 4:12pm
(Prensa Latina)
Cuba today thanked Venezuela for sending 26 tons
of humanitarian aid intended to support recovery
efforts and assist victims of Hurricane Melissa.
In a message spread on social networks, Cuban Foreign
Minister Bruno Rodríguez expressed his recognition to
the Bolivarian government for the solidarity shown in
times of adversity, citing National Hero Jose Marti ''Doing is the best way to say.''
The assistance, announced by the Venezuelan Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Yván Gil, includes medical supplies,
food products and materials for the reconstruction
of affected infrastructure in the east.
The shipment joins national and international efforts,
aimed at --- restoring basic services, guaranteein the health of the population and supporting the
rehabilitation of production centres in the
territories hardest hit by the cyclone.
Melissa made Cuban landfall in a point in the southeast of
its geography where she caused severe flooding, as well
as extensive material damage to homes and crops in
the eastern provinces.
To date, no fatalities caused by the
hurricane ---- have been reported.
______________________________________
Venezuelan ambassador to Bolivia
-- highlights failure of US blockade
----------- Cuba is not alone
by Jorge Petinaud Martínez, the
Chief correspondent in Bolivia
October 30th, 1:28pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Venezuelan ambassador to Bolivia, César Trómpiz, today,
considered the vote condemning the economic, commercial
and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba
---------- a triumph of truth over lies.
The diplomat stated in statements to Prensa Latina that the
result of the vote (165 in favour, 12 abstentions and 7
against) is confirmation that the blockade is a
criminal, infamous and unjust action.
“Cuba continues to demonstrate the immorality of the economic,
commercial and financial reprisals maintained for more than six
decades against all those people by the US Government”, said
the ambassador.
He reiterated that the most recent vote in the United Nations
General Assembly on the need to eliminate the economic
commercial and financial blockade of the US against
Cuba demonstrates the immorality of Washington's
reprisals, and aggressions and the siege of a
people that resists ---- and triumphs
against imperialism.
“From Venezuela'' - the diplomat emphasized - ''we support and
continue to support Cuba's call to eliminate the criminal
blockade that causes death and pain, but it will never
cause the defeat of the humanist and revolutionary
cause of Cubans and Latin Americans”.
When referring to the deployment of a powerful Pentagon
naval squadron that includes thousands of troops,
nuclear propulsion means and more than 1,200
long-range cruise missiles, Trómpiz warned
that the ''justification''... that this is an
operation against drug trafficking
--- is just a pretext.
“The new Yankee policy --- is to expand its borders to the Caribbean with weapons, with an attempt to intimidate.....the people in struggle”, he clarified.
He indicated that “they have not been able to defeat Cuba,
they have not been able to defeat Nicaragua and they
have not been able to defeat Venezuela, and not
even with the largest and most armed navy
will they be able to defeat the
Bolivarian people”.
He expressed that Venezuelans tell everyone - that it is
necessary to raise awareness and solidarity with the
Bolivarian Revolution, that confronts on the front
line the expansionist and warlike intentions
of the North American empire.
“What Washington wants is the oil of the Venezuelan people -
Trómpiz warned -, and today's containment, heroic and on
the front line, is carried out by President Nicolás Maduro
Moros with the civic-military union of Venezuelans,
and with the loving solidarity of the people, so
we are sure ---- that we will win”.
He warned that his people face the onslaught of US
imperialism, the most concentrated expression of
contemporary fascism --- in the world.
“The Yankee supremacist and fascist government is what
we face from Latin America and the Caribbean and the
world, and the union that our president Nicolás
Maduro is calling for, is the right thing to do
for this moment of transition towards
multipolarity on the planet”,
he insisted.
Regarding this reality -- the diplomat reiterated
confidence in the victory of the popular forces.
“Just as imperialism fell at the beginning of the 20th century,
at the beginning of the 21st century the defeat fell to the
North American empire, and to the Cuban people and
those of Latin America and the Caribbean, we tell
them that we must resist together this time of
supremacism and Yankee fascism”,
concluded the ambassador.
____________________________________
Hurricane Melissa is
heading to Bermuda
October 30th, 6:46am
(Prensa Latina)
The centre of Hurricane Melissa is expected to pass north-
west Bermuda tonight, a bulletin from the United States
National Hurricane Centre warned.
The weather phenomenon is moving north-northeast at
about 33 kilometres per hour (km/h), and is expected
to continue accelerating northeastward over the
next two days, as indicated by the forecast.
Melissa's maximum sustained winds, have risen
to 165 km/h with higher gusts, the report added.
A slight strengthening is possible today before
the weakening of the system is likely to begin
on Friday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 95
kilometers (km) from the centre and tropical
storm-force winds reach outward.... up to
315 km, while the estimated minimum
central pressure is 968 millibars.
Tropical storm conditions will begin in Bermuda
late today, with hurricane conditions expected
there tonight.
Meanwhile, water levels should continue to
decline into the morning for the south-
eastern Bahamas.
Coastal storm surge flooding is possible
.....in onshore wind areas - for Bermuda.
The storm surges generated by Melissa will continue
to affect portions of Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas,
and the Turks and Caicos Islands over the next
two days, and they will spread to Bermuda
late today, causing life-threatening surf
conditions and ocean currents.
____________________________________
Xi to Trump: China has the capacity
------ to face risks and challenges
October 30th, 4:07am
(Prensa Latina)
China has never tried to challenge or replace anyone, the
country's success is to concentrate on managing its
own affairs, president Xi Jinping today stressed to his US counterpart, Donald Trump.
«The Chinese economy --- is like an ocean, with
considerable scale, resilience and potential.
We have the confidence and capacity to
face various risks and challenges»,
he added.
During their meeting in Busan, South Korea, Xi explained
to Trump the economic achievements recorded in the
country this year - despite external and internal
challenges, among them a growth of 5.2%
in the first nine months ---- and a 4%
increase in foreign trade.
«For more than 70 years ----- we have adhered to a coherent plan, with successive generations building on the efforts of previous ones», he noted.
According to the president, China will further deepen
reform in all areas and expand openness, striving to
promote the comprehensive development of people
and common prosperity which will open greater
opportunities for cooperation.... with the US.
«Economic and commercial ties must continue to be the
counterweight and driving force of bilateral relations,
and not obstacles, or points of conflict. Both sides
should focus on the big picture -- prioritizing the
long-term benefits of cooperationrather than
getting caught ------- in a vicious cycle of
retaliation», he stressed.
Xi Jinping urged the negotiating teams to continue
discussions under the principles of equality,
mutual respect and reciprocity, while
calling on them - to progressively
reduce the list of issues while
expanding the scope
of cooperation.
«The prospects for cooperation are promising in areas
such as the fight against illegal immigration and
telecommunications fraud, the fight against
money laundering, artificial intelligence
and the response to infectious
diseases», he added.
He also advocated strengthening communication and
dialogue at all levels, plus increasing coordination
in regional and international forums.
According to the Chinese press, Trump declared it
an honour ---- to meet with President Xi Jinping.
«China is a great nation ---- and President Xi is a respected
and magnificent leader, as well as a good friend of mine
-- for many years. We get along very well. Relations
between the United States and China, have
always been good and will be even
better ------ in the future», the
Republican asserted.
After this meeting, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce
confirmed an agreement reached with the US side
that contemplates.... the elimination and/or/or
suspension of tariffs and other retaliatory
measures derived from the trade war
between the two countries.
_______________________________
Azerbaijan liquidates BBC
representative office
October 29th, 9:16pm
(RT.ru)
The Azerbaijani government has decided to close the
BBC's office in the country --- and has revoked the
accreditation of its employees.
APA writes about this.
The publication notes, that there is no international treaty
that provides for the activities of a representative office
in Azerbaijan.
"In this regard, the relevant authorities have liquidated
this representative office," the article states.
_____________________________________
Exit polls ---- "Democrats 66"
party wins Dutch elections
by Ivan Kartashov
October 29th, 8:51pm
(Rossiyskaya Gazeta)
To share
On Wednesday, the Netherlands held early parliamentary
elections. According to the first exit poll results, the
Social Liberal party "Democrats 66", is winning.
The "Democrats 66" party won 27 seats in the lower house of
the Dutch parliament. The far-right Freedom Party (PVV) of
Geert Wilders came in second place with 25 seats. This
was reported by the newspaper De Telegraaf.
The ruling People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) is in
third place with 23 seats, while the left-wing Green Left bloc, is
in third place. The Labour Party (GroenLinks-PvdA) is the
fourth, with 20 mandates.
As a reminder, in the previous parliamentary elections in
2023, the Freedom Party (PVV) ---- led by Geert Wilders
emerged victorious, securing 37 seats in parliament.
But.... they failed to fulfill their campaign pledges.
Early parliamentary elections were called in the Netherlands
after the Freedom Party left the ruling coalition in June and
the cabinet ---- led by the independent politician, Dick
Schoof... resigned.
The PVV's decision... was based on disagreements with its
The governments of Colombia and Saudi Arabia signed an
agreement - that establishes a five-year cooperation to
develop joint projects in hydrogen, clean energy,
energy efficiency, as well as carbon capture
and storage, the Presidency reported
here today.
The Memorandum of Understanding, which may be renewed,
was signed in Riyadh between the Colombian Ministry of
Mines and Energy, led by Edwin Palma, and the Saudi
counterpart entity headed by Abdulaziz Bin Salman
Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
According to the source, the alliance also promotes technology
transfer and knowledge exchange, as well as the creation of a
binational team that will define roadmaps and specific
collaboration programs in all segments of the
energy chain.
With the agreement, Palma declared, Colombia positions itself
as a strategic partner in the global discussion on energy.
“We want to learn, share - and build new energy solutions that
are sustainable and sovereign. This is one more step towards
a just transition that puts people and the planet at the
centre”, he commented.
He considered that Saudi Arabia, despite its wealth in fossil
energy, is accelerating its energy transition and hopes to
change its energy matrix by 50 percent in five years.
The signing of the Memorandum was carried out as part
of President Gustavo Petro's visit to Riyadh, where he
participates in an agenda of the Future Investment
Initiative (FII9).
At the global forum that brings together the world's most
influential leaders to drive sustainable growth, promote
innovation and channel investments that contribute to
the well-being of humanity, more than 600 speakers
and 15 heads of state participate, the
Presidency detailed.
The minister's delegation is also made up of the ministers
of Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Industry and Tourism,
and Culture.
______________________________________
Ecuadorian unions will mobilize
---- for No in Noboa referendum
October 29th, 1:23pm
(Prensa Latina)
Trade union centres in Ecuador announced today a national day
of protest on November 12 to promote the negative vote in the
popular consultation and referendum promoted by president
Daniel Noboa.
At a press conference this Wednesday, representatives of
organizations -- such as the National Union of Educators
(UNE) and the Unitary Workers' Front (FUT) maintained
that the Executive is trying to approve “regressive”
reforms that would affect labour and social rights.
They also denounced the lack of financing for
key sectors such as education, health and
social security.
According to the organizers, the mobilization seeks to demand
that public resources be prioritized for social areas and not
for military spending or repression.
The president of the FUT, Edwin Bedoya, assured.... that the day
“it is not an electoral campaign, it is in defense of sovereignty”,
and he accused the Government of having “bought media
and journalists” -------- to impose its narrative.
Bedoya also pointed out that “employment has not grown,
crime has grown”, and called for union and citizen unity
“to defend the dignity of the people”.
He also questioned the lack of care for retirees and patients
of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS), while
“millions are spent on repression”, and he criticized
what he considers a welfare model that replaces
public investment.
The leader denounced what he considers to be political
persecution against social leaders after the national
strike, indicating that several leaders “have been
hacked, threatened and investigated ------ with
absurd fiscal processes”.
He also rejected the Executive's proposals, on the presence of
foreign military bases and private security companies, as well
as attempts to limit free education --- measures he described
as “a transfer of sovereignty”.
For his part, Andrés Quishpe, president of the UNE, accused the
head of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Diana Atamaint,
of assuming “a political position” ---- and of trying to prevent
the participation of his organization and the Confederation
of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie) in the
campaign, prior to the popular consultation.
Both the FUT and the UNE reiterated their call to “reject
any attempt to violate labour and social rights” within
the framework of the popular consultation, which is
scheduled for November 16.
In less than three weeks -- Ecuadorians are called to the polls
to answer four questions at the initiative of President Noboa,
among them ---- the possibility of convening a Constituent
Assembly to draft a new Constitution.
Furthermore, in the consultative process, citizens must respond
if they wish to allow the installation of foreign military bases,
reduce the number of legislators and eliminate public
financing for political organizations.
In a recent interview, Noboa expressed ''confidence''
that citizens will support his initiatives at the polls.
Officially, the electoral campaign will run from next
Saturday, November the 1st, to Thursday, the 13th.
_______________________________________
Popular and military parades
in Türkiye for Republic Day
October 29th, 12:33pm
(Prensa Latina)
Türkiye was the scene today of parades and popular celebrations
on the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the founding of the
Republic, on a day marked by the participation of civil and
military authorities .....and thousands of citizens.
The commemorative events ----------- were held in different parts of
Istanbul, highlighting the main ceremony on Vatan Street, in the
European part of the city, attended by Governor Davut Gül,
vice Mayor Nuri Aslan and representatives of political
and military institutions.
During the event, parades of army and security force units were held, as well as artistic and folkloric presentations, starring students and civil organizations.
Domestically manufactured military vehicles and systems,
developed by Türkiye's defense industry, were also
on display.
President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan led the official 102nd
anniversary ceremonies in Ankara, which began with
a visit to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk,
founder of the Republic.
The president expressed his congratulations to the citizens
of Türkiye and Turkish communities abroad, reaffirming
the government's commitment - to continue working
“to lift the Republic to the level of contemporary
civilizations, as you, the people, dreamed”.
ErdoÄŸan highlighted... the continuity of investment and
development programs, as well as the strengthening
of the country's international position.
Every October 29, Türkiye celebrates Republic Day,
commemorating the proclamation of its founding
by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923, a date
considered one of the most important
milestones in the modern history of
the country.
_____________________________________
Despite pressure, the world with
Cuba ------- against the blockade
October 29th, 11:45am
(Prensa Latina)
Cuba achieved a new victory today in the UN General Assembly
after obtaining 165 votes in favour of the resolution calling for
the end of the US' state blockade of the island.
A vote that, in the midst of the brutal pressure campaign by the
US prior to this exercise, has been carried out every year since
1992, the international community once again spoke out
against an economic, commercial and financial siege
that has lasted more than six decades and that it
describes as the longest in history --- against
any country.
On this occasion there were
seven votes against and
12 abstentions.
___________________________________
China confirms - Xi, Trump
will meet in South Korea
on Thursday
October 29th, 10:51am
(al Manar)
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to meet with US President
Donald Trump on Thursday in South Korea, to seek “positive
outcomes,” Beijing confirmed on Wednesday.
The two heads of state will “have an in-depth communication on
strategic and long-term issues concerning China-US relations,
as well as major issues of mutual concern,” Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.
“China stands ready to work with the US,” Guo told a news
conference in Beijing, adding that the country seeks
“positive outcomes of this meeting” and hopes to
inject “new momentum into the development
of China-US relations.”
Specific information regarding the upcoming meeting
will be released in due course, he added.
Last week, the White House announced the two leaders
were set to meet on October 30 in South Korea on the
sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation Summit.
Source: Agencies (edited by
Al-Manar English Website)
_____________________________________________
Trump for removing China from
Argentina---- the Chinese
expand investments
October 29th, 12:53am
(Prensa Latina)
Given President Donald Trump's insistence that the current
Argentine government remove China from the country, the
Chinese today continue with the usual Asian impassivity
by promoting their cooperation and investment for the
benefit of local companies.
The Zoomlion company, producer of equipment for the
construction of public works, began to make a big
splash on Argentine soil with the help of Grupo
Viales, 40-year-old company dedicated to the
sale and rental of construction equipment
and one of the central players ---- in the
national road machinery market.
Zoomlion, the main Chinese company in the world, will be
the supplier and advisor of the Argentine group that
organized a recent demonstration, to which it
attracted more than 60 clients, distributors
and professionals in the road sector.
The Noticias Argentinas (NA) agency, that covered the exclusive
event detailed that attendees were able to learn up close about
Zoomlion's line of excavators and bulldozers, in addition to
testing the equipment ....and sharing experiences with
brand specialists.
Thanks to Grupo Viales, the Chinese brand is already among the
three main players in Argentina in the excavator segment,
competing with North American and European firms
with a long history in the local market ------ with a
high quality product and innovative technology.
“This event was an example of the growth and confidence that
Zoomlion generates in Argentina. More and more customers
choose the brand for its performance and its price-quality
ratio”, said Ariel Straccia, managing partner of Grupo
Viales, quoted by NA.
Grupo Viales is positioned today as one of the leaders
in sales of excavators and bulldozers in Argentina ---
providing comprehensive solutions and a support
network that supports each operation.
_____________________________________
Chinese Foreign Ministry highlights
strategic role of summit between
Xi and Trump
October 29th, 5:41am
(Prensa Latina)
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun,
expressed that the meeting between Presidents
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in South Korea
will have a strategic role in guiding
bilateral relations.
Beijing confirmed for tomorrow in Busan the meeting that
the White House had already announced and questioned,
within the framework of the meeting of leaders of the
Asia-Pacific Cooperation Forum (Apec).
Guo pointed out that the leaders will address strategic,
long-term issues of common interest..... in depth.
He stressed that China is willing to work with the US
to achieve positive results that boost the stability
and development of the bilateral relationship.
Asked about Trump's proposal to reduce tariffs in exchange
for Chinese measures against fentanyl --- Guo reiterated
Beijing's firm and consistent stance on drug control.
He stated that China is one of the countries with the
greatest rigour in the regulation of psychoactive
substances and with the largest number of
controlled compounds in the world.
The spokesperson expressed empathy for the fentanyl crisis
affecting the US people and recalled that China has already
provided cooperation ...with positive results.
He indicated that Beijing maintains an open attitude to
continue collaborating, as long as Washington adopts
concrete actions that facilitate such cooperation.
China and the US have maintained intense diplomatic
and trade contacts in recent weeks, in a context of
efforts to stabilize their relationship after periods
of trade and technological tensions.
____________________________________________
At least 76 companies interested
in investing in .....Guatemala
October 29th, 12:23am
(Prensa Latina)
At least 76 companies are today interested in investing in
Guatemala, at different stages, explained the Minister of the Economy, Gabriela García.
There are some who have just met us, others who perhaps
have already come on a mission of this type, and there
are those about to say if they are interested, the
minister stressed --- in an interview with the
official Diario de CentroAmérica.
We were going to have a couple of announcements this year,
but due to the tariffs (imposed on the nation on April 10 by
the US) they stopped us, the official noted.
Regarding the possibility that this panorama will allow new trade
agreements in April, García stated that they first closed the
circle with Peru, because that pact was there, and
something... was missing.
With South Korea, accession was also signed and approved in
Congress, she recalled, while mentioning that all the Central
American countries specified it .....and Guatemala, for
some reason, had not.
Now, she noted, US tariff policy ----- is putting pressure on in
this regard. We have 15 trade agreements and preferential
access to more than 40 markets underway, the
minister expanded.
With current conditions, it is being seen that the Central
American niche is the one that buys from us the most,
she described. Now ---- the possibility is opening up
again, to the Caribbean, she said.
All this new change in commercial chains, once again, puts
the possibility of exporting to other places on the horizon
of companies, said the minister.
Regarding the main macroeconomic advances recorded this
year, she said the good solid decisions of the Executive,
through its Ministry of Public Finance, allowed for a rating of BB+, from Fitch Ratings.
She said that the recent improvement provides more guarantees
and legal certainty in relation to the private rights of a company.
When a company comes and settles here, because it has
trusted the process, it generates better and more jobs,
with new technologies, and that, is where it reaches
the citizen... because job opportunities open up,
García reflected.
Second, she asserted --- it establishes competition for
our companies, because we bring a new technology,
or a new way of doing things.
________________________________________
The Ministry of Mines -------- will
buy gold produced in Colombia
October 29th, 12:02am
(Prensa Latina)
The Ministry of Mines and Energy of Colombia announced
the purchase, starting next month, of the gold that is
currently produced in different regions of the
country, by guidance of the president,
Gustavo Petro.
According to the head of the organization, Edwin Palma,
in response to the president's instructions, the direct
acquisition of the mineral will be implemented in
the regions where it is obtained.
The official explained that 80 percent of the 70 tons sold
each year for a value greater than four billion dollars
comes from informal or illegal exploitations, which
leaves losses in royalties of approximately five
trillion pesos, close to 1.3 billion dollars, at
the current exchange rate.
In his message posted on social networks, Palma regretted
that Congress did not help move forward with the bill for
the creation of a state mining company, whose
objective was to combat illegality and
increase income for the nation.
He pointed out, however, that, in coordination with state entities,
a process will be carried out so that gold companies in the
process of asset forfeiture put themselves at the service
of cooperatives and associations of small miners, which
will contribute to conferring a high social value on
assets that were once used for illicit operations.
The measure, which today already favours 7,400 miners
organized in cooperatives, should be extended.... to
about 350,000 informal and subsistence miners,
he stated.
The president also mentioned the need to massively
regularize small miners -- and remove mafias from
the sector.
The president also described it as a great financial
disaster ---- that the Bank of the Republic has sold
Colombian gold and is not buying it in the regions.
_________________________________________
Government of Brazil joins
global condemnation -------
againstblockade of Cuba
October 28th, 1:26pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Government of Brazil reiterated today at the United Nations
its rejection of the economic, commercial & financial blockade
imposed by the United States on Cuba, describing it as unfair,
inhumane and contrary to the principles of international law.
In its intervention, Brazil reaffirmed its historical position against
unilateral sanctions & coercive measures that - as it denounced
— «affect the stability of international relations, distort global
trade — and hinder sustainable development».
The unilateral measure -- «has caused incalculable suffering to the
Cuban people, discouraged foreign investment and limited access
to essential goods such as medicines and vital technologies», the
Brazilian Government stressed, and called for its immediate lifting.
Such a statement also criticized Cuba being permanently on the
US list of alleged State sponsors of terrorism, a decision that
Brazil described as «unfair and unjustified» ----- for having
aggravated trade restrictions and humanitarian
difficulties on the island.
The administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pointed
out that these provisions directly affect the human rights of the
Cuban people, by restricting remittances and access to basic
supplies, especially medicines. «These are humanly
unacceptable and politically unsustainable
consequences», he warned.
Brazil recalled that the rejection of the siege «is practically
universal today», as demonstrated by the support of 187
countries - for the UN resolution that demands its end,
and he cited the summits of the Community of Latin
American and Caribbean States, in which Latin
America and the Caribbean have reiterated
the same position.
The South American giant maintains its commitment to
the principles of solidarity, cooperation and respect
for sovereignty, the Government stressed.
He specified that «ending the blockade will be essential
for Cuba to overcome its challenges and guarantee the
well-being of its people».
With this declaration, Brazil once again joined the vast majority
of the international community that condemns a policy
considered as anachronistic, and contrary to the
spirit of the United Nations.
This Tuesday, the United States ''blockade'' against Cuba
returned to global scrutiny in the UN General Assembly
with the debate on the draft resolution - that calls for
lifting the longest economic siege in world history.
Iran is pushing for a major shift in the global gas market,
aiming to give producers more power, in a world where
energy is increasingly political.
At the 27th ministerial meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries
Forum (GECF), Iran’s Petroleum Minister Mohsen Paknejad
said that Tehran’s proposal to turn the forum into the
“Organization of Gas Exporting Countries” (OGEC)
has been well received.
The idea, first raised at the 2024 Doha meeting, and followed
up in Tehran in 2025, could create a gas bloc with influence
similar to OPEC, which has long shaped global oil markets.
The move comes at a time of big changes in the energy world.
Since the war in Ukraine and the resulting Western sanctions,
natural gas has moved from being viewed as a short-term
stopgap to a crucial energy source for maintaining
security, particularly in Europe and Asia.
Iran and Russia, who together hold more than 40% of the world’s
gas reserves, see this as a chance to push for a stronger role
in global markets. They believe that staying passive would
leave producers vulnerable to pressure from major
consumers and market swings.
Iran’s plan is both economic and political. The country argues
that gas should no longer just support Western climate
policies; rather, it should be at the centre of the
energy transition.
If gas is crucial for European and Asian energy security ----
producers should have a say in how the market operates.
By creating a legally binding organization, Iran wants
gas to move from being a reactive commodity
influenced by geopolitics ---- to one with
independent regulatory power.
Today, the GECF mainly functions..... as a discussion forum. Its
recommendations are non-binding and decisions are made by
consensus, so members can ignore them. That has limited its
ability to respond effectively in times of crisis, such as
sudden supply shortages or strategic market shifts.
OGEC, on the other hand, would require members to follow
decisions approved by a qualified majority, giving the
group real decision-making power.
Part of the plan also involves creating new economic cooperation
models - to protect against sanctions. At the Tehran summit, Iran
proposed joint investment working groups for major gas projects.
The idea is simple: if Iran, Russia, and China all invest in a project
like the third phase of South Pars, every dollar is considered joint
ownership. This makes sanctions against one country riskier, as
they could disrupt the whole multinational project.
Such collaboration spreads risk, accelerates the development
of pipelines and LNG projects, and encourages investment in
downstream industries, like refining and petrochemicals. It
also reduces reliance on Western banks and helps secure
technology through regional development banks.
Iran’s vision goes beyond economics. By coordinating with Russia,
Qatar, China, and India, Tehran hopes to create a Eurasian gas
bloc capable of influencing supply, stabilizing prices, and
negotiating from a position of strength. Gas could shift
from being a commodity that reacts to market
pressures to a tool that shapes global
energy policy.
Another key aspect of the plan is positioning gas, as a central part
of the green energy transition. Minister Paknejad has emphasized
that natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel and a pillar of
sustainable development.
By framing gas as a bridge fuel that can balance renewable
energy’s ups and downs, Iran challenges Western calls for
rapid fossil fuel phase-outs. The strategy is about
securing gas as a reliable energy source while
supporting the transition to cleaner power.
The proposed OGEC model ----- mirrors the path OPEC took in the
1960s. Back then -- OPEC moved from a loose discussion group
to a legally empowered body that could coordinate production
and influence prices, taking away control from multinational
oil companies.
Iran hopes OGEC can do the same for gas ----- protect producers’
interests, stabilize markets, and strengthen long-term planning.
If implemented, OGEC could have a big impact on global energy
markets. Coordinated policies and investment .....could reduce
uncertainty for large-scale projects, accelerate infrastructure
development, and give producers a stronger voice in
international energy decisions.
For consumers, it might mean a more predictable supply, but also
a new reality where producers can exert political leverage over
global energy flows.
Geopolitically, the move reflects Iran’s understanding that energy is
inseparable from national security. By tying the member countries’
interests together through joint projects and shared investments,
the bloc could make gas a strategic lever in global politics.
Iran’s approach relies on its large reserves, strategic location,
and experience under sanctions to create a governance
model focused on collective strength rather than
individual vulnerability.
At its heart, Iran’s proposal is about more than just gas;
it’s about redefining power in global energy markets.
By institutionalizing cooperation, creating joint investment
frameworks, and keeping gas central to the energy
transition, Tehran aims to shift influence back -
to the producers.
OGEC could become a major actor in global energy, shaping
markets, guiding investment, and turning gas into a tool of
strategic influence.
If Iran’s plan succeeds, the 2026 summit could mark the start
of a new era for global energy, changing the economics and
geopolitics of gas .....for decades to come.
_____________________________________
US, Japan:Forge Critical Minerals Pact
to Counter China, Launch ‘Golden Age’
of Alliance
October 28th, 11:26am
(al Manar)
In a move to counter China’s dominance in strategic resources,
US President Donald Trump and Japan’s new Prime Minister
Sanae Takaichi signed a landmark agreement to secure
the supply chain for rare earths, signaling a renewed
push for economic and security cooperation.
The deal, inked during Trump’s second stop on his Asia tour,
establishes a framework for the two allies to jointly work
on mining, processing, and investing in rare earths and
other critical minerals. This comes directly in
response to China’s recent decision to
tighten export controls on these
materials, which are vital for
everything from electric
vehicles to advanced
weaponry.
A White House statement outlined the pact’s goal to “assist
both countries in achieving resilience and security of
critical minerals and rare earths supply chains,”
using coordinated policies to develop
diversified and fair markets.
The meeting, which began with a casual moment..... watching
Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani, was marked by warm
personal rapport and strong strategic alignment.
Prime Minister Takaichi opened the formal talks by expressing
her ambition to “realize a new golden age of the Japan-US
alliance, where both Japan and the United States will
become stronger and also more prosperous.”
In a significant gesture, the White House revealed that Takaichi
intends to nominate President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize,
citing his role in securing ceasefires in Gaza and between
Thailand and Cambodia.
The leaders also paid tribute to Japan’s late Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe, whom Trump called a “great friend,” while noting Abe had
spoken highly of Takaichi .......before her rise to power.
Behind closed doors, discussions focused heavily on trade and
regional security. The new rare earths pact was reaffirmed in
a joint statement as a crucial step toward “strengthening
economic security, promoting economic growth, and
contributing to global prosperity.”
Trump ------ also welcomed Japan’s decision to
purchase more U.S.-made military equipment.
Congratulating Takaichi on becoming Japan’s first female
prime minister, Trump predicted she would become “one
of the country’s greatest prime ministers.”
“Anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there,” Trump
said. “You’re going to do a fantastic job, and we’re going
to have a fantastic relationship.”
Source: Agencies (edited and
translated by Al-Manar
English Website)
_____________________________________
China calls on the US:to stop
undermining peace in
the Caribbean
October 28th, 12:29am
(Prensa Latina)
China today urged the United States to listen to the voices of
Caribbean countries and cease actions that affect peace
and stability in the region.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun called on Washington
to return to normal law enforcement and judicial cooperation
through bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks.
China recently expressed its opposition to any act that threatens
the sovereignty and security of countries, regarding the
deployment of US ships in the Caribbean Sea
near Venezuela.
In response to a question from Prensa Latina, Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Mao Ning also rejected «the use or threat of
use of force in international relations».
«We oppose external forces interfering in Venezuela's internal
affairs under any pretext. We hope that the United States
does more for the good of Latin America and the
Caribbean», the spokesperson stressed.
The signs and actions of US President Donald Trump, with the
deployment of warships near the Venezuelan coast, the
sinking of boats accused of drug trafficking, and the
sending of an aircraft carrier - increase tensions in
the region due to a possible military intervention
in the South American country.
_______________________________________________
The official exchange rate for the dollar
has decreased to less than 79 rubles
October 27th, 3:53pm
(Vesti.ru)
According to the Central Bank, the official exchange rate
for the dollar was set at below 79 rubles on Tuesday,
October 28th, Moscow time.
The US dollar has plummeted against the ruble,
falling by 1.99 rubles to 78.98 rubles per dollar.
The euro has fallen in price by 2.06 rubles. The official
exchange rate for the European currency on Tuesday
is 92.02 rubles.
Central Bank head Elvira Nabiullina said a few days ago that
the Bank of Russia does not see the risk of an even greater
strengthening of the ruble against the backdrop of US
sanctions. In September... Nabiullina predicted that
the ruble exchange rate in the Russian economy
may be quite strong.
______________________________________
Brics Capitals Parliamentary Movement
creates roadmap in Moscow
October 27th, 2:57pm
(Prensa Latina)
The members of the Brics Parliamentary Capital Movement
signed a joint declaration here today as a roadmap to
develop cooperation between the cities of the
States that are members of the block.
President of the Moscow City Duma, Alexey Shaposhnikov,
supported by the Russian Foreign Ministry, thought about
the initiative to create this group in order to establish
direct links between megacities that face
similar challenges.
Likewise, they aspire to complement traditional diplomacy
with new communication channels and enhance the
effectiveness of international cooperation.
«We are at the origin of a completely new interaction format,
and we still have many tasks and enormous responsibility
ahead of us”, the Moscow legislature ruled at the signing
ceremony held at the Moscow Parliamentary Centre.
In this sense, Shaposhnikov highlighted that collaboration
between the representative bodies of the key cities of
the Brics is becoming an important tool to enhance
ties between nations, laying a solid foundation
for a new world order based on equality,
trust and mutual respect.
Our association is becoming truly global, connecting the
capitals of four continents -- and the millions of people
who live in them, insisted the highest representative
of the Moscow parliamentary body.
For its part, russian Vice Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov
stated that this new action - adds to the rich history and
diverse architecture of the interaction between regions
and municipalities of the Brics countries.
“These formats address very specific and practical issues
directly related to the functioning of cities and the well-
being of their residents, such as improving the urban
environment, including social and environmental
aspects, infrastructure accessibility, and
transport development.”
“The digitalization of municipal services, the implementation of
innovative developments and support for small and medium-
sized businesses”, listed the deputy foreign minister of the
Eurasian giant.
Riabkov emphasized ----- that the Russian Foreign Ministry is fully
convinced that the Brics Parliamentary Movement will perfectly
complement the dynamic dialogue between legislators, and it
will help strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship
inherent within the partnership.
In that sense, he noted that the initiative of the joint declaration
of the Brics Parliamentary Capital Movement ----- will defend the
principles of sovereign equality, consideration of each person's
interests, and cooperation ---- in order to forge a better future.
Leaders of the governments of Minsk (Belarus), Brasilia (Brazil),
Havana (Cuba), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Tehran (Iran), Tshwane
(South Africa) Kampala (Uganda) and Moscow (Russia)....
participated in the signing ceremony,
________________________________________
Raids and arrests of union leaders
are reported in Panama
October 27th, 2:36pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Panamanian popular movement today denounced the
arbitrary arrests of leaders of the construction union and searches of the homes of relatives - of other
imprisoned people.
According to a statement to the nation also signed by the Front
for the Defense of Economic and Social Rights (Frenadeso),
by order of the prosecutor's office against the economic
order, this is an attack by the Government of José Raúl
Mulino, against one of the leading organizations in
recent protests against a pension rule --- and a
security memorandum signed with the US,
that is harmful to sovereignty.
It was also learned that in the last few hours Abdiel Betancourt,
from the board of directors of the Single National Union of
Workers in the Construction and Similar Industries
(Suntracs), was arrested.
They also pointed out that they arbitrarily took the daughter and
wife of Jaime Caballero, who remains in La Joya prison; and
they bothered Saúl Méndez's daughter, former secretary
general of Suntracs, now in exile, due to threats to his
physical integrity.
These operations, aimed at sowing terror and disciplining the
popular movement, are not isolated events: they are part of
a political offensive, judicial and media of the Executive
and the economic power groups against a workers'
organization that for decades has remained on
the side of the people, the text states.
In that sense, organizations such as the Federico Britton National
Communal Movement and Frenadeso revealed to the country and
the world that this attack is also a class and gender persecution
that exhibits a deeply misogynistic character, authoritarian and
cowardly ----- of the current administration.
We denounce the Panamanian government before international
human rights organizations for its direct responsibility in these
acts of political persecution, gender violence and repression,
and we demand the immediate cessation of the operations,
a comprehensive reparation to the victims and effective
guarantees of non-repetition, the document highlights.
____________________________________________
Lula convinced of a definitive agreement --- between Brazil and the US
October 27th, 8:36am
(Prensa Latina)
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated today that he is
convinced that there will soon be a definitive agreement
between the US and Brazil on tariffs, after a meeting
with his counterpart Donald Trump in Malaysia.
For Lula, the 50-minute conversation with Trump made it clear that
both governments are willing to close a trade understanding in a
matter of days and resolve the thorny issue of tariffs imposed
by Washington.
«If it depends on Trump and me, there will be an agreement»,
said the Brazilian, who highlighted that his economic and
diplomatic team is already involved in the talks.
Ministers Fernando Haddad, of Economy, and Mauro Vieira, of
Foreign Affairs, as well as Vice President Geraldo Alckmin
will participate directly in the negotiations.
The progressive leader indicated that the Republican committed
to reaching a quality pact with Brazil and that the dialogue
was frank and respectful.
«I tried hard to make him understand who I am, where I come
from and what I think. Only when we know each other can
we respect each other or not», he said.
Lula avoided talking about deadlines, but assured that the
outcome will be quick. «Trump made no promises, but he
assured me - that we will reach an agreement. I think it
will happen sooner than many believe»", he added.
In a defiant tone, the president indicated ---- that Brazil will act
independently in its foreign policy. «No one likes sycophants
or vassals. We have to be ourselves», he asserted. «That
candour helped create a positive chemistry between
President Trump and me. I hope it bears fruit for
our people», he noted.
The talk also served to address sensitive topics.
In this regard, Lula commented that he gave Trump a document
with the main points that Brazil intends to discuss, including
the application of the Magnitsky Law to Judge Alexandre
de Moraes, from the Supreme Court, and the growing
tension between Washington and Caracas.
Such a US rule allows sanctions for foreigners involved
in serious corruption or human rights violations.
He insisted that his government has no preferences for
any country, but defended maintaining good relations
with both the United States and China.
The Asian power «--- is our main trading partner and we
want an excellent relationship with both», he stressed.
Regarding Venezuela, Lula assured that Brazil is willing to
facilitate a dialogue - between the governments of Trump
and Nicolás Maduro. «Our war is not between countries,
but against poverty and hunger”, he said. «The wrong
thing - is to believe that everything is resolved by
shooting», he reasoned.
Finally, the founder of the ruling Workers' Party reiterated
Brazil's commitment to regional peace. «We want South
America....... to continue being a zone of peace»,
he pointed out.
_______________________________________________
Russia ready --- to export energy
technologies to Brics countries
October 27th, 4:20am
(Prensa Latina)
The Russian head of energy, Sergei Tsiviliov, said today
that his country's fuel and energy companies have
competitive technologies... ready to enter
international markets, mainly BRICS.
The minister, who offered statements to the press this
Monday - said that there are many examples of the
competitive possibilities of Russian companies
in the energy market, not only in the BRICS,
but also in the Middle East and Africa.
«Those are the most likely export destinations for these
and other technologies, where the combination of
affordable prices and good efficiency could be
a decisive advantage», Tsiviliov said.
In this regard, the head of the Ministry of Energy mentioned
the technologies for the construction of complex well
trajectories, the methods to increase the production
of high viscosity oil that is difficult to recover, as
well as equipment for the oil and gas industry
among the most promising areas for export.
«We have already accumulated experience that we plan to share.
We can increase the export of technical solutions in the field of
the construction of complex well paths, as well as methods to
increase the production of high viscosity and difficult to
recover oil.»
«As for equipment - these include centrifugal and piston
compressors, pumping units, turbo-expander units, drives, as well as modular equipment and well termination technologies», Tsiviliov listed.
________________________________________
US destroyer in Trinidad and Tobago,
more tension with Venezuela
October 27th, 1:19am
(Prensa Latina)
Tension with Venezuela continues to increase today, the destroyer
USS Gravely, of the US Navy, arrived in Trinidad and Tobago for
military exercises amid the Pentagon's unprecedented naval
deployment to the Caribbean Sea.
The Caribbean country is located very close to Venezuela... a few
kilometres from its coasts. The island of Trinidad is located just
11 kilometres from the Venezuelan coast at its closest point.
Press agencies reported that the warship anchored at a
dock in Port of Spain this Sunday morning... under
strong security measures.
This very day, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham declared
that ground attacks in Venezuela are a «real possibility».
«I think President (Donald) Trump has decided that (Nicolás)
Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, is a drug trafficker (...) and
that it is time for him to go, that Venezuela and Colombia
have been havens for narco-terrorists for too long”, the
legislator noted, echoing the false accusations.
Graham commented on CBS' Face the Nation that the president
told him he plans to brief members of Congress upon his return
from Asia on possible future military operations against
Venezuela --- and Colombia.
Last week, Trump suggested that ground attacks - will be
«the next step», stating that «drugs entering by sea
represent approximately five percent of what they
were a year ago» due to the attacks, highly
criticized, by the way.
But Trump has so far presented no evidence to support his claims,
while attacks on vessels are already at number 10 with at least
43 dead in ''operations'' in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
Graham anticipated there will be a congressional briefing on
ground attacks, not an invasion, and he repeatedly cited the
sad chapter of then-President George H.W.'s invasion of
Panama. Bush in 1989. He recalled that at that time his
administration did not receive legislative approval.
The US invasion of Panama under the name of «Just Cause»
had the pretext of removing the Government of General
Manuel Antonio Noriega from power.
Democratic Senator Rubén Gallego of Arizona - warned the day
before on NBC's Meet the Press, that the actions of the Trump
administration in the Caribbean are «what it is committing is
an authorized murder”.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced on October 24 the
deployment in the Caribbean of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald
Ford, the largest in the world, it joins eight US ships already
in the region, including three destroyers, a cruiser, three
assault ships and amphibious transport, F-35B fighter
jets and P-8 patrol aircraft or MQ-9 drones operating
from a base in Puerto Rico.
In this scenario, Trump also ordered the CIA to carry out covert
operations within that country under the pretext of combating
drug cartels. Caracas authorities warn that there is a greater
purpose: to overthrow the democratically elected president,
Nicolás Maduro.
____________________________________
Iván Cepeda, undisputed candidate
of the Historical Pact in Colombia
October 27th, 1:12am
(Prensa Latina)
Senator Iván Cepeda is today the candidate of the left-wing
coalition Historical Pact to aspire to the Presidency of
Colombia, after obtaining 65 percent of the citizens'
votes in an election held yesterday.
The day, in which over 2,750,000 went to the polls,
was considered a success for the coalition
because it was an internal consultation
and the presidential elections are
still seven months away.
Cepeda, who surpassed former Health Minister Carolina Corcho
by about 37%, is now expected to, in March of next year, face
other candidates integrated into the centre-left forces, in a
process of purification between representatives of what
has been called Frente Amplio.
For the country's president, Gustavo Petro, the result of the
citizen exercise shows that the Historical Pact has more
voters than most political parties on real election dates.
He reflected that.. what is to come is “a candidacy of a winning
Frente Amplio and a Congress with an absolute majority of the
Frente Amplio ---- that is approved by the National Constituent
Assembly so that the Constitution is fulfilled and guarantees
now ---- the fundamental rights of Colombians”.
In another of his messages posted on his social network account
X, he estimated that, thanks to Trump, in reference to the attack
against the South American country, by the president of the US,
“the Pact is consolidated as the 1st political force in Colombia”
before it even has legal status.
Petro's reaction, is taken as strong support for progressivism in the
midst of a barrage of aggression by Washington, which began with
the inclusion of the New Granada country on a list of nations that
allegedly do not cooperate in the fight against drug trafficking, it
continued with the withdrawal of financial aid and was finished
off with the imposition of sanctions on its head of state.
One of the outstanding facts of the day, in which the order of the
lists that the Historical Pact will propose to Congress will also
be voted on was the broad support given to Walter Rodríguez,
an influencer better known as Wally ----- who headed the list
for the Senate with over 80,000 votes.
Something similar happened with regard to the House of
Representatives, since Laura Beltrán, the creator of
content on digital networks known as Lalis, came
second with 26,000 votes, meanwhile, Daniel
Monroy, also very popular in the virtual
environment, secured fourth position.
The coalition consultation, has traveled a winding path.
Although there were five associations that wanted to join the
Historical Pact as a single party, the National Electoral
Council (CNE) only allowed it for the Patriotic Union
(UP), the Colombian Communist (PCC) and Polo
Democrático (PD), and also conditioned this
merger on administrative issues, that
have not yet been resolved.
As it does not yet hold the category as the only community,
the UP and PCC parties renounced participating in the
consultation..... so that the exercise would be
considered internal and not interparty.
For this reason, the two candidates for the Presidency for
the Historical Pact received the endorsement of a single
party, in this case ---- that of the PD.
If this exercise were taken as interparty, whoever won
the consultation.. would be prevented from facing the
candidates of the so-called Frente Amplio in March
2026, a process in which the coalition aspires to
participate with the ambition of adding more
support with a view to the presidential
elections on May 31, 2026.
In the opinion of analysts --- the fact that voters exceeded
2,750,000, shows that the Historical Pact has the muscle
for future electoral contests and even predicts support
that is not inconsiderable in this regard, to their
representation in Congress.
_____________________________________
The EU... remains Russia's third-largest
trading partner despite the sanctions
October 25th, 8:46pm
(Vesti.ru)
Despite the sanctions, the EU remains Russia's third-largest
trading partner. This was reported by Bild, citing data
provided by the German Economic Institute (Institut
der deutschen Wirtschaft, IW).
The publication reports that Russian
exports increased by 18% last year.
"The parties' total trade turnover, is
67.5 billion euros," the article notes.
At the same time, China became Moscow's key trading
partner in 2024. It is specified that the total volume
of trade between the two countries reached
$244.9 billion.
Earlier, Kirill Babaev, Director of the Institute of China and
Contemporary Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences,
stated that the trade turnover between Russia and China
could reach about $500 billion in five years. Despite
logistical difficulties - and secondary sanctions,
which carry very big risks for many Chinese
companies and banks, the trade turnover
between the two states is growing
rapidly, he emphasized.
_______________________________________________
Trump’s Second Term: Politicizing the Judiciary, Suppressing Freedoms & Deepening Division
October 25th, 5:32pm
by Mohammad Alloush
(al Manar)
Donald Trump, the US president, appears to have carried
his businessman mentality with him into the Oval Office.
Known for his catchphrase --- “You’re fired,” Trump has
turned the White House into a stage for self-promotion
at the expense of a whole nation. Behind the slogans
“America First” & “Make America Great Again” lies
a brand of right-wing populism..... that cloaks
discrimination and racism in the guise of
patriotism --- as if citizenship were a
hereditary privilege reserved only
for “authentic White Americans.”
Trump’s administration is openly practicing racial discrimination.
This is evident in the dismissal and exclusion of officials of
colour - not for professional reasons, but for ideological
disagreement. Charles “C.Q.” Brown Jr., the second
Black officer to chair the Joint Chiefs of Staff - was
abruptly fired in February 2025 - as part of a major
shake-up of the Pentagon’s top military leaders
- targeting those who supported diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Gwynne Wilcox, the first Black chairwoman of the National Labour
Relations Board, was also “illegally” dismissed, according to
federal judges. Her firing was deemed a “blatant violation”
of the NLRB’s independence and an attack on the
integrity of the agency itself.
Trump’s team demonstrated a striking lack of professionalism in its
public responses. When a Huffington Post reporter asked White
House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt who had suggested
Budapest as the location for the Trump-Putin meeting,
she mockingly replied, “Your mom did.”
It is no longer surprising that Trump shows open contempt for half
the country, treating some American cities as rebellious colonies
to be subdued by force. “We should use some of our cities as
training grounds for our military,” Trump once suggested as
he deployed federal troops to instill fear in Los Angeles
and other urban centres. His effort to treat residents
of Democrat-leaning states as subjects, have
become so routine that it rarely makes
headlines anymore.
Hate speech in the Trump era was not enough; he also transformed
government institutions into instruments of his personal will.
Trump shut down the federal government, as one might
close a failed business ------ simply because Congress
refused to fund the construction of the U.S.-Mexico
border wall — leaving tens of thousands of federal
workers unpaid. He has consistently sought to
undermine judicial independence --- through
threats and insinuations ---- reshaping the
law to serve his own desires and beliefs.
Thus, American democracy has been left at the mercy of an
egocentric man who sees himself as the law, history,
and destiny.
Trump even called for the impeachment of a federal judge who
ordered a halt to the deportation of more than 200 immigrants
to El Salvador, whom Trump had labeled “Venezuelan gang
members.” He has previously derided federal judges as
“fools” attempting to limit his power. The tension
escalated when Chief Justice John Roberts
issued a rare public statement rebuking
Trump’s attacks on the judiciary ——
exposing a growing rift between
the White House and the courts.
Watchdogs warn that this conflict could evolve into a full-blown
constitutional crisis, as the Trump administration seeks to
sidestep judicial rulings to advance its political agenda.
While the administration has not yet openly defied
court orders, many fear that such a move may
be imminent.
Erez Reuveni Exposes Justice Dept
Misconduct -- During the Trump Era
Erez Reuveni, a former attorney at the Department of Justice,
revealed... that he witnessed government lawyers lying in
court, defying judicial orders, and deporting detainees
without allowing them to defend themselves.
Reuveni refused to sign a legal brief that falsely labeled
a deportee as a terrorist, describing it as a flagrant
violation of due process. His refusal led to his
dismissal from the Department of Justice
after 15 years of service.
Choosing truth over complicity, he spoke publicly to defend
the rule of law and expose the dangers of authoritarian
abuse within the Justice Department.
Legal experts note that these unprecedented violations - have
eroded judicial trust in the Department of Justice, sparking a
nationwide debate over the limits of executive power and
the rights of individuals facing government overreach.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
___________________________________
Dmitriev: Trump knows military escalation
------ is the main threat to the entire world
October 25th, 1:59am
(Vesti.ru)
The White House administration --- led by US President Donald
Trump, is aware that military escalation could pose the most
significant threat to humanity, and is making decisions
based on these risks --- according to Kirill Dmitriev,
Special Representative of the Russian President
for Investment and Economic Cooperation and
Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund
(RDIF). TASS has provided a fragment of
his interview with CNN journalist
Lara Logan.
According to Dmitriev, a military escalation in which decisions are
made without understanding the possible consequences, could
become the biggest existential threat for the entire world.
"I think that we should all be aware of the risks that military
escalation entails. I believe... that it is easy for people who
are moving forward step by step, to understand that they
are very close to the complete destruction of humanity.
Therefore, we just need to keep this in mind - and
consider this possibility. I think that the Trump
administration is aware of this and is making
very careful decisions," said the Russian
President's Special Representative.
Dmitriev did not comment on the question about the possible
supply of American Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
On October 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that
Moscow's response to any Tomahawk missile strikes on its
territory would be severe, if not overwhelming.
Earlier, the head of the RDIF reminded that former US President
Joe Biden sought to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia and
isolate it on the international stage, but he failed to do so.
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!
Cleaners form a picket line with their UVW comrades
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)
_______________________________________
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.)
_____________________________________________
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.
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"
_________________________________________________
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.
__________________________________
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)
_____________________________
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
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
__________________________________
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.
_________________________________________
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.
______________________________________
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.”
Visit our new, interactive website
International Health Workers for People Over Profit
want to engage with you!
We've launched a new, interactive website
Our pages are open to all who share our goals for better social services, better working conditions and a healthier world for everyone.
Our Solidarity Page is dedicated to promoting causes & struggles intersecting with our own.
Our Debates page is open to discuss and clarify the way forward.
Our Upcoming Events page will feature timely events, anywhere in the world.
We are looking for useful information to post on our Resources page.
And, as before, all of our past newsletters are posted in the Newsletter Archives.
We invite you to comment on our newsletter, our articles, anything at all!
Please Use Us!
Send your submissions to
info@healthworkersinternational.org.
Please limit the length of each submission to 1 page or less, and include links and photos when possible. All submissions are moderated and may be edited for length and clarity.
==================================
International Health Workers for People Over Profit (IHWPOP) has joined the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Campaign against Israel.
We oppose Israel’s repression of the Palestinians and support a single state in Israel/Palestine with equal rights for all.
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.
