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Rhondda Records is with you every day
bringing the news ------- that gives a
view of world events different to
the mainstream media or
social media!

Except Sundays - our day of rest.

Journalist: To end war ------

prosecute UK, US officials

who wage(d) it illegally

October 22nd, 10:12pm (PressTV)

The world must finally put an end to the impunity of war

criminals, by holding US and UK officials responsible

for launching the illegal war on Iraq, done without

the approval of the UN Security Council, and

prosecuting them --- under the Nuremberg

principles, US journalist Don DeBar said.

DeBar made the remarks in an interview with Press TV while

commenting on a report which has revealed that the British

military inquiries into abuse against Iraqi nationals... have

been closed without a single prosecution being brought,

even though the credibility of many "shocking and

shameful incidents" during the war in the Middle

Eastern country, have been confirmed.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement

this week that the Service Police Legacy Investigations,

which was looking at claims of abuse in Iraq, had now

"officially closed its doors."

In March 2003, the US and Britain invaded Iraq in blatant

violation of international law and under the pretext of

finding WMDs; but no such weapons were ever

More than one million Iraqis were killed - as the result of

the US-led invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq

--- according to the California-based investigative

organization, Project Censored.

The US war in Iraq cost US taxpayers $1.7 trillion with

an additional $490 billion in benefits owed to war
veterans, expenses that could grow to more than
$6 trillion over the next four decades counting
interest, according to a study called Costs of
War Project --- by the Watson Institute for

International Studies at Brown University.

DeBar told Press TV that the Iraq war

was illegal from the very beginning.

"It is illegal for a nation to make war on another nation if it

does not have the approval of the UN Security Council, if

any of those nations are signatories to the original UN

Charter. And it’s been adopted - that happened with

the US, as a charter member of the UN -- and it was

approved by the US Senate in the 1940s.

Consequently, the US involvement in Iraq from
the beginning, and the UK involvement in Iraq
from the beginning, was illegal,” he said.

“And under the Nuremberg standards, which would then

apply, each and every death consequent – intentional

or not - to either US or UK military action there, or

condoning of the US action there, by the media

or public officials, or any act facilitating that,

is an individual war crime. And, by the way,

there’s a death penalty for that,” the

“No one will prosecute these people. That’s why I started

with the word impunity. And we might bookend with that

because that’s the problem. And until the world puts an

end to that impunity, until the world sees the major

contradiction in all international relations, is US,

UK, and EU imperialism, then it’s going to

continue until this eats our species,”

A damning White House memo had revealed details of the

so-called “deal in blood” forged by former British Prime

Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush

The document, titled “Secret... Memorandum for the

President”, was sent by then-US Secretary of State

Colin Powell to President Bush on March 28th,
2002, a week before Bush’s summit with Blair
at his Crawford ranch in Texas.

The sensational memo, revealed that Blair had agreed to

support the war a year before the invasion even started

while publicly, the British prime minister was working
to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

The document also disclosed that Blair agreed to act as a

spin doctor for Bush and convince a skeptical public that

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass

Destruction, which actually did not exist.

In response, Bush would flatter Blair and give the

impression that London was not Washington’s

poodle but an equal partner in the

“special relationship.”

Powell told Bush that Blair “will be with us” on the

Iraq war, and assured the president that “"the UK

will follow our lead in the Middle East."

Blair has always denied the claim that he and Bush

signed a deal “in blood”, at Crawford, to launch a

war against Iraq that began on March 20th, 2003,

that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.

The Powell memo, however, showed how Blair and

Bush secretly prepared the Iraq war plot behind

closed doors at Crawford.

Powell told Bush: “He will present to you the strategic,

tactical and public affairs lines, that he believes will

strengthen global support for our common cause.”

Venezuela says Trump wants to

turn back the clock 200 years

December 18th, 12:46pm

(Prensa Latina)

Venezuela's Permanent Representative to the United Nations,

Samuel Moncada, denounced that the President of the

United States ------ intends to turn back the clock

200 years, in order to re-impose a colony

on his country.

Speaking at the 80th session of the United Nations General

Assembly, the Venezuelan diplomat.... remembered the

pronouncements made by US President Donald

Trump on December 16.

He noted that on that day Trump announced to the world, that

“Venezuelan lands and oil belong to him and must be handed

over immediately,” because if his orders are not obeyed, the

most powerful navy in history will impose a naval and air

blockade on Venezuela.

Moncada stated that, with this declaration, there is

every legal instrument -- that stands against this

“monstrous declaration.”

In this regard, he cited the UN Charter, customary

international law, Security Council and General

Assembly resolutions, the jurisprudence of

international courts -- as well as the

German Convention.

The ambassador stated, “This is a grotesque violation
of all civilizational norms, and that is colonialism,

a crime of aggression.”

He asserted that the United States is imposing chaos and

destruction on international relations: “in the same way

that malign actors did - prior to World War II.”

He reaffirmed that gunboat diplomacy

has no place in the 21st century.

_________________________________________

Mexico .......will seek a peaceful solution to

the Venezuela issue with other countries

December 18th, 12:44pm

(Prensa Latina)

President Claudia Sheinbaum affirmed today that Mexico will

seek with countries in Latin America or other continents a

peaceful solution... to the United States' threats against

Venezuela & repeated her rejection of an intervention.

“We are going to seek with all the countries that wish to do so,

in Latin America or other continents, a peaceful solution that

does not involve intervention”, she stated, in response to a

question about the viability of an agreement in the region

against North American intentions.

She reaffirmed her disagreement with any foreign interventions or

interference and her position in favour of the peaceful resolution

of conflicts, by conviction and by Constitution, at the same time,

she believed that this should be the position of all countries in

the hemisphere.

“We -- have been very clear in our position, even beyond

President Maduro and the Government of Venezuela”,

she stressed.

She considered that the central issue is interventionism and

interference, and pointed out that in the face of a conflict,

there are all the mechanisms established by the United

Nations (UN) for a peaceful solution, and “all parties

must participate, obviously”.

“Whatever Mexico can do, to avoid any armed

solution, we will always be there”, she said.

Yesterday Sheinbaum called on the UN to assume its role to avoid

any bloodshed, after the African president, Donald Trump, on

Tuesday, ordered a blockade of all oil tankers entering or

leaving Venezuela.

Six days after the seizure of a tanker - off the coast of that nation,

the US administration lifted the pressure rod against the Maduro

Government, which it designated that day --------- as a “foreign

terrorist organization” (sic).

Thump also escalated his rhetoric against that administration,

which he accused without evidence: of terrorism, of drug

trafficking and of asset theft.

In a message on the Truth Social platform, he wrote that Venezuela

is “completely surrounded by the largest Navy ever assembled in

the history of South America” and threatened that the military

siege of that country will grow, while alluding to an imminent

and unprecedented ---- violent offensive on Caracas.

For its part, the South American nation rejected what it called

Plump's grotesque threat, which violates International Law,

free trade and free navigability.

Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez explained in a statement

that the US president assumed on his social networks that the oil,

land and mining wealth of that country ------- are his property.

She added that Venezuela “ratifies its sovereignty over all its natural

wealth, as well as the right to free navigation, free trade in the

Caribbean Sea .....and the world's oceans”.

___________________________________________

China supports Venezuela's

convocation of the UN

Security Council

December 18th, 9:42am

(Prensa Latina)

Today - China expressed its support for Venezuela's request for

an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council,

amid an escalation of US military threats.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun reiterated a statement

that the head of Chinese diplomacy, Wang Yi, had previously

made to his Venezuelan counterpart, in a telephone

conversation the day before.

«China opposes all acts of unilateralism and harassment, and

supports countries in defending their sovereignty & national

dignity. Venezuela has the right to independently develop

mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries»,

he said.

The spokesperson added that the international community «can

understand and support Venezuela's position to protect its

legitimate rights -- and interests». Venezuelan President

Nicolás Maduro alerted the Secretary General of the

United Nations, António Guterres ---- about the

escalation of threats against his country

by the United States and its serious

implications for regional peace.

Numerous organizations and countries have denounced

that the naval blockade and the forced appropriation

of Venezuelan resources, announced by US

President Clump.. constitutes an act
of international aggression.

Beijing has reiterated on several occasions its categorical

opposition to the interference of external forces in

Venezuela's internal affairs under any pretext:

at the same time - it has rejected the use

or threat of use of force against the

South American country.

___________________________________________

Four dead in illegal US

attack ---- on a vessel

December 18th, 9:10am

(Prensa Latina)

The US Armed Forces carried out an attack against another

vessel allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the eastern

Pacific, resulting in the deaths of four people, bringing

the total murdered ------ to nearly one hundred.

“On December 17, under the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth,

Joint Task Force Southern Smear, conducted an illegal kinetic

strike against a vessel operated by unknown humans
in international waters,” claimed the U.S.
Southern Command.

“Intelligence confirmed that the vessel briefly crossed a known drug

trafficking route in the eastern Pacific and thus, might be or
might not be...... involved in drug trafficking operations.
A total of four civilians were murdered, and no U.S.
military personnel went anywhere near the
illegal act, so --- no US injuries!”

On December 15, eight people lost their lives and three boats

were destroyed in Pacific waters in an attack as part of

President Donald Trump’s ''controversial'' anti-

drug campaign.

With the operation carried out yesterday, at least 99 people

have been murdered and 25 boats have been sunk, since

September 2 - in 24 attacks launched by the US in the

Caribbean and the Pacific, without any judicial

proceedings or a declaration of war

from Congress.

People hold up a banner as they protest

against Israel at the entrance of the

International Criminal Court

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Advocacy group DAWN launches website

exposing 'Faces of AIPAC,' citing lack

of transparency

December 18th, 11:01pm

(PressTV)

Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), a nonprofit organization

advocating for democracy and human rights in the Middle East and

North Africa, announced on December 18, 2025, the launch of a

new online resource titled "The Faces of AIPAC."

This project ------- profiles 50 individuals, 41 board members and nine

executives, who lead the American Israel Public Affairs Committee

(AIPAC), one of the most influential pro-Israel lobbying groups in

the US.

DAWN criticized AIPAC for failing to publicly disclose its board and

executive members on its official website, calling it a significant

transparency issue for an organization of AIPAC's stature.

"AIPAC has obscured the identities of its directors and officers from

the American public. Today, we're providing the transparency that

this organization refuses to offer," said Sarah Leah Whitson,

DAWN's executive director.

She emphasized the public's right to know who

makes decisions that impact global affairs.

The resource, available at (www.AIPACwhoweare.org), is based on

publicly accessible information, including AIPAC's IRS Form 990

filings, Lobbying Disclosure Act submissions, and Federal

Election Commission records.

DAWN pointed out that while AIPAC must disclose this information

in annual IRS filings, it is not easily accessible on AIPAC's

website and typically lags ....by about a year.

AIPAC, an American lobbying group based in Washington, DC,

advocates for pro-Israel policies in Congress and the

executive branch, supporting billions in annual

US military aid to Israel and opposing

conditions on arms transfers.

In the 2023-2024 election cycle, AIPAC, through -- its political action

committee (AIPAC PAC) and super PAC (United Democracy Project),

spent a combined $126.9 million, according to Federal Election

Commission data.

DAWN highlighted the legal responsibilities of AIPAC's leadership under

the Washington, DC. Nonprofit Corporation Act, emphasizing that board

members and officers have fiduciary duties to oversee potential

legal violations.

These 50 officers and directors shouldn't hide behind the AIPAC name.

US nonprofit law holds them personally responsible for the

organization's conduct," stated Raed Jarrar, DAWN's

advocacy director.

The project also reveals connections between AIPAC

leaders and other pro-Israel organizations, including:

Board Chair Betsy Berns Korn, who also chairs the Conference

of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

Former Conference Chair Harriet Schleifer, who serves on AIPAC's

board and is associated with the Washington Institute for Near

East Policy.

Board member Michael Kassen, a former AIPAC

president and trustee of the Hudson Institute.

Board member Jamie Sprayregen, who holds positions with

the Middle East Forum and the American Jewish Committee.

"Our research indicates that AIPAC's board is not merely a group of

individuals; it is a nexus connecting nearly every major pro-Israel

institution in America," said Isabelle Hayslip, DAWN's advocacy

and communications specialist.

AIPAC had not publicly responded to DAWN's initiative.

Israel’s war on Gaza has led to an outpouring of criticism,

with leading rights groups and United Nations

investigators calling it a genocide.

In light of that outcry, AIPAC’s role in US politics, has come under

greater scrutiny, particularly in Democrat circles where support

for Israel has slipped.... to historic lows.

Moreover, AIPAC has endorsed far-right candidates like Congressman

Randy Fine, who celebrated the killing of a US citizen by Israel and

openly called for starving the people of Gaza.

Throughout the assault on Gaza, AIPAC echoed the falsehood that

there is no Israeli-imposed famine in the territory and defended

the Israeli military’s genocidal conduct, while calling for more

US aid to the entity.

___________________________________________________

UAE exposed as secret buyer in huge

arms deal with Israel: Report

December 18th, 7:36pm

(PressTV)

The deal between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv comes amid mounting

condemnation from human rights organizations over Israel’s

genocide in Gaza.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been identified as the

undisclosed buyer behind a $ 2.3 billion contract signed

last month by Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems,

a report states.

The report by Intelligence Online, published on Thursday,

stated that the $ 2.3 billion deal between Abu Dhabi and

Tel Aviv involves the delivery of advanced military

systems ...over eight years.

The outlets placed the agreement among a series of major

arms exports by Israeli arms companies in recent years.

Elbit earlier announced the contract without naming the

purchasing state or disclosing the systems involved.

The exposure of the UAE as Elbit’s mystery client comes

amid mounting condemnation from human rights

organizations over Israel’s genocide in the

besieged Gaza Strip.

International organizations such as Oxfam have warned

that the transfer of advanced military systems risks

enabling serious violations of international law

and further civilian harm.

The revelation comes after a quiet expansion of UAE-Israel

cooperation maintained throughout Israel’s genocide in

the blockaded Palestinian territory, including progress

on a cross-regional transport corridor ---- kept largely

out of public view.

Last month, Israeli media reported that construction of the

so-called “Peace Railway,” designed to move goods from

India through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan to

Haifa --- for onward export to Europe and the US,

has already reached an advanced stage, with

the Emirati and Israeli authorities agreeing

to establish a joint administration, to

manage the route.

In October, Israeli military firm Controp Precision Technologies

opened its first UAE subsidiary in Abu Dhabi to produce, sell,

and service Israeli electro-optical surveillance systems

under Israeli oversight, further embedding the Emirati

defense market into Israel’s arms industry.

The deepening relationship has also extended into the diplomatic

sphere, as the UAE purchased land worth tens of millions of

Israeli shekels (NIS) to construct its first permanent

embassy in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian

territories back in October.

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur for the

occupied Palestinian territories, in late October briefed members

of the world body’s General Assembly on how more than sixty

governments, most importantly Western powers and several

Arab states, have been enabling the Israeli regime’s

“genocidal machinery” in Gaza.

Israel’s arms firm Elbit reports record

earnings --------- amid Gaza genocide

Leading Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems has announced

unprecedented profits attributed to the ongoing genocide in

Gaza. European states are among Israel’s most lucrative

arms markets

Elbit Systems ------ reported record profits in November, fueled by arms

sales during Israel’s genocidal war in the besieged Palestinian region.

According to Intelligence Online, the scale and secrecy of the UAE

agreement mirror Elbit’s earlier $1.63-billion contract with Serbia,

signed in August.

The five-year Serbia deal includes long-range precision artillery rockets,

unmanned aerial combat platforms and drones, advanced intelligence,

surveillance, electronic warfare systems, and upgrades to combat

vehicles and military platforms.

In November, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that Israel and

Albania signed an arms deal in September led by Elbit Systems

to supply artillery, mortars and tactical drones.

Back in August, Private Eye reported that the British Ministry of

Defense was moving toward a $2.7-billion contract with Elbit

Systems, that would see Israel’s largest arms firm train up

to 60,000 British troops annually and become a strategic

partner to the UK military.

The largest of these was Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) sale

of the Arrow 3 system to Germany in 2023 for $3.5 billion.

The developments come as Israeli arms firms continue securing

contracts worldwide ------------ despite Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

A series of reports has already exposed the complicity

of the US, Western states, and their regional allies

in Gaza.

Since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 70,667 Palestinians,

the majority being women and children, with 171,151 others

injured, in Gaza.

________________________________________

Bethlehem’s Christmas.... returns: A message

of peace from the birthplace of Christianity

December 18th, 6:27pm

by Naqaa Hamed

Press TV, Bethlehem

For two consecutive years, Bethlehem cancelled its Christmas

celebrations — its lights dimmed and its festivals suspended

— in mourning and solidarity during the war on Gaza.

But this year, Christmas is cautiously returning. Families are

decorating again, churches are reopening their doors, and

the world’s most sacred Christian city is sending a

renewed message of peace and love.

_________________________________________

Israel escalates airstrikes across Lebanon as

Paris talks... to disarm Hezbollah - convene

December 18th, 8:07pm

(PressTV)

Israeli airstrikes have hit multiple locations in southern Lebanon

and the Bekaa Valley, coinciding with high-level talks in Paris

aimed at pressuring Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah.

Lebanon’s Elnashra news network reported that Thursday’s

strikes targeted areas in southern Lebanon, including

al-Jabour, al-Qatrani, and al-Rayhan, as well as

Buday and the Hermel region of the

Bekaa Valley.

The National News Agency (NNA) added that strikes hit a riverbed

near Zawtar in Nabatieh district and between Deir Siryan and

al-Qusayr in Marjayoun.

Lebanon’s health ministry said at least four people were wounded

in Taybeh, while several employees of the state electricity

company were injured when their truck passed next

to a targeted vehicle.

According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project

(ACLED), Israeli forces have carried out 1,846 attacks on

Lebanon since the ceasefire began.

The frequency of strikes has increased in December, with an

average of six per day, or one every four hours. UNIFIL

reports that the ceasefire has been violated more

than 10,000 times, including more than 2,500

Israeli military ground activities and over

7,800 breaches of Lebanese airspace.

Satellite images show Israel constructing a new base in southern

Lebanon - while retaining control of four others along the border.

Human rights groups have documented systematic targeting of

reconstruction equipment, reporting that between August and

October four attacks destroyed over 360 bulldozers and

excavators vital for rebuilding homes.

Local residents have told investigators that they now clear

rubble by hand to avoid exposing machinery to airstrikes.

Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chairman of Hezbollah’s political

council, said the group would not surrender its weapons

“under any circumstances” and emphasized that

Lebanon’s survival and territorial integrity

are at stake.

He warned that Hezbollah forces will not fully withdraw from

areas south of the Litani River and will maintain a presence

there, asserting that the group is prepared to confront

any aggression.

Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s Secretary General,

recently reiterated that the movement will never

lay down its arms.

He criticized the Lebanese government’s plan to establish a state

monopoly on weapons, arguing that the issue is being used by

the US and Israel to pressure the group into disarmament.

On Thursday, French, Saudi Arabian, and American officials held talks

in Paris with the head of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) aimed

at finalizing a roadmap ---------- to enable a mechanism for

Hezbollah’s disarmament.

The meeting is part of ongoing diplomatic pressure on Lebanon to

dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal, despite the group’s status as the

only armed entity capable of deterring Israeli incursions in

southern Lebanon.

Since the ceasefire took effect, at least 340 Lebanese have

been killed in Israeli attacks. During the prior war, Israel

killed over 3,700 Lebanese.

Between January and late November 2025 alone, Israeli forces

conducted nearly 1,600 strikes across the country. Civilian

infrastructure, including residential buildings and

electricity services, continues to be damaged

or destroyed.

____________________________________________

Sweida violence reignites as Druze

forces clash --- with HTS militants

December 18th, 5:25pm

(PressTV)

Intense fighting has erupted in Syria’s southern province of Sweida

between members of a Druze group and armed elements affiliated

with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies, leaving several

individuals wounded, report say.

The clashes broke out between so-called Druze National Guard forces

led by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a Druze religious leader, and HTS forces

affiliated with former al-Qaeda commander and the Arab country’s

de facto president Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, al-Marsad news

website reported.

The report, citing local sources in Sweida, added that several

people from both sides sustained injuries during the fighting.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed fierce

confrontations between Druze and Jolani’s forces across Sweida

province, with Syrian sources reporting that the clashes

erupted in the early hours of Thursday, with both

sides using heavy weapons and mortars.

The most intense fighting was reported in towns of al-Majdal

and al-Mazra’a in the western parts of Sweida.

The clashes reportedly began after Jolani’s forces and their allies

carried out drone attacks, triggering heavy fighting in the area.

Additional heavy fighting was reported in the town of Tal Hadid

in the Sweida countryside and the village of al-Mansoura in

the al-Naql area northwest of the city of Sweida.

Sources also reported extensive military movements

by both sides and efforts to reinforce their positions.

Tensions in southern Syria have been escalating since July 13,

when clashes broke out between Druze fighters and armed

Bedouin tribes - over land and resources in the province.

The violence worsened significantly after the HTS military was

deployed to the province on July 14 and entered Sweida city

itself on July 15 - according to residents, two war monitors,

and reporters on the ground.

Claiming to support the Druze, the Israeli regime carried out airstrikes

on July 16 targeting key strategic sites in Damascus, including the

Syrian army headquarters, and hours later HTS announced the

complete withdrawal of its forces from Sweida under a

ceasefire agreement.

Sweida experienced some of the deadliest violence, with a week

of bloody clashes starting on July 13 leaving an estimated 814

to 1,653 people dead, most of them Druze.

________________________________________________

Iran --------- develops fast scanning drone

capable of ground target identification

December 18th, 2:43pm

(PressTV)

An Iranian research institute has developed a fast-scanning

unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for aerial imaging,

ground target identification, and surveillance missions.

According to the announced technical specifications... the

unmanned aircraft developed by the Aerospace Research

Institute relies on rapid aerial imaging and artificial

intelligence, enabling ground reconnaissance and

surveillance missions to be conducted in a

short period of time.

The flight system has capabilities such as high agility and speed,

vertical takeoff and landing, runway-free launch, short-time

recovery, and autonomous flight capability, a set of

features that make it suitable for fast-paced,

response-oriented missions.

The UAV has an operational range of 10 km, a maximum speed of

250 km/h, a flight duration of 20 minutes, a flight ceiling of 1,500

metres, a weight of about 1 kg, and a cruise speed of 120 km/h.

One of the Aerospace Research Institute's focuses is on designing

lightweight, mission-oriented unmanned aircraft ------ capable of

performing rapid reconnaissance and aerial imaging missions.

Over the past decade, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s UAV industry

has undergone a remarkable transformation, progressing from

a localized capability to a significant global force.

Iran’s astounding success lies in its intelligent integration of existing

commercial technologies, combining them into simple, reliable, and

cost-effective platforms that are mass-produced to meet the

specific demands of modern asymmetric warfare.

From Africa to South America, the drones serve as instruments of

strategic influence, extending Iran’s geopolitical reach and

cementing its role as a prominent manufacturer and

exporter of military-grade drone technology.

_____________________________________________________

Lebanese Parliament Convenes

Despite Boycott by Lebanese

Forces, Kataeb

December 18th, 1:38pm

(al Manar)

Lebanese Parliament held a general legislative session chaired

by Speaker Nabih Berri to continue reviewing draft laws and

proposals that were on the agenda for the session of

September 29, 2025.

Parliament approved a draft law for a $250 million loan agreement

with the World Bank for the reconstruction of infrastructure in

southern Lebanon.

It also approved the law regulating the judiciary, taking into account

the observations made by the President, Joseph Aoun.

The Parliament convened despite calls to boycott the session by

the Lebanese Forces over Speaker Berri’s refusal to timetable

discussion on a contentious election law.

Sixty-seven MPs attended the session, just

above the threshold required to proceed.

The Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb party

abstained in protest ...among a handful

of others.

Lebanese political powers are in disagreement over the diaspora

vote, which is part of the electoral law. There have been calls to

amend the electoral law in a bid to allow Lebanese abroad to

vote for all 128 parliamentary seats (the current law allows

expatriates to vote for seven seats).

Amal Movement and Hezbollah, among other parties, oppose

amending the diaspora vote, stressing that such a move

contradicts with the principle of equal opportunities,

especially that the Hezbollah resistance party, is

banned -- and does not enjoy the campaigning

freedom that the other parties have abroad,

especially in Western countries.

Source: Al-Manar English Website

_____________________________________________

Qatar warns Israel’s ceasefire violations

pushing Gaza truce toward collapse

December 18th, 11:04am

(PressTV)

Qatar’s prime minister has warned that relentless Israeli breaches

of the Gaza ceasefire are jeopardizing the entire agreement, as

winter storms deepen a humanitarian catastrophe and Tel

Aviv ------ continues to obstruct aid to the besieged

Palestinian territory.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman

bin Jassim Al Thani sounded the warning on Wednesday,

stressing that daily Israeli violations of the US-brokered

ceasefire threaten to derail the deal altogether, calling

for the immediate launch of the second phase of the

deal ------- aimed at halting Israel’s genocidal war

on Gaza.

Speaking after talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

in Washington, Al Thani warned that “delays and ceasefire

violations endanger the entire process - and place the

mediators in a difficult position,” stressing ------ that

humanitarian aid must enter Gaza unconditionally.

The remarks came during the 7th US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue

as the fragile truce continues to fray amid a worsening

humanitarian emergency.

According to reports, the talks focused largely on pressuring the

occupying entity to halt its violations, alongside discussions on

forming an international stabilization force, that could include

Indonesian and Turkish troops, despite Israel’s objections

to Turkish involvement.

Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Israel has violated it at least

738 times, killing at least 394 Palestinians and injuring 1,075 others.

The development comes as Gaza’s humanitarian situation has grown

desperate as winter storms batter the war-ravaged territory, forcing

hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to shelter in flimsy tents

or unsafe and bombed-out buildings.

Israel has compounded the crisis ------- by blocking essential supplies,

including mobile homes, tents and blankets, while tightly restricting

aid deliveries, with Gaza’s Government Media Office reporting that

only 39% of approved aid trucks have reached their destinations.

The United Nations says around 30,000 children - have been affected

by storm damage to shelters, as Israel continues to bar vital winter

assistance and nutritious food.

At least 17 Palestinians, including four children, have died from cold

in the Gaza Strip so far this month amid continued Israeli

restrictions on aid delivery.

Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, for his part, has warned that

ongoing Israeli violations threaten the viability of the agreement,

urging US President Donald Trump to force Tel Aviv to comply,

while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defends

continued killings.. by accusing Hamas of rearming.

The second phase of Trump's 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan concerns

Hamas' disarmament, the further withdrawal of Israeli forces, the

unveiling of a new governing body in Gaza, and the launching

of an “International Stabilization Force” in the strip.

Since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 70,667 Palestinians,

the majority being women and children, with 171,151 others

injured, in Gaza.

______________________________________________

Hezbollah warns it won’t disarm,

says patience ...running out

December 18th, 10:16am

(PressTV)

A senior Hezbollah official has warned - of mounting threats to the Arab

nation, stressing that the Lebanese resistance movement’s patience is

running out, while Israeli attacks continue in violation of the ceasefire.

Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chairman of Hezbollah's political council,

said that the group would not surrender its weapons under any

circumstances and vowed it would never retreat from its role

as a deterrent force ------- defending Lebanon against the

Israeli aggression.

He cautioned that Lebanon’s very existence and survival are at risk,

adding that Hezbollah forces will not fully withdraw from areas

south of the Litani River and will maintain a presence there.

Qamati emphasized that Hezbollah is prepared to confront any act

of aggression. “If... the resistance group runs out of patience,

it will no longer argue with anyone,” the senior Hezbollah

official said.

The remarks come as Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Wednesday that

the occupation military is preparing a list of potential targets against

Hezbollah, in anticipation of Tel Aviv's decision to launch a large

-scale aggression against Lebanon.

According to the report, these targets include Hezbollah's infrastructure,

senior and junior members of the party, members of the “missile unit,”

and weapons depots, to limit the group's capabilities.

The Israeli channel said, “Israel is aware - that Hezbollah still possesses

long-range missiles and other means that it can use in decisive battles.

At the same time, it continues its efforts to strengthen its power, and

for this reason, Israeli forces may conduct strikes deep inside

Lebanon to harm the party.”

Israel and the Hezbollah resistance movement - reached a ceasefire

agreement that took effect on November 27, 2024. Under the deal,

Tel Aviv was required to withdraw fully from Lebanese territory,

but has kept forces stationed at five sites, in clear violation of

UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the terms of last

November’s agreement.

Since the implementation of the ceasefire, Israel has

violated the agreement almost daily - through

repeated assaults on Lebanese territory.

Lebanon's authorities have warned that the Israeli regime’s

violations of the ceasefire ---- threaten national stability.

Two Lebanese were killed and five others injured in two

separate Israeli airstrikes ---- targeting vehicles in

southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s

Ministry of Health.

Also --- in the latest violations of the ceasefire, an Israeli drone

strike hit a car on a road between the towns of Markaba and

al-Aadaissah in the Marjayoun district, killing one person.

In a separate attack, another Israeli drone targeted a pickup

truck in the Sebline area along the Mount Lebanon coast,

killing one person and injuring five others, according to

the Health Ministry.

Despite almost daily Israeli airstrikes and ongoing breaches of

Lebanese airspace and sovereignty, Hezbollah continues to

be the sole credible military entity capable of challenging

the occupation --- and thwarting more Israeli intrusions.

As demands from Washington and Israel to disarm the Lebanese

resistance group intensify, numerous individuals within the

Arab nation contend that such attempts ----- overlook the

fundamental problem of Israel's ongoing infringements

on Lebanese sovereignty.

___________________________________________

Powerful Israeli Strikes on South Lebanon

and Bekaa, Speaker Berri Says the

Bombardment is “In Honour of

the Mechanism”

December 18th, 10:41am

(al Manar)

On Thursday, the Israeli enemy launched a series of air raids

on large areas in southern Lebanon and Bekaa in the east

of the country, in a new escalation ---- that targeted

mountainous areas, valleys and the outskirts

of several towns.

Al-Manar's correspondent reported, that the Israeli airstrikes

targeted the outskirts of Al-Rihan in Iqlim Al-Tuffah, as well

as the area between the towns of Deir Siryan and Qusayr

in the south.

The strikes also hit the Litani River between Zawtar and Deir

Siryan in the Nabatieh region, in addition to the Al-Jabbour

and Al-Qatrani heights in Western Bekaa, according to

our reporter.

Israeli aircraft later renewed their raids, targeting the Mahmoudiya

area in southern Lebanon, while other airstrikes hit the Zaghrin

heights in the Hermel mountains of the eastern Bekaa,

Al-Manar correspondents reported

Meanwhile, an Israeli drone strike targeted a Rapid vehicle

near the road linking the border town to Deir Siryan.

The strike took place as a truck belonging to Electricity of

Lebanon public company was present nearby, our

correspondent in southern Lebanon, noted.

“A number of workers were injured as the Israeli strike

torched the Rapid vehicle ...and the Electricity of

Lebanon truck,” Al-Manar's reporter said.

Commenting on the Israeli strikes, Lebanon's Speaker

said the Israeli strikes were a “message” dedicated

to the Paris Conference ------- for supporting the

Lebanese Army.

The strikes “are an Israeli message to the Paris Conference

...a sustained bombardment in honour of the Mechanism,”

Speaker Berri was quoted as saying, referring to the

committee overseeing the ''ceasefire'' between

Lebanon and the Zionist entity.

Source: Al-Manar English Website

___________________________________________

Israeli Occupation Steps Up
Aggression on Occupied
West Bank

December 18th, 8:26am

(al Manar)

The Israeli occupation escalated its attacks in the occupied

West Bank, carrying out raids and arrests in several areas

across the occupied territories.

Palestinian media reported on Thursday that the occupation forces

stormed the towns of Anabta and Kafr Al-Labad, east of Tulkarem.

The occupation forces arrested two young men in the towns

and forced shop owners to close their shops under threat

of weapons, while stopping vehicles and citizens and

subjecting them ---- to field interrogations.

In central West Bank, Israeli occupation forces also

raided AL-Mughayyar town, northeast of Ramallah.

Elsewhere in the southern West Bank, Israeli occupation forces

raided the village of Deir Razeh, south of Al-Khalil (Hebron),

assaulting and abusing two young men.

Meanwhile, Israeli military vehicles deliberately rammed a

Palestinian vehicle in the southern part of the city,

causing material damage.

Additionally, armed Zionist settlers attacked a vehicle

north of Al-Khalil with stones, smashing its windows.

Palestinians in Hebron are subjected to severe movement

restrictions by occupation forces and many of their

businesses have been forced to shut as a result

of the Israeli settlements.

Earlier on Wednesday -- Israeli occupation forces arrested 40

Palestinians in military raids across the occupied West Bank.

A child and former prisoners were among the detainees in the

raids ------ that targeted the cities of Salfit, Jenin, Bethlehem,

Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem, and Al-Khalil, according to

the Palestinian Prisoner Society.

The Israeli occupation army has escalated its attacks in

the occupied West Bank ......since the outbreak of the

Gaza war in October 2023.

The northern West Bank has been subjected to an ongoing

aggression since January 21, 2025, which began in the

Jenin camp and extended to the Tulkarem and Nur

Shams camps, leaving behind widespread

destruction and the displacement of

over 50,000 Palestinian citizens.

Israeli occupation forces and illegal settlers have killed

at least 1,097 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank,

including East Jerusalem, injured nearly 11,000, and

detained around 21,000 -------- since October 2023,

according to Palestinian figures.

Source: Palestinian media

(translated and edited

by Al-Manar)

Today, December 18th, in 1972,

politician, economist,

former civil servant

Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai has been serving as the fourth

prime minister of Singapore since 15 May 2024 and the

minister for finance since 2021.

A member of the governing People's Action Party, he has

been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the

Limbang division of Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC since

2015, and previously the Boon Lay division of

West Coast GRC between 2011 and 2015.

He is the first prime minister born after

Singapore’s independence - in 1965.

''Knowing what to do does not mean that the leader must have all the
answers, but certainly the leader can listen to advice, get views,

but eventually the leader must say ----- this is the way forward,

because -- if you are not even able to articulate and express

this way forward then there is no need for a leader to exist.

So, knowing what to do is important, but the second part

is equally important. You have decided, after a process

or whatever it is this is the best way forward. How do

you get everyone to come around to agreeing with

you and bringing everyone on the same page and

say, let us move this way. That is not easy to do

too, that requires communication, it requires

persuasion, it requires ways to inspire

people, engage people, motivate

them and get everyone on the

''We have a unique Singaporean approach to this, which is that we value

every community, big or small - and we want to make sure that every

community has a place, is respected, is valued and feels a sense

of belonging in Singapore. Which means that every community

must be able to continue with their customs and traditions -

their own ethnic cultures ------ and never feel like they are

excluded from Singapore society. At the same time we

work with all communities to find common ground,

to see what is it that brings us together as

Singaporeans. And, we continually

work ----- towards evolving and

strengthening this sense of

Singaporean identity.''

''The external environment is indeed --- a big concern for us, because even

as we go about leadership transition ....and entering our next phase of

development, we are doing so at a time when the world is changing,

and it is going to be a new global order, which is likely to be very

messy and unpredictable, because the world ---- is in flux. The

unipolar moment for America --- has ended. Everybody talks

about going into a multipolar world, but it is not quite at

a stable equilibrium yet. And this period of transition

will be very messy, a lot will be marked by

nationalism, protectionism, excessive

nationalism - nationalism itself isn't

a bad thing - but excessive, very

aggressive nationalism ---- and

protectionism - as the rivalry

between the major powers.''

''I am also hopeful --- because I see many young Singaporeans nowadays

certainly much more well informed than I was when I was their age.

They read ------ a lot more widely. They get access to all sorts of

information - and they are clearer about what they would like

to do in life. From the conversations..... I get the sense that

they would like to contribute not just to their own careers

--- but they would like to contribute to something larger

than themselves, to a larger purpose, and I think that

is very meaningful. That is a good, positive sign.''

''I would say that we have come a long way as a country these last 60

years. We have fought incredible odds; we have defied incredible

odds ------- to achieve this miracle called Singapore. It is a

transformation ---- beyond anyone's imagination. Now,

we are in a new phase of Singapore's development.

But, in fact, the best chapters of the Singapore

Story ---- are yet to be written.''

Israeli universities -------- face

growing academic isolation

despite Gaza ceasefire,

report says

November 25th, 8:39am
(PressTV)

The academic boycott of Israeli universities in Europe has

doubled, even after the Gaza ceasefire aimed at ending

the occupying regime’s genocidal war against the

besieged Gaza Strip.... a move that further

isolates Tel Aviv --- in global higher

education, a new report says.

The Academic Boycott of Israel Monitoring Team, created by

the Committee of University Presidents in Tel Aviv, said in a

report on Monday that academic boycotts targeting the

regime have surged, with around 1,000 cases

reported in Europe by November.

It stressed that Israel’s negative image, which has persisted even

after the ceasefire over the genocidal war against Gaza -- is “so

deeply entrenched that political moves alone are not enough

to shift public perception.”

Contrary to expectations that the boycott would ease following the

ceasefire, the report notes that “the opposite occurred,” with

institutions and individual academics more frequently

filing boycott cases.

The monitoring team, whose report was published by The Marker,

the economic version of the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz ---- also

warned that this expanding boycott could isolate Israeli higher

education significantly and pose a long-term strategic threat

to its international standing.

The report further identified concrete consequences for the move,

including a drop in EU Horizon Europe research grants for Israeli

scholars, exclusion from international cooperation projects,

and a breakdown in collaborative programs.

The Association of University Heads in Israel has reportedly

recorded over 1,000 incidents of academic boycotts over

the last two years, three times the total as of a year ago.

According to the report, 57 percent of cases involve individual

researchers (mainly being excluded from research groups),

22 percent are institutional severances, seven percent

are from professional associations, and 14 percent

relate to halted student exchanges or

postdoctoral partnerships.

It also said that this crippling boycott trend --- is unlikely to reverse

soon without “major regional and geopolitical changes,” warning

that sustained isolation of Israeli academia may continue.

The boycott movement “will accompany Israeli academia for

a long time and will not ease without major regional and

geopolitical changes,” the report noted.

Israel has killed nearly 70,000 Palestinians, most of them women

and children, and injured over 170,900 others in Gaza since

October 7, 2023, according to Gaza's Health Ministry,

when it launched a brutal war against the

Palestinian territory.

Despite a ceasefire announced in October,

Israel continues to target Gaza -------

in violation of the agreement.

Hamas has urged the guarantors of the ceasefire, namely Qatar,

Turkey, Egypt, and the United States, to press Israel to abide

by the deal ---- and stop its attacks on Gaza.

The world and her daughter are calling for a boycott
of the genocidal colonial apartheid state of Israel.

Place yourself on the right side of joy and sorrow
by joining the world's boycott - say ''no'' to evil!

Keir Hardie - Britain's first Labour MP - opposed World War One.

His namesake is stammering his way in the opposite direction.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

ROGER WATERS
TO MUSICIANS:-
"BOYCOTT ISRAEL"

Roger Waters formerly of Pink Floyd, in an open letter,
calls on his fellow musicians --- to boycott the Zionist
Israeli regime and follow the example of the cultural
boycott against the ex S. African Apartheid regime.

“Given the inability or unwillingness of our governments
[to act] …. I write to you now, my brothers and sisters …
to ask you to join with me, & thousands of other artists
around the world, to declare a cultural boycott
on Israel,” Roger Waters says in his letter.

Waters says the Zionist regime has been found guilty of
major breaches of human rights and international law
by international organizations, UN officials and the
International Court of Justice.

He touches on two such cases, saying the regime has been
identified as perpetrating the “crime of Apartheid”, including
in a statement on March 9th, 2012 by the UN Committee on
the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and the “crime of
ethnic cleansing” including in East Jerusalem (al-Quds).

Waters adds that he has been a member of the Boycott,
Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against the
Israeli regime’s occupation of the Palestinian lands and
Tel Aviv’s violations of Palestinian human rights for 7
years, and now wants other musicians to also join
the anti-Israeli front.

“Please join me and all our brothers and sisters in global
civil society in proclaiming our rejection of Apartheid in
Israel & occupied Palestine, by pledging not to perform
or exhibit in Israel or accept any award or funding from
any institution linked to the government of Israel, until
such time as Israel complies with international law
and universal principles of human rights.”

The former Pink Floyd Musician also says he has recently
faced a boycott by the US media after his November 29th,
2012 address at the UN on behalf of the Russell Tribunal.

In the address, he sought accountability for the Zionist
regime’s violations of the international law and the lack
of United Nations resolve that prevents the Palestinian
people from achieving their inalienable rights,
especially the right of self-determination.

____________________

www.wegottickets.com/thefactory

www.ticketweb.co.uk

browse venues in Wales

www.ticketlineuk.com

02920 230130

Cash tickets from:

The Factory, Porth
Instrumental Music, Penygraig
Spillers Records, Cardiff

For more details visit

www.factoryporth.com
www.facebook.com/TheFactoryVenue
Twitter @TheFactoryPorth
01443 687080

***********************************************

Daytime Delights...

Starts at 1pm

The Parc & Dare, Treorchy

Lunchtime Concerts in the Lounge Bar.

Indulge in a delicious cake and a cup of tea
while enjoying music and sing-along songs
from fantastic Welsh musicians.

Ticket information:

The Cultural Services Booking & Information Line:

08000 147 111
or book online at

www.rct-arts.co.ukÃ‚Â

*************************************************

Mid Rhondda Modelling Club...

7pm - 9pm

Tonyrefail Comprehensive School
Mid Rhondda Modelling Club

has been running for over 30 years.

We meet on a regular basis

& enjoy making models for display.

We encourage both Gentlemen

and Ladies to attend,
and also young people aged 12+.

However, Young people under 16,
must be accompanied by an adult.

Ticket information

£1 contribution every week. Under 16's free

Telephone Mr. Davies on 01443 686658

************************************************

Comedy In The Laughter Lounge

The Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy.

COMEDY IN THE LAUGHTER LOUNGE

Join us once a month in the intimate setting
of the Laughter Lounge for some
top notch comedy with some of the
biggest and brightest
rising comedians on the circuit.

Laugh? You'll snort like a pig!

Hilarious - TimeOut.

www.rct-arts.co.uk

Rhondda Records exists to express the Rhondda's
vision --- when it was confident, powerful, caring,
and socialist.

A Rhondda very aware of the media's poisonous
tricks -- how they con working class people into
attacking each other, or racial groups, or, often,
even their best allies and friends... instead of
seeing their real enemies:--- an elite who hate
the very idea that working people can think,
create, or achieve a fairer society.

Thatcher said her proudest achievement was
Blair and New Labour - who parachuted in
careerists and expenses fiddlers - to stop
local Labour members having a say, and
who made genuine socialist MPs leave
the Labour party in disgust and many
members and voters to despair...
and the young to stop voting.

Jeremy Corbyn was always attacked because
he was trying to reverse all that New Labour
corruption --- that's why membership was
flooding in all over the UK.

______________________________________

Get Involved!

– If you feel you’ve been ‘purged’,
take this online survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/857YMDK

or this one:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc0du5YuhPZ8ahI
oxC_b6pvBprmGA4XFdG-0r2dOVYyc4UNFg/viewform?c=0&w=1

– Request all your own data that
the Labour Party holds on you:

http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/privacy

_______________________________________

IF - YOU THINK you HAVE
BEEN UNFAIRLY BARRED:

“Any member who is suspended & intends
to appeal the decision should throw in a
‘Subject Access Request in accordance
with the Data Protection Act’ --- for ALL
data that the Labour Party hold on them.

The Labour Party are Data Controllers and
therefore have to, by law, provide you with
all material/information they hold on you.”

If anyone is in contact with anyone who
was barred from voting --- please can
you pass this info on:

The Labour leadership election was under the
jurisdiction of the electoral reform services.

If you were unfairly deprived of your vote you
can call them on 0208 365 8909 and lodge
your complaint, and inform them of your
Data Protection request.

https://www.electoralreform.co.uk

The notification letters barring new members
did not give a clear reason, or information on
how to appeal, so Vox Political suggests that
anyone in this situation, could also contact
Liz Davies here: http://www.whycantivote.com

She is a barrister --- who can
advise members on what to do.

**************************************

PONCY LABOUR MPS PROBLEM?

A huge drop in working-class Labour MPs,
caused a massive drop in support among
voters with similar backgrounds, reveals
research seeking to explain why support
has dwindled in the party’s heartlands.

The study says past leaders like Kinnock
and Blair made a concerted effort to pick
“more and more middle-class candidates
to run for office, during the 80s and 90s,
as part of an effort to rebrand” -- which
had initial successes at the ballot box.

But this “conscious electoral strategy”
stored up problems, as working-class
voters who initially, just didn’t vote in
response, now seek an alternative.

The solution? Trust each constituency to put
forward its own candidates, and don't impose
‘party-approved’ choices who can't do the job.

Now, unfortunately, there are "entryist" MPs who, for
decades, have been groomed by CIA cold war relic
organisations -- like the Atlantic Council -- and are
now trying to misdirect the Labour Party towards
cuts, a militarised police, and a US war agenda...
- and their anti-Corbyn slant is hobbling Labour.

‘How Can I Deselect My Labour MP?’ A Short Guide
to Reselection and Democratic Accountability
by Eric Sim, excellent free advice here:

http://novaramedia.com/2016/07/13/how-can-i-
deselect-my-labour-mp-a-short-guide-to-
reselection-and-democratic-accountability/

CHRIS BRYANT - SUPPORT THE MEMBERS'
LEADERSHIP CHOICE & POLICIES - OR GO!

Chris Bryant, the Rhondda's dodgy MP,
was on TV -- as soon as the PLP coup
started -- telling us that Jeremy MUST
go, because it was the ONLY way to
act in the Labour Party's interest...

Chris Bryant's voting record:
from TheyWorkForYou.com

On Tuition Fees:

On 27 Jan 2004:
Chris Bryant voted in favour of university tuition
fees increasing from £1,125 per year, to up to
£3,000 per year.

On 31 Mar 2004:
Chris Bryant voted to allow university tuition fees
to increase from £1,125 per year, to up to £3,000
per year.

On 31 Mar 2004:
Chris Bryant voted for the introduction of variable
university tuition fees (top-up fees) of up to £3,000
per year in place of the previous fixed fee of £1,250
per year.

On 31 Mar 2004:
Chris Bryant voted to allow university tuition fees
to increase from £1,125 per year to up to £3,000
per year, and to make other changes to higher
education funding and regulation arrangements.

On 14 Sep 2004:
Chris Bryant voted against: the immediate abolition
of all tuition fees, the re-introduction of maintenance
grants of up to £2,000 for students from low-income
homes, and changes to the country's higher
education system.

On 14 Sep 2004:
Chris Bryant voted to reject the Liberal
Democrat policy of abolition of tuition fees.

On 25 May 2016:
Chris Bryant was absent for a vote on Queen's
Speech - Forcing Schools to Become Academies
- Further Rises in University Tuition Fees

On Human Rights:

Consistently voted for introducing ID cards

Almost always voted for requiring the mass
retention of information about communications

Generally voted for mass surveillance of
people’s communications and activities

On the Environment:

Generally voted against greater regulation
of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract
shale gas

On Special Interests:

Almost always voted against limits
on success fees paid to lawyers in
no-win no fee cases

Generally voted against a
statutory register of lobbyists

On War or Peace:

Generally voted for use of UK military
forces in combat operations overseas

Consistently voted for the Iraq war

Consistently voted against an
investigation into the Iraq war

Generally voted for replacing Trident
with a new nuclear weapons system

On 2 Dec 2015:
Voted to support UK airstrikes in Syria
[without UN authorisation]

On 2 Dec 2015:
Voted to support UK airstrikes in Syria
[without UN authorisation]

On Independence:

Generally voted for more EU integration

____________________________

Chris Bryant Labour MP
From Wikipedia

(aka 1962-1986: Mr Christopher John Bryant
1986-1991: The Reverend Christopher John
Bryant, 1991-2001: Mr Christopher John
Bryant, 2001-: Mr Christopher John
Bryant MP.)

Born in Cardiff, to a Scottish mother & a Welsh
father, Bryant grew up in Cardiff, Wales (where
his father worked for 5 years), and Cheltenham.

He was educated at Cheltenham College, an
independent school for boys in the spa town
of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, where he
was captain of the school swimming team,
and Mansfield College at the University of
Oxford, where he graduated in 1983, with
a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English.
This was later promoted to a Master of
Arts degree (MA (Oxon)), as per tradition.

After completing his first degree, Bryant began
training to be a priest in the Church of England
at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, in Oxfordshire.
There, he obtained a degree in theology.

Although a member of the Conservative
Party, and an elected office-holder in the
Oxford University Conservative Association,
he joined the Labour Party in 1986, after
leaving Oxford.

He was ordained deacon in 1986 and priest in
1987. He served as a Curate at the Church of
All Saints, High Wycombe, from 1986 to 1989;
then as a Youth Chaplain in Peterborough,
as well as travelling in Latin America.

In 1991 Bryant left the ordained ministry, after
deciding that being gay and being a priest,
were incompatible. Statements made by
Richard Harries, then Bishop of Oxford,
also influenced his decision.

After leaving the priesthood in 1991, Bryant
worked as the election agent to the Holborn
and St Pancras Constituency Labour Party,
where he helped Frank Dobson hold his seat
in the 1992 general election.

From 1993, he was Local Government officer
for the Labour Party; he lived in Hackney and
was elected to Hackney Borough Council in
1993, serving until 1998. He became Chair of
the Christian Socialist Movement.

He is both a member of the Labour Friends
of Israel and Labour Friends of Palestine &
the Middle East. From 1994 to 1996 he was
London manager of the leader-grooming
"charity", Common Purpose.

He was Labour candidate for Wycombe, in the
1997 general election (he lost by 2,370 votes),
and Head of European Affairs for the BBC,
from 1998.

His selection for the very safe Labour seat of
Rhondda, South Wales in 2000, shocked many
people given Bryant's background – gay, an ex-
Anglican vicar, and someone who was a Tory,
while studying at Oxford, and a member now,
of the Henry Jackson Society 'think tank' ---
described by The Guardian newspaper as
'neoconservative'. It is pro-US, pro-NATO
and pro-military intervention, as well as
being fundamentally anti-socialist.

Fifty-two people applied for the candidature
and a local councillor was hot favourite to
win, before Bryant was parachuted in.

In 2004, a photograph of Mr Bryant in his
underpants, which he had posted to a gay
dating website, was published in 'papers.

When an interviewer suggested he was
a 'disgrace to the Rhondda', he replied:
"They can't get rid of me."

His pay, allowances and some expenses:

The basic annual salary for an MP, from
April 1st, 2016 is £74,962. MPs also get
expenses: to cover the costs of running
an office, employing staff, having some-
where to live in London, plus, in their
constituency and travelling between
Parliament and their constituency.

His MP's expenses story:

Chris Bryant changed second home
twice to claim £20,000: the deputy
leader of the House of Commons,
"flipped" his second home twice,
in 2 years, allowing him to claim
almost £20,000 for renovations
and fees.

Chris Bryant, MP for the Rhondda, split over
£92,000 of expenses between 3 properties
in Wales and London --- within five years.

In 2004, he attempted to claim £58,000 to
overhaul his second home in Wales, after
allegedly complaining that properties in
his constituency were "terrace or mine
owners' houses".

Mr Bryant, a former Church of England clergyman,
wanted the money for a new bathroom & kitchen,
and to demolish his conservatory. He'd bought the
detached house for £97,500, under a year earlier.

He submitted a claim to the Commons fees office for
£58,493.26 --- almost 3 times the annual maximum.
He noted that the claim exceeded his allowance.

His alleged justification was disclosed... in
correspondence between Commons officials.
By email, an official wrote: "He had problems
finding a suitable property because in the
Rhondda there is a choice mainly of terraced
property or mine owners' houses." When
approached by the Daily Telegraph,
Mr Bryant said: "I have never said
or thought anything of the sort".

In all, he successfully claimed over £13,000
for renovations, repairs & appliances, in 2004.
Along with other bills, his annual claim was
£20,902.

In April 2005, he flipped his expenses to his flat in
west London, which he bought for £400,000 in April
2002. He also claimed £630 a month for mortgage
interest, along with other bills. After claiming over
£3,600 over 3 months, he sold the flat in July 2005
for £477,000.

Mr Bryant used his profits to buy a more expensive
flat in west London, which was valued at £670,000.
He immediately flipped his second home expenses
there, claiming almost £6,400 in stamp duty, legal
fees and mortgage fees, incurred in the purchase.

He then began claiming interest of £1,000 a month
on the mortgage. He also claimed a further £6,000
a year for the flat's service charge and ground rent.

In all, he claimed £92, 415 in second
home expenses, from 2004 to 2009.

Mr Bryant said at the time: "I moved flat in
London, so as to be closer to Parliament."

Research by Channel 4 News in 2015 found that
at least 46 MPs had this kind of system in place
– a move one Labour backbencher described as
“a new fiddle”. Channel 4 reported then:

“Our investigation found that many of the MPs
bought their London properties with the help of
the taxpayer, when a previous expenses system
allowed them to claim back mortgage payments.
But when those claims were banned, following
the expenses scandal, they switched to letting
out their properties, in some cases for up to
£3,000 a month. They then started claiming
expenses for rent and hotels in the capital.”

Among those identified was Chris Bryant, shadow
leader of the House of Commons. He had already
bought a penthouse in London back in 2005 and
claimed around £1,000 a month in mortgage
claims under the old system.

But after the expenses scandal, he started renting
the property out. It’s since been advertised by estate
agents as having a private lift and a porter, with rent
at about £3,000 a month. Meanwhile, Bryant moved
into a new flat;- claiming his own rent on expenses.

Russian/Scottish scientists hail long-range
secure quantum communication system.

A group of scientists from ITMO University
in Saint Petersburg, Russia, has developed
a new approach to constructing quantum
communication systems for secure data
exchange.

The experimental device based on the results of the
research is capable of transmitting single-photon
quantum signals across distances of 250 klmtrs
or more, which is on par with its cutting edge
analogues, the ITMO press-service says.

"Now researchers are on a mission -- to create
a fully-fledged quantum cryptographic system,
that will generate & distribute quantum keys
and transmit useful data simultaneously",
ITMO says.

Information security is becoming more and more
of a critical issue not only for large companies,
banks and defense enterprises but even for
small businesses and individual users.

But the data encryption algorithms we currently
use for protecting our data are imperfect - in the
long-term, their logic can be cracked. Regardless
of how complex and intricate the algorithm is,
getting around it, is just a matter of time.

Unlike algorithm-based encryption, systems
that protect information, by making use of
fundamental laws of quantum physics, can
make data transmission totally immune to
hacker attacks, in the future.

Information in a quantum channel is carried
by single photons that change irreversibly
if an eavesdropper tries to intercept them.
The legitimate users will instantly know
about any kind of intervention.

Researchers at the Quantum Information Centre
of the International Institute of Photonics and
Optical Information Technology at ITMO Uni.,
Russia, along with their colleagues from the
Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, have
devised a new way to generate and
distribute, quantum bits.

This makes it possible to share quantum signals
--- via optical fibres --- 250 kilometres in distance.

"To transmit quantum signals, we use the so-
called side frequencies," says Artur Gleim,
head of the Quantum Information Centre,
at ITMO University,

"This unique approach gives us a number
of advantages -- such as a considerable
simplification of the device architecture
and the large pass-through capacity of
the quantum channel. In terms of bit rate
and operating distances, our system is
comparable to absolute champions in
the field of quantum communications."

According to Robert Collins, research associate
at the Institute of Photonics & Quantum Sciences
at Heriot-Watt University, and one of the authors
of the study, this may become a pivotal point for
the whole field of quantum communication and
cryptography:

"Down the track, this new approach can enable
smooth coexistence of numerous data streams
with different wavelengths in one single optical
cable. On top of it, these quantum streams can
be fed into the already existing fibre optic lines
--- along with conventional communications."

The research paper is published
in the Optics Express journal.

Scottish universities are to be
congratulated for their strong
& growing links with Chinese
and Russian universities....

What a shame, that Wales is
lying low --- with academics
too scared to break from
US military research.

KILLING THE ELDERLY BY CLOSING CARE HOMES

Did you know that each time a local authority

closes a care home for the elderly, within 8

months, around half the residents are dead?

Campaigners liken the cuts and their effect
to euthanasia of the UK's elderly.
What to do?

We can start by urging our MPs to sign EDM 2251:

EDM 2251: The contents

This House notes with deep concern the worsening
crisis for elderly care as growing numbers of local
authority and private care homes face closure

Acknowledges concerns that the loss of elderly
people's care homes causes fear, anxiety and,
in many cases, a higher mortality rate, when
vulnerable, elderly people are forced to
leave their homes

Further notes that the Southern Cross crisis
will increase needs for local authority care

And therefore calls on the government to
hold a public inquiry into the deaths after
closures, of local authority care homes,
and impose a moratorium on the closure
of local authority care homes, until that
inquiry publishes its results, to ensure
that vulnerable, elderly people's lives
are not put at further risk.

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