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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
discovered in Iraq.
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
journalist noted.
“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,”
he stated.
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
over the Iraq war.
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
US intelligence reports indicate that Venezuela’s interim
president, Delcy Rodríguez - is resisting Washington’s
push to realign the country’s foreign partnerships.
The assessments have raised doubts about whether
Rodríguez will comply with Washington’s
US demands.. to sever ties with Iran, China, and Russia.
Venezuela, home to some of the world’s largest proven oil
reserves, has become central to Washington’s pressure
campaign to curb the influence of rival powers in
the Western Hemisphere.
Trump has repeatedly demanded that Caracas expel
diplomats and advisers from its allied countries.
Representatives from all the three countries attended
Rodríguez’s swearing-in earlier this month, following
the US raid on the country that led to a kidnapping
of President Nicolás Maduro on January 3.
In mid-January, the US President Donald Trump claimed he
held a “long call” with Rodríguez, describing her as “a
terrific person.” He later said the two discussed
“many topics,” including oil, minerals, trade
and national security, and claimed they
had made “tremendous progress.”
Rodríguez, who has said she is working to unify the country
after the US abduction of Maduro, has since signaled
resistance to Washington’s pressure.
Nearly a month into her interim role,
she said that Venezuela has had
“enough” of US interference.
“Enough - already - of Washington’s orders over politicians
in Venezuela,” Rodríguez told oil workers in the city of
Puerto La Cruz, on Sunday.
"This republic has paid a very high price for confronting the
consequences of fascism and extremism in our country,”
she added.
Since the attack on the country, the US has sought greater
access... to Venezuela’s energy sector. An anonymous
''senior Trump administration official'' said Donald
“continues to exert maximum leverage” and
“expects” ....cooperation from the
country’s leadership.
Trump has openly acknowledged that a central objective of
the military action against Venezuela -- is control over its
oil sector — underscoring a long US history of violence
and imperial domination in Latin America.
___________________________________________
Chinahits USwith economic
counteroffensive .... after
Maduro’s abduction:
Report
January 22nd, 10:08am
(PressTV)
China has responded to the abduction of Venezuelan
President Nicolas Maduro by the United States with
coordinated economic force, delivering a direct
blow to US power and signaling a decisive
shift toward a multipolar world order,
a report says.
China sharply condemned the January 3 abduction of
Maduro and the violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty,
concluding: that Washington was attempting to
''weaponize'' control over Venezuelan oil - to
curb China’s presence in South America -
and obstruct its long-term development
....the German-language service of
Russian broadcaster, RT said
in a report.
According to the report, Beijing treated the aggression
against Venezuela as an attack on BRICS countries
and on the very idea of a multipolar world, and
within hours of the news of the kidnapping,
President Xi Jinping - had convened an
emergency meeting of the Politburo
Standing Committee that lasted
120 minutes --- with no public
statements afterwards.
Instead, China activated what its strategists call an
“integrated asymmetric response” --- designed to
counter the aggression against its partners, in
the Western Hemisphere including Venezuela
seen as China’s strategic gateway to Latin
America, which Washington considers... its own backyard.
The first phase began on January 4, when the People’s
Bank of China discreetly suspended all US dollar
transactions with companies linked to the US
defense sector, with Boeing, Lockheed
Martin, Raytheon..... and General
Dynamics, seeing their China-
related transactions frozen
without warning.
Later that day, State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC)
announced technical reviews of contracts with US
suppliers of electrical equipment --- signaling a
deliberate decoupling from US technology..
as China National Petroleum Corporation
reorganized its global supply routes,
canceling oil delivery contracts to
US refineries worth $47 billion
annually ---- and redirecting
supplies... to India, Brazil,
South Africa.. and other
Global South partners.
As a result, oil prices surged 23 percent in a single
trading session, underscoring the message: that
China can strangle US energy security without
firing a shot.
China then targeted global logistics --- with China Ocean
Shipping Company, which controls roughly 40 percent
of global shipping capacity, rerouting operations
away from US ports, causing Long Beach, Los
Angeles, New York, and Miami to lose 35
percent of their container traffic
almost instantly.
The disruption --- rippled through US retail giants such as
Walmart, Amazon, and Target, whose China-dependent
supply chains partially collapsed --- within hours. The
synchronized timing of these measures produced a
systemic shock, overwhelming Washington’s
ability to respond.
That same day --- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi offered
immediate preferential trade terms to dozens of countries
willing to refuse recognition of a Venezuelan government
installed by US coercion. Within 24 hours, 19 countries -
including Brazil, India, South Africa, and Mexico -
accepted, forming an instant anti-US bloc
driven by economic incentives.
The final escalation came on January 5 ----- when China
expanded its cross-border interbank payment system -
to fully accommodate transactions seeking to bypass
the US-controlled SWIFT network. This ....created
a functional alternative to the Western financial
system that is 97 percent cheaper and faster.
In the first 48 hours, $89 billion in transactions were
processed, and central banks from 34 countries
opened operational accounts, accelerating
de-dollarization ...and weakening a key
pillar of US power.
Simultaneously, China imposed temporary export
restrictions on rare earths, on countries that
supported Maduro’s abduction --- alarming
US tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft,
Google, and Intel. China, is the largest
producer of these rare-earth metals,
as it accounts for at least 60%
of them globally.
Rare earth materials ------------ are essential for
semiconductors and electronic components.
As the report asks, “What is China doing for Venezuela?” The answer, it concludes, is China is acting without declaring war.
Every step China has taken, strikes
at the economic heart of the US
empire, the report concluded.
Image: People hold up a banner as they protest against Israel at the entrance of the International Criminal Court.
People hold up a banner as they protest
against Israel at the entrance of the
International Criminal Court
11 nations urge prompt halt of
Israeli demolition of UNRWA
in al-Quds
January 28th, 6:31pm
(Al Mayadeen English)
Nine European countries, Canada, and Japan ----- condemned
"Israel’s" demolition of UNRWA’s office in occupied Al-Quds,
urging an end to demolitions ---- and the restrictions on
humanitarian access to Gaza and the West Bank.
Nine European countries, along with Canada and Japan, issued
a joint statement on Wednesday condemning the demolition
of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
(UNRWA) headquarters by Israeli occupation forces in
occupied eastern Al-Quds.
The statement said the move aims to undermine the agency’s
operations and called on "Israel" ------- to immediately halt all
demolition activities. It reaffirmed full support for UNRWA’s
mission in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The countries expressed concern over "Israel’s" enforcement
of a Knesset law banning contact with UNRWA. They urged
the Israeli authorities to allow the delivery of humanitarian
aid and services to Gaza and the West Bank ------
without obstruction.
The statement also emphasized the need to ensure that
non-governmental organizations can operate in Gaza
and called for the reopening of all border crossings
to facilitate humanitarian access.
Extremist Ben-Gvir gives the greenlight
On January 20, Israeli occupation authorities bulldozed
buildings inside the UNRWA headquarters in eastern
occupied al-Quds, as "Israel" intensifies restrictions
on humanitarian organizations providing aid to
Palestinians. Extremist Israeli Police Minister
Itamar Ben-Gvir said he accompanied crews
to the headquarters, calling the demolition
an “historic day”.
Local sources told the Palestinian news agency Wafa that
Israeli troops, accompanied by bulldozers --- stormed the
UNRWA compound after sealing off surrounding streets,
and increasing their military presence. The forces then
demolished structures inside the compound.
Israeli occupation forces also fired tear gas at a Palestinian
trade school, marking a second incident targeting a UN
facility in the same area.
'Israel' to demolish UNRWA vocational training centre
On January 23, the Israeli regime announced it intends to shut
down a key United Nations-run vocational training centre in
the occupied West Bank within days, a move that would
halt education for hundreds of Palestinian refugee
students and intensify the Israeli regime's
ongoing campaign --- against the UN
agency responsible for refugee
services for decades.
The Qalandia Training Centre, located north of occupied al-
Quds, provides vocational education to around 350 male
students from across the West Bank - training them in
trades.. such as plumbing, vehicle maintenance, and
electrical work. UN officials warn the centre faces
imminent closure, after the Israeli authorities
signalled...... that the land on which it
operates could be seized.
UNRWA warned that - if the centre is forced to close, no
alternative educational facilities exist for the students
enrolled there. Many rely on vocational training as
one of the few viable paths to employment in an
economy constrained by military occupation,
movement restrictions, and chronic
underinvestment.
Why UNRWA is being targeted
Beyond security claims, the Israeli regime's campaign
against UNRWA.... is rooted in deeper political
objectives tied to the Palestinian refugee
cause itself.
Established in 1949, UNRWA was created to provide relief,
education, and healthcare.. to Palestinians displaced
during the 1948 Nakba, and their descendants.
Unlike the UN's global refugee agency, UNHCR, UNRWA
operates on the principle --- that Palestinian refugee
status endures until a just and durable political
solution is reached ------- including the
internationally recognised
right of return.
For decades, UNRWA has served not only as a humanitarian
lifeline but as an institutional embodiment of international
recognition of Palestinian displacement. Through its
continued registration of refugees and provision of services - across generations, the agency
preserves the legal and political status
of Palestinian refugees - and their
indisputable right of return to
their homes and lands.
Israeli officials have long called for its dismantling, arguing
that eliminating UNRWA would weaken Palestinian claims
to the right of return and erase an institutional reminder
of the ethnic cleansing that accompanied the Nakba
and the consequent creation of the Zionist entity
in 1948.
The International Court of Justice has explicitly warned that
such actions violate "Israel's" obligations - as an occupying
power. In an advisory opinion issued in late 2025, the court
affirmed that the Israeli regime is legally required to
facilitate humanitarian relief and concluded that
UNRWA's capacity "cannot be replaced on
short notice and without a proper
transition plan," underscoring
the agency’s irreplaceable
role in current conditions.
An irreplaceable lifeline
UNRWA remains the primary provider of education, healthcare,
and humanitarian assistance to roughly 5.9 million registered
Palestinian refugees across the Levant (occupied Palestine,
Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan). In the occupied Palestinian
territory alone, the agency operates dozens of schools,
health clinics, and vocational centres, serving some
of the most marginalised communities.
In the West Bank, UNRWA runs nearly 100 schools ---- attended
by around 48,000 children and operates more than 40 primary
healthcare centres. The Qalandia Training Centre, which has
operated for around 70 years, is among the few institutions
offering vocational education ---- tailored specifically to
refugee communities.
In Gaza, UNRWA forms the backbone of the humanitarian
response amid mass displacement, famine conditions,
and the collapse of public infrastructure. UN officials
have repeatedly stated that no other organisation
possesses the staffing, infrastructure, local
knowledge, or community trust - required
to replace UNRWA's operations.
______________________________________
Iran --------- will respond 'like never before',
UN mission warns after Trump’s threats
January 28th, 3:43pm
(PressTV)
Iran’s mission to the United Nations has warned that the country
will respond forcefully to any potential attack by the US, after
US President Donald Trump issued fresh threats suggesting
he might pursue a military confrontation with Iran.
In a post on its X account on Wednesday, the mission said that
Iran is prepared to resolve its disputes with the US through
dialogue “based on mutual respect and interests”, but
insisted the country will not hesitate to defend itself
if attacked.
“BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND
RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!” the post read.
Trump escalated his rhetoric about a potential military
confrontation with Iran late on Tuesday, telling
supporters that “another beautiful armada”
of warships was “floating beautifully
toward Iran.”
He, later, published a post on his Truth Social platform,
expressing hope that the deployment of the warships
would pressure Iran to return to negotiations over its
nuclear program.
Trump warned that if Iran fails to reach a deal with the US,
it will be attacked, adding that such an attack would be
“far worse” than the strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities
in June.
Iran launched a barrage of missiles at the Al Udeid Air Base
in Qatar, a facility that hosts US forces and equipment, in
response to the attack on its nuclear facilities.
The Iranian mission to the UN also referenced Trump’s
new post on Truth Social and cautioned that a new
US war in the Middle East ------ would cost US
citizens dearly.
“Last time the U.S. blundered into wars in Afghanistan and
Iraq, it squandered over $7 trillion and lost more than
7,000 US lives,” the mission said.
_______________________________________
Iran, Saudi Arabia warn of 'dangerous
consequences' of regional escalation
January 28th, 2:38pm
(PressTV)
Iran and Saudi Arabia have warned of the “dangerous
consequences” of any escalation of tensions for
security and stability in West Asia, as the US
military buildup near Iran continues.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Saudi
counterpart Faisal bin Farhan made the assertion
in a phone call on Wednesday.
The two ministers warned of “dangerous consequences
of any escalation of tensions in the region on regional
peace and stability”.
They also said all regional countries have a shared
responsibility to maintain stability and security
in the region
The phone call reviewed the topics discussed by Iranian
President Masoud Pezeshkian and Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman during a phone conversation
on Tuesday.
The conversation followed the arrival of a US aircraft carrier
in the region and a series of escalatory threats from
Washington, which has accused Iran of a violent
crackdown on "peaceful protests."
"The threats and psychological operations of the Americans
(sic) are aimed at disrupting the security of the region and
will achieve nothing other than instability," Pezeshkian
told the crown prince.
For his part, Mohammed bin Salman said Saudi Arabia considers
any aggression, threat, or creation of tension against Iran to be
"unacceptable" and that the Kingdom would not allow its
airspace or territory to be used for any military attack
on Iran.
“The Crown Prince stressed ------- during the call the Kingdom's
position in respecting the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic
of Iran, and that the Kingdom will not allow the use of its
airspace or territory in any military actions against the
Islamic Republic of Iran --- or any attacks from any
side, regardless of its destination,” according
to a readout of the call.
Iran, Turkey FMs talk easing tensions
As part of his diplomatic efforts, Araghchi also held a
separate phone call with Turkey’s Foreign Minister
Hakan Fidan on Wednesday.
TRT news agency cited a source within the Turkish foreign
ministry as saying that the ministers discussed efforts
aimed at reducing tensions ....in the wake of the
latest developments.
Fidan has warned the US against launching a
military attack on Iran, calling such a
move "wrong."
____________________________________________
Israel’s continued violationsundermine
transition to 2nd phase of Gaza truce
January 28th, 2:29pm
by Ghada Ebrahim
Press TV, Deir al-Balah
For months, Israel tied the second phase of
the Gaza ceasefire deal to the return of
the last deceased captive.
Now, despite the discovery of the captive’s body,
the regime continues to violate the deal,
including its refusal to fully open the
Rafah crossing.
Palestinians warn: that delays and partial measures
risk turning the ceasefire .....into an empty promise.
_______________________________________________
As TikTok falls into Zionist hands,
UpScrolled fills the vacuum to
give voice to Palestine
January 28th, 1:06pm
by Hassen Lorgat
The genocide in Gaza, raging since October 2023, has been a
brutal war against an occupied population, resulting in over
70,000 fatalities. The Lancet and, more recently, the UN
Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian
Territories suggest the real toll is far higher.
Francesca Albanese recently asserted that the actual death toll
from the Israeli genocidal offensive on Gaza could be as high
as 680,000, most of them ---- women and children.
We have all witnessed the unimaginable destruction inflicted
upon Gaza’s institutions of learning, healthcare, and worship
throughout these more than two years. It has not only been
a physical assault but also a war against truth and justice,
revealing the true nature of the Israeli regime as a
warmonger, as its propaganda – its hasbara –
lies in tatters.
Yet.... one critical lesson --- from the global struggle against the anti-Palestinian hate and injustice - is that oppressors, once defeated, do not simply surrender. They fight back fiercely -- while those who advocate for justice often return to their everyday lives, trying to navigate.. an inherently abnormal world.
Take the case of TikTok ---- which gained significant recognition
for amplifying factual perspectives about Israel and its ruthless
military – widely regarded as one of the most immoral armies
in the world ---- and their killings of Palestinian women and
children, which has been widely recognized as genocide.
So, how did the authorities in the US respond to TikTok? They
launched a campaign against the platform, claiming, among
other things, that it posed a security risk – ''fearing''..... that
China could access user data or manipulate the algorithm.
US President Donald Trump acknowledged TikTok’s value
during his recent electoral campaigns, and through vile
threats, propaganda, and legal measures, he sought
to seize the platform to serve his political agenda
and that of the Israeli regime.
Then, in September 2025, evidence emerged confirming these
suspicions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was
secretly recorded boasting to a group of influencers at
Israel’s Consulate General in New York that TikTok
was “the most important purchase going on right
now.” He also described X (formerly Twitter) as
key “weapons” in Israel’s arsenal.
A few days ago, TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance,
sold its majority share to a US consortium led by D. Trump ally
Larry Ellison -- as well as Silver Lake and Emirati investment
firm MGX. Collectively, the new partners hold a 50 percent
stake, while ByteDance retains a 19.9 percent stake.
This has not gone unnoticed by pro-Palestine campaigners, who
fear that all Palestinian voices will be censored, as Netanyahu
wished. There are growing concerns... that algorithms can
be manipulated to promote pro-Israel content over pro-
Palestinian perspectives, especially among
younger audiences.
This shift --- threatens to silence critical
narratives and deepen existing biases.
For those of us engaged in the social justice movement – and
speaking as a media justice activist – the most promising
innovation in this fight --------- comes from Issam Hijazi.
Issam Hijazi is a Palestinian-origin technologist, founder and
CEO of UpScrolled, and head of Recursive Methods Pty Ltd,
an Australia-based company. Palestinian-Jordanian-
Australian Hijazi has an impressive background
working with global tech giants like IBM and
Oracle and has lived in Jordan, the UAE,
Singapore, and Australia.
He launched UpScrolled in 2025 after observing how
“meaningful stories disappeared from feeds while
misinformation thrived.”
Though reports suggest he began work on the platform as
early as late 2023, Hijazi has gained prominence for
creating a space that actively counters the
massive censorship and shadowbanning
of pro-Palestinian voices – practices
increasingly visible on TikTok and
well-documented - on Facebook,
Instagram, WhatsApp, & other
social media platforms.
Hijazi has been outspoken in his criticism of traditional
social media platforms, slamming them for prioritizing
profit over principle and betraying the very values
they claim to uphold.
In a moving interview, Hijazi revealed that he lost over
60 family members in Gaza, and that UpScrolled was
his small but meaningful response to that loss.
On the platform, he and his team emphasize that they have
built a space that “serves people – all people – equally. No
hidden agendas. No quiet silencing. No favouritism. A
place where freedom of expression is protected, not
manipulated, and where social responsibility isn’t
an afterthought ---- but the foundation.”
Available on both Android and iOS, UpScrolled is quickly gaining
attention. While it’s still uncertain whether it will attract a
broad user base, especially among those who support
Palestinian narratives, the platform is already
showing strong growth. So much so that
their servers recently crashed -------
under the surge of new users.
As they wrote on Bluesky: “You showed up so fast our servers
tapped out,” with engineers now working to restore full
functionality. Current statistics indicate an average
of about 14,000 downloads per day.
I’m optimistic that UpScrolled can help us meet the challenge
of truth-telling in this turbulent media landscape. I’ve joined
the growing community myself – I scrolled, and I joined.
Hassen Lorgat is a South Africa-based
social justice and media activist.
(The views expressed in this article ------ do
not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)
Image: Ayobami Adebayo's Birth Day
Today, January 29th, in 1988,
Ayobami Adebayo,
writer,
is born.
Her 2017 debut novel, Stay With Me, won the 9mobile Prize
for Literature and the Prix Les Afriques. She was awarded
The Future Awards Africa Prize for Arts and Culture
in 2017.
The book was subsequently published in the US by Alfred A.
Knopf and in Nigeria by Ouida Books. It has been translated
into more than 18 languages. It was selected as notable
book of the year by several publications, including The
New York Times, The Economist, The Wall Street
Journal and The Guardian.
In 2021, Adebaya's second novel, A Spell of Good Things – was announced for publication by Canongate (UK) and Knopf (US).
Released in 2023, A Spell of Good Things received favourable
review coverage, including in The Observer (where it was
described as "immensely readable") and in The New
York Times. It was longlisted for the 2023 Booker
Prize and shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize.
A Spell of Good Things was shortlisted for the 2024
Encore Award, given by the Royal Society of
Literature to celebrate the "difficult
second novel" that follows an
author's literary debut.
Adebayo is married to Emmanuel Iduma. The couple
announced their marriage in 2021, although in his
memoir, Iduma notes that their wedding took
place in 2020.
''Before you call the snail a weakling, tie your house
to your back and carry it around for a week.''
''There is no god like a mother.''
''A mother must be vigilant. She must be able and willing to
wake up ten times during the night to feed her baby. After
her intermittent vigil..... she must see everything clearly
the next morning - so that she can notice any changes
in her baby. A mother is not permitted to have blurry
vision. She must notice if her baby’s wail is too
loud, or too low. She must know if the child’s
temperature has risen or fallen. A mother
must not miss any signs.''
Spain acts against Israel's illegal settlements,
orders platforms to remove listings
December 30th, 3:10pm
(PressTV)
Spain has ordered seven major online platforms to remove
more than 100 holiday-rental listings located in Israeli-
Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs said on Tuesday that it
had identified 138 listings on platforms operating in Spain
and notified the companies to “immediately remove or
block” the content.
Authorities warned that failure to comply could result in further
government action, though the penalties were not specified.
The Minister of Consumer Affairs, Pablo Bustinduy, condemned the
listings, saying they help “normalize and perpetuate a colonial
regime considered illegal under international law.”
The move is a part of measures introduced by Prime Minister
Pedro Sanchez’s government to support Palestine and hold
Israel accountable for its genocidal aggression in Gaza.
Sanchez has repeatedly denounced the international community
for oscillating --- between “indifference” and “complicity” with
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This latest move builds on a series of measures Spain has adopted
in recent months ---- to confront Israel over its illegal settlement
enterprise and military aggression.
In September 2025, the Spanish government banned imports
of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the
occupied Palestinian territories.
Sanchez said the goal is “to stop the genocide in Gaza, pursue
its perpetrators -------- and support the Palestinian population.”
The Spanish government has prohibited ships and aircraft
carrying weapons directed towards Israel from entering
its ports or airspace.
The country has said that it will ----- deny entry to
anyone directly involved in the atrocities in Gaza.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank -- are considered
illegal under international law, a position upheld by the United
Nations and the majority of the global community.
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a
landmark advisory opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of
Palestinian territories illegal -- and calling for the removal
of all settlements from the West Bank and East al-Quds.
Since recognizing the Palestinian state - in 2024, Spain
has been one of Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s
genocide in Gaza.
Israel has so far killed more than 71,000 Palestinians since
launching the genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023,
before a ceasefire deal, brokered by the United States,
was reached in the strip last October.
Image: No thanks to Israeli goods App
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 - opposedWorld 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.
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AT THE FACTORY
Tickets from
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
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.ukÂÂ
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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
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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.
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Get Involved!
– If you feel you’ve been ‘purged’, take this online survey:
– Request all your own data that the Labour Party holds on you:
http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/privacy
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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.
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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
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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.
Image: Russian scientists and Scottish ones
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.
Image: BRICS
Image: March 26 London anti cuts demo
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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MAKING THE CONNECTION IN WALES
Households across three more English areas will be able to access superfast broadband in the latest phase of a Government scheme to connect rural homes and businesses.
The £50 million funding package for Devon and Somerset (£30 million), Norfolk (£15 million) and Wiltshire (£4 million) will aid the roll- out of superfast broadband services unable to be reached by the market alone.
Areas will also receive financial support from their local authorities and private investors, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport says.
So it's Broadband Heaven for England...
and crapola for Wales' broadband - the
slowest, worst Broadband in the UK !!!
Lib Dems in Scotland might have received a pummeling for Clegg and his betrayals, yet, in Scotland, their campaign centred on it becoming the "most connected country in Europe," to massively boost their economy.
In Wales, which political party is now willing to put into practice scientists' recommendations: that Wales' hilly topography requires establishing
free 'wireless' broadband?
It could connect the people of Rhondda and the world, boosting Wales' economic regeneration, like no other move.Wireless technology is now supplying free broadband to an entire island off New Zealand's coast.
Come on; if New Zealand can do it - so can we !!!
Image: China's rapeseed blossoms this Spring.
Western China has embraced "green-mode development" - with painful changes from which, Wales could well learn.
Eastern China has seen fast growth and urban mess. The West, a mining and agricultural area, has not.
Xi'an Chan-ba Ecological District, is a model for reclaiming old mining areas.
It took six hard years, but now Xi'an is showing the world how best to change, by turning a badly polluted rubbish landfill site, into an all new environment-friendly development.
As China's economic focus moves from east to west, it's using the lessons learned during 30 or more years of rapid industrial development.
The green way for China's west, is to combine green industrialization & green urbanization.
The western region's strategy is to adopt effective energy-saving and environmental protection technologies... AND to extend its industry through science and products unique to China's West, together with strong vertical growth in agriculture and all its ancilliary economic & professional spin-offs.
In undertaking this industrial revolution, the western region will keep a sharp eye out - to avoid all polluting non-sustainable industries.
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A BIG DROP OF HONEY !!!
Spring is beekeeping and honey-processing season in Yunnan province, in China.
Waves of bees flit across vast fields of flowers.
Local beekeepers and many from other places, such as Sichuan and Fujian provinces - set up their base in tents among the rapeseed farms.
The 430,000 hectares of rapeseed blooms in Luoping attract myriads of bees, which produce 15 - 20 million tons of honey a year.
Local people now look to brand their county as a honey production base & increase sales to outside markets.
Luoping Tianyuanmiyu Bee Industry Co Chair, Zhu Hongkun, founded his enterprise in 2009.
It mainly produces honey, propolis and propolis powder.
His company works with 270 plus beekeepers, who each earn 80,000 yuan a year on average.
Some earn 200,000 yuan annually, Zhu says.
Who says beauty endowed by nature isn't worth a fortune?
The whole of the uplands of south Wales could be as beautiful & productive, if used wisely!
Image: retirement China style
CHINA's PREMIER POINTS WAY FORWARD
As the Tories threaten a "bonfire of the Quangos", perhaps Wales should take note. Now extracting all our mineral wealth has been stopped (apart from sand and rock) we find ourselves "in" the 1st World of the UK, but with a 3rd World economy, only just kept going by quangos which promise much... but deliver little... and rely on weak public support.
We could WAKE UP & understand that we either do something, or stay as begging bowl cases.
China's premier points the way forward for Wales:
"Industrial restructuring is the key... only by developing energy-efficient, indigenous innovative and high value added products can our companies and economy, achieve sustainable development."
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WHILE FRANCE, GREECE, IRELAND, ETC, STRUGGLE TO STOP THE PENSION AGE RISING HIGHER AND HIGHER...
An online survey on qq.com, a popular Chinese news portal, finds that 91% of its over 800,000 respondents, are against raising the current official Chinese retirement age.
745,123 of those surveyed say they oppose raising retirement ages -- 72,456 support it.
China's scholars & the public have been debating whether to raise the retirement age, for the past few years, but the issue rose to prominence after remarks by an official.
Wang Xiaochu, the official vice minister of the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security, said at a press conference that the government was "studying the matter"...
The retirement age in China is generally set at 60 for men and 50-55 for women.
Wow! Bet you didn't know that !!!
Image: unemployment in Wales
FARMING AND SCIENCE COULD REGENERATE WALES
A new UN General Assembly report warns "vast areas" of cultivated land are lost each year, and that this could lead to unrest.
The report says up to 30 million hectares, an area the size of Italy, is lost each year to environmental degradation, industry & urbanization - the growth of cities - and all because of speculative building and greed.
The UN special rapporteur Olivier De Schutter, gives the example of eastern Africa, where the amount of cultivated land has declined by half --- in just one generation! "
As rural populations grow and competition with large industrial units increases, plots cultivated by smallholders are shrinking year after year," says De Schutter.
"Farmers are often relegated to soils that are arid, hilly or without irrigation."
The UN officer also mentions India as another example, where the average landholding fell from 2.6 hectares in 1960 to 1.4 hectares in 2000. A cut of nearly half in 40 years!
He says 500 million small farmers suffer from hunger, partly because their right to land is being violated. The expert warns of the devastating consequences, as foreign investors compete for larger and larger areas of the world's land for "their" agriculture.
Rhondda Records says Wales could rebuild its new economy by basing it on a fresh approach to high-value added products, using science and agriculture... such as the Altzeim project in Gwent.