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STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY

OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF CUBA

Author: Minrex
informacion@granmai.cu

July 2026

Unable to conceal its hidden admiration for the epic of the Cuban

Revolution, the report reveals the fear of a nuclear superpower

in the face of the example of the ideal of social justice and

defense of sovereignty. It demonstrates --- an inferiority

complex toward a national program that prioritizes

the people over the elites.

Cuba rejects, in the strongest terms, the report published on July

20th by the United States Department of State, concerning the

alleged subversive influence of Cuba against that country. It

is a mediocre propaganda pamphlet. It aims to bolster the

mendacious message that Cuba poses a threat to the

United States, a pretext that the U.S. government

uses for collective punishment and genocide

against the Cuban people.

It seeks, through the construction of accusatory narratives,

to fabricate a consensus for a potential military aggression.

It is hypocritical for the State Department to accuse Cuba of

promoting subversive activities when it is well known that

the U.S. government allocates tens of millions of dollars

from its federal budget each year to subvert internal

order in Cuba, provoke hunger and desperation,
and overthrow the Cuban government.

This is done by the same government with a sordid history of

interference and violations of international law, which

carries out extrajudicial executions in international

waters, practices political assassination, sponsors

acts of genocide, attacks sovereign nations on

every continent --------- and interferes in the

electoral processes of sovereign states.

It is also hypocritical to persist in the lie of labeling Cuba a state

sponsor of terrorism. It is evident that neither this nor any other

report --- can present any evidence, not even the slightest

indication, for such an illegitimate accusation, since

none exists, as is known to specialized agencies

of the U.S. government itself.

It is, however, common knowledge that those who finance,

organize, and instigate violent and terrorist acts against

Cuba have found protection and total impunity on

U.S. soil.

This report fits into the discourse of supposed "left-wing terrorism,"

a novel concept that the U.S. government, and -- in particular -- its

Secretary of State, are eager to promote as the new enemy.

They seek, in this way, to attack any progressive trait, social

commitment, or leftist expression within and outside U.S.

territory, to increase repression, and to establish

a neo-McCarthyism.

The aim, in particular, is to repress and attack the U.S. population

itself and to intimidate those who express solidarity, including

those who denounce their government's unjust aggression

against Cuba. It is recognized that a growing sentiment

in the United States - including among Cubans living

there.. and their descendants, opposes the energy

embargo, the strangling of the Cuban economy,

and the threat of military aggression.

The State Department persists in questioning Cuba's ties with other

sovereign nations, as if ---- international law had disappeared. It

manipulates and distorts Cuba's widely recognized history of

solidarity, anti-colonialist and internationalist stance, even

within the United States. Every year, the US suffers

repeated and forceful isolation at the United

Nations ----- for refusing to end the

economic blockade.

Unable to conceal its hidden admiration for the epic of the Cuban

Revolution, the report reveals the fear of a nuclear superpower

in the face of the example of social justice and the defense of

sovereignty. It demonstrates an inferiority complex toward a

national program that prioritizes the people over the elites.

As it has always done -- Cuba will continue to foster friendly relations

with the US people & institutions in strict adherence to international

law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Vienna Convention

on Diplomatic Relations.

Army spokesman: Yemeni forces

target oil depots, pipelines deep

inside Saudi Arabia

July 27th, 2:39pm

PressTV)

The Yemeni armed forces have carried out a string of operations

against strategic energy facilities deep inside Saudi Arabia,

striking oil depots and pipelines in reprisal for the Riyadh

regime’s ongoing military aggression and blockade

against their homeland.

“By the grace of God, a number of sensitive sites and installations

related to the supply and transport of crude oil from eastern

Saudi Arabia to [the port city of] Yanbu were targeted by

several drones in response to the Saudi enemy's drone

incursions into Yemeni airspace,” Army spokesman

Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced in a

statement on Monday.

He, however, did not provide any

information about the extent

of damage.

Satellite images show thick plumes of black smoke and raging fire at

the Abqaiq oil facility in southern Saudi Arabia. The installation had

come under attack by kamikaze drones and missiles hours earlier.

The Abqaiq oil processing plant --- operated by the state-owned

petroleum and natural gas company Saudi Aramco, reportedly

bypasses the Strait of Hormuz and delivers oil to the Red

Sea at the Yanbu terminal.

The facility houses the world's largest oil processing and crude

stabilization facility, and supplies approximately 5 percent of

the world's oil.

Red Sea shipping slumps after Yemen strikes on Saudi oil facilities:

Commercial shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait reportedly

drops to its lowest level in months after Yemeni forces targeted

Saudi oil facilities along the Red Sea coast.

The development came only a few days after the Yemeni army

claimed an attack on two Saudi oil tankers transiting through

the Red Sea.

“We targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named Encelia and Layla,

for their violation of the blockade decision issued by the

armed forces,” Saree said on Wednesday.

He said the operation was carried out “within the context of

breaking the unjust and oppressive siege imposed by the

Saudi enemy on our dear people for 12 years.”

Saree noted that it was intended to affirm “the equation of ‘siege

for a siege’” and Yemen's right to confront “Saudi-US injustice

and tyranny” and reclaim its wealth and legitimate rights.

Yemen declared on Monday that it would impose
“a maritime blockade” on Saudi Arabia,
effective immediately.

Military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced

in a televised statement that a ban on maritime navigation

associated with Saudi Arabia “has taken effect from

the time the statement was made.”

Saree cautioned that any escalation from Saudi Arabia

would provoke a “thorough and harsh response.”

___________________________________________________

Iran deputy speaker warns Ukraine

of ‘regret-inducing’ response

to any mischief in region

July 27th, 10:56am

(PressTV)

Iran's deputy parliament speaker has warned Ukraine

that any "mischievous" act in the region or the

Caspian Sea will be met with Tehran’s

"regret-inducing" response.

Hamid-Reza Haji Babaei issued the stark warning on Monday

as tensions escalate between Tehran and Kiev following a

Ukrainian drone strike on an Iranian commercial vessel

that killed one sailor.

"We warn Ukraine's masters that any mischief through your stooge

in the region and the Caspian Sea will be met with a regret-

inducing response from the great Iranian nation,"

he said.

He added that Iran would not allow the United States to determine

the time of war and ceasefire, stressing the importance of

standing firm in the face of Washington’s demands

and preventing it from acting as a rogue

element in the region.

“The will of the great Iranian nation has shown that

the United States ...is in a state of passivity,” the

lawmaker said, emphasizing that the US must

remain in this state in Iran’s political policy.

He questioned America's so-called peace and dialogue,

saying they are all equal to war.

Haji Babaei stressed the need for Iran to remain vigilant

because genuine understanding with the US will never

be achieved but “it is the nation's will that will always

be a determining factor."

Ukraine’s attack on Iranian commercial vessel

--------- aims to drag Europe into war: Iran FM

In a strongly worded post on X on Sunday, Iranian Foreign

Minister Abbas Araghchi said Ukraine’s military attack

on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea

was carried out at the Israeli regime's behest

in a bid to drag Europe into its war in the

West Asia region.

Araghchi said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

orchestrated the attack, which constituted a “blatant”

violation of the United Nations Charter.

In his remarks, Haji Babaei also emphasized the strategic

importance of the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a

major source of power for the Iranian nation and

the pinnacle of the country’s power that must

be protected.

He noted: that national unity remains the key to the country’s

progress, saying Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah

Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has repeatedly underscored the

importance of solidarity.

The lawmaker added that both Ayatollah Khamenei and the

Iranian nation remain committed to preserving the legacy

of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution and to

confronting the "global arrogance" front, emphasizing

that the country should continue moving forward on

that basis.

_____________________________________

Palestinian woman loses fetus after

Israeli forces delay ambulance at

West Bank checkpoint

July 27th, 10:45am

(PressTV)

A Palestinian woman, who was six months pregnant, lost her fetus

after Israeli forces delayed the ambulance carrying her at a

military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank, as

restrictions on Palestinian movement reached

levels not seen in decades.

Bashar al-Qaryouti, an ambulance officer from the town of Qaryut,

told the official Palestinian news agency WAFA on Monday - that

the Israeli forces blocked the ambulance at the Awarta military

checkpoint, located south of Nablus, after shutting its gates.

Qaryouti reported that the ambulance team was held for more than

30 minutes and subjected the pregnant woman, who was suffering

from severe bleeding, to a search despite her critical condition.

He added that Israeli soldiers ordered the crew to switch off

the ambulance’s engine, causing its onboard medical

support equipment to stop operating.

The ambulance was finally permitted to proceed to the hospital,

where the doctors succeeded in saving the woman’s life but

could not preserve her fetus, according to Qaryouti.

The incident comes nearly a week after 30-year-old Sajoud Fuqaha

from the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, died of a heart attack

after Israeli forces delayed an ambulance from entering the

town by closing an iron gate at its entrance.

Movement limitations have historically characterized life in the

West Bank; yet in the past 3 years, the number of roadblocks,

checkpoints, and various barriers has surged, hitting highs

not witnessed since the Second Intifada more than two

decades ago, according to the UN.

Palestinians report that the heightened restrictions have caused

considerable difficulties, hampering economic activity and

complicating both everyday life and emergencies.

The rise in movement limitations has emerged as one of the most

frequently mentioned complaints among Palestinians throughout

the West Bank.

As of October 7, 2023, after the start of the genocidal war on Gaza,

the Israeli military has set up numerous new gates at the

entrances of Palestinian communities, allowing roads

to be closed at short notice.

The United Nations reports a significant increase in roadblocks,

manned checkpoints, and closures created with earth mounds

and concrete barriers.

Data gathered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian

Affairs (OCHA) show that the number of barriers to movement ----

has hit its peak in 20 years.

According to OCHA, as of March 2026, there were 925 movement

obstacles across the West Bank — representing a 43 percent

increase over the average of 647 recorded annually

during the previous two decades.

____________________________________________

Any agreement with Israel
‘meaningless’ ....without

withdrawal from south
Lebanon: Amal
Movement MP

July 27th, 9:47am

(PressTV)

Lebanese lawmaker Qassem Hashem, from the political wing

of the Amal Movement says that any agreement with the Tel

Aviv regime will be “meaningless” without the withdrawal

of Israeli occupation forces from southern Lebanon.

Qassem Hashem, a member of the Development and Liberation bloc,

underlined the need to adhere to implementation of the ceasefire

between Lebanon and the Israeli regime, and the necessity for

the Israeli army .......to withdraw from the occupied areas in

southern Lebanon.

“The occupation should not continue indefinitely, and the Zionist

enemy must not have the upper hand by any means. Any deal or

agreement between the Beirut government and the Israeli

regime will be pointless without the latter’s withdrawal

from occupied areas [in southern Lebanon],”

Hashem said on Sunday.

He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s

emphasis on continuation of the occupation, and refusal

to pull military forces out of southern Lebanon carries

an important message to the Lebanese nation, and

should not be overlooked.

“Therefore, any future accord that does not force the Israeli troops

to withdraw from the occupied territories, whether through direct

pressure or a clear guarantee to expand the so-called pilot

zones, will be meaningless,” Hashem pointed out.

The Lebanese army says the ongoing Israeli attacks in southern

Lebanon are preventing its full deployment under a US-

mediated ceasefire agreement.

Qassem noted ---- that a national position is necessary to protect

Lebanon’s sovereignty and dignity and not to surrender to any

kind of dictate in the wake of preparations for a new round

of face-to-face negotiations with Israel, which have not

yielded any concrete results.

“This unified position must be a powerful factor in confronting

the Zionist regime’s ever-present threats,” the Lebanese

legislator said.

On March 2, Hezbollah launched military operations against the

Israeli regime in response to the US-Israeli aggression against

Iran, Israel’s repeated violations of the 2024 ceasefire, and

its continued occupation of Lebanese territory ---- in the

country’s south.

After the Iran-US ceasefire on 8 April, Tel Aviv was compelled to

accept a ceasefire in Lebanon as well, after Tehran demanded

an end to Israeli attacks on Lebanese soil as one of its

primary conditions in indirect negotiations

with Washington.

The Israeli military, however, quickly resumed its assaults

on southern Lebanon ---- in violation of the agreement.

The July 17 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between

Iran and the US, which was intended to bring the war to an end,

stipulated that hostilities would cease -- on all fronts, including

Lebanon. However, Israel again - violated that agreement and

failed to abide by its commitments.

On June 26, Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement,

mediated by the US, which outlines a phased withdrawal of

Israeli forces from all occupied territories in Lebanon,

starting with a pilot model in two zones that have

not been publicly revealed.

The agreement does not establish a timeline for the withdrawal,

tying its completion to the Lebanese army taking full security

responsibility in the areas that have been evacuated and

the disarmament of armed groups, specifically

referring to Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has rejected the agreement, saying the framework

deal legalizes the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon.

Amal Movement also rejected the so-called agreement, saying

that most of the deal’s clauses are detrimental to Lebanon’s

national interests ---------- and serve the interests of the

Israeli regime.

Official Lebanese statistics indicate that Israeli strikes in

Lebanon have resulted in 4,330 fatalities and left 12,236

others injured since March 2.

Israel continues to occupy swathes of southern Lebanon, with

some areas held for many years and others taken during the

recent war between October 2023 and November 2024.

________________________________________

CENTCOM chief urges halt to

Strait of Hormuz bombing

over 'limited' impact:

Report

July 27th, 9:31am

(PressTV)

Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) Brad Cooper

has reportedly recommended halting the US bombing of Iran

around the Strait of Hormuz, saying the offensive ....had

largely reached the limits of its effectiveness.

The report by Axios, citing two sources familiar with his

assessment, comes on Sunday, after the second night

in a row without US strikes on Iran, following nearly

two weeks of nightly attacks and retaliations by

Tehran - targeting US allies across the region.

According to Axios, Cooper gave his recommendation to the

Pentagon, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the White House,

ahead of a Friday meeting between US President

Donald Trump and senior advisers, during

which the president decided to pause

the attacks.

“It was an acknowledgement by both military and civilian

advisers to the president that there are limits to what

can be accomplished through military action, and

specifically an air power campaign,” the

report said.

Cooper said that there was little value in continuing the limited

strikes, claiming that any further action would require

escalating into a broader military aggression to

target sites left untouched during the

previous assault on Iran, which

began on February 28.

The sources said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen.

Dan Caine, also -- cautioned War Secretary Pete Hegseth and

Trump in private that a shortage of air defense interceptors

could hamper the ability to protect US forces and allies

in the region.

Following 13 consecutive nights.. of US attacks on southern

Iran that targeted civilian infrastructure, including bridges,

telecommunications networks and transport facilities,

Iran responded by striking US bases in the region

and once again closing the Strait of Hormuz.

Vessel traffic through the strategic waterway... remained well

below normal levels, with fewer than 10 commodity vessels

transiting the strait each day over the weekend.

The developments come amid heightened tensions between Iran

and the United States over security and navigation in the Strait

of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints

for global energy shipments.

Iran continues to exert ‘decisive control’

over Strait of Hormuz: Report

Iran and the US signed a Pakistani-brokered Memorandum

of Understanding (MoU) last month to end the US-Israeli

aggression against the Islamic Republic, which had

begun on February 28.

Under the understanding, Iran agreed to allow fee-free

maritime transit through the strait ......for 60 days.

In compliance with the MoU, the Islamic Republic devised

a special maritime route, for vessels to cross the choke-

point and warning vessels against using illegal routes.

The US has, however, been trying to escort transit through

the strait along an illegal passageway, prompting the

Islamic Republic to shut the corridor until

Washington ended its interference in

regional maritime movement.

_________________________________________

Iranian army pleges stronger response

to any future aggression

July 27th, 9:22am

(PressTV)

The Iranian Army has pledged to confront any future aggression

against the country with a stronger and more forceful response.

In a statement marking the anniversary of Operation Mersad and

honouring the martyrs of the Islamic Revolution, the Army noted

that the 1988 operation, carried out during the 8-year imposed

war on Iran by Iraq’s Ba’athist regime, stands as a symbol of

Iran’s strength and resilience.

It added that the operation reflected the determination

of the country’s armed forces to defend the nation.

“The fifth of Mordad (July 27) is one of the golden chapters in the

history of the Iranian nation’s resistance and demonstrates that

the Army and the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran

have always been prepared to confront ruthless enemies and

their mercenary proxies,” read the statement.

“They will sever the hand - of any aggressor that dares to

encroach upon even a fraction of the country’s territory,”

the statement added.

In the final stages of the war imposed on Iran.... in the 1980s, the

Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MKO) terrorist group, launched a large-scale

military attack against Iran, under the name “Operation Eternal

Light,” with full support from Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist army.

In response, Iranian armed forces swiftly mobilized and launched

“Operation Mersad” near Chaharzebar in Kermanshah province.

Within days, the MKO’s advance was halted, and the group

suffered heavy losses. Estimates indicate that more than

1,500 MKO fighters were killed in the failed assault.

The Army also highlighted the performance of Iran’s armed forces in

the 12-day US-Israeli war on Iran in June 2025, the recent US-Israeli

aggression which began on February 28, and the Battle of Hormuz,

saying those operations - demonstrated Iran’s indigenous military

strength, national resolve, and confidence in divine support.

“Today, the Army, alongside the other Armed Forces, stands as

always on the front line of defending the country’s territorial

integrity, the Islamic Republic, and the Iranian nation. It

has already set the depth of the enemy’s front, as a

target for any potential hostile move,” the

statement said.

The statement added that Iran’s armed forces remain on full alert

across the country, from the western highlands and the Mersad

region ---- to the Strait of Hormuz in the south.

The army “will not hesitate in safeguarding the country’s

independence and territorial integrity and will respond

to any enemy aggression ---- with even harsher and

more crushing strikes,” it warned.

____________________________________________

UN chief: Golan Heights belong to Syria,

Israeli violations must end

July 27th, 9:08am

(PressTV)

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, has firmly declared

that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are Syrian territory,

urging the Tel Aviv regime to stop violations of Syria's

sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Guterres made the statement during a press conference on Saturday

following his meeting with Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, head of Syria’s

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham-led regime. He was in Damascus marking the

first visit by a UN secretary-general to Syria since 2009, before the

14-year US-Israeli covert war on the Arab country began.

"I'd like to remind the international community that the Golan

Heights are Syrian territory," he said. "Violations of Syria's

sovereignty and territorial integrity are unacceptable

and must cease."

He condemned the Israeli regime's ongoing violations of Syria’s

sovereignty and expressed hope for a future determined by the

Syrians themselves and "defined by peace, dignity, and

opportunity" in Syria.

Guterres pledged a stronger UN role in supporting Syria's future,

stressing the need for international “partnership and solidarity.”

"No country emerges from a very severe conflict and rebuilds itself

on its own," the UN chief said. "We have no UN agenda for Syria.

Our agenda is the agenda of the Syrian government and the

Syrian people."

The secretary general is scheduled to address Syria's

parliament on Monday before leaving for Cyprus.

Separately, in an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday, Jolani said

he is actively working with several countries to reach a security

agreement with Israel, insisting -- that such a deal would not

compromise Syria's right to the occupied Golan Heights.

Jolani, once affiliated with al-Qaeda and Daesh, also ruled out

“any military intervention in Lebanon,” saying discussions

were underway with the Lebanese government on

solutions that would help ensure the

country's safety.

"The solution in Lebanon is not necessarily a security one,

and we are working on a comprehensive approach to the

crisis," he said, noting that "any chaos in Lebanon....

could have repercussions for Syria."

He voiced support for "the Lebanese state's monopoly over

arms," implicitly supporting Hezbollah's disarmament.

Since late 2024, following the fall of president Bashar al-Assad

government during an Israeli-backed onslaught overwhelming

Syria, Israeli forces have advanced into a United Nations-

designated Area of Separation created in 1974.... after

a UN-brokered ceasefire.

The 235-square-kilometre zone was originally intended as neutral

territory to prevent escalation, patrolled by UN peacekeepers.

Most countries still reject Tel Aviv’s annexation

of the broader Golan Heights, seized in 1967.

The regime alleges that some of its deeper strikes inside Syria are

meant to defend the Druze minority, a claim met with skepticism

by independent analysts, who note that the Israeli military has

simultaneously bombed civilian infrastructure and political

targets far from any verified sectarian frontlines.

The Druze, themselves, have also

rejected “Israeli protection.”

Trump, has embraced the new Syrian ruler, who rose to power

as a result of the Israeli-backed military drive. He has hosted

him at the White House.

_______________________________________

Iran ‘will not allow’ US to dictate

timing of war and peace:

FM spox

July 27th, 10:13am

(PressTV)

The Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson says Iran will not allow the

United States to determine when war begins or ends, stressing

that the country's decisions on defense and diplomacy.... are

guided solely by its national interests and national security.

Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks at a press conference on

Monday --- in response to a question about media reports

claiming that Iran and the US had responded to a joint

proposal by Pakistan and Qatar for a ceasefire and a

return to negotiations, while US weapons transfers

to the region continued.

Addressing Iran's decision-making process, Baghaei said

the country's policies are shaped --- through established

institutional mechanisms rather than external pressure.

“As a matter of principle, we are neither concerned about oil

nor about America's concerns. What matters to us is our

national interests and national expediency,” he said.

“Determining a country's national interests and expediency, is not

a one-variable equation; it involves many different considerations.

Ultimately, what guides our decisions is our national security and

national interests. Decisions in this regard are made through a

fully transparent and well-defined process ....involving all the

relevant decision-making bodies of the Islamic Republic,”

the official went on.

“We have never allowed, and never will allow, the United States to

dictate the timing of war and peace. We will continue to defend

ourselves ....for as long as our national interests and national

expediency require. Whenever we conclude that diplomacy

can serve as an effective instrument for safeguarding our

national interests, we will certainly make use of it.”

‘Ukrainian attack on Iranian vessel
bears dire consequences’

Elsewhere in his remarks, the spokesperson strongly
condemned a recent deadly Ukrainian attack on an
Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea,
saying the atrocity took place.. while the
Islamic Republic --- has never had any
involvement in the conflict between
Russia and Ukraine.

The atrocity serves... as an “unlawful act” --- that would not
go unanswered, he added, asserting --- that countries that
consider themselves supporters of the Ukrainian regime
should also be accountable -- for recent developments.

“[Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky's owners should
control him ----- and exercise caution” in light of the dire
consequences that such aggression could have, the
spokesperson stated, describing the attack as a
symbolic action taken to attract international
attention and “demonstrate your limited
weight in international affairs.”

Pointing to scheduled meetings of Zelensky and Israeli
prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu with US President
Donald Trump, Baghaei criticized the destructive
alignment among the trio.

“This grouping can only be described as a kind of triangle of
evil,” he said, adding, "Such triangles have never had any
positive effect on international peace and security.''

‘Iran seeks good relations with
neighbouring countries’

The official stressed that Iran does not seek confrontation
with its neighbours. “We have absolutely no hostility
towards any of them. On the contrary, there are
extensive ties and shared interests between
Iran and the countries on the southern
shores of the Persian Gulf.”

Some regional countries have, however, allowed their
territories to be used by parties carrying out attacks
against Iran & in certain cases, have independently
participated in those operations --- prompting
retaliatory action by the Islamic Republic
against US interests in those states,
he added.

According to the official, the Islamic Republic views such
cooperation ----- as an instance of a “war crime” and
expects it to cease.

‘Iran-Oman talks constructive,
have nothing to do with US’

Baghaei also provided an update on bilateral talks between
Iran & Oman, saying several rounds of discussions held on
Friday and Saturday had been “useful and constructive.”

He said the negotiations concern the management of
maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and are
aimed at developing mechanisms.... to ensure safe
navigation while respecting the sovereign rights
of the two coastal states.

Baghaei emphasized that the negotiations
are strictly bilateral.

“These negotiations have no connection whatsoever
with the United States. They are a bilateral matter
between Iran and Oman, and the talks.....
are continuing.”

______________________________________

Red Sea shipping slumps -------
after Yemen strikes on Saudi
oil facilities: Report

July 27th, 7:59am

(PressTV)

Commercial shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has
reportedly dropped to its lowest level in months after
Yemeni forces targeted Saudi oil facilities along
the Red Sea coast.

According to shipping data released by Kpler on Monday,
only 11 commodity vessels transited the Bab el-Mandeb
Strait on Sunday, as the Yemenis ---- seek to block
Saudi exports.

The decline in maritime traffic pushed prices for physical
crude cargoes in West Asia, Europe and Africa to
two-month highs last week.

Of the vessels passing through Bab el-Mandeb on Sunday,
seven were oil tankers, including three entering the Red
Sea. Two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) were en
route to Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port to load crude,
while the third was a Russian-linked tanker.

Four vessels departed the Red Sea the same day, including
the Hong Kong-flagged VLCC New Explorer, carrying
around two million barrels of Saudi and Emirati
crude, bound for China’s Ningbo port.

Other outbound shipments included one million barrels of
Russian crude destined for China ...and approximately
750,000 barrels of Saudi crude heading to Pakistan.

Another Hong Kong-flagged VLCC, New Pearl, carrying two
million barrels of Saudi crude, was also transiting Bab el-
Mandeb toward China’s Zhoushan port... becoming the
4th Chinese-bound supertanker to leave the Red Sea
since the Yemenis announced a naval blockade.

Yemen hit three Saudi-linked tankers in two days: Report

Exclusive source tells Al-Mayadeen no Saudi oil vessel has
passed through Bab el-Mandeb since the blockade began;
16 ships turned back in one week.

On July 13, Saudi forces struck Sana’a International Airport,

violating a 4-year-long ceasefire, and prompting Yemen’s
armed forces to resume retaliatory operations.

In the following days, the Yemeni forces targeted strategic
sites in Saudi Arabia, including Abha International Airport
----------- in a direct response to the continued Saudi
military aggression.

Last Monday, Ansarullah announced the start of a “siege for
siege” policy, declaring a naval blockade against Saudi
maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The movement said the measure was intended to match
the restrictions & military pressure imposed on Yemen,
stressing ------- that its operations will continue until
attacks on the country come to an end.

Yemen’s military spokesman Yahya Saree also said
on Saturday - that the resistance group targeted
facilities belonging to Saudi state oil company
Aramco --- in the cities of Jizan and Yanbu.

Meanwhile, vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz
- also remained well below normal levels. Fewer than
10 commodity vessels crossed the strategic water-
way each day.... over the weekend.

Seven vessels transited the strait on Sunday, including
three Iranian-linked oil product tankers departing
the Persian Gulf.

Party General Secretary and President, To Lam visits and inspects forces
searching for and recovering martyrs' remains at Le Thi Rieng Park
in Ho Chi Minh city on July 17, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Today, July 27th, is,

War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day

War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day, is

observed annually on July 27.

This day is dedicated to honouring the sacrifices made by

Vietnamese military personnel who died or were injured

in the line of duty during military engagements in

Vietnam and abroad.

The observance has its roots in the First Indochina War

and has evolved over the years, to include not only

wounded veterans, but also - those who died in

military service or the revolutionary struggle.

It serves as a time for the entire nation to express deep

gratitude to the heroes and martyrs who have

contributed to the nation's independence

and freedom.

Carrying forward the nation’s tradition of gratitude

The commemoration of War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day

(July 27, 1947–2026) honours those who fought and

sacrificed for national peace and independence.

This tradition of gratitude continues through the

nationwide 500-Day-and-Night Campaign

to search for, recover and identify

martyrs’ remains.

UK legislators call for comprehensive

arms embargo, settlement trade ban

on Israel

July 27th, 6:06am

(PressTV)

A coalition of 80 British lawmakers and peers has called on

newly appointed British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to

impose sanctions on Israel -- including a comprehensive

arms embargo and a ban on trade that supports illegal

settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

In a letter, spearheaded by MP Kim Johnson, they urged the

government to “decisively change its stance to uphold the

rights of the Palestinian people and to prevent Israel’s

continued violation of international law.”

It also called on the government to acknowledge the UN

Independent Commission of Inquiry report, which

validated Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Alongside recognition of the UN finding, the lawmakers urged

the government to fully enforce the International Court of

Justice' advisory opinion, delivered on July 19, 2024.

It holds that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories

is unlawful, that Israel should put an end to that occupation,

desist from creating new settlements, and evacuate those

already established.

“The previous administration ---- has willfully ignored the rulings of

international courts. It has still failed to issue a formal response

to the July 2024 International Court of Justice judgment

- which requires Britain to cease all actions that aid or

assist [Israel’s] grave violations of international law,”

the letter read.

It added, “Now is the opportunity for this government and for you,

as the new Prime Minister, to truly turn a new page.”

The letter bore the signatures of prominent legislators,

including Diane Abbott, Jeremy Corbyn, Baroness

Jenny Jones, and Baroness Warsi.

In an op-ed for Labour Outlook, Johnson stated that Palestine

has emerged as the “defining test” of the Labour Party’s

commitment to the notion --- that international law

applies to all.

“If we condemn violations in one part of the world while excusing

or ignoring them elsewhere, we undermine the very rules-based

international order that Britain claims to defend,” she said.

“Burnham tells us --- he has a plan to renew confidence in Labour. If

that renewal is to mean anything, it must begin by making a clean

break with the failures of Starmerism on Palestine. If we are truly

serious about turning the page, there could be no clearer place

to begin,” Johnson noted.

The letter is supported by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which

has been advocating for Burnham to distance himself from former

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s disgraceful legacy by implementing

extensive sanctions against Israel - comprising a complete arms

embargo, a cessation - of all military collaboration &
diplomatic support - and a total ban on all trade.

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.

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.

What have we got to lose?