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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

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

the US-led invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq

--- according to the California-based investigative

organization, Project Censored.

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

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

International Studies at Brown University.

DeBar told Press TV that the Iraq war

was illegal from the very beginning.

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

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

any of those nations are signatories to the original UN

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

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

approved by the US Senate in the 1940s.

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

“And under the Nuremberg standards, which would then

apply, each and every death consequent – intentional

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

condoning of the US action there, by the media

or public officials, or any act facilitating that,

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

there’s a death penalty for that,” the

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

with the word impunity. And we might bookend with that

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

end to that impunity, until the world sees the major

contradiction in all international relations, is US,

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

continue until this eats our species,”

A damning White House memo had revealed details of the

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

Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush

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

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

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

The sensational memo, revealed that Blair had agreed to

support the war a year before the invasion even started

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

The document also disclosed that Blair agreed to act as a

spin doctor for Bush and convince a skeptical public that

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass

Destruction, which actually did not exist.

In response, Bush would flatter Blair and give the

impression that London was not Washington’s

poodle but an equal partner in the

“special relationship.”

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

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

will follow our lead in the Middle East."

Blair has always denied the claim that he and Bush

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

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

that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.

The Powell memo, however, showed how Blair and

Bush secretly prepared the Iraq war plot behind

closed doors at Crawford.

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

tactical and public affairs lines, that he believes will

strengthen global support for our common cause.”

People hold up a banner as they protest

against Israel at the entrance of the

International Criminal Court

Death toll from US-Israeli

aggression against Iran

crosses 1,200

March 5th, 3:13pm

(PressTV)

At least 1230 people, mostly civilians, have so far been

martyred in the ongoing US-Israeli aggression against

the Islamic Revolution.

The Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs..... a body

affiliated with the government, in a statement Thursday,

announced that -- at least 1,230 people have been

martyred since Saturday when the US, along

with the Israeli regime, launched their

aggression against Iran.

The coordinated attacks targeted mostly

civilian areas in Tehran and other cities.

In the first wave of attacks, Leader of the Islamic

Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and

some top-ranking military commanders were

martyred on Saturday.

In recent days, Iranian mourners have held funerals

for the hundreds of victims in the capital Tehran &

other cities - across various parts of the country.

In the past five days, the US and Israel have attacked

civilian targets, including schools, hospitals, sports

facilities, heritage sites and residential localities.

Iran has responded by launching waves of missile and drone

barrages at targets deep inside the occupied territories, as

well as at US bases across the region.

Senior Iranian officials have asserted that any deliberate

assault by the US and Israeli regime on Iran’s civilian

and cultural heritage sites constitutes a "flagrant

breach of international humanitarian law and

an undisputed war crime."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that Iran had

been left with no choice but to defend itself in the face of

military attacks by the United States and Israel.

Pezeshkian made the remarks on Wednesday evening on his

X account, in a message addressed to regional leaders,
emphasizing Iran’s respect for the sovereignty of

their countries.

__________________________________________

Iran slams US-Israeli attack on

Tehran's 12,000-seat Azadi

sports complex as
war crime

March 5th, 3:10pm

(PressTV)

Iran’s sports minister has strongly condemned a US-Israeli

aggression against facilities inside Tehran’s 12,000-seat

Azadi Sports Complex, calling the attack a violation of

international law --- and a war crime.

Speaking in a live video call with the IRIB’s News Network,

Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali said several

sports venues had been targeted in Thursday’s attack.

He said such strikes violate international rules

protecting sports facilities during wartime.

“Unfortunately, today several of our stadiums were targeted,”

Donyamali said. “According to the Olympic Charter and

global rules, attacking sports venues is a war crime.”

According to Iranian officials, a 12,000-seat indoor volleyball

arena inside the Azadi complex was destroyed in the strike.

The attack also leveled dormitories and a newly built building

belonging to Iran’s Cycling Federation, while blast waves

shattered windows in nearby facilities, including

the complex’s swimming pool.

Donyamali said the stadiums were empty, when they were

struck but added that civilians in the surrounding areas

were injured by the blasts.

“Although the stadiums were empty, people in the surrounding

areas were wounded and harmed as a result of the military

attack,” he said.

Iranian sports officials and federation heads

also vehemently condemned the attack.

Alireza Sohrabian, the head of Iran’s Canoeing Federation, said

the destruction of sports, educational and medical facilities

violates international humanitarian principles.

“The destruction of sports spaces --- is among the actions

prohibited under international rules during war,” he said,

adding that part of the Canoeing Federation’s facilities

had also been damaged in the attack.

Meanwhile, Iranian Weightlifting Federation president, Sajjad

Anoushiravani said his federation’s building inside the Azadi

complex was also damaged and pledged to raise the issue
with the global sports authorities.

“In the first opportunity, we will send a letter to the

international federation --- and state our position,”

he said, urging the international organizations

to respond.

The strike on the Azadi complex is part of a broader series of

attacks targeting civilian infrastructure across the country

during the ongoing US-Israeli aggression.

Earlier this week, a primary school in the southern city of

Minab was bombed, leaving around 175 female students

dead and many others injured.

Iranian sports community issues condemnation

In a separate collective statement, the Iranian sports

community, including national sports federations

and elite athletes, described the attacks as a

"violation of the sanctity of the homeland"

and a direct assault on the "identity

and vitality of the nation."

The statement said that for decades, the iconic

12,000-seat stadium in Tehran served as the

"beating heart" of Iranian national sports

and a central hub for international

competitions.

The statement also condemned the US-Israeli attack on a

local gymnasium in the Lamerd County in Fars Province,

which resulted in the martyrdom of a group of sports

professionals, including coaches and

student athletes.

The statement highlighted - that these individuals were killed

while wearing their athletic uniforms, preparing to represent

their country.

It emphasized that the targeting of athletic venues constitutes

a flagrant violation of the Olympic Charter, which establishes

sports as a symbol of global peace and solidarity.

"Even the most basic human principles and the explicit

provisions of the Olympic Charter - regarding the

protection of sports as a sanctuary for peace

and global solidarity... have been ignored

by these self-proclaimed human rights

defenders," the communique stated.

The family of Iranian sports vowed: that the destruction

of physical infrastructure will not dampen their resolve.

"The roofs of our halls may have collapsed, but the sky-

high will and determination of this land's athletes

remain ....unreachable," the statement said.

The community concluded that the blood of the athletes

in Lamerd and the ruins of the Azadi hall serve as a

message of resistance ---- and provide double

motivation for future national endeavours.

The strike on the Azadi complex is part of a broader series of

attacks targeting civilian infrastructure across the country

during the ongoing US-Israeli aggression.

_________________________________________

Iran won't stop its retaliation until

the aggressor is punished:

Speaker Ghalibaf

March 5th, 1:48pm

(PressTV)

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament,

in a statement of unwavering national resolve against the US

and Israeli aggression -- said the country’s retaliatory strikes

against the aggressors will continue until they are punished.

In a post on X on Thursday, Ghalibaf emphasized the

undeniable evidence of the effectiveness of Iran's

defensive andretaliatory operations, saying,

"Aren't US commanders reporting on the increasing

effective and precise Iran strikes and the painful

casualties they have suffered?”

“US lawmakers have said that they don't have an exit plan,

but in the media, they bluff to control the markets. We

won't stop until the aggressor is punished," the

speaker added.

In response to the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, the

naval and aerospace units of the Islamic Revolution

Guards Corps and the Islamic Republic’s army

--- have launched massive missile strikes

against US military assets in regional

countries and on military targets in

the Israeli-occupied territories

since Saturday.

Iran's armed forces have demonstrated superior precision

and strategic impact --- in responding to the illegal and

unprovoked aggressive strikes by the US and Israel

that led to the assassination of Leader of the

Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali

Khamenei and some top-ranking

military commanders.

Iran’s strikes have prompted Washington to close its

embassies in many regional countries, urging US

nationals ------- to flee the region.

Media reports from US military sources themselves

acknowledge the growing toll inflicted by Iranian

missile and drone operations, which have

targeted bases and assets in West Asia

used to launch attacks on Iranian soil

and interests.

These admissions reveal heavy losses among US personnel,

which have far exceeded the minimized figures Washington

publicly releases, exposing the vulnerability of aggressive

forces in the region.

Ghalibaf's reference to US lawmakers' private admissions of

lacking a viable exit strategy from the war underscores the

quagmire facing the US and Israeli aggressors in West Asia.

While Trump administration officials attempt to project fake

confidence through media statements aimed at stabilizing

financial markets and investor sentiment, behind closed

doors, the reality is one of strategic deadlock and

mounting frustration.

According to Forbes, the United States’ expanding military

aggression against Iran is already carrying a multibillion-

dollar price tag, with early estimates suggesting US

taxpayers have absorbed more than $1 billion in

costs in just the opening phase of the war.

Budget analysts warn that if the war continues, total direct

military expenses could climb to between $40 billion and

$95 billion, with broader economic damage - potentially

far higher.

______________________________________

Iranian armed forces deny launching

drone strike toward Azerbaijan

March 5th, 1:39pm

(TassTV)

The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces has rejected

reports that Iranian forces ....launched drones toward the

Republic of Azerbaijan - holding the “fake” Israeli regime

responsible - for aerial aggression against the country.

In a statement on Thursday, the General Staff categorically

rejected reports that a drone attack was launched from

Iran toward neighbouring Azerbaijan, stressing - that

Tehran respects the sovereignty of its neighbours.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, while respecting the sovereignty

of all countries, particularly of Muslim and neighbouring
countries, strongly rejects any ''drone launch'' by its

Armed Forces toward the Republic of Azerbaijan,”

it stated.

The statement emphasized, that there is a precedent for the

“fake Israeli regime” taking such actions, through various

means, in an attempt to disrupt relations between the

Muslim countries.

The drone attack was carried out by the occupying entity

to “frame” the Islamic Republic, stressed the General

Staff in the statement.

Two civilians were reportedly wounded after drones struck

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic earlier on Thursday,

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement,

adding that one drone struck the terminal

building of Nakhchivan International

Airport, while another landed near

a school in Shakarabad village.

Shortly after the incident, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry

summoned Iran’s ambassador to Baku, Mojtaba

Damirchilou, and presented him with a

formal note of protest.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran also denied media

reports of an attack against Türkiye,

________________________________________

IRGC strikes critical Israeli military sites

with Khorramshahr-4 missiles

in latest wave

March 5th, 1:17pm

(PressTV)

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced early
on Wednesday that its aerospace force targeted the critical

Israeli military infrastructure with heavy Khorramshahr-4

ballistic missiles, in the 19th wave of the True Promise

4 Operation.

In a statement, the IRGC said the super-heavy missiles,

each fitted with a one-ton class warhead, were

launched in the pre-dawn hours.

The targets of the strike were central Tel Aviv, Ben-Gurion

Airport and Squadron 27 of the Israeli Air Force at the

airport, according to the statement.

It said the strategic salvo was preceded by attack drones

and that the strike package penetrated “seven layers” of

regional & domestic air defenses to reach its objectives.

Khorramshahr-4 is one of Iran's most advanced weapons, a

roughly 13-metre missile with a boost weight of nearly 30

tonnes and a maneuverable re-entry warhead (MaRV)

capable of carrying over 1,000 kilograms of

explosive payload.

The IRGC statement also said that in the previous wave... its

forces had successfully struck some 20 US military targets

across Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

The statement described the strikes as part of a coordinated,

multi-axis action by Iran’s armed forces, that exceeded US

and Israeli expectations, and had altered the operational

calculus of the ongoing war imposed on the

Islamic Republic.

In the statement, the IRGC further said US troops were

fleeing regional bases and seeking shelter in hotels

in host countries, while decrying the US military

------ for using civilian facilities in Persian Gulf

states ..as a cover for their military activity.

The statement also warned that such movements are under

constant intelligence surveillance and that Iranian forces

remain prepared to target these aggressor troops.

The IRGC says at least 560 US troops have been killed

in retaliatory operations --- and many more injured,

since Saturday.

____________________________________

US -- F-15E Strike Eagle multi-role attack

fighter jet downed by IRGC air defenses

March 5th, 12:31pm

(PressTV

A US F-15E Strike Eagle multi-role attack fighter jet

has been successfully targeted and downed by

the Iranian air defense systems.

In a statement on Thursday, the public relations wing

of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)

confirmed that the high-end fighter jet had

been downed,

The statement added that the IRGC’s modern aerospace

defense systems targeted the fighter jet on Wednesday

morning, on the outskirts of the country’s south-

western borders.

Some sections of Israeli media had earlier reported on

the downing of an advanced US fighter jet over the

Iranian skies.

The fate of the pilot is not known yet.

It comes amid the continued US-Israeli war of aggression

against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has claimed

over 1,000 lives, mostly civilians, so far.

Iranian retaliatory operations, under the banner True Promise

4, have targeted Israeli military and intelligence deep inside

the occupied territories as well as US occupation military

bases scattered across the West Asia region.

The US government remains tight-lipped about the real death

toll of its soldiers in the Iranian strikes, even though Iran’s

top security official, Ali Larijani, on Wednesday said

over 500 US soldiers have been killed in the first

few days of the imposed war.

The US, along with the Israeli regime - launched an

unprovoked aggression against Iran on Saturday,

assassinating the Leader of the Islamic

Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali

Khamenei, as well as some

top-ranking military

commanders.

The Iranian leadership has vowed to retaliate

--- with full force --- against the aggressors.

Before the downing of the F-15E Strike Eagle multi-role

attack fighter jet, a few other US fighter jets were

also downed on the border with Kuwait, earlier

this week.

A number of Israeli military’s Hermes drones,

have also been downed in the past five days.

____________________________________________

Iran won't target its neighbours,

but US bases across region:

FM spokesperson

March 5th, 11:43am

(PressTV)

The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

said the Islamic Republic is not targeting its neighbouring

countries --- but US bases across the West Asian region.

Speaking in an interview with the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya

television news network on Thursday, Esmaeil Baghaei

emphasized that Iran has been caught in an unlawful

offensive --- by the US and Israeli regimes.

The latest measures taken by Iran in the region are merely

meant to defend itself, Baghaei said, noting: that Iran has

no animosity or hostility towards neighbouring countries

and also, has no intention to attack these states.

He underlined that Iranian Armed Forces are precisely

targeting the US bases in the region, reiterating that

Tehran extends the hand of friendship towards all

neighbouring countries and Muslim states.

The Iranian diplomat described the ongoing US-Israeli war

on the country as a major crime and an open aggression.

The Iranian authorities, he said, had earlier warned of a

decisive and comprehensive retaliation in the case of

any act of aggression against the Islamic Republic.

What is happening in the region could be best explained as

Iran's self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and

the principles of international law, he added.

Baghaei warned that Israeli Mossad agents are evidently

trying to carry out acts of sabotage in Saudi Arabia and

elsewhere in the region - in a bid to implicate Iran.

He stated that the Tel Aviv regime is seeking to provoke

regional states against Iran, and sow seeds of division

and discord among them.

Baghaei also dismissed reports on Iran's role in the attack on

the Saudi Aramco oil facilities in the energy-rich Ras al-

Tanurah region, terming it a false-flag operation.

Commenting on attacks by resistance groups on US assets

in the region and Israeli sites in the occupied territories,

Baghaei emphasized that these groups are extremely

angry about the assassination of the Leader of the

Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei

as he was not only a highly distinguished

political figure, but also a source of

jurisprudence... for millions of

Muslims worldwide.

It is natural for them to express their profound rage

and wrath in different forms, the Iranian

diplomat stated.

___________________________________________

‘Unacceptable cowardice’: Indians slam

Modi govt’s silence over US attack on

Iranian ship

March 5th, 11:36am

(PressTV)

Iran's Dena frigate, a guest of India’s Navy carrying

almost 130 sailors, was struck by the US Navy

in international waters on Wednesday.

Social media has been abuzz with condemnations of

the US attack on an Iranian frigate in international

waters after taking part in a naval drill in India,

with netizens ---- slamming the Indian

government’s silence over the

terrorist act.

The leader of India’s main opposition party has slammed

the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its “reckless

abdication of India’s strategic & national interests,”

amid the US-Israeli war of aggression against

the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mallikarjun Kharge, President of the Indian National Congress,

in a Thursday post on X, formerly Twitter, said there has

been no statement of concern or condolence from the

BJP-led Indian government by Prime Minister

Narendra Modi ----- on the US attack on an

Iranian ship - that was returning home,

after taking part in a naval exercise

in India.

“An Iranian ship, a guest of India, was returning unarmed from

the International Fleet Review 2026, hosted by us, and was

torpedoed in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). No statement

of concern or condolence. PM Modi remains mute,”

Kharge wrote.

“Why lecture us on the doctrines of MAHASAGAR and India

being a ‘Net Security Provider’ in the IOR, when you can’t

react ---- to what is happening in your own backyard.”

Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying 130 Iranian

sailors, was hit by US forces in international waters

without any warning on Wednesday. Many

casualties are feared.

Rajdeep Sardesai, a senior Indian journalist, also questioned

the Indian government’s silence over the US attack on an

Iranian warship.

“An Iranian warship conducts a naval exercise with our Navy

on our coastline just days ago, with the President of India
in attendance. Leaves for home and is torpedoed by an

American missile in the Indian Ocean not far away

from our waters, leaving over 80 dead, many

injured,” he wrote on X.

“The ship was not engaged in any war-like activity when

attacked . We don’t have any LEGAL responsibility but

MORAL responsibility surely! Will we tell the

Americans that they have crossed a

line here.”

Supriya Shrinate, a senior member of the Congress party, and

social media influencer, said the “cowardice” on the part of

the government and ruling party is ---- “unacceptable.”

“These Iranian navy men parading at an event in India, were

our guests. Invited by us. US submarine targeted their ship

and killed them while they were returning home. But not a

squeak from PM Modi. This cowardice is unacceptable,”

she wrote.

Amit Mayank, a social media user - shared a conversation of

the Indian ambassador in New Delhi speaking to media

persons following the US attack on an Iranian vessel.

“Are you in touch with the Indian side? Iran Ambassador to

India — No. We have no word, no message. Journalist —

Why no communication? Iran Amb — You can ask

them,” he wrote.

“Iranian ship was India’s Guest. Yet not a single word

from Modi Govt. This is new age slavery by Modi.”

India-based strategic affairs analyst Brahma Chellaney said

the United States had “effectively turned India’s maritime

neighbourhood into a war zone, raising uncomfortable

questions about India’s authority in its

own backyard”.

Prominent lawyer Prashant Bhushan also said the Iranian

frigate that was torpedoed off India’s coast by the US

submarine was in Visakhapatnam for the

International Fleet Review 2026,

on India’s invitation.

“No condemnation of this or the murder of Iran’s leader

by the Modi govt, shows that Modi has become a

puppet of USA & Israel,” he wrote in a post

... on X.

“India is paying a heavy price for Modi’s

cowardice & possible blackmail.”

Earlier on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

vowed that the United States will “bitterly regret” sinking

Iran’s Frigate Dena in international waters, which led

to the killing of dozens of sailors.

The attack occurred hundreds of miles across the Indian

Ocean - off the southern coast of Sri Lanka - away from

the Persian Gulf, where a US-Israeli military coalition

has been striking Iran in an unprovoked war of

aggression since Saturday.

“The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away

from Iran’s shores. Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy

carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international

waters without warning. Mark my words: The U.S. will

come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set,”

Araghchi wrote in a post on X on Thursday.

____________________________________________

Trump's ‘peace through strength' stained

with blood of innocent children: Larijani

March 5th, 11:49am

(PressTV)

Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, has lashed out at

the United States and Israel after a deadly airstrike on

a school in southern Iran, telling US President Donald

Trump that the slogan of “peace through strength”

has been “stained with blood.”

In a post on X, on Thursday, Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s

Supreme National Security Council, condemned the brutal

crime carried out by Washington and Tel Aviv.

“With the mass martyrdom of innocent girls in a Minab school

at the hands of American-Israeli criminals, the theory of

'peace through strength' has been stained with blood,”

he wrote.

Addressing the US president directly, Larijani added:

“Mr. Trump! Was this the anthem of freedom you

composed for Iran?! God exposes the

deceivers by their own hand.”

The remarks came after a devastating strike on a primary

school in the southern Iranian city of Minab that killed

nearly 170 people, most of them children.

According to Iranian officials - multiple Israeli-US airstrikes

targeted the two-story Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school

on Saturday morning. Five air raids struck the girls’ and

boys’ sections of the school - at 11:30 a.m., followed

hours later by another strike at 3:40 p.m. ---- on a

nearby clinic.

Dozens of female teachers and four parents

were also among the victims.

The massacre occurred amid a broader escalation that

began earlier the same day, when the US and Israel

launched an illegal act of aggression against Iran.

During the onslaught, Israeli-US strikes assassinated the

Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed

Ali Khamenei, along with several high ranking

military commanders.

Iranian officials say the wave of airstrikes has so far

killed at least 1,045 people across the country.

In response, Iran’s armed forces began launching waves

of missile and drone attacks against Israeli-occupied

territories as well as US military assets in regional

countries, describing the retaliation, as a lawful

response to aggression.

The latest escalation also comes against the backdrop of

earlier statements by Trump, who had told Iranians that

“help is on the way” ----- after economic protests in

January were hijacked by foreign intelligence

networks --- and turned violent.

Iran’s security chief: Does America come

first or Israel with 500 US soldiers killed?

Iran’s security chief says Trump dragged Americans

into war with Iran........ just to please Netanyahu.

_________________________________________________

UN rights experts condemn unlawful

US-Israeli aggression against Iran

March 5th, 5:27am

(PressTV)

UN human rights experts have denounced the unlawful act of

aggression waged by the United States and Israel against

Iran, saying the assault violates the UN Charter’s article

on prohibition of the use of force.

“Unprovoked attacks by the US and Israel —— launched amid

diplomatic negotiations and without authorization from the

Security Council — violate the fundamental prohibition on

the use of force, sovereign equality, territorial integrity,

and the duty to peacefully settle disputes under

Article 2 of the UN Charter. They also violate

the right to life,” they said on Wednesday.

They also noted that illegal military intervention is not

a solution to Iran’s nuclear issue, among others.

The strikes against Iran are part of a broader pattern of US-

Israeli “unilateral actions destabilizing the entire region

including by causing the arbitrary displacement of

thousands,” they added.

The experts further condemned the attack on a primary school

in the southern Iranian city of Minab that killed more than 165

people, including 110 young girls, and injured many others.

They also highlighted attacks on other densely populated

areas, such as the Iranian Red Crescent, and numerous

other hospitals, including Tehran’s Gandhi Hospital

and Khatam al-Anbia Hospital.

“The targeting of civilians, educational facilities, and medical

institutions --- constitutes a grave violation of international

humanitarian law and human rights law,” they said.

Meanwhile, the UN experts called for an immediate end to the

war, saying, civilians are bearing the brunt of the conflict.

The regimes in Washington and Tel Aviv began their

criminal aggression against Iran... on Saturday

morning by assassinating the Leader of the

Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali

Khamenei. So far at least 1,045 Iranian

people have been killed... in these

terrorist air raids.

Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the illegal aggression

by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the

Israeli-occupied territories, as well as on US assets in

regional countries.

Additionally, the UN human rights experts expressed concern

about the multiple attacks launched by Israel on Lebanon.

They said the Israeli strikes violate international law and the

ceasefire agreement between the Tel Aviv regime and the

Hezbollah resistance group, while displacing, injuring

and killing civilians.

_______________________________________________________

'We warned repeatedly about

the limit to our patience':

Hezbollah leader

March 5th, 12:02am

(PressTV)

Hezbollah's secretary-general says the Lebanese resistance

movement’s recent military response followed more than a

year of restraint, reminding how the group had warned

repeatedly about the limits to its capacity for

self-restraint...... in the face of all of the

Israeli aggression.

"For a year and three months, the Israeli and US enemy has

continued its aggression. We adhered to the ceasefire

agreement of November 27, 2024, alongside the

Lebanese state, but Israel did not adhere to

---- a single clause" Sheikh Naim Qassem

said during an address on Wednesday.

That day saw the Israeli regime and the movement

conclude the agreement, with Tel Aviv pledging

to cease its intensified deadly escalation

towards Lebanon --- that had cost

thousands of lives.

Sheikh Qassem noted that, throughout the timespan

that has passed since conclusion of the deal, the

regime has claimed the lives of around 500

people throughout Lebanon.

He also noted that the period has featured more

than 10,000 Israeli land, sea, and air violations

against Lebanese soil.

The resistance leader stated that the movement

even exercised restraint, in order to allow for

diplomatic efforts, to prompt the regime

to end the violations.

"We did not respond to repeated Israeli attacks --- so as

not to be accused of obstructing diplomatic efforts,

and because responsibility lies with the state,"

he said, adding, "But it achieved nothing

------------- over fifteen months."

"We said repeatedly that patience has limits."

The movement finally chose to fight back "to dispel

any illusion ----- that inactivity.... would bring calm."

The speech followed statements a day earlier

detailing missile and drone operations

against Israeli military sites.

Hezbollah strikes Israeli surveillance,

military base in Golan Heights,

occupied lands

Hezbollah has conducted two separate missile operations

against strategic Israeli military installations.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah said it had struck the Meron air

surveillance and operations management base in the

occupied territories, targeting one of the radars
and a command building.

It also announced - a large volley of rockets fired at the Nafah

base in the occupied Golan Heights in Syria, identified as the

headquarters of the 210th Basha Division of the Israeli army.

In his address, Sheikh Qassem described the confrontation

------- as centred on the occupation ...and for sovereignty.

“The problem is the occupation, not internal matters, not

weapons, not the resistance ----- and not the national
components. The problem, is the ongoing violation

of sovereignty and the Israeli-US occupation,

at the level of Lebanon’s airspace and

guardianship," he noted.

He decried the Lebanese government's decision

to act against the movement ----- in line with

Tel Aviv's and Washington's interests.

"They weakened the Lebanese state’s position ------ and

legitimized Israel's freedom to continue aggression,"

Sheikh Qassem stated, adding this is while, “Israel

seeks expansion --- and will not be satisfied with

what has occurred."

He cited Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public

expression of desire to try to realize the regime's "Greater

Israel" ambitions that seeks to markedly expand Israeli

occupation throughout the region.

"This Israel is an existential threat to us, our people,

our homeland, and the entire region," Sheikh

Qassem cautioned.

He reiterated Hezbollah’s stance on armed resistance.

''As long as occupation exists, the resistance and its

weapons --- have a legitimate right, legally and

internationally recognized -- and affirmed in

agreements and government statements.''

__________________________________________

IRGC -- announces 'blinding' US, Israel's

eye in region; vows harsher retaliation

....is coming

March 4th, 9:45pm

(PressTV)

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has

announced staging the 17th stage of its

ongoing Operation True Promise 4

against Israeli and US targets

throughout the region.

The Corps made the announcement in a statement on

Wednesday, the fifth day since the launch of the

operation in retaliation against unprovoked

aggression against the Islamic Republic

by Tel Aviv and Washington.

"With the successful destruction of more than seven

advanced radars ---- the eyes of the US and the

usurping Zionist regime in the region have

been blinded," the statement read.

It also hailed bypassing the US's THAAD missile system,

which has been deployed to try to protect the Israeli

regime in the face of the reprisal, thus striking the

building of the regime's ministry of war as well

as Ben Gurion airport, its busiest air terminal.

Attesting to the success of the operation, the Corps stated,

was the continuous sound of sirens - and the prolonged

confinement of illegal settlers inside shelters across

the occupied territories - over the past 100 hours.

This verifies "the steady and managed rhythm of Iranian

projectile launches, for harsh revenge against terrorist

criminals," the statement noted.

"In the coming days... these attacks will

become more intense and widespread."

So far throughout the operation, the IRGC has flown

hundreds of ballistic missiles and explosive-laden

drones towards sensitive and strategic targets

throughout the region.

The targets ---- have featured those lying in the city of Tel Aviv

and the holy occupied city of al-Quds, as well as US outposts

and interests scattered across regional countries, including

Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.

Other highlights in the retaliation have seen the Corps target

the US Navy's Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier - as well as

a US destroyer in the Indian Ocean.

'Powerful strike': IRGC hits US destroyer with

ballistic, strategic cruise missiles --- in

Indian Ocean

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announces

striking a US destroyer in the Indian Ocean, hundreds

of kilometres away from Iran.

Striking US's 'largest data centre' in region

Also on Wednesday, the IRGC announced staging

a "critical strike" against the largest US data

centre in the region.

It identified the target as the Amazon data centre in

Bahrain, saying the strike was carried out to

identify the role played by these centres

in supporting the enemy's military

and intelligence activities.

According to Amazon's official report, extensive

damage has been inflicted on this centre.

Amazon's regional office in Bahrain, which was

opened in 2019, is considered to be the

gateway for advanced Amazon cloud

services to the countries of the

Persian Gulf and elsewhere

throughout West Asia.

______________________________________________

Iraqi resistance leader - urges US citizens to

‘reclaim’ country from Israeli ‘puppet Trump

March 4th, 8:31pm

(PressTV)

A senior Iraqi resistance leader, in a message addressed

to the US people, has urged them to “reclaim” their

country and “prevent the bloodshed” of

their children.

Abu Alaa Al-Walae, Secretary-General of the Sayyed Al-

Shuhada Brigades in the Islamic Resistance in Iraq,

released the message on Wednesday - amid the

Israeli-US war against the Islamic Republic

of Iran.

He said US President Donald Trump -- has seized the

democracy of US citizens, stressing that the only

real threat is Trump “turning into a puppet” to

fulfill the Israeli regime premier Benjamin

Netanyahu’s “desires ----- under the

slogan ...Israel First.”

“Trump and Netanyahu have seized your democracy, taken

your taxes, and sent your sons into hell after convincing

you that an imminent threat was looming over you,”

he wrote.

“You should take action as soon as possible --- to reclaim

your country and prevent the bloodshed of your sons.

Trump and his administration are lying to you.”

Referring to the unprovoked Israeli-US aggression against

Iran and the genocide in Gaza, Al-Walae said what is

happening right now, in the West Asia region

''is a tragic waste of your human and

financial resources.''

“Even the Persian Gulf states, which for decades believed

they were protected by US bases, have suddenly

discovered -- that they are merely advanced

outposts for the Zionist entity - and must

now provide... safe havens and escape

routes for their soldiers,” he stated.

“Now ---- is your time. The faster you act, the more

you can protect your future, which is now more

threatened and uncertain ---- than ever.”

The Israeli-US aggression, which started on Saturday

with the cowardly assassination of Leader of the

Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali

Khamenei, has so far claimed the

lives of nearly 1,000 Iranians.

Iran has, in retaliation, pounded Israeli military bases

in the occupied territories as well as US occupation

bases across the region.

Today, March 5th, is

Lei Feng Day, celebrated on March 5th, honours the legacy

of Lei Feng, a soldier known for his selfless dedication to

helping others and serving the community.

Lei Feng was born in 1940 --- in Hunan Province, China, and

became an orphan at a young age. He joined the People's

Liberation Army at 20 and died in an accident at the age

His life was marked by acts of kindness and selflessness,

including donating his savings to flood victims. In 1963,

Chairman Mao Zedong called on the nation -- to learn

from Lei Feng's spirit, leading to the establishment

of March 5th as "Learn from Lei Feng Day".

Significance of Lei Feng Day

Lei Feng Day .....serves as a reminder of the values of altruism,

dedication, and community service. It encourages individuals

to engage in volunteer work ..and to contribute positively to

society. The day is marked by various activities, including

community service projects, educational programs, and

public events aimed at promoting Lei Feng's spirit of

selflessness and dedication to the common good.

Celebrations and Activities

On Lei Feng Day, schools and communities

across China organize events such as:

Community Clean-ups: Participants engage in cleaning parks,

streets, and public spaces to promote environmental

awareness and community pride.

Educational Programs: Schools may hold discussions

or screenings of films about Lei Feng's life and

contributions, thus fostering a sense of

responsibility among students.

Volunteer Services: Many people participate in volunteer

activities, such as providing assistance to the elderly,

helping those in need - engaging in charitable work.

Contemporary Relevance

While the observance of Lei Feng Day has seen fluctuations in

popularity, the spirit of Lei Feng continues to inspire many in

China. Recent events have included national campaigns

to promote the values associated with Lei Feng,

emphasizing the importance of community

service and moral responsibility, in

In summary, Lei Feng Day is not only a commemoration of an

historical figure but also --- a call to action for individuals to
embody the spirit of selflessness and community service

--- in their daily lives.

"If you are a drop of water, do you nourish an inch of land? If

you are a ray of sunlight, do you light up a bit of darkness?"

"If you want to tell us what thoughts, are you

promoting the most beautiful ideals ----

"Power comes from unity, wisdom comes from labour, action

comes from thought, and honour comes from the collective."

"Treat comrades like Springs, treat work as hot as Summer,

treat individualism like Autumn wind, and treat enemies

as cruel and ruthless as Winter."

China labels Israeli-occupied lands

as ‘high risk area,’ bans all new

investments: Report

February 5th, 7:41pm

PressTV)

A Chinese investment fund has revealed that the Beijing

government has imposed a ban on all new investment

in Israeli-occupied lands due to the regime’s brutal

aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip.

The news emerged in Israeli media outlets, amid a lawsuit filed

by members of Kibbutz Hanita against Ballet Vision, a Chinese

-controlled fund that holds an 80% stake in Hanita Lenses, an

intraocular lens manufacturing plant located in the northern

part of the occupied lands near the Lebanese border.

Israeli settlers from the kibbutz have filed a lawsuit against the

fund, which controls 80 percent of an intraocular lens plant

located in the northern settlement.

A lawsuit filed in the Tel Aviv district court shows the kibbutz is

seeking approximately $11 million, accusing the fund of failing

to exercise an option to purchase their remaining shares, as

stipulated in a prior agreement.

According to a response letter from Ballet attached to the

lawsuit... the Chinese government has classified Israeli-

occupied lands as a "high-risk area" or "red category"

due to the ongoing situation in the West Asia region,

specifically since Oct. 7, 2023.

“Since the outbreak of the fighting, the Chinese government

has classified Israel as a high-risk zone (red category) and

prohibited any new Chinese investment in the Israeli-

occupied lands,” it said in the letter.

The letter further says that until the restriction

is lifted, the transaction.... is not feasible.

“As long as this restriction remains in place, there is no

practical operational ability to exercise the option,”

it added

Aside from the Chinese government's ban on investing in

Israeli-occupied territories, Ballet says Hanita Lenses

incurred significant operational losses.

Liu Yuxiao, a director of Ballet Vision and CEO of the lens

manufacturing plant, earlier said that Hanita Lenses

sustained losses of around $15 million over a

period of three years --- as well as a

$4 million debt. This resulted in

severe financial issues.

Yuxiao said he became the CEO in March last year to try

to prevent total collapse, and added that the company

may now break even in 2026.

The developments also come as ties between the two sides

were deteriorating over the self-ruling island of Taiwan,

which has been looking to the Zionist entity for

increased military cooperation.

China has already warned Israel against providing military

expertise and technology to Taiwan under the guise of

civilian programs.

Tel Aviv is reportedly assisting Taipei with integrating

elements of its Green Pine and Arrow systems in

order to develop the Tian Gong-4 missile

system, which will be part of the

T-Dome network.

The military cooperation comes despite ongoing Chinese

warnings that it would not tolerate Israeli ties with the

island, which it considers a renegade province.

Taiwan wants to deepen its ties with Israel and its

administration has refrained from condemning

the Tel Aviv regime's crimes in the besieged

Gaza Strip ---- and the other occupied

Palestinian territories.

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.

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

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 !!!

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.

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

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!

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."

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

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 !!!

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?