Rhondda Records is with you every day bringing the news ------- that gives a view of world events different to the mainstream media or social media!
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Journalist:To end war ------
prosecute UK, US officials
who wage(d) it illegally
October 22nd, 10:12pm (PressTV)
The world must finally put an end to the impunity of war
criminals, by holding US and UK officials responsible
for launching the illegal war on Iraq, done without
the approval of the UN Security Council, and
prosecuting them --- under the Nuremberg
principles, US journalist Don DeBar said.
DeBar made the remarks in an interview with Press TV while
commenting on a report which has revealed that the British
military inquiries into abuse against Iraqi nationals... have
been closed without a single prosecution being brought,
even though the credibility of many "shocking and
shameful incidents" during the war in the Middle
Eastern country, have been confirmed.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement
this week that the Service Police Legacy Investigations,
which was looking at claims of abuse in Iraq, had now
"officially closed its doors."
In March 2003, the US and Britain invaded Iraq in blatant
violation of international law and under the pretext of
finding WMDs; but no such weapons were ever
discovered in Iraq.
More than one million Iraqis were killed - as the result of
the US-led invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq
--- according to the California-based investigative
organization, Project Censored.
The US war in Iraq cost US taxpayers $1.7 trillion with
an additional $490 billion in benefits owed to war veterans, expenses that could grow to more than $6 trillion over the next four decades counting interest, according to a study called Costs of War Project --- by the Watson Institute for
International Studies at Brown University.
DeBar told Press TV that the Iraq war
was illegal from the very beginning.
"It is illegal for a nation to make war on another nation if it
does not have the approval of the UN Security Council, if
any of those nations are signatories to the original UN
Charter. And it’s been adopted - that happened with
the US, as a charter member of the UN -- and it was
approved by the US Senate in the 1940s.
Consequently, the US involvement in Iraq from the beginning, and the UK involvement in Iraq from the beginning, was illegal,” he said.
“And under the Nuremberg standards, which would then
apply, each and every death consequent – intentional
or not - to either US or UK military action there, or
condoning of the US action there, by the media
or public officials, or any act facilitating that,
is an individual war crime. And, by the way,
there’s a death penalty for that,” the
journalist noted.
“No one will prosecute these people. That’s why I started
with the word impunity. And we might bookend with that
because that’s the problem. And until the world puts an
end to that impunity, until the world sees the major
contradiction in all international relations, is US,
UK, and EU imperialism, then it’s going to
continue until this eats our species,”
he stated.
A damning White House memo had revealed details of the
so-called “deal in blood” forged by former British Prime
Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush
over the Iraq war.
The document, titled “Secret... Memorandum for the
President”, was sent by then-US Secretary of State
Colin Powell to President Bush on March 28th, 2002, a week before Bush’s summit with Blair at his Crawford ranch in Texas.
The sensational memo, revealed that Blair had agreed to
support the war a year before the invasion even started
while publicly, the British prime minister was working to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
The document also disclosed that Blair agreed to act as a
spin doctor for Bush and convince a skeptical public that
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass
Destruction, which actually did not exist.
In response, Bush would flatter Blair and give the
impression that London was not Washington’s
poodle but an equal partner in the
“special relationship.”
Powell told Bush that Blair “will be with us” on the
Iraq war, and assured the president that “"the UK
will follow our lead in the Middle East."
Blair has always denied the claim that he and Bush
signed a deal “in blood”, at Crawford, to launch a
war against Iraq that began on March 20th, 2003,
that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.
The Powell memo, however, showed how Blair and
Bush secretly prepared the Iraq war plot behind
closed doors at Crawford.
Powell told Bush: “He will present to you the strategic,
tactical and public affairs lines, that he believes will
strengthen global support for our common cause.”
Image: People hold up a banner as they protest against Israel at the entrance of the International Criminal Court.
People hold up a banner as they protest
against Israel at the entrance of the
International Criminal Court.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Hezbollah’s legendary ‘Uli al-Baas’ battle
and rebirth of the Lebanese resistance
October 28th, 12:29pm
by Ali Hammoud
(PressTV)
The autumn of 2024 was meant to be the end of Hezbollah.
In a coordinated, brutal series of attacks, the Israeli
occupation forces launched what they believed
would be a decapitation strike against the
Lebanese resistance.
The timeline of terror is seared into the
memory of the Lebanese nation:
September 17, 2024: Pagers exploded - throughout the
Arab country, targeting the dedicated communication
networks of the Lebanese resistance.
September 18, 2024: A second wave of detonations
hit, this time through walkie-talkies.
September 20, 2024: Targeted attacks assassinated
commanders of the elite Rudwan Force of Hezbollah.
September 23, 2024: The Israeli air force unleashed over
1,200 airstrikes in a single day, aiming to obliterate
Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.
September 27, 2024: The most devastating blow was
the martyrdom of the Hezbollah Secretary-General,
Sayed Hassan Nasrallah.
October 1, 2024: Israel announced a large-scale ground
invasion, confident that a leaderless movement
would crumble.
Yet, against all odds and every Western military calculation,
Hezbollah did not fall. Instead - it put up a strong defense
that not only thwarted the Israeli war machine but also
redefined the balance of power in the region.
This analysis, based on my own observations from a recent visit
to Beirut and southern Lebanon, reveals the story of that divine
victory, the subsequent rebuilding, and the unshakeable faith
of the supporters who form the backbone of the resistance.
How Hezbollah defeated the "unbeatable" army
The no-holds-barred genocidal war that followed Operation
Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7, 2023, culminating in the
intense battles of 2024, will be recorded in history
as a testament to divine intervention and the
strategic genius of the resistance – from
Gaza to Lebanon and beyond.
For 66 days of intense military confrontation after the ground invasion --- the Israeli army was humiliated by a determined resistance --- despite its most advanced military technology.
What happened on the ground ----- was nothing short of miraculous.
In villages directly adjacent to the border—Aita al-Shaab, Naqoura,
Taybeh, Kfar Kila—the fighters of Hezbollah waged a war of epic
proportions. These small villages, most of which had been
bombarded for nearly a year, saw their infrastructure
and homes destroyed.
Yet, not a single one fell after 66 days of relentless assault. This
stands in stark contrast to the 2006 war, where the Israelis
advanced almost twice the distance.
The difference is profound: this was not the Israel of 2006, but
Israel 2024, a military behemoth backed by American, British,
and French fleets --- with state-of-the-art drones, satellites,
and intelligence agencies feeding it real-time information.
Facing this colossus was a popular resistance movement. The
Israeli army mobilized approximately 80,000 soldiers, with all
their equipment against a few thousand determined fighters.
Yet, they could not occupy a single border village.
Naqoura, one of the villages closest to the border, did not fall;
the enemy only entered it to demolish a Lebanese army site
after the ceasefire was announced.
Hezbollah demonstrated an unprecedented ability to encircle
and destroy the entire Zionist entity, from the northern
settlements - to its very core.
In a stunning series of operations, Hezbollah announced the
bombing of "sensitive military targets" in Tel Aviv - stating it
had launched a swarm of drones at the city and its suburbs
"in response to Israel's bombing of Beirut." This ----- was complemented by the now-iconic strike on Benjamin
Netanyahu's house in Caesarea, symbolizing
that no target ...was beyond reach.
Coordinated rocket, drone, and ground operations ---- struck 456
settlements, 361 military points, and 164 bases, creating mass
confusion and a refugee crisis in northern occupied Palestine.
This relentless pressure forced a complete re-evaluation of Israeli
military objectives. The enemy was shocked. If this was the level
of fighting on the first line — manned not by special forces but
largely by village mobilization forces and battle-hardened
locals — what horrors waited on the second and third
lines? The cost was becoming unbearable; in one
day alone, 15 Israeli soldiers were killed, a day
their war minister called "catastrophic."
The resistance continued with unbroken resolve - until the final
moments of the war. On the last night, Aita al-Shaab launched
rockets, prompting an Israeli airstrike just six hours before
the ceasefire. Approximately five hours before the truce,
Israeli aircraft raided Aita al-Shaab again, bombing
resistance fighters who remained steadfastly
present in the town.
Just the day before, operations had successfully targeted Israeli
Merkava tanks deep inside the occupied Palestinian territories.
The fighters' spirit was the ultimate weapon. They fought with
the option to return to the rear, but many refused.
There are stories of the wounded refusing evacuation, choosing to
stay - and fight until the end. This unwavering commitment to their
cause, their land, and their people preserved the dignity and pride
of the resistance, securing a victory that was not accidental but
the culmination of years of strategic fortification and the
building of an integrated deterrence system.
The phoenix rises – Rebuilding the underground army
In the wake of the 2024 war, Hezbollah’s recovery - is not a simple
process of rearmament, but a profound strategic metamorphosis.
While Israeli intelligence confirms that the group is rebuilding its
capabilities "almost without disruption," the true source of
alarm in Tel Aviv is how this is being achieved.
The key lesson of the war - the vulnerability to decapitation strikes
and aerial bombardment - is being addressed by moving the heart
of the resistance ......deep underground.
This strategic shift.. involves the creation of a decentralized,
subterranean network far more sophisticated than previous
efforts. Intelligence analysts suggest Hezbollah is
constructing a full-blown underground
military infrastructure.
This includes command centres carved into mountain rock,
micro-tunnels for rapid and unseen movement, and
vertically-shafted workshops for assembling
rockets and drones ---- directly within
its strongholds.
By embedding this network deep within the terrain, the
resistance movement is making its military presence
invisible, effectively turning the south ------- into a
layered, defensive fortress.
This elusive, phoenix-like resurgence is what is currently
driving Israeli military planners to frustration. The
resistance they believed they had crippled is
not just replacing lost stockpiles, but - it
is transforming into a phantom army,
deeply entrenched...... and
operationally resilient.
The frantic warnings in Israeli media - about Hezbollah's rapid
return to "full armed army" strength reflect a grim realization:
the next confrontation will not be with the Hezbollah of 2024,
but with a more adaptive, elusive, and deeply embedded foe,
whose very invisibility - is a form of enduring psychological
and strategic dominance.
The unbroken spirit: A look into the resistance environment
The most powerful weapon in Hezbollah’s arsenal is not a drone
or a missile, but its environment—the people. During my visit to
Beirut and southern Lebanon, I found a community that,
despite immense sacrifices, remains fiercely loyal and
steadfast on the path charted by Sayyed Nasrallah
and followed by his worthy successor, Sheikh
Naim Qassem.
This environment categorically rejects any notion of disarming,
conceding land, or surrendering rights. It is a community
prepared to pay the ultimate price to restore
Hezbollah’s deterrent power against
the Zionist enemy.
I witnessed this visibly demonstrated --- in the massive annual
memorial for Sayyed Nasrallah and in the scout gathering of
the Imam Mahdi Association in Beirut, which drew
approximately 75,000 participants — in a clear
message of continued grassroots strength.
In the course of my investigation, the sentiment
I encountered ....was uniform ---- and resolute.
"We will not abandon Hezbollah," one supporter from
the southern suburbs of Beirut, stated firmly. "The
resistance is an ongoing idea; it was not formed
only during this war."
They view the party as an "ideological resistance" that cannot
and will not abandon its slogan of liberating occupied al-Quds
and the occupied lands. "This is a creed entrenched among
the people of the suburbs and the majority of the Shiite
community," he added.
Regarding the immense losses, there is
a pragmatic --- yet determined outlook.
Supporters I spoke with acknowledged that "Hezbollah will be
able to repair its ranks and recover and direct its choices in
the next stage," but they understand that "this requires
months and maybe long years."
They believe the movement will rearm itself in new ways,
for the coming stages are "much more dangerous."
From the conversations I had, the collective belief ----- is that
Hezbollah has transformed ------- from an organization reliant
on historic leaders into a cohesive, institutionalized system.
The 2024 war was not the end of Hezbollah. It was the birth of
a new, more resilient phase of resistance. From the promise
of decisive victory, Israel has been reduced to managing
an unending risk...... while Hezbollah - supported by its
people, continues to guard the nation’s sovereignty
and prepare --------- for the final liberation of
Occupied al-Quds.
Ali Hammoud is a Lebanese
writer and researcher.
_____________________________________
Iran: Nuclear Cooperation ‘Defined
by Our Law,’ Not by Secret Deals
October 28th, 10:47am
(al Manar)
Iran’s interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) is strictly governed by a law passed by its Parliament
and is not subject to secret negotiations, a senior Iranian
official stated on Tuesday.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, during his weekly
press conference, directly addressed and dismissed recent
claims by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi concerning
clandestine talks.
“The basis for Iran’s cooperation and interaction with the IAEA
is the law approved by the Parliament,” Baqaei asserted,
emphasizing that this framework is established in
coordination with Iran’s Supreme National
Security Council.
The spokesman clarified that Iran continues to uphold its
membership in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), with
the NPT and the Safeguards Agreement forming the
foundation of its engagement with the UN nuclear
watchdog, just as they do for any other
member state.
He outlined that a portion of Iran’s cooperation with the
agency is routine, citing as an example, the ongoing
replacement of fuel for the Bushehr nuclear
power plant.
Baqaei contrasted the current situation.... with the past, noting
that while UN Security Council Resolution 2231 was in effect,
Iran had voluntarily accepted time-bound commitments in
hopes of having unjust sanctions lifted. Under present
circumstances, however, he stressed that Iran alone
determines the scope of its cooperation.
“The framework for cooperation is defined by the
parliamentary law,” Baqaei concluded, affirming
that the country will continue to act based on
its obligations and this domestic legislation.
Source: Iranian media (edited
by Al-Manar English Website)
_______________________________________
US Bears Responsibility for Every
Drop of Blood: Hezbollah Official
October 28th, 10:47am
(al Manar)
The Head of Hezbollah’s Foreign Relations Unit,
Sheikh Khalil Rizk ---- blasted the US over
supporting the Zionist entity, stressing
that it is the “source of crime.”
“The US supplies the Israeli enemy with all weapons
and equipment. It’s the first and last responsible for
all the crimes and brutality that are taking place in
this region,” Sheikh Rizk said, during a memorial
service of martyr Abbas Karaki in the southern
town of Harouf.
The Hezbollah official slammed the behaviour of
some Lebanese politicians and journalists over
disregarding - and even justifying - the Israeli
attacks on Lebanon.
He pointed to financial measures taken by the
Justice Minister, and Central Bank Governor,
regarding restricting the use of cash in
the economy.
The measures “appear to be an implementation of
clear American dictates,” Sheikh Rizk stated,
according to a statement released by
Hezbollah’s Media Relations
on Tuesday.
He hailed the people of resistance’s sacrifices, and
resilience - addressing the anti-resistance powers,
saying: “Let us fight, but don’t stab us in the back.”
“There is a great obligation - for all state institutions
to do their duty to protect the people and go ahead
with reconstruction.”
The Israeli enemy continues to bomb Lebanon, mainly
the country’s south, almost daily - and maintains the
occupation over 5 posts along the southern border,
in violation of a ceasefire deal reached following
a brutal 66-day Israeli war between September
and November 2024.
In addition to the Israeli violations, the Lebanese State
has been subjected to unprecedented pressure by the
United States, the first sponsor of the Zionist entity,
to disarm Hezbollah.
Source: Hezbollah Media Relations
(translated and edited by Al-Manar)
____________________________________
Israeli Occupation Forces ------- Kill
3 Palestinians in Jenin Area Siege
October 28th, 8:47am
(al Manar)
Three Palestinian resistance fighters were killed by Israeli
occupation forces on Tuesday morning after an extended
siege and armed clashes in the village of Kafr Qud,
west of Jenin.
The incident began in the early hours when Israeli occupation
military vehicles, including bulldozers, encircled a house in
Kafr Qud. The home is reported to belong to the family of
Tamer al-Nasharti, a previously martyred Palestinian.
Local witnesses described a tense standoff, reporting the sound
of intense gunfire and explosions echoing through the village.
Thick smoke was seen billowing from the area where the
house was besieged.
Israeli warplanes ---- carried out two airstrikes on the besieged
area after the Israeli special unit “Yamam” had assassinated
Palestinian fighters with sniper fire, according to the
Hebrew radio.
The Hebrew radio broadcast a statement from the Israeli Yamam
unit claiming that its forces had assassinated three Palestinian
fighters from Jenin refugee camp.
Source: Palestinian Agencies
(edited by Al-Manar
English Website)
Image: Dr Simon Muzenda's Birth Day,
Today, October the 28th, in 1922,
Dr Simon Muzenda,
the Soul of the Nation,
is born.
Dr Simon Vengai Muzenda, was born in Zimbabwe's Gutu District,
in Masvingo Province. He married Moudy Aloisia Muzenda
and the couple had eight children --- one of whom died
during the British-backed Chimoio Massacre, in 1977.
Dr Mzee was incensed by the British rule in Zimbabwe -- and swore
that he would go to any lengths to fight the system. The ruthless
actions he experienced - strengthened him. His determination
grew from the pain and suffering at the hands of the British,
when they pierced his chest with needles while in prison.
This inspired him to fight for the freedom
and self-determination of black people.
In 1962 he was arrested in Zvishavane for what the Rhodesians
called a “seditious speech” that was blamed for igniting riots.
He was sentenced to 12 years but served only two years.
The prison became a place of study, despite the life-threatening
experiences he encountered. It is where the fighting liberation movement, ZANU, was formed.
After his release from prison, he attended the first ZANU
congress in Gwelo (Gweru) in 1964, where he was
elected Deputy Organising Secretary.
A one-time teacher and carpenter who used to make beautiful
furniture and farm implements, Dr Muzenda was seen by
many outsiders as former President Mugabe’s
closest adviser.
In 1962 Dr Muzenda was once banned from entering the African
Tribal Trust lands after he had recited the African “prayer”,
“Nehanda Nyakasikana”, by Solomon Mutswairo.
In a true fighting spirit that was to be the hallmark of his political
life, Dr Muzenda challenged the ban in a Fort Victoria (Masvingo)
High Court ----- where he was defended by another great son of Zimbabwe and ZANU chairman, the late Cde Herbert Chitepo.
Around the 1960s... Dr Muzenda started recruiting young
Zimbabweans for military training in Ghana, China and
other friendly countries. A concerted on-slaught
against the massive Rhodesian military
required men like Dr Muzenda, to
prepare the people for the
armed struggle.
A very humble and down to earth man, Dr Muzenda always wanted
issues to be dealt with in a diplomatic way, even at independence
he appealed for peace and unity... because it was a powerful tool
that would lead to the development of Zimbabwe.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of Synod Centre in April 1981,
he said “Reconciliation is a policy of strength. It is not peace
at any price. It is not a disguised attempt to prolong the
status quo of Zimbabwe. It does not mean that others
must reconcile themselves to what I and my lot want
that the others must change while I stay the same.”
Dr Mzee is and shall always remain a great revolutionary who
was among the heroic leaders who secured Zimbabwe’s
independence from Britain in 1980, and he was one of
the founder members of the ZANU-PF party, which
has governed the country since independence.
He was the country’s first deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs
Minister and Deputy Vice-President before becoming one of the
nation’s 2 Vice- Presidents following the Unity Accord in 1987.
Dr Muzenda worked tirelessly for the country’s development.
He encouraged the private sector to always play a part in
development by giving jobs to school leavers, since this
would help to safeguard Zimbabwe’s socio-economic
and political stability.
We continue to remember the Vice- President - as a man who
valued land by portraying the symbolic holding of a hoe on
his shoulders. Farming has been turned into a proper
business that has brought about added value
in food processing.
According to research, about 57% of Zimbabwean young women between the ages of 20 and 31, and 47% of men in the same age bracket - are growing fruits, such as mangoes, bananas, avocados and pineapples.
They are also involved in rearing livestock, like the Boer goats, sheep, road runner
chickens, and cultivating tobacco, cotton and maize.
Josh Matindinda in Harare’s Central Business District
said Dr Mzee was an hilarious gentleman who made
work and life easy... because of his jokes.
“He was sociable, I enjoyed his dancing moves when he danced
to Muchongoyo dances, a sign of showing “hunhu/ubuntu”
(humaneness). He was an important attribute in
spreading humility to the nation,” he said.
The rich legacy he left behind will continue to be cherished.
Zimbabwe will continue to defend itself against all forms
of exploitation ....whether direct or indirect.
“What divided men primarily --- was not tribe or party
or point of view, but divisions grew...out of hatred,
fear, and selfishness.”
Microsoft - forced to block Israel’s use of its
cloud, AI...in mass spying on Palestinians
September 27th, 10:20am
(PressTV)
US tech giant Microsoft has been forced to terminate the Israeli
military’s access to some of its services ------ which the illegal
regime uses for espionage activities and data surveillance
against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza and the
occupied West Bank.
Microsoft’s vice chair and president, Brad Smith, confirmed in a
blog post that the company had “ceased and disabled a set of
services” to a unit within the Israeli ministry of military affairs
------- in response to an August 6 joint investigation by The
Guardian, +972 Magazine, and the Hebrew-language
outlet Local Call.
The investigation revealed that following a 2021 meeting between
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Israel’s Unit 8200 leader Yossi
Sariel, an agreement was reached -- to collaborate on moving
large volumes of ''sensitive'' intelligence material into the
company’s Azure platform.
The probe revealed that Unit 8200, the Israeli military’s notorious
spy outfit in charge of carrying out clandestine operations and
collecting signal intelligence, used Microsoft’s Azure cloud
computing platform to store phone call data obtained
through mass surveillance in war-torn Gaza and
the occupied West Bank.
The joint investigation said the spying unit, equipped with Azure’s
near-limitless storage capacity and computing power - had built
an indiscriminate new system allowing its intelligence officers
to collect, play back, and analyze the content of cellular calls
.....of the entire Palestinian population.
According to several sources, the enormous repository of
intercepted calls – which amounted to as much as 8,000
terabytes of data – was held in a Microsoft data centre
--- in the Netherlands.
Sources familiar with the matter, said Microsoft told Israeli officials
late last week that Unit 8200 had violated the company’s terms of
service by storing the vast trove of surveillance data in its Azure
cloud platform.
The decision brings to an abrupt end a three-year period
in which the spy agency operated its surveillance
program using Microsoft’s technology.
Although the initial focus of the spying system was the occupied
West Bank, where an estimated three million Palestinians live
under Israeli military occupation - intelligence sources were
reported to say the cloud-based storage platform had been
used in the Gaza war......... to facilitate the preparation of
deadly airstrikes.
The revelations highlighted how Israel, in cahoots with major US
technology companies, used their services and infrastructure
----- to bomb Gaza, killing tens of thousands of Palestinians,
mostly civilians, and creating a humanitarian crisis.
US technology giant Microsoft plays a significant role and is
complicit in the Israeli regime’s genocidal war on the Gaza
Strip by providing the occupying entity with advanced
artificial intelligence (AI) tools, finances, and
workforce, says a recent report.
Last month, Quds News Network said in a report - that Microsoft is
among the most prominent global technology companies that has
established a strong and influential presence, in the Israeli war
on Gaza.
Microsoft was reported to have employed over 1,000 former Israeli
soldiers and officers in its offices within the occupied territories,
with many also working in its global branches.
Investigations based on leaked employee records reveal
that more than 300 former Israeli spies currently work
at Microsoft, according to the report.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been committing genocide
in the Gaza Strip by killing, starving, and displacing
Palestinians, ignoring international calls and
orders from the International Court of
Justice - to halt it.
The genocide has left 65,549 dead and 167,518 injured, most of
them children and women. Over 11,000 people are missing, in
addition to hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and
a famine that has claimed more than 210 lives.
_______________________________________________
UN blacklist updated:68 more companies
linked to illegal activities - in Israel
September 26th, 6pm
(africanews)
The United Nations has significantly expanded -------- its blacklist of
companies accused of contributing to human rights violations
against Palestinians ---- through their activities in Israeli settlements.
The UN added 68 new companies from 11 countries
to its database, bringing the total to 158 firms.
The list, first established just under a decade ago,
predominantly features Israeli companies - but
also includes major Western companies from the US, Germany, Spain, and many others.
The update - primarily targets firms in construction,
real estate, mining, and quarrying - ruling their
operations supportive... of settlements that
are illegal ------ under international law.
Notable additions, include Germany's Heidelberg
Materials and Spain's Ineco, while travel giants
like Expedia and Airbnb - remain listed.
This update arrives at a politically sensitive time, as
some European nations have recently recognized a
Palestinian state in protest of Israel's military
actions in Gaza.
It also follows Israeli threats of the annexation
of the West Bank and its approval of more
new ''settlements''.
The UN human rights office stated it urges businesses to
conduct due diligence ---- to avoid human rights abuses.
However, the list is a symbolic tool from the UN Human
Rights Council, says africanews ---- lacking power to
enforce compliance.
Rhondda Records adds: unless others find
the UN list -- and boycott those firms on it.
_________________________________________
Edinburgh --- to become first Scottish city
to boycott Israeli regime over genocide
September 26th, 3:35pm
(PressTV)
Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, has aimed to become the first
Scottish city to boycott the Israeli regime over its ongoing
genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
City Councillors voted on Thursday in favour of a motion.. which
moves the capital closer to implementing Boycott, Divestment
and Sanctions (BDS) against the Zionist regime: in opposition
to the Gaza genocide.
Green Councillor Ben Parker said the Council.. took a step towards
ensuring that no public money is being used to support the regime.
“The people of Edinburgh have repeatedly voiced their solidarity
with the people of Palestine, and Green Councillors have long
been trying to find ways to turn that solidarity into practical
actions against the Israeli regime," Parker said.
“BDS is one way of doing this, but local councils have previously
been blocked from taking this action against Israel ...due to an
outdated piece of legislation," he added.
“As we approach two years of continued bombardment, torture and
mass starvation of Palestinians, it seems bizarre to be debating
motions about regulations and process," Parker said.
“But we’re hoping that the move by the Scottish Government will
allow Edinburgh to follow suit and take real, practical steps
towards a free Palestine --- so, we need clarity on exactly
what it means for local government procurement rules."
Meanwhile, former co-leader of the Scottish Greens, Patrick Harvie,
said, "We fully support our Green Councillors motion, and we hope
that Edinburgh will lead the way in taking action to boycott Israel."
“There is a role for every level of government in taking action and
showing true solidarity with the Palestinian people who are
subjected to horrific killing and dehumanisation by
Israeli military forces," he said.
“Scotland must divest from any Israeli-linked companies and arms
dealers who profit from the state-sanctioned genocide in Gaza,"
he stated.
“The Scottish Government has already voted in favour of our
proposals, and now they must explain how they will carry
them out, and how they will work with local councils
to enable them to do the same.”
The Greens hope to use the international sanctions and boycotts to
pressure the Israeli regime into ending the genocidal war against
Gaza ---- and uphold its responsibilities to international law.
Scottish Conservatives, who are opposed to the move,
labelled the motion as “warped” and “anti-Semitic”.
Jackson Carlaw, a former leader of the Scottish Conservatives,
claimed Edinburgh residents expect the city Councillors to be
focused on menial jobs -- like emptying their bins and filling
potholes, instead of putting forward legislation aimed at
ending the suffering and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Since the Israeli regime launched its genocidal war on Gaza in
October 2023, at least 65,502 Palestinians, mostly women
and children, have been killed.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war
minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against
humanity in Gaza.
The Israeli regime also faces a genocide case at
the International Court of Justice (ICC) for its
crimes in the besieged Palestinian land.
__________________________________________
Eurovision body to vote
- on Israel's expulsion
by Steven McIntosh
Entertainment reporter
September 26th, 12:54pm
(by the state owned BBC)
Share
The organisation behind the Eurovision Song Contest has
confirmed it will hold a vote on whether or not Israel
should be allowed to participate next year.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed it will
invite 68 member countries to give their view at a
general assembly meeting in early November.
A decision will be taken by a simple majority, meaning that
if more than 50% of members vote to exclude Israel,
the country will not take part in 2026.
Israel's continued participation in Eurovision has been
controversial due to the ongoing ''war'' in Gaza, and
several countries have already called for
their exclusion.
The EBU confirmed all 68 member countries will be
invited to vote, including broadcasters who don't
take part in Eurovision, such as Tunisia, Egypt,
Turkey, Algeria, Jordan and Lebanon.
Recently, countries including Ireland, the Netherlands,
Slovenia, Iceland and Spain, have all said they will
drop out of Eurovision ...if Israel is not banned.
The Irish broadcaster, RTÉ, said that Ireland's participation
in the event "would be unconscionable given the ongoing
and appalling loss of lives in Gaza".
The Dutch public broadcaster, Avrotros, said it too could
no longer justify Israel's inclusion "given the ongoing
and severe human suffering in Gaza".
However, Israel's public broadcaster Kan said it should be
allowed to take part, adding it was "one of the contest's
longstanding, popular and successful participants".
In the UK, Eurovision is broadcast by the BBC. Last week,
the corporation's director-general Tim Davie said he was
"aware of the concerns" ....around Israel taking part.
Rhondda Records adds:
It's amazing that a violent colonizing apartheid state
The Council of Ministers of the Government of Spain today
approved implementing the arms embargo on Israel, a
measure that is added to others, in rejection of the
genocide in Gaza.
It was the Minister of Economy, Commerce and Business, Carlos
Body, who was in charge of commenting on the announcement
to the media regarding the Royal Decree Law, which
coincidentally was accompanied in parallel by a
minute of silence for the victims of Gaza in
the Congress of Deputies..
“(...) urgent measures are adopted against the genocide in Gaza
and to support the Palestinian population (...) We consolidate
the total arms embargo on Israel’, the Corps highlighted.
In this way, the total arms embargo on Israel is legally established
and prohibits the trade of products from the occupied Palestinian
territories, which establishes that exceptions can be applied to
safeguard the general national interest, he added.
Likewise, he stressed - that the Royal Decree-Law is ‘a forceful and
pioneering step’ and another example of the political commitment
of the Government and Spain's leadership to be able to achieve a
just peace and lasting in the area, and that ‘the genocide stops”.
Going deeper into the issue, the Corps explained that the
consolidation of the total arms embargo on Israel, the
ban on exports to Israel and imports originating in
Israel of all defense material and dual-use
products or technology - are essential.
In addition --- the denial of the transit request for aircraft fuels
with possible military use in Israel, which were not included
until now in the Foreign Trade Control Regulation, they are
today... included.
Another aspect is the prohibition of importing products originating
from illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory
and finally the prohibition of advertising for the marketing of
goods originating from these settlements..... of services
provided in them.
The head of the Economy pointed out that the Government is
committed to reporting to Congress every quarter, of which
he trusts that he will give his support to this package of
sanctions within a deadline of 30 days.
On the other hand, Spain firmly maintained this Tuesday its will to
preserve the security and protection of the humanitarian flotilla
that brings humanitarian aid to Gaza ------- while rejecting
Israel's threats.
In a statement released by the Spanish Foreign Ministry and
endorsed from New York by the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
José Manuel Albares, the Iberian nation confirmed that
it will provide all diplomatic and consular protection
to the Sumud Global Flotilla.
The diplomat recalled the peaceful and humanitarian nature
of this civil society initiative and assured that “we will
react to any act that violates their freedom of
movement, their freedom of expression
and international law”.
_______________________________________
Over 1,300 Artists Pledge Boycott
of Israeli Film Institutions ----
as Gaza War Escalates
September 9th, 5:58am
(teleSUR)
More than 1,300 artists, among them Mark Ruffalo, Riz
Ahmed, and Tilda Swinton, have pledged to cut ties
with Israeli film institutions accused of complicity
in violations against Palestinians.
More than 1,300 artists, including high-profile Hollywood actors
and filmmakers, have pledged to withdraw from Israeli film
institutions accused of supporting violations against
Palestinians, as Israel’s war on Gaza enters its
23rd month.
The initiative, announced Monday, brings together figures such
as Olivia Colman, Ayo Edebiri, Mark Ruffalo, Riz Ahmed, Tilda
Swinton, and Javier Bardem. Their statement condemned
what they called the “unrelenting horror” in Gaza, where
Israeli attacks have killed over 64,000 Palestinians and
devastated most of the enclave.
“Inspired by Filmmakers United Against Apartheid who refused
to screen their films in apartheid South Africa, we pledge not
to screen films, appear at or otherwise work with Israeli film
institutions – including festivals, cinemas, broadcasters and
production companies – that are implicated in genocide and
apartheid against the Palestinian people,” the
declaration read.
The signatories defined complicity as “whitewashing or justifying
genocide and apartheid, and/or partnering with the government
committing them.” The pledge also cited International Court
of Justice findings that the genocide case against Israel is
legally plausible -------- and reaffirmed the illegality of the
occupation of Palestinian territory.
Human rights groups, academics, and UN experts have repeatedly
accused Israel of committing genocide, one of the gravest war
crimes defined by the United Nations as acts carried out “with
intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical,
racial or religious group.”
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Mike Lerner described the initiative
as a “non-violent tool” to challenge impunity. “It is the
responsibility of every independently minded artist
to use whatever powers of expression they
possess to support the global resistance
to overcome this horror,” he said.
The boycott reflects a shift within an industry long known for
pro-Israel narratives. Hollywood.. once produced films such
as the 1960 feature Exodus that glorified Israel’s founding,
and has frequently embedded positive references to the
country in mainstream productions. Yet recent years
have seen actors and directors, openly criticize
Israeli policies, often at a professional cost.
In 2023, Susan Sarandon, who signed the current pledge, was
dropped by her talent agency after attending a Palestine
solidarity rally. Actress Melissa Barrera, another
signatory, lost her role in the Scream franchise
following social media posts critical of Israel.
At the same time, Palestinian stories are gaining visibility. In
March, the Israeli-Palestinian co-production No Other Land,
documenting the destruction of Masafer Yatta in the
occupied West Bank, won the Academy Award for
best documentary feature. In September, The
Voice of Hind Rajab — recounting the final
calls of a five-year-old Palestinian girl..
before she and her family were killed
by Israeli forces — received a 23-
minute standing ovation at the
Venice Film Festival.
The artists’ statement concluded: “As filmmakers, actors, film
industry workers, and institutions, we recognise the power
of cinema to shape perceptions. In this urgent moment of
crisis, where many of our governments are enabling the
carnage in Gaza, we must do everything we can, to
address complicity in that unrelenting horror.”
The collective action -- adds cultural weight to mounting calls for
accountability, as artists mobilize their influence to challenge
Israel’s conduct in Gaza and spotlight Palestinian voices on
the global stage.
Image: No thanks to Israeli goods App
The world and her daughter are calling for a boycott of the genocidal colonial apartheid state of Israel.
Place yourself on the right side of joy and sorrow by joining the world's boycott - say ''no'' to evil!
Keir Hardie - Britain's first Labour MP - opposedWorld War One.
His namesake is stammering his way in the opposite direction.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
ROGER WATERS TO MUSICIANS:- "BOYCOTT ISRAEL"
Roger Waters formerly of Pink Floyd, in an open letter, calls on his fellow musicians --- to boycott the Zionist Israeli regime and follow the example of the cultural boycott against the ex S. African Apartheid regime.
“Given the inability or unwillingness of our governments [to act] …. I write to you now, my brothers and sisters … to ask you to join with me, & thousands of other artists around the world, to declare a cultural boycott on Israel,” Roger Waters says in his letter.
Waters says the Zionist regime has been found guilty of major breaches of human rights and international law by international organizations, UN officials and the International Court of Justice.
He touches on two such cases, saying the regime has been identified as perpetrating the “crime of Apartheid”, including in a statement on March 9th, 2012 by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and the “crime of ethnic cleansing” including in East Jerusalem (al-Quds).
Waters adds that he has been a member of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against the Israeli regime’s occupation of the Palestinian lands and Tel Aviv’s violations of Palestinian human rights for 7 years, and now wants other musicians to also join the anti-Israeli front.
“Please join me and all our brothers and sisters in global civil society in proclaiming our rejection of Apartheid in Israel & occupied Palestine, by pledging not to perform or exhibit in Israel or accept any award or funding from any institution linked to the government of Israel, until such time as Israel complies with international law and universal principles of human rights.”
The former Pink Floyd Musician also says he has recently faced a boycott by the US media after his November 29th, 2012 address at the UN on behalf of the Russell Tribunal.
In the address, he sought accountability for the Zionist regime’s violations of the international law and the lack of United Nations resolve that prevents the Palestinian people from achieving their inalienable rights, especially the right of self-determination.
____________________
AT THE FACTORY
Tickets from
www.wegottickets.com/thefactory
www.ticketweb.co.uk
browse venues in Wales
www.ticketlineuk.com
02920 230130
Cash tickets from:
The Factory, Porth Instrumental Music, Penygraig Spillers Records, Cardiff
Indulge in a delicious cake and a cup of tea while enjoying music and sing-along songs from fantastic Welsh musicians.
Ticket information:
The Cultural Services Booking & Information Line:
08000 147 111 or book online at
www.rct-arts.co.ukÂÂ
*************************************************
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:
– 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.
Image: Russian scientists and Scottish ones
Russian/Scottish scientists hail long-range secure quantum communication system.
A group of scientists from ITMO University in Saint Petersburg, Russia, has developed a new approach to constructing quantum communication systems for secure data exchange.
The experimental device based on the results of the research is capable of transmitting single-photon quantum signals across distances of 250 klmtrs or more, which is on par with its cutting edge analogues, the ITMO press-service says.
"Now researchers are on a mission -- to create a fully-fledged quantum cryptographic system, that will generate & distribute quantum keys and transmit useful data simultaneously", ITMO says.
Information security is becoming more and more of a critical issue not only for large companies, banks and defense enterprises but even for small businesses and individual users.
But the data encryption algorithms we currently use for protecting our data are imperfect - in the long-term, their logic can be cracked. Regardless of how complex and intricate the algorithm is, getting around it, is just a matter of time.
Unlike algorithm-based encryption, systems that protect information, by making use of fundamental laws of quantum physics, can make data transmission totally immune to hacker attacks, in the future.
Information in a quantum channel is carried by single photons that change irreversibly if an eavesdropper tries to intercept them. The legitimate users will instantly know about any kind of intervention.
Researchers at the Quantum Information Centre of the International Institute of Photonics and Optical Information Technology at ITMO Uni., Russia, along with their colleagues from the Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, have devised a new way to generate and distribute, quantum bits.
This makes it possible to share quantum signals --- via optical fibres --- 250 kilometres in distance.
"To transmit quantum signals, we use the so- called side frequencies," says Artur Gleim, head of the Quantum Information Centre, at ITMO University,
"This unique approach gives us a number of advantages -- such as a considerable simplification of the device architecture and the large pass-through capacity of the quantum channel. In terms of bit rate and operating distances, our system is comparable to absolute champions in the field of quantum communications."
According to Robert Collins, research associate at the Institute of Photonics & Quantum Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, and one of the authors of the study, this may become a pivotal point for the whole field of quantum communication and cryptography:
"Down the track, this new approach can enable smooth coexistence of numerous data streams with different wavelengths in one single optical cable. On top of it, these quantum streams can be fed into the already existing fibre optic lines --- along with conventional communications."
The research paper is published in the Optics Express journal.
Scottish universities are to be congratulated for their strong & growing links with Chinese and Russian universities....
What a shame, that Wales is lying low --- with academics too scared to break from US military research.
Image: BRICS
Image: March 26 London anti cuts demo
KILLING THE ELDERLY BY CLOSING CARE HOMES
Did you know that each time a local authority
closes a care home for the elderly, within 8
months, around half the residents are dead?
Campaigners liken the cuts and their effect to euthanasia of the UK's elderly. What to do?
We can start by urging our MPs to sign EDM 2251:
EDM 2251: The contents
This House notes with deep concern the worsening crisis for elderly care as growing numbers of local authority and private care homes face closure
Acknowledges concerns that the loss of elderly people's care homes causes fear, anxiety and, in many cases, a higher mortality rate, when vulnerable, elderly people are forced to leave their homes
Further notes that the Southern Cross crisis will increase needs for local authority care
And therefore calls on the government to hold a public inquiry into the deaths after closures, of local authority care homes, and impose a moratorium on the closure of local authority care homes, until that inquiry publishes its results, to ensure that vulnerable, elderly people's lives are not put at further risk.
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MAKING THE CONNECTION IN WALES
Households across three more English areas will be able to access superfast broadband in the latest phase of a Government scheme to connect rural homes and businesses.
The £50 million funding package for Devon and Somerset (£30 million), Norfolk (£15 million) and Wiltshire (£4 million) will aid the roll- out of superfast broadband services unable to be reached by the market alone.
Areas will also receive financial support from their local authorities and private investors, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport says.
So it's Broadband Heaven for England...
and crapola for Wales' broadband - the
slowest, worst Broadband in the UK !!!
Lib Dems in Scotland might have received a pummeling for Clegg and his betrayals, yet, in Scotland, their campaign centred on it becoming the "most connected country in Europe," to massively boost their economy.
In Wales, which political party is now willing to put into practice scientists' recommendations: that Wales' hilly topography requires establishing
free 'wireless' broadband?
It could connect the people of Rhondda and the world, boosting Wales' economic regeneration, like no other move.Wireless technology is now supplying free broadband to an entire island off New Zealand's coast.
Come on; if New Zealand can do it - so can we !!!
Image: China's rapeseed blossoms this Spring.
Western China has embraced "green-mode development" - with painful changes from which, Wales could well learn.
Eastern China has seen fast growth and urban mess. The West, a mining and agricultural area, has not.
Xi'an Chan-ba Ecological District, is a model for reclaiming old mining areas.
It took six hard years, but now Xi'an is showing the world how best to change, by turning a badly polluted rubbish landfill site, into an all new environment-friendly development.
As China's economic focus moves from east to west, it's using the lessons learned during 30 or more years of rapid industrial development.
The green way for China's west, is to combine green industrialization & green urbanization.
The western region's strategy is to adopt effective energy-saving and environmental protection technologies... AND to extend its industry through science and products unique to China's West, together with strong vertical growth in agriculture and all its ancilliary economic & professional spin-offs.
In undertaking this industrial revolution, the western region will keep a sharp eye out - to avoid all polluting non-sustainable industries.
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A BIG DROP OF HONEY !!!
Spring is beekeeping and honey-processing season in Yunnan province, in China.
Waves of bees flit across vast fields of flowers.
Local beekeepers and many from other places, such as Sichuan and Fujian provinces - set up their base in tents among the rapeseed farms.
The 430,000 hectares of rapeseed blooms in Luoping attract myriads of bees, which produce 15 - 20 million tons of honey a year.
Local people now look to brand their county as a honey production base & increase sales to outside markets.
Luoping Tianyuanmiyu Bee Industry Co Chair, Zhu Hongkun, founded his enterprise in 2009.
It mainly produces honey, propolis and propolis powder.
His company works with 270 plus beekeepers, who each earn 80,000 yuan a year on average.
Some earn 200,000 yuan annually, Zhu says.
Who says beauty endowed by nature isn't worth a fortune?
The whole of the uplands of south Wales could be as beautiful & productive, if used wisely!
Image: retirement China style
CHINA's PREMIER POINTS WAY FORWARD
As the Tories threaten a "bonfire of the Quangos", perhaps Wales should take note. Now extracting all our mineral wealth has been stopped (apart from sand and rock) we find ourselves "in" the 1st World of the UK, but with a 3rd World economy, only just kept going by quangos which promise much... but deliver little... and rely on weak public support.
We could WAKE UP & understand that we either do something, or stay as begging bowl cases.
China's premier points the way forward for Wales:
"Industrial restructuring is the key... only by developing energy-efficient, indigenous innovative and high value added products can our companies and economy, achieve sustainable development."
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WHILE FRANCE, GREECE, IRELAND, ETC, STRUGGLE TO STOP THE PENSION AGE RISING HIGHER AND HIGHER...
An online survey on qq.com, a popular Chinese news portal, finds that 91% of its over 800,000 respondents, are against raising the current official Chinese retirement age.
745,123 of those surveyed say they oppose raising retirement ages -- 72,456 support it.
China's scholars & the public have been debating whether to raise the retirement age, for the past few years, but the issue rose to prominence after remarks by an official.
Wang Xiaochu, the official vice minister of the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security, said at a press conference that the government was "studying the matter"...
The retirement age in China is generally set at 60 for men and 50-55 for women.
Wow! Bet you didn't know that !!!
Image: unemployment in Wales
FARMING AND SCIENCE COULD REGENERATE WALES
A new UN General Assembly report warns "vast areas" of cultivated land are lost each year, and that this could lead to unrest.
The report says up to 30 million hectares, an area the size of Italy, is lost each year to environmental degradation, industry & urbanization - the growth of cities - and all because of speculative building and greed.
The UN special rapporteur Olivier De Schutter, gives the example of eastern Africa, where the amount of cultivated land has declined by half --- in just one generation! "
As rural populations grow and competition with large industrial units increases, plots cultivated by smallholders are shrinking year after year," says De Schutter.
"Farmers are often relegated to soils that are arid, hilly or without irrigation."
The UN officer also mentions India as another example, where the average landholding fell from 2.6 hectares in 1960 to 1.4 hectares in 2000. A cut of nearly half in 40 years!
He says 500 million small farmers suffer from hunger, partly because their right to land is being violated. The expert warns of the devastating consequences, as foreign investors compete for larger and larger areas of the world's land for "their" agriculture.
Rhondda Records says Wales could rebuild its new economy by basing it on a fresh approach to high-value added products, using science and agriculture... such as the Altzeim project in Gwent.