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

Except Sundays - our day of rest.

Journalist: To end war ------

prosecute UK, US officials

who wage(d) it illegally

October 22nd, 10:12pm (PressTV)

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

criminals, by holding US and UK officials responsible

for launching the illegal war on Iraq, done without

the approval of the UN Security Council, and

prosecuting them --- under the Nuremberg

principles, US journalist Don DeBar said.

DeBar made the remarks in an interview with Press TV while

commenting on a report which has revealed that the British

military inquiries into abuse against Iraqi nationals... have

been closed without a single prosecution being brought,

even though the credibility of many "shocking and

shameful incidents" during the war in the Middle

Eastern country, have been confirmed.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement

this week that the Service Police Legacy Investigations,

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

"officially closed its doors."

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

violation of international law and under the pretext of

finding WMDs; but no such weapons were ever

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

the US-led invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq

--- according to the California-based investigative

organization, Project Censored.

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

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

International Studies at Brown University.

DeBar told Press TV that the Iraq war

was illegal from the very beginning.

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

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

any of those nations are signatories to the original UN

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

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

approved by the US Senate in the 1940s.

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

“And under the Nuremberg standards, which would then

apply, each and every death consequent – intentional

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

condoning of the US action there, by the media

or public officials, or any act facilitating that,

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

there’s a death penalty for that,” the

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

with the word impunity. And we might bookend with that

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

end to that impunity, until the world sees the major

contradiction in all international relations, is US,

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

continue until this eats our species,”

A damning White House memo had revealed details of the

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

Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush

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

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

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

The sensational memo, revealed that Blair had agreed to

support the war a year before the invasion even started

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

The document also disclosed that Blair agreed to act as a

spin doctor for Bush and convince a skeptical public that

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass

Destruction, which actually did not exist.

In response, Bush would flatter Blair and give the

impression that London was not Washington’s

poodle but an equal partner in the

“special relationship.”

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

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

will follow our lead in the Middle East."

Blair has always denied the claim that he and Bush

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

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

that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.

The Powell memo, however, showed how Blair and

Bush secretly prepared the Iraq war plot behind

closed doors at Crawford.

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

tactical and public affairs lines, that he believes will

strengthen global support for our common cause.”

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)

Today, October the 28th, in 1922,

the Soul of the Nation,

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

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

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

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)

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

managed to sneak into this European competition,

as Israel........ is such a long way from Europe.

__________________________________________________

Chile rejects new purchases of weapons

and military equipment ------ from Israel

September 24th, 11:45am

(Prensa Latina)

The Minister of Defense of Chile, Adriana Delpiano, affirmed today

that there will be no more purchases of weapons and military

equipment from Israel when current contracts expire, and

pointed out the importance of diversifying this line.

The official announced ----- that there are meetings with

representatives from other countries, including Spain

and the UK, to convert them into new suppliers.

Delpiano said it is “an issue that has nothing to do with

the quality of the weapons being fulfilled, but has to
do ....with another situation».

During his recent June 1 Public Account, President Gabriel

Boric said the country will no longer depend on Israeli

industry ------ in all fields.

Along these lines...... he reported that he instructed the head of

Defense to develop an urgent technological diversification plan.

During a conversation with Diario de Cooperativa, the minister said

this Wednesday that when certain equipment is purchased, there

is a dependency in terms of technical assistance, and the

purchase of spare parts and devices.

He made reference to the Israeli radars used by the Chilean

Armed Forces and assured that there are other nations

interested in working with Chile in the future, when

the current contracts end.

He added that in December the Space Centre will be

inaugurated, where they will build satellites without

Israeli technology, but based on elements

tendered in various countries.

A recent publication by academic Gabriel Rivas in the Centre

for Journalistic Investigations indicates that, of Chile's total

military spending, only a small proportion goes to the

import of supplies from the Middle Eastern State.

However, they include sensitive equipment such as drones,

Galil assault rifles, multiple launch systems, anti-tank

guided missiles, radars, missile boats, and others.

___________________________________________________

Spain approves embargo on

arms trade with Israel

September 23rd, 11:11am

(Prensa Latina)

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.

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