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Image: Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader,German Chancellor --- Keeps on the Paranoid WAR trail



German ''intelligence'' has warned 

of the risk of a war with Russia --- 

at any time

by Victoria Kondratyeva 

(Editor of "World" dept)

October 13th, 4:55pm

(Lenta.ru)

 

A direct military conflict between Russia and Germany could 

break out at any moment, said the head of the German 

Federal Intelligence Service (BND), Martin Jäger. 

This is reported by Bloomberg.

 

"There is a fragile peace in Europe, which could turn into a sharp 

confrontation at any moment. We must be prepared for further 

escalation," the intelligence chief emphasized.

 

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused Moscow 

of allegedly being involved in organizing most of the drone 

incidents in the airspace of European countries.

 

Image: AfD joint leader Alice Weidel













AfD leader, Weidel..... suggested that 

Merz go to the front in the SVO zone

October 8th, 5:32am

(Vesti.ru)

 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports the escalation of 

the Ukrainian conflict, so he should go to the front line of the 

special military operation himself. This was stated by Alice 

Weidel, co-chair of the right-wing Alternative for Germany 

(AfD) party, during a speech in the Bundestag.

 

According to the politician, if someone wants

 a conflict, they should take part in it.

 

"If Friedrich Mertz goes to the front in Ukraine, he should serve in 

the (Ukrainian Armed Forces. – Ed.). I would really like to see him 

there," said Weidel, who was quoted by RIA Novosti.

 

She added that the AfD intends to oppose the German Chancellor's 

new initiative on voluntary service in order to avoid Berlin's 

involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.

 

Earlier, Merz stated that Germany can no longer be 

considered a peaceful country at the moment.

 

 

_____________________________________



Germany: Elected Herdecke Mayor 

Critically Injured in Stabbing 

Outside Her Home

October 7th, 9:29am

(teleSUR)

 

Police investigate motive after Social Democrat

 Iris Stalzer suffers multiple knife wounds.

 

On Tuesday, the newly elected mayor of the German city of 

Herdecke, Social Democrat Iris Stalzer, was critically 

injured after being stabbed outside her home.

 

The secretary-general of the Social Democratic Party’s (SPD) 

parliamentary group, Matthias Miersch, expressed deep 

shock over the attack, though he said he had no 

details about the motive.

 

Stalzer, 57, was found seriously injured by her son in her 

apartment....... where she had dragged herself after 

sustaining several knife wounds to her abdomen
and back, the daily Bild 
reported.

The newspaper added
 that emergency
doctors are 
fighting to save her life.

 

The politician reportedly told her son that several men 

had attacked her in the street. The online edition of 

the weekly Focus said she suffered 13 stab 

wounds to the abdomen and back.

 

It remains unclear whether the attack was 

politically motivated, though personal 

reasons have not been ruled out.

 

In statements to *Focus*, the Herdecke branch of the SPD 

said it was unaware of any recent threats against the 

mayor. Herdecke, a city of about 22,500 residents, 

is located in the western state of North 

Rhine-Westphalia.

 

Stalzer, who is married and has two teenage children, had just

won the runoff of the local elections on September the 28th, 

defeating the conservative candidate, Fabian Haas, with 

52.8% of the vote. So far, police have only confirmed 

that an operation is underway at the scene.

 









Image: Macaroon's words and face in the open now






 
RTL:  Former French President Sarkozy

 will begin serving his prison sentence 

on October 21

October 13th, 5:11pm

(RT.ru

 

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will begin 

serving his prison sentence on October 21, 

according to RTL. This is written by Brut.

 

"According to RTL, he will be imprisoned in the Santé prison

 in Paris on Tuesday, October 21," the report said.

 

Earlier, Sarkozy said in an interview with Le Journal du 

dimanche that he did not expect a sentence to a real 

prison term ....with immediate execution.

 

The Paris Criminal Court, sentenced Sarkozy to five years

 in prison for the financing of his 2007 election campaign.

 

 

_______________________________________________________




Filippo: A rally against
Macron
 was held
in Paris


October 11th, 4:55pm


(RT.ru)


 


A large demonstration was held in Paris in support of the 


resignation of French President Emmanuel Macron. 



This was announced by the leader of the French 


Patriots party, Florian Philippot.


 


"An incredible number of flags are flying over Paris: 


thousands and thousands of French citizens are 


chanting 'Macron, go away!'" — he wrote on


 his social media account.


 


Filippo also posted footage from the demonstration. 


Earlier, he called Macron a “madman” who was 


“willing to do anything ------ to stay in power.”


 


The French newspaper Le Figaro reported that the 


bureau of the French National Assembly rejected 


the proposal to remove Macron from power.


 


 


________________________________



Zakharova: on Le Corneux's appointment 

as French Prime Minister: A Total Crisis 

of Democracy

October 11th, 10:30pm

(RT.ru)

 

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova 

called the re-appointment of French Prime Minister 

Sebastien Lecornu, a signal of the country's 

total democratic crisis.

 

"In the context of political repression in France, this act 

of desperation signals a total crisis of democracy,"

 she wrote on her Telegram channel.

 

At the same time, the diplomat added - that the opinion of 

the French is no longer taken into account in the country.

 

Earlier, BFMTV reported that Le Cornet was 

reappointed ....as Prime Minister of France.

 

The leader of the National Rally right-wing party's 

parliamentary faction, Marine Le Pen,
meanwhile -- 
called the political
situation in France, a circus.




_______________________________

 


Macron - will close the door on
the left, they say in France

October 10th, 12:23pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

French President Emmanuel Macron does not seem willing 

to appoint a prime minister from the left - as a way out of 

the political crisis, the leader of the environmentalists, 

Marine Tondelier, said today... after a meeting with 

the president.

 

Upon leaving the Elysée, where the head of state received leaders 

of various colours, the first secretary of Europe Ecology the 

Greens was dismayed by the conclusions of the meeting, 

which was not attended by the National Group and La

 Francia Insumisa - forces that refuse to negotiate -

and demand elections for the people to decide.

 

We left without answers, only that the prime minister 

will not be from our camp, Tondelier told reporters.

 

The deputy added that if the Government that will replace the 

one that has just fallen with the resignation on Monday of 

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu... is not from the left,

- the president will be forced to dissolve the National 

Assembly, which implies early legislative elections.

 

Also the national secretary of the communists, Fabien 

Roussel, estimated that Macron has no intention of 

responding to the left's claim to be in power, now.

 

He told us that the Assembly has 210 deputies from the common 

field (the ruling party, its allies and the conservative Republican 

party) and that all of them are ready to govern together, he told 

journalists as he left the Elysée.

 

Roussel reiterated the expectation of seeing a change when in the 

next few hours the president appoints Lecornu's replacement, 

who this week became the most short-lived prime minister of 

the Fifth Republic, with 27 days in office, and the third to fall 

in 10 months, a political crisis unprecedented in more than 

70 years.

 

Nor did the leader of the socialists, Olivier Faure, say he 

heard Macron answer --- any of the various questions.

If change does not occur, there will be censure, 

he threatened.

 

Political cohabitation with the appointment of a left-wing prime 

minister is the most widely used hypothesis in the media as a 

mitigating factor for the ongoing crisis, although Macron has 

other options, like appointing one of his allies for continuity 

or appealing for a ''technical'' government.

 

Before the day ends, France must know the decision of the head 

of state and the response of the opponents, which is already 

clear from the National Group and La Francia Insumisa ----

forces that do not seem willing to miss the opportunity

--- to put Macron on the ropes.

 




Image: Dollar round-a-bout an illusion












 


 


Russia has proposed creating an 


analogue of the Nobel Prize 


in Literature


by Andrey Shenshakov


October 13th, 5:36pm


(Lenta.ru)


 


Writer Zakhar Prilepin has proposed creating an analogue 


of the Nobel Prize in Literature in Russia. His words are 


reported by RIA Novosti.


 


During a speech in Kaliningrad, Prilepin stated that he would 


like to see a similar award that could be given to writers


 from China, India, Latin America, Africa, as well as


 "normal people in Europe."


 


"We have our own version of the Oscars, our own version of all 


forms of cultural hierarchies. We're participating in a foreign 


carnival -- that has lost its shame and conscience, 


Prilepin said.


 


According to the writer, in recent years, the Nobel Prize 


has been awarded ------ for "outright nonsense." 


 


Earlier, it was reported that Hungarian writer László Krasznahorkai, 


the author of the sensational novels, 'Melancholy of Resistance' 


and 'Satanic Tango' (The International Satanic Movement - is 


listed as a terrorist and extremist organization), received 


the Nobel Prize in Literature.


 


 


 


_______________________________________________________


 


 


The Netherlands should not underestimate


China's resolve, capability - to protect


 its rights: Global Times editorial


October 13th, 4:26pm


   


The Dutch government said on Sunday that it has made a "highly 


exceptional" decision to intervene in Nexperia, a subsidiary of 


Chinese company Wingtech, citing concerns that it could 


"pose a risk to Dutch and European economic security." 


 


On September 30, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs issued 


an administrative order restricting the business decisions of 


Nexperia and its affiliated entities, effectively depriving 


Chinese shareholders of their normal control. 


 


Wingtech subsequently issued a statement --- expressing a strong 


protest against such discriminatory treatment targeting Chinese-


funded enterprises. It is obvious to anyone with clear judgment 


that this is a serious harassment of a chip company controlled 


by Chinese enterprises, by the Dutch government under the 


pretext of a fabricated "national security" concern.


 


This series of actions attempts to seize the capital and 


technological achievements that Chinese companies 


have built up ----- over many years. And many have 


described such actions as "21st-century piracy." 


 


The BBC noted that the Dutch government's statement did not 


detail why it considered the firm's operations risky, and the 


report also hinted that the move was related to the US 


Commerce Department's further tightening of 


restrictions on China in September. 


 


Additional commentary has issued warnings: the UK's Financial 


Times bluntly stated that the move escalates frictions between 


Western countries and China in the high-tech sector, while 


media outlets such as Bloomberg of the US also warned 


that this highly unusual action, would further worsen 


China-EU tensions.


 


The Dutch government's actions against Nexperia, are extremely 


egregious --- going far beyond normal commercial regulation
and 
carrying blatant political coercion and discriminatory

overtones. Such a move... using unfounded so-called
"security allegations", 
as a pretext to restrict the
rights of legitimate shareholders, violates the
principles -- of a market economy and fair 


competition ---- and runs counter to the
international 
trade rules that the EU
has consistently advocated. 


 


This not only harms the legitimate rights and interests of 


Chinese companies, but also undermines international


 investors' confidence in the EU market. This should 


not be seen.... as a dispute between the Dutch 


government - and a Chinese company - it is 


a blatant trampling of international rules 


by Netherlands, and the international 


community - cannot tolerate such 


predatory actions... disguised 


under the cloak of law, or 


security, against multi-


national enterprises.


 


Many observers believe that the US' extreme suppression of 


Chinese enterprises and its over-securitization practices 


---- have sparked widespread concern across the world, 


while also providing a negative example and external 


support for the Netherlands' recent intervention


in Nexperia. 


 


In response, on Monday, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of 


Foreign Affairs stressed that China opposes overstretching 


the concept of national security and taking discriminatory 


moves that target companies from certain countries, and 


China is firmly resolved - in defending its own legitimate 


and lawful rights and interests. The country's counter-


sanctions legal framework --- anchored in laws such
as 
the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's 


Republic of China -- provides strong protection 


for the lawful rights of Chinese enterprises. 


No party should underestimate China's 


firm resolve and full capability to 


defend its own interests.


 


In the early stages of capitalism, some countries relied on 


violence and colonial plunder - to accumulate primitive 


capital, even fostering within their own cultures the 


misguided historical notion, that "plunder brings 


wealth." In today's geopolitical context, the 


Dutch government, under the pretext of 


"supply chain security," has imposed 


excessive interference on Chinese 


enterprises, and then cloaked its 


asset seizure, under a façade of


legality - a seamless sequence 


of actions ------ that inevitably 


evokes memories of certain 


dark chapters..... in this 


country's history. 


 


It is no wonder that some have wryly observed that a few 


Western countries now treat "national security" ...as a 


privateering license, a reflection of "colonial genes" 


awakening in the 21st century.


 


In fact ------ since Wingtech's acquisition of Nexperia... in 2019, 


the company .....has maintained steady and sound operations, 


contributing positively ---- to the Dutch economy. From the US 


government's coercive measures to the Dutch government's
"predatory intervention" -- the primary risks facing Chinese 


enterprises today no longer stem from market competition 


itself, but from certain foreign competitors who, failing to 


gain an advantage through regular market means, resort 


to commercial plunder against Chinese firms, under the 


guise of national security. 


 


The Nexperia case -------- exemplifies this trend vividly. As China's 


technological and commercial strength continues to grow, such 


"robbery in legal disguise" is likely to recur. As observers have 


pointed out, China's scientific & technological progress has 


profoundly ''shaken the nerves'' of Western hegemony.
Both 
the Chinese government and its enterprises,
must be fully
 prepared for this.


 


On Monday --- data released by China's General Administration of 


Customs showed that China's exports in September, measured 


in US dollars, rose 8.3 percent year-on-year, while imports 


increased 7.4 percent year-on-year ---- both figures well 


above external expectations. In addition -- exports of 


industrial robots, in the first three quarters --- grew 


54.9 percent --- and "new three" products as well 


as green products such as electric locomotives 


for railways ---- all posted double-digit growth. 


 


Many analysts see this....  as a reflection of China's economic 


resilience and an indication that amid the US' strengthened 


protectionism.. China's trade and economic ties with the 


world --- are becoming deeper. In today's complex and 


turbulent international environment -- the choice for 


the world is clear: either revert to the colonial-era 


paths of protectionism & unilateralism, or forge 


a new path of openness, inclusiveness, and 


shared prosperity. 


 


The Netherlands, needs to recognize the trend of history; 


otherwise, it will only be lifting a rock.... to drop it on its 


own feet.


 


 


____________________________________________________________










Trump --- ordered the payment of salaries 
to the US military despite the shutdown


by Maxim Makarychev


October 11th, 8:28pm


(Rossiyskaya Gazeta) 




To share


 


Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military to receive its pay, on 


Wednesday, October 15th, despite the ongoing government 


shutdown, which typically means that millions of federal 


employees do not receive their salaries.


 


"I am using my authority as Commander-in-Chief ---- to order our 


Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available resources 


to pay our military on October 15. I will not allow the 


Democrats to hold our military and the security of


 our country hostage," the President of the US


 wrote on his Truth Social platform.


 


In Congress, the stalemate continues for the tenth day: 


Republicans and Democrats --- have been unable to 


agree on a budget since October 1, leading to a 


shutdown ...that has already resulted in the 


dismissal of more than 700,000 federal 


government employees. 


 


 


__________________________________________




Díaz-Canel accuses the US ---- of lying 


about a Cuban incursion into Ukraine


October 11th, 12:42pm


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, today, accused the 


United States authorities of spreading lies about the island's 


alleged incursion into the armed conflict between Ukraine


and Russia.


 


«We categorically reject - the mendacious accusations of the 


US government regarding Cuba's alleged participation in the 


conflict in Ukraine», he stated through the social network X.


 


«They have not and will not be able to provide any evidence to 


support these unfounded accusations - to support their new 


campaign against Cuba», added the head of state.


 


This Saturday, the Government of Cuba assured that it does not 


participate in any way in the conflict in Ukraine - and accused 


the United States authorities of defaming Cuba, in this regard.


 


According to a statement from the Cuban Foreign Ministry, the 


United States discloses «a slanderous accusation that began


 in 2023 by some media outlets, without providing evidence 


or foundation of any kind, and clearly fulfilling -------- an 


entrusted service».


 


«Cuba is not part of the armed conflict in Ukraine, nor does it 


participate with military personnel there, or in any other 


country», the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insists.


 


 


___________________________________


 


 


 


Escalating.. Peru Political Crisis: 


7th President in 9 Years Ousted 


Amid Turmoil


October 11th, 12:03pm


(teleSUR)


 


An in-depth look at the escalating Peru political crisis 


after Dina Boluarte’s ouster, marking the 7th 


presidential change in 9 years. Analysis 


and context.


 


7th President in 9 Years Ousted Amid Turmoil


 


The Andean nation plunges deeper into chaos as Congress ousts 


Dina Boluarte and inaugurates a successor accused of serious 


crimes, highlighting a devastating cycle of instability.


 


LIMA, Peru – Peru has been plunged into a profound Peru political 


crisis following the swift ousting of President Dina Boluarte by a 


deeply unpopular Congress. The legislative body ------ which had 


previously sustained her in power, acted with startling speed 


to remove her through a vague “moral incapacity” motion, a 


move critics call ----- a cynical tool of the political elite.


 


This abrupt transition of power marks the 7th presidential change 


in just nine years, cementing a chronic cycle of ungovernability 


that has left the nation reeling. The new successor, José Jerí, 


is a politician with minimal popular support and a history of 


serious allegations, including rape and corruption, further 


eroding public trust in a system perceived as rotten to


 its core.


 


The nation awoke to the news..... that Boluarte was no longer 


president, a development that, while expected by some, has 


plunged the country into a fresh wave of uncertainty. The 


Congress, consistently ranked as the most despised 


institution in the country, demonstrated the same


 volatility with which it previously enabled 


her government.


 


A Hypocritical Political Coup


 


The legislative body justified Boluarte’s removal by citing her 


government’s failure to contain a severe security crisis that 


has seen homicides soar and criminal gangs operate with 


impunity. However, this same Congress was her chief 


ally for three years, endorsing the very policies 


it now claims to reject.


 


Analysts view the maneuver, as a transparent attempt by political 


factions to salvage their public image ahead of general elections 


scheduled in just six months. By distancing themselves from 


Boluarte, whose approval rating had plummeted to an


 historic low of 2%, they hope to avoid the electoral 


backlash for the nation’s deep-seated problems.


 


Boluarte, who initially assumed the presidency ------ after the 


controversial ouster and imprisonment of her predecessor, 


Pedro Castillo, leaves a controversial and bloody legacy. 


Her administration was marked by the brutal repression 


of widespread protests, which resulted in the deaths 


of at least 60 civilians.


 


Now stripped of presidential immunity, she faces multiple legal 


battles. The Peruvian Attorney General’s Office - has filed two 


preliminary measures to prevent her leaving the country. 


These are linked to allegations of influence peddling to


 benefit her plastic surgeon and a separate case 


involving funds for a fugitive political ally.


 


A New Leader Mired in Allegations


 


Invested in an express ceremony, the former head of Congress, 


José Jerí --- is now the nation’s president. At 38 years old, Jerí 


possesses negligible political weight, having secured less 


than 12,000 votes in the last elections. Yet ---- doubts 


surrounding his integrity, are even more alarming.


 


Jerí has been publicly accused of rape ------ a case that was later 


archived, and faces other corruption allegations. His credibility 


suffered a further blow when it was revealed that he follows 


dozens of pornographic accounts on Instagram... a 


discovery that has sparked public outrage ...and 


questions about his judgment.


 


During his inaugural address in Parliament, Jerí promised to


 address the demands of the nation’s youth. However, his 


word is already in question after he blatantly broke a 


public promise. In an August interview with the 


newspaper El Comercio, he explicitly stated 


that he would “decline” the presidency if a 


scenario for Boluarte’s removal arose —


a promise he has now forsaken.


 


Many local analysts perceive Jerí not as a true leader, but as 


a puppet. He is widely believed to be controlled from the 


shadows by powerful political operators, notably 


Patricia Li, a figure herself questioned ----- for 


complicity in tax fraud.


 


A Youthful Population Demands Real Change


 


While the political elite engages in a game of musical chairs with 


the presidency, a powerful force is stirring on the streets. Peru’s 


Generation Z has been leading protests for over a month, 


demanding fundamental structural change and 


expressing utter contempt for the entire 


political class.


 


“We are already so used to political crises, to not having leaders, 


but we are tired,” said Piero Meza, a 17-year-old university 


student, outside Boluarte’s residence. “Now they remove 


Dina and what happens? Nothing. We need everything


to change, we need an end to corrupt police, those 


delinquents in uniform. Nothing makes sense -- if 


we have no one to protect us.”


 


This sentiment.... reflects a deep and growing chasm between 


Peru’s citizens and its ruling class. The youth are not merely 


protesting over single president, but a system they view 


as fundamentally broken and unresponsive.


 


The Vicious Cycle of Oligarchic Power


 


The current Peru political crisis cannot be understood in isolation.


 With over 1,700 homicides recorded so far this year, the security 


situation is dire. Yet, this is not an isolated failure but rather the 


logical outcome of a long-standing neoliberal economic model 


that perpetuates stark inequality ---------- and systematically 


dismantles public services.


 


The final trigger for Boluarte’s downfall was a brazen attack 


by gunmen - on a cumbia orchestra performing at a military 


compound. This event severed the last thread of patience 


holding her government together. However, the roots of 


the crisis run much deeper.


 


Peru, a nation fabulously rich in natural resources, remains 


desperately poor in social justice. This latest episode 


demonstrates that the nation’s chronic instability is 


a symptom of a rotten system. This system 


prioritizes the interests of a rapacious 


minority over the fundamental needs 


of its people, creating a predictable 


cycle of ........crisis, short-lived 


governments, and public 


disillusionment.


 


The broader geopolitical implications of Peru’s instability are


 significant for Latin America. It contributes to a regional 


pattern of democratic backsliding and institutional 


weakness, where constitutional mechanisms are 


weaponized for political vendettas rather than 


serving the public good. 


 


This constant state of flux undermines Peru’s ability to 


act as a stable partner in international affairs --- and 


fosters an environment where foreign investment 


and long-term development projects become 


increasingly risky.


 


 


_______________________________________


 


 


 


US Trade war escalation: Trump imposes 


100% tariff - on imports from China U.S


October 11th, 9:50am


(teleSUR)


 


President Donald Trump announced the imposition of a 100% 


tariff on all imports from China starting Nov. 1, 2025, in 


addition to the current 30% levies. With this, the 


total rate rises to 130 percent.


 


President Donald Trump announced the decision on his Truth 


Social platform, where he also indicated - the application of 


export controls ---- to all critical software manufactured in 


the United States to China, effective from the same date.


 


“Effective November 1, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any 


other actions or changes taken by China), the United 


States of America will impose a 100 percent Tariff 


on China, on any Tariff they are currently paying,” 


the White House Chief wrote.


 


Tensions have been escalating since Oct. 8, when the U.S. 


Commerce Department added 16 Chinese companies to 


its list of export-controlled entities, a move rejected 


by Beijing.


 


A statement from the Asian giant’s Ministry of Commerce 


describes Washington’s constant use of the concept of 


national security as “exaggerated” adding -- it “has 


abused export control measures and arbitrarily 


exercised long-arm jurisdiction, imposing 


high-impact sanctions ---- on multiple 


entities, including Chinese ones”.


 


This measure “seriously undermines the legitimate rights and 


interests of companies and alters the security and stability 


of global industrial and supply chains,” the text states.


 


As of October 14, special port taxes applied by China to vessels 


owned and operated by U.S. companies, organizations, and 


individuals come into effect. The Ministry of Transport of 


the Asian giant detailed, that the initial rates will be 


400 yuan (about 56.3 dollars) per net ton, with 


annual increases every April 17, for three 


years, reaching 1,120 yuan in 2028.


 


The measure also affects entities with direct or indirect U.S. 


participation of 25 percent or more -- as well as all U.S.-


flagged or U.S.-built vessels. For ships that dock at 


multiple Chinese ports on one trip, the fees apply 


only at the first port, with a maximum of five 


trips per year.


 


The ministry justified the action as “a justified measure to 


safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese 


maritime companies.” in response to the additional 


fees imposed by Washington on Chinese vessels 


following a Section 301 investigation.


 


“The U.S. actions have seriously violated the relevant 


international trade principles - and the China-U.S. 


maritime transport agreement, causing serious 


disruption to maritime trade between the two 


countries,” the ministry noted, urging the 


US to correct its wrong actions and 


cease the crackdown on China’s 


maritime industry.


 


Rare Earths: What the U.S. Needs and China Owns 


 


The 100% levy demonstrates the Trump administration’s 


dissatisfaction with Beijing’s decision to protect its 


rare earths, the world’s largest reserve.


 


The Chinese Ministry of Commerce --- included 14 foreign 


organizations, mostly from the U.S. defense sector, on


its list: of untrustworthy entities. These include ---- 


Dedrone by Axon, AeroVironment, BAE Systems, 


TechInsights, Elbit’s U.S. subsidiary, DZYNE 


Technologies, Epirus, Exelis, and VSE 


Corporation, as well as the Halifax 


International Security Forum


 in Canada.


 


These entities face prohibitions to carry out imports and exports 


linked to China, make new investments in the Asian giant and 


maintain transactions or cooperation with organizations in 


that country, especially in data transmission or provision 


of sensitive information.


 


The ministry argued that the measure seeks to “safeguard China’s 


sovereignty, security and national development interests,” as the 


sanctioned firms ------ “have maintained cooperation on military 


technology with Taiwan, published malicious statements 


about China, and helped foreign governments suppress 


Chinese companies.”


 


 “These actions have seriously damaged China’s national 


sovereignty, security and development interests,” the 


statement said. It stresses that the list includes only


 a “very small number of foreign entities” that put 


national security at risk.


 


“Foreign companies that act with integrity and comply with 


the law have no cause for concern,” he adds, reaffirming 


the commitment to a stable business environment for 


global investors.


 


On Thursday, October 9, Beijing required special approvals for 


overseas shipments of these items and permits for exports 


of mining, smelting and recycling technologies, rejecting 


applications for military goods.


 


After calling China “very hostile,” Trump suggested he will cancel 


his meeting with President Xi Jinping, scheduled as part of the 


Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in South Korea


 in late October.


 


“I was due to meet with President Xi in two weeks, in APEC, in 


South Korea, but now there seems to be no reason to do so,” 


he said.


 


China, for its part, indicated that it will take all the necessary 


measures to resolutely safeguard the rights of its entities,
in a scenario of US aggression that could generate new
fears ---- about the stability 
of the global economy.


 


 


_________________________






 Reuters: Seven EU countries have

increased their energy imports 

from Russia

October 10th, 10:19pm

(RT.ru)

 

According to Reuters, these countries are France, Belgium, 

the Netherlands, Croatia, Romania, Portugal, and Hungary. 

According to the agency, they have increased their 

purchases of Russian energy resources in value 

terms ...compared to last year.

 

It is noted that in France, for example, purchases of Russian 

energy resources increased by 40% to €2.2 billion, and in

 the Netherlands by 72% to €498 million.

 

The article states that US President Donald Trump has sharply 

criticized European leaders, noting that they are buying oil 

and gas from Russia while "at war with it."

 

Earlier, it was reported that the member states of the EU 

overwhelmingly supported a ban on Russian gas and 

oil imports... starting from January 2028.

 

Denis Kravchenko, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma 

Committee on Economic Policy, said that Russia is ready 

to ban the export of energy resources to Europe.

 

 

____________________________________________________



The US government has announced that
more than 
a million military personnel
will be left without pay.

October 10th, 5:49pm

(RT.ru)

 

More than a million military personnel will be left without pay 

due to the shutdown, according to Mike Johnson, Speaker 

of the House of Representatives.

 

"One million and 300 thousand military personnel — active

soldiers, pilots, sailors will not receive their salaries on 

October 15, because the Democrats have dug in their 

heels and shown that they do not care," he said.

 RIA Novosti quoted him.

 

This information was previously confirmed -- by
White
 House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt.

 

CNN also reported that the White House has compiled a 

list of agencies... that will be affected by the shutdown.

 

 

___________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Rada member urged Kiev residents

 to move to the countryside 
before 
a harsh winter

October 10th, 5:40pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

Ukrainians who live in the country's major cities, especially 

in Kyiv, should move to villages before winter, as Ukraine

may experience a total blackout. This was stated by 

Mariana Bezuglaya, a member of the Verkhovna 

Rada, on October 10.

 

"The winter will be long, and there will be a blackout. Stock up 

and cooperate. The best option is to consider moving out of 

the city for the fall (Autumn) and winter," Bezuglaya wrote 

on her Telegram channel.

 

She noted that everyone should understand.... and adapt to their 

environment on their own. She pointed out that everyone needs 

their own life and comfort, as well as the comfort of their 

loved ones.

 

Prior to that, on August 31, Bezuglaya also urged Ukrainians to 

prepare for the approach of a harsh winter and the onset of a 

blackout. The ExPro Daily Gas publication reported on May 

28 that the cost of natural gas in Ukraine reached record

 levels in two years... and amounted to 23,000 hryvnias 

($553) per 1 cubic metre. It was specified, that this 

was the highest figure since February 2023.

 

 

_______________________________________________

 

 

 

Trump announced --- that the US is ready to 

impose higher tariffs on Chinese goods

October 10th, 4:05pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

US President Donald Trump on October 10, announced the 

readiness of the US to impose increased duties on goods 

from China in response to Beijing's decision to limit the 

export of rare-earth elements.

 

"One of the measures we are currently working on is a
significant increase - in tariffs on Chinese products
imported into the US of A. 
There are many other
retaliatory measures ----- that are also being
seriously considered," the US president
wrote on the Truth 
Social, social
media platform.

 

According to him, China is "holding the world hostage"
by creating 
a monopoly in the market for magnets
and other metals. He has 
promised to take
financial measures.

 

On October 8, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), 

Kristalina Georgieva, said that the openness of the global 

economy has been severely affected by US import tariffs, 

but a global trade war has not yet occurred. According 

to her forecasts, global public debt will exceed the 

size of the entire global economy in 2029.

 

On October 9th, Trump highlighted the importance of tariffs to 

strengthen the U.S. position. According to the US leader, the 

tariffs he imposed have saved "millions of lives" of citizens.

 

 

______________________________________


 


 


CIS leaders ---- grant
SCO observer status


October 10th, 11:52am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) 


decided to grant the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 


observer status in the CIS, the Kremlin website announced


 today.


 


At the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS «the 


decision on granting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization 


observer status in the Community of States was signed,» 


says the note.


 


In total, 19 documents were initialed during the meeting at the 


highest level in Tajikistan, the text adds. In particular ----
the organization's leaders established a new CEI plus format.


 


The concept of military cooperation in the context of the CIS until 


2030 was also approved, just as they committed to strengthening 


border security and cooperating in the fight against terrorism and 


its financing, extremism, transnational crime, money laundering 


and financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.


 


Likewise, the heads of state signed an agreement to 


collaborate in the field of regional energy security.


 


The CIS, founded in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, 


today includes ------- Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, 


Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as 


member states.


 


Georgia left the organization in 2009; Ukraine and Turkmenistan 


legally maintain the status of state parties... to numerous 


community agreements.


 


 


______________________________________








Putin arrives in Tajikistan


by Marina Sovina (night editor)


October 8th, 8:22pm


(Lenta.ru)


 


Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Tajikistan. 


The Russian President will be in Dushanbe, for the next 


three days, according to TASS.


 


Putin arrived in the country on a state visit.... where he will meet 


with the President of the Republic Emomali Rahmon. In addition,


 the Russian leader will take part in the Russia-Central Asia 


Summit and the meeting of the Council of Heads of State 


of the CIS.


 


It is noted that President Rahmon personally met Putin at the 


airport. The national flags of Russia and Tajikistan were 


raised in honour of the guest, and an honour guard 


was lined up.


 


Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian 


and Azerbaijani presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev 


will discuss bilateral relations between Russia and 


Azerbaijan at the first bilateral meeting since
the 
cooling of relations, on Thursday,
October 9.


 


 


____________________________________________



Medvedev on his visit to North Korea:


Friends are together, enemies...... 


are tense


October 8th, 8:06pm


(RT.ru)


 


Russian Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev 


commented on his visit to North Korea with the phrase 


"Friends are together. Enemies are tense."


 


"I have arrived for the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party 


of Korea. Time is passing. Friends are together. Enemies 


are tense," Dmitry Medvedev wrote on MAX.


 


In Pyongyang, he will participate in the celebrations 


marking the anniversary of the founding of the 


Workers' Party of Korea.


 


 


_____________________________________________


 


 


 


The Czech Prime Minister's candidate 


refused to allocate budget funds
for 
weapons for Ukraine


October 8th, 8:03pm


(Izvestia.ru)


 


Leader of the ANO movement - that won the parliamentary 


elections ("Action of Dissatisfied Citizens") Andrej Babis' 


candidate.... for the post of Prime Minister of the Czech 


Republic, said on October 8, that the country will not 


allocate "a single crown" from its budget - for the 


purchase of weapons for Ukraine.


 


"We will not give Ukraine... a single crown for weapons. 


We do not have money for the Czech Republic itself," 


the newspaper Denik quoted him as saying.


 


The politician also noted that the Czech Republic 


contributes billions to the budget of the EU, 


which is helping Ukraine.


 


The victory of ANO in the Czech elections - was announced 


on October 4. It is noted that the country's outgoing Prime


 Minister Petr Fiala --- congratulated the representatives 


of ANO.


 


As Alexey Pushkov, Chairman of the Federation Council's 


Information Policy Commission, later noted --- Hungary 


may have a new ally in the EU --- following the victory 


of the ANO political movement in the Czech Republic.


 


 


________________________________________________________


 


 




Europe has been warned - about a catastrophe 


after the end of the special military operation


by Artem Vereykin (Night Line Editor)


October 8th, 7:33pm


(Lenta.ru)


 


The EU is waiting for a catastrophe, after the end of the 


special operation in Ukraine. This warning was issued 


by the former adviser to the head of the Pentagon,


 Douglas McGregor.


 


According to him, European countries will face a shortage 


of energy resources, as it will be expensive to buy them 


from the US -- and Brussels has broken off relations 


with Russia and does not intend to restore them.


 


"How are you going to rebuild everything -- without energy? 


Are you going to buy it from us? The United States is not 


giving anyone any discounts. On the contrary, we are 


taking advantage of this opportunity and putting 


our European allies on the spot. This ---- is a 


disaster," he concluded.


 


Earlier, US Energy Secretary Christopher Wright, said that 


Washington would like to achieve the reduction to zero 


of Russian gas imports to the European market. The 


Minister believes that the EU should buy energy 


resources from “reliable friends”, namely 


the US.


 


 


_____________________________________




World exhibition will open celebrations


 for FAO's 80th anniversary


October 8th, 6:38am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


An exhibition in Rome, with the theme “From seeds to food” 


will inaugurate the celebrations for the 80th anniversary 


of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United 


Nations (FAO), a statement illuminates today.


 


A note published this Wednesday by the press office of that 


world institution highlights that this exhibition, which will 


be presented in the Porta Capena Park, in Rome --- will 


focus on new technologies, good practices and the 


diversity of global agri-food systems.


 


The exhibition, public and free, will remain open to the public from 


October 10 to 13 and according to the report, it will transform 


that area “into a vibrant hub that will celebrate the diversity 


of global agri-food systems & showcase the technologies


& practices that shape the future of food & agriculture”.


 


Highlights include a replica of the Svalbard Seed Vault, a huge 


underground storehouse of crop plant seeds - located on the 


Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, created in 2008 to protect 


specimens of 1.2 million plant species, in the event of a 


local or global catastrophe.


 


In Porta Capena Park, in front of the FAO headquarters, you can 


also see an aquaponic greenhouse, agricultural drones... and, 


satellite technologies and even dogs trained to detect plant 


diseases, as a testament to the innovation and creativity 


in agriculture.


 


As part of the program, workshops, talks, cooking demonstrations 


and shows will be held on site celebrating agricultural heritage 


and innovation from around the world.


 


The opening of the Monumental Tree Trail will also take place, a 


walkway built to protect the roots of the centuries-old trees of 


Porta Capena, which will remain as a symbolic legacy, 


donated by FAO to the city of Rome.


 


The opening ceremony of the exhibition will take place at 4:00 p.m.


 local time next Friday, October 10, with the participation of the 


general director of that international organization, Qu Dongyu, 


and from government representatives from around the world.


 


This initiative will be developed within the framework of the fifth


 edition of the World Food Forum, which will meet from October 


10 to 17, on the eve of World Food Day 2025 and FAO's 80th 


anniversary, to be celebrated on October 16, the 


source adds.


 


 


__________________________________________________





 Afghanistan Not to Hand Over 

The Bagram Base to the US

October 7th, 1:54pm

(teleSUR)

 

The Taliban reject foreign military bases in their country.

 

Following the “7th Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan” 

on Tuesday, the Afghan Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi,
announced that the Taliban government would not allow 

any foreign military bases on its territory.

 

“The Afghan minister firmly declared that Afghanistan and its 

government will not permit the deployment of any foreign 

bases in its territory. This includes the Bagram base,” 

Russian Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir 

Kabulov said -- and pointed out that the 

Russian side also ruled out sending

 troops to the country.

 

“Absolutely out of the question. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey 

Lavrov expressed his categorical opposition to the deployment 

of military bases both in Afghanistan and in the neighbouring
countries,”
Kabulov said, adding that “Russia has no such 

plans or intentions” to establish a military base.

 

Recently, former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened the

Afghan authorities with serious consequences if they 

refused to hand over the Bagram air base.

 

This base was occupied for 20 years by U.S. forces after the war 

to expel the Taliban and the perpetrators of the September 11 

attacks. In 2021, however, the Bagram base was abandoned 

by the U.S. military itself. It was later looted before Afghan

 forces took control.

 

On Tuesday, Minister Muttaqi also accused certain countries 

of threatening regional stability by harbouring Islamic State 

(IS) fighters.

 

“Our intelligence services show that recently the Islamic State 

and other groups have established training and equipment 

centres in countries in the region, which is a matter of 

serious concern for the Afghan government,” he said.

 

Muttaqi urged neighbouring governments to take responsibility for 

their own security challenges, rather than blaming Afghanistan, 

asserting that “all factors of insecurity have been eliminated” 

within the country since the Taliban came to power in 2021.

 

The Afghan diplomat also praised Russia’s role, noting that 

Moscow had invited Afghanistan as an official member of 

the forum for the first time — in a move he described as 

“a courageous act” - recognizing the Islamic Emirate.

 

“We thank the Russian Federation for this bold step and hope 

that other countries will follow its example, to move toward 

practical cooperation with Afghanistan,” he said.

 

As part of the Taliban regime’s broader strategy to consolidate 

international legitimacy, Muttaqi said his government seeks 

“balanced economic, political, and diplomatic relations” 

with countries in the region.

 

Muttaqi acknowledged that drug trafficking remains a public 

health issue in Afghanistan but claimed that drug cultivation

and production within the country have been drastically 

reduced. He added, that drug-related activities “have 

increased in neighbouring countries --- and should 

be independently investigated.”

 

In his closing remarks, Muttaqi criticized the international 

community’s failure to stop the violence in Gaza, saying 

the situation - “has cast doubt on the credibility of the 

United Nations and the entire human rights system.”

 

 

_____________________________________________________






They establish security strategies


 to guarantee peace in Venezuela


October 6th, 12:21pm


 (Prensa Latina) 


 


The sectoral vice president of Politics, Citizen Security and 


Peace of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, held a meeting


 today with the Ministerial Security Council, with 


the objective.... of establishing strategies for 


peacebuilding, informal sources reported.


 


Authorities from the police forces and the Bolivarian National 


Armed Forces participated in the meeting and it served to 


evaluate ---- the development of prevention plans and 


programs, the fight against organized crime and 


strengthening citizen security bodies.


 


The “actions developed to guarantee the protection of the 


Venezuelan people, based on the doctrine of the Great 


Quadrants of Peace Mission” ...were also reviewed, 


the source indicated without giving more details


- according to Con el Mazo Dando web portal.


 


The head of Venezuela's dialogue processes, Jorge Rodríguez, 


warned last night about a false flag operation organized by 


sectors of the extreme right against the US embassy 


in Caracas.


 


In information disclosed on his Telegram account, the president of 


the National Assembly reported that in three different ways, they 


warned the US Government “of a serious threat, through a false 


flag operation prepared by extremist sectors of the local right”.


 


Rodríguez denounced that “an attempt is being made - to place 


lethal explosives in the United States embassy in Venezuela”.


 


We have also warned a European embassy of these events so that 


it can inform US diplomatic personnel -- of the seriousness of this 


information, indicated the note published on the social network.


 


He stressed that, at the same time ---- they reinforced the security 


measures in said diplomatic headquarters that “our Government 


respects and protects”.


 


This Monday, the Venezuelan people are expected to mobilize 


to the headquarters of the United Nations System in Caracas


 in rejection of the US' external threats and reaffirm their 


people's commitment to peace, sovereignty and the 


defense of life, according to local media.


 


 


_______________________________________________


 


 


Russia: will respond severely to 


the confiscation of its assets


October 6th, 11:36am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Russia will take severe retaliatory measures if its assets 


are confiscated by any European countries, the Slavic 


country's Deputy Foreign Minister, Aleksánder 


Grushkó, said today.


 


«We have repeatedly announced - that retaliatory measures will


be taken. Our response will be severe», the diplomat stressed 


this Monday, in an interview with the TASS news agency.


 


The EU is considering expropriating frozen Russian assets worth 


€210 billion to support Ukraine. Leaders have already instructed 


the EU Commission --------- to thoroughly study the risks of such 


a measure.


 


German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Berlin supports 


granting a loan to kyiv with the use of Russian assets. 


However, Belgium, home of the Euroclear platform 


---- where up to 95 percent of the assets are 


deposited ---- is firmly opposed to this.


 


Brussels fears financial risks associated not only with a loss of 


confidence in the European currency, but also the possible 


confiscation of Belgian assets around the world - due to 


lawsuits brought by Russia to obtain compensation 


for illegally confiscating their funds.


 


 


_____________________________________


 


 


 


Cuba is committed to building 


a sustainable digital future 


October 6th, 10:20am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The IV International Cybersociety Congress 2025, 


organized by the Union of Computer Scientists 


of Cuba (UIC), began today in Havana.


 


The event, which will last four days, it takes place in the 


emblematic Hotel Nacional and is honoured to receive 


professionals and experts in information and 


communication technologies from 


various countries.


 


It also constitutes an ideal space for the exchange of knowledge, 


experiences and good practices, oriented to the challenges and 


opportunities posed by a digital transformation in society.


 


Present during its inauguration.... were the island's Minister 


of Communications, Mayra Arevich, and the president and 


vice president of the UIC, Omar Correa and Tatiana 


Delgado, respectively.


 


«Cybersociety 2025 focuses on the most relevant advances in


 the national technological ecosystem in connection with 


global trends and practices, promoting innovation, 


sustainability and articulation between 


academia, the business sector and 


communities», said Delgado.


 


These four days are organized with workshops, presentations, 


conferences and technology fairs, aimed at promoting open 


dialogue and generating alliances and commitments.


 


 


______________________________________________________


 


 


 


They temporarily block deployment 


of the National Guard in Portland


October 6th, 9:55am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Donald Trump's Government suffered a second legal blow today 


when a federal judge temporarily blocked the deployment of 


members of the National Guard from anywhere in the US 


to Portland, Oregon.


 


The decision, issued on Sunday night, expanded on a more 


limited ruling on Saturday ---- that prevented the federal 


government from sending members of that armed 


force - to Oregon's largest city.


 


Trump says the deployment is necessary to contain protests 


at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, 


something the state and local authorities rejected.


 


Yesterday's hearing was urgently called after the authorities in 


Oregon and California challenged in court Trump's decision to 


reassign federalized members of the National Guard from Los 


Angeles to Portland, which was seen as an apparent 


attempt -------- to circumvent an order from the 


previous day.


 


“There is no rebellion in Portland”, the two states warned in the 


motion calling for expanding the provision, who clarified that 


“there are no laws that defendants cannot enforce with 


regular forces in Portland”.


 


Portland is one of several Democratic-ruled cities currently 


targeted -- by Trump's aggressive policies. The president 


called for the deployment of federal military personnel 


in the context of his broader offensive..... against 


undocumented immigrants.


 


During this Sunday's hearing, federal judge Karin Immergut - 


appointed by Trump - pressured and interrupted lawyer and 


deputy assistant secretary of the Department of Justice,


 Eric Hamilton, on several occasions ----- expressing 


frustration at what he described, as an obvious 


attempt to get around his Saturday order.


 


His order Saturday blocked the sending of the Oregon National 


Guard to Portland, based on his preliminary conclusion that 


President Trump exceeded his constitutional authority by 


federalizing the military.


 


The protests in Portland “did not represent a ‘danger of rebellion’”, 


Immergut said, who last night reiterated that conditions had not 


changed --- when the Trump Administration tried to mobilize 


members of the California National Guard to the city.


 


While the deployment was being debated in court, protests and 


counter-protests continued in areas near ICE headquarters in 


south Portland and police reported two arrests -- raising the 


number of detainees to 36 since June when the nighttime 


demonstrations outside the building began.


 


The federal judge's order will be in effect until October 19, but 


a hearing was scheduled on October 17 at which it could be 


decided whether the edict would be extended for another


 two weeks.


 


 


_________________________________________________


 


 


 


Chileans Denounce: Judicial Persecution


of the Communist Leader - Daniel Jadue


October 6th, 9:40am


(teleSUR)


 


The lawfare case against the Recoleta mayor threatens 


democratic debate ---- and alternative public policies.


 


In an open letter, Chilean academics, intellectuals, and 


artists raised the alarm -- over a judicial persecution 


campaign against Daniel Jadue -- a member of the 


Communist Party who has served multiple terms


 as mayor of Recoleta, a commune within the 


Santiago Metropolitan Region.


 


Among his most recognized initiatives is the creation of 


municipal “People’s Pharmacies,” which aimed to 


provide residents with affordable medicines. 



He also helped to establish the Chilean 


Association of Popular Pharmacies 


(ACHIFARP) --- an initiative that


deeply angered ------ the large 


pharmaceutical monopolies.


 


Since around 2021, Jadue has faced formal legal charges 


related to ACHIFARP. The Prosecutor’s Office.... has 


accused him of several offenses -------- including 


bribery, embezzlement or mismanagement, 


fraud, defrauding the treasury, and a 


bankruptcy-related crime.


 


Much of the case focuses on allegations that during the 


COVID-19 pandemic, ACHIFARP purchased large 


quantities of medical supplies - some of which 


were allegedly stored and unused, while  


accumulating debts with suppliers.


 


In June 2024, Jadue was placed in preventive detention 


as part of the investigation. A court later revoked the 


measure, calling it “unjust and disproportionate,” 


then replacing it ------- with house arrest and 


travel restrictions.


 


As of early 2025, some charges have been adjusted: prosecutors 


dropped certain mismanagement allegations but added others, 


such as repeated fraud against the treasury. Jadue remains 


under judicial precautionary measures ---- and has not 


been convicted.


 


The letter, titled ------ “An Ethical Call to the Academic and Cultural 


World,” argues... that the instrumentalization of the judicial
system for political purposes not only targets an individual
but seeks ---
 “to shut down the possibility of thinking,
proposing, and 
implementing.... profound and
transformative changes.”


 


It also criticizes President Gabriel Boric’s government, warning 


that silence in the face of such events amounts to complicity 


and paves the way for future persecutions. “When one 


person is attacked and we remain silent, we open


 the door for others to be attacked tomorrow,” 


the letter states.


 


Jadue has spent 15 months in preventive detention ---- a period 


described as excessive and marred by due process violations. 


The case has unfolded amid intense media coverage and 


political tension, reflected in the “suspicious 


punctuality” of judicial rulings.


 


Recently, the Electoral Qualification Tribunal invalidated Jadue’s 


parliamentary candidacy, a move the letter says shows the far 


right’s intention ------ to eliminate a strong contender, ahead 


of the November 16 elections.


 


“The goal is not to silence him, but to shut down the possibility of


 change,” the letter declares, calling the case “an attack on the 


very possibility of dissent, of imagining alternatives, or of 


exercising citizenship.”


 


The signatories appeal to “those who cultivate words, thought, and


 art” not to remain silent. Their warning is somber and evocative: 


“Today they come for Daniel Jadue; tomorrow they will come for 


others. And when no one is left to speak, it will be too late - we 


already know that story ....all too well.”


 


The letter also defends Jadue’s political legacy ---- a model of local 


governance focused on people’s well-being. From that perspective, 


the judicial persecution is also seen as an attempt to “cancel” 


alternative public policies that successfully challenged 


Chile’s dominant neoliberal paradigms.


 


It concludes by calling for the construction of a society, based on 


“truth and justice,” stressing that transformative proposals are a 


“collective challenge” requiring a robust and plural democratic 


space.... to flourish.


 


Signatories include architect Miguel Lawner; Inti-Illimani co-


founder Jorge Coulon; sociologist Maria Emilia Tijoux; and 


Alvaro Ramis, rector of the Christian Humanism Academy 


University. The letter was also signed by the Argentine 


sociologist Atilio Boron and the Spanish journalist 


Juan Carlos Monedero.


 


 


__________________________________________________


 


 


 


Venezuela Warns ----- of Far-Right False-Flag 


Operation Against U.S. Embassy in Caracas


October 6th, 3:16am


(teleSUR)


 


Jorge Rodriguez.. head of Venezuela’s peace dialogue efforts, 


denounced on Sunday that right-wing extremists are plotting 


to plant explosives at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, as part 


of a false-flag operation.


 


The President of the Venezuelan National Assembly reported in 


a message posted on his Telegram channel that Caracas had


 warned the Trump administration about this serious threat


 through three different channels.


 


“In my capacity as head of dialogue and peace in Venezuela, I 


want to announce that through three different channels we 


have warned the U.S. government  --- of a serious threat: 


through a false-flag operation prepared by extremist 


sectors of the local right, there is an attempt to 


place lethal explosives in the U.S. Embassy


 in Venezuela,” the official stated.


 


He added that the warning also reached a European embassy “so 


that it can communicate the seriousness of this information to 


U.S. diplomatic personnel.”


 


Rodríguez mentioned that, at the same time, reinforced security


 measures have been implemented at the diplomatic H.Q., 


which Venezuela's government respects and protects.


 


 


_____________________________________________________


 


 


 


Illinois Sues Trump ------ Over 


National Guard Deployment


 in Chicago


October 6th, 12:33pm


(teleSUR)


 


Attorney General Raoul accuses Trump 


of overstepping his authority amid 


immigration raids.


 


On Monday, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a 


lawsuit against U.S. President, Donald Trump, Secretary 


of War, Pete Hegseth, and the Secretary of Homeland 


Security, Kristi Noem, over the deployment of 


400 National Guard troops in Chicago.


 


He argued that the Trump administration “has exceeded 


its authority” because “none of the legal requirements 


justifying the federalization and deployment of the 


National Guard exist” ----- such as an invasion, a 


rebellion, or a failure to enforce federal law.


 


“The American people, regardless of where they live, should


 not have to live under the threat of an occupation by the


 U.S. military --- particularly because the leadership of 


their city or state has fallen out of the president’s 


favour,” Raoul said in a statement.


 


The lawsuit was filed before the U.S. District Court for the 


Northern District of Illinois, a state where about 15% of 


the population are immigrants, including more than 


527,000 undocumented residents, according 


to the American Immigration Council.


 


Trump’s deployment order comes amid growing protests 


against immigration raids in Chicago, where Border 


Patrol agents --- opened fire on Saturday, in the 


South Side area, injuring a U.S. citizen.


 


Weeks earlier, on Sept. 12, Mexican national Silverio Villegas-


Gonzalez, 38, died after being shot by an officer who 


allegedly suffered serious injuries, when the 


immigrant struck him with a vehicle.


 


So far, however, the federal government has not provided a 


legal explanation for the deployment of the National Guard.


 


Illinois’ lawsuit comes just hours after a federal judge barred 


Trump from deploying 300 National Guard members from 


California to Oregon, where he sought to confront 


protests against Immigration and Customs 


Enforcement (ICE) in Portland.


 


Trump, who last week called on soldiers to fight the “enemy from 


within” inside the United States, lost a legal battle in June over 


his attempt to deploy 4,000 California National Guard troops 


without the state government’s consent, an unprecedented 


action in the United States ------ for the past 60 years.


 


 


____________________________________________



 Political scientist Topornin said that 

Kiev has lost an important ally in 

the Czech Republic

October 4th, 8:32pm

(RT.ru)

 

The victory of the ANO opposition movement in the Czech 

parliamentary elections... has deprived Kiev of an 

important ally. This opinion, was expressed by 

Nikolai Topornin, an associate professor - at 

the Department of European Law at MGIMO.

 

In an interview with RIA Novosti, he suggested that the ANO-led 

cabinet would be similar to the government of Slovak Prime 

Minister Robert Fico and would not take the initiative 

in imposing new anti-Russian sanctions.

 

"This is a big problem for Kiev, as they have lost an important ally. 

Previously, Prague supported everything related to Ukraine's 

assistance by default, but now -- this can be forgotten," 

the political analyst said.

 

The agency's interlocutor added that the most important thing is 

that the Czech Republic is leaving the vanguard of anti-Russian 

forces in Europe, after the parliamentary elections.

 

Earlier, The New York Times reported that the Czech Republic 

may stop supplying ammunition to Ukraine.. if ANO wins.

 




________________________________________________________________

 



Sputnik: Opposition Protest 

in Tbilisi    .....Fades Away

October 4th, 8:11pm

 

The protest by Georgian opposition 

supporters in Tbilisi has subsided.

 

This is reported by Sputnik Georgia.

 

"The number of protesters in the centre of the capital 

has decreased significantly due to the organizers' 

unclear plans. However, a small group remains 

outside the parliament building," the 

publication states.

 

Earlier, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze 

stressed that foreign agents are involved in 

organizing the protests.


"This political force, a foreign agent, 


will be completely neutralized," 


he said.


 


The Prime Minister emphasized that the 


representatives of the intelligence 


agency - will be deprived of the 


opportunity to participate in


 the republic's politics.


 


Kobakhidze held the EU ambassador


responsible - for the riots in Tbilisi.


 

At today's protest in Tbilisi, opposition supporters tried to 

storm the presidential palace, and threw stones at the 

police. 14 law enforcement officers were injured.

 

Also... the protesters in Tbilisi
 
beat up an Imedi TV crew.


Kobakhidze called the rally outside the 

presidential palace in Tbilisi  -------

a criminal offense.

 

 

________________________________________




ANO is leading after the first results of

 the Czech parliamentary elections

by Mark Leonov (Editor of 

the Russia Department)

October 4th, 3:36pm

(Lenta.ru)

 

The ANO political movement (Action of dissatisfied citizens) is 

leading after the first results of the parliamentary elections in

 Czechia were announced. 

 

It is emphasized that the vote count has only recently begun,

 and the final results ---- will be announced in the evening.

 

The victory of the movement could lead to the post of the 

country's Prime Minister being taken by Andrej Babis, 

who is an opponent of the aid to Ukraine. In the EU

their bureaucrats fear this outcome of events.

 

At the moment, the Czech Republic is led by the centre-
right alliance "Together", led by the country's Prime
Minister 
Petr Fiala, who came to power in 2021. 

 

His government has consistently advocated for military 

assistance to Kyiv and an anti-Russian stance.

 

TASS has reported now, that Andrej Babis, after

being struck on the head by a metal object...

is currently being treated in hospital.

 

 

______________________________________




The new course of the Czech Republic.


 Babis will refuse to help Ukraine


 in favour of - the Czech people


by Lyubov Stepushova


October 3rd, 4:34pm


(Pravda.ru)


 


The Czech Republic is on the verge of change. The leader of 


the polls, Andrej Babiš, and his party, are preparing to win


 the parliamentary elections by offering voters the 


option to cancel aid to Ukraine.


 


The Czech population is tired of helping Ukraine


 


Parliamentary elections have begun in the Czech Republic, which 


will end on October 4. According to public opinion polls, the main 


contender for victory is Andrei Babish's Anonymous Independent 


Party (ANO), which has been consistently supported by about 


30% of voters, for a year now.


 


Two-thirds of Czechs are dissatisfied with the current government 


of Petr Fiala and believe that a change of course in politics is 


necessary. The main complaints of the population are:


 


high rents and housing prices;


 


the highest energy prices;


 


rising food prices;


 


reduction of government benefits;


 


raising the retirement age.


 


The Czech Republic's GDP stagnated 


in 2023 and grew by only 1% in 2024.


 


There is also a deep sense of fatigue and concern in Czech 


society about the presence of Ukrainian refugees in the 


country (350,000-370,000) and the huge amount of 


public funds spent on them and on helping 


Ukraine. According to polls, more than 


65% of Czechs condemn the 


government's policies 


towards Ukraine.


 


Babiš promises to solve the problems 


of the Czech Republic, not Ukraine


 


ANO is so popular because it offers solutions to Czech problems. 


One of Babiš's mottos is efficiency. His personality also 


represents economic growth for the Czech people, 


as the country achieved significant success 


under his previous premiership.


 


Babis's election promises include freezing energy prices, 


reducing VAT and other taxes, increasing wages and 


pensions, and setting the retirement age at 65 


(currently 67). Babis strongly opposes the


 EU's "green course" ------ and the 


European migration pact.


 


Babis also promised to close the Czech program "one million 


shells for Ukraine" and not to increase defense spending in 


accordance with the new NATO goals. According to the 


ANO's rhetoric, the country "sacrificed too much" for 


Ukraine and it is time to focus on the problems of 


the Czech people. 


 


However, the ANO leader claims that he will not leave the EU 


or NATO, but only restore national control over their projects.


 


The Czech Republic ----- will join Hungary 


and Slovakia in the war against Brussels


 


According to the latest IPSOS poll, published at the end of 


September, ANO will receive 32.6% of the vote, while the 


current ruling coalition Spolu ("Together") Fiales will 


receive about 21%. The right-wing radical party... 


"Freedom and Direct Democracy" (SDP) - led by 


Tomio Okamura (for leaving NATO and the EU), 


may take third place with approximately 10-


13% of the vote. It is followed by "Mayors 


and Independents" (Stan) and "Pirate 


Party" (about 9-11%). It is expected 


that.. the alliance of Communists 


and Social Democrats "Enough"
will barely pass 
the threshold
of passing 
(7-8%); the same
for
the "Motorists".


 


There is a possibility.... of a majority government


consisting of ANO-CDP-"Motorists", led by Babis.


 


One of the central elements of Fiala's government's election 


program was the Russian threat, unlike Babiš, who did not 


raise this issue at all. He will join Hungary and Slovakia in 


defending national interests and forget about Ukraine, 


undermining the "European solidarity" that has long 


since disappeared.


 


 


_________________________________________





 Outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease

 infects children ------------- in Guatemala

October 3rd, 12:57pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The Ministry of Health and Social Assistance (Mspas) confirmed 

an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease in children in the 

department of Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, a local media 

outlet reported today.

 

The majority of the 133 reported cases (117, 88 percent) are under 

nine years of age, detailed the newspaper Publinews, based on 

data provided by the head of that portfolio, Joaquín Barnoya.

 

In Santiago Sacatepéquez there are 27 infected, San Lucas (26), 

Antigua Guatemala (20), Magdalena Milpas Altas (8), Sumpango 

(8), Santo Domingo Xenacoj (7), Santa Lucía Milpas Altas (4) 

and San Antonio Aguas Calientes (3).

 

2 in San Juan Alotenango and the same number were specified 

by Santa Catarina Barahona, and San Bartolomé Milpas Altas,

while Pastores reported 1 affected child, according to Mspas.

 

The virus causes fever, throat irritation, painful mouth sores, and

 rashes on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and in some

 cases, in the nappy area.

 

It is transmitted through respiratory secretions, saliva, fluid from 

blisters, faeces, or through contact with contaminated objects, 

specialists warned.

 

They called for measures such as control, adequate hygiene, 

and avoiding close contact with people who suffer from 

the disease.

 

The Mspas recalled that prevention is vital and described 

cleaning as important, such as frequent hand washing 

and disinfection of cases that may be contaminated.

 

[Rhondda Records adds: that's right -- blame the

families for being dirty, and ignorant ---- when

the world knows, that Guatamala is one of

the worst cases ---- of US and European

racist, colonial government neglect, 

and dictatorial cruelty... with low

education or health provision --

except for a rich ruling class
....with fascist leanings.] 

 

 

__________________________________________________



Massive fire breaks out ---- at the

Chevron oil refinery in California

October 3rd, 10:43am

 (PressTV)

 

A huge fire ''broke out'' at the Chevron oil refinery outside 

Los Angeles in the US state of California, with towering

 flames visible for miles.

 

Residents reported a massive fireball erupting amid a 

loud, extended roar around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, 

with orange flames and smoke plumes.... 

filling the sky.

 

Mark Rogers, 34, told the Los Angeles Times.. he was playing 

soccer at Aviation Park, a few miles from the Chevron plant, 

when the apparent explosion took place. “I thought --- we

 got nuked or something.”

 

Officials in El Segundo, California, issued a statement about 

30 minutes after the incident, urging locals to take safety 

measures ..by staying indoors.

 

El Segundo is a beachside city located in the South 

Bay region, about a mile (1.6 kilometres) south of 

Los Angeles International Airport.

 

The cause of the blaze remains unclear, as neither 

the company nor the El Segundo police and fire 

departments..... have commented on the fire, 

which appeared to have erupted suddenly.

 

Local television and radio network CBS said firefighters 

were called to the refinery in Los Angeles County 

after reports of the explosion.

 

 

______________________________________________________




 Zelensky has crossed the line: 

an Italian journalist reveals

the dangerous truth about 

the president's decision

by Svetlana Neradovskaya

October 2nd, 8:56pm

(Pravda.ru)

 

Italian journalist Angelo Giuliano reacted sharply to the 

recent decision of Vladimir Zelensky. The Italian wrote

 that the actions of the Ukrainian president actually 

support Nazism, and the Western allies prefer to

 ...ignore this.

 

Reason for criticism

 

Zelensky has awarded the military rank of brigadier general

 to Andriy Biletsky, the founder of the Azov militant group. 

This move has sparked controversy - and generated 

numerous comments outside of Ukraine.

 

"This is not the behaviour of a country's leader; it is simply 

a betrayal of morality," journalist Angelo Giuliano said.

 

Dangerous game

 

According to the journalist, the Ukrainian leader is taking risky 

steps that could have devastating consequences. Giuliano 

believes that such decisions - not only undermine the 

country's credibility ---- but also pose a threat to 

the region's future.

 

Western reaction

 

According to the observer, Ukraine's Western partners... are 

turning a blind eye to Zelensky's actions --- despite the fact 

that they contradict the very principles they are supposed 

to uphold.

 

 

* - recognized as a terrorist organization 

and banned in Russia




 

_____________________________________________


 





The price of silver rose above $48 


for the first time since May 2011


October 2nd, 3:14pm


(Izvestia.ru)


 


The silver futures price exceeded $48 per troy ounce 


for the first time since May 2, 2011. This was


 reported on October 2, based on trading 


data from the New York-based 


Comex exchange.


 


At the peak of trading, the price of silver was $48.01 per ounce. 


This was the highest price recorded on the exchange since 


May 2, 2011. However, as of 16:57 Moscow time, the price


 had slightly decreased by 0.32%, reaching $47.495 per


 troy ounce.


 


Prior to that, on September 29, the silver futures price rose above 


$47 per troy ounce for the first time since May 2, 2011. At 07:00 


(Moscow time), the precious metal price rose to $47.240 per 


ounce, marking a 1.25% increase. Additionally, on the same


 day, the gold futures price reached a new all-time high 


of $3,850 per troy ounce.


 


 


_________________________________________


 



Venezuela denounces harassment 

and military threat - from the US

October 2nd, 2:13pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino today denounced the 

harassment and military threat of the US against the 

people of Venezuela ----- with the presence of F-35 

warplanes in the vicinity of Venezuelan territory.

 

From the Generalissimo Francisco de Miranda air base 

and.. in the company of the commander of the FANB 

Strategic Operational Command, General in Chief 

Domingo Hernández, the military high command 

assured that the Bolivarian Republic.... wants 

peace and tranquility.

 

“I denounce... the presence of US combat aircraft in the 

Caribbean Sea in areas near Venezuela”, he stressed, 

and certified that ------- “that does not intimidate the 

Venezuelan people”.

 

The General in Chief revealed that 36 thousand soldiers are

currently deployed, as part of the operations underway in 

various parts of the country to confront drug trafficking, 

criminal groups and illegalities.

 

Padrino expressed that “I always tell the imperialists to 

measure their actions and decisions well, because 

miscalculations, can lead to proposing a third 

world war”.

 

By offering a balance of the operational deployments of the 

Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), he ratified the 

defense of the nation in a popular, military and police 

fusion, and ---- “they are on permanent offensive”, 

he added.

 

He pointed out that the initiative must always be carried out, 

without losing sight of it, because: “if the initiative is lost,

 the offensive and, in turn, the defensive, is lost”.

 

He stressed that in Venezuela there are no defensive positions, 

but rather “patriotic ones that move forward every day, with 

coherent strategies in defense of the beloved homeland”.

 

Above all, he stated, in the current situation when the US empire 

rises up and deploys its warships and aircraft in the Caribbean 

Sea, in an area that in Latin America we classify as a Zone of 

Peace .......and it is the “spirit that is breathed” in the region,

 he said.

 

He declared that anyone who does not understand it, has 

to refer to the Proclamation of the Community of Latin 

American and Caribbean States that, in 2014... in 

Havana, Cuba, “everyone stood up, and said: 

this is a Peace Zone, free of violence”.

 

The sectoral vice president of Political Sovereignty, Security 

and Peace denounced that they want to impose blackmail 

and coercion on them through force, extortion and 

military threats.

 

He commented that they have been preparing the people, the 

State, the institutions and the FANB for this, and that is why 

the Commander in Chief called the Bolivarian National 

Militia to enlist, to which more than eight million 

militiamen joined, of which more than 60%

 have been trained.... for years.

 

 

___________________________________________



 


Nicaragua greeted India ------- for the 


156th anniversary of Gandhi's birth 


October 2nd, 1:47pm


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The Government of Nicaragua greeted the highest authorities 


of India on the occasion of commemorating today the 156th 


anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, the universal 


figure of peace and father of that nation.


 


In a statement, signed by co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario


Murillo, the Sandinista Executive --- expressed its union with the 


Indian people and Government on this memorable date, which 


remembers Gandhi's birth on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar.


 


“We celebrate with you the luminous life of the Father of India, 


who taught us - that truth is stronger than falsehood, that 


dignity - overcomes oppression”, he underlined.. in the 


message, highlighting the validity of his teachings 


for the people of the world.


 


The text further noted that Gandhi remains a beacon for those 


who believe in justice, freedom and self-determination, 


principles that inspired, not only his nation, but the 


emancipation movements -- in Asia, Africa and


 Latin America.


 


In his honour, the international community also celebrates


the International Day of Non-Violence every October 2nd, 


proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2007 --- in


recognition of his legacy of peaceful resistance 


in the face of injustice.


 


From Managua, the Nicaraguan Government reaffirmed its 


commitment to continue building a world of respect, 


cooperation and solidarity ------ inspired by the 


universal values that Gandhi promoted.


 


“We feel united with India in that immense legacy of peace, 


brotherhood and hope, that the Mahatma left us, whose 


light will continue to illuminate the paths of present 


and future generations”, the message concluded.


 


 


___________________________________________________




Colombia ---- renounced its trade agreement 
with Israel after the flotilla was intercepted


October 1st, 11:10pm


(Izvestia.ru)


 


After the interception by Israeli military forces of the ships 


of the Global Sumbud Flotilla (GSF), which was heading 


to the Gaza Strip with a humanitarian cargo, Colombia


 immediately renounced the free trade agreement 


with the Middle Eastern country. This --- was 


announced by the Colombian President 


Gustavo Petro - tonight.


 


He added that, as a result of the incident, two Colombian 


citizens who were on a ship in the flotilla were detained 


in neutral waters.


 


The news item is being updated


 


 


___________________________________



G7 countries ''allow'' the illegal use of 

Russian assets to support Ukraine
they say.

October 1st, 10:43pm

(RT.ru)


The G7 countries have ''allowed'' the use of 

frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

 

This is stated in a joint statement by the G7 finance 

ministers following a virtual meeting on October 1.

 

The statement notes that the G7 countries, are 

developing a "wide range" of options to meet 

Kyiv's financial needs.

 

“.....Among other things, these measures include the 

coordinated use of the full value of Russia’s frozen 

sovereign assets,” the publication says.

 

Earlier, it was reported that the G7 finance ministers 

agreed to increase pressure on Russia -----------
to 
support Ukraine.

 

 

___________________________________________________






 Al Mayadeen:  Zelensky's Lies About 

Ukraine's Situation Have Led to the

 Collapse of Sponsoring Countries

October 1st, 9:35pm

(RT.ru)

 

Vladimir Zelensky is deceiving his sponsors in order to 

receive more financial support, which has disastrous 

consequences for the West, reports Al Mayadeen.

 

"He tells untrue stories about the Ukrainian army's victories, 

which he claims will be a turning point in the conflict,"

 the article says.

 

In addition, Zelensky is distorting information about the situation 

on the front line and hiding the real losses of the Armed Forces 

and the failure of mobilization, according to the publication.

 

The article also emphasizes that Washington has realized the real 

situation in Ukraine, so it has "shifted the burden" of supporting 

Ukraine to European countries, which are now financing the 

purchase of weapons for Ukraine from the United States.

 

This, in turn, could lead to the collapse of Europe, with 

geopolitical consequences... that do not meet the 

collective interests of the West, according 

to the article.

 

Previously, the Telegram channel "Country.na" drew attention

to the fact that European countries have not allocated funds

for the purchase of weapons for Ukraine from the US..  for 

a whole month.

 

 

_____________________________________________________________



China celebrates National Day

------- focused on deepening 

modernization

October 1st, 12:07am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The Asian giant today celebrates its National Day, and the 76th
anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China 

focused on deepening modernization and growing openness.

 

President Xi Jinping affirmed that the country will advance with 

unity and effort in this purpose, speaking at a reception on the 

occasion of the anniversary at the Great Hall of the People.

 

Xi stressed that achieving national rejuvenation

-------- is an unprecedented undertaking.

 

He noted that the Communist Party of China (CPC), led the people 

for 76 years with independence and constant struggle, achieving 

historic results.

 

He recalled that the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of 

Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World War II was 

recently commemorated, which strengthened the national 

spirit and unity.

 

Likewise, he expressed that in 2025 the fourth plenary session 

of the XX Central Committee of the CPC will be held, which 

will define the guidelines XV Five-Year Plan (2026-2030)

 

According to the president, China will continue to apply the 

principle of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong and 

Macau, in addition to promoting cooperation through the 

Taiwan Strait --- and opposing separatism.

 

He indicated that the country will continue to promote initiatives 

for Global Development, Global Security, Global Civilization and 

Global Governance, with the aim of building a community with

 a shared future - for humanity.

 

Some 800 participants were at the reception, including leaders of 

the Party, the State and the Armed Forces, representatives of 

social sectors, delegations from Hong Kong, Macau and 

Taiwan, as well as foreign diplomats accredited

 in China.

 

Today.... also began the holiday for National Day and 

the Mid-Autumn Festival known as the golden week.

 

During the next eight days, the largest rail flow of the period is

 expected with 23 million passengers and 2,106 additional 

trains, mainly in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions, the 

Yangtze River Delta and Chengdu-Chongqing.

 

 

__________________________________























 


Salaries of civil servants 


in Russia have increased


by Vyacheslav Agapov


September 30th, 10:30pm


(Gazeta.ru)


 


Salaries of civil servants and diplomats in Russia have 


increased by 7.6 percent. The relevant decree of 


Russian President Vladimir Putin, is posted
on 
the official portal of legal acts.


 


Since the beginning of October... the salaries of federal civil 


servants have increased in accordance with their positions 


and monthly salaries have increased in accordance with 


their class ranks. 


 


According to the document, the salaries of diplomatic employees 


of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions, and


 consular offices have increased in accordance with


 their diplomatic ranks.


 


Salaries of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister 


Mikhail Mishustin also rose by 7.6 percent. Salaries of vice-


premiers, ministers, heads of departments and other 


federal officials increased in a similar way. The


 increase was the first ------- in two years.


 


In addition to civil servants and officials, salaries of military 


personnel and employees of law enforcement agencies 


have been indexed since October 1, 2022. Salaries 


have increased - for employees of the Ministry of 


Internal Affairs, the National Guard, employees 


of institutions and agencies of the penal 


system, employees of enforcement 


agencies, and other agencies.


 


 


_______________________________________


 


 


 


Pensions of some Russians 


have increased


by Vyacheslav Agapov


September 30th, 10:15pm


(Gazeta.ru)


 


Since October 1, the pensions of retired military personnel


have been increased by 7.6 percent. This is specified in 


the relevant bill.


 


The 7.6% increase in pensions from October 1 will affect 


pensioners who receive military pensions from the 


Ministry of Defense and other law 


enforcement agencies.


 


These include:


 


The Armed Forces of Russia (AF), other military formations 


of Russia, and the Unified Armed Forces of the CIS (which 


existed in 1992-1993);


 


Rosgvardiya;


 


internal and railway troops;


 


The Federal Border Service and its structures;


 


federal government communications 


and information agencies;


 


civil defense forces;


 


Federal Security Service (FSB);


 


Foreign Intelligence Service;


 


the Military Prosecutor's Office, the Military Investigative 


Bodies of the Investigative Committee of Russia;


 


The Federal Security Service (FSO);


 


internal affairs agencies, both the Ministry of Internal 


Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of


 Internal Affairs of the former USSR;


 


State Fire Service;


 


Drug Control and Psychotropic Substances Control Bodies  


of the Federal Drug Control Service, abolished in 2016;


 


Institutions and bodies of the penal system, bodies 


for the enforcement of punishments (FSIN);


 


The federal executive authority in the field of 


mobilization training and mobilization.


 


Previously, the salaries and pensions of military personnel and


 law enforcement officers were planned to be indexed by 4.5%


but later the Ministry of Defense proposed increasing the 


indexation coefficient.


 


As part of the same bill, the salaries of military personnel and 


employees of these agencies will also increase. They will 


also be indexed by 7.6 percent.


 


Earlier, the State Duma adopted a law.... on the right of civilian wives 


of participants in the SVO --- to benefits and payments. They will be 


able to apply for support measures if they prove in court the facts


 of cohabitation and common household management within 3 


years before the call-up or the conclusion of a contract and


 the presence of a common minor child.


 


 


___________________________________________



 Russia has retained its status as the 

largest supplier of uranium for
US
 nuclear power plants

September 30th, 9:14pm

(RT.ru)

 

This is according to the report of the Energy Information 

Administration (EIA) of the US Department of Energy.

 

According to the document, in 2024, 15 million separation 

work units (SWU) were purchased from eight suppliers 

under contracts for enrichment services. The SWU 

of foreign origin included 20% from Russia.

 

In February, Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to 

Washington, told ABC News that the country could 

provide the U.S. with uranium entirely, replacing 

Russian supplies, among other things.

 

 

__________________________________________


 


 


Trump predicts a possible government 


shutdown in the US: Shutdown 


Not Inevitable ---- but Likely


September 30th, 7:41pm


(Izvestia.ru)


 


US President Trump said that a government shutdown is quite 


likely, but not inevitable. He announced this on September 30 


during a press conference at the White House, which was 


broadcast on the government's social network


 account X (ex. Twitter).


 


"There's nothing inevitable, but I would say that this is likely 


to happen because they [the Democrats] want to provide 


medical care to illegal immigrants, which would destroy


 healthcare for everyone else in our country," 


Trump said.


 


He noted that the Republicans do not want a shutdown. He


 added that a shutdown could be dangerous for a number 


of areas, including medicine and social benefits.


 


Close everything: The US is preparing for 


a government shutdown on October 1


 


Plans to reduce staff are already being prepared


 


The US Senate on September 19 rejected a short-term 


government funding bill that was supposed to ensure 


the work of federal agencies from September 30 to 


November 21. Trump said that, after the rejection 


of this bill ------ the country faced a 


possible shutdown.


 


On September 26, it was reported that the president's 


administration expects a government shutdown on 


Wednesday, October 1, and does not plan to 


negotiate with the Democrat Party. The 


lack of negotiations and the onset of 


the shutdown are intended to cause


 the Democrats “maximum pain”.


 


Bloomberg reported that the threat of another US shutdown


 would significantly increase the risks of a weakening 


dollar. It was noted that the dollar is currently


 experiencing its third consecutive daily 


decline, losing 0.6%.


 


 


_________________________________




The opening of the XXII annual meeting

of the Valdai Club took place in Sochi 

on September 29, 2025.

September 29th, 3:40pm

(RT.ru)

 

On September 29, 2025, a presentation titled "Dr. Chaos: 

How to Stop Being Afraid and Start Loving 

Disorganization" was held.

 

Last November, Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech at 

the plenary session of the 21st annual meeting of the Valdai 

International Discussion Club..... attracted the attention of 

dozens of foreign media outlets.

 

 

_________________________________

 

 


Language Ombudsman Ivanovskaya:

 More Russian-speaking People 

Are Appearing in Ukraine

September 29th, 3:23pm

(RT.ru)

 

Elena Ivanovskaya, the Ukrainian Commissioner for the 

Protection of the State Language, has stated that 

there are more and more citizens in Ukraine 

who prefer to use Russian.

 

This is reported by STRANA.ua.

 

The Ombudsman noted that the transition to the 

Ukrainian language ........was observed in 2022.

 

"Today, human psychology of getting used to war 

has worked. And part of society is gradually

 returning to old language practices," 

Ivanovskaya said.

 

She also called on citizens to teach Ukrainian to

their children --- from the moment they are born.

 

 

________________________________________ 





Orban: Ukraine has lost a fifth 


of its territory, so it has


 no sovereignty


September 29th, 3:22pm


(RT.ru)


 


Ukraine has lost a fifth of its territory and can no longer act as a 


sovereign state, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.


 


Orban noted that Ukraine's sovereignty....


 has come to an end.


 


Earlier, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, 


Army General Valery Gerasimov, said that the Armed Forces of 


Ukraine are suffering heavy losses - in an attempt to 


hold back the Russian offensive.


 


Defense Minister Andrey Belousov noted that Russian troops 


liberate 600-700 sq. km of territories every month during 


the special military operation.


 


 


__________________________________________







Nicaragua reiterated support for


 Cuba and Venezuela at the UN


September 29th, 1:27pm


 (Prensa Latina) 


 


The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua, Denis Moncada, 


reiterated here today his country's solidarity with Cuba and 


Venezuela, victims of persistent imperial aggression.


 


During his speech at the high-level segment of the 80th session 


of the UN General Assembly, the chancellor denounced the 


economic blockades, unilateral sanctions and coercive 


measures ----- imposed by the US and its allies.


 


In his opinion, these practices constitute true crimes against 


humanity that threaten the peace, security and well-being 


of people.


 


“As revolutionary brothers in the Great Homeland, children of our 


American heroes and protagonists of victorious revolutions, we 


ratify our full and unequivocal solidarity and brotherhood ---- 


with Cuba and Venezuela”, he stated.


 


The head of Nicaraguan diplomacy condemned what he described 


as absurd manipulations and crazy accusations under the pretext


 of drug trafficking, a scourge that –he recalled– is fueled in rich 


countries, as the main consumption centres.


 


He pointed out -- that these powerful nations encourage the 


production and trafficking of substances in impoverished 


countries, turning human pain into business 


and misery.


 


Likewise, he rejected the fallacies used - as an excuse for 


more interference, threats of invasions and occupations 


that undermine international stability.


 


At another point in his speech, the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister 


extended the support of the Sandinista Government to the 


Palestinian people, victims of what he described as 


genocide and massacres - perpetrated by the 


Zionist regime in Israel.


 


We condemn all the savage, brutal massacres, that are 


perpetuated - spread - to the sight and patience of the 


entire World. We condemn the State of Israel ------ as 


well as the policies and practices of the colonial, 


imperial, Neocolonial and fascist powers


he expressed.


 


The chancellor also denounced the use of hunger, as a weapon 


of domination, as well as malnutrition, abandonment, diseases 


--- and undignified treatment against families, women, young 


people, children and older adults.


 


In his opinion, these practices seek to banish entire sectors 


of life and ------ promote new forms of extermination.


 


Moncada stressed that Nicaragua and the Sandinista 


Popular Revolution - identify with the struggles for 


freedom, sovereignty and dignity of the people 


of the world.


 


“We know: that we neither sell out 


nor give up, ever”, he concluded.


 


 


__________________________________


 


 


 


They form a coalition in Colombia


---- to seek seats in Congress


September 29th, 1:25pm


(Prensa Latina) 


 


At least fifteen movements, parties and representatives of union 


organizations formed here what they called a broad front of 


progressive forces, liberals and leftists, whose ambition


 is to have representation in the Colombian Congress.


 


According to the statement released in this capital, Bogota --- the 


associations seek to build a large bloc that will make up lists for 


the Senate of the Republic and the House of Representatives, 


“to consolidate a safe, fair country project, based on peace, 


social justice, and a solidarity development model”.


 


These are the La Fuerza, MAIS, Colombian Democrat parties and 


the Progressive Agenda movement, together with the members


 of the Unitarios coalition (PTC, Colombian Ecologist, 


Comunes, Democratic Hope), and the movements 


If we can, Democratic Integration, Popular 


Power and We are all Colombia.


 


The above communities would also be joined --- by prominent 


leaders from the Unitary Central of Workers, the Colombian 


Federation of Educators and the communal movement.


 


Former Senate President Roy Barreras (2022-2023), one of the 


promoters of the initiative, considered on social networks 


that this does not imply.... an attempt to divide the 


country's progressive forces.


 


“Quite the opposite. It is obvious that the centre-left is centre + left. 


The construction of this Progressive Liberal Social Democratic 


and Centre-Left list ----- will be added in the next Congress 


elected in March to the successful list of the Historical 


Pact and together --- they will make up the largest 


bench in Congrees in 2026-2030”, he wrote 


on his social network account X.


 


Last Saturday the progressive coalition Historical Pact released 


its lists to Congress, whose votes will be on March 8, 2026.


 


The Senate candidacy includes 145 names, of which 100 are 


expected to remain after the internal consultation on 


October 26 and 55 will finally be elected.


 


For the House of Representatives there are 390 candidates, 


and to achieve majorities in that instance the Pact must 


be able to effectively count on at least 86 of them.


 


 


____________________________________


 


 


 


More than half a million Syrians


 return from Türkiye.... to Syria


September 29th, 10:43am


 (Prensa Latina) 


 


Türkiye's Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, reported that --- from 


December 8, 2024 to date, a total of 509,387 Syrian citizens 


voluntarily returned to their country from Turkish territory.


 


The statement was published through the Turkish social 


network InSocial, in which Yerlikaya highlighted his 


country's role in managing the return process.


 


The head of the Interior highlighted the Turkish government's 


commitment to a migration policy that is “rational, 


humanitarian and exemplary - worldwide”.


 


Since 2016, a cumulative total of 1,249,390 Syrian refugees 


have returned from Türkiye, according to official data.


 


In this sense, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 


(UNHCR) confirmed that, between December 8, 2024 and August 


14, 2025, around 2.4 million displaced Syrians returned to their 


places of origin. Of them, 779,473 were refugees from 


neighbouring countries, while approximately 


1,694,418 ----- were internally displaced 


people who returned to their homes.


 


UNHCR spokesperson in Syria, Celine Schmitt, told the Syrian news 


agency SANA that the organization remains committed to assisting


 returnees, despite the budgetary and logistical limitations faced


 by the humanitarian operation in the Arab country.


 


Schmitt warned that many of those who have returned face 


extremely precarious conditions. “Homes are reduced to 


rubble, basic infrastructure collapsed, and the threat 


of explosives, persists in previously conflict areas”, 


he stated.


 


He also stressed the urgent need for sustained support for 


development and reconstruction, beyond emergency aid.


 


United Nations reports warn that the success of any return 


depends largely on creating a safe environment, restoring 


public services ---- and national reconstruction.


 


 


__________________________________





Russian FM Highlights His Country’s 

Commercial Ties With India 

Despite US Tariffs

September 27th, 3:40pm

(teleSUR)

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov assured this Saturday 

that economic cooperation between Russia and India is not 

in danger despite the high tariffs imposed by the US on 

Indian products.

 

“You asked me if economic cooperation between Russia and India 

can be saved, but it is not in danger, there is not the slightest 

doubt about it,” Lavrov told an Indian journalist during a 

press conference in New York... at the end of his 

speech at the UN.

 

For Lavrov, the Indian authorities have made it very clear that 

Delhi is free to choose its partners. The Russian minister 

stated that India can listen to US proposals on bilateral 

relations, but will not do so if it concerns Delhi’s 

contacts with third countries.

 

In August, the Donald Trump administration imposed tariffs 

of 50% on Indian products as punishment for India’s 

purchase of Russian oil.

 

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, New Delhi has 

maintained a balanced position, avoiding condemning 

Moscow and significantly increasing its imports of 

Russian crude oil.

 

This position has earned him criticism from Washington, and 

Trump himself accused India and China at the UN of 

“financing Russia.”

 

“India’s energy imports are aimed at ensuring a predictable and 

affordable energy cost for the Indian consumer and India will 

continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard its 

national interests and its economic security,” the Indian 

Foreign Minister Randhir Jaiswal reiterated this Friday.

 

This December, Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India 

to continue strengthening ties between the two countries, 

Lavrov confirmed today.

 

Economic cooperation between Russia and India has 

strengthened significantly in recent years, and will

 continue to do so in 2025, despite US sanctions 

and tariffs.

 

This strategic bilateral relationship not only remains stable, but 

is also experiencing solid growth -- in trade and investment, 

reflecting the willingness of both countries to consolidate 

their economic and political alliance in the face of 

external pressures.

 

In fiscal year 2025, bilateral trade between Russia and India 

reached a record $68.7 billion, an increase of six times 

compared to pre-war levels in Ukraine. In the first 

quarter of 2025, bilateral trade exceeded $17.5 

billion, with Russian exports to India valued 

at $16.3 billion and Indian exports to 

Russia at $1.2 billion, reflecting a 

trade balance favourable to 

Russia... as one of India’s 

leading energy suppliers.

 

This trade expansion has been supported by the diversification of 

trade beyond traditional energy resources, incorporating sectors

 such as agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and

 computer technologies.

 

In addition, there is a steady growth in mutual investment and joint 

ventures. In April 2025, the two governments agreed on six new 

strategic investment projects, showing a joint commitment to 

further boost their economic partnership.

 

A critical point in this relationship, has been the massive purchase 

of Russian oil by India, which now accounts for 35-40% of its total 

crude imports. This energy strategy --- allows India to ensure 

predictable and affordable energy costs for its consumers, 

while strengthening its economic security, giving it 

autonomy from Western pressures.

 

This has led the US to impose 50 per cent tariffs on certain Indian 

products in retaliation for these purchases, but the Indian and 

Russian authorities have insisted that these measures do 

not compromise bilateral economic cooperation.

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reiterated --- that 

economic cooperation is not at risk despite US tariffs. India 

has full freedom to choose its partners without outside 

interference. Indeed, the bilateral agenda foresees 

new summits and high-level visits, such as the 

visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to 

India in December 2025, to further 

strengthen these ties.

 

In conclusion, economic cooperation between Russia and India 

remains a strategic pillar for both countries, driven by a 

common interest in economic sovereignty and trade 

diversification, with solid growth prospects, despite 

protectionist and punitive pressures from the US. 

 

This alliance is a clear example of how two great powers 

can find ways to prosper each other, in a complex and 

dynamic geopolitical context.

 

 

________________________________________________________



India... advocates at the United Nations: 

to prioritize international cooperation

September 27th, 2:42pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The Foreign Minister of India, Subrahmanyan Jaishankar, today 

advocated putting aside individualistic practices and making 

international cooperation prevail, in the difficult times that 

humanity is going through.

 

Speaking at the debate at the 80th session of the United Nations 

General Assembly, Jaishankar stated that a world order 

requires a common purpose, as well as empathy 

for others.

 

“And that is where we look towards the

 United Nations”, he pointed out.

 

The head of Indian diplomacy pointed out the need for 

the reform of unilateralism, which he considered 

evident --- given the current situation.

 

In that sense, he called for - the correction of historical injustice 

with Africa and expressed India's willingness to take an active 

stance in the face of the necessary changes.

 

“This new decade of the United Nations ------ must be one of 

leadership and hope, we will do our part and even more”, 

he said.

 

The Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs also reiterated the 

importance of fighting terrorism, by condemning all its 

manifestations --- and eliminating its financing.

 

In this regard, he referred to the recent attack in April in 

Pahalgam and mentioned the subsequent New Delhi 

operation in Pakistan against those he identified 

as responsible for the attack.

 

The Indian Foreign Minister considered it essential to promote

understanding and respect, which, he said, will only be 

possible when there is room for pluralism --- and 

biases and double discourses..... end.

 

He referred to the imperative of taking into account the needs of 

the Global South, and he mentioned the different initiatives 

such as development and infrastructure projects that the 

South Asian country has deployed.... in more than 70 

countries and small states, mainly in the Indian 

Ocean region.

 

Jaishankar also asked for the cessation of hostilities in the 

world such as that of Ukraine and Gaza and ratified New 

Delhi's position ---- of actively supporting any initiative 

based on dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace.

 

He also expressed his Government's commitment to sharing its 

endorsed experiences in terms of technological development 

and electronic commerce such as the Unified Payment 

System, UPI and its startup ecosystem.

 

Likewise, he explained India's approach to Artificial Intelligence, 

which aims to use it responsibly based on human development.

 

Finally, he added that India is moving towards development based 

on its own capabilities, with the doctrine of protecting itself 

both inside and outside the country against terrorism, 

and with self-confidence.

 

 

______________________________________




UN: Nuclear weapons and the


 dangers of a growing threat


UN, September 26th 


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Nuclear weapons do not offer security, but rather a promise of 


annihilation, the Secretary General of the United Nations 


stated today, António Guterres, when warning about


 the risks to humanity and peace.


 


 


______________________________________




 


 


Co-President Ortega Criticizes U.S. 


Military Deployments in Latin 


America, Calls Out Drug 


Trafficking Pretext


September 26th, 1:21am


teleSUR)


 


Nicaragua’s co-presidents Daniel Ortega Saavedra and 


Rosario Murillo, together with the National Police 


leadership, presided over the 46th anniversary 


ceremony of the police force, held at 


Plaza La Fe in Managua.


 


In his remarks, Ortega turned to international affairs, 


denouncing Israel’s actions—backed by the US and 


European countries—as genocide against Palestine.


 


He also criticized the deployment of military forces in Latin


America, stating that the US uses drug trafficking as a 


pretext to intervene in countries like Venezuela, 


rich in oil. “The greatest drug consumption is 


in the United States, and it is their 


responsibility to control it,” 


Ortega declared.


 


The president denounced the abuses against Latin
American migrants in the US, rejecting their
detention and deportation 
despite the
essential work they perform.

“The Government 
of Nicaragua is receiving
migrants - and they are welcomed 
with
proper care - as brothers,” he said,
stressing that the 
country offers
new job opportunities.


 


Ortega also condemned the arrests of undocumented workers in 


U.S. factories, highlighting their contribution as “hardworking


 and humble people.”


 


The regional block, ALBA-TCP has rejected the 


U.S. military deployment against Venezuela.


 


Yesterday, Venezuela called for a National 


Civil Protection Drill --- in the face of 


disasters and potential conflict.


 


The head of state urged those who have knowledge in first aid


to contribute to the day and called for a massive participation 


by the population. “The prepared people -- are indestructible 


people -- that is the slogan,” he said


 


 


________________________________________


 


 


 


Cuba expressed solidarity with Venezuela


 in the face of threats of aggression


September 26th, 11:52am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez today rejected the military 


deployment of the US in the Caribbean and expressed 


Cuba's solidarity with the Government and people 


of Venezuela - before the current threats.


 


Our deepest solidarity with the Venezuelan Government and 


people, victims of a dangerous act of provocation by the 


US government, which seeks to justify military 


aggression, said the head of Cuban 


diplomacy at the VII Ministerial


Meeting ..of the Group of 


Friends in Defense of 


the Charter of the 


United Nations.


 


Rodríguez rejected “categorically the growing US military 


deployment in the Caribbean Sea --- which violates the 


Proclamation of Latin America ..and the Caribbean 


as a Zone of Peace, the Treaty of Tlatelolco for 


the prohibition of nuclear weapons ---- in our 


region, the Charter of the United Nations, 


and International Law”.


 


He warned that it constitutes a direct threat to the Bolivarian 


Republic of Venezuela and that such deployment attempts 


to justify military aggression ----- against that South


 American country.


 


“This is the same government that, in crude complicity with 


Israel, supports and participates in the genocide against 


the Palestinian people, with his veto in the Security 


Council and his financial and arms supplies”, 


the minister stressed.


 


It is the regime that imposes an aggressive military and nuclear 


doctrine on NATO so that it constitutes a threat on Russia's 


borders - and attacked Iran's military facilities, although 


protected by international safeguards, he added.


 


He expressed that close to commemorating the 80th anniversary 


of the founding of the United Nations, “we are witnessing the 


progressive erosion of its foundations, in an international 


situation - in which tensions are increasing threats to


 international peace and security”. 


 


The Cuban leader argued that billion-dollar resources are wasted


 in the arms race, unilateral coercive measures proliferate


 against many of the States of this group and others, 


and imperialist maneuvers against sovereign 


States ---- increase.


 


“Respect for the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and 


International Law, and the defense of multilateralism are 


essential in this complex scenario, resulting from the 


obsolete, unjust and unequal international order”, 


he emphasized.


 


Rodríguez stressed that the inclusion of Cuba in the unilateral 


list of States that supposedly sponsor terrorism is an act of 


aggression. “This measure reinforces the humanitarian 


and economic impact of the blockade against Cuba 


..which continues to arouse repudiation from the 


international community, with the leadership 


of this Group”, he pointed out.


 


The Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the world needs


 a new international order, inclusive, plural and just, that promotes 


peace, security, the dignity of the human being and social justice.


 


“An order founded on dialogue, cooperation and sovereign equality, 


with full respect for the right of each people to choose their own 


political and economic system, social and cultural, without 


external interference”, he added.


 


Finally, he said that the Group of Friends of the Charter can 


contribute to the construction of this new order and, 


to do so, “we must keep our voice united”.


 


When opening the meeting, Foreign Minister Yván Gil warned 


about the possibility... of US aggression against Venezuela, 


which is being prepared “with increasing force, intensity 


and more lies”.


 


 


______________________________________






  The US is offering India cooperation. 
What will they ask for in return?

by Oleg Artyukov

September 25th, 12:20am

(Pravda.ru)

 

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced Washington's 

intention to expand energy cooperation with India, focusing 

on natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, and joint projects in 

oil, gas and clean fuels.

 

This gesture by Washington should be viewed in the context of a 

broader set of pressure and incentive tools that the current U.S. 

administration is using to influence the behaviour of foreign 

partners regarding the supply of Russian oil.

 

Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, US President 

Donald Trump directly pointed to China and India as countries

 that continue to purchase Russian oil, criticizing them in

 the process.

 

The practical form of pressure has been the doubling of tariffs on

 a number of Indian goods, which came into effect on August 27 

and have had a significant impact on India's export sectors, 

particularly textiles, jewelry, footwear, and furniture.

 

However, the US administration has made exceptions for certain 

strategically important categories, including pharmaceuticals, 

electronics, and energy products.

 

This combination of public invitations to cooperate in high-tech and

 capital-intensive sectors at the level of the Ministry of Energy and 

the simultaneous use of customs barriers, looks like a classic 

"carrot and stick" strategy.

 

The offer of joint projects in nuclear energy and LNG supplies gives 

India an alternative to Russian energy resources and an economic 

incentive to reorient. And high tariffs serve as a signal: price and 

trade retribution will follow.... for continuing large purchases of 

Russian oil.

 

However, the priorities of the United States and India differ sharply 

in this regard. New Delhi motivates its purchases of Russian oil 

with pragmatic considerations, such as access to significantly 

cheaper raw materials, ensuring stable supplies for growing

 demand, and benefiting from the utilization of its own 

processing facilities, which has economic benefits 

and supports fuel exports.

 

In addition, Russian-Indian energy and military cooperation, has a 

long history and elements of interdependence: Moscow not only 

supplies oil at discounted prices, but also discusses joint 

projects for the extraction and processing of energy 

resources, including the Arctic program and the 

development of oil fields... which makes 

cooperation with Russia part of India's 

energy security strategy. These 

factors make it difficult for 

New Delhi to quickly 

change its course 

- in response to 

US demands.

 

The political and strategic dimension is also important: India 

traditionally adheres to the doctrine of strategic autonomy, 

seeking to maintain room for maneuver between major 

centres of power.

 

External pressure, even if backed up by economic incentives, 

may trigger an internal Indian reaction aimed at defending 

an independent course, especially if the proposed 

alternatives are not sufficiently competitive

 in terms of price or performance.

 

Experts note that it would be wrong from a realpolitik 

perspective to expect New Delhi - to immediately 

abandon its lucrative contracts for Russian oil.

 

The practical risks for both sides in this approach are obvious. 

For India, this means reduced access to the world's largest 

market, loss of revenue for export-oriented industries, 

and increased costs for end-users and consumers.

 

For the United States, this is a loss of confidence in its policy 

as consistent and predictable, while tariffs and threats do 

not guarantee a complete shift in India's energy policy 

and may encourage it to deepen its cooperation 

with Russia and other partners.

 

 

___________________________________



Former British Ambassador Explains:

 Why Escalators in UN Buildings 

Are Disabled

September 24th, 10:01pm

(RT.ru)

 

The United States doesn't pay its bills, so the escalators in

 the UN buildings have been disabled for the past couple 

of years, and they're only activated for extremely 

important individuals.

 

Former British Ambassador Craig Murray 

spoke about this, on Rick Sanchez's 

show on RT.

 

According to him, the organization has no money, and even 

high-ranking diplomats ........usually have to walk up stairs.

 

"It's possible that someone is protesting, not so much against 

Trump himself, but against the fact that only he is allowed to

 use the escalator," the source said.

 

Yesterday, the US President, on his way to a speech at the UN 

headquarters, faced the fact that the escalator stopped under

him. The special services......  have launched an investigation 

into this matter.

 


_______________________________________



More than a million insulins 

arrived in Venezuela 

from Russia

September 24th, 4:15pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

More than one million 600 thousand doses of insulin from
Russia, arrived in Venezuela today, as part of the
agreements with the Eurasian country,
the Ministry of Health reported.

 

The medicines arrived at the Simón Bolívar international airport in 

Maiquetía, state of La Guaira, along with 64,994 pens-syringes

and spare parts, detailed the entity --- in a press release on 

its web portal.

 

It indicated that 1,600,251 units of insulin, will be “essential for 

hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans with diabetes mellitus”.

 

The note indicated that these actions are possible - thanks to the 

“commitment of President Nicolás Maduro and his willingness to 

guarantee access to vital treatments for all Venezuelans”.

 

With this, it said ------ the response capacity of the National Public 

Health System is reinforced, amid pressures, coercive measures, 

blockades and threats, in which “the life and health of people

--- is established as a priority”.

 

It highlighted - that the arrival of this shipment to the Bolivarian 

Republic is part of the contracts established by the “Supply of 

Essential Medicines and Reciprocal Investment Obligations”, 

signed by several entities, in Moscow and Caracas.

 

Among them are the Ministry of Health, Espromed Bio, Corpovex, 

the Centre for Productive Investments ---- and the technology 

transfer agreement with the Russian company Geropharm.

 

This arranges the supply of insulin and the possibility of its local 

production, in --- “a clear example of the fruitful cooperation and 

brotherhood” that unites Venezuela and Russia, who know how 

to weave ties of solidarity and mutual support --- for the well-

being of their people.

 

 

__________________________________

 

 

 

President of Venezuela: visits 

Mechanized Infantry Brigade

September 24th, 3:18pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, reported today 

that...... he visited the 31st Mechanized Infantry Brigade 

"GB. Lucas Carvajal", where he spoke with the troops.

 

On the social network Telegram, the president commented that 

he greeted “all the staff, who remain active --- and in constant 

preparation to defend our sacred right to peace”.

 

You, Maduro said, are the Armed Forces that carry the 

blood of the United Liberation Army, and you have the

 responsibility to defend and protect the people, and 

the country.

 

He expressed that the lies that “they fabricate against Venezuela 

are crude, extravagant and infamous; However, we are in the 

fight for the truth ---- and we will emerge stronger from it, 

united and with greater combat and defense capacity”,

 he added.

 

“Let's make ourselves respected - as a Republic! 

Our commitment to the Homeland is more valid 

and alive today than ever”, he assured.




 

________________________________________________




Hungary will ignore Trump's requests


 to stop buying Russian oil


by Oleg Artyukov


September 24th, 1:27pm


(Pravda.ru)


 


Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said that his country 


does not intend to refuse to import Russian oil, even if such a 


request comes from Donald Trump.


 


During his speech at the UN General Assembly the day before, 


the US President hinted at the possibility.... of making a 


''proposal'' to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.


 


Szijjártó argued that Hungary's position is driven ---- not only by 


political considerations but also, by geographical factors. The 


country is landlocked -- making it challenging to establish oil 


refineries or liquefied natural gas terminals on its own coast.


 


There are alternative supply routes through neighbouring 


countries, but they come with high tariffs and 


limited capacity.


 


Of particular importance in the discussion is the pipeline project 


through Croatia, which was considered as a potential source of 


diversification. However, the Hungarian government found it 


economically unfeasible. The tariffs set by the Croatian 


side are significantly higher than the cost of 


transporting oil through the Druzhba 


system, which connects Russia 


with Central Europe.


 


Moreover, the capacity of the Croatian infrastructure is limited, 


and is unlikely, to be able to meet the full demand of Hungary. 


Therefore, for Budapest, the choice to continue importing 


from Russia is not only pragmatic, but also inevitable.


 


At the same time, it is worth considering... the factor of long-term 


contracts. Hungary, like Slovakia, receives Russian oil on terms 


that allow it to purchase raw materials at a lower price than 


when importing them by sea from the US or the Middle East.


 


It is worth noting that Bloomberg, in reporting on Hungary's 


position, focuses on tariffs and the political dimension of


 the issue, but barely touches upon the economic


 aspect related to the benefits of long-


term agreements.


 


This is precisely the reason why Hungary and Slovakia 


are so cautious about discussing the issue of 


abandoning Russian energy resources.


 


Slovakia, which depends on supplies through Hungarian 


territory, has also recently stated that it is not ready


 for drastic changes in its energy balance.


 


Bratislava emphasizes that before abandoning Russian raw 


materials, it is necessary to develop viable alternative 


supply schemes, otherwise not only the stability of 


the energy system but also the competitiveness 


of the national economy ...will be at risk.


 


Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long demonstrated


 a special stance in his relations with Russia and the EU. His 


policy of balancing between Brussels and Moscow, allows 


the country to benefit from energy cooperation.


 


Getting closer to Trump on the political plane does not mean 


automatically following his economic wishes, especially if


they contradict pragmatic calculations.


 


Thus ---- the situation surrounding the supply of Russian oil to 


Hungary and neighbouring Slovakia, reflects a broader issue: 


Europe does not have a unified approach to energy security.


 


EU sanctions policy is facing the harsh reality of geography and 


the economy. Hungary and Slovakia are examples of countries 


where abruptly cutting off Russian resources without well-


developed alternatives -------- would be a blow to their 


economies and social stability.


 


Trump's attempts to influence Orban indicate that energy remains 


an instrument of international politics not only for Brussels and 


Moscow, but also for Washington. However, the Hungarian 


leadership, represented by Szijjártó, has made it clear 


that national interests and economic rationality will 


be prioritized, even if it causes discontent among 


NATO allies - or the US president himself.


 


As a result, the dispute over Hungarian oil is not only a matter 


of tariffs and routes, but also a reflection of the struggle for 


sovereignty in a global competitive environment. Orban, 


as one of Europe's most independent politicians, uses 


the energy factor to strengthen his position, while 


Trump uses it ----- to demonstrate his influence 


over allies.


 


However, Budapest's final choice highlights --- that 


economics and geography often take precedence 


over political declarations.


 


 


 _______________________________________


 


 

 

Honouring History ------- Requires 

Recognizing China’s WW2 Role: 

Turk

September 24th, 12:23pm

(teleSUR)

 

China --- was among the first victims of aggression, long before

 the war in Europe began, the former Slovenian President said.

 

Recently, Former Slovenian President Danilo Turk said that 

the sacrifice and contribution.... of the Chinese people 

during World War II remain underestimated globally

 and deserve wider recognition.

 

Turk, now a professor of international law, said while the world 

usually regards Sept. 1, 1939 as the start of World War II, 

atrocities began earlier ---- in Asia.

 

“China had many victims in the Second World War and was among 

the first victims of aggression, long before the war in Europe 

began,” he said. “China’s contribution to the defeat of 

Japan and the end of the war, remains insufficiently 

understood, and this historical mistake should be 

corrected, even 80 years later.”

 

Reflecting on the war’s broader significance, Turk said China was 

both a victim of Japanese militarism - and a key contributor to its 

defeat. More should be done to raise global awareness of 

China’s wartime contribution, he said, noting that it is a

 long-term task that requires cooperation among 

historians, writers and filmmakers.

 

“Young people need to know history. Much has to be done in 

popular culture, particularly film production, so that the 

memory of that era is preserved,” Turk said, and 

highlighted China’s constructive role ---- in 

safeguarding peace and promoting 

multilateralism.

 

The world should take the Global Governance Initiative proposed 

by China seriously, he said, adding that its five core concepts —

adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by the international 

rule of law --- practicing multilateralism --- advocating a 

people-centred approach — and focusing on taking 

real actions — are all very important.

 

“China has sufficient power, self-assurance and wisdom 

to avoid unnecessary conflicts. It is developing 

economically and enlarging the circle of 

cooperation, which makes it well 

placed to explain how it sees 

the world today and how it 

wants the world to be 

organized...... in the 

future,” he noted.

 

 

_______________________

 

 

 

Lula questions the rise
of 
the extreme right 

September 24th, 11:48am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva questioned the rise

of the extreme right today in New York, in a meeting with other 

leaders ----- on the defense of democracy ----- and the fight 

against extremism.

 

«What matters to me today, is that -- we answer ourselves: 

where the Democrats went wrong. Where and when did 

the left -- make a mistake? Why have we allowed the 

extreme right to grow..... with the strength -- it is 

acquiring? Is it ------- their virtue ------- or our 

incompetence?», Lula asked .... in the 

parallel meeting to the 80th United 

Nations General Assembly.

 

During his speech ---- the founder of the ruling Workers' Party 

criticized himself as president and representative of the left.

 

«What are we wrong about? What did I do as President of the 

Republic ------ to strengthen popular and social organization? 

Because, often, we win elections with left-wing rhetoric, 

and when we start governing.... we serve the interests 

of our enemies much more than those of our friends»,

he warned.

 

Lula then questioned the motivations 

behind these political decisions.

 

«Often, we govern by responding to what the press publishes 

about us, to the demands of the market, to the need to 

please the market, to the need to please our 

opponents», he continued.

 

He pointed out that, often, «our voters who took to the streets, 

who were beaten, who were mocked, considered sectarians 

and radicals by us. And we begin to ignore them and pay 

attention to those who speak well of us. This --- is the 

failure of democracy», he stressed.

 

He called that, before seeking the virtues of right-wing extremism, 

«we must look for the mistakes --- that democracy has made in its 

relationship with civil society. How are we exercising democracy 

in our country?», he finally stressed.

 

The leaders of Chile, Colombia, Spain and Uruguay also
participated in the meeting, and the agenda included 

debates -------- on how to strengthen democracy and 

multilateralism, as well as strategies to combat 

extremism, disinformation and hate speech.

 

Unlike last year, when the US attended the first edition 

of the forum, under Joe Biden's Executive........ 

Washington is now ---- not invited.

 

According to Lula's advisors, none of the organizers 

considered inviting the US, nor did Donald Trump's 

current administration show interest in doing so.

 

The event is being coordinated by Lula, together with the

 rulers Gabriel Boric (Chile), Pedro Sánchez (Spain), 

Gustavo Petro (Colombia) and Yamandú Orsi 

(Uruguay).

 

They are all in New York for the 80th UN General 

Assembly, which opened this Tuesday -- with a 

cheered speech by Lula.

 

 

________________________________________________





China has shown whose Crimea it is: 


ships, visa-free travel ------- and a 


willingness to build facilities 


of any complexity


September 24th, 10:06am


(Pravda.ru)


 


China has effectively stopped hiding its attitude towards 


Crimea. Instead of using the word "neutrality" -- China's 


actions speak louder than any diplomatic statements.


 


In the summer of 2025, the Heng Yang 9 container ship from 


Guangxi Changhai Shipping Company entered Sevastopol 


three times, as reported by the Financial Times.


 


Previously, Chinese ships avoided Crimean ports for fear of 


sanctions, but the launch of the new railway has partially 


integrated the peninsula into Russia's container 


transportation system.


 


Meanwhile, Crimea is doing everything it can to open its doors 


to tourists from China. The Ministry of Resorts and Tourism 


has launched a full-fledged Chinese-language portal that 


describes the beaches, wines, and attractions of the 


peninsula, which is known as the "Russian Pearl 


of the Black Sea."


 


And since September 2025, there has been a visa-free regime: 


Russians, including residents of Crimea, can come to China 


without unnecessary formalities. By the way, China has 


previously accepted tourists with "Crimean" passports


 issued by offices in the Kuban region, but with their 


place of birth in Crimea or Sevastopol.


 


There are also signals from diplomats.


 


China's ambassador to France, Lu Shai, told a French TV 


station ---- that Crimea has "Russian historical roots".


 


For more than a decade, Beijing has refused to vote 


in favour of resolutions at the UN..... that call the 


peninsula's vote to join Russia an "annexation."


 


China has not supported any attempt to secure 


Ukraine's status in Crimea via UN resolutions.


 


The economic vector confirms the same line.


 


According to the Washington Post... back in 2023, the 


China Railway Construction Corporation announced 


its readiness to build "objects of any complexity"


in Crimea.


 


In turn, China's state-owned media outlets Xinhua and 


Global Times are increasingly referring to Crimea as 


a Russian peninsula, emphasizing the "economic 


stability" and describing the Crimean Bridge 


as a symbol of a new era.


 


Taken together, this means that China already considers 


Crimea to be Russian, through ships and containers, 


tourism and investment, diplomatic statements, 


and publications in its leading state media.


 


"What is written on paper cannot be compared to what is 


confirmed by actions", — with such an old proverb, the 


representative of Chinese state media commented 


on the issue of Crimea, on the sidelines of the 


BRICS summit.


 


Legal recognition is only a matter of time. In response,


 Moscow unconditionally supports Beijing on Taiwan.


 


 


______________________________________


 



 


  Cuba ---- Launches Nationwide Petition

 Drive Backing Venezuela Against U.S.

September 24th, 9:39am

(teleSUR)

 

The Communist Party of Cuba calls on citizens to sign 

in solidarity with President Maduro, as tensions rise

 in the Caribbean.

 

On Wednesday, Cuba’s Communist Party (PCC) began 

collecting signatures from citizens in support of 

Venezuela amid U.S. hostilities.

 

“Starting this Wednesday, September 24, our signatures will 

add to our steadfast and unwavering solidarity with the 

legitimate president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro,

 and with his brave people, subjected to one of 

the empire’s most infamous campaigns,” 

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel

 posted on social media.

 

In a statement, the PCC said signature books would be made 

available in all workplaces, schools and communities in a 

process scheduled to conclude September 30 with 

meetings or brief acts.

 

“The signature drive will also continue the support of mass and

 social organizations, and Cuban civil society in general, for the 

struggle being waged by the brotherly Venezuelan people 

against the empire’s growing hostilities, applying all the

 resources contemplated - in unconventional warfare,”

 the PCC said.

 

The initiative was announced last week by PCC secretary Roberto 

Morales, during a meeting with President Maduro on his visit to 

Caracas. The signatures will endorse a Cuban government 

declaration issued a week earlier, warning of a direct 

military aggression by the U.S. against Venezuela, 

an action that ----- “would have incalculable 

consequences” for regional peace 

and stability.

 

In late August, Washington announced it would use all its power 

to stop the “flow of drugs into the country,” including deploying

 ships and troops to Caribbean waters near Venezuela. So far, 

the U.S. has confirmed the sinking of four vessels and the

deaths of 17 people allegedly linked to drug trafficking.

 

Cuba considers those actions part of an escalation 

by Washington --- to justify military aggression 

against Venezuela in order to seize its oil 

and other natural resources.

 

 

_________________________________






China has promised to take action 


in response to US attempts... to


 restrict Russian oil imports


by Oleg Artyukov


September 4th, 9:45am


(Pravda.ru)


 


The Chinese authorities are ready to defend their legitimate 


interests in response to the actions of the US, which is 


trying to prevent international oil purchases 


from Russia.


 


Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiankun said that 


Beijing will not ignore such actions and will act decisively to 


protect its national interests.


 


According to him, China views any attempts at pressure, as a 


violation of the principles of fair trade and interference in the 


internal affairs of sovereign states. He emphasized that the 


country is ready to take all necessary measures..... to 


preserve its legitimate rights.


 


Commenting on US President Donald Trump's statements, 


Guo Jiakun emphasized --- that normal economic and 


business relations between China and Russia -- are 


built in strict accordance with international rules


 and market mechanisms.


 


The diplomat also noted that most countries around the world, 


including the US and the EU, continue to maintain trade 


relations with Russia. In this regard, Beijing considers 


Washington's claims to be inappropriate, as the US


 participates in international economic processes


 but seeks to limit other participants.


 


The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized that 


cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies, is 


based on the principles of the World Trade Organization 


and is aimed solely at developing mutually 


beneficial projects.


 


According to him, such interaction does not aim to


 cause harm to third parties and should not be 


subject to external interference.


 


Guo Jiankun also recalled Beijing's position on the Ukrainian


 crisis, which the US authorities are trying to link to the 


purchase of Russian oil. According to him, China has 


consistently taken an objective and impartial 


approach, advocating for peaceful solutions 


and promoting dialogue between the 


parties to the conflict. 


 


The Chinese government continues to stress


the need for a political resolution and the 


avoidance ------ of unilateral pressure.


 


The official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry 


paid special attention to the activities of the UN. He 


noted that in 2025, the organization will celebrate 


its 80th anniversary since its establishment. 


Over the decades ---- the UN has played a 


crucial role in maintaining international


peace and stability...... as well as 


promoting global development.


 


Guo Jiankun emphasized that Beijing views the upcoming 


anniversary as an important opportunity to return to the 


organization's fundamental principles. China intends to 


work with other countries to reaffirm its commitment 


to the goals and ideals enshrined in the UN Charter, 


as well as to strengthen the UN's authority and 


vitality --------- in the face of new 


international challenges.


 


The day before, US President Donald Trump harshly criticized 


China, India, and even his own NATO allies.. for continuing to 


purchase Russian energy resources. According to him, such 


actions contribute to the financing of the military conflict 


and turn Beijing and New Delhi - into key supporters of 


the ongoing hostilities. The US leader accused these 


countries of indirectly supporting Russia by 


providing it with additional resources.


 


Thus, on the one hand, Washington is trying to increase 


pressure on participants in the global energy market 


in order to limit their interaction with Moscow.


 


On the other hand, China continues to assert its right to 


independently determine its foreign economic policy, 


based on international law.


 


Guo Jiakun's statements clearly demonstrate Beijing's 


intention to prevent interference in its own decisions 


and protect its national interests --- in the face of a


growing confrontation with the United States.


 


 


____________________________________


 


 


 


India is once again relying on Russia: 


the Su-57 replaces the failed Tejas 


and AMCA projects


by Peter Ermilin 


 September 24th, 7:57am


(Pravda.ru)


 


India is decommissioning its last MiG-21 fighter jets, 


according to a report by the US military magazine 


Military Watch Magazine (MWM). The authors 


discuss the shortage of aircraft and the 


potential reliance on Russian Su-57s 


in their new article ---- which has 


been translated by Pravda.Ru.


 


The Indian Air Force is scheduled to retire its last squadron 


of MiG-21 fighters on September 26, marking the end of a 


62-year history of this aircraft, the first of which entered 


service in 1963. In addition to a small fleet of Jaguar 


strike aircraft, the MiG-21 remains the last pre-4th-


generation fighter aircraft in service with the 


South Asian nation. These aircraft have 


undergone extensive upgrades, 


incorporating f4th-generation 


avionics and armaments.


 


By the early 2000s, Indian MiG-21s had more advanced weapons 


and electronic warfare systems, than Russian Air Force fighters, 


with the addition of advanced R-77 active radar-guided missiles. 


 


Notably, the MiG-21 remained in service for a significantly 


longer period than the third-generation MiG-23ML and 


MiG-27 fighters. The modernization of the older 


aircraft ------ provided it with greater combat 


potential, and it was more cost-effective 


to operate due to its lower weight and 


lower maintenance costs, 


compared to the new 


Soviet fighters.


 


A key factor in extending the service life of the MiG-21 was the 


significant delays in the implementation of the Tejas national 


light fighter program. Despite being in development for over 


40 years, the project has yet to be fully operational and 


has been plagued.. by significant cost overruns. The 


commitment to the Tejas program to support local 


industry has limited interest in purchasing other 


light and medium-range fighters, such as 


the MiG-29.


 


After the decommissioning of the MiG-21, the Indian Air Force 


intends to focus on modernizing its fleet, but years of delays 


in purchasing fifth-generation fighter jets have left the fleet 


in an unfavorable position. India plans to develop its own 


fifth-generation fighter jet as part of an AMCA (Advanced 


Medium Combat Aircraft) program, but its introduction 


is expected no earlier than the late 2030s, and most 


likely later. Given the history of national projects 


with constant delays, as well as the example of 


the simpler Tejas, many believe that the AMCA 


is unlikely to enter service before the end of


 the 2030s, or even later.


 


The need to purchase more modern aircraft has increased after 


the new Indian Rafales lost between one and five aircraft in 


battles with the Pakistani Air Force in early May, allegedly 


shot down by Chinese J-10C fighters. This incident has 


dealt a significant blow to India's reputation. 


 


Additionally, the J-10C is not considered one of the top five 


Chinese fighter jets, as it is inferior to the J-16 and J-20, 


making the loss of the Rafales particularly concerning. 


 


These events have reinforced the view that European fighter jets 


are not capable of competing with modern Chinese and US


aircraft. Purchasing from China, or the United States, is 


politically impossible, so the Russian Su-57 is seen 


as the most likely option.


 


India needs not only more advanced fighter jets, but also more 


of them. Currently, there are only 31 squadrons in service, 


compared to the planned 42, each consisting of 


18-20 aircraft. The shortage of 11 squadrons 


equates to approximately 200 aircraft. 


 


Previously, Indian officials had considered the possibility of 


purchasing two squadrons of Su-57 "off the shelf," but the 


current focus of the Ministry of Defense.... on licensed 


production suggests plans for a significant purchase, 


potentially up to 200 aircraft. However, this will still 


not be enough, as the Jaguar and Mirage 2000 are


 expected to be retired in the coming years.


 


The scale of possible purchases is illustrated by the example 


of the last fighter jet produced in India under license, the 


Su-30MKI, of which more than 270 were purchased, 


with over 80 percent built in the country itself.


 In mid-July, Indian Defense Minister Rajesh 


Kumar Singh confirmed negotiations for 


the purchase of the Su-57. However, an


unprecedented offer was made two 


months earlier -- to provide full 


access... to the fighter jet's 


source code, as part of a 


licensing agreement.


 


In March, the Russian company Rosoboronexport said that 


licensed production of the Su-57 in India could be quickly 


deployed by upgrading the existing production line for 


the Su-30MKI, which could be quickly adapted to 


produce the Su-57E. 


 


The intensive combat testing of the Su-57 in Ukraine --- and the 


development of a new version, the Su-57M1, with significantly 


improved capabilities, are likely to further increase India's 


interest. The aircraft is expected to become a new 


member of the long series of Soviet and Russian


 fighters -------- that make up the elite of the 


Indian Air Force.


 


 


_______________________________________


 


 


  


The Belgian diamond industry - is 


on the verge of collapse due to


 anti-Russian sanctions


by Oleg Artyukov


September 24th, 12:20am


(Pravda.ru)


 


The Belgian diamond industry is experiencing one of 


the deepest crises in decades. This situation is a 


result of the EU and G7 sanctions on Russian 


diamonds, according to Denis Gonchar, 


Russia's Ambassador to Brussels.


 


According to the diplomat, direct supplies from Russia 


have ceased since January 2024, following the


 implementation of the European embargo, 


as reported by RIA Novosti.


 


This caused a sharp drop in trade volumes: in 2024, the figure 


decreased by 23.2 percent - reaching only 20.3 billion euros. 


For Antwerp, the largest diamond trading centre in Europe, 


the consequences were devastating, with a wave of 


bankruptcies sweeping through the city.


 


The crisis in the industry is confirmed by specific examples.


 Over the past two years, more than 20 jewelry companies


 in Belgium have announced forced closures. Even 


major players have been unable to maintain


 their pre-crisis levels of activity.


 


So, Laurelton Diamonds, the "daughter" of the famous jewelry 


house Tiffany & Co, was forced to cut its staff --- by half. This 


demonstrates that difficulties have affected not only small 


family workshops, but also, international corporations, 


whose business models should have provided them 


with greater stability.


 


According to Denis Gonchar --- an industry that has traditionally 


provided tens of thousands of jobs and generated a significant 


portion of Belgium's tax revenue..... is now teetering - on the 


brink of survival.


 


The diamond sector has been not only a source of employment, 


but also an important part of the national identity: Antwerp 


has enjoyed the unofficial status of the "Diamond Capital 


of the World" for many decades. Declining trade 


volumes and bankruptcies ------- threaten to 


undermine this historic leadership.


 


The reasons for this situation lie in international politics.


 Since January 1, 2024, the EU and the G7 countries 


have imposed a ban on the direct import of 


Russian diamonds.


 


The next step was additional restrictions: starting in March 


2024, Western countries began gradually blocking access 


to their markets for Russian-origin stones, even if they 


had been processed in third countries. This made it 


nearly impossible to legally incorporate Russian 


diamonds into European trade chains.


 


In April of the same year, the European Commission clarified


the control mechanism. It was announced --- that the origin 


of the stones.... would be verified by the Belgian Financial 


Authority at the International Diamond Centre in Antwerp.


 


This step was an attempt to create a transparent certification


 system and prevent sanctions from being circumvented. 


However, in practice, this decision only increased the


 burden on market participants, increasing costs 


and bureaucratic pressure.


 


Analysts note that the consequences of the sanctions extend far 


beyond the Belgian economy. The reduction in Russian diamond 


imports has had an impact on the global diamond distribution 


system. Russia, as the largest producer of rough diamonds


 in the world, has contributed significantly to the 


global supply.


 


The exclusion of Russian supplies inevitably leads to shortages 


and higher prices, which in turn has a negative impact on


 jewelry houses, consumers, and the countries where 


the cutting centres are located.


 


For Belgium, the situation was particularly painful. For decades, 


Antwerp has been a key player in the international diamond 


trade, with major exchanges, a unique certification 


system, and a concentration of expertise.


 


The forced closure of operations threatens to lose the 


competitive advantages that the city has enjoyed 


for over a century. Competition.. is already 


intensifying from Indian Surat and other 


Asian centers, which have less 


stringent regulations... and 


lower production costs.


 


The EU's sanctions policy against Russian diamonds, 


intended as a tool to exert pressure on Moscow, 


has also had a negative impact on Europe's


 own economic interests.


 


The diamond industry in Belgium is at risk: declining trade 


volumes, bankruptcies, mass layoffs, and the loss of its 


status as a global diamond centere - have all become 


a reality - in less than two years.


 


Under these conditions, the prospect of Antwerp 


maintaining its position in the global gemstone 


trade chain ------- is highly uncertain.


 


 


_______________________________________




Colombian President Accuses the US

 of Enforcing A Failed ‘War on Drugs’

September 23rd, 2:31pm

(teleSUR)

 

Gustavo Petro - rejects U.S. military strikes near 

Venezuela and likens Gaza to Nazi experiments.

 

On Monday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro 

questioned the U.S. “decertification” of his 

country and accused the United Nations 

of being an “accomplice” to a global 

anti-drug policy that - he said - 

has failed.

 

“I am a president decertified by a foreign government. 

By what right - under international law - can the

president of a foreign government, decertify 

another president who was elected by his 

own people? Is that democracy, or the 

beginning of barbarism?” he queried 

during a high-level dialogue in New 

York on climate financing, held as 

part of the 80th session of the 

UN General Assembly.

 

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump´s administration 

decided to “decertify” Colombia, meaning.. it removed 

the South American nation from the list of countries 

deemed to be ''complying'' with the fight against 

drug trafficking in 2024.

 

Petro criticized the UN ----- for defining whether a drug is 

“poisonous” depending on the country that produces it. 

To illustrate, he noted that alcohol is not considered 

by the United Nations, to be as dangerous a 

substance as cannabis, because alcohol

 is largely produced in the North, not

 in the South.

 

The Colombian president also referred to recent U.S. 

military attacks in international waters near 

Venezuela against ships -- allegedly --

carrying drugs.

 

He said the South is the victim of a drug control approach, 

that leads to “the murder of young people, who are not to 

blame, with missiles ordered by a president of the US.”

 

Petro stressed that the “War on Drugs” is a “misguided policy” 

and an “outright failure” because “it was never a war against 

drug traffickers, but “a dominant global power policy of the 

North --- over the South.”

 

He argued that this failed policy blames substances or objects 

instead of targeting those who profit from the drug business 

and live in “New York, Miami or Dubai.”

 

“The missiles don’t go there. The missiles go to the poor. This 

is the same global power that prevents solving the climate 

crisis, and therefore makes it impossible for humanity to 

survive. It is the same global power that drops bombs 

on Gaza… and does so to continue dominating the 

world,” Petro declared.

 

For the Colombian leader, the so-called fight against drug 

trafficking and anti-immigrant policies fall within a “war 

between greed and life,” in which the US and Europe 

believe.. “a superior race exists, and that is why 

Colombians are treated in the streets, as if 

they were slaves.”

 

“What they are doing in Gaza is an experiment just like 

Hitler’s, when he began testing gas chambers and 

....concentration camps,” Petro said. He then 

reiterated the need to end the genocide 

in Gaza and called for the creation
of 
a UN protection force.

 

 

_______________________________________





Groups from the Amazon --- join with

protests against Noboa in Ecuador

September 23rd, 12:50pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The seven indigenous nationalities of the Amazon of Ecuador 

announced today a “great uprising” against the Government

of Daniel Noboa and thus join the actions in it framework 

of the national strike.

 

At a press conference, this Tuesday, from the province of 

Pastaza, they demanded the repeal of Executive Decree 

126 that eliminated the diesel subsidy and the review 

of the agreements with the International Monetary 

Fund (IMF), to those --- they hold responsible for 

aggravating the social and economic crisis 

in the country.

 

«We ratify - the permanent and progressive mobilization. 

We declare a great uprising, with peaceful and forceful 

actions», said the Amazonian leaders.

 

The president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities 

of the Ecuadorian Amazon, José Esach, pointed out that 

although they supported Noboa at the beginning of 

his mandate, now, they are “disappointed”.

 

Esach pointed out that the mobilization is not an act of hate 

or terrorism, as the Government tries to position itself.

 

“We are not going to generate chaos, but if we have to take 

measures we are going to do it without fear, we are not 

afraid of dying. The public force ---- is our brothers”, 

said the leader.

 

After the repression of the protests that occurred this Monday, 

the president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities 

of Ecuador (Conaie), Marlon Vargas, denounced the 

«arbitrary» detention of some 50 protesters and 

asserted that it constitutes a violation of 

human rights.

 

Vargas blamed Noboa and his ministers for any attempt 

on the lives of the participants in the mobilizations.

 

One of the events that occurred the day before that attracted 

attention occurred in Otavalo, province of Imbabura, where 

a car ran over a protester a few metres from where the 

police were repressing.

 

In addition, the Latin American office of the Chinese news agency 

Xinhua reported that its graphic correspondent was attacked and 

stripped of his work equipment --- while covering the protests.

 

In 2019 and 2022, the indigenous people already led the
historic protests that led the then presidents Lenín
Moreno (2017-2021) 
and Guillermo Lasso (2021-
2023), to back down - when they 
also tried
to eliminate fuel subsidies.

 

Conaie affirms that ending the diesel subsidy benefits 

multinational fuel importing companies and further 

impoverishes the Ecuadorian people.

 

Despite the claims, the president has said that he is not 

going to give in and warned that those who commit 

acts of terrorism, illegal road blockades and 

organized violence will be punished.... in 

accordance with the law.

 

This Tuesday, Ecuador woke up with roads blocked by 

protesters - and mobilizations are expected in the 

afternoon - in cities such as Quito, Guayaquil 

and Cuenca.

 

 

__________________________________




 The World Public Assembly Unites Peoples 

for the Sake of the Future of Mankind

September 23rd, 11:29am

(teleSUR)

 

Moscow has become a point of attraction for people 

who believe in a future without wars and divisions.

 

The First World Public Assembly (WPA), which brought 

together politicians, diplomats, cultural and scientific 

figures, entrepreneurs and journalists in the heart of 

Russia, has become a unique platform for dialogue. 

They discussed not only politics and economics, 

but also the very essence of human existence 

— peace, trust, spirituality and responsibility.

 

Award “For Service to Humanity”: A 

Symbol of the Unification of Nations

 

On the International Day of Peace, a landmark event took place 

at the Closing Ceremony. For the first time, a Public Recognition 

Award “For Service to Humanity”, established by the World 

Peoples Assembly, was presented. This award has 

become a symbol of gratitude - to those who 

devoted their lives to serving the ideals of 

humanism, developing dialogue and the

creative unification of peoples.

 

The laureates -- were outstanding personalities from different 

countries and cultures. Among them are Alexandra Ochirova, 

Russian scientist, poet & public figure & UNESCO Goodwill

Ambassador; Adnan Badran, the former PM of Jordan; 

Rashid Alimov, SCO Secretary General (2016-2018), 

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary; 

Tolengen Mukhamedzhanov, a Kazakhstani 

composer and public figure; Ms Sabena 

Johannes, from Angola, founder and 

CEO of Afritrack Angola;  Mr Igor 

Khalevinsky, Russian diplomat; 

Dalbir Singh, Indian politician

plus --- Bhai Sahib Mohinder 

Singh Alluwalliya, from the

UK, a KCOBE and one of
THE 
most influential
Sikhs
 in the world.

 

Each name was accompanied by applause, and together they 

formed a panorama of the spiritual leaders of our time. The 

audience was particularly touched... by the speech of 

Madame Sabena Johannes, whose words sounded 

like the motto of the World Peoples Assembly:
We must awaken as one.”

 

The Economy of Life: Trust as a Foundation

 

The second day of the Assembly was devoted to what experts

 called the “economy of life.” The focus of the panel session 

“From People’s Trust - to the Trust of Economies:
The 
Humanitarian Foundations of International 

Partnership” was not on the market, but on
man, as a source of trust, meanings 

and genuine values.

 

“Politics rarely affects the economy, the opposite always 

happens. We need to be closer to politics - through 

economic diplomacy,” Sabena Johannes said.

 

Svetozar Darnev, Head of the construction and financial 

association “Osnova”, emphasized: “The economy of 

life began with the search for meanings. The 

economy - is based on people.”

 

Mr. Kang Zaw, Minister of Finance and Revenue of the Republic 

of the Union of Myanmar, spoke about the relationship of trust 

between people and economies. And the representative of 

the State of Kuwait, the president of the WAGB Public 

Diplomacy Organization --- Sheikh Naif Al-Muhana 

Aladwani, summed it up: “forums like the WPA 

help to go beyond borders and create a 

genuine partnership.”

 

Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary General of the World Peoples 

Assembly, expressed confidence that “contacts are being 

formed here that will lead to new business projects and 

humanitarian initiatives.”

 

New Media and Cognitive Warfare

 

The panel discussion “New Media in the Service of Humanity: 

Heroes, Exploits and Challenges” caused a special heat of

 passion. It was about an invisible war, a war ------- 

for consciousness.

 

“The cognitive war is being waged today against all nations, 

against human spirituality. The media ---must give us back 

our meaning, cultural identity, and cultural code,” said 

Russian journalist Oleg Yasinsky.

 

Nikita Anisimov, author of the federal Good News project, added: 

“People want to read about real heroes and their achievements.” 

Silvana Yarmolyuk, a film director from Argentina --- recalled the 

power of cinema, which is able to show inspiring images to the 

world. Producer Olga Azhnakina emphasized the importance 

of glorifying creative work, large families, and scientists.

 

Evgeny Klesh, moderator of the site, head of the department

 for work with partners of the New Media Workshop project, 

summarized: “The task of the media is to find heroes and

present them to society, create a cascade of content 

that will be a “fishing rod” for the audience.”

 

Thus, the media - at the WPA - was considered 

not as a tool of manipulation, but as a force

 ..capable of restoring hope to humanity.

 

Germany and Russia: A Union of Values

 

Representatives of the German delegation expressed the 

continued high interest in Russian culture and language 

in Germany. “All members of our organization are united 

by the idea of mutual understanding between peoples,” 

Oksana Kogan—Pekh, member of the Board of the 

Federal Union of German Societies West-East, 

advocated for “Interreligious dialogue, for 

the preservation and strengthening of 

spiritual and moral values.”

 

Former Bundestag deputy Waldemar Gerdt announced the 

development of a Charter - that will form the basis of a 

Global alliance of Traditional Values. Holger Thorsten 

Schubert, president of the Neutrino Energy Group, 

recalled: “The world is being destroyed not only 

by weapons, but also by hunger, poverty 

and injustice.”

 

The words of the German participants confirmed that the 

path to peace lies --- not through politics --- but through 

spiritual values common to all peoples and religions.

 

Peacemaking: The Energy of the Future

 

At the session “Peacemaking — a strategy for uniting and 

flourishing humanity”, the participants talked about the 

roots of conflicts ...and ways to overcome them.

 

“When the economy comes first, rather than people, it 

becomes the cause of all wars,” said Alexander 

Usanin, professor at the Academy of 

Geopolitical Problems.

 

Special attention was paid to the problem of resources and 

energy. “Whoever controls energy controls nations, — said 

Holger Thorsten Schubert. But Mikhail Krasnov, Chairman 

of the Board of Directors of MIO Technologies of the 

Future, suggested a different approach: “Issues of 

energy & food supply are solved technologically,

 not by conquering resources.”

 

At the end of the session, a thought was voiced that 

became the general leitmotif of the WPA: Peace is 

a Shared Responsibility.

 

Instead of an Epilogue

 

The First World Public Assembly in Moscow - has become an 

event that cannot be measured solely by decisions and final 

documents. Its main achievement.. is the atmosphere of 

unity, in which, people from different countries and 

cultures... have found a common language.

 

The forum, dedicated to the International Day of Peace, brought 

together over 4,000 participants from more than 150 countries. 

As part of the closing ceremony, multinational creative teams 

performed song and dance numbers reflecting the spirit and

 culture of various countries: from Russia to Indonesia 

and Madagascar.

 

On the day when the planet celebrated the International Day 

of Peace, established by the UN General Assembly, a new 

call was made in Moscow:

 

“We must awaken as one. This call has become the voice of 

the WPA addressed to all of humanity…. We achieved what 

we wanted and drew attention to ourselves with our ideas

desires, & thoughts,” WPA Secretary Andrei Belyaninov 

said at the closing ceremony, announcing that the 

Second World Public Assembly will be held

 next year, in Vienna, Austria.

 

 [Rhondda Records adds: tossers]



_____________________________




 

EU Faces Decline Without 

Sharp Policy Shift: Orban

September 23rd, 8:am

(teleSUR)

 

‘If the Union does not carry out an urgent and sharp 

turn, its story will come to an end,’ he warned.

 

On Monday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned 

that the EU faces decline unless it undertakes an urgent 

change of course, while also stressing Hungary’s 

positions on Ukraine, migration, and energy 

security..... in his opening speech to 

parliament’s autumn session.

 

This - is the Hungarian Parliament’s last autumn session with

the current party structures, as Hungary’s general elections 

will be held next spring, presumably in April 2026.

 

“If the Union does not carry out an urgent and sharp turn, its 

story will come to an end,” Orban said, comparing the EU’s 

trajectory to that of the Roman Empire.

 

He criticized the bloc’s current structure as unable to deliver 

economic success for member states, pointing to what he 

described as ineffective policies on migration, climate, 

sanctions, and green transition. “So many attempts, 

so few results.” The Hungarian leader also said - 

he did not see the “EU’s ability to renew itself.”

 

Reviewing international developments over the summer, Orban 

said the United States was reshaping the world trade order 

and noted that China and India were strengthening 

cooperation with Russia.

 

He described the EU as weaker than expected and reiterated 

Hungary’s opposition to Ukraine’s membership bid, 

arguing it could draw the bloc into the conflict.

 

“Hungary has given no one a mandate to wage war on its behalf” 

and sees diplomacy as the only solution to the Russia-Ukraine 

conflict. Orban also spoke about the migration pact of the EU, 

which he said Hungary will not implement, and about the 

related financial sanctions on his country.

 

He argued that while Western states face security challenges 

linked to migration, Hungary “remains an island of peace.” 

While several Western European countries suffer the 

results of migration with “bombings, shootings,

 and riots.”

 

Turning to domestic issues, Orban highlighted the launch of the 

“Home Start” housing program on September 1, which aims to 

broaden the middle class and support the construction of 

50,000 homes within five years. He also cited 

supplementary pension payments and 

measures to shield families 

from inflation.

 

On trade and industry, Orban said Hungary would launch 

an action plan to support small and medium-sized firms 

and protect jobs, while also stressing recent progress 

in higher education.

 

 

_____________________________________________








CELAC Rejects U.S. Military 


Deployment in The 


Caribbean Sea


September 23rd, 7:44am


(teleSUR)


 


Foreign ministers back Venezuela, highlight 


unity, and advance planning for EU summit.


 


On Monday, foreign ministers of the Community of Latin American 


and Caribbean States (CELAC) met in New York during the 80th 


session of the United Nations General Assembly to strengthen 


multilateralism and reaffirm the region as a Zone of Peace 


amid U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean Sea 


and threats against Venezuela.


 


Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio, holding CELAC’s 


pro tempore presidency, led the meeting to unify the voice of 


Latin America and the Caribbean - in favour of peaceful 


coexistence, cooperation, integration and mutual 


respect among nations.


 


The central issue of the meeting was rejecting the U.S. military 


deployment in the southern Caribbean Sea. The ministers also 


discussed key items on the regional agenda such as energy 


transition, food security, risk management and migration.


 


During his address, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil 


denounced the presence of U.S. vessels and a nuclear 


submarine, calling it a threat to the peace and 


stability of the entire region, not only 


his country.


 


Gil thanked CELAC member states for their support, stressing the 


importance of unity to defend the Zone of Peace established in 


2014, in Cuba, by most CELAC members.


 


Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, reaffirmed his country’s 


willingness to continue “working with the Community to promote 


progress in areas of regional interest, with impacts on 


development and the well-being of our peoples.”


 


Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente and Brazilian 


Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira expressed concern over foreign 


military interference. De la Fuente emphasized that Latin 


America must remain a territory of peace, based on


 respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and 


international law.


 


In addition to geopolitical issues, the ministers advanced planning 


for the fourth CELAC-European Union Summit, set for Nov. 9–10. 


Regional leaders expressed their support for the summit and


 for the Santa Marta Declaration, which is currently 


under negotiation.


 


Bolivian Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa expressed her nation’s 


solidarity with the Venezuelan government and people, as


 well as with Palestine, in defense of peace, sovereignty 


and the dignity of peoples.


 


“Putting a bounty on the capture of a constitutional president


 is an affront to democracy and sovereignty. Filling our seas 


with warships is a colonialist action we cannot accept,” 


she said, denouncing the U.S. harassment measures 


against Venezuela.


 


Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Martinez, thanked Colombia’s 


pro tempore presidency for convening the meeting & highlighted 


progress on the 2025 Work Plan, which he considered key to 


driving a pragmatic and results-oriented regional agenda.


 


He underscored the importance of CELAC’s internal cohesion, 


political coordination and consensus-building and reaffirmed


his commitment to cooperation..... in areas such as 


technological innovation.


 


The CELAC meeting also addressed other pressing issues, 


including the situation in Haiti. The ministers reaffirmed 


their nations’ commitment to the well-being of Latin 


American and Caribbean peoples.






 


_______________________________________





US demands $350 billion

 in investments from 

South Korea

by Oleg Artyukov  

September 22nd, 12:40pm

(Pravda.ru)

 

The investment agreements between South Korea and the 

US have become the subject of intense debate, as their
implementation - in its current form - could pose 

significant economic risks for Seoul.

 

The plan is to invest about \$350 billion in the U.S. economy 

in exchange for reducing customs duties to 15 percent.

 However, the lack of clear agreements on currency 

swaps poses a risk of a repeat of the 1997 Asian 

financial crisis, according to a statement by 

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung

 to Reuters.

 

The problem is that when such significant funds are

 transferred to a foreign jurisdiction, the South 

Korean financial system loses some of

 its foreign exchange liquidity.

 

For a country whose economy depends on the stability 

of its national currency and foreign economic 

stability, this can be a critical factor.

 

In recent decades, South Korea has built a high-tech, 

export-oriented economy, but its dependence on 

global markets and foreign investment....

 remains high.

 

History has already shown how vulnerable the Korean 

economy can be to such challenges. In 1997, South 

Korea - was among the most affected countries by 

the Asian financial crisis. At that time, a shortage 

of foreign exchange reserves, a sharp outflow of 

capital,  & the inability to maintain the stability 

of the national currency led to a sharp decline 

in the won's exchange rate, bankruptcies of 

major corporations ----- and the need for 

assistance from the International 

Monetary Fund.

 

The experience of that crisis is still a painful reminder 

for Seoul of the risks of excessive financial 

dependence on external factors.

 

In the future, the country has repeatedly sought to protect 

itself from such threats. For example, in 2008, during the 

height of the global financial crisis, and in 2020, during

the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea and the US

 entered into currency swap agreements. 

These mechanisms provided mutual 

access to dollar liquidity, and 

reduced pressure on their

national currencies.

 

The lack of a similar tool today, in the case of large 

investments in the US economy, actually puts the 

country's financial stability at risk.

 

Disagreements between Seoul and Washington, over 

the distribution of profits from planned investments 

have become an additional source of tension.

 

The US side insists on conditions that the South Korean 

elite considers too harsh. However, according to 

Reuters, the final agreements on tariffs have 

not been legally formalized, indicating 

ongoing disputes.

 

The comparison of South Korea's situation with Japan's is 

particularly noteworthy. Tokyo has also been engaged in 

negotiations with the US regarding tariffs, but its 

significant foreign exchange reserves and the 

yen's status --- as one of the world's key 

reserve currencies, have placed it in

a more advantageous position.

 

For Seoul, the lack of such advantages makes it much 

more dependent on the negotiation process.

 

The domestic political context further complicates the situation. 

President Lee Jae-myung finds himself in a difficult position: 

accepting all the US conditions would cause significant 

discontent within the country and could even lead to

 the threat of impeachment.

 

The key challenge facing Seoul today is to find an agreement 

that would allow it to gain access to the US market on 

favorable terms, while maintaining the country's 

financial stability.

 

Economic logic requires, not just a formal reduction in tariffs, 

but also the creation of mechanisms to protect the national 

economy from possible shocks, such as currency swaps 

or other financial insurance instruments.

 

If an agreement is reached without taking these factors into 

account, South Korea risks repeating the scenario of the 

late 1990s, when a lack of foreign exchange reserves 

and unfavorable external conditions ...brought the 

country to the brink of default.

 

 

_______________________________




Zakharova wished the Lithuanian Minister 

of Defense success ------ in the field of 

legal psychology

September 20th, 2:04pm

(RT.ru)

 

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

wished Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene 

--- who hinted at the right to shoot down Russian 

fighter jets by NATO forces after the incident 

in Estonia --- would pursue her career 

in legal psychology.

 

"The psychologist demonstrated competence in her own 

phobias. We wish the 'Master of Legal Psychology', to 

succeed in her field," TASS quoted her as saying.

 

Earlier, Shakalene hinted at the right to shoot down Russian 

fighter jets by NATO forces, commenting on the alleged 

entry of VKS aircraft into Estonian airspace.

 

The day before, Estonia had complained about three 

Russian fighter jets allegedly violating its borders,

 and requested consultations with NATO.

 

The Russian Ministry of Defense emphasized: that Russian 

MiG-31 fighter jets made a planned flight from Karelia to 

an airfield in the Kaliningrad region on September 19, 

without violating Estonian airspace.

 

 

______________________________________

 

 

 

They condemn interference from the US

 in the Honduran electoral process

September 20th, 12:52pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

Former Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina today 

rejected the claims of US Congresswoman María 

Elvira Salazar, to hinder the process towards 

the general elections on 30 November in 

this Central American country, on his 

account on the social network --- 

presented by Salazar in the US 

House of Representatives.

 

The controversial initiative ..seeks to guarantee the 

“supervision” of the northern power - in elections 

scheduled for the last Sunday of November.

 

“We condemn this terrible attempt to interfere in the 

sovereign electoral process of Honduras, which 

seeks to manage the elections, and intervene 

in the laws of this nation and the decisions 

of the National Electoral Council”, 

Reina denounced.

 

He believes ---- that this interference aims to favour the 

Honduran two-party system, embodied by the National 

and Liberal parties, the two main right-wing 

opposition forces.

 

Reina accused the liberal presidential candidate, Salvador 

Nasralla, a well-known TV presenter turned politician, of 

seeking at all costs to supplant the popular will, “in his 

ambition to become an imposed head of state, by his

despair... at the prospect of defeat” at the polls, 

he denounced.

 

The candidate for vice president for the ruling Freedom 

and Refoundation Party (Libre) also criticized the trip 

that Nasralla made this week to Washington, during 

which he consulted with Democrat and Republican 

representatives.... including the aforementioned

ultra-conservative congresswoman.

 

“()Nasralla” does not dare to hold meetings with the people, 

but he does meet ...in dark corridors in Washington”, the 

former chancellor warned.

 

In his opinion, the projected North American interference would 

become a disastrous precedent for any electoral process and 

against the people of any sovereign State in the world, 

especially in South America, because it would be a 

return to the outdated eras of interventionism, 

he emphasized.

 

“This congresswoman (in reference to Salazar) intends, from an 

electoral district in Florida, to decide for more than 10 million 

Honduran men and women”, Reina concluded.

 

Given the proximity of the upcoming elections, the interference 

in Honduran politics by ultra-conservative North American 

legislators... has become recurring --- in recent weeks.

 

The attacks coming from the US are directed against Libre, 

which, according to various polls, starts as one of the 

favourites heading into the November race..... and 

could get a second four-year term (2026-2030).

 

 

______________________________________________

 

 

 

NAM supports efforts... to preserve 

South America as a Zone of Peace

September 20th, 12:42pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The NAM Bureau expressed its firm support for all efforts aimed 

at preserving Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone Free 

of Nuclear Weapons ....and for Peace, as it met here today.

 

The organization expressed in a statement the day before, its deep 

concern about what has been publicly stated in recent days “by a 

large number of Latin American and Caribbean States”, on the

 deployment of extra-regional military forces in the region, 

including nuclear-capable assets.

 

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) recalled the Treaty of Tlatelolco 

of 1967 and the II Summit of the Community of Latin American 

and Caribbean States (Celac), held in Havana, Cuba, in 2014.

 

It declared that Celac, through a declaration at the time, reaffirmed

 the sovereign right of the peoples of that region to determine their 

own destiny, “free from external interference” and the permanent 

commitment to “resolve disputes by peaceful means”.

 

With the objective, he stressed, of eradicating forever 

“the use - or threat of use - of force, in the region”.

 

The forum, made up of more than a hundred countries, reaffirmed 

“its firm determination” to defend the principles of sovereignty 

and the sovereign equality of States, territorial integrity, non-

interference in the internal or external affairs of States 

and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

 

Likewise, abstaining from the threat or use of force 

---- against the political independence of any State.

 

He warned, in this sense, against resorting to aggressive 

rhetoric, hostile actions and military threats -- as foreign 

policy instruments, “particularly in a region committed

 to diplomacy, peace and its denuclearization status”.

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

 

 

More than 20 thousand weapons and drugs 

destined for Haiti .....are seized in the US

September 20th, 12:30pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The US government seized 23,000 firearms and a significant 

amount of narcotics destined for Haiti in 2025, local press 

reported today.

 

The total value of these confiscations exceeds one million 

US dollars ---- which underlines the magnitude of the 

operations carried out to counter illicit networks,

 reported the Kominotek News website.

 

US officials assured that the seizures are the result of 

close collaboration between the two countries, 

including intelligence sharing..... and 

joint operations.

 

These actions - according to the source - seek to weaken 

transnational criminal groups that take advantage of 

the instability in Haiti ..to establish their networks.

 

Washington - some media remember - is considered here to 

blame for the economic, political and social chaos that the 

Caribbean country is experiencing, which it intervened in

militarily in 1915 ....and supposedly, abandoned in 1934.

 

Most of the weapons and ammunition used by gang 

members, who torment the population, come from 

the US.

 

 

______________________________________________

 

 

 

President of Venezuela - evokes 

memorable speech by Chávez 

at the UN

September 20th, 12:28pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro - recalled today 

the memorable speech given by Commander Hugo Chávez 

on September 20, 2006 at the LXI General Assembly of 

the United Nations, where he called George Bush...

 a devil.

 

“With immense emotion, I remember the day that marked history

 19 years ago”, the president expressed on his Telegram social 

network account.

 

He recalled that, as chancellor... “I prepared the trip to the LXI 

General Assembly of the United Nations”, where he was with 

Chávez in what would be “an historic, unforgettable speech, 

with a tremendous impact on the world - and especially - in

 the United States”.

 

The head of state pointed out that our undefeated giant came 

into the world to tell the truth, to open paths and broaden 

the course of a new humanity.

 

“His words, and each of his concepts, he said, are fully valid in

 the fight against imperialism for dignity and independence”.

 

He recalled that, at the end of the speech, Commander Hugo 

Chávez told me: “I fulfilled the complete scheme...”, and 

yes, he did it with his heart, with his inspiration and 

with his wisdom, he claimed.

 

Maduro assured that “we will always remember the man who, 

with his rebellious voice, told the truths for the world of 

yesterday, today and the world to come. “It smells like 

sulfur, but God --- is with us!”.

 

In the audiovisual.. that accompanies the message, Chávez, 

addressing “the brothers and sisters of the United States”, 

alerted them of the threat because ---- “they have it in 

their own home, the devil is at home, here”, he had

pointed out.

 

The Bolivarian leader declared, in reference to former President 

Bush (2001-2009), that “yesterday.. the devil came here, in this 

same place, it still smells of sulfur”, he said, crossing himself.

 

Maduro pointed out in the video that with his truth he shook the 

premises of the United Nations and North American and world 

public opinion “because President Chávez came to tell the 

truths of the people of the South, which is the voice of 

the humble, of the poor, of those who want justice, 

of those who want peace”.

 

In his speech, the Venezuelan Supreme Commander expressed that

“we cannot allow the world dictatorship, the false democracy of 

the elites, to be installed” & asked: what model of democracy

is that ------ that is imposed at the point of marines,
invasions, aggressions and bombs?”.

 

“We are going to emerge, those of us who are insurgents against 

North American imperialism, those of us who cry out for the full 

freedom of the world, for the equality of peoples, for respect - 

for the sovereignty of nations”, Chávez expressed then.

 

 

_________________________________________________

 

 

 

5 Eye-Opening Facts on US Opposition to 

Venezuela Invasion: Revealing Growing 

Peace Movement

September 20th, 11:32am

(teleSUR)

 

Over 60% of US citizens oppose a military invasion 

of Venezuela, highlighting ------- a growing public

peace movement.

 

US opposition to Venezuela invasion exceeds 60%, 

showing a major split between public sentiment 

and the political elites pushing for war.

 

US opposition to a Venezuela invasion is widespread, with 

over 60% of US citizens rejecting military intervention --- 

according to a recent YouGov survey conducted from 

September 5 to 8, 2025. 

 

This significant majority crosses political divides, including 

74% of Democrats, 63% of independents, and 48% of 

Republicans opposing an invasion. Even limited 

military action aimed at ousting President 

Nicolás Maduro finds resistance from 

53% of respondents, compared to 

only 18% who support it.

 

This broad public disapproval ----- stands in stark contrast to the 

aggressive rhetoric of certain US political elites, exposing a 

clear gulf between popular opinion and policy agendas. 

 

Leonardo Flores, co-founder of the North America Venezuela 

Solidarity Network, notes that “public opinion in the US has 

never been enough to stop or prevent a war,” but stresses 

that the current environment -- is different: some figures 

across party lines, including MAGA-aligned individuals 

like Trump’s special envoy to Venezuela Richard 

Grenell, oppose the use of force.

 

Flores explains that this divide stems from the fact that the US 

functions more as an oligarchy with democratic appearances,

where international financial powers centred in Davos ---------

pressure to maintain funding for NATO’s war against Russia

 and a multipolar world. 

 

He identifies the radical sector of the Cuban-American diaspora 

as a key driver behind the interventionist agenda, emphasizing 

their influence in conditioning federal budget votes towards 

harsher Venezuelan policies. Traditional hawks and multi-

national oil corporations such as ExxonMobil also play 

crucial roles in this lobbying.

 

The so-called “war lobby” --- conceptually analyzed by theorists like 

John Mearsheimer, employs strategies to manufacture consent for 

armed conflicts—a tactic repeatedly attempted in Venezuela but 

without widespread success so far. Efforts have included falsely

 linking Venezuela to supposed US enemies such as Hezbollah, 

Iran, Russia, and China, invoking humanitarian crises and 

“narco-terrorism” narratives to instill fear among the US

 public, albeit with limited results. Nevertheless, Flores 

warns that popular resistance does not guarantee 

peace: “Any accident or provocation between US 

& Venezuelan forces could pivot public opinion

 and unleash ----- a patriotic fervour, that 

legitimizes war.”

 

The media’s role in shaping this narrative battlefield is critical. 

Flores acknowledges that despite a notable gap with social 

media, mainstream outlets have limited coverage on key 

issues, such as the UN commission’s classification of 

the Gaza conflict as genocide—a report largely 

ignored by traditional media but amplified 

on online platforms, bolstering the 

anti-war movements.

 

Despite majority opposition reflected in polls, concrete steps - to 

prevent military intervention require broad popular mobilization. 

Flores highlights that, in the short term, public pressure can 

support anti-war congress members, but historically, mass 

protest only decisively influenced policy in escalated 

conflicts like Vietnam. He calls on citizens to engage

 actively ------- “Write your newspaper, call your 

representatives, talk to your neighbours, 

and join those organizations that
are 
fighting imperialism.”

 

From teleSUR’s perspective, this survey underlines deep popular 

rejection within the US toward interventionist policies promoted 

by economic and military power sectors, aimed at imposing 

violent destinies on Venezuela ---- and the broader region. 

The citizen opposition represents a crucial opportunity 

to bolster peace movements and solidarity networks 

that challenge imperial hegemony and advocate 

democratic, sovereign solutions.

 

The gap between interventionist elites and public opinion, exposes 

the oligarchic nature of the US political system, where popular will 

is subordinate to corporate and strategic interests driving war 

agendas. Yet, growing social consciousness and mobilization 

can serve as effective brakes against imperial maneuvers.

 

The continued deployment of US warships in the Caribbean and 

escalating threats against Venezuela form part of a strategy to 

destabilize the region for a unipolar, militarized order. Political 

and economic actors promoting this policy ignore the 

majority’s peaceful will, reframing the conflict with 

fear-driven narratives ------ that attempt to

 legitimize violence.

 

Geopolitical Impact and the Call
for International Solidarity

 

In this context, teleSUR urges reflection... on the importance of 

building international alliances to promote peace and respect 

for sovereignty while condemning war threats. Popular 

resistance and dialogue promotion remain the only 

viable path to avoid a war escalation that would 

affect not just Venezuela, but the stability of
all 
South America ---- and the Caribbean.

 

President Nicolás Maduro’s call for mobilization and awareness 

of the majority pacifist stance in the US resonates as a hopeful 

message amid imperialist aggression. It is essential ----- for 

peoples to unite to prevent any intervention attempt and 

advance toward a multipolar world - that respects our

differences and fosters global justice.

 

In short, despite aggressive agendas within US political elites, 

majority public opinion firmly opposes war with Venezuela —

showing that social mobilization and international solidarity 

can be decisive in preserving peace and self-determination.

 

 

Author: JMVR

 

Source: Sputnik

 

 

___________________________________________________



Xi-Trump talks.. and military 

forum impact China’s week

September 20th, 10:56am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The 'phone call between the presidents of China, Xi Jinping, 

and the US, Donald Trump, and the Xiangshan Forum on 

military diplomacy, impacted China's week that ends 

on Saturday.

 

The conversation between the two heads of State was 

described as “practical, positive, and constructive” 

by Chinese official sources.

 

Xi Jinping affirmed that China and the United States can 

achieve joint prosperity and benefit the world, if they 

act with mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, 

and win-win cooperation.

 

Both presidents agreed to continue technical consultations 

on economic, trade, and security issues.

 

The Xiangshan Forum on military diplomacy, in which some 

1,800 representatives from 100 countries, regions, and 

international organizations participated, was also 

held this week.

 

The forum included four plenary sessions and eight parallel 

meetings to discuss global security governance, strategic 

trust in the Asia-Pacific, and the evolving nature of 

warfare, among other issues.

 

The Beijing International Dual-Use Advanced Equipment and

 Technology Expo was held as a parallel activity, in which 

applications in artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and 

cybersecurity, were showcased.

 

 

_________________________________________
 


 


 


Trump ''Halts'' $400 Million in Military Aid 


to Taiwan Ahead of Possible Meeting 


with Chinese President Xi


September 20th, 6:59am


(teleSUR)


 


U.S. President Donald Trump withheld approval of a planned arms 


package for Taiwan, the Washington Post revealed Friday, citing 


five individuals briefed on the matter. A White House official 


stressed, however, that no final decision has been made.


 


The proposed deal—valued at over $400 million—was described 


as significantly more advanced and “more lethal” than 


earlier transfers.


 


According to the report, the hesitation is tied to Trump’s broader 


strategy of seeking a trade accord with Beijing, as well as a 


possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping 


during the APEC summit set for next month


 in South Korea.


 


Beijing, which regards the island as an inseparable part of its 


territory, firmly rejects any external involvement in Taipei’s


 affairs, with Xi reiterating --------- that China’s goal is 


peaceful reunification.


 


Washington has approved several arms sales to Taiwan 


in recent years, including the delivery of NASAMS 


air-defense missile systems.


 


In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in May 


that it “firmly opposes U.S. arms sales to China’s Taiwan 


region.” and called on Washington to “stop selling arms


 to Taiwan ..and stop creating factors that could lead


 to tensions in the Taiwan Strait”


 


The statement concluded by reaffirming --- that “China 


will continue to firmly defend its national sovereignty


 and territorial integrity.”


 


 


________________________________________________







Intervision is being held


in Russia on Sept 20th.



 In what ways has the new contest 


already surpassed Eurovision?


by Evgeny Shulgin


September 19th, 10:01pm


(Lenta.ru)


 


On September 20, Moscow will host Intervision, a new global 


music competition that has been positioned from the very 


beginning as a response to Eurovision - and whose goal, 


as Russian President Vladimir Putin recently noted is 


to highlight the importance of traditional cultural 


values. But not only that. 


 


The music show... is expected to have good songs and a national


flavour from various regions of the world, because the project's 


geography.... covers the US, BRICS countries, the post-Soviet 


space, and even Africa. "Feed" tells about the participants 


and main favourites of the future show.


 


Representatives from 23 countries - will 


perform at the Intervision Song Contest


 


Participation in the international music competition has 


been confirmed by artists and bands from Belarus, 


Brazil, Venezuela, Vietnam, Egypt, India, 


Kazakhstan, Qatar, Kenya, China, 


Colombia, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan, 


Madagascar, UAE, Saudi 


Arabia, Serbia, the USA, 


Tajikistan.. Uzbekistan, 


Ethiopia & South Africa. 


 


This is a much wider geography than Eurovision.


 


The main genre of Intervision, will be pop music.


 


It is expected that the songs will be performed in national 


languages, unlike Eurovision, where everyone sings in 


English. According to the rules of the competition, 


the song -- must be popular in the performer's 


home country. The themes of the songs 


include national traditions, history, 


and culture, as well as love, 


home, and family.


 


 For example, Mustafa Saad from Egypt will sing "Among All 


the Girls," Dana Al-Mir from Qatar will perform "It's You," & 


Nydia Góngora from Colombia will sing "In the Mangroves."


 


Yaroslav Dronov - known as SHAMAN - will perform from Russia.


Dronov will sing the song "Straight to the Heart." The musician
emphasized that his main goal is to represent the country well 


at the competition. He noted that it doesn't matter to him... 


what place he takes at "Intervision".


 


''Music is not a competition, it is a gathering of cultures and 


traditions from different countries and republics. My goal 


is to represent Russia with dignity ....and meet the 


expectations of the audience.''


 


USA replaced the participant at the last moment


 


Initially, the US was supposed to be represented by the singer 


Brandon Howard, however, due to family circumstances, he 


refused to perform three days before the Intervision. The 


artist was considered one of the favourites of the 


competition. However, a replacement was 


quickly found  --- Vasiliki Karaghiorgos, 


known as Vassy, a singer with Greek


roots, born and raised in Australia, 


but who has long been working


- in America.


 


Vassy is one of the most prominent figures


 in the world of electronic music.


 


Her songs were featured in the Oscar-winning Disney animated 


film "Frozen" and in the TV series "Anatomy of Passion". Her 


singles (including collaborations with DJ Tiësto and David 


Guetta) have gone multi-platinum in 30 countries, 


garnering billions of digital downloads. Vassy 


grew up in Australia, in a family of Greek


 immigrants, but her music career took 


off in the United States, where she 


moved in 2013. The singer was 


the first woman to win the 


EDMA ICON Award. 


 


She is also actively involved in social initiatives, 


including working with young talent... and 


protecting the environment.


 


India will be represented by music teacher, Rauhan Malik


 


Rauhan Malik is a singer and music teacher with 12 years of


experience from Kashmir. His songs..... combine folk motifs 


with elements of rock and pop music. In his compositions, 


Malik -- sings about the history of his native region. He 


actively performs throughout India -- combining his 


creative work with teaching, and his tracks have 


millions of listens on streaming platforms. 


 


At Intervision, Rauhan Malik will perform the song "Love."


 


China sent its national star, Wang Xi, to the competition


 


One of the most expressive voices on his country's music scene, 


renowned master, and winner of numerous national awards, 


Wang Xi will represent China. A graduate of the Shenyang 


Conservatory of Music, the artist is renowned... for his 


ability to combine rigorous academic training, with 


deep emotional expression. In his home country 


he has also gained fame as a member of the 


iconic shows "I Am a Singer" and 


"Super-Vocal."


 


South Africa...... has assembled the supergroup, 


Mzansi Jikelele specifically for the competition


 


South Africa.. will be represented by the Mzansi Jikelele musical 


ensemble, which roughly translates to "the South African team" 


in Zulu. The group, assembled specifically for the Intervision 


Song Contest, consists of five distinctive artists who 


specialize in various genres --- including gospel, 


amapiano (-a subgenre of house music from 


South Africa that gained popularity in the 


mid-2010s), opera, and Afro-pop. 


 


Each member of the group is highly acclaimed and 


has won numerous awards in their home country.


 


YouTube star Zina Emad will perform from Saudi Arabia


 


Singer Zina Emad, who has become famous in the Middle East, as 


a young rising star and a symbol of modern Arab pop, started her 


career with covers and later became a YouTube star with 100s 


of millions of views. She works in a style that combines 


traditional Arab melodies and modern pop rhythms 


with elements of haliji, jazz, and soft rock. 


 


Emad is a winner of national competitions --- and has 


received the Riyadh Joy Award for Best Young Artist.


 


The winner of the contest will be determined 


by the decision of the jury


 


Unlike Eurovision, where the audience vote plays an important 


role, the winners of the new show will be determined by
an 
international jury. The jury includes respected 


representatives of the music industry.... from 


each participating country in Intervision.


 


Igor Matvienko, a Russian composer, 


was a member of the jury.


 


Music producer and composer Maxim Fadeev


 named his favourites at Intervision.


 


Maxim Fadeev, considers the representatives of Kazakhstan, 


Kyrgyzstan, and China to be the favorites of the competition.


 


I listened to all the participants - and marked many people 


for myself, but I will be especially rooting for three people. 


 


The producer highlighted the Chinese artist Wang Xi, 


the Kyrgyz band Nomad, and the Kazakh singer 


Amre (real name: Yernar Sadirbayev).


 


The prize fund of the competition will be 30 million rubles


 


In addition to the money, the winner will also receive a crystal


 cup with the Intervision logo. The other contestants will be 


awarded diplomas. 


 


The contest will take place in Moscow on September 20, 2025, 


and will begin at 20:30 Moscow time. It will be broadcast live


 on Channel One. The final stage of the contest will take


 place at the Live Arena, in Moscow Region.


 


The Intervision song contest was originally held in the 1970s


 and 1980s in the countries of the socialist bloc. Later, the 


event was restarted.. several times. Russia decided to 


bring back Intervision, after being suspended from 


participating in the Eurovision Song Contest 


in 2022.


 


 


____________________________________________




  Nebenzya:  Baerbock ------ has already left her 

mark on history with her clumsy statements

September 19th, 4:09pm

(RT.ru)

 

The new head of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock,

 is remembered for her “belligerent, cynical, and sometimes 

offensive” statements when she served as Germany's 

foreign minister. This was highlighted by Russia's 

Permanent Representative to the UN, 

Vasily Nebenzya.

 

"I don't have a personal opinion about her, because we don't know 

each other personally. One way or another....... I'll have to do it. 

Whether I want to or not is another question... She's already 

made a name for herself and left her mark on history with 

her clumsy statements as Germany's foreign minister.''


 ''They were belligerent, cynical, and sometimes 

offensive. She became famous for her catch-

phrases, such as “a 360-degree turn,” said 

the diplomat... in an interview for the 

program, “America with Valentin 

Bogdanov” on the Russia 24

 TV channel.

 

He also emphasized that at a meeting with EU colleagues, 

Baerbock stated that her main priority at the UN would

be ---- to limit speeches at the General Assembly to 

3 minutes.

 

In February 2023, Annalena Baerbock said in a panel 

discussion at the Munich Security Conference that 

Russia needs to change its position ---- by 360°.

 

Her Hungarian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto -- noted 

that Böröcz is capable of mathematical miracles, 

"because someone who can make a 360-degree 

turn in the opposite direction is revolutionizing 

mathematics."

 

 

_______________________________________________






Medvedev ---- on the Council of Europe's 

project for Ukraine: Russia's response: 

will not be long in coming

September 19th, 10:55am

(Vesti.ru)

 

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security 

Council -------- commented on the project to create an 

"International Claims Commission"... for Ukraine, 

expressing a strong negative attitude towards 

this initiative by the Council of Europe, and 

stating that a harsh reaction from the 

Russian Federation would not be

 long in coming.

 

According to him, the closer the hour of "our final victory over

 the neo-Nazis in Kiev" gets, the "further into its own space" 

the Council of Europe is moving. He stated that Russia's 

withdrawal from this "discriminatory" organization 

was not in vain. He also believes --- that it is a 

"strange and meaningless organization."

 

Medvedev expressed his bewilderment over the draft convention on

 the creation of an international claims commission for Ukraine. In 

his opinion, this is an attempt to establish a quasi-judicial body 

under the auspices of the Council of Europe....... to collect 

compensation from Russia.

 

At the same time, Medvedev suggested that -- despite the 

absurdity of the project, most of the Council of Europe 

countries, would probably join the convention.

 

"Well -- there will be one more senseless Russophobic structure in 

the Old World. And our harsh reaction, will not be long in coming," 

Medvedev wrote on the MAX messenger.

 

Medvedev noted that the project is planned to be financed from the

 budgets of the countries that will support it, but Europeans do not 

have any free funds at the moment due to economic difficulties. 

He suggested.... that officials are counting on Russia to take
responsibility and cover the costs - in order to return to
the 
"European family." Medvedev described this...
as 
"rose-coloured fantasies."

 

On September 17th, the UK newspaper the Financial Times 

reported that Europe is considering the option of ''using'' 

the frozen Russian assets --- which are stored in the 

Belgian depositary, Euroclear --- to help Ukraine.

 

Earlier, Medvedev also stated that in small countries 
in the West ---- 
the bosses are usually more stupid 
and more boastful.

 

 

______________________________________________________




Russia's international reserves


 increased by $6.6 billion 


over the week


September 18th, 3:16pm


(RT.ru)


 


Russia's international reserves amounted to $705.1 billion 


and reached a new historical high, increasing by


 $6.6 billion in a single week.


 


This is stated in the materials of the Bank of Russia.


 


"International reserves... amounted to $705.1 billion, 


increasing by $6.6 billion, or 0.9%, over the week, 


mainly due to positive revaluation," the 


regulator said.


 


Earlier, the value of Russia's gold reserves in August 


set a record and amounted to more than $250 billion.


 


 


_______________________________________________________






Indigenous people of Ecuador ready 


to resist --- the neoliberal coup


September 18th, 12:33pm


 (Prensa Latina) 


 


The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador 


(Conaie) will define now whether it will mobilize against 


President Daniel Noboa's decision to eliminate the 


diesel subsidy, although.... they have already 


announced that they are ready to resist 


the new neoliberal coup.


 


Prior to the extraordinary assembly that takes place at this time


in the city of Riobamba, in the Andean province of Chimborazo, 


the organization published a video on its social networks in 


which it warns the president that when the people rise up, 


“history changes course”.



The message recalls the historic strikes of 2019 and 2022, 


when indigenous people - led the mobilizations against 


similar measures by then-presidents Lenín Moreno 


(2017-2021) and Guillermo Lasso (2021-2023).


 


“Today, Noboa and his government impose a new neoliberal coup, 


with the elimination of the diesel subsidy and Decree 126 that 


hits transportation, the countryside and working families”,


 conaie stated.


 


According to this group, which brings together communities 


throughout the country, the rise in the value of diesel 


occurs.... amid no lack of problems in the health 


sector, with insecurity and authoritarianism.


 


At this Thursday's meeting, the leaders seek “to collectively 


define the de facto actions - against the elimination of the 


diesel subsidy and the national crisis”, the call indicates.


 


Prior to the assembly... the Union of Peasant and Indigenous 


Organizations of Cotacachi (Unorcac), in northern Ecuador, 


called for an “indefinite mobilization” from September 21 


at 10:00 p.m. (local time).


 


For his part, José Esach, president of the Confederation
of 
Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon 


(Confeniae), reported -- that they will also call for 


permanent and progressive mobilization, and 


decided --- to withdraw support for Noboa, 


whom they supported in the elections.


 


In the midst of these dispersed calls, Salvador Quishpe --- from 


the Pachakutik movement, announced that one of the topics


 to be discussed at the meeting will be to unify all the 


demonstrations announced by indigenous groups.


 


According to a study by the Center for Research and Specialized 


Studies (Ciess), 83 percent of Ecuadorians consider that the


 increase in unsubsidized diesel, negatively impacts them, 


a perception that is similar in both urban and rural areas.


 


The survey figures, added to the announcements of 


mobilizations --- reflect the discontent among the 


population regarding the government measure, 


which the Executive justifies ----- as saving 


1.1 billion dollars ---- and as a part of a 


''temporary'' compensation program, 


for transport firms, and farmers.


 


 


_________________________________


 


Trump: Designates Antifa as 


a Terrorist Organization


September 18th, 10:29am


(teleSUR)


 


Legal experts question the feasibility of targeting 


such a decentralized social movement.


 


On Wednesday --- U.S. President Donald Trump 


designated the antifascist social movement 


Antifa ...as a terrorist organization.


 


“I am pleased to inform our many U.S.A. Patriots that 


I am designating ANTIFA, A SICK, DANGEROUS, 


RADICAL LEFT DISASTER, AS A MAJOR 


TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,” he said.


 


“I will also be strongly recommending that those 


funding ANTIFA, be thoroughly investigated.. in 


accordance with the highest legal standards 


and practices,” Trump warned.


 


The U.S. president appeared to take this step in an 


attempt to capitalize - on emotions stirred by the 


Sept. 10 killing of far-right activist Charlie Kirk. 


In his Truth Social post, Trump did not clarify 


what mechanism he would use.. to make
his
 decision effective.


 


Antifa is a highly decentralized network in the U.S. 


--- that brings together activists who identify as 


anarchists, anti-capitalists or communists. 


 


The lack of clear leadership... makes it uncertain who 


or what exactly would be targeted by Trump’s policy.


 


On previous occasions, he had accused the antifascist 


movement of... inciting violence, including riots that 


followed the 2020 killing of George Floyd during 


his first term. 


 


Trump -- had also expressed his desire to designate it 


a terrorist group multiple times, though experts and 


officials have stressed --- the legal difficulties of 


sanctioning such a decentralized collective.


 


Since September 10, the day Kirk was killed in Utah, Trump 


has blamed the “radical left” for the country’s political 


violence. Several employees at U.S. companies and 


universities - have been fired or disciplined over 


comments considered ''inappropriate'' about 


Kirk’s killing. Among them - were workers 


at Nasdaq, the law firm Perkins Coie 


and a Texas State University 


student expelled...... for 


mimicking the killing 


during a vigil.


 


Republicans have sought to sanction and remove 


Democratic lawmakers from legislative spaces 


after they criticized the role and comments of 


the far-right activist, who often clashed with 


students during online programs - and his 


appearances at public venues 


and universities.


 


 


___________________________________


 


 


 


Italian Justice Reform Vote


 Sparks Chaos in Parliament


September 18th, 9:53am


(teleSUR)


 


Lawmakers traded shouts and shoves after approving 


a controversial bill backed by Meloni’s coalition.


 


On Thursday, a vote on a judicial reform bill in Italy’s 


Lower House ended in shouts and shoves between 


government and opposition lawmakers ----- who 


criticized the ruling coalition for celebrating


 the vote.


 


The Chamber of Deputies approved, with 243 votes in favour 


and 109 against, the separation of judges’ and prosecutors’ 


careers. The measure has been a priority for the governing 


coalition, especially for the conservative Forza Italia 


party... as it was a longtime goal of its late founder, 


Silvio Berlusconi. Lawmakers from the governing 


parties celebrated the result.


 


The constitutional reform now moves to the Senate for final 


approval, expected by the end of the year. A referendum, 


will be required afterward ----- as the measure is unlikely 


to secure the two-thirds majority needed in Parliament.


 


Opposition members approached government benches to 


protest the celebrations, particularly those directed at 


Foreign Minister and Forza Italia leader Antonio Tajani 


after no answers were given to questions on Gaza. 


 


The shouting and scuffles forced Chamber President 


Lorenzo Fontana to suspend the session -- and call


in parliamentary forces.


 


“We are moving forward with the judicial reform process. 


We will continue working, to provide Italy and Italians 


with an increasingly efficient and transparent justice 


system. While awaiting the Senate’s final approval, 


we will move forward with determination to deliver 


to the nation a historic and long-awaited reform,”


 Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, hailing the 


bill’s passage.


 


The constitutional reform, would establish separate career 


paths for prosecutors and judges, who currently share the 


same track. If enacted, it would also create two superior 


councils of the Judiciary, one for prosecutors and one 


for judges — a change that the opposition warns ---


poses a real threat --- to democracy.


 


The National Magistrates Association (ANM) said that 


separating prosecutors from the Judiciary “only 


serves to make them more controllable” 


because... it “weakens their ability 


to investigate the powerful.”


 


 


_________________________________


 


 


 


China Urges U.S. to Stop Pressuring 


Latin American Nations Over Ties


 With Beijing


September 18th, 8:47am


(teleSUR)


 


Washington’s coercion is backfiring and 


strengthening regional partnerships 


with China.


 


On Thursday, China urged the US to stop 


pressuring Latin American countries 


and respect their right ------- to


independently decide their


international relations.


 


“China firmly supports Latin American countries, in


 their stance against foreign interference and their 


efforts to defend national sovereignty,” Foreign 


Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.


 


“The US should not ignore or act dismissively --- 


in response to the legitimate concerns and just 


demands of Latin American nations,” he added.


 


Prior to the remarks, outlets including The Economist 


and The New York Times, reported that the 


administration of U.S. President D. Trump 


was pressuring Latin American nations 


to scale back ties with Beijing.


 


Arguing... that China engages in “exploitative practices,” 


Washington wants Latin American countries to reduce


 their economic, cultural and political connections 


with China. Nevertheless, U.S. pressure has had 


a limited effect and, in several cases, has 


strengthened LATAM governments’ 


engagement with Beijing.


 


The U.S. stance “once again shows that pressure and 


coercion policies lack support and are increasingly 


unviable,” Lin said.


 


“China and Latin America are good friends and good 


partners on an equal footing.... characterized by 


openness, inclusiveness & mutually beneficial 


cooperation. Our cooperation responds to the 


will of the people and the common interests 


of both sides,” he added.


 


“Latin America and the Caribbean are not anyone’s 


‘backyard’ and have the right to independently 


choose their development path -- and their


cooperation partners,” the Chinese 


diplomat stressed.


 


Lin also urged the US --- to “stop coercing Latin American 


countries to take sides, stop interfering in their internal 


affairs, and contribute concrete actions that support 


their development and prosperity - instead of 


sowing discord - and issuing orders.”


 


 


_______________________________________


 


 


 


Pakistan’s Monsoon Floods


 Kill Over a thousand - as


 Indus River Swells


September 18th, 7:21am


(teleSUR)


 


Pakistan’s worst floods since 2022, have killed 


over 1,000 people, displaced millions, and left 


three eastern rivers at record levels.


 


More than 1,000 people have died across Pakistan 


since late June as heavy monsoon rains triggered 


widespread flooding, displacing millions and 


damaging homes and infrastructure - on a 


scale not seen since the 2022 disaster.


 


The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) 


confirmed on Thursday that 1,002 people have lost 


their lives since June 26, including 274 children, 


163 women, and 565 men. Over 1,000 others 


have been injured.


 


Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported the highest 


toll with 504 deaths, followed by Punjab with 300, Sindh 


with 80, Balochistan with 30, Gilgit-Baltistan with 41, 


Pakistan-administered Kashmir with 39, and nine..


 in Islamabad.


 


Floodwaters have destroyed more than 4,100 houses and 


damaged thousands more, while at least 6,509 livestock 


have been lost. Punjab, Sindh, & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 


have seen the largest displacements, with over 2.4 


million people affected in Punjab alone - and 


2.6 million already rescued.


 


The Indus River is experiencing high to medium flood levels, as 


waters surge downstream, according to the Flood Forecasting 


Division. Authorities have also reported “exceptionally” high 


levels in the Sutlej, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers—marking the


 first time in Pakistan’s history that the three eastern rivers 


have simultaneously reached such levels.


 


In late August, India released water from several dams on rivers 


governed by the Indus Waters Treaty, warning Islamabad that 


downstream flooding could worsen. The discharges further 


raised water levels in Punjab.


 


Officials caution that the current floods are the most severe 


since 2022, when more than 1,700 people were killed, a 


third of the country was submerged, and damages 


reached an estimated \$32 billion.


 


Relief operations continue as rising waters threaten 


further devastation in southern Sindh, where tens 


of thousands - remain displaced.


 


 


____________________________________________


 


 


 


China Urges Unity, Warns - Against Foreign


 Interference at Xiangshan Security Forum


September 18th, 6am


(teleSUR)


 


At the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, China pledged 


cooperation on global security while warning 


that foreign interference and Cold War 


divisions ----------- threaten peace.


 


China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun opened the 12th Beijing 


Xiangshan Forum by pledging cooperation to safeguard 


peace and stability, while warning that foreign


 interference and Cold War-style divisions 


threaten global security.


 


The Xiangshan Forum, held from September 17 to 19 at the Beijing


 International Convention Centre, brought together over 1,800 


government representatives, scholars, and observers -- from 


over 100 countries, regions, and international organizations.


 


 Framed around the theme “Upholding International Order and 


Promoting Peaceful Development,” the forum is one of 


China’s most prominent platforms for dialogue on 


global and regional security.


 


In his keynote address on Thursday, Defense Minister Dong Jun 


said the Chinese military is prepared to “uphold security with 


concrete actions” by building mutual trust, strengthening 


multilateral coordination, and advancing 


cooperation mechanisms. 


 


He added that China sought to “safeguard world peace and 


build a community with a shared future for humanity.”


 


This year’s forum coincides with the 80th anniversary of the 


victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against 


Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. 


 


Dong called on participants to uphold “a correct view on 


World War II,” defend historical justice, and forge a


broader consensus in international relations.


 


Addressing regional tensions, Dong reaffirmed Beijing’s position 


on Taiwan. “The People’s Liberation Army ----- will never allow 


any separatist plot to succeed, nor tolerate foreign military 


interference,” he stated, describing the island’s return, 


as part of the post-World War II settlement.


 


He also warned against what he termed “the rule of the jungle” 


and outdated Cold War mentalities, saying they fuel disorder 


and instability. Dong urged countries to resist division and 


strengthen unity to ensure stability at both regional and 


global levels.


 


Participation by Western states this year was largely limited 


to lower-level delegations, reflecting caution over China’s 


growing military role but also an ongoing interest.... in 


engaging with Beijing’s security agenda.


 


By pairing calls for collective peacebuilding with firm warnings 


against external involvement in its core interests, China used


 the Xiangshan Forum to showcase both its diplomatic 


outreach --- and its uncompromising stance 


on sovereignty.


 


 


____________________________________





Von der Leyen is being sued: the head of 

the European Commission --- is being 

asked to apologize

by Peter Ermilin

September 17th, 10:36am

(Pravda.ru)

 

Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperi has filed a lawsuit against the 

head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, 

Politico reports. The reason was her statements during 

the vote of no confidence debate. The translation of

 the Politico article is published by Pravda.Ru.

 

A European parliamentarian who led an unsuccessful attempt to 

pass a vote of no confidence in Ursula von der Leyen, has filed 

a lawsuit against her --- for defamation, claiming that she 

implied that he was subordinate to Russia.

 

Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piper from the centre-right European 

Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group said that the head 

of the EU Commission had decided to "personally attack" 

him in her comments, during the vote of no confidence.

 

Piperet is demanding an official public apology for the Commission 

chairman's remarks, which he said ----- included claims that the 

signatories are "friends of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin."

 Putin", "extremists" and propagators of "conspiracy 

theories". A "significant number" of these 

signatories also joined the lawsuit, 

the MP added.

 

The lawsuit was filed with the Court of Justice of the European 

Union.... which has not yet ruled on its admissibility. Although 

libel cases are typically handled by national courts, as the 

Court of Justice deals exclusively with Union law, 

Piperere relies on Article 2 of the Treaty on the 

Functioning of the EU, as a legal basis. This 

article states ---- that the Union must 

"...compensate for any damage 

caused by its institutions or 

employees in the course 

of their duties."

 

The EU Commission .....declined to comment.

 

"Putin's Puppets"

 

In a July no-confidence debate in Strasbourg, von der Leyen 

said that Piper's arguments "come straight from the oldest 

extremist manual."

 

"We see an alarming threat from extremist parties that want to 

polarize our societies with disinformation," the Commission's 

chairwoman said, adding that there is"plenty of evidence 

that many are receiving support from our enemies and 

their puppeteers in Russia or elsewhere."

 

Manfred Weber, president of the European People's Party von der 

Leyen, called the signatories of the resolution "Putin's puppets," 

adding: "Putin will like what his friends are doing here." Iratxe 

Garcia, head of the Socialists and Democrats group, also 

called Pipere and other signatories, Putin's allies.

 

Pipere initiated a vote of no confidence in mid-July, collecting 

enough signatures in response to his protest against von der 

Leyen's secret correspondence with Albert Bourla, the head 

of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, dating back to 2021.

 

During the vote debate in July, Piper accused the 

"undemocratic" Commission of making the EU's 

decision-making process "opaque," leading to 

"concerns about abuse and corruption."

 

 

_________________________________________________

 

 

 

Despite the sanctions, Switzerland 

has sharply increased its imports 

of Russian gold

by Oleg Artyukov 

September 17th, 9:20am

(Pravda.ru)

 

In the first half of 2025, Switzerland significantly increased 

its imports of Russian-origin gold, despite the ongoing 

sanctions restrictions.

 

Purchases of this metal have almost doubled compared to the 

same period last year, according to RIA Novosti, citing data 

from the UN Comtrade platform.

 

This trend is particularly noteworthy given that Switzerland 

officially joined the EU's embargo on Russian gold in 

August 2022.

 

However, the sanctions regime turned out to be less clear-cut. 

The Swiss authorities clarified that the ban does not apply to 

metal that left Russia before the restrictions were imposed.

 

This left Swiss companies with the opportunity to continue 

purchasing gold if it was coming through third countries 

or was already in warehouses outside the Russian 

Federation. This legal loophole.... effectively 

allowed trade flows to continue, albeit

 in a modified form.

 

According to official statistics, Switzerland imported 10.2 tons of 

Russian gold worth approximately \$934.7 million in the first half

 of the year. This represents a 50% increase in physical terms 

compared to the previous year, and a 100% increase, in 

monetary terms.

 

For the Russian export sector, gold continues to be one of the most 

important sources of foreign exchange earnings, especially in the 

context of limited access to Western capital markets and 

declining revenues from hydrocarbons.

 

It is worth noting that gold plays a strategic role in Switzerland. 

The country has historically been the world's largest centre 

for the refining and processing of precious metals. It is 

home to leading refineries that handle a significant 

portion of the global gold market.

 

Thus, Switzerland's interest in imports, including those from 

Russia, is driven not so much by domestic market needs 

as by its status as a key hub for global processing 

and subsequent re-export.

 

If we look at the overall scale of trade, Switzerland acquired 

more than $95.1 billion worth of gold on the global market 

in the first six months.

 

This is almost double the figure from a year ago, reflecting not 

only the rise in metal prices but also increased demand from 

investors seeking safe-haven assets amid geopolitical and 

economic instability.

 

The main suppliers to Switzerland in the first half of the year were 

the US, with exports worth $19.2 billion, followed by the United 

Arab Emirates, which sold $17.6 billion worth of gold, and 

Canada, which sold $4.5 billion.

 

The top five - also includes Australia ($4.4 billion) and
Uzbekistan ($4.3 billion). This import structure -
highlights the diversification 
of sources, and
Switzerland's commitment to maintaining 

sustainable supply channels, even in a
complex 
political environment.

 

It is worth noting that, on the one hand, Western countries have 

declared a strict approach to restrictive measures aimed at 

reducing Russia's revenues from raw material exports.

 

On the other hand, due to the specifics of global trade and 

complex re-export schemes, the bans are not absolute.

 

From Switzerland's perspective, this policy is pragmatic. The 

country aims to maintain its status as a major processing 

hub, as cutting off supplies from Russia, could weaken

 its position in the global market.

 

In addition, given that gold is a liquid and versatile asset, 

Swiss companies are interested in accessing as wide 

a range of sources - as possible.

 

 

_________________________________________________

 

 

 

Former ECB Governor: Gas in Europe

 is four times more expensive than 

in the US

by Oleg Artyukov

 September 17th, 12:20am

(Pravda.ru)

 

The former head of the EU Central Bank and former Italian Prime 

Minister Mario Draghi is dissatisfied with the implementation 

of his proposals to improve the EU's competitiveness, 

which were put forward and approved a year ago.

 

In the meantime, the situation has not changed much: the cost of 

energy in Europe ..remains significantly higher than in the US, 

competition from China is intensifying, and the new trade 

agreement with the US has been largely negotiated 

on Washington's terms.

 

According to a publication by Il Sole 24 Ore, the key 

problem is the high cost of energy resources for 

the EU's industry.

 

According to experts, European companies spend about twice 

as much on energy as US companies, and the cost of gas is 

four times higher in Europe, than in the US.

 

Meanwhile, the energy intensity of modern production, especially 

in the high-tech sector, is increasing. Artificial intelligence, data 

centres, and cloud services, which are expected to become 

the foundation of the new economy..... consume vast 

amounts of electricity.

 

Consequently, the difference in energy prices directly affects 

the competitiveness of European companies compared to

 their US and Chinese rivals.

 

In the context of the ongoing imbalance, the EU's transition to 

a high-tech economy is at risk. While Europe has declared its 

intention.. to promote innovation and digitalization, objective 

economic barriers hinder the implementation of these plans.

 

With cheaper resources in the US and China, it is becoming more 

difficult for European companies to compete --- both in terms of 

production costs & the pace of introducing new technologies.

 

Draghi also emphasizes that Washington and Beijing are exerting 

increasing geoeconomic pressure. The US has imposed the 

highest tariffs on European goods in almost a century, 

leaving the EU in a weak position with limited

 tools for a symmetrical response.

 

The EU's reliance on US military support and the overall 

architecture of transatlantic relations played a crucial 

role in the EU's reluctance to accept terms in the

 trade agreement that favoured the US.

 

Thus, Brussels finds itself in a situation where economic policy 

intersects with security issues, and political dependence 

directly affects economic independence.

 

A year ago, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 

instructed Mario Draghi to prepare a detailed analysis of 

the EU economy's challenges - and propose solutions.

 

The Italian economist then formulated a set of recommendations 

aimed at strengthening the industrial sector, developing the 

defense industry, and digitalizing and integrating 

the EU's internal markets.

 

Among the key factors undermining Europe's competitiveness, he 

highlighted the increased costs of importing energy resources 

due to the withdrawal of Russian supplies. According to his 

calculations, the additional expenses amounted to 

approximately 100 billion euros ------ which is 

equivalent to 2.7% of the EU's total GDP.

 

Even then, he warned that the continued disparity in energy 

costs between the EU and its main competitors --- would 

make its ambitions for new technologies, untenable.

 

Based on Draghi's proposals, a strategic document called "The 

Competitiveness Compass" was developed. This plan aimed 

to set long-term goals for the EU economy, reduce its

dependence on external factors, and strengthen 

its position in the global market.

 

However, a year later, the results of its implementation were far 

from what was expected. The energy situation has remained 

largely unchanged: prices remain high, dependence on 

external suppliers persists, and the transition to 

alternative energy sources - has not yet been 

able to compensate for the increased costs.

 

An analysis of the current situation shows that the problem is 

systemic. The high cost of energy for Europe is due not only 

to the rejection of Russian resources, but also to the 

structural features of the EU energy market.

 

A complex regulatory system, a high tax burden, and insufficient 

coordination among member countries are slowing down the 

formation of a unified energy space.

 

At the same time, the United States and China, with access

 to cheaper energy sources and a centralized policy, have 

significant competitive advantages.

 

The EU's strategic dependence on the US... in the military 

sphere remains an important aspect. This limits Europe's 

maneuverability in trade policy matters. Any attempt to

 resist Washington's economic pressure.... is 

automatically met --- with the threat of a 

revision of defense agreements.

 

Thus, the EU finds itself in a kind of trap: on the one hand, 

it seeks strategic autonomy, but on the other, it is forced 

to accept conditions dictated by its stronger partner.

 

 

__________________________________________________





Japan rejected the US demand 

to raise tariffs on countries 

that buy Russian oil 

by Oleg Artyukov

 September 16th, 3:45pm

(Pravda.ru)

 

Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato rejected the US 

demand for additional trade restrictions on countries that 

continue to purchase Russian oil, particularly 

China and India.

 

Washington insists that the G7 allies should adopt a tougher policy 

towards countries that support energy cooperation with Russia.

 

Japan has reminded us of its commitment to comply with the rules 

of the World Trade Organization. According to these principles, 

WTO member countries are not allowed to arbitrarily set 

tariffs that exceed the agreed levels.

 

The system is based on the idea of equal treatment for all of the 

participants in international trade, and Japan has emphasized 

that it will adhere to these norms as long as other countries 

fulfill their obligations under multilateral agreements.

 

According to Tokyo, the introduction of differentiated tariffs 

aimed exclusively at countries that import Russian oil 

would be a violation of international norms and 

could lead to the destabilization ---- of the 

entire trade system.

 

In addition, such a measure, such as raising tariffs to 50 percent 

on a limited number of countries, would create the risk of 

retaliatory measures from those countries and 

would harm the global economy.

 

It is worth noting that Japan itself, despite its participation in the 

sanctions coalition against Russia, continues to import certain 

types of Russian energy resources.

 

This is especially true for liquefied natural gas, which is supplied 

from the Sakhalin-2 project. Energy security remains a critical 

issue for Japan, which is almost entirely dependent on 

external fuel supplies due to its lack of significant 

domestic oil and gas reserves.

 

Abandoning Russian resources could threaten the stability of the 

national economy and the energy sector, which is why Tokyo is 

taking a more cautious approach, compared to the US and 

several European countries.

 

In this context, Washington's proposal appeared to be an attempt 

to increase pressure on Russia at the expense of its allies, but 

for Japan, such measures would be a direct blow to its 

economic interests.

 

Increasing tariffs on trade with China and India would also have 

serious consequences, given that these countries are Tokyo's 

largest trading partners.

 

China ranks first in Japan's foreign trade turnover, and India

 in recent years has become an increasingly important 

destination for Japanese investment and strategic 

cooperation... within the framework of the

 Indo-Pacific Strategy.

 

Thus, Japan's rejection of the US proposal can be seen 

not only as a formal adherence to WTO norms, but also

 as a manifestation of pragmatism, in protecting its 

own interests.

 

The country seeks to balance its allied obligations to the 

US - with the objective need to maintain economic and 

energy stability.

 

In addition, the Japanese position reflects a broader trend in 

global politics: even in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, 

not all countries are willing to take radical economic 

measures that directly threaten their national 

security or economic development.

 

China and India continue to actively purchase Russian oil, taking 

advantage of discounts and strengthening their own energy 

security. Japan, on the other hand, demonstrates that 

even among US allies, there is an understanding of 

the limitations of sanctions, especially when
it 
comes to strategic resources.

 

 

_________________________________________________



European countries don't want

 --- to lose Russian tourists

by Oleg Artyukov

September 16th, 12:50pm

(Pravda.ru)

 

Greece, as well as Italy, Spain, France and Hungary 

opposed the adoption in the EU of restrictions on 

the issuance of visas to Russian citizens.

 

Thus... these countries have effectively blocked an initiative 

that could significantly complicate Russian travel to Europe.

 

According to the Greek portal pronews. gr, Athens' decision 

was particularly significant because it was the first time 

since 2022 that Greece had taken such a step, 

refusing to support another tightening of 

its visa policy towards Russia.

 

The main argument of the Greek side is related to the economic 

consequences. In a situation where tourism plays a key role in 

the national economy, the refusal of Russian tourists, is 

perceived as a direct blow to the financial stability 

of a number of regions.

 

This is especially true for the Ionian Islands, where the flow 

of Russian tourists remains significant, despite the overall 

decline in their numbers in Europe.

 

According to the publication, Russian citizens have a high level 

of spending during their trips: on average, one tourist from our 

country spends about 1,300 euros per day --- which is over 

twice the average tourist spending.. of about 567 euros.

 

According to statistics from previous years, Russians spent 

approximately 900 euros before 2015, while the average 

spending of foreign tourists was around 600 euros. 

 

These figures indicate that Russian tourists have 

traditionally played a significant role in the 

Greek hospitality industry's revenue.

 

Another aspect is the situation of the Russian-speaking 

community in Greece. For many of its members, having 

long-term visas and the ability to move freely is not 

only a matter of everyday life, but also a matter 

of social and economic importance.

 

The introduction of new restrictions would jeopardize the 

stable ties that have developed between Russia and 

Greece ---- at the level of human contact, business, 

and cultural relations. The loss of this channel 

of communication could lead to additional 

difficulties. for those who have been

living and working in the country

 for many years.

 

In addition to the domestic economic damage, Greece is also 

assessing the potential foreign policy consequences. If visa 

restrictions were imposed, analysts believe that Russia 

would respond with reciprocal measures, which would 

have a negative impact on Greek citizens 

and businesses.

 

Moreover, this could lead to....  a decrease in exports to 

Russia, where Greek goods are traditionally in demand.

 

Thus, the EU's initiative was presented to Greece not only as 

a threat to the tourism industry, but also -- as a factor that 

could trigger a chain of negative economic reactions.

 

It is important to note that Greece's decision was not isolated, 

as Italy, Spain, France, and Hungary also imposed vetoes. 

Each of these countries has its own reasons for 

maintaining a relatively flexible policy 

towards Russia.

 

For southern European countries, particularly Greece, Italy, 

and Spain, tourism remains a crucial sector that relies 

heavily on the financial capacity of foreign visitors.

 

As one of Europe's leading economies, France is interested

 in maintaining room for diplomatic maneuver --- and 

minimizing direct damage to its own sectors.

 

In recent years, Hungary has repeatedly demonstrated a more 

reserved stance on the EU's anti-Russian measures, seeking 

to maintain energy and trade contacts.

 

In a broader context, the situation reflects the contradiction 

between the EU's general desire for a sanctions policy, 

and the interests of individual member states.

 

For the countries of Southern Europe, the priority remains 

the protection of their own economic interests, which is 

particularly evident in the areas of tourism and exports. 

Adopting strict measures without considering these 

factors could lead to internal tensions within the 

union and demonstrate the limited capacity of

 the EU to reach consensus.

 

The refusal of Greece and several other countries to support 

new visa restrictions can be seen as a manifestation of a 

pragmatic approach, where national interests --- take 

precedence over general political slogans.

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

 

 

China ...... has been preparing for a 

trade war with the US for 10 years

by Oleg Artyukov 

September 16th, 9:15am

(Pravda.ru)

 

Over the past ten years... China has been actively
investing in infrastructure development in
Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

 

This policy ----- allowed it to prepare for the consequences
of the trade war with the US, which was initiated by the
Donald Trump administration, according to The New
York Times.

 

Investments in roads, ports, energy, and industrial facilities have

strengthened economic ties with countries in the global South, 

and provided Beijing with strategic influence over key regions 

that are - gradually.... becoming alternative centres of 

global demand.

 

After the US imposed high tariffs, China's exports to the 

US economy - decreased by approximately 15 percent.

 

However, the total volume of China's foreign trade ------ has not 

decreased, as exports have been redirected to other markets. 

Trade flows with countries in Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin 

America, and Europe .....have increased significantly.

 

Chinese companies have launched an active offensive in 

new segments: the presence of electric vehicle brands 

is expanding in Europe and Asia, and sales of Chinese 

solar panels are increasing dramatically in Africa.

 

As a result, China's trade surplus increased from $612.6 billion

 to $785.8 billion in annual terms, indicating the country's 

high economic flexibility.

 

At the same time --- Beijing is using trade leverage for political 

purposes. For example, the refusal to purchase US soybeans 

has been a painful blow to the U.S. agricultural sector, 

particularly to farmers in the Midwest, for whom 

China was a major market.

 

This step showed that China is ready to use economic measures 

not only for protection, but also to demonstrate its own strength.

 

The US, in turn, has consistently increased tariffs on Chinese 

goods. Taking into account earlier restrictions, the total 

amount of tariffs on Chinese products has reached 

around 145%. Despite this... China has managed 

to maintain economic growth and compensate 

for losses by diversifying its trade routes 

and markets.

 

Later negotiations in Geneva.......  temporarily mitigated the 

confrontation, with the parties agreeing to a 90-day partial 

reduction of tariffs, but this measure was limited and did 

not change the strategic course.

 

The US side repeatedly postponed the return to stricter tariffs, 

which indicated the vulnerability of the US in the context of 

the mutual dependence of the two economies.

 

China's experience in the trade war with the US highlights the 

importance of a long-term investment strategy and market 

diversification. Investments in the infrastructure of 

developing countries... have become a tool for 

building sustainable economic ties... which 

have helped to offset the losses incurred 

from declining exports to the US.

 

Thus, Beijing has taken a step towards reducing its dependence

 on the US market while - simultaneously - strengthening its 

global influence.

 

For the US, the trade war has shown the limitations 

of protectionist measures: pressure on China has 

been accompanied by retaliatory actions that 

have caused significant damage to 

US exporters.

 

In the long term, we can talk about a gradual shift 

of the centre of global trade ....towards Asian 

countries, and the global South.

 

 

_____________________________________________

 

 

 

UN Report Warns of Worsening Famine in 

Gaza, Sudan and Other Conflict Zones

September 16th, 8:21am

(teleSUR)

 

Catastrophic food insecurity affects millions - with

climate shocks and funding cuts fueling the crisis.

 

On Tuesday --- the United Nations Food and Agriculture 

Organization (FAO) informed -- that northern Gaza is in 

conditions similar to or worse than Gaza Governorate 

but has not been officially declared in “famine” due 

to a lack of data.

 

The assessment was presented in the latest update of the 

Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC), published annually 

by the Global Network Against Food Crises. This 

publication was updated with data available 

through August 22nd, 2024.

 

“Famine is projected by the end of September in Deir al-Balah and 

Khan Younis, placing three of the five governorates” of the Gaza 

Strip in famine conditions, while Rafah was not analyzed 

“because it is largely depopulated,” FAO said.

 

The GRFC also stressed that the impacts of conflicts triggered 

famine in parts of Sudan and pushed South Sudan, Yemen, 

Haiti and Mali to “catastrophic” levels of food insecurity 

affecting a total of 1.4 million people.

 

In Sudan, which remains “the world’s largest internal 

displacement crisis, with 10 million displaced,” 

famine was confirmed in five areas, and its 

spread was projected --- to five more in 

northern Darfur between December 

2024 and May 2025.

 

“Available evidence indicates famine likely continues, with 

further deterioration during the lean season from June to 

September,” the FAO said. In neighbouring South Sudan, 

famine risk was also detected in the counties of Ulang 

and Nasir between April and July 2025.

 

Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan account 

for the largest numbers of people facing high levels of acute 

food insecurity, while Gaza, South Sudan and Yemen have 

the highest proportions - relative to their populations.

 

The 2025 analyses indicate a “deterioration” in acute food 

security in 14 countries compared with the previous year. 

In some of them, such as Guinea, Senegal, Kenya and 

Somalia, the main cause has been adverse climate 

events, including floods and forecasts of 

insufficient rainfall.

 

This crisis is ''compounded'' by economic ''downturns'' and 

“abrupt and substantial” funding cuts - at the beginning 

of 2025 - which “continue to drive food crises.”

 

 

______________________________________________

 

 

 

Dutch Voters Dissatisfied With 

Politics ......Ahead of Election

September 16th, 7:53am

(teleSUR)

 

Only 29 percent of voters trust politics, while 

68 percent have little or no confidence.

 

On Tuesday -- the Dutch Broadcast Company (NOS) published 

a poll showing that most Dutch voters have little confidence 

in national politics and expect no improvement after next 

month’s parliamentary election.

 

The Ipsos survey found only 29 percent of voters trust politics, 

while 68 percent have little or no confidence. Trust briefly 

rose to 44 percent a year ago when the cabinet of the 

Party for Freedom (PVV), the People’s Party for 

Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the Farmer

-Citizen Movement (BBB) and the New 

Social Contract (NSC) took office.

 

“PVV and BBB voters expected their interests to be better 

represented under the Schoof cabinet, but.. that has not 

materialized,” Ipsos researcher Asher van der Schelde

 told NOS.

 

Among PVV supporters, trust has collapsed from 50 percent

 to 14 percent. Confidence among BBB voters dropped 

from 57 percent to 13 percent.

 

Nearly three-quarters of respondents said “politics is 

preoccupied with itself, incapable of cooperation 

and does not solve problems.”

 

Dissatisfaction is highest with asylum and migration policy 

(68 percent), housing (64 percent) and healthcare 

(53 percent). More than 87 percent of PVV 

voters disapprove of immigration policy.

 

The NSC, once buoyed by rising trust -- has now lost nearly all 

support and polls at or near zero seats. Economic sentiment 

is also bleak: 44 percent expect conditions to worsen in 

the coming year, while only 7 percent foresee 

improvement. Only 18 percent believe 

Dutch politics will function better 

after the October 29 election.

 

 

________________________________________

 

 

 

National Guard to Memphis: Trump’s 

Latest Move Against Cities 

and Immigrants

September 16th, 1:59am

(teleSUR)

 

U.S. President Donald Trump, issued an order on Monday, 

September 15, to deploy the National Guard to Memphis, 

Tennessee under the excuse of “alarming” crime levels 

highlited by the White House.

 

The president stated.. that several federal agencies would 

also be involved, including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement 

Administration (DEA), Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. 

Marshals Service.

 

Trump has threatened to deploy federal forces in other cities 

governed by Democratic mayors — despite their opposition

— such as Baltimore or Chicago, which he said would be

 “the next” to receive troops.

 

Trump also announced on his social media platform, Truth 

Social, that he is ready to impose a state of emergency in 

Washington, D.C., and even assume direct control of 

the city.

 

On August 11th, Trump had deployed 800 

National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.

 

Several social organizations across multiple states, such as 

the Coalition for Migrant and Refugee Rights, stressed that 

they will resist any attempt at militarization and will not 

be intimidated by Trump’s threats. They warned: that 

such an action could trigger serious confrontations.

 

On September 5, the National Guard announced 

the mobilization of approximately 95 troops in 

Louisiana ---- to support operations by ICE.

 

In this context, activists are organizing a demonstration in 

New Orleans on September 16 to protest the deployment 

of the National Guard, comparing this measure to other 

troop deployments ordered by the Trump regime... in 

different parts of the country, such as Washington, 

D.C., as well as to the intensification of 

immigration crackdowns in the 

Chicago area.

 

Police operations in Chicago reached deadly levels 

on September 12, when ICE agents fatally shot 

undocumented immigrant Silverio Villegas-

González after he allegedly drove his

 vehicle ''toward'' the agents.

 

 

_______________________________


  

The EU cannot convince Türkiye 

-------- to stop buying Russian oil

by Oleg Artyukov

September 16th, 12:20am

(Pravda.ru)

 

The EU has once again faced limitations in its ability to 

exert external economic pressure. The situation 

surrounding Türkiye's import of Russian oil 

has gained significant attention.

 

Despite Brussels' efforts and Washington's support, the EU 

has been unable to convince Ankara to stop purchasing 

Russian energy resources, a Politico article suggests.

 

In this case, the EU does not have the tools to effectively

 influence the decisions of a non-member state.

 

Washington has set a condition for Europe: a complete halt 

to the purchase of Russian-origin oil. The goal of this step

 is to limit revenue for the Russian budget.

 

In addition, the US has called on European countries to 

increase their pressure on China, by suggesting that 

Beijing is indirectly providing financial support 

to Moscow.

 

However, in practice, the situation turned out to be much 

more complicated. Despite the fact that many European 

countries have already reduced their purchases of 

Russian oil, not everyone has been able to 

completely abandon their energy 

cooperation with Moscow.

 

This is especially true for gas supplies.. which continue to flow

to several EU countries. Türkiye , as a non-member of the EU, 

has a unique position in terms of its energy policy, which is 

largely based on pragmatism --- and the search for the 

most favorable conditions.

 

Russian oil remains an attractive resource for Ankara 

....due to its relatively low price, and stable supply.

 

Thus, Brussels is facing an obvious limitation of its influence. 

The economic leverage that the EU has within the union 

does not extend to Türkiye.

 

Even close ties in the form of negotiations on migration
policy or military cooperation within NATO do not allow
the EU to dictate energy conditions to Ankara. This is
the key point: Türkiye  
uses its geopolitical position
as a tool ......to maintain its 
autonomy in
decision-making.

 

Analysts point out that the demands put forward by Washington 

initially had little chance of being met. For example, columnist 

Maggie Haberman described them - as obviously impossible, 

noting that the US leader's entourage is well aware of this.

 

Indeed, in an era of global energy restructuring, it is unrealistic 

to expect..... a complete abandonment of Russian resources. 

Even within the EU itself, there are ongoing disagreements: 

some countries.... continue to rely on Russian gas, 

highlighting the disconnect between political 

rhetoric and economic reality.

 

Against the backdrop of statements and threats from the US, 

global markets have demonstrated a high sensitivity to 

political signals. Oil prices have responded with an 

increase, with Brent crude rising by 2.3 percent 

to reach $67.42 per barrel.

 

Vandana Hari, the founder of the analytical company Vanda 

Insights, said that the key factor in market nervousness 

is the uncertainty surrounding possible sanctions 

against Russia. For market participants, it is not 

so much the fact of imposing restrictions that 

is important, but rather the lack of clear 

predictions - regarding their nature, 

and timing.

 

The situation around Türkiye  demonstrates a broader trend: 

the West's sanctions policy is facing limitations in its 

effectiveness when it comes to countries that 

pursue their own strategies --- based on 

national interests.

 

For Ankara, energy security and economic benefits, are more 

important than pressure from its allies. As a result, a unique 

balance is formed: Türkiye maintains its partnership with 

Russia in the energy sector --- while remaining an

important NATO ally, and a participant in the 

EU dialogue.

 

The EU's inability to convince Türkiye  to stop importing 

Russian oil reflects a deeper issue: the disconnect 

between Western political goals ------- and the 

economic realities of individual countries.

 

In this case, pressure from the US and Brussels did not lead to

 the desired result, demonstrating the limitations of sanctions

 in a globalized market.

 

For Türkiye , this episode is a confirmation of its special role 

at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, 

as well as its ability to develop an independent 

energy strategy.

 

 

_______________________________________________




 


China will respond to NATO - if it imposes 


tariffs on oil imports from Russia


by Oleg Artyukov 


September 15th, 9:50am


 


Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian - said that any 


restrictive measures that could affect the country's legitimate
interests - would inevitably lead to retaliatory steps.


 


Washington and its G7 and NATO partners are considering the 


possibility of imposing tariffs on countries that continue to 


cooperate with Russia in the oil sector.


 


From their point of view, such a pressure tool could encourage 


Beijing to become more actively involved in resolving the


 conflict in Ukraine.


 


However, the Chinese side views such actions as a manifestation 


of economic coercion and political pressure - which aligns with 


long-standing criticism of the US for using sanctions policies 


to achieve its own geopolitical goals.


 


The energy aspect is particularly important in this context. China 


is the world's largest oil importer, and its energy strategy 


depends on a stable supply. In recent years, Russia 


has been a leading supplier of hydrocarbons 


to the Chinese market.


 


According to official statistics, in 2023, Beijing imported 107 million 


tons of oil from Russia, which is a quarter more than in the 


previous year. In 2024, this volume ----- reached over 


108 million tons, worth over 62 billion dollars.


 


Thus, Russian oil plays a key role in China's energy mix, and 


abandoning these supplies is not only impractical, but also 


extremely challenging.


 


The Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasizes - that China's cooperation


 with Russia and other countries in the fields of trade and energy is 


fully legitimate and in line with international law. Any attempts to 


criticize or restrict this cooperation are perceived in Beijing as 


undermining the country's economic sovereignty.


 


Moreover, China views such threats not only through the lens of 


foreign policy, but also in the context of long-term strategic 


interests. Energy security is a cornerstone of sustainable 


development, and Beijing seeks to minimize its 


dependence on political circumstances by 


diversifying its energy sources.... while 


maintaining close cooperation with 


Russia as a reliable partner.


 


The imposition of tariffs or secondary sanctions on Russian oil 


imports to China could have serious consequences for the


 global energy market. Such measures could disrupt 


established supply chains, lead to higher prices, 


and destabilize the international energy 


trade system.


 


For China, this would not only mean economic costs ------ but also 


pose a threat to its growth rate, as access to energy resources 


directly affects the country's industrial production and export 


potential. In a slowing global economy, these risks become 


particularly sensitive.


 


By using pressure tactics through allies and international 


organizations, the US is effectively seeking to isolate 


Russia from its key energy markets.


 


However, in the case of China, this strategy faces objective 


limitations. Beijing ---- has sufficient economic power and 


political independence to withstand external pressure.


 


Moreover, in recent years, China and Russia have been actively 


building alternative mechanisms for settlements in national 


currencies, reducing their dependence on the dollar and 


Western financial institutions. This creates additional


 resilience to sanctions risks.


 


Thus, the threat of imposing tariffs on China for importing Russian 


oil is unlikely to lead to the desired outcome. Instead, it could 


exacerbate the confrontation between Beijing and 


Washington and encourage China to seek 


alternative economic and 


political alliances.


 


In the long term, such measures may weaken the US's influence 


on the global stage, as they encourage the formation of new 


centres of power ....and reinforce the trend towards


multipolarity in international relations.


 


 


_________________________________________




Finnish Prime Minister Announces Damage 

to the Country's Economy from the Break 

...in Relations with Russia

September 13th, 2:24pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

Finland's decision to sever ties with Russia, has had a 

negative impact on the country's economy. This was 

announced by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in 

an interview with Yle broadcaster on September 13.

 

He emphasized, that the closure of the border with Russia 

has led to a halt in the import of 10 million cubic metres 

of wood ---- which is essential for the Finnish forestry

 industry. Orpo also noted that Finnish companies 

have suffered losses.. due to the loss of
billions 
of investments in Russia.

 

"All cross-border transportation and trade have been stopped. Air 

traffic with Russia is interrupted. And this creates uncertainty. 

All this affects the fact --- that the growth of the Finnish 

economy does not correspond to the desired one,"

 the politician added.

 

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev 

said the day before that at the initiative of Helsinki the mutually 

beneficial relations between Russia and Finland ---- have been 

completely destroyed. He stressed that these changes strike 

primarily at ordinary Finnish citizens. According to him, they 

received serious benefits from the development of bilateral 

trade and economic ties with Russia, and now they 

express dissatisfaction with the policy of their 

authorities, which - clearly - does not 

correspond to their interests.

 

 

_____________________________________

 

 

Foreign intelligence agencies spent 

$4 billion --- on protests in Serbia

September 13th, 2:07pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

In an attempt to overthrow the Serbian government.... foreign 

intelligence agencies spent $4 billion to organize street riots. 

This was announced by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic 

in an interview with Informer TV on September 13.

 

"$4 billion has been spent on the collapse of the state. The main 

organizers of the colour revolution come from outside. These 

are employees of various intelligence agencies, and they 

are doing this, from several countries," Vucic said.

 

The President noted that he knew the list of countries that had 

tried to organize a coup d'état. However, he did not disclose it

 in order to maintain Serbia's neutrality.

 

"These countries know that we are aware 

of what they are doing," he emphasized.

 

Vucic explained that the special services had financed protests 

that were supposed to turn into a colour revolution, all in an 

effort to destroy Serbia and overthrow its government.

 

Anti-government protests, in which the Serbian opposition is taking 

part, began after 15 people died in November 2024 as a result of 

the collapse of a canopy at the railway station in Novi Sad. 

 

Protesters blocked bridges and roads. Vucic on July 4 called 

on those who took to the streets not to block the cities, 

threatening to use countermeasures. However, since 

August 2025, the street riots .....have become 

particularly widespread and violent.

 

On August 12, protests took place in the Serbian Vrbas, during 

which almost 70 people were injured. A group of citizens of 

the republic expressed their discontent in front of the 

building of the Serbian Progressive Party and

 its supporters. 

 

On August 13, it was reported that 64 people were injured in the 

protests, 16 of them were police officers. The protests spread 

to the offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party in Novi 

Sad ...and other cities in Serbia.

 

 

_________________________________________




Acting prime minister
''appointed'' in Nepal
Colour Insurrection


September 13th, 2:14am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


With the appointment of the independent Sushila Karki as 


interim prime minister, Nepal's government... lifted the 


national curfew imposed by the unstable situation 


due to recent violent protests.


 


According to The Himalaya Times, public transport 


resumed operations this Saturday, and the 


Kathmandu Valley - registers a strong 


presence of vehicles and people, 


while traffic restrictions, have


 also ceased.


 


The newspaper stated that Karki's appointment occurred in 


a special ceremony on Friday night in Sheetal Niwas, 


administered by President Ram Chandra Paudel.


 


The decision to position the former president of the Supreme Court 


responds to a key demand from representatives of the movement 


that the Western press called Generation Z, who pushed for the 


dissolution of Parliament and a nonpartisan government,
the presidential ''press adviser'', Kiran Pokhrel said.


 


Karki was the first female chief justice of the Supreme Court of 


Nepal and served from July 2016 to June 2017. In 2017,
she 
faced an impeachment motion --- by lawmakers


 from the then-ruling Nepalese Congress and the 
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre).


 


She now leads a government tasked with holding new 


parliamentary elections within six months.. and 


''transferring power,'' according to the 


Western biased Nepalese press.


 


This is the first time since the promulgation of Nepal's new 


Constitution... that a prime minister has been appointed 


under Article 61, which empowers the president to 


act as head of state and exercise functions 


in accordance with constitutional and 


federal legislation, The Himalaya 


Times, now asserts.


 


Last Monday, under the pretext of a ban on several social 


networks, a bloody protest broke out that on its second 


day - and after the resignation of KP Sharma Oli as 


prime minister - to try to calm the crisis - led to 


chaos --- with deaths and injuries, attacks on 


officials and their families, & the burning of 


parliamentary & government institutions, 


media and residences, due to inaction 


by the security forces.


 


According to the official count, at least 


34 people died and 1,368 were injured 


in the illegal violent insurrection.


 


 


________________________________________







Malaysia reported that Trump and Putin 


Will be attending the ASEAN summit


September 12th, 10:10pm


(Izvestia.ru)


 


Russian President Vladimir Putin, US leader Donald Trump and 


Chinese State Council Premier Li Qiang will take part in the 


Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, 


which will be held in October in Kuala Lumpur. This was


 reported on September 12, by the Malaysian agency 


Bernama with reference to the Malaysian Prime 


Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.


 


"The event will also be attended by President US Donald Trump, 


Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the Chinese Premier, 


Li Qiang," the publication said.


 


Ibrahim also noted that Brazilian President Lula da Silva 


and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa - had 


confirmed their participation in the summit.


 


Time for a Deal: Putin and Trump - are both


interested in ending the conflict in Ukraine


 


The leaders of Russia and the United States have not yet 


reached a full understanding, but they have made 


significant progress.


 


On September 9th, Trump announced that he would have a 


'phone conversation with Putin - this week or next. Prior 


to this, on September 7th, the American leader stated 


that he wanted to talk with the Russian president


 in the near future.


 


On September 5, Russian President's Press Secretary Dmitry 


Peskov did not rule out a second round of Putin-Trump talks. 


According to him, if necessary, a meeting between the 


two leaders could be organized very quickly.


 


 


_______________________________________________


 






Poland passed a law on depriving 


unemployed Ukrainians of 


social benefits


September 12th, 9:58pm


(Izvestia.ru)


 


The Polish Sejm has adopted a bill to amend some laws to check 


the right to family benefits for foreigners, primarily Ukrainians. 


This was reported on September 12 from the document 


on the Sejm's website.


 


"The project concerns the tightening of the system for receiving 


family benefits by foreigners, primarily from Ukraine. The new 


rules link the right to benefits to activity in the labour market 


and the education of children in a Polish school. Exceptions 


include, for example, people with disabilities," the draft 


law states.


 


It is also emphasized that restrictions will be imposed on the 


provision of medical services to adult Ukrainian citizens.


 


What Will the New Quarrel Between


 Ukraine and Poland..... Lead to?


 


TVP Info reported on August 25 that Polish President Karol 


NawrociÅ„ski vetoed a bill, that would have extended the 


special status and benefits for refugees from Ukraine. 



Only Ukrainians who make an effort to work in 


Poland, will be able to receive benefits.


 


Warsaw bans Banderite symbols ----- and Kiev


threatens its neighbours with consequences.


 


 


________________________________________




Pakistan to Host Shanghai 


Cooperation Organization 


Summit in 2026 - 2027


September 12th, 10:50 am


(teleSUR)


 


PM Sharif calls for preparations to build new facilities and 


beautify Islamabad ---- ahead of the SCO leaders’ meeting.


 


On Friday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced


 that his country will host the Council of Heads of State 


summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization 


(SCO) in 2027.


 


“The duty of hosting the next SCO summit, in 2027, rests upon 


us. We must begin preparations now,” Sharif said during the 


inauguration of a flyover on Islamabad’s highway.


 


The prime minister stressed that work must start immediately, 


including the construction of new accommodations and 


improvements to the capital’s appearance. “We must


 not only build new facilities, but also beautify 


Islamabad,” he said.


 


In October 2024, Pakistan already hosted in Islamabad the 23rd 


meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government. The 


country will assume the rotating presidency of the SCO 


Council of Heads of State and the Council of Foreign 


Ministers, in 2026-2027.


 


The Council of Heads of State, the SCO’s highest decision-


making body, meets annually to discuss regional and 


international issues, rotating venues among the


member states.


 


The SCO is a Eurasian bloc that works on political, economic 


and security cooperation. It currently has 10 members: 


China, India, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, 


Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan 


and Uzbekistan.


 


Pakistan joined the SCO as a full member in June 2017, after 


being an observer state from 2005 to 2017.... although its


ties with the member countries date back much earlier.


 


 


____________________________________________





Arctic LNG-2 gas replaces 


US supplies to China


by Oleg Artyukov


September 12th, 10:05am


(Pravda.ru)



The Russian project "Arctic LNG-2" continues to demonstrate 


its resilience and ability to find markets despite the harsh 


sanctions pressure.


 


According to Reuters, the fourth gas carrier carrying liquefied 


natural gas produced at the Beihai LNG project has arrived 


at the Beihai LNG terminal in Beihai, China. This time, the 


carrier is the Buran tanker, which is currently unloading 


at the Tieshan port.


 


Shipments from the plant began relatively recently, at the end of 


August 2025. The first batch arrived in China aboard the Arctic 


Mulan tanker. This was followed by the Voskhod and Zarya, 


which delivered LNG in the first days of September.


 


Thus, in just a short period of time, the Chinese market received 


four major deliveries, which indicates the formation of a 


sustainable export route and the consolidation of 


the Russian project's position in Asia.


 


The Arctic LNG-2 project, implemented by NOVATEK, has been 


under severe US sanctions since the beginning of 2023. The 


US administration has publicly expressed its extremely 


negative attitude towards this project.


 


In particular, in November 2023, US Assistant Secretary of State 


Jeffrey Payette announced his intention to "put an end" to its 


implementation. The sanctions measures included bans on 


the supply of equipment, technological solutions, and 


restrictions on access to international 


financial instruments.


 


It was assumed... that these measures would significantly slow 


down the project's launch and make its commercial operation 


almost impossible.


 


However, the real dynamics show the opposite. Despite external 


pressure, the project has reached the export stage, and its 


products are in steady demand in China.


 


Moreover, a paradoxical situation is emerging: while the US 


has been trying to block Russian LNG, US companies have 


lost the ability to supply gas to China.


 


This was caused not only by political confrontation, but also by 


trade barriers. As a result of the mutual restrictions and tariffs 


imposed ....during the height of the US-China tensions, 


exporting US LNG to China became unprofitable.


 


Thus, Arctic LNG-2 .....is gradually filling a niche that could 


have been occupied by the US. For the Chinese side, this 


diversification of supplies is particularly important. By 


maintaining energy security, China aims to minimize 


its dependence on a limited number of suppliers 


and create a more flexible import system.


 


In this context, Russian LNG becomes an alternative resource


--- that can compensate for the risks associated with trade 


conflicts or potential disruptions with other suppliers.


 


It should also be noted that China remains one of the largest 


energy consumers in the world. Economic growth and 


urbanization continue to increase domestic energy 


demand, while policies to reduce carbon 


emissions are driving a shift from coal 


to cleaner fuels, including natural gas.


 


In this logic, LNG supplies from Russia not only ensure a stable 


influx of energy resources, but also align with China's strategic 


goals in the fields of ecology and energy.


 


On the Russian side, supplies demonstrate the ability to adapt to 


sanctions pressure. NOVATEK and its partners have found ways 


to solve logistical and financial problems, as well as to 


establish cooperation with Asian markets.


 


In fact, Arctic LNG-2 is becoming a symbol of the fact that 


sanctions aimed at isolating Russian energy projects


 are not achieving the expected effect.


 


Moreover, in the context of global competition, they sometimes 


play a reverse role, opening up additional opportunities in 


markets where the West's position is weakening.


 


 


__________________________________________________


 


 


 


Ukraine stopped receiving
Azerbaijani gas


by Oleg Artyukov


September 12th, 12:20am


(Pravda.ru)


 


Since the beginning of September, Ukraine has stopped 


receiving gas from Azerbaijan through Romania's 


Trans-Balkan Main Pipeline.


 


Previously, these volumes were supplied under 


an agreement with Baku and were counted as 


Azerbaijani gas, but the transit was stopped.


 


According to media reports, the suspension may be due 


to technical malfunctions at the gas transportation 


infrastructure facilities on the section connecting 


Romania and Moldova. The last deliveries along 


this route were recorded on August 31, after 


which the flow was completely halted.


 


With the cessation of resource supplies from Azerbaijan, 


Ukraine is forced to reallocate its sources of import. In 


September, Hungary and Slovakia became the 


country's key partners, collectively sending


 over 145 million cubic metres of gas.


 


A significant volume.... also came from 


Poland - over 101 million cubic metres.


 


As a result, Ukraine's energy system continues to rely on


 imports from neighbouring countries, but these sources 


are becoming more limited and unstable.


 


The situation is complicated by the paradoxical fact, that 


Ukraine is attacking the Druzhba pipeline which carries 


Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia --- the countries
that 
provide Kyiv with gas and electricity.


 


In August alone, the pipeline was attacked several times. 


These actions essentially threaten the energy stability 


of the very countries whose resources are critical 


to Ukraine.


 


Against this backdrop, the Hungarian side announced 


that about 40 percent of Ukraine's electricity comes 


from Hungary.


 


Despite the obvious risks and attacks on infrastructure, 


Budapest is not taking radical measures ...such as 


cutting off supplies. Officials in the country have 


indicated that such a move - could worsen the 


social and humanitarian situation of ordinary 


Ukrainians, which is not in the interests of


 the Hungarian government.


 


Several key aspects can be identified.


 


First, the termination of Azerbaijani gas supplies from Romania 


demonstrates the extreme vulnerability of Ukraine's energy 


strategy, which, in the context of the conflict, lacks 


direct access to traditional fuel sources and 


relies on reverse supplies.


 


Any technical failures, political changes, or even economic 


disagreements in transit countries - have an immediate 


impact on Kyiv's energy balance.


 


Secondly, Ukraine's dependence on Hungary and Slovakia 


poses not only an economic - but also a political dilemma.


 


These countries have a more pragmatic attitude towards Russia 


than, for example, Poland, or the Baltic states. Therefore - their 


willingness to continue supporting Kyiv with energy resources


------- is largely determined by a balance between national 


interests, economic benefits, and foreign 


policy considerations.


 


Third, attacks on the Druzhba pipeline are causing serious 


controversy. In fact, they are creating problems for allied 


or at least neutral EU countries that are simultaneously 


helping Ukraine. Such actions are provoking irritation 


in Budapest and Bratislava, where patience for 


Kiev's antics.... may be running low.


 


 


_____________________________________






In response to the verdict against Bolsonaro, 


Rubio threatened retaliatory measures 


from the US


September 11th, 11:27pm


(RT.ru)


 


In response to the indictment of former Brazilian 


President Jair Bolsonaro, US Secretary of State 


Marco Rubio threatened retaliatory measures


 from Washington.


 


"The United States will respond appropriately to 


this witch hunt," he wrote on social media X.


 


Earlier, it was reported... that the court sentenced 


Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison 


for the coup d'état case.


 


 


____________________________________________________




The Serbian Foreign Minister emphasized 


the importance of high-level cooperation


 with Russia


September 11th, 6:21pm


(Izvestia.ru)


 


Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric said during a
meeting with Kirill Logvinov, the Director of the
Department of International 
Organizations at
the Russian Foreign Ministry, that it is 


important to maintain dialogue and
regular contacts 
with Russia at
the highest of high levels.

This was 
reported on the website of the
Serbian Foreign 
Ministry, on
September 11.


 


"Emphasizing the importance of maintaining the continuity of 


dialogue and high-level meetings, Duric noted the recent 


meeting between Presidents Vucic and Putin in Beijing, 


emphasizing that it was a confirmation of the mutual 


readiness to maintain the traditionally close ties 


between the two countries," the Foreign 


Ministry said.


 


The Serbian minister expressed his readiness to continue
good cooperation with Russia. Duric also thanked
Moscow - for its principled position on the
status of Kosovo and Metohija.


 


Earlier, on September 2nd, Serbian President, Aleksandar
Vucic, described his conversation with Putin in Beijing
as very honest 
and important. He also expressed
hope for strengthening 
bilateral relations and
stated his principled position --- of 
not
supporting anti-Russian sanctions,
despite 
pressure from the West.


 


 


_______________________________







Lukashenko thanked the United States -- 


for partially lifting sanctions on Belarus


September 11th, 4:15pm


(Izvestia.ru)


 


Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko expressed his 


gratitude to the United States for initiating the process
of
 lifting the sanctions imposed on the republic. 


 


He announced this on September 11 at a meeting with the 


permanent representative of the republic to the United 


Nations, Valentin Rybakov, according to the BelTA 


news agency.


 


"The fact that they have started lifting sanctions against us 


is a good thing, and it will make it easier for us to work. 


This, is also very important. As I warned you, this is


not the main focus of our work. However, it does 


exist. It weighs heavily on the economy, and 


the economy is the life of the people," 


said the Belarusian leader.


 


Earlier in the day, the US special representative John Cole 


at a meeting with Lukashenko announced the lifting of 


sanctions from the Belarusian airline Belavia. Cole 


noted, that the decision was made by the US


 leader Donald Trump. According to him, 


the lifting of sanctions --- is also 


accepted by all the relevant 


agencies and ministries.


 


 


__________________________






 National Electro-energy System
now re-established in Cuba


September 11th, 1:38pm


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The Ministry of Energy and Mines of Cuba reported today 


that all the country's provinces are connected to the 


National Electroenergy System (SEN).


 


Portfolio specialists specified that so far more than


 1,400 megawatts of generation are available.


 


According to the deputy director of the Electrical Union, 


Omar Ramírez --- although the system has already 


returned to its condition before disconnection,


 “it is not yet possible to meet the country's 


total demand”.


 


Ramírez stressed to national television that - thanks to


 the experience accumulated by similar situations -- 


protocols were consolidated that allow a faster 


response to restore service throughout the 


national territory.


 


He explained that to provide more robustness to the system, 


it is expected that in the afternoon the Antonio Guiteras 


thermo-electric plant will synchronize, joining Mariel 


unit 6, already connected to the SEN.


 


The National Electroenergy System of Cuba suffered a total 


collapse the day before, after an unexpected failure from 


the Antonio Guiteras plant, the most efficient thermal 


block in the Caribbean country.


 


 


_________________________________________


 


 


 


Noboa marches in Ecuador and asks


 to defend his popular consultation


September 11th, 1:27pm


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, today led a march 


in the city of Guayaquil “for security and peace”, where


he defended the right of citizens to decide - with his 


popular consultation scheduled for this year.


 


A crowd dressed in white accompanied him on a short drive 


of a few blocks through the centre of the coastal city until 


he got into a van and gave his two-minute speech, in 


which he spoke of a “final battle”.


 


“We must let the people decide, there are questions on which 


citizens will be able to speak out and that will be our final 


battle”, Noboa said --- in reference to the questions 


proposed for a popular consultation and 


referendum that the Constitutional 


Court must review.


 


The ruler claimed to be in the mobilization to fulfill a civic 


and democratic duty, but he insisted on questioning the 


constitutional control body that partially stopped 


articles of three laws that he considers key, as 


well as four questions that he intended to


 include in his popular consultation.


 


“They want to be on the side of drug traffickers, they want 


to be on the side of criminals. We have to raise our voices


 and demand at the polls - what the direction of this


 country is, without positions or extremism, this


 is pure democracy”, stated the president.


 


Analysts question whether the Executive organizes a 


mobilization to demand peace and security, when it 


is precisely the Government that is responsible


 for guaranteeing that right.


 


In the last few hours, complaints have emerged indicating 


that public servants in the country have been forced to


 attend ---- under pressure from their superiors.


 


At the same time, protests are also expected in Quito and 


other cities in the country this afternoon, but against 


Noboa's laws and measures, as well as in rejection 


of the consultative process, which would cost 


around 60 million dollars.


 


In the capital, Quito, the Unitary Workers' Front (FUT) 


and other social organizations, will march for the


“defense of health, public education, decent


 work, social security, the environment, 


and human rights”.


 


From 4:00 p.m. (local time) they will gather outside the 


headquarters of the Ecuadorian Institute of Social 


Security, and walk towards the historic centre, 


where fences and military tanks are already 


placed around the Carondelet Palace.... 


the headquarters of the Executive.


 


 


_________________________________________







Europe is at risk - of becoming completely 


dependent on the US for its gas supplies


by Oleg Artyukov 


September 11th, 1:05pm


(Pravda.ru)


 


In recent years, European energy policy has been


 increasingly influenced by geopolitical factors 


rather than economic feasibility.


 


After a sharp decline in Russian gas imports in 2022, 


and announced plans to completely phase them out 


by 2027, the EU is facing a new dilemma: reducing 


dependence on one major supplier --- almost 


inevitably leads to increased dependence 


on another.


 


At the same time, the current situation demonstrates 


that it is primarily the US --- that has rapidly taken 


over the vacated niche in the European market.


 


According to industry statistics --- in the first half of
this 
year, liquefied natural gas imports to Europe 


increased by 25 percent --- compared to the 


same period last year, reaching a record


 high of 92 billion cubic metres.


 


More than half of this volume, about 55 percent, came 


from the US, and Russia, surprisingly, remained in 


second place with 14 percent, despite political 


statements about completely abandoning its 


energy resources.


 


This dynamic confirms that the replacement of Russian 


pipeline supplies is primarily due to American LNG, 


which means that the structure of dependence 


is not disappearing, but rather, transforming.


 


Representatives of the European Commission do not hide


 their readiness to strengthen the energy partnership 


with the US. At the official level, this is presented 


as part of the energy security strategy, but in 


reality, a paradox arises: the rejection of an 


"unreliable" supplier leads to an increase


 in the role of another monopoly.


 


According to Reuters analysts, if the current trend continues, 


the US share in European LNG imports could reach 70%. 


Moreover --- if another 16 billion cubic metres of gas 


are replaced through the Turkish Stream pipeline, 


this figure could exceed 80 percent.


 


It is important to note that even these figures do not reflect 


the full picture, as the total volume of gas consumption in 


Europe is also influenced by pipeline supplies from 


Norway, Azerbaijan, and North Africa.


 


According to rough calculations, the share of US gas in 


Europe's total imports could be around 23 percent. For


comparison ----- before 2022, Russia accounted for 


approximately 40% of the EU's total gas imports.


 


The EU's strategy raises questions. Firstly, the high 


concentration of supplies from a single source 


objectively reduces the flexibility of the 


energy system. The European market, 


which previously balanced between 


Russian pipeline supplies.... and 


alternative sources, now risks 


being exposed to the price 


and political volatility 


of US' LNG.


 


Given that the US actively uses energy as a foreign 


policy tool, it cannot be ruled out that Europe will 


be at a disadvantage when negotiating prices 


or the terms of long-term contracts.


 


Secondly, the economic aspect should be taken into 


account. LNG from the US requires more complex 


logistics, as it needs to be liquefied, transported 


by tankers, and then regasified at European 


terminals. This increases the final cost 


of fuel for consumers, compared to 


pipeline gas.


 


While Europe was willing to pay significantly above market 


prices during the 2022 energy crisis, to diversify its supply, 


this could have a negative impact on the competitiveness 


of European industries.... in the long term.


 


Thirdly, the formation of a new dependency goes against 


the EU's declared goal of building a sustainable and 


autonomous energy system. Theoretically.... the 


transition to renewable energy sources should 


have reduced the dependence... on external 


suppliers, but in practice, Europe remains


highly vulnerable to external shocks.


 


In the meantime, gas imports, especially LNG, 


continue to play a key role in ensuring 


energy stability.


 


Thus, the current EU policy can be seen as an attempt to 


solve a short-term problem by creating long-term risks.


 If the share of US gas reaches the projected 70-80% 


in the LNG segment in the coming years, it will be 


the highest degree of supply concentration in 


the history of the European energy market.


 


At first glance, this situation appears to be a guarantee of 


security due to its alliance with the US, but --- in reality, 


it leaves Europe with very little room for maneuver.


 


 


___________________________________________________


 


 


 


The EU Court has banned Hungary
from financing the construction
of reactors in Russia for its
nuclear power plant


by Oleg Artyukov  


September 11th, 10:15am


(Pravda.ru)


 


The EU Court of Justice, has decided to cancel the European 


Commission's approval - that allowed Hungary to finance the 


construction of new nuclear reactors at the Paks II nuclear


 power plant by the Russian company, Nizhny 


Novgorod Engineering.


 


This move was the result of a years-long dispute over the 


legality of the project and its compliance with various 


EU regulations.


 


The court's decision emphasizes that the European Commission 


allegedly made a mistake by only verifying whether Hungary's 


investment assistance complied with the rules on state aid. 


According to the judges, it was also necessary to 


thoroughly examine whether the construction 


contract itself complied with the EU's rules 


on public procurement.


 


Thus, the key argument was that the contract for the construction 


of two new power units was concluded directly with the Russian 


side, allegedly bypassing competitive procedures, which could 


be considered a violation of the principles of transparency 


and equal access for market participants.


 


As a reminder, back in March 2017, the European Commission 


approved Hungary's plan to allocate €12.5 billion in public 


aid for the Paks II project.


 


Of this amount, Russia pledged to provide a ten-billion-euro loan, 


while Hungary planned to contribute the remaining 2.5 billion.


 


The decision was met with protests from Austria, which 


opposed the project, arguing that it violated EU rules 


on public procurement and undermined the 


principles of fair competition.


 


The Paks-2 project itself - is of strategic importance for Hungary. 


Currently, the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, located approximately 


100 kilometres from Budapest, provides almost half of the 


country's electricity needs. The commissioning of two 


new units equipped with VVER-1200 reactors ---- was 


intended to double the amount of energy generated


 and strengthen Hungary's energy independence.


 


The country's leadership has repeatedly stated that nuclear 


energy is the key to stability in the face of high gas prices


 and political tensions in Europe.


 


The new Paks-2 power units were supposed to be built on a 


turnkey basis, with a design life of at least 60 years. The 


license --- issued by the Hungarian regulator in August 


2022, confirmed that the project meets international 


safety standards.


 


Moreover, for Russia, this project would have been the first 


experience of building a nuclear power plant within the 


EU, which would have given it both economic and 


political significance.


 


However, the EU court's decision raises questions about the 


project's future implementation. On the one hand, Hungary 


is highly interested in completing the construction, as the 


country's dependence on energy imports, particularly 


gas, remains significant.


 


On the other hand, the EU is seeking to strengthen its control 


over infrastructure projects involving Russia, especially in


 light of the escalating geopolitical situation and growing


 tensions in relations. Therefore, it is important to note 


that the court's decision is politically motivated.


 


The situation surrounding Paks-2 reflects a broader conflict 


of interests within the EU. Some member states, such as 


Hungary, seek to maintain economic cooperation with 


Russia in the energy sector as a pragmatic way to 


ensure their own security.


 


Other countries insist that such projects not only undermine


 the rules of competition, but also increase political 


dependence on Moscow.


 


In addition, the precedent of the European Commission's 


decision to overturn the decision shows that legal 


mechanisms within the EU ------ remain tools for 


monitoring and revising major 


energy agreements.


 


 



















This gentleman picks holes in the intellectual
''mistakes'' of the West and points to the
best solution for the world's people.



Britain's enemy is not Russia
but its own ruling class,
UN report confirms
by John Wight
November 19th, at 2:48pm


John Wight has written for a variety of newspapers
and websites, including the Independent,
Morning Star, Huffington Post, Counter-
punch, London Progressive Journal,
 and Foreign Policy Journal.


As the UK political establishment rips itself to pieces
over Brexit, a far greater crisis continues to afflict
millions of victims of Tory austerity.


A devastating UN report into poverty in the UK provides
incontrovertible evidence, that the enemy of the British
 people, is the very ruling class that has gone out of its
way these past few years to convince them it is Russia.


Professor Philip Alston, in his capacity as the United
 Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and
human rights, spent two weeks touring the United
Kingdom. He did so, investigating the impact of
8 years of one of the most extreme austerity
programs among advanced G20 economies
in response to the 2008 financial crash
and subsequent global recession.


What he found was evidence of a systematic, wilful,
concerted and brutal economic war, unleashed by
the country's right-wing Tory establishment, 
against the poorest and most vulnerable
section of British society – upending the
 lives of millions of people who were not
responsible for the aforementioned
financial crash and recession, but
who have been forced to pay
the price.


From the report's introduction:


"It…seems patently unjust and contrary to British values
 that so many people are living in poverty. This is
obvious to anyone who opens their eyes: to see
the immense growth in foodbanks, and the
queues waiting outside them, the people
sleeping rough in the streets, the
growth of homelessness, the
sense of deep despair - that
leads even the Government
to appoint a Minister for
Suicide Prevention - and
civil society to report in
depth, on unheard of

levels of loneliness
and isolation."


Though as a citizen of the UK, I respectfully beg to differ
 with the professor's claim, that such social & economic
carnage, seems "contrary to British values,"(on the
contrary - it is entirely in keeping with the values of
the country's Tory establishment, an establishment
for whom, the dehumanization of the poor and
working class, is central to its ideology), the
point he makes about it being "obvious
to
anyone who opens their eyes,"
is
well made.


For it is now the case that in every town and city centre in
 Britain, it is impossible to walk in any direction for more
 than a minute, before coming across homeless people
begging in the street. And the fact that some 13,000
of them, are former soldiers, casualties of the
country's various military adventures in
recent years, undertaken in service
to Washington, exposes the pious
platitudes peddled by politicians
& the government as reverence
for the troops & their 'sacrifice,'
 as insincere garbage.


As inequality increases, the wealthy and powerful
become more desperate to cling onto their gains
and distract us - with imagined threats and
political sideshows - such as Jingoism,
Russophobia and red-baiting...


Overall, 14 million people in the UK are now living in
poverty, a figure which translates into an entire fifth
 of the population. Four million of them are children,
while, according to Professor Alston, 1.5 million
 people are destitute – that is, unable to afford
the basic necessities of life.


And this is what the ruling class of the fifth largest
economy in the world, a country that parades itself
on the world stage, as a pillar of democracy and
 human rights, considers progress.


The values responsible for creating such a grim social
landscape, are compatible with the 18th, not the 21st
century. They are proof positive, that the network of
elite private schools – Eton, Harrow, Fettes College
 et al. – where those responsible for this human
carnage are inculcated with the sense of
entitlement and born to rule ethos that
defines them, are Britain's hotbeds
of extremism.


Professor Alston: "British compassion for those who are
 suffering, has been replaced by a punitive, mean-spirited,
 and often callous approach, apparently designed to
instill
discipline where it is least useful, to impose
a rigid order
on the lives of those least capable
of coping with today's
world, and elevating the
goal of enforcing blind
compliance, over a
genuine concern to
improve the well-
being of those at the
lowest levels
of British
society."


Here, set out above in bold relief, is the barbarism that walks
- hand in hand - with free market capitalism. It is the same
 barbarism that was responsible for pushing post-Soviet
Russia into a decade-long economic and social abyss, 
in the 1990s, and the values that have pushed 14
million people in the UK into the same economic
 and social abyss, in our time.


Austerity, it bears emphasizing, is not and never
has been,
a viable economic response to
recession, in a given
economy.


Instead, it is an ideological club, wielded on behalf of the rich
and big business, to ensure that the price paid for the said
economic recession, is borne exclusively by those least
 able to bear it - namely the poor and working people.
It
is class war by any other name, packaged and

presented, as legitimate government policy.


However in Britain's case in 2018, this is a war like no other, 
because, as Professor Philip Alston's report lays bare, one
 side in this war has been throwing all the punches
and
one side has been taking them.


As the saying goes, wars take place when the government
 tells you who the enemy is; revolutions take place when
 you work it out for yourself.


(Source - RT)



_______________________________________________


Keiser Report: Reality
of Creditor Jubilees

- fantastic - asks ''why don't we act like
Jesus preached - and forgive debt?''


When what we do now,  is what led to the slavery
of feudalism: by refunding the creditors, instead!













 Marx's theory still
shines with truth: Xi
May 4th, at 10:53am


Xinhua - Two centuries on, despite huge and profound
changes in human society, the name of Karl Marx is
 still respected all over the world and his theory
still shines with the brilliant light of truth,
Chinese President Xi Jinping said
on Friday.


Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China
(CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central
Military Commission, made the remarks at a grand
 gathering in Beijing to celebrate the 200th
 anniversary of Marx's birth.


Xi said Marx is the "teacher of revolution for the proletariat
and working people all over the world, the main founder of
 Marxism, creator of Marxist parties, a pathfinder for
international communism and the greatest
thinker
of modern times."


"Today, we hold this grand gathering with great veneration
to mark the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth, to
remember his great character and historic
deeds and to review his noble spirit and
brilliant thoughts," Xi said at the event.


''With noble ideals and no fear of difficulty or adversity,
throughout his life, Marx devoted himself to
perseveringly striving for the liberation of
humanity, scaling the peak of thought in
his pursuit of truth, and the unremitting
fight to overturn the old world and
establish a new one'', according
 to Xi.


''Marx is not only a great figure who bore the weight
of the world, but also an ordinary person with a
passion for life, who was sincere and true to
his friends'', Xi said.


''The most valuable and influential spiritual asset that
Marx left us is the scientific theory named after him
 -- Marxism. Like a spectacular sunrise, the theory
 illuminated the path of humanity's exploration of
 the law of history, and humanity's search for
 their own liberation'', Xi said.


"The thought and theory of Marx are of his times and
go beyond his times," Xi said. "They are the essence
of the spirit of that times and the essence of the
spirit of all humanity."


Xi said Marxism is a scientific theory that reveals the
rules of human society's development, in a creative
 manner.


Having developed the materialist conception of history
and surplus value theory, Marx showed how humanity
would leap from the realm of necessity, to the realm
of freedom, and also showed the road for people to
realize freedom and liberation, Xi said.


Marxism, the first ideology for the liberation of the
 people themselves, is a theory of the people.


"Marxism, for the first time, explored the path for humanity's
 freedom and liberation from the stance of the people, and
 pointed out the direction, with scientific theory, toward
an ideal society with no oppression or exploitation,
where every person would enjoy equality and
freedom," Xi said.


Stressing that practicality is a prominent characteristic of
Marxism that makes it different from other theories, Xi
 said Marxism is a theory of practices that directs
 the people to change the world.


It is an open theory that is constantly developing and
always stands at the frontier of the times, Xi said.

"That is why it is always able to keep young,
explore the new issues in the development
of the times and respond to the new
challenges for human society."


The general secretary said that over the 170 years
since publication of The Communist Manifesto,
Marxism had been spread around the world,
 unrivaled in the history of human ideology
 in terms of the breadth and depth of its
influence.


After the end of World War II, a large number of socialist
countries were established, Xi said, stressing that the
founding of the People's Republic of China, especially,
has greatly increased the socialist strength in the world.


"There might be setbacks in the development of socialism
in the world, but the overall trend for human society's
 development has never changed, and it will never
 change," Xi said.


"Marxism has not only profoundly changed the world,
but also China," Xi said.


The reverberations of the October Revolution in Russia
brought Marxism-Leninism to China, pointing out the
direction forward, offering a brand new choice for
 the Chinese people in their struggle to survive,
and setting the scene for the birth of the CPC.


Since the CPC's birth, it has combined the fundamental
principles of Marxism with the reality of the Chinese
 revolution and construction, transforming the
Chinese nation from "the sick man of East
Asia" to one who has stood up, by
uniting and leading the people
through long-term struggle.


"This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof
 that only through socialism, can we save China," Xi said.


Since reform and opening up, the CPC has combined the
fundamental principles of Marxism, with the reality of
China's reform and opening up, and the nation who
 stood up, has grown rich.


"This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof
that only through socialism with Chinese characteristics, 
can we develop China," Xi said.


In the new era, the CPC again combined the fundamental
principles of Marxism with the reality of China in this
new era, uniting and leading the people in "under-
taking the great struggle, building the great
project, advancing the great cause and
 realizing the great dream."


The Chinese nation has come to embrace a tremendous
transformation, as the one who has grown rich, now, is
becoming strong.


"This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof
 that only by adhering to and developing socialism with
Chinese characteristics, can we realize national
rejuvenation," Xi said.


"It is perfectly right for history and the people to choose
 Marxism, as well as for the CPC to write Marxism on its
 own flag, to adhere to the principle of combining the
 fundamental principles of Marxism, with China's
 reality, and continuously adapt Marxism to the
 Chinese context and the times."



_____________________________________





 China lifts 740 mln rural poor
out of poverty since 1978
September 3rd, at 12:57pm


Xinhua - China lifted 740 million people in rural areas
out of poverty from 1978 to 2017, roughly 19 million
each year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
 said on Monday.


The poverty ratio in rural areas dropped 94.4 percentage
points during the same time period with an average
annual decrease of 2.4 percentage points,
 according to the NBS.


NBS data shows that China's poverty relief achievements
have contributed more than 70 percent to global poverty
 alleviation work, in the past 40 years.


The average annual income of rural residents in impoverished
areas rose an average of 10.4 percent each year from 2012
to 2017, up 2.5 percentage points from the average for
rural residents.


Over the past five years, over 68 million people were lifted out
of poverty in China. The country aims to further lift 10 million
 people out of poverty this year and eradicate poverty by 2020.


China recently released guidelines on winning the battle
against poverty in the next three years, in order to
prepare the nation for eradicating poverty
by 2020.


According to the guidelines, the impoverished people
should be guaranteed food & clothing, and children
from poor families should be guaranteed a 9-year
compulsory education. Basic medical needs and
living conditions of the impoverished, should
 also be guaranteed.


People whose annual income is lower than 2,300 yuan
(337.3 U.S. dollars), are defined as living below the
 poverty line, in China.



Image: international community thugs






Almost half of Russians
 see USSR collapse as
 shameful – poll
January 17th, at 12:11pm


The collapse of the Soviet Union is considered a reason
 to be ashamed, by 45 percent of Russians, according
to
a recent opinion poll. The only option that scored

higher, is Russia’s failure to eradicate poverty.


The poll, conducted in late 2018, by the Levada Center
is
its latest study of what Russians are proud and

 ashamed of, about their nation. The demise of
the USSR, saw a rebound in popularity from
a
low point of 28 percent in mid-2015, and
is
at a level comparable with the late
1990s
and early 2000s.


The only more popular answer is Russia’s failure to
eradicate poverty, which was named as a reason
 to be ashamed, by 61 percent of the people
 polled. This answer has topped
Levada’s
polls, for decades.


Russians are also ashamed of fellow countrymen
 treating each other disrespectfully (37 percent),
Russia’s failure to catch up economically with
the Western powers (24 percent), the out-
come of Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms
 (24 percent), and Joseph Stalin’s
 reign of terror (21 percent).


On the opposite side of Russians’ national identity
 are the qualities and events, people are proud of.


Defeating Nazi Germany in World War II remains the
 one thing Russians are overwhelmingly proud of
 (87 percent).


There is also the role that the country played in
space exploration – about half are proud to
belong to a space pioneering nation.


The third most popular option is accepting Crimea
(the breakaway former Ukrainian region) as part
of Russia again, which is seen as a point of
 national pride, by 45 percent.


Many people are also proud of Russian literature,
 science, and martial prowess, Soviet-era
industrialization and the best qualities
of the Russian character, like
resolve and patience.


A record 75 percent said Russia is definitely, or most
 likely, a great nation today, while 88 percent believe
that it should be one.

There was no apparent
correlation between wishing
greatness for
Russia and regretting the USSR’s
collapse,
the agency noted, suggesting that
Russians expect a great nation to - first
and foremost - provide
social
justice, and protection.


Sixty-two percent said the Russians are a great people.

Levada remarked that about 80 percent of the people
polled, identified themselves as Russians.


When asked what makes them feel connected to their
 people, most respondents named national history
(53 percent), Russia’s land (35 percent), their
place of birth (33 percent), and the nature
 that they call their own (25 percent).


The formal national symbols, including the flag,
the coat
of arms, and the national anthem,
was the least popular
option (5 percent).


Interestingly, religion is a relatively small factor
in Russian national identity (9 percent).


(Source - RT)



____________________________________________








Number of Russians who

 regret collapse of USSR
hits 10-year high
December 26th, 2017, at 7:20am

The number of Russians who regret the collapse of the
 Soviet Union has reached its highest level since 2009,
with almost an equal share saying the event could
have been avoided.

A public opinion poll conducted by the independent Levada
Center in late November this year found that 58 percent of
Russians now regret the collapse of the USSR. Twenty-five
 percent said they felt no regret about this, and 16 percent
 could not describe their feelings in one word.

When researchers asked those who regret the end of the USSR
 what the primary reasons were behind their sentiments, 54
percent said that they missed a single economic system,
36 percent said they had lost the feeling of belonging
 to a real superpower, 34 percent complained about
the drop in mutual trust among ordinary people,
and 26 percent said that the collapse had
destroyed
the ties between friends
and relatives.


The same research showed that 52 percent of Russians think
 that the collapse of the USSR could have been avoided, 29
percent said that the event was absolutely inevitable, and
19 percent did not have a fixed opinion on the matter.

The share of those who regret the demise of the Soviet Union
has risen continuously over the past decade, but in 2009 it
was even higher than today – at 60 percent. The all-time
 high – 75 percent – was recorded in 2000.

President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly addressed the issue of
the collapse of the USSR in his speeches. In an address to the
Russian parliament in 2005 he called the event the greatest
geopolitical disaster of the 20th century and a cause of
 major disruption for the Russian people. In September
2016, Putin said the Communist Party should have
 transformed the Soviet Union into a democratic
state,
rather than see it break into
separate nations.


At the same time, Putin has always emphasized that he and
other Russian officials have no plans to revive the USSR,
and has expressed anger that people cannot accept this.
He's also accused Western governments of deliberately
confusing modern Russia with the USSR and harming
the interests of ordinary people, on the pretense of
preventing an imaginary threat.

(Source - RT)


___________________________________________________



Historian: Russia's October Revolution
 Was Inevitable, Relatively Bloodless
November 10th, at 4:33pm
by Ekaterina Blinova

The October Uprising of 1917 became the logical conclusion
of the February Revolution, Michael J. Carley, a professor of
history at the Universite de Montreal has told Sputnik.
According to the academic, the Russian Revolution
 was inevitable and occurred because evolutionary
 processes of change to benefit the lives of
ordinary people had failed.

"February 1917 marked the beginning of a revolutionary change
in power in Russia, that was accomplished in October," Michael
Jabara Carley, professor of history at the Université de Montréal
and the author of "Silent Conflict: A Hidden History of Early
Soviet-
Western Relations," told Sputnik, commenting on the
100th
anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution.

"The tsarist order was bankrupt and doomed. Almost everyone
 at the time said so. The immediate cause of the bankruptcy
was the Great War [The First World War]," the Canadian
 academic stressed, adding that "the result was calamity
marked by millions of casualties, large territories lost
and an economy thrown into chaos, by the
 unsustainable financial and economic
demands of fighting a world war."

Russian Provisional Government:
'Neither Revolutionary, Nor Democratic'

The so-called February Revolution, which is regarded as a
combination of a popular uprising with an elitist anti-
monarchist plot, led to the abdication of Russian
Emperor Nicholas II and the establishment of
 the Provisional Government.

Still, the Provisional Government "was neither revolutionary
 nor democratic," the academic pointed out: The crux of the
matter was that it was largely controlled by the "bourgeois"
 urban and rural elites and old tsarist establishment "that
was opposed to the revolution and attempted to block
its
further development."


October Uprising Was Relatively Bloodless

The professor explained why, contrary to popular belief, the
October Revolution of 1917 that took place on November 7
(October 25 in the Julian calendar) was relatively bloodless.

"Well, in the first instance because the Provisional Government
 was utterly discredited. It had no popular support. It was a head
 without a body. It could give orders or issue decrees, but had no
power to enforce them. In a revolutionary period, power comes
from the support of the insurgent masses and the Provisional
Government had none," Carley told Sputnik.

The professor suggested that 1917 could have been averted if
old elites as well as their forebears had not blocked "political
and economic evolutionary processes" in Russia.

'Provisional Government Became a Cork in the Bottle'

"The Provisional Government became a cork in the bottle
holding back the revolution," the historian said. "The
 revolutionary masses in Petrograd [Saint Petersburg]
and elsewhere put pressure on their socialist leaders
to blow the cork out of the bottle…. It was the
Bolsheviks who put themselves at the head of
the mass movement & articulated its demands,
essentially peace, bread and land."

He pointed out, however, that "the Bolsheviks themselves
 were not united on all the big issues and most importantly
on the seizure of power in October (the Julian calendar)."

"I would propose that the Provisional Government collapsed
 of its own rot. The insurgent masses led by the Bolsheviks
only had to kick it over," Carley remarked.

Was the October Revolution of 1917 Inevitable?

"It is a question impossible to answer except in this way:
popular revolutions come about because political and
economic elites over time are too selfish to share
 wealth and power with the masses," Carley
responded. "Like the tsarist autocracy, they
treat the masses as a resource to be
exploited and rung dry. When
evolutionary processes of
change fail, revolution is
often the result."

According to the academic, it is wrong to think that such
revolutions succeed "because of the evil genius and
cruelty of a small revolutionary elite"

"They succeed
because of mass support
and effective, responsive
leadership."


The question then arises as to whether it was possible
 to follow an evolutionary path, rather than go through
 a revolution.

"A revolution occurred because evolutionary processes
of change to benefit the lives of ordinary people had
failed," the professor responded. "Serfdom, inequality,
exploitation, violence, continued unabated until 1917."

October 1917: 'Driver of Transformations Across the
 Globe'. Revisiting the October Revolution of 1917.

Addressing the 14th Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion
Club, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "the largely
 utopian social model and ideology" the Soviets tried to
implement initially following the 1917 revolution became
 "a powerful driver of transformations across the globe,
caused a major revaluation of development models,
and gave rise to rivalry and competition, the benefits
 of which were mostly reaped by the West."

The Canadian professor disagrees that the term "utopian"
could be used with regards to the "Communist model,"
for instance.

"Is free, public education for everyone, no matter what their class,
nationality or religion, utopian? Is the elimination of illiteracy, utopian?
 Are women's rights, or universal health care, utopian? Was the desire
to create a more equal society, socially, economically and politically,
utopian?" Carley asked, adding "in fact, that Soviet society was
eventually able to withstand and then to destroy almost single-
handedly, the so-called invincible Nazi 'colossus.'"

Still, he believes that the 1917 revolution certainly was "a powerful
driver of transformations" around the world since it "inspired
successful revolutionary movements in China, Vietnam,
Korea, and Cuba."

As Putin noted during his Valdai speech "many Western achievements
of the 20th century were an answer to the challenge posed by the
Soviet Union," such as "raising living standards, forming a strong
middle class, reforming the labour market and the social sphere,
 promoting education, guaranteeing human rights, including the
rights of minorities and women, overcoming racial segregation."

Red October: Allied Intervention and 'Beginning of Cold War'

The October Revolution became the trigger for the Civil War
(1917-1922) and prompted the Allied intervention of major
foreign powers in Russia.

The Canadian academic pointed out that the October Uprising
 "produced an immediate violent reaction by the United States,
France and Britain, whose elites attempted to overthrow the
Soviet government."

"The foreign intervention against Soviet Russia fed a civil war
and exacerbated the violence of the counter-revolution by
many times over," Carley said. "On its own, the former
tsarist elite could never have mounted such violent
resistance to the October Revolution."

The professor underscored that after their failure to overthrow
the Soviets, "the Western powers spent the next 70 years,
with the exception of a truce between 1941-1945, in
trying to harm or bring down the USSR and all
those
revolutions to which it had given birth."


According to the academic, the Cold War
started in October (November) 1917.

"Just ask the Chinese, Vietnamese, Cubans, or N. Koreans
 about the frightful price of resistance to US and Western
hegemony," Carley remarked. "Or for that matter, we
might ask, if we could, the soldiers, sailors and
workers of Soviet Russia, what price they had
to pay, to defend their revolution."

(Source - Sputnik)

_______________________________________



Communist leader dispels
new Russian budget as
"oligarch orientated"
October 28th, 2017
 Fort Russ News - KtovKurse
translated by Inessa Sinchougova

Communist Party leader, Gennady Zyuganov, called the draft
federal budget for 2018-2020,  "a budget of the oligarchy",
which will increase stagnation and poverty.

On Friday October 27th, the State Duma considered the first
reading of the draft budget for 2018 for the planning period
 2019-2020. According to the draft of the Ministry of Finance,
the budget deficit in 2018 will be 1.3 trillion rubles or 1.37%
 of GDP, in 2019 it will be 867 billion rubles or 0.84% of GDP,
and in 2020 - 960 billion rubles or 0.87% of GDP.

Such a budget Zyuganov considers "a budget for the oligarchy,
 where further stagnation and deepening of poverty in the
country will occur."

In his opinion, the draft budget does not meet the current
challenges and can only aggravate the split in Russian
civil society.

The Communist Party leader stressed that incomes and
expenditures are constantly declining. Zyuganov noted
that "in plain language" this means that the "share of
the national pie" created by the working people is
 constantly shrinking in the budget.

Zyuganov's main issue with the budget was the reduction in
government expenses for 14 out of 13 articles listed within.
He explained that for eight of these articles, expenses are
simply cut, and for four other articles, a small increase is
 offset by inflation, and as a result, real costs are below
the ones prophesized.

According to Zyuganov, the current budget policy "creeps
of the old Gaidar-Chubais reforms. It does not smell of
modernization, nor a breakthrough for the future."

"I do not know why the president has not reacted to this
helplessness, to this impotence of the financial and
economic blockade on behalf of the government,"
Zyuganov said.

President Vladimir Putin does not oversee forthcoming bills
until they pass all the stages of parliamentary negotiation -
that is until his signature is required. It remains to be said
that a majority of Russia's parliament and governmental
organs, are liberal representatives, both economically
and culturally, whereby it is only the President that
stops certain bills being passed.

Without looking at the document in detail (which is not yet
available to the public) it makes sense to assume that the
Communist Party leader has every right to become
concerned at this early stage.

Zyuganov's Communist Party enjoys the second most
popular rating in the Russian political sphere, after
United Russia (Vladimir Putin.)


_____________________________________________



And a Record Number of Russians

 Want Socialism Back !!!

First published in Komsomolskaya Pravda
Translated by Kristina Kharlova

The number of those nostalgic for the
 Soviet Union, is now growing steadily.

According to the findings of sociologists,
56% of respondents now express regret
 for the collapse of the Soviet state.

A majority of Russians regret the collapse
of the Soviet Union, and do not mind if it's
restored — conclude the sociologists of
"Levada-centre".

2016 sees a record number of respondents
 nostalgic for the Soviet Union, in the whole
history of public opinion surveys.

 At the same time, the percentage of those who
 don't long for the Union, decreases over time:
 if, in November of last year it was 37%, today
 only 28% do not feel any pity.

58% of Russians would like a socialist system
and the Soviet Union to be restored, and 31%
say they don't want the Soviet Union back.

Over half of respondents, 51%, believe that it
was still possible to save the country in 1991
while 33% of Russians say the collapse was
'inevitable'.


Experts, meanwhile, note that those most
nostalgic for the Soviet Union don't yearn
 so much for the Soviet ideology, as for the
 stability, justice, confidence in the future,
 secure jobs, free education, medical
care
and housing.




Image: serbs say no to NATO


Serbia: Mass anti-NATO demonstrations silenced
 
Nothing has been the same since NATO brutally
bombed
Yugoslavia 17 years ago. The 5th column,
trained by
NATO, took over the destroyed country
to continue
the job that the West had started.

The economy
collapsed, the country was
ripped apart, and the
Army, dismissed.


Year by year, malicious plans brainstormed by
NATO, and executed by the government, are
 pushing all of the Balkans into the deep maw
 of the West's 'modern' imperialism.

 The latest move was the Agreement with NATO
 about logistics. Parliament has approved, and
the President has signed, an agreement which
 gives NATO soldiers immunity and freedom of
 movement on the territory of Serbia. The same
 people who killed thousands of innocent Serb
 civilians are now given freedom and immunity.
 
NATO personnel rule the roost in Serbia

NATO personnel are exempt from paying taxes,
VAT and/or customs duties. The adoption of the
 Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), lets
 NATO soldiers use Serbia's infrastructure, with
free transit across the whole territory of Serbia,
as well as protection from the law -- being given
 'special status' while staying in Serbian territory.

However, although almost two decades have
passed since NATO's cruel attack, most Serbs
 have not forgotten how important freedom is --
 which is the main problem for the ruling elite.

 In the mainstream media, news about signing
the agreement with NATO, was published as
small & irrelevant. In a couple of sentences,
 mainstream journalists wrote about it, as if
 it was tomorrow's weather forecast, but
 they couldn't fool people.

Boiling situation hidden by Government

The situation was boiling. A few patriotic parties
 and war veterans managed to organize a protest
 -- & expected no more than a thousand people in
Belgrade, to show their disagreement with the

ruling party's decisions.

On the 20th February, more than 15,000 Serbs,
mostly youth, came onto the Belgrade streets 
 to join in with the protesters. Even the police
were surprised, quickly trying to reinforce --
  fearing nonverbal shows of disagreement.

The mainstream media weren't at all interested
 in massive protests in the capital city. They just
 reported, after the protest, that there were only
a couple of hundred demonstrators.

 Amongst all media, just one, the alternative
 patriotic website, Srbin info, sent reporters
to the vicinity, to cover the whole protest.

 It was the only media that had pictures and
 videos of the massive protests, showing the
 huge number of protesters.

During the protest, over 2,000 readers per
 second were following their live streaming
 of the demonstrations. Each minute, their
website was gaining more followers.

 Just a couple of minutes after the end of the
peaceful protest, huge cyber-attacks began.

The weak website couldn't defend itself from
 the biggest attacks in its history, & the web-
site eventually crashed. Attacks continued
 for 24 hours, never letting the website repair.

The only possible source of the attacks on
 the website & freedom of the speech, is the
ruling elite. There is no one else who would
 be able to manage such strong attacks.

 The main problem for the alternative, free media
in Serbia is that the web providers, most of them
 belonging to the SBB company, part of the Soros
 foundation, don't want to reveal who was behind
the attacks. However, some opposition forces,
also attacked by hackers, discovered that the
IP address of the hacker belongs to one of the
 directors of SBB company.

It is also interesting that 25% of web providers
 and some mainstream media in Serbia - belong
 to David Petraeus, former director of the CIA.

Despite their crashed website, Srbin info reporters
 managed to find way to send the real story & used
 Facebook to spread the truth. A video showing the
 masses of people protesting, was viewed by over
1,700,000 Facebook users --- a huge number for
 Serbia, with its 7 million population.

For 48 hours after the attack, the website was
 closed.

Thanks to its loyal readers, who appreciate Srbin
 info's fight for freedom of speech, donations were
 collected to make a new website, with better
 protection.

But the problem of having a neutral web provider
 who will not sabotage the website -- after orders
from the Government -- still exists. A much worse
 problem.... is that the once proud and honorable
 Serbia, is now under the boots of imperialists.




Image: keep the guard on the train

Image: I support my postal worker

Image: Len McCluskey RE-ELECTED

LEN RE-ELECTED - VICTORY FOR LEFT!

"Serving you, our members, is the greatest privilege
of my working life. I'm proud to have stood shoulder-
to-shoulder with you in your struggles and proud to
 have been asked by so many, to continue to fight
for you"

_________________________________________________


The Corbyn Supporters From Hell -
Attila The Stockbroker, 15th Oct 2015
 at The Blue Boar Hotel, Maldon, Essex, UK






ONE UNION

Two weeks before Brexit, the African Union
 announced a new single African passport
that permits holders to enter any of the
 54 AU member states without a visa –
an interesting turn in African history
which NO-ONE in the West knows
or cares about !  What a stunning
reflection of how far our mindset
and media are, from the 'world
community' we say we love.

__________________________________



ADAM JOHANNES, CO-CONVENOR,
PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY

“Most people under 40 have never been a member of
 a trade union. So unions are irrelevant, right? Wrong.
Unions are more relevant than ever before. With in-
work poverty, zero hours contracts and precarious
employment, trade unions urgently need to make
inroads into the private sector where the majority
 of us work, but a majority are still un-unionised.”

3 recent campaigns show how this might be done -

1. BETTER THAN ZERO

"Better than Zero" is an exciting campaign launched
 last year by the Scottish TUC to combat employers
 using zero-hours contracts. It is run by young people
 for young people to take on the issue of insecure
 work. Its activists are mostly in their teens or
twenties. The campaign calls upon an older
generation not to stand by while a generation
of young people are forced into insecure work.

It has responded to tip off from employees in
 workplaces charging staff for training or uniforms,
 and bars and restaurants where workers tips are
taken by the company. It's fought against people
 routinely expected to work additional late hours
at short notice, with little or no thought given to
how they'll get home & whether they will be safe.

The campaign uses direct action, stunts and creative
 protests such as targeting bars and restaurants with
 'flash mob choirs', activists and former staff posing
 as customers, before each stand up in a restaurant
to make speeches while other activists leaflet out-
side, Halloween funeral marches on exploitative
employers, or, memorably, activists clad in
chemical-spill clean up garb placing several
 popular bars & restaurants in 'quarantine',
for exploitative work practices. A recent
campaign victory saw restaurant chain
Las Iguanas end a policy of deducting
money from staff tips.

2. SPORTS DIRECT

Unite has waged a dynamic fightback against Sports
 Direct including pickets of over 30 stores across the
 UK, occupations, direct action such as the unfurling
 of a #SportsDirectShame banner by Newcastle
United fans at the club owned by Sports Direct
boss, Mike Ashley, other banner drops from
bridges, shareholder action, and a social
media campaign,

Sports Direct is Britain's biggest sportswear
 company. It made over a billion in profits last year,
 but the majority of its workers agency staff are on
 zero hour contracts with no holiday or sick pay, and
 no guaranteed work from one week to the next. It
has been called more 'workhouse' than workplace
with intense surveillance and searches of staff, a
 culture of fear, bullying and intimidation rife.

Unite's campaign had forced the issue of its
Victorian working conditions into national media
& a company review. Unite demands all staff are
 re-employed on permanent contracts on a living
 wage. So far they have won a pay rise for staff
and the company is now being investigated by HM
 Revenue & Customs after the union exposed it for
 effectively paying under the minimum wage.

3. PIZZA EXPRESS

Unite scored a victory against Pizza Express after
exposing and ending the company deducting a
proportion of staff's hard earned tips as an 'admin
 fee', recruiting new members. The campaign
 involved union activists going into Pizza Express
 branches to speak to waiting staff, weekly pickets,
handing out hundreds of flyers with customers given
 a ‘scrap the admin fee’ postcard to leave with their
 cash tips, and finally a 'meal of justice' when
 protesters went into a restaurant, enjoyed a meal
 and when the bill came, one person stood up and
 told customers about the admin fee while others
handed out postcards. Customers often respond
 with spontaneous applause.

We need to think creatively of how to bring politics
 into the workplace whether collections for refugees
 in Calais, foodbanks or local homeless, organising
 delegations from our work to local protests, or even
 setting up People's Assembly networks with
 likeminded people we work with.

Cardiff People's Assembly is part of The People's
 Assembly Against Austerity, a UK anti-cuts network
 sponsored by eight trade unions. Locally we have
 worked with Unison defending our city's library
 service & PCS to organise solidarity with museum
 workers, we will be supporting Unite Community's
day of action against benefit sanctions. With much
 of our nation's workforce unorganised in their
 workplace in unions, joining movements like ours
can boost people's confidence to stand up to their
employers and build workplace organisation.

In the 1980s Thatcher declared war on the unions
--- as a prelude to letting the market rip through
society --- transforming us into a highly unequal
low pay, low skill economy. The assault on the
 'social wage' means we now have the highest
private rents, highest energy bills, highest rail
 fares, and most expensive university education
 in the EU. Now the Trade Union Bill aims to take
 out a key part of the resistance to extend the
 cuts, privatisation and outsourcing agenda and
 shift even more power and wealth from the 99%
 to the 1%.

Our economy is dominated by low paid jobs. Low
pay makes people insecure. A low pay economy
and tax avoiding corporations make it hard to
invest in public services. Joining a union is
one way to fight back.


______________________________________
______________________________________


Profit Is The Only Concern
 For Railway Privateers
2016 Thursday 29TH DEC

The only way to have a public transport system
 worthy of the name is to have a fully nationalised
railway, says GORDON MARTIN

All things transport have been making the news in
 Scotland for a number of months and the signs are
this isn’t going to change in the dark winter months
 ahead.

Scotland’s railways have been subjected to an
 unprecedented level of scrutiny and criticism with
 opposition politicians, media columnists and some
 trade union officials calling for Nicola Sturgeon to
sack her Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP.

In my view the roots of the public’s dissatisfaction
with Scotland’s railways goes back to the Scottish
 government’s ill-conceived decision to award the
ScotRail franchise to a state-owned rail operator.

Unfortunately for passengers and the ScotRail
 workforce, the state in question was not our own
 — and the Netherlands now benefits from profits
 made by its state company, Abellio, out of ScotRail.

A public-sector bid from Scotland was not allowed
 when the franchise was awarded to Abellio for a
10-year period. With profit the first and only
concern of the profiteers at Abellio, a major
 dispute with Scotland’s biggest rail union
RMT was highly predictable.

Abellio’s attack on the role of the guard on our trains
 brought a summer of discontent as industrial action
 spread across much of the Scottish rail network.

The Scottish government quickly showed its true
colours. The normally very assured and competent
 First Minister committed a monumental blunder
 when she disgracefully inferred the strike was
only about who pushed a button to open and
 close train doors.

While the SNP government very often claims to be
 on the side of working-class communities, it remains
 very much a political party wedded to capitalism.
The First Minister should have taken the trouble to
 speak to disabled passengers or those travelling
on Scotland’s trains who feel vulnerable in any way
 about how crucial the role of the guard is in making
their journey a safer, more relaxing experience.

Thankfully the Scottish government and Abellio
 ScotRail finally saw sense and a negotiated
 settlement was reached which was favourable
 to RMT and which will see safety-trained
guards remain in place.

Following on from our successful efforts to Keep
The Guard on the Train, RMT has launched a high-
profile “Safer Scottish Trains” campaign designed
to ensure trains, stations & rail infrastructure in
 general are properly resourced and managed to
 ensure the best possible service is delivered.

Everyone, in particular disabled people, should be
able to travel on a 21st-century rail network without
 having to check ahead days in advance to ensure
 staff will be in place to assist them.

At the same time, Westminster and the European
Union have also intervened in a negative way
which may have serious repercussions for rail
workers and passengers in the years ahead.

 Earlier this month Chris Grayling, Transport
Secretary in Theresa May’s rotten Tory
government, delivered a speech which
potentially takes the rail industry back
to the complete fragmentation foisted
upon the people of Britain by the hapless
 government of John Major in the 1990s.

 Grayling now seeks to reintroduce “competition”
into rail infrastructure, maintenance and repairs.

Inevitably this will eventually lead to the complete
break-up of Network Rail. The centralised standards
implemented by this public-sector organisation will
be discarded and profit and loss will become the
decisive factor in deciding the standards for
maintaining the rail infrastructure. This is a
frightening scenario with potentially deadly
outcomes and RMT will fight this
 with everything we have.

The latest plans for railways across the EU,
the ultimate bosses’ club, are contained within
 the Fourth Railway Package which MEPs are
 voting on. These proposals make it mandatory
to put rail passenger services out to competitive
 tender. With the Scottish government recently
 beginning to engage with the rail unions and
others regarding a public-sector bid for the
ScotRail contract, the 4th Railway Package
 underlines how fragile and fleeting this
public-sector bid could ultimately be.

Scotland’s ferry sector also had a fair amount
of publicity in the last year or so, with RMT
engaged in a high-profile, long-running and
 ultimately successful campaign to keep
CalMac ferries in public ownership.

RMT stands by our assertion that the Clyde and
Hebridean ferry service did not have to go out
to tender under the Teckal exemption.

Unfortunately, the Scottish government are keen to
 be seen as good Europeans, despite the negative
 impact on the Scottish people, and meekly went
along with directives from the EU.

The uncertainty for island communities and the
stress for the CalMac workforce while their future
 was unclear, was not high on the government’s
 agenda.

Unfortunately it looks highly likely that the workforce
 and the islanders on the Northern Isles are about
 to be put through the same uncertainty as their
counterparts on the west coast.

The government is once again meekly following
diktats from Brussels by putting the Northern Isles
 ferry service out to a competitive tendering process,
despite the people of Britain voting to leave the EU,
 including a sizeable section of the Scottish working
 class.

RMT has a clear and principled position which is to
 insist that the Northern Isles contract is brought
back into public ownership forthwith.

We demand an immediate end to the exploitation
of eastern European seafarers. These workers,
employed on a Scottish government contract, are
 being paid wages at a derisory rate while being
 denied the protection of a trade union agreement
 with wages and conditions covered by collective
 bargaining agreements.

As part of our ongoing Save our Seafarers campaign,
 we have highlighted this disgraceful fact to the
 media and the public with our slogan SNP —
Ships of Shame.

This is causing the government and, in particular, the
Transport Minister a great deal of embarrassment. I
 make no apologies for this and I sincerely hope the
 embarrassment will lead to action before too much
 longer.

It is clear to everyone, with the possible exception
 of right-wing profiteering zealots, that the only
way to have a public transport system worthy
of the name is to have a fully nationalised
railway, properly resourced, with adequate
staffing levels --- together with a publicly
owned ferry operator, working exclusively
on behalf of ferry users and the Scottish
government, & money raised reinvested
--- instead of lining the pockets of private
shareholders.

Gordon Martin is Scottish
 regional organiser of the RMT.

(source - Morning Star)



_____________________________


Tory aid-dumping revelation means
the money should be seized and used
by Mike Sivier

The worst part of this is, it suggests that people
 who said the International Aid budget could be
 used in better ways, were right.

The Times reports that the Tories have been
 ‘dumping’ billions of pounds in aid into shady
World Bank funds, to sit unused indefinitely
– in order to "keep up the appearance" of
 meeting the government’s commitment
to donating 0.7% of the UK’s GDP in
foreign aid.

According to the Times, at least £9 billion has
 been transferred like this in the past 5 years.
Rather than helping developing countries,
the money, which is spread across over 200
 different bank accounts, simply sits there –
 doing nothing except rack up World Bank
‘administration fees’.

UK International Development Secretary Priti
 Patel’s only qualification for her job appears to
 be the fact that she had previously wanted to
 get rid of it and the funding it oversees. This
seems to be the standard Tory qualification
 for any ministerial role that is supposed to
 help people – Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt
 infamously wrote a book, before becoming
Health Secretary, that called for abolition
of the ’60-year-old mistake’ of the NHS.

Clearly, to a Tory, maintaining the appearance
 of doing something is far more important than
 actually doing it – especially if it helps you put
cash into the bank accounts of your backers
 and allies and ideally while you get rid of the
 very thing you’re supposed to be looking after.
 If you hear Tories say ‘reform’, run for cover –
 or better yet, get the pitchforks out.

Source: Keeping up appearances: aid-dumping
shows Tories care for PR, not people
 The SKWAWKBOX

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

__________________________________


Left Looks To Unite To
Protect Its Power Base
CHARLEY ALLAN

The Labour right was desperate to see the
back of 
“Red Len,” as the tabloids call him. 

But Len won his victory.


Now’s the perfect time to join Unite, with full
membership costing just £3.50 a week,

reduced to 50p for the unemployed.

The AWL and its allies may have won the national
committee battle, but they won’t win the OMOV
war --- if the movementists get organised.

A new current called Opening Momentum has
rallied round the point that anti-OMOVers had
denied members their advertised right to
“vote in national-level elections.”

And it’s crucial that every member who really
 believes in the fabled “new kind of politics”
turns up to their local branch meetings - if
 they have them - to halt plans for a
 parallel party.

This is bigger than Momentum. We need to see
 much more direct democracy in Labour itself,
 although there will always be resistance
 from those who benefit most from the
delegate system.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of
new
 Labour members and Momentum’s top
priority --- should making
 sure their voice
is heard at next year’s 
party conference.

The Labour left can’t afford to be crushed again
 on the conference floor, as happened this year.

While Momentum was dazzling everyone with its
 World Transformed free festival, right faction
 Labour First was distributing fliers to let
delegates know when and where vital
votes were taking place.

Critically, Momentum must:-  have slates of
candidates ready when local constituency
 parties select conference delegates in
the
coming months.

The new left movement needs to get serious if
 it wants to win the looming electoral battles
within Labour, the trade unions and the
 grassroots.

Defending, strengthening and expanding this
power base at the ballot box, will take back
the leadership, and keep the  movement
 fighting fit for the general election.

• Chat to Charley on Twitter:
@charleyallan.

(source - Morning Star)






A New Lucas Plan For The Future
by David King

The ideas pioneered by the Lucas workers are just
 as, or more, relevant now than in the 1970s, and
there are strong political similarities in the situation.

As in the ’70s, we have an economic crisis caused
by unjust economic policies and the failure of
successive governments’ industrial strategy.

As usual, this has hit the working class hardest,
and anger over this is being channelled into racism
 against immigrants. Now, the environmental effects
of industrial capitalism are far more evident than 40
years ago, already creating wars, militarisation and
widespread concern about insecurity.

Finally, introduction of new technologies threatens
structural unemployment on a scale considerably
greater than the ’70s.

The Tory government’s response to the economic
and political crisis, despite continuing to publicly
 espouse neoliberal principles, looks a lot like a
 classic Keynesian economic stimulus package.

In the last few months it has made decisions to go
 ahead with a range of industrial infrastructure
megaprojects — Hinkley C, fracking, HS2 and the
Heathrow third runway, as well as pressing ahead
with spending £200 billion on Trident renewal.

A key element in the case for all these projects is the
 jobs that they will generate or preserve, although the
 jobs estimates are bound to be inflated, while the
 price tag will be massively underestimated.

Compared to the ’70s, far fewer jobs will be
created in this way because, due to automation
 and mechanisation, they are all highly capital
rather than labour-intensive.

The Lucas Aerospace workers’ idea of socially
useful production suggests a far better way
forward.

Even in the early phase of the environmental
movement, before most socialists realised the
 significance of these issues, the Lucas Plan
acknowledged that protecting the environment
 is part of the concept of socially useful
production.

With the exception of HS2, all the new projects
 are environmental anathema, and the damage
 that project would do to the English countryside
 and people’s homes and communities, for the
 sake of saving 30 minutes of executives’ time,
makes it emblematic of neoliberalism.

The working-class people who voted for Brexit
 are demanding jobs and regeneration of their
communities, but these industrial vanity
 projects are not the solution.

Now is the moment to realise the proposals of the
 Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union
Group (Million Climate Jobs Campaign), which is
 often seen as a successor to the Lucas Plan.

We should be investing in renewable energy,
home insulation, public transport etc as part
of the international trade union initiative of
Just Transition, ie transition to a low-carbon
economy with job protection for workers
 in industries that need to be phased out.

Imagine what could be achieved in regional
 economic renewal and environmental benefits
 with the Trident billions.

But exactly how that money should be spent
should not be decided by economic planners
alone.

One of the great strengths of the Lucas Plan was
that it came from the bottom up, from workers,
 not managers.

Recognising that they could not, by themselves,
define what people need, the Lucas workers began
to work with various regional communities to
 develop “popular planning for social need.”

In London, the Greater London Council created
 technology development networks that involved
users, for example disabled people, in
 technology design.

These traditions of bottom-up local planning have
 been continued by various citizens’ local planning
initiatives, such as Just Space in London, and
would be vital to a democratic solution to the
 crises.

The current economic and environmental crises
 are symptoms of a deeper crisis in the industrial
capitalist mode of production, and they demand a
fundamental rethink of how we produce the basic
things that people need for a decent life.

One of the less well-remembered, but crucial aspects
 of the Lucas Plan was the workers’ struggle against
 the automation and deskilling of their work with
 computer-controlled machinery, a struggle shared
with trade unionists around the world in that period.

As Phil Asquith of the Lucas Combine puts it, “Harold
Wilson’s ‘white heat of the technological revolution’
was burning up workers’ jobs.’

The continuation of this trend over the last 40 years
 is a major source of the jobless recoveries and
 income polarisation that are creating the
“squeezed middle” of angry, Daily Mail-
reading, Brexit voters.

Forecasts suggest that digital technology will
eliminate half the jobs in the economy over the
next 20 years, but its track record shows that
it creates far fewer new jobs to replace them.

One response to this that has become popular on the
 left is the belief that automation will usher in a post-
capitalist society, if we can only feed those useless
 human workers with basic income.

This is a complex argument, but one thing for sure
is that this was not the Lucas workers’ philosophy.

Instead of: “Demand Full Automation, Demand
Universal Basic Income, Demand the Future,”
they would have reminded us that the romance
of high-technology leads to what historian of
technology David Noble aptly called:
 “Progress without people.”

The Lucas workers’ slogan would likely have been:
 “Demand Democratic Control of Technology, Demand
 Socially Useful Production, Demand Equality and
Sustainability.”

They were very clear that the idea of socially useful
 production is also about how things are produced.

There is no point in socially useful products if they
are made in a way that alienates and deskills the
 workers who produce them.

They went on to design “human-centred
technologies,” in which the point was to
 use and develop workers’ skills, rather than
 design them out of the production process.

A skills and people-based, more labour-intensive
 approach is, in the era of Brexit and environmental
 crisis, a much better way to create a socially just,
 sustainable economy than old-fashioned, capital-
intensive high-tech mega projects. This is the
 agenda we will be discussing in Birmingham
today.

(source - the Morning Star)





Construction Workers
Can’t Be Expected
To
Work Into Their Sixties

by Brian Rye
(source - The Star)

British governments seem to think one of two
things about construction workers: they're
 either superhuman, or they don’t give a
toss about
them. That would be the
logical conclusion,
given the raise
in the pension age, to 68.


With the state pension age due to rise to 67 by 2026
and 68 by 2044, our political elites seem to believe
 that we are breeding a race of human beings with
 quite exceptional physical capabilities.

While professional sportspeople are pretty much done
by their mid-thirties, with their strength, speed and
 stamina leeching away by the day, the British
 construction worker - if you believe our politicians
 - lives in a world that defies conventional science.

Despite the early starts, the exposure to the
elements, the heavy lifting, the long hours,
the
poor diet & susceptibility to minor injury,

 these lions of the labour force are all going
 to get their telegram from the king - because
 the stats say we’re all living longer.

Sadly, if you have a shred of common sense
you will immediately know this is not true.

Construction workers are the same as any other
human being. Like professional sportspeople,
they can feel their physical abilities start to
wane from their mid-thirties.

The only difference being: construction workers
 have to stay in the game. & not only that, given
 the increase in the pensionable age, the game
 just went into extra time.

Empathy is a wonderful characteristic for a human
 being to possess because it creates understanding
 and caring for others.

So we have to ask ourselves, as our besuited,
overweight politicians sit back in their comfy
chairs before skipping off to their subsidised
 three-course meal in the House of Commons -
 with a glass of wine or two — how much
empathy are they feeling with their
compatriots in construction?

Can they imagine the freezing mornings, the
 hours of standing up, the repetitive physical
 work or the greasy chips for lunch? It would
 seem not.

Recent research carried out by the TUC, in a
report called Postponing the Pension, shows
 that a significant proportion of the population
 won’t reach the pensionable age of 68 in any
 fit state to enjoy their retirement.

The results show that half a million workers within
five years of the state pension have had to leave
 work for medical reasons, and that nearly half of
 60 to 64-year-olds stopped working before
 their official retirement age.

This is why Ucatt is currently trying to get the
Labour Party to support policies that would
 mean a future Labour government would
introduce a flexible pension age for
physically demanding professions.

Construction work is hugely physically demanding
 because it involves prolonged standing, highly
 repetitive work, heavy lifting, working with the
hands lifted to shoulder height or higher, and
working with the back twisted or bent forward.
It can lead to musculoskeletal disorder,
 cardiovascular disease and long-term
sickness absence.

These work conditions and their effects need to
 be factored into the calculation of a pensionable
 age. It is only fair.

At 60, most politicians are on a few company boards,
 are picking up consultancies, maybe writing a book
 and reaping the benefits of a lifetime’s work.

The current presidential candidates in the US
are 68 (Hillary Clinton) and 70 (Donald Trump)
- beneficiaries of a lifetime of comfort, good
 food, little or no physical exertion and
 excellent healthcare on demand.

These individuals see no reason to retire -
 they’re feeling fine. Construction workers
 often aren’t feeling fine.

We all know that one in four people in Britain will
 now live to 100 — but what about the other three?
 At what age will they be checking out? And
what jobs are they doing?

According to figures from the government’s
own Office for National Statistics, doctors
and accountants are outliving builders and
cleaners, by as much as eight years.

Men in professional occupations can expect to
live to 80, almost eight years longer than those
 in unskilled jobs, whose life expectancy is 72.7.
So people are not all the same - shock, horror!
Comparing the accountant to the construction
worker is comparing apples with oranges - and
yet our governments conveniently ignore this.

Our ageing population and the fears surrounding
the viability of the state pension in the future has
caused the political class to legislate in a heavy-
handed, insensitive and unsophisticated way.

The phrase “we’ve all got to work longer” is bandied
about by those sitting comfortably behind a desk. For
 those leading a more active life, this phrase is just a
 plain, old-fashioned threat.

To quote ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn: “Living longer
doesn’t mean we are able to work longer in physically
 demanding jobs like that of the firefighter, police
officer or paramedic. And it’s not just in the
 emergency services. Construction workers, care
 workers and prison officers cannot be expected
to work into their sixties. We need a flexible
pension age that allows people to work for
as long as they want to.”

Ucatt’s campaign plainly states “68 is too late.”
It’s a campaign that needs to be fought to a victory
 - for the sake of thousands of British workers. We
need to present our case, find broad support and
build empathy within the country. And we have to
 find acceptance that it may cost us all a little
 bit more while we’re of working age.

Otherwise we will all be using another well-
known phrase: “flogging a dead horse.”

We’ll leave the last words to Mr Corbyn: “If we
want dignity for all in old age, then it has to be
 paid for.”

Brian Rye is acting general secretary of Ucatt.


_________________________________________


Britain’s workers feel stressed and insecure
(originally in the Morning Star)
by Carolyn Jones


The UK's 31 million workers are among the most
insecure, stressed and unhappiest in Europe.

No wonder! According to the latest report by
 the Institute of Employment Rights (IER), the
 evidence is damning.

On average, UK workers work more hours per week,
 more days per year, more years before retirement --
 after which, they receive lower levels of pension --
 than most of their European counterparts.

In comparison to other European workers they
 generally receive less education and training,
 and (because of lack of employer investment)
their productivity is lower.

They get fewer paid holidays than almost all
European comparators and their pay is so low
that a great proportion of them are in poverty
--- with the state subsidising employers’
low wages.


And it doesn’t end there. The UK has a high
 proportion of its workforce in so-called “self-
employment,” agency work, temporary work,
 and/or on zero-hours contracts.

It has more part-time workers who want full-
time jobs, than other European countries.

UK workers have less entitlement to redundancy
 pay, sick pay, and maternity pay, than most
 European workers.

Workers’ rights to remedies for unfair dismissal
and discrimination are set low and have been
 made practically unenforceable by the
imposition of high access fees.

In the UK, unlike most European countries, there
 is no ministry of labour, no labour inspectorate
 and a negligible complement of health and
 safety inspectors.

All this in the fifth richest nation in the world.
 It is obscene. So what’s to be done?

An excellent starting point is the establishment
 of Jeremy Corbyn’s Workplace 2020 initiative.
 Launched in May 2016, the aim of the project
 is to start a national conversation on what
 work should be like in 2020.

Under the chairmanship of Ian Lavery, shadow trade
 union minister, the Labour Party wants to hear the
 good, the bad and the ugly stories about working
 life in Britain.

On a recently launched website people can submit
their comments, complaints and suggestions on a
 range of workplace issues.

So whether it’s job security, pay and pensions,
 training and apprenticeships, diversity and
equality, trade unions or health and safety
 that raises your passion, there’s scope to
 feed into the policy agenda.

Once again the Labour leadership team is turning
 out to the country for ideas rather than assuming
 it knows best in the corridors of power.

Labour is already committed to raising the
 minimum wage, banning zero-hours contracts,
 ensuring workers are given access to justice,
 and giving temporary workers the same rights
 as permanent staff. But it recognises that more
 needs to be done -- not just to secure fairness at
 work but to rebuild the UK's economy and industry.

So, at the request of Jeremy Corbyn and Ian Lavery,
 the IER drafted a contribution to the review, using
 15 of its academic and legal experts. At the heart
 of our proposals is the need to ensure the voice of
 the UK’s 31 million workers is heard & respected --
in government (via a ministry of labour), in the
economy (via a national economic forum) and in
 industry (via sectoral employment commissions).

The manifesto offers 25 major policy
 recommendations for consideration.

It proposes changing the way in which working
 conditions are regulated. It moves responsibility
 for workplace regulation from legislation to
 collective bargaining.

It calls for the repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016,
 the removal of tribunal fees and the introduction
 of fundamental & enforceable rights for workers,
 enforceable in a labour court with the assistance
 of labour inspectors.

The Thatcher concept of individual rights for
 individual workers has to go. It does little for
 workers, it’s costly to enforce and it fails to
 deliver fairness at work.

IER’s manifesto offers a system based on
 the collective voice of workers, negotiating
 collectively agreed standards & delivering
 collectively enforced fairness at work.

A new framework of labour law should
 be built on the following 10 points:

A ministry of labour

A national economic forum

Sectoral employment commissions

Sectoral collective agreements and
wages councils’ orders

Workplace bargaining

A strengthened framework of statutory
employment rights

Labour courts and labour inspectors

Employment tribunals

Stronger support for freedom of association
 and collective rights

The right to strike

Carolyn Jones is director of the Institue of
Employment Rights

A manifesto for labour law: Towards a comprehensive
 revision of workers’ rights --- is available from IER.
Go to www.ier.org.uk for more information.


______________________________________



 Why Labour is putting energy reform
 at the heart of its green agenda
Jeremy Corbyn

No issue better connects the environment to
people’s lives than energy. To deliver clean,
 affordable electricity, we need to change
our undemocratic system of supply.

We are on course for a climate catastrophe. 2016
is set to be the hottest year on record. Unless the
 Paris agreement’s target of limiting the rise in
 temperatures by 1.5C is met, heatwaves like that
 in 2003, which killed tens of thousands of people
 in Europe, will become the norm. And that's before
 considering rising sea levels and desertification,
 that will sink cities, and kill and displace millions,
 or the fact that the Earth has already lost half its
 wildlife, in the past 40 years.

The task for politicians is to propose real solutions
to the single most important issue facing humanity.
Too often, the environment is considered a matter
 for scientists, enthusiasts & activists. To increase
 public understanding and energise the political
 debate, we need more than facts – we need a
 programme that resonates with people’s every-
day experiences, offering not just warnings,
 but opportunities and improvement.

No issue better connects the environment to
people’s lives than energy. In Britain today,
 7 million households struggle to pay their bills
 because of spiralling costs, while the big six
energy companies have seen their profits rise
 by more than tenfold since 2007. The energy
 market is not just expensive, inefficient and
 polluting – it is, above all, undemocratic.

In order to deliver clean, affordable heating and
 electricity we need to change the whole system
 of energy supply. When energy is driven by the
 needs of people, it will be greener – because
saving the planet is in the interests of
everyone.

That is why I am today announcing a bold new set of
policies which will pioneer a democratic, community-
led system of energy supply. Over the course of the
 next parliament, we will use public investment and
 legislation to promote the creation of over 200 local
 energy companies, giving towns, cities & localities
 the powers they need to drive a clean, locally
 accountable energy system with public,
 not-for-profit companies.

At the heart of this policy will be a new generation
of community energy co-operatives. We will create
 1,000 of these co-operatives with the support of a
 network of regional development banks, and
 legislate to give them the right to sell energy
directly to the communities they serve.

At the same time as building a new publicly run,
locally accountable energy system, we will invest
 in the high quality homes & insulation needed to
 make Britain environmentally sustainable. We will
 create a National Home Insulation programme to
 insulate at least 4m homes to energy efficiency
 standard B or C. In the private rented sector, we
 will set compulsory standards at the same level
& end the misery of cold rented accommodation.
 This would save millions of people money on
 their bills as well as saving energy that is
currently wasted on poorly insulated homes.

In order to have any hope of keeping the rise in
temperature to 2C – let alone meeting our Paris
 agreement target of 1.5C – we need to keep 80%
 of fossil fuels in the ground. This can and must
 be done. Scotland is already on course to
generate 100% of its electricity by renewables,
& Britain has an ample supply of wind & water.
In government, I'll commit to generating 65% of
 Britain’s electricity from these sources by 2030.

All of these measures will create secure, skilled
 employment for hundreds of thousands of people.
 As part of our transition to a low-carbon economy,
 we estimate that we will create 316,000 jobs in
 wind, solar and wave power. We'll use a £500bn
national investment programme, with a National
Investment Bank and a network of regional
development banks, to ensure that these jobs
 and opportunities are created in places where
 they are most needed – in coastal towns and
areas with high unemployment.

Too often, environmental catastrophe is explained
 in the same terms as an asteroid hitting the earth.
 But the problems and the solutions are political –
they are about the prioritisation of profit over the
 needs of people and, at the heart of it all, a lack
 of democracy in how decisions are made. By
 democratising our energy supply, and giving
people power over their own destinies, we
can rebuild and transform Britain so that
no one and no community, is left behind.

_________________________


Together --- Stronger!


Change, when it comes, will not come from
 Westminster. The campaign to save our NHS
 must become a visible reality on every high
street and a priority for Labour members.

The NHS is at breaking point, and as
Keep Our NHS Public secretary John
Lister says: “by 2020 it will all be over.”

To reverse the damage of four more years of A&E
 closures, outsourced or pared-down services and
 reduced access, could verge on the impossible.

MPs who obsess over the need to attract Tory
 voters may find that the champions who saved
a local A&E win more hearts and minds than a
lorryload of anti-immigration mugs ever could.


________________________________________


HELP JOHN DUNN

John Dunn, ex-miner and a Labour Party member
 for 45 years, was blocked from voting for Corbyn,
because he challenged Owen Smith
for exploiting
the legacy of Orgreave for electoral
purposes.


He has been told he is suspended from the
 Labour Party.

John says: "45 years continuous membership
and they couldn't even address me by my name"

It looks like the NEC are creating
their very own blacklist.


Help John, if you like, by going here:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions
/re-instate-john-dunn-s-membership-of-
the-labour-party?bucket&source=face
book-share-button&time=1472075728




Image: wage-change

Image: average-UK-salaries


NEC "FIXERS" FOUGHT
TO KEEP CONTROL!


Labour grew hugely under Corbyn
  and the ''guess'' is --- most of new
members we
re Corbyn supporters.


A DREAM COME TRUE

Support for Jeremy Corbyn from Tyrone O’Sullivan,
a fourth-generation south Wales miner, who led a
workers’ buy-out of Tower Colliery, to save it
 from closure.

"I’ve been close to Jeremy since the miners’ strike.
 Knowing the man, knowing his abilities and his
education, it was a dream come true for me when
 he became leader. His ideas and values are more
 necessary, here in south Wales, than probably
 anywhere else in the country. He wanted
victory
 for Labour, but only under
our terms -
 for a change."


O’Sullivan, a lifelong Labour member, says
Jeremy is the only true socialist we have
had as leader --- for
20 or 30 years.



____________________________________



PEOPLE DESERVE RESPECT

Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership opponent
flaunted his contempt for democracy
by backing a second referendum on
UK
membership of the EU.


And MPs pressured Jeremy Corbyn to resign,
by constant smears, media lies 
and attacks
on Labour's membership !!!


No wonder the Unite policy conference
has overwhelmingly backed mandatory
reselection of MPs - to ensure genuine
democratic accountability in the party.


____________________________________


Unite pushes for
reselection of MPs

 by Conrad Landin

Candidates ‘should reflect members’ views’

Labour's largest affiliate is now behind the
push for mandatory reselection of MPs, as
Jeremy Corbyn critics have “destabilised”
the party, to ditch 
anti-austerity policies.


Delegates at general union Unite’s conference
are resolved to support the approach, in order
 “to ensure democratic accountability, and the
 rights of party members to select candidates
 that reflect their views.”

Currently, sitting MPs are only subject to a
 “trigger ballot” -- where they automatically
 become the candidate -- unless a super-
majority of branches in the constituency
support a new selection.

London  and eastern region's delegate,
Kevin
Parslow: “The current trigger

mechanism is difficult, & weighted
in favour of the incumbent.


“We put ourselves up as reps and
branch officers for election regularly.

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable for MPs to
 put themselves up for re-selection. They
 should be accountable to us, and not to
Murdoch’s press: they're there because
they have the Labour Party name on
 the ballot paper.”

Mike Hedges, another London delegate:
 “Four weeks ago I would have spoken
against this motion --- but after the
treachery of 172 MPs --- we have
 no option.”

The union’s leaders are also mandated to
 “support moves to bring more democracy
 into policy-making -- by returning powers
 to the party conference.”

A Unite spokesperson:

 “This vote simply reflects the immense
 frustration that our members feel. They
look
at the conduct of some within the
party, the
challenge to the elected
leader, and they
feel angered.


“They want Labour fighting the
Tories, not among themselves.”



Image: Join Labour Party now


KEEP FIGHTING FOR MORE DEMOCRACY!

Momentum and Labour are engaged in a huge
consultation to expand democracy in Labour...

WHY NOT PASTE THE LINK BELOW
AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION?

http://www.peoplesmomentum.com/democracy-review


*         *         *

With 640,000 members - and a huge 200,00
 joining in just 2 weeks - Labour was the
largest left-wing party in Europe.


If you haven't done so already, join Labour,
join Momentum, and let's rebuild
#‎BuildOurMovement.


join.labour.org.uk

join.peoplesmomentum.com


_________________________________



GMB Wins Lidl Recognition
by Peter Lazenby
 
Ruling affects hundreds of warehouse staff

The Star - General union GMB has won a landmark
 legal ruling giving hundreds of warehouse workers
 at giant cut-price supermarket chain Lidl the right
 to be represented by the union.

The German-owned chain opposes union
 recognition and resisted the union’s claim.

But the Central Arbitration Committee, whose
 decisions are legally binding, supported the
 GMB case, and gave the union full rights to
represent and negotiate on behalf of its 223
members among warehouse workers at
 Bridgend, south Wales.

GMB now presses ahead with its campaign
 for recognition at 8 more Lidl warehouses
 across England and Scotland.

National secretary Justin Bowden says:
“Lidl’s attempts at union-busting were quite
 properly thrown out by the judge --- in a
massive
victory for rights at work.


“[Wednesday’s] ruling opens the gates to not
 only improving employees’ pay & terms and
 conditions at the Bridgend site, but is also a
major victory for the GMB’s campaign for
a trade union voice at the workplace.

“The suggestion that Lidl’s workers don't
 need the option of a trade union to stick
 up for them and fight for their interests
 is baloney, pure and simple.

“As a result of today’s ruling, employees
 will get the chance to decide for them-
selves, if the company’s own ‘personal
personnel hotline’ is any match for an
independent union taking their side &
 defending their interests in the
workplace.”

GMB Wales and south-west regional secretary
 John Phillips adds: “Regrettably, Lidl continues
 to show both hostility towards GMB & shameful
 disregard for the wishes of its own workforce,
 with expensive challenges against fair and
objective decisions made by independent
third-party organisations.”

Lidl is also resisting attempts by shop workers’
union Usdaw to recruit and represent staff in
its supermarkets.

An Usdaw spokesperson said: “Lidl will not
even let our representatives into stores, to
talk to staff.”

Lidl has 637 stores & 9 regional distribution
 centres --- employing over 18,000 staff. Its
ambitions to expand in Britain, could see it
more than double in size --- with plans for
1,500 stores & 2 more distribution centres.


_______________________________



Tax offices’ own cleaners
don’t get minimum wage


Cleaners at 6 government offices on Mersey-
side
walked out over their employer’s failure
to pay them the legal minimum wage.


The staff began the two-day strike, because
they
have not received that £7.20-an-hour
rate the
government introduced on April 1.



_____________________________________



Wales: 50,000 days lost
due to teacher stress



The number of teachers off sick due to stress
 in Wales has soared by thousands in just one
 year, new research shows.

Stress-related illness caused the 51,795
 sick days: an increase of 2,568 on 2014,
 freedom of information figures revealed.


______________________________



Unions stood by
Corbyn & McDonnell



The entire labour movement could have
been concentrating all of our efforts -
on
bringing down this mean government.


Instead, 172 Labour MPs launched an attempted
 coup on Corbyn. If it's true that Angela Smith MP
 described the 10,000 activists, including general
 secretaries of affiliated trade unions, who were
at
a recent pro-Corbyn rally, as “dogs,” --- then
serious
questions need to be asked about the
relationship
between the PLP and the trade
union movement.


Every trade union in Britain has regular elections
 for shop stewards, branch secretaries, and their
general secretary.

It's time those who fund the Labour Party
demanded
the same level of democracy
for sitting MPs.


Anything less than a mandatory reselection of
MPs
before every parliament is now untenable.


Let’s get this straight: none of these MPs backed
 Corbyn for leader, most of them abstained in the
 Welfare Reform Bill, many of them voted for the
Iraq war, & to this day, hero-worship Tony Blair.

The 172 Labour MPs aren't just trying to change
 the Labour leader -- they are plotting to drag the
 movement back to a Blairite view of politics.

The vote of no confidence wasn't just an attempt
 to oust Corbyn --- it was a declaration of war on
the entire organised left.

The gloves are off and there’s no going back.
 Everyone will need to decide: which side are
 you on? I stand with Corbyn and McDonnell.

    Dave Smith is co-author, with Phil Chamberlain,
of Blacklisted: The Secret War between Big
Business and Trade Unionists,
 (New Internationalist Publications).


________________________________



RMT: We Must Fight
Assault On Our Rights

Union ‘disappointed’ with
lack of action from TUC



Unions should move to take “generalised” strike
 action: with or without a go-ahead from the TUC,
RMT activists insisted.

The union was meeting in Cardiff that week --- but
 you wouldn't know it, if you'd read the Welsh press!

Delegates at the transport union’s annual general
 meeting in Cardiff expressed disappointment that
 fiery rhetoric about defeating new anti-strike laws
 was not followed up with action.

The union unanimously passed a motion expressing
 concern at the TUC’s “lack of campaigning” on the
 issue and called for a “high-profile campaign.”

Leeds delegate Trevor Howard said: “Personally,
my own view is that the TUC is a waste of space
 and it needs to be reorganised.”

The Trade Union Act, which received Royal Assent
last month, imposes arbitrary thresholds on strike
 ballots & other curbs on labour movement activity.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It’s
 fundamentally undemocratic when you put
these thresholds in.”

He said unions must respond to the law by ramping
 up their organising. “Whatever we do, we’ve got to
 make sure we get our members’ support,” he said.

And he praised Jeremy Corbyn’s Workplace 2020
agenda, which aims to introduce new labour rights.

 “What we need to be doing is turning the tables,”
 he added: “We’ve got to get an alternative to
this legislation --- to get us positive rights.”



!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



RMT AGM: Labour traitors
 have ruined our moment

Cash blasts ‘self-indulgent MPs’
for sabotaging left’s moment

“Self-indulgent” Labour MPs have squandered
the left’s best moment to go on the offensive,
RMT's general secretary, Mick Cash, stressed.

He used his address to the transport union’s
annual general meeting to warn of “massive
fights ahead” amid “political and economic
 turmoil.”

He said the divisions in the Tory Party and
 shockwaves in the world of capital should
 have been an opportunity for the left to get
 its message across. But he said this had
been sabotaged by the frontbenchers
resigning and calling for Jeremy
Corbyn’s head.

He fumed: “What have they done? Self-indulgence.
They’ve created division, they created a lack of
 leadership of progressive forces.

“They’ve created a situation where, if we’re not
 careful, we’ll have a Tory government ------ and
worse, a Tory government supported by Ukip.

“We need to seize the opportunity to put forward
 an agenda to fight against austerity, against cuts
 and for workers’ rights. But that won’t happen if
our politicians in London are playing the game
 they’re playing.

“Ordinary working people are sick of the
political class and what they’re doing ---
 and yet they’re doing it again.”



_______________________________________




Putschist MPs ‘Let The
Tories Off The Hook’

Unions rally round previous Labour leader



Union reps on Labour’s ruling executive signed
a
defiant statement to show that Mr Corbyn
still has
institutional support.


The leader of Labour’s most recent affiliate Fire
Brigades Union
general secretary Matt Wrack
pointed his hoses at
the quitters, saying their
action was “co-
ordinated to cause maximum
damage” to Mr Corbyn.


“It is bizarre that some of the MPs making the
loudest
criticism of Jeremy Corbyn over the
referendum --
completely failed to convince
the electorate in
their own constituencies,”
he said.


“After the referendum, Labour should be
setting
out policies to defend jobs, public
services &
wages, as an exit from the EU
is negotiated.
Instead, some Labour MPs
are playing irresponsible
& silly games,
from their Westminster bubble.”


Unite south-east secretary Jenny Formby, one of the
 executive members behind the statement in support
 of Mr Corbyn, said it was “nonsense” to blame him
 for the result. “Now, more than ever, is a time for
loyalty and unity,” she stormed.

Communication Workers’ Union leader Dave Ward
 fired off a missive, stating Mr Corbyn “has our full
 support” as leader.

“Jeremy Corbyn is, and remains, the catalyst for
change in the Labour Party and the country,” he
said.
“Those who seek to oust him, represent
the politics
that forgot ordinary people.”


And food union BFAWU turned up the heat.
They said plotters would “only serve to let the
 Conservative government off the hook for the
 damage they've heaped upon our communities
& the crisis they've caused in pursuit of power.”


Image: solidarity



Visit our new, interactive website


International Health Workers
for People Over Profit


want to engage with you!

We've launched a new, interactive website

Our pages are open to all who share our goals
for better social services, better working
conditions and a healthier world for everyone.

Our Solidarity Page is dedicated to promoting
causes & struggles intersecting with our own.

Our Debates page is open to discuss
and clarify the way forward.

Our Upcoming Events page will feature
timely events, anywhere in the world.

We are looking for useful information
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And, as before, all of our past newsletters
are posted in the Newsletter Archives.

We invite you to comment on our newsletter,
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Please limit the length of each submission to
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==================================


International Health Workers
for People Over Profit
(IHWPOP)
has joined the Boycott, Divestment
&
Sanctions Campaign against Israel.

We oppose
Israel’s repression of the
Palestinians and
support a single
state in Israel/Palestine
with equal
rights for all.



Image: Stop the closures and cuts in Wales, Clegg !



WHERE IS MOST UK YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT?

WALES!


(WHERE IN WALES? GUESS !!!)

Youth unemployment rates in some parts of
Britain, such as the North East, have reached
the highest recorded level ever, recent data
gathered by the GMB union shows.

The GMB report says unemployment rates
 among people aged between 18-25 have
hit
record levels.


Wales is top of the unemployment
 list, with almost 23,000 claimants.
The GMT reveals that some parts of
 Wales have a jobless rate of 37%.

Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary:

"In the UK there are nearly 400,000 young
 workers aged 18-24 claiming jobseeker's
 allowance. When you add to that number
 the rest of the young people not in jobs,
but seeking work, the real number is
 more than double that figure.”

The number of young UK job seekers is
 really almost one million;- which makes
 this young generation the real victims of
the current recession in Britain.

Kenny again: “The Government is in
denial that it is deliberately creating
 unemployment.”

This is while reports say almost 150,000
 jobs are under threat across the country.


What Wales needs is AN ECONOMY

ONE THAT WILL LAST

"Regional aid" - artificially importing factories
that owe no allegiance to Wales - has failed.

Innovation means NEW ! New thinking.

Stop moaning about the past. Start building
an
economy NOW, for our youngsters.

Or else!!!


New means old, if you want to build a
genuine economy. From the ground
up, means exactly that!

Agriculture, producing smart new food
and drinks. But based on our strengths.

All the land we need is here, and if we
 look up, 80 percent of Wales' "valley"
 land is up in the air, like Penrhys!

And it's almost unused. Imagine! All that
 land from the Rhondda over to Aberdare
 and beyond.

I'm sure people with vision can see orchards
and new products... new ways of working, etc.

All it requires is a WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE.


Image: Try and Stop US


ALL TOGETHER NOW FOR PEACE

The UK's TUC is calling on the UK government
to
end its meddling policies in the Middle East

and North Africa.

“The “war on terror” is still continuing and has
failed, after ten years, to bring the promised
peace and stability to either the Middle East
or the wider world,” the motion says...


Image: solidarity



UK FOLLOWING US DOWN THE DRAIN

Last year’s table of 10 top EU economies
- assessing income, prices, working culture
&
public spending, put the UK in last place.



The UK now has the 4th-highest retirement
age
of any country averaging 63.1 years -
and this,
thanks to the Tories AND a
supine work-force,
is set to keep
rising
higher and higher.


Average net household income after tax, (and
remember, this "average" includes the stinking
rich) is £37,172 a year, but even after ignoring
the ridiculously high "average", this is now
much
lower than the average amount
earned in Ireland,
the Netherlands &
Denmark, where there are
less of the
obscenely rich, to distort the figures.


In Wales, we know that the "average" worker
earns far less than this: (£15,000 after tax)

Life for most in the UK is set to get even worse
- if people don't fight back - as  public services
 are to be cut more, after the next Spending
 Review ..and will lead to budget cuts of up
 to 40% in many public service departments.

France and Spain again top the quality of
 life index, as workers there have more paid
 holidays, earlier retirement, lower prices,
 longer life expectancy and, just to rub it
in...
better weather.


There are no separate figures for Wales.... why?

Could it be that knowing...  might lead to
discontent
or is it because Welsh workers,
with their vibrant
economy, as they stop
mindlessly following London... 
and build
their new economy, are now so well off,

that the English might get jealous?
Yeah, right!


The lesson is obvious. Strong unions with
gutsy
membership abound on the continent,
while UK
residents sink apathetically down
& down & down.


As Tony Blair said: we British are "special".

We think life gets better for us if we let the
bankers of London exploit the rest of the
world, and
our non-working workforce
sinks into apathy
and selfishness...

Makes you proud, doesn't it!

Does it?


Image: EU workers unite against cuts

Image: eaten alive cuts cuts cuts


WORKERS ACROSS EUROPE
UNITE & FIGHT TO STOP CUTS
PEACE - NOT WAR AND LOOTING !

Workers from across Europe took part in a major
demonstration in Brussels --- to demand that
austerity measures be dropped in favour of

an end to wars & for peaceful reconstruction.

Europeans took to the streets of Brussels to
 demonstrate against wage & pension cuts
and diminishing job opportunities.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC),
one of the EU's leading unions, says that about
100,000 people from 30 countries took part, and
police estimates say 20,000.

“Cutting in a recession's crazy and we must
fight it,” AFP quotes the ETUC's general
secretary, a prominent UK union leader.


Marches also took place in Portugal, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Cyprus,
Serbia, Romania, Poland, Ireland and France.

The rallies coincided with a general strike in
Spain where the government froze pensions
and cut the salaries of government workers.

“This is the worst economic crisis in the post-
war history of Western Europe,” the eTUC
leader adds.


"We call for a rethink and a change - in Spain
and in Europe. We are mobilizing, and they
will
have to listen to us."


The union says European workers could be
the main victims of a financial crisis set off
by bankers and traders.

Many European governments have imposed
 reductions in wages, pensions & employment
 - to deal with the escalating economic issues.



__________________________________________________



UNIONS WELCOME OECD PLAN TO STOP TAX DODGERS


The OECD has released its long awaited Action Plan
to curb "base erosion and profit shifting" (BEPS) by
large multinational enterprises.

"The OECD Action Plan has the ambition to effectively
curb tax evasion by large multinational enterprises –
but it is a plan, and it needs effective commitments
by governments and effective implementation,”
says ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.


The Action plan consists of 15 measures to strengthen
corporate income tax rules and prevent tax avoidance
through manipulating intra-group transfer pricing
between subsidiaries, and the use of empty shell
companies in low tax jurisdictions.


Tax challenges created by globalised production and
service systems, the digital economy and increasing
importance of "intangibles" – r & d, and intellectual
property – feature prominently in the OECD
Action plan.


Read the action plan here






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