Saudis snub US push on Tel Aviv ties,
oil prices, Syria, during Blinken’s
high-profile visit
June 8th, 7:33pm
(PressTV)
Saudi officials have snubbed US Secretary of State’s latest
push for the Kingdom’s normalization of relations with the
Israeli regime and his bid to win further concessions on
oil prices and Riyadh’s recent resumption of ties with
Syria and Iran, during his high-profile visit to
Saudi Arabia.
Speaking in a news conference alongside Saudi Foreign
Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Riyadh on
Thursday, the visiting Antony Blinken reiterated that
Washington will continue to play an integral role in
expanding normalization between the Tel Aviv
regime and Saudi Arabia.
Blinken, who was in the kingdom.... as part of a US push to
defuse rows that have touched on oil prices, and Riyadh's
opening to Iran, further insisted that normalizing relations
between Israeli regime and its neighbours, is a priority
for Washington.
The Saudi foreign minister, however, rebuffed his US
counterpart, saying that the kingdom believes:
“normalization of ties with Israel will have
limited benefit --- without a pathway to
peace for the Palestinians.”
“The Palestinian issue was and remains the central issue for
Arab countries, and it is at the top of the kingdom’s priorities,”
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had also
underlined this, during the Arab League summit in
Jeddah, on May 19.
“We will not delay in providing assistance to the Palestinian
people in recovering their lands, restoring their legitimate
rights.... and establishing an independent state on the
1967 borders with East al-Quds as its capital,” he
further noted, at the time.
A foreign diplomatic source says there has been no progress
in the normalization of diplomatic ties between the Tel Aviv
regime and Saudi Arabia, as bin Salman has rejected a
request from Netanyahu to meet.
Blinken also reiterated on Thursday that Washington will not
normalize relations with Syria and does not support other
nation’s normalization of ties with the government of
President Bashar al-Assad.
For his part, Prince Faisal defended the landmark decision to
lift Syria's Arab League suspension, which came shortly
after the start of the country's foreign-sponsored
conflict.... 12 years ago.
“Syria made very clear commitments to address concerns of
the international community,” the chief Saudi diplomat said.
“We have differences of opinion but we're working on finding
a mechanism for us to be able to work together,” the Saudi
foreign minister also pointed out, during the press
conference with the US secretary of state.
The Saudi foreign minister also highlighted that China and
Saudi Arabia are close and strategic allies, and have
been increasing cooperation in the energy and
financial sectors, and that “cooperation
is likely to grow.”
Saudi ties with US, China
not a ‘Zero-sum game’
He said that Saudi Arabia’s ties with the United
States and China --- are not a “zero-sum game.”
“I don't ascribe to this zero-sum game,” Prince Faisal
said in Riyadh. “We are all capable of having
multiple partnerships and multiple
engagements, and the US does
the same, in many instances.
“So I'm not caught up in this really negative view of this.
I think we can actually build a partnership that crosses
these borders,” the top Saudi diplomat said.
Riyadh’s strengthening its commercial and security ties
with Beijing comes.... as US influence wanes in the
Middle East region.
Blinken was the second top US official to visit Saudi Arabia
in less than a month, following a May 7 trip by White House
national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
However, Blinken's meetings with bin Salman and Persian
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers were
relegated to the inside pages of Al-Watan and Okaz,
the two major newspapers in Saudi Arabia.
Blinken and the crown prince had "open, candid" talks, for
an hour and 40 minutes, a US official said, covering topics
including the conflict in neighboring Yemen, the war in
Sudan, Israel, and human rights.
Riyadh has also leveraged its growing relationships with
Russia and China as the Biden administration has
pushed back against some Saudi demands ---
including lifting restrictions on arms sales ---
and help with sensitive high-tech industries.
Riyadh has clashed repeatedly with US President Joe Biden
on its supply of crude oil to global markets, its willingness
to partner with Russia in OPEC+ and its decision to
restore full diplomatic relations with Iran, in a
deal brokered by China.
_________________________________________________
Lula Resumes Free, Low-Cost
Medicine Program in Brazil
June 8th, 6pm (teleSUR)
No one else will die in Brazil "with a prescription on the table
but no money to buy medicines," the Leftist president vowed.
On Wednesday, Brazilian President Lula da Silva launched a
new version of the government program People's Pharmacy,
which offers free or reduced-price medicines.
Noting that many Brazilians have died with a prescription on
the table but no money to buy medicines, he relaunched
the program, saying: "This will no longer happen in
this country."
"The People's Pharmacy is coming back with more medicines
for the entire population, as well as with even more strength
and articulation with the More Doctors and the Family Bag
programs," Lula stressed.
The new People's Pharmacy will make it possible to obtain 40
medicines free of charge. Along with the free category, there
is a list of medicines with a discount of up to 90 percent
compared to prices in commercial pharmacies.
The tweet reads, "The People's Pharmacy is back! After
spending the last few years in decline, the program
that provides medicines to those who need it most
is back! The new People's Pharmacy, launched
on Wednesday, by President Lula, brings
many news items. Learn more."
The program was created in 2004 during Lula da Silva's first
presidential term, but its scope was considerably reduced
during the administration of far-right President
Jair Bolsonaro.
"The lives of Brazilian men and women who depend on the
federal program the People's Pharmacy will be at risk
from 2023," said the Rede Brasil Atual newspaper -
on September 16, 2022, when Bolsonaro cut 60%
of the budget allocated for that program.
"This will deprive the sick and poor of access to 13 types
of medicines for diseases such as diabetes, asthma
and hypertension, among others," it added
at that time.
______________________________________
Colombia-ELN's Third Cycle of
Peace Negotiations Continue
June 8th, 5:11pm
(teleSUR)
During negotiations, the ELN has called for a "national,
bilateral ceasefire," which should include "parastatal
forces and criminal groups."
On Thursday, the Cuban authorities announced the
postponement of the closing session of the third
cycle of negotiations... between the Colombian
government and the guerrillas of the National
Liberation Army (ELN), which continues to
take place in Havana.
"We - hopefully - accompany five weeks of hard work
between the parties. There is a firm path towards
peace," said Eugenio Martinez, the Cuban
Foreign Ministry's Latin America director.
This cycle of talks began in the first week of May and will
conclude with a closing ceremony to which Colombian
President Gustavo Petro, is expected to attend. The
date of this ceremony has not yet been specified
but it is expected to be soon.
"I am going to Cuba for something that can be very important
for the Colombian history. I am going to sign a paper that can
mean the beginning - without retreat - of an era of peace,"
he said
Given that this is the first time that Petro will participate in a
negotiation round, the press has expectations of the long-
awaited announcement of the bilateral ceasefire.
During negotiations, the ELN has called for a "national,
bilateral ceasefire," which should include "parastatal
forces and criminal groups." This ceasefire would be
preliminary because the final one would be
achieved only with the final agreement.
For its part, the Colombian government considers that the
ceasefire should have a limited geographical limitation
in order to be verifiable.
It should also cover hostilities and harm against the
civilian population such as threats, confinement,
forced displacement, and the recruitment
of minors.
The peace talks began in November 2022 in Caracas,
where the parties agreed to promote humanitarian
relief in some of the regions hardest hit by the
armed conflict.
The second cycle of talks, held between February and March
in Mexico City, concluded with the government's recognition
of the ELN's political status as a "rebel armed organization."
______________________________________
FMLN Criticizes Bukele's
''Electoral Reforms''
in El Salvador
June 8th, 2:40pm
(teleSUR)
"This reform is practically a dirty trick whereby the
government changes the rules of the game when
they don't benefit from it,” FMLN lawmaker
Guevara, pointed out.
The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN)
denounced that the recently approved electoral
reforms are designed to keep the National
Assembly under the control of
Salvadorian President Nayib
Bukele's New Ideas party.
In the early hours of Wednesday, the pro-government
Assembly... approved the reduction in the number of
legislators from 84 to 60 as of the next legislature,
which will be elected in 2024.
The new norm "eliminates legislators by residue, leaving
only legislators assigned by number of votes," Bukele
said a few hours later when signing the decree that
would allow the reform to be published in the
official registry.
"With this reform, political participation... is no longer plural.
The Legislative Assembly would be made up of only three
or four parties, which eliminates the possibility of
minority representation,” the head of the FMLN
legislative caucus, Jaime Guevara said.
“By reducing to only two lawmaker per department, the
representation of the social sectors is also reduced
and the official party is favored. This reform is
practically a dirty trick whereby the govern
ment changes the rules of the game when
they don't benefit from it,” he added.
For decades, El Salvador has defined the number of
legislators through the Hare formula, which divided
the votes cast in a constituency among the seats
contested there.
This quotient was then used to award each party as many
seats as times.. it reached that quotient with its votes. If
there were seats to be assigned after a first distribution
of seats, the electoral authorities assigned seats
considering the parties that had the
largest residuals.
In the 2024 elections, El Salvador will use the D'Hondt
system, which distributes the number of seats in
proportion to the number of votes obtained by
each party. This means that the parties that
do not reach a minimum percentage of
ballots ---- are discarded for the
distribution of seats.
_______________________________________
Colombia’s President to attend
Peace Dialogue Table
at Havana
by Oraily Madruga Rios
June 8th, 3:02pm
(Prensa Latina)
Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Thursday confirmed
to attend the closing of the third cycle of the Peace
Dialogue Table between his Government and
the ELN, in Havana.
Petro unfolded such information yesterday during a massive
demonstration in support of his Government, whose main
axis is the Total Peace policy.
On Thursday, the Peace Dialogue Table between the
Government and the National Liberation Army (ELN),
requested President Petro and the ELN’s first
commander, Antonio Garcia, an extra day
to hold the closing encounter of the
third cycle of talks.
The request is aimed at finalizing details of the texts of
the Cuba Agreements and their respective protocols,
according to a communiqué issued by the sides.
On May 2, the third cycle of talks between the Colombian
Government and the ELN began in Cuba, with the full
disposition to achieve a ceasefire and the
participation of society.
The first one took place in Caracas, Venezuela;
and the second one was held in Mexico.
___________________________________________
Russia receives more than 20
applications for supply of
energy resources —
Deputy PM
June 8th, 3pm (TASS)
Russia sees great potential for expanding the geography of
its oil and gas exports; last year alone, it received over 20
applications from various countries for the supply of oil,
petroleum products and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
Alexander Novak stated this in an article for
the Energy Policy magazine.
"During the past year, more than 20 applications were
received from various countries --- primarily Asian
ones --- for the supply of oil, oil products and
LNG. That is, there is a significant potential
for expanding the geography of exports,"
he said.
Novak stressed that Asia will be the main consumer of energy
resources in the next thirty years, and Russia has every
chance to expand cooperation with the countries of
the region.
"Over the next 30 years, at least, the Asia-Pacific market will
become the main consumer of energy resources in the
world, most of which will come from traditional
energy sources," the Deputy Prime
Minister believes.
According to Novak, a significant part of the calculations
for the supply of energy resources now takes place in
rubles, yuan and rupees.
"To strengthen the country's financial sovereignty, an
accelerated transition to settlements in national
currencies is of particular importance. Today, a
significant part of settlements is carried out
in rubles, yuan and rupees," he said.
The number of states that prefer national currencies is
growing. "We see an increasing number of countries
that are switching to settlements in national
currencies with their partners," the
Deputy Prime Minister stated.
Novak noted that already in May last year, oil supplies from
Russia to Asian countries for the first time exceeded the
volumes sent to Europe. In general, according to the
results of 2022.... oil exports to friendly countries
from the Russian Federation.. increased by 76%,
oil products - by 20%, gas - by 8% year-on-year.
Last year, almost 40 million tons of oil and oil products were
redirected from western markets to eastern ones and this
year, according to the expectations of the Deputy Prime
Minister, of 223 million tons of oil and oil products that
were exported to the west.... only 87 million tons will
remain, which is 40%.
___________________________________________
Cuba makes a serious political
commitment with the EEU
by Oraily Madruga Rios
June 8th, 2:58pm
(Prensa Latina)
Cuba made a serious and responsible political commitment
to the development of economic, trade, financial and
cooperation ties with the Eurasian Economic Union
(EEU), Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, on
Thursday, pointed out.
The PM on Thursday spoke at the plenary session of the
Intergovernmental Council of the EEU, and conveyed
warm and grateful greetings on behalf of the Cuban
people and Government to the organization, which
the country joined as an observer on December
11, 2020.
The strengths of each of our nations.. have enormous
potential in joint projects linked to industry, health,
biotechnology, tourism, education, the digital
economy, e-commerce, and energy, among
other areas of common interest, the
PM argued.
Marrero also stressed that, with a view to improving the
health and welfare of the peoples of the EEU, Cuba
proposes to create a multinational alliance in the
biopharmaceutical sector --- to achieve
sovereignty in the production of
vaccines and drugs.
He further stated.... that his country’s purpose is to boost
a UEE industrial park in the Mariel Special Development
Zone, in Cuba, to meet productive linkages leading to
the inter-regional integration, to which we aspire, in
the context of a unipolar world, he concluded.
________________________________________________
Hungary, Greece block Brussels’
11th package of sanctions
against Russia —
Belgian TV
June 8th, 11:26am (TASS)
Greece and Hungary have moved to block the latest draft of
Brussels’ 11th package of sanctions against Russia.... at a
meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives
of the EU, Belgium’s RTBF TV reported.
Budapest and Athens are demanding that a number
of companies be removed from the list of those
supporting Russia's efforts to bypass
Western sanctions.
However, according to the TV channel, the EU countries have
no systemic objections to the latest round of sanctions put
forward by the European Commission (EC).
Earlier, the European edition of US newspaper Politico
reported, citing sources, said that the discussion of
sanctions was postponed for a week until June 14.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU
Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell repeatedly announced in
May.. that the 11th package of sanctions would focus on
tightening sanctions enforcement mechanisms as part
of a campaign to stymie Russia's efforts to break the
sanctions blockade. According to the EU officials,
sanctions should be imposed on companies from
third countries that re-export sanctioned goods
to Russia.
In late May, a number of European media and diplomatic
sources reported that the EC’s initial draft set of
sanctions had been rejected and sent back for
revision by the EU member countries, which
fear that such measures will only serve to
isolate the EU in the world.
On Thursday, Politico also quoted Jim O'Brien, head of the
US State Department Office of Sanctions Coordination,
who stated that shipments of microchips and key
electronic components to Russia have already
returned to the level seen before the start of
the special military operation in Ukraine,
despite Western efforts to block them
via sanctions. The newspaper noted
that Russia is improving its ability
to counter Western sanctions.
___________________________________
Reuters: signs of the world’s
de-dollarisation have
become clear
June 5th, 4:47pm
https://en.news-front.info/
The global economy is showing signs of de-dollarisation,
according to Mira Chandan and Octavia Popescu,
strategists at JPMorgan, the largest US bank.
This is reported by Reuters.
The impact of a sharp rise in US interest rates and anti-
Russian sanctions pushing Moscow out of the global
banking system are forcing the BRICS countries to
challenge dollar hegemony, Reuters writes.
Experts at JPMorgan.. said a de-dollarisation in foreign
exchange reserves is evident. The US bank published
a report on Monday, estimating that the US share of
global exports, has now fallen to a record low of
9 per cent, while China is at a record high.. of
13 per cent.
“The dollar’s share of global central bank foreign
exchange reserves has also fallen, to a record
low of 58%,” experts said.
Recall that former congressman Ron Paul earlier
claimed that Russian Federation, together with
BRICS, had dealt a crushing blow --- to the
global hegemony of the US currency.
___________________________________________
Polish agriculture minister criticises
Ukraine’s position on grain imports
– RMF24
June 5th, 10:53am
https://en.news-front.info/
The head of the Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Ministry, Mykola
Solskyy, has been criticized by Polish Agriculture Minister
Robert Telus for calling on the European Union to lift the
ban on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products. This
was reported by RIA Novosti, citing RMF24.
He criticized the Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Minister for
calling on the EU to lift the ban on imports of Ukrainian
agricultural products. At the same time, Solskyy said
earlier that the possible extension of the ban was
“the worst possible solution”, which would
subsequently provoke “a weakening
of unity in Europe”.
The Polish minister of agriculture claims that the Kiev regime
does not understand Poland’s position on imports and called
the statement of his Ukrainian counterpart “far-reaching”.
He noted that such actions by Kiev are detrimental
to Ukrainians.
“I don’t quite understand why this is happening. I suspect that
there are certain forces in Ukraine who decide to take these
kinds of actions, which I do not agree with and which harm
Ukrainians,” he said.
The politician believes that driving a wedge between Kiev
and Warsaw allegedly serves the interests of Moscow,
so this issue should be approached... with great
caution. He also noted, that, despite his
Ukrainian counterpart’s statements,
he wanted to hold a meeting
with him.
___________________________
PAP: European Commission extends
ban on grain imports from Ukraine
to five countries
June 5th, 10:30am
https://en.news-front.info/
The European Commission has extended a ban on grain
imports from Ukraine to five border countries until mid-
September. This was reported by RIA Novosti, citing
the PAP agency.
The European Commission has extended a ban on grain
imports from Ukraine to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary,
Romania and Bulgaria. The paper said that the
ban will last until mid-September.
“The European Commission... has extended until mid-
September the EU ban on imports of wheat, maize,
rapeseed and sunflower, from Ukraine. It came
into force on May the 2nd, and replaced the
unilateral import ban decisions imposed
by countries bordering Ukraine -
including Poland” - the
agency noted.
__________________________
Fitch Warns It Could Still Cut US
Debt Rating ---- Even After Deal
June 3rd, 4:13pm (FNA)
Fitch Ratings on Friday warned that it could still downgrade
the U.S.’s credit rating -- even after Congress passed a bill
averting an unprecedented default on government debt.
While the deal to raise the debt ceiling and cut spending are
“positive considerations”, Fitch said “repeated political
standoffs” over the federal government’s borrowing
limit “lowers confidence in governance on fiscal
and debt matters”, POLITICO reported.
Fitch issued its negative credit watch for US debt last week.
The company said it intends to “resolve” its negative
watch.... by the end of September.
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation later.
Treasury securities, are the lifeblood of financial markets, and
a benchmark for how everything from municipal debt to credit
card rates are priced. A downgrade, which would mark only
the second time a ratings service has knocked US bonds
from top-tier status, could drive up borrowing costs for
consumers, businesses and governments, tightening
credit conditions at a time when the economy is
already at risk of a recession.
That would make..... for tough political headwinds.. for Biden.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy & another 2024 incumbents
waited until the US was days away from default.... before
agreeing to a deal. A similar dynamic influenced S&P’s
decision to downgrade the US credit rating in 2011
even after President Barack Obama and
Republican leaders, averted a debt-
limit disaster.
So far, the economy has shown surprising resilience despite
stubbornly high inflation -- and a rapid series of interest rate
hikes shepherded by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
But US policymakers have risked damaging the economy’s
otherwise strong fundamentals ---- thanks to “a steady
deterioration in governance over the last 15 years”,
according to Fitch’s statement.
“Increased political polarization, and partisanship, as
witnessed by the contested 2020 election, repeated
brinkmanship over the debt limit and the failure to
tackle fiscal challenges from growing mandatory
spending has led to rising fiscal deficits and a
debt burden,” the ratings service said.
_____________________________________
BRICS members welcome
Iran's potential accession
by Mahdi Abbasian
June 3rd, 2:49pm
Press TV, Cape Town
Iran’s Foreign minister has attended the BRICS foreign
ministers’ summit in South Africa. On the second day
of his visit, Hossein amirabdollahian held several
meetings with the participating nations’
top diplomats.
He said that the members of the BRICS group of
emerging economies - have welcomed the
Islamic Republic's potential accession
to the powerful bloc.
__________________________________________
Survey: European Economists
Particularly Critical --- of US
Inflation Reduction Act
June 3rd, 1:47pm (FNA)
Economists in major European countries are
particularly critical of the US Inflation
Reduction Act (IRA), according to a
global survey published on Friday.
The survey, conducted by the German ifo Institute for
Economic Research --- and the Institute for Swiss
Economic Policy (IWP), surveyed around 8,000
economic experts, globally, Xinhua news
agency reported.
In Germany, Europe's largest economy, 64 percent of the
economists surveyed, fear that the IRA will negatively
impact their country's economy. In France, the figure
is as high as 83 percent.
"Misgivings are especially grave in Germany and France,"
said ifo researcher Niklas Potrafke, adding, "But their
colleagues outside Europe, are far more relaxed
about the effects of the IRA."
With 369 billion US dollars, the IRA is the single largest
investment in "green initiatives" in US history. With
the bill, the US is aiming to cut greenhouse gas
emissions by 40 percent by 2030, compared
to 2005 levels.
The European Union (EU), has fiercely criticized
the measure, as thinly disguised protectionism.
"There is a risk that industries, such as steel and
automobiles, will go to the US with substantial
investments and drag their supplier networks
with them," Henrik Ahlers, chairman of the
Management Board at EY Germany,
said in April.
According to a recent survey conducted by the
Association of German Chambers of Industry
and Commerce (DIHK)... German companies
intend to intensify their foreign investments
in the next twelve months, particularly
strongly in North America. 17% of
them cited the IRA as the reason.
In the case of hydrogen, US subsidies are so high
that they would cover the entire production
costs from 2030, Handelsblatt newspaper
has reported.
"Europe must, therefore, ensure that green hydrogen
also becomes significantly cheaper here. Otherwise
there is a risk: that investments in hydrogen-based
production - for example, in green steel - will flow
primarily to the US," said Philipp Jaeger, an
expert at the Jacques Delors Centre.
_____________________________________
Death toll ...of train crash in
India rises to 261 — South
Eastern Railway Spokesman
June 3rd, 11:10am (TASS)
The death toll of the railway crash in India has increased to
261 people, says Aditya Chaudhary, Chief Public Relations
Officer of the South Eastern Railway.
"The death toll in the Balasore train accident has risen to
261," Chaudhary said, according to the Press Trust of
India, adding that "rescue of injured passengers
has been completed."
Earlier, Indian authorities reported 238 victims. On Saturday
morning, AFP reported 288 victims citing its sources, but
this information has not been confirmed yet. About 900
people were injured in the incident.
_______________________________________
Argentinians - condemn aggression
against Cuban artists, intellectuals
by Juan M. Garcia
June 3rd, 8:45am
(Prensa Latina)
The International Federation of Writers for Freedom (FIEL)
--- strongly condemned the attacks on Cuban artists and
intellectuals who defend their country and government.
Recently, the Buena Fe duo was attacked by individuals
who tried to prevent their concerts in Spain, and right-
wing extremists boycotted the participation of writer
Nancy Morejon, as honorary president at the Poetry
Market, in Paris, France.
These fascist attacks are not isolated events ----- but a
reflection of the radicalization of extreme right-wing
groups ----- at the service of decadent and dying
imperialism, in its war for survival, FIEL said
in a statement.
We not only repudiate these actions, but we make ourselves
available in the fight for the peoples’ self-determination,
the Federation added.
It also expressed its willingness to confront all kinds of
external interference and ----- “combat imperialism,
which destroys... all that is human.”
________________________________________________________
Copppal condemns US blockade
against Cuba --- and repeats
its solidarity
by Juan M. Garcia
June 3rd, 8:30am
(Prensa Latina)
The members of the Permanent Conference of Political
Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (Copppal)
condemned the US blockade against Cuba --- and
repeated their solidarity with the Cuban people.
At the conclusion of the 51st Plenary Meeting of the
Conference, which brings together more than 70
parties from the continent, the delegates
unanimously approved a resolution
--- condemning the intensified
economic, commercial and
financial blockade imposed
by the Government of the
United States on Cuba --
for more than 60 years,
the document added.
The blockade and the application of 243 measures
adopted during the Donald Trump administration
and maintained by President Joe Biden, have
been tightened to unsuspected levels.
It is the main obstacle to the development of Cuba’s economy,
it impacts all sectors of society and is a flagrant and massive
violation of the human rights of Cubans, the text pointed out.
The extraterritorial nature of the US blockade threatens the
peace and sovereignty of the Latin America and Caribbean
peoples, the Latin American political parties denounced,
at the end of their conference on Friday.
They demanded an end to that policy, as it has also
been demanded - every year for three decades - by
an overwhelming majority of the member States
of the United Nations General Assembly.
Copppal also called for Cuba’s removal from the spurious list
of State Sponsors of Terrorism, which violates International
Law, & has a devastating negative impact on international
financial relations and institutions.
We demand the end of media harassment against
the Cuban people. Blockade No, Solidarity Yes!
Better without the Blockade!
_____________________________________________
Indian president to visit
Suriname and Serbia
by Ileana Ferrer Fonte
June 3rd, 7:15am
(Prensa Latina)
Indian President Droupadi Murmu, will visit Suriname
and Serbia from June 4 to 9, on her first trip abroad
after she took office.
The first leg of her tour will be in Suriname, where she will
stay until June 6 and will participate as a special guest to
celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians
in that South American country, Saurabh Kumar,
secretary for the East at the Indian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, said at a press conference.
Kumar described Murmu’s visit to Suriname as historic.
The diplomat noted, that India and Suriname enjoyed warm
and friendly relations, and emphasized the diaspora’s role
as a bridge between the two nations.
Next, Murmu will travel to Serbia, at the invitation
of his counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic. She will be
accompanied by a delegation of entrepreneurs,
Sanjay Verm, secretary for the West at the
Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said.
Verm stated -- that it would be the first visit at the
level of heads of State between India and Serbia.
The visit aims to explore the possibilities
and prospects of business opportunities.
_________________________________________
The Government of Nicaragua
congratulates Raul Castro
on his birthday
by Juan M. Garcia
June 3rd, 00:51am
(Prensa Latina)
The Government of Nicaragua congratulated the
historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Army
General Raul Castro, who is turning 92
on Saturday.
“We send you an infinite hug on your 92nd birthday, serious
words, how serious has been your life of dedication and
commitment to a free homeland and a burning heart,”
the message from the Sandinista Government says.
The text, signed by President Daniel Ortega and Vice
President Rosario Murillo, expresses satisfaction
with knowing that Raul is healthy and strong,
full of his people’s spirit --- that of Fidel
Castro, the heroic Cuban Revolution,
his family --- and the “indelible
memory of our dear Vilma.”
“Have a great day, another day of victories, because Raul
is advancing, and because unity, fraternity and solidarity
are our guarantees of the triumph of love and peace,”
the congratulatory message points out.
Ortega and Murillo wished the Cuban leader to maintain
the same strength as Fidel Castro, and the one with
which they knew him, in addition to “maintaining
the undefeated dreams of our heroes and paths
of liberation.”
______________________________________________
Russian Security Council draws
up measures against sanctions
by Ileana Ferrer Fonte
June 3rd, 7:41am
(Prensa Latina)
The Russian Security Council is drawing up measures to
block the West's attempts to cause an economic crisis
in the country, the press service of the State body
reported on Saturday.
According to the press release -- which Sputnik quoted on
Saturday, Russian authorities are focusing on developing
measures to block any efforts by Western countries
to provoke an economic crisis in Russia.
At a meeting with the permanent members of the body on
Friday, Security Council Chairman and President Vladimir
Putin stressed the need ---- to do everything possible to
prevent attempts at destabilizing the internal situation.
Many countries have condemned Russia’s special military
operation in Ukraine since February 24 2022, and support
Kiev -- with arms supplies, donations, humanitarian aid,
and sanctions against Moscow.
According to the Castellum.AI dashboard, Russia has been
the country most punished by sanctions, ahead of Iran,
Syria, North Korea, Belarus, and Venezuela.
More than 13,260 new restrictive measures have been
activated against Russia since February 2022, in
addition to nearly 2,700 actions.... that were
already in force.
_____________________________________________
Saudi trade with BRICS ---
topped $160 bln last year
— Saudi minister
June 2nd, 6pm (TASS)
Saudi trade with BRICS topped $160 billion in 2022, making
Saudi Arabia the biggest Middle Eastern trade partner of
the bloc that comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and
South Africa, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan
Al Saud said on Friday.
He made the statement at a meeting of foreign ministers
from the BRICS Friends group that took place in the
South African city of Cape Town.
"His Highness stated that the kingdom is the largest trading
partner of BRICS in the Middle East and that trade with
BRICS countries, which is showing significant growth,
reflects developing and strengthening relations with
the countries of this group," the Saudi Foreign
Ministry said on Twitter.
According to the minister, trade with the BRICS countries
increased from $81 billion in 2017 to $128 billion in 2021
and exceeded $160 billion last year. The BRICS Friends
ministerial meeting took place a day after a meeting
of BRICS foreign ministers.
The meeting was attended by foreign ministries from
the BRICS countries and 12 countries of the Global
South that expressed a desire to join the bloc.
____________________________
BRICS --- no longer ‘alternative,'
but mainstay in global politics
— India’s top diplomat
June 2nd, 5:15pm (TASS)
The BRICS group of nations is no longer an alternative
to other international associations, but a bulwark of
global politics, External Affairs Minister of India
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, said on Friday.
"BRICS is no longer an ‘alternative,’ it is an established
feature of the global landscape. The message of
reform that BRICS embodies must permeate the
world of multilateralism," the top diplomat
wrote on his Twitter page.
"The Friends of BRICS strongly support UNSC reform,"
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar went on to say.
According to the foreign minister, "BRICS is not only
an expression of multipolarity, but of the many and
diverse ways of meeting international challenges."
The BRICS group of nations seeks to build "a fairer,
inclusive and open international architecture with
sustainable development at its core," he tweeted.
"Creating resilient and reliable supply chains are
central to ensuring that no one is left behind,"
the foreign minister stressed.
The Friends of BRICS ministerial meeting was held earlier
on Friday, in Cape Town. It was attended... by foreign
ministers from the BRICS nations and 12 countries
of the Global South who are interested in joining
the group, namely ------ Argentina, Bangladesh,
Venezuela, Gabon, the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, the
Comoros, Cuba, the United Arab
Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
On Thursday, Cape Town hosted a meeting of top diplomats
from the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and
South Africa) who, among other things, discussed the
idea of the group’s expansion.
_____________________________________
Russia seeing rise in agricultural
exports to friendly nations —
agriculture minister
June 2nd, 2:59pm (TASS)
The percentage of Russia’s agricultural exports -
going to friendly countries has ticked up to 87%
- the Agriculture Minister, Dmitry Patrushev,
said on Friday.
"Deliveries going to friendly nations have increased and now
stand at 87% of agricultural exports overall. Export flows to
China, Turkey, Egypt, Bangladesh, Algeria and Pakistan
have ticked up noticeably," the minister remarked.
Russia is systemically rechanneling its export flows
to prioritize working with responsible, reliable
foreign partners, Patrushev noted.
The country retained its status as a net agricultural exporter
as of the end of last year, he noted. Supplies to foreign
markets totaled $41.6 bln, while imports amounted
to $35.7 billion.
Every fifth consignment of wheat exported globally was
grown in Russia. Furthermore --- Russia supplied over
two million metric tons of fish and over 0.73 million
tons of livestock products to the international
markets last year. Exports of high-value-
added products, are seeing
steady growth.
_______________________________
Saudi Arabia wants in BRICS – ''West''
needs to prepare for repercussions
June 2nd, 12:55pm
https://en.news-front.info/
Saudi Arabia’s accession to BRICS would solidify
the geopolitical trend and remind the US, that
its influence is waning, Asia Times writes.
The West needs to hear a signal that it has no right
to determine either the international geopolitical
order or the global financial system, as it
interprets it.
Saudi Arabia is negotiating to join the New Development
Bank BRICS (NDB) – heralding its imminent entry into
the club, which already includes Brazil, Russia,
India, China and South Africa.
Riyadh wants to challenge the West’s monopoly on global
financial institutions and become a counterweight to the
clubs of rich countries.
The West seems to have already wary and made conclusions:
this year, the G7 invited India, Brazil, the African Union,
Vietnam, Indonesia and South Korea as observers.
The rest of the world is also watching developments, some
with interest and some with bated breath, says the author.
__________________________________________
President Maduro to Attend
Erdogan's Inauguration
in Türkiye
June 2nd (teleSUR)
In June 2022, Presidents Maduro and Erdogan held a
meeting in Ankara where they decided to expand
the scope of bilateral cooperation.
On Friday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrived in
Turkey to attend the presidential inauguration of Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, who won the elections on May 28.
The Bolivarian leader was accompanied by his wife,
legislator Cilia Flores. They were received by
Murat Soylu, the deputy governor of
Ankara, and other authorities.
On Saturday, the presence of over twenty world leaders
is expected at the inauguration of Erdogan, who will
assume his third consecutive presidential term.
The investiture ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. local time in
Parliament and will continue later in the presidential palace.
Erdogan managed to capture 49.5 percent of the vote in the
first round on May 14 and finally won the second round
with 52.2 percent of the polls.
Türkiye and Venezuela have traditionally maintained good
diplomatic relations. In June 2022, Maduro and Erdogan
held a meeting in Ankara where they decided to
expand the scope of bilateral cooperation.
This decision resulted in over 40 specific agreements
in different economic, scientific, commercial, and
cultural areas.
____________________________________
Hitmen Assassinate Duran City
Prosecutor in Ecuador
June 2nd (teleSUR)
They fired at least 40 bullets at the car of Prosecutor
Palacios, who was returning to his home.
On Thursday, the Ecuadorian Attorney General's Office
confirmed the death of Prosecutor Leonardo Palacios
in Duran, a neighboring city of Guayaquil, which is
one of the areas most affected by crime and
insecurity since Guillermo Lasso
became president in 2021.
According to the first investigations, Palacios and his
secretary were shot at by unknown persons when
they were driving a vehicle a few blocks from
his office.
Officials of the Attorney General's Office arrived at the
site of the attack to begin investigations and find the
culprits. At the crime scene, police officers found
more than 40 bullets.
Meanwhile, army soldiers and police officers... carried out
a joint operation to try to locate and surround the hitmen.
A tweet reads --- "Sicarios assassinated Duran Prosecutor
Leonardo Palacios. The attackers fired from a motorcycle
as the officer was returning home."
"Over 10 hours have passed since Palacios assassination...
President Guillermo Lasso, however, has not said a single
word on social networks," journalist Alexis Moncayo said,
highlighting the inability of his administration to react to
the prevailing violence in Ecuador.
After the attack, the prosecutor's vehicle, whose windshield
was perforated by multiple bullet holes, was left stranded
in the middle of Rodas street, a few metres from a
judicial office.
Despite witnesses' attempts to help the victims, the
prosecutor died instantly. The secretariat survived
the attack and tried to help Palacios, who had no
vital signs, newspaper El Universo reported,
noting that the police arrived at the crime
scene half an hour after the events.
____________________________________
45 Bags Filled With Human Remains
Discovered by Mexico Police
June 2nd (teleSUR)
During a recent investigation into the disappearance of
seven young individuals in Jalisco, located in Western
Mexico, a minimum of 45 bags containing human
remains were discovered in a ravine.
The bags were found in the depths of a 40-metre
ravine located in the Zapopan municipality,
which is considered to be a suburban
area of Guadalajara, an expansive
industrial centre.
“Forty-five bags with human remains have been extracted
that belong to both male and female people,” the state
prosecutor’s office said in a statement on Thursday.
The missing person’s reports of each of the seven individuals
had been filed independently on disparate dates; however,
upon investigation, it was revealed that they were all
employed at a singular call centre located
proximal to the site at which human
remains were detected.
The forensic specialists are yet to determine the identity
and the number of victims contained in the bags.
Preliminary investigations indicate the potential involvement
of the call centre in illegal activities. Local media outlets
have reported that the authorities have seized items
such as marijuana, a cloth, and a cleaning rag
exhibiting traces of blood. Additionally,
documentation pertaining to possible
commercial endeavours, has
been discovered.
The law enforcement officials stated that certain human
remains discovered within the bags exhibited features
that seemed to correspond to those of the absent
juvenile individuals.
The recovery efforts involve coordination among firefighters,
civil defense personnel, and a helicopter. It is expected that
the ongoing operation will extend through the coming days.
__________________________________________________________
US Congress Approves Bill
to Raise Debt Limit
June 2nd, 12:15pm (teleSUR)
The U.S. reached in January its debt limit of US$31.4 trillion,
over 120 percent of its GDP. The Senate approved the bill
by a 63-36 vote.
After months of partisan arm-wrestling, the U.S. Congress
approved the bill to raise America's debt ceiling after the
Senate's passage late Thursday, the 103rd time since
1945, allowing the government to avert a debt
default by borrowing more.
The Senate approved the bill by a 63-36 vote. Previously
okayed by the House of Representatives by a vote of
314 to 117, the act suspends the debt ceiling until
January 2025.
The debt ceiling is a cap on the total amount of money that
the United States is authorized to borrow to fund the
government and meet its financial obligations.
The United States reached in January its debt limit of US
$31.4 trillion, more than 120 percent of its annual GDP.
For months, as the White House and Congress were
locked in a tug-of-war over terms of lifting the debt
ceiling, the Treasury Department has been using
"extraordinary measures" to avoid default.
The deal was a make-or-break bid to steer the U.S.
government away from a perilous debt cliff, as
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has
warned that the country could run out
of money to pay its bills on time if
Congress failed to address the
debt ceiling by June 5.
With Congress's approval, the bill will be sent to U.S.
President Joe Biden's desk for his signature
before becoming law.
As with previous debt-ceiling sagas, the passage of
the deal represents a trade-off of partisan interests
following a months-long game of chicken between
Democrats and Republicans, with each side trying
to use an imminent default as a bargaining chip
for advancing their own political agenda.
Both parties have been selling the deal as a victory for
their own side, but not all are pleased with the result.
"It is frankly an insult to the American people to support
a piece of legislation that continues to put our country's
financial future at risk," U.S. Representative Matt
Rosendale, a Republican from the U.S. state of
Montana, lamented in a statement.
It's not just Americans who have been on tenterhooks
watching the cyclical U.S. partisan game. Over half
of the world's foreign currency reserves are held
in dollars, which means "a U.S. default could
wreak havoc on global financial markets,"
the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations
said in a recent report.
A decrease in the dollar's value triggered by default,
or the uncertainty surrounding it "could make debts
denominated in other currencies relatively more
expensive and threaten to tip some emerging
economies into debt or political crises,"
added the think tank.
"The U.S. as the world's biggest economy has taken the
global economy hostage by politicizing and polarizing
its internal political issues on global financial
markets," said Joseph Matthews, a senior
professor at the BELTEI International
University in Phnom Penh.
Despite periodic rises of the debt ceiling, the two parties
show little interest in addressing the root cause of the
trouble, including America's behemoth
spending appetite.
Military spending accounts for the lion's share of the
country's debt portfolio. Since 2000, the United
States has poured hundreds of billions of
dollars into the battlefields of
Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria,
Libya, and Ukraine.
According to the Watson Institute at Brown University, from
fiscal year 2001 to fiscal year 2022, more than half of the
country's extra debt came from war costs.
The splurge on wars is not the only expenditure to break
Uncle Sam's bank. According to Jeffrey Sachs, director
of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia
University, immoderate welfare and healthcare costs
also contribute to the fiscal woes.
But so far, neither of the parties has been willing to risk
offending voters by cutting these gross excesses and
nudging the country's budget system back onto a
sustainable track.
In its latest report, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office
projected that U.S. debt held by the public will reach
193 percent of GDP in 2053 if current policies
generally remain unchanged. And... by 2028,
interest payments of the U.S. government
could exceed the country's entire
defense budget.
Without concrete measures to reform its fiscal system, the
repeated adjustments of the debt ceiling have proven to
be nothing but only a Sisyphean task. This time.... is
no exception.
Even though a deal is reached before the deadline, "such
risks will keep reoccurring until comprehensive reforms
are enacted," said Steven Wright, associate professor
of International Relations at the Hamad Bin Khalifa
University, Qatar.
"We should never have been put in this position to begin
with. This is about paying the ransom to a bunch of
hostage takers," Senator Elizabeth Warren said
before casting her vote.
"And that is not how we should run this government.
It's not good for the people of this country and it's
not good for the position of the United States all
around the world."
_____________________________________
Uzbekistan urges Europe to
maintain humanitarian aid
to Afghanistan
by Alina Ramos Martin
June 2nd, 11:17am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyóyev, urged the
European Union (EU) countries and those of Central Asia
to maintain the level of humanitarian aid volumes
for Afghanistan.
According to the head of State, speaking at the 2nd Central
Asia-EU Summit held in the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata, the
Afghan problem is at the centre of the region’s attention,
as the humanitarian situation in the country is
deteriorating at a dizzying pace.
In this connection, we urge our partners not to reduce
the volumes of humanitarian aid to the Afghan
people, Mirziyev said.
The president also confirmed.. his country’s readiness, to
continue to provide the services of the Termez logistics
centre on the Uzbek-Afghan border for transportation
of humanitarian cargoes.
“We propose to continue regular consultations between the
special representatives of our countries in order to work
out common approaches to the settlement of this
situation so as to contribute to the peaceful
development of Afghanistan,”
Mirziyóyev added.
______________________________
Cuba advocates for a new
multilateral world order
from South Africa
by Ileana Ferrer Fonte
June 2nd, 10:53am
(Prensa Latina)
Cuba's First Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Peñalver Portal
advocated for a new multilateral world order in this city on
Friday, in which solidarity, cooperation, and integration
among nations prevail.
Addressing the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting,
the diplomat stressed that this historic demand unites the
G77 and the BRICS Group.
The current order, created from colonialism, is based on
rules, institutions, trade, and financial systems that
tend to perpetuate the benefits of the former
colonial powers and limit the opportunities
for the rest of the nations, Peñalver
Portal argued.
He added that its tendency is to foster the current
conditions of economic crisis, with effects on
developing countries... whose opportunities
for recovery and progress are increasingly
out of reach.
The BRICS countries can and should significantly contribute
to the necessary reform of the current international
financial system ---- which is profoundly unjust,
anti-democratic, speculative, and exclusive,
the diplomat stated.
In his speech, Peñalver Portal stressed the initiative of
the BRICS countries to create a broad-based foreign
exchange reserve mechanism to guarantee
security and stability to the South and
establish mutual credit lines in
local currencies.
The G77 and the BRICS Group are committed to using
science, technology, and innovation as engines of
sustainable development, he noted.
Cuba has called for a Summit of heads of State and
Government of the G77 plus China this year ------ to
address the current challenges for development
and the role of science, technology, and
innovation in that context... which will
take place in Havana on September
15 and 16.
Cuba is attending the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers
meeting as President of the Group of 77 (G77) plus
China, “the largest and most diverse group of
developing countries at a time of
monumental challenges for our
countries”, Peñalver Portal
added, in his speech.
______________________________
Teachers march against
privatization of schools
in Puerto Rico
by Alina Ramos Martin
June 2nd, 10:38am
(Prensa Latina)
Faced with the threat that looms over public education,
the Federation of Teachers in Puerto Rico (FMPR) joins
forces with other organizations against the alliance
schools promoted by the government.
In this regard, the president of the FMPR, Mercedes Martínez,
told Prensa Latina that the objective is to carry out a real
educational reform through the repeal of Law 85-2018,
put into effect during the administration of ousted
governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares.
On Sunday, hundreds of teachers, with the backing of unions,
political and social sectors, marched through Old San Juan
against the policy of privatization of public education in
this country of 3.2 million inhabitants.
Originally called by the FMPR, along with Únete, Jornada Se
Acabaron las Promesas and El Otro Puerto Rico, the march
made a route from Plaza Colón to La Fortaleza, seat of the
executive branch, to ask Gov. Pedro R. Pierluisi for a five
-year moratorium on the so-called alliance schools.
The spokesman for El Otro Puerto Rico, Alfonso Ortiz
Menchaca, said that some foreign investors receive
tax exemptions, which some are taking advantage
of ----- to turn public education into a business.
____________________________________
Dictatorship’s torturers were
sentenced in Uruguay
Ileana Ferrer Fonte
June 2nd, 9:38am
(Prensa Latina)
Two former army captains were reportedly sentenced
to 12 years and six months in prison for human rights
violations in Uruguay.
Judge María Elbia Merlo sentenced the defendants for
“continuous crimes of deprivation of freedom,
aggravated in real repetition with countless
crimes of torture.”
Seven people denounced in 2021 that they had been
deprived of their freedom, sexually abused and
tortured in the Infantry Battalion Number Six
in San José ------ during the 1973-1985
dictatorship.
According to the judgment, the complainants
identified the repressors.
The ruling stated that they were hooded and subjected
to cruel and degrading treatments, during captivity.
_______________________________________
China slams US - for plans to
sign trade deal with Taiwan,
warns against any official
contact with Taipei
June 1st, 4:37pm
(PressTV)
China has slammed the US for having plans to reach a trade
deal with Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), warning Washington
against making any official interaction with the
self-ruled island.
"China strongly opposes official interaction of any form
between China’s Taiwan region and countries that
have diplomatic relations with China. That
includes --- negotiating or signing any
agreement of sovereign implication
or official nature" --- said Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman,
Mao Ning, at a regular press
conference on Thursday.
Washington and Taipei reached an agreement last month
on the first stage of a bilateral trade initiative, titled the
US-Taiwan Initiative of 21st-Century Trade, less than a
year after negotiations began.
It will be the first official trade agreement between the
two sides since US President Joe Biden assumed
office in 2021.
According to Taipei, the so-called trade deal is due to
be signed on Thursday by employees of the unofficial
entities that represent Washington and Taipei to
each other at a ceremony attended by US and
Taiwanese trade officials.
The treaty is claimed... to cover customs and trade
facilitation, regulatory practices & small business.
China has sovereignty over the Chinese Taipei, and under
the ‘One China’ policy, almost all world countries
recognize that sovereignty. The US, too,
recognizes the Chinese sovereignty
over the island --- but has long
courted Taipei in an attempt
to unnerve Beijing.
Furthermore, Washington, which backs Taipei’s secessionist
president, also infuriates Beijing by selling weapons to the
self-governed island in violation of its own official policy.
The Chinese government strongly opposes other countries
pursuing official and diplomatic ties with Chinese Taipei
and has consistently warned the US and other states
against engaging with the self-proclaimed
government in Taipei.
"The US’s move gravely violates the one-China principle and
the three China-US joint communiqués -- and contravenes
the US’s own commitment of maintaining only unofficial
relations with Taiwan," Mao further said, stressing that
China has frequently made solemn démarches to
the US.
"The US, needs to stop official interaction of any form with
Taiwan, refrain from negotiating or signing any agreement
of sovereign implication, or official nature, with China’s
Taiwan region - and stop sending any wrong message
to separatist forces seeking “Taiwan independence”
in the name of economy and trade," emphasized
the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman.
Beijing has reiterated its sovereignty over Taiwan, saying no
individual or force can hold China back from achieving the
goal of national reunification.
Mao further stressed that all attempts by authorities in Taipei
to seek 'independence' through relying on Washington under
the pretext of economic and trade cooperation are "doomed to fail."
China has time and again stressed that the self-ruled island
is obliged to unite with the mainland, by military force
if necessary.
Despite Beijing's warnings, the US government has
continued its attempts to forge strong alliances
with regional allies, while countering China's
growing clout.
________________________________________
Ukrainian Conflict.. Has Far-
Reaching Negative Impact:
Italy's Central Bank
June 1st (teleSUR)
Besides increasing interest rates, the war has generated
a loss of purchasing power, reduced consumption, and
a deterioration in working conditions.
On Wednesday, the Italian Central Bank Governor, Ignazio
Visco, said that the Ukrainian conflict has had a
sprawling impact on the European economies,
pushing the median wealth and consumer
confidence lower.
In his annual report, he pointed out that the Ukraine crisis
has also had an impact on energy prices, which resulted
in an increase in interest rates by the European Central
Bank (ECB), all of which had a far-reaching negative
economic impact.
The Ukraine conflict "was a turning point in international
relations that heavily affected growth, inflation, & world
trade... Amid the clear and widespread increase
in inflation... global growth slowed down
in a scenario of strong economic and
political uncertainty," Visco said.
The European economies were significantly boosted by the
European Union's (EU) massive coronavirus recovery
package of loans and grants. To date, over
US$160 billion has been distributed
to the EU member states.
While the disposable income of Italy's households grew by
6.2 percent last year, that was a 1.2 percent decrease in
real terms due to the record-setting inflation, sparked
mainly by the situation in Ukraine.
Contrary to what Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thinks, the
Central Bank governor expressed the need to structure
policies to improve wages and youth employment.
"Temporary work is associated with very long precarious
conditions. The proportion of young people who after
5 years continue in limited-term jobs remains close
to 20 percent," Visco said.
________________________________________
United Nations General Assembly elects
Trinidad & Tobago representative
as president of 78th session
June 1st, 4:05pm (TASS)
The representative of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,
diplomat Dennis Francis was elected as the President of
the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, a TASS
correspondent reported.
Francis was the only candidate running for the post. He
has been working as a diplomat for 40 years. He was
his country’s permanent representative to the UN
in Geneva, to the World Trade Organization
and to the UN Human Rights Council.
He also served in the UN specialized
agencies in Vienna and Rome.
The 78th session of the UN General
Assembly will begin this September.
____________________________________
Peruvian Workers Protest Against
REPSOL Labour Abuses
June 1st, 3:36pm
(teleSUR))
On Wednesday, La Pampilla Refinery Workers Union
(SUTRELAPA) held a sit-in to denounce the breach
of labour agreements by the transnational oil
company REPSOL.
"So far, the company has not satisfied various demands
to avoid arbitrary changes," the Peruvian workers said,
explaining that they are requesting an annual shift
schedule: that allows for establishing positions,
vacations, medical breaks, and replacements
for each worker.
SUTRELAPA Secretary Jack Chavarry affirmed that REPSOL
does not recognize the clauses of the collective agreement
related to issues such as the wage gap and a health plan.
If REPSOL does not comply with its responsibilities as an
employer, SUTRELAPA will demand the intervention of
the National Superintendence of Labour Inspection.
SUTRELAPA also denounced labour abuses against three
women, two of whom were pregnant and one of whom
was lactating.
Although these workers were hired to fill positions
in the refining process, they were fired by the
transnational company.
For its part, the La Pampilla Refinery management stated
that REPSOL is complying with both the Peruvian labour
regulations and its policy on human rights and
community relations.
____________________________________
Israel introduces bills to tighten
control over Palestinian schools
June 1st, 3:30pm
(PressTV)
The Israeli Knesset (parliament) has introduced two bills
that would bring Palestinian educational centres and
staff in the 1948-occupied territories under stricter
scrutiny from the regime’s so-called security and
intelligence apparatus.
One of the bills, proposed on Wednesday, would require the
Israeli education ministry to conduct background security
checks on potential teachers, according to Hebrew-
language media outlets.
If passed, the bill would authorize a committee, after
conducting a hearing, to rescind the appointment
of a teacher, or dismiss a school staff member
if they “identify with a [so-called] terror
organization” or express support for
the armed struggle of an
adversarial entity.
It also requires potential teachers
to prove they have no “affinity
for terrorism.”
The second legislation sets more stringent
guidelines that would make receiving a
teaching license much harder.
The licensing of schools would be dependent
on whether they accommodate “the
fundamental requirements of the
Israeli school system.”
The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation
approved both bills earlier this week.
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the
Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) said
the move is a step towards reinstating the
supervision of the Palestinian school
system in occupied lands --- which
Israel’s ‘internal security service’
Shin Bet used to carry out. The
practice was discontinued
in 2005.
Last month, Israeli military forces demolished a donor-
funded Palestinian primary school in the central part
of the occupied West Bank, in a flagrant violation of
Palestinian children’s right to education.
Witnesses and local officials said the Israeli military
raided Beit Ta’mir village, located six kilometres
(3.7 miles) southeast of Bethlehem, on May 7
and demolished Challenge 5 School.
They said dozens of Israeli soldiers cordoned off the
area around the school, and a bulldozer flattened it
shortly afterwards.
The school, which was built of makeshift materials,
was attended by 66 Palestinian students. It was
demolished in 2017 before it was rebuilt in the
same year.
Israeli forces have delivered demolition orders to 58 schools
in the West Bank, including East al-Quds, according to the
Arab Campaign for Education for All (ACEA).
It warned in a statement that the violations affect children,
teachers and school buildings, highlighting the need that
concerned institutions and the relevant United Nations
agencies to assume their role and responsibilities in
pressuring the regime ---- to stop the policy of
demolishing schools.
___________________________________
Economic challenges to compel