Logo: Rhondda Records logo 2

One Union



 


D'you Wanna know the Difference Between
Heaven and Hell? Well..... in one we trust
and put aside all lies.  W
hile down in
Hell .....nobody even tries..


Misleading Parliament, is a ''nice'' way of saying:
lied about breaking the law ---- by arming Israel.




Dodon....
spoke about the upcoming

parliamentary elections in Moldova

Dodon: The coming months will be

 crucial for Moldova

June 20th, 2:46pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

The next few months ---- will be crucial for Moldova in light 

of the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 

late September, former President Igor Dodon, told 

Izvestia, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg

 International Economic Forum on June 20.

 

"Moldova is a parliamentary country - and a president without a 

parliament is a lame duck. Therefore, the struggle for the next 

parliament will be very fierce. We see that Moldova is being 

led according to the Ukraine scenario. Anything ----- can 

happen. According to all polls, the current government 

has the trust of no more than 25% of the population, 

so we will see what happens. We will fight ----- to 

change the situation," he said.

 

Dodon added that other European leaders want to keep the 

current president, Maia Sandu, in power, but they need 

control of the parliament to do so.

 

"They will not succeed with democratic methods, because they

 are losing these elections. The opposition, including us, the 

Party of Socialists, and other parties, can form a 

parliamentary majority. Therefore, they [have 

an option] either to cancel the elections, 

as in Ukraine, or.... to make some 

provocations. We understand 

this, and are preparing for 

the toughest fight," 

he concluded.

 

Violated observation: The OSCE will 

monitor the elections in Moldova

 

Moscow has repeatedly pointed out the biased nature of 

the mission, which also worked for the 2024 campaign

 ...of Maia Sandu.

 

On May 27th, Dodon said that the actions of Moldovan 

President Maia Sandu aim to split Moldovan society 

and its radicalization before the parliamentary 

elections, which will be held in September.

 

 

______________________________________________




Moldova is predicted to
become
 ....a colony

by Anastasia Dubova (editor

 of the BSSR department)

June 18th, 5:13pm

(Lenta.ru)

 

Moldova is needed by the EU - as a raw materials appendage 

or cheap labour, which could turn the country into a colony. 

This warning was made by Moldovan MP Marina Tauber, 

according to TASS.

 

"They need us as a raw materials appendage,
as a human 
resource, as cheap labour, and
to take over our 
strategic enterprises,"
she said.

 

The parliamentarian also noted ---- that the EU
has promised Chisinau mountains of gold,
which are not there.

According 
to Tauber, Moldovan officials.. perform only
representative 
functions, and real power is in the
hands -- of EU globalists.

 

Earlier, it was reported that in Chisinau, the President of Romania

Nicusor Dan --- was greeted by people on the street with shouts 

of “we are Romanians”. The speakers had a flag of Ukraine 

and one of the EU, in their hands.




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









 

German Chancellor --- Keeps

on the Paranoid WAR trail

by Victoria Kondratyeva

(Editor of 'World' dept)

June 24th, 2:55pm

(Lenta.ru)

 

Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz called it a mistake

 that other European countries -- did not want to listen 

to the Baltic states, which warn about the alleged 

threats coming from Russia. He said this during 

his speech to the Bundestag ----- which was 

broadcast on the YouTube channel of
the ministry.

 

"For too long, we in Germany have refused to listen to

 our Baltic neighbours' warnings ----- about Russia's

 imperialist policies," he said.

 

  Mertz noted that Europeans ''have realized''
their mistake. 

He added that “the security of Lithuania
is the security
 of Germany.”

 

In addition, the German Chancellor has promised to

 make the German army ''the strongest in Europe''.

 

Earlier, Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, said that
Western countries are using the mythical Russian
threat ---- to scare 
the population that Moscow
is, allegedly, going to 
attack someone. 

 

According to him, Russia is being pushed to its red line

by the West ---- and Moscow cannot help but respond.

 




________________________________________________________




Bild: Kallas's report on Israel caused 

a scandal - before it was published

by Maria Krylova

June 23rd, 1:50pm

(Rossiyskaya Gazeta) 

 

The report by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Israel 

caused a scandal even before its official presentation. 

This was reported by Bild.

 

According to the publication, Kallas plans to present the 

results of this review at a meeting of EU foreign 

ministers in Brussels on Monday.

 

In the article, Kallas's report is described 

as a "stab in the back" for Israel.

 

The document states: that the EU's diplomatic service
has 
observed signs of Israel's violation of its human
rights 
obligations, under the EU-Israel agreement.

 

According to Bild, the EU's chief diplomat may propose 

suspending the 2000 partnership agreement with

 Israel, imposing economic sanctions, or 

eliminating tariff benefits.

 

This caused an immediate reaction from the Israeli 

authorities -- who described the report.... as an 

example of the EU's ''double standards'' 

towards Israel.

 

 

____________________________________





The AfD MP condemned the distortion 

of history - and called for peace 

with Russia

June 23rd, 1:01pm

(Izvestia.ru)




The German government is distorting historical facts and 

dragging Germany deeper into a conflict that does not 

benefit the country. This was stated -- by Matthias 

Mosdorf, a member of the Bundestag from the 

Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, in an 

address published by the Deutschland 

Kurier newspaper, on June 23.




Mosdorf recalled - that the Russian parliament had sent a letter 

to all members of the Bundestag, emphasizing that if Germany 

continued to be drawn into the conflict in Ukraine, the 

country would face a huge problem.... and betray
the 
lessons and responsibilities, that stem
from their 
shared history. 




According to him, the response from Bundestag President, Julia 

Klöckner was one-sided and included current political debates.




"What Julia Klöckner is doing -- now, can be described as 

the infiltration of political stupidity into foreign policy," 

the Bundestag member said.




Referring to history, the AfD MP emphasized that even the 

liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp -- was a 

feat of the Soviet troops, most of whom were Russian.




"And to say now that this was the 'first Ukrainian front-line army' 

and, therefore, exclusively Ukrainian, is simply politically short

-sighted. It distorts historical reality, sacrifice ----- and the very 

essence of our shared historical experience," Mosdorf added.




He noted that Germany, which was once one of the most 

respected countries among Russians, has fallen in the 

popularity rankings -- by almost 20 positions, and 

Germans are now perceived - as a threat,

 in Russia.




"But we simply have no other way, but to return to cooperation

 — through art, culture, sports, and the economy. We need to 

redefine: what can be our common future? It is absurd to 

believe that Europe will remain divided forever. If we 

manage to make at least two steps forward — it 

will already be a great result," he stressed.




The State Duma Speaker sent a letter to the Bundestag after 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's statement, in which he 

referred to the US as the "liberator" of Germany -- without 

mentioning the role of the USSR. 




Volodin noted that Merz had distorted history and forgotten 

who truly liberated the world from Nazism. In response, 

Klöckner emphasized that the Bundestag would not 

be intimidated.




On June 11, the State Duma sent evidence of the crimes of the 

Kiev regime to the Bundestag. Volodin noted -- that Germany's 

transfer of weapons to Ukraine, which are being used against 

civilians, is already -- a reason for a conflict between Russia

 and Germany.







_______________________________________________






In Germany, a complaint was filed with 

the prosecutor's office against Merz 

over his remarks about Israel

June 21st, 9:14pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

In Germany, about 20 German politicians and cultural 

figures filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office 

against German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after his

 words about Israel's actions - at the G7 summit. 

 

This was reported on June 20 by the Berliner 

Zeitung newspaper, with reference to 

the statement.

 

"Pop singer Dieter Hallervorden and former member of

the Bundestag from the Left Party, Dieter Dem, have 

filed a lawsuit with the prosecutor's office against 

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

''The complaint 
was submitted to the Federal
Prosecutor 
General's Office and the Berlin

Prosecutor's Office, and it was signed by
approximately 
20 people," the 

publication reported.

 

It is clarified that the reason was the statements made 

by Merz on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. 

 

Speaking about the actions of the Israeli army in Iran, 

Merz said that Israel was doing "dirty work" that, 

according to the politician, would, allegedly, 

benefit European leaders. The signatories 

of the complaint ----- are now demanding 

legal consequences for the chancellor. 

In addition, the lawsuit also accuses 

Merz ....of using Nazi vocabulary.

 

"In early 1942, SS Obersturmführer August Häfner 

justified the mass execution of 34,000 Jews in 

48 hours at Babi Yar as 'dirty work,' using 

the same cynical language," Berliner 

Zeitung noted.

 

On June 18, Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for 

the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that 

Mertz's assessment -- of the conflict between 

Israel and Iran was the most terrible words 

one could imagine.

 

The assessment of the conflict between Israel and Iran

 by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz -- used the most 

frightening words one can imagine. This was stated 

by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of 

the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 

June 18.

 

The day before, Merz described Israel's actions against

 Iran as "dirty work for all of us" on the ZDF TV channel.

 

"This is the most terrifying phrase I've ever heard or even 

imagined," Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel, 

commenting on the German Chancellor's statement.




[Rhondda Records adds:
Oops!  People who store violence in their heart,
psychologists say... are often accident prone.]



__________________________________________



Volodin: German politicians will be 

ashamed of the years of cooling

 relations with Russia

June 21st, 12:39pm

(Vesti.ru)

 

German politicians.. will be ashamed of the years of 

cooling relations with Russia, because the Russian 

Federation has not taken a single unfriendly step 

towards Germany. 

 

Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation 

Vyacheslav Volodin is sure of this in an interview 

with the author, and co-host of the program 

"Moscow. Kremlin. Putin", Pavel Zarubin.

 

Volodin clarified that all factions of the State Duma share 

this position, and he urged German politicians to rely 

"only on the truth", when discussing the role of the

 Soviet Union in liberating Germany from fascism. 

The Chairman of the State Duma added, that 

"the truth will always find its way."

 

"But then [German politicians] will be ashamed of the years

 that led to cooling and, most importantly, to the problems 

that the German people are experiencing today. We have 

said, and we want to emphasize once again, that this is 

the position of the entire State Duma. The appeal - was 

supported by all the factions. Russia -- has not taken a 

single unfriendly step towards Germany," Volodin said.

 

He added that Germany has only benefited from good relations 

with Russia, while the country's economy is currently 

in recession. According to Volodin, this can be

 interpreted as ineffective policies - and

 "mistakes by the ruling class."

 

The Speaker of the State Duma is also confident that in order 

for everything to "return to normal", a dialogue is needed in 

which the parties must adhere to mutually beneficial 

conditions and respect for each other, as well as 

exclude double standards -- and interference 

from other states.

 

On June the 7th, the speaker of the State Duma of the Russian 

Federation --- addressed a letter to the head of the Bundestag 

and the leaders of the 5 parliamentary factions of Germany

 in connection with the statement of the Chancellor of 

Germany Friedrich Merz. 

 

During a meeting with US President Donald Trump, Merz said 

that the end of World War II was brought by US troops. 

Volodin pointed out that Merz distorted history, 

forgetting who really freed the world from 

Nazism, and the German government 

is --- increasingly --- drawn into 

military actions against the 

Russian Federation.

 

 

____________________________

 





Wagenknecht urged Merz: to 


call Putin and visit Moscow


June 20th, 6:15pm


(Izvestia.ru)


 


The leader of the German party "Union of Sarah 


Wagenknecht - For Reason and Justice", Sarah


 Wagenknecht, called on German Chancellor 


Friedrich Merz to call Russian President 


Vladimir Putin and make an offer to 


come to Moscow. This --- was 


reported by the newspaper


 Bild, on June 20.


 


It is specified that such a statement was made after 


the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, responded 


during the St. Petersburg International Forum,


 (SPIEF-2025) to a question from the German


 agency DPA about a possible dialogue with 


the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz. 


 


The head of state noted that Moscow would not refuse 


contacts ---- if Merz wanted to resume the dialogue.


 


"He (Merz. Ed.) should accept the offer to talk and 


call Putin," the newspaper quoted Wagenknecht 


as saying.


 


Earlier, the German government spokesman Stefan 


Kornelius, said that the German authorities had 


“taken note” - of Russia’s readiness to engage 


in dialogue with the chancellor. Additionally, 


politicians from the German Left Party and 


Alternative for Germany (AfD), called on 


Merz to speak with Putin and use the 


president’s statement to revive...


 diplomacy.


 


"Now it's Merz's turn," Wagenknecht concluded.


 


German Foreign Minister, Johan Wadephul, said on June 


12, that he did not see grounds for direct negotiations 


with Russia - despite the initiative of a number of 


German social democrats to start a dialogue 


with the Russian Federation. 


 


According to him, if negotiations were to take place, 


Berlin "would conduct them jointly with European 


partners," and Germany is "always ready" for 


such a format of dialogue.


 


 


[Rhondda Records adds:


 27 onto 1. Sounds fair.]


 


 



























































































































 


















































































































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



























































































































What is known ---- about the cases of 

people being injected with syringes

 in France

by Maxim Makarychev

June 23rd, 3:57pm

(Rossiyskaya Gazeta) 

 

French police have detained 12 suspects after 145 people 

reported being injected with syringes, during the 

country's annual street music festival 

this weekend.

 

Millions of people took to the streets across France on Saturday

 night for the Fête de la Musique, with the authorities reporting 

“unprecedented crowds” in Paris. 

 

Before the festival, influencer Abreges Sére, warned on social 

media that people were calling for women to be injected with 

syringes. It is unclear where or by whom these messages 

were made, according to the Guardian. 

 

The Ministry of the Interior reported that 145 victims across 

the country reported being pricked with needles during 

outdoor music events across the country. The Paris 

police reported 13 cases in the capital.

 

Officials did not say whether these were cases of injecting the 

victims with a syringe of drugs... to make them vulnerable to 

sexualized violence. "Some of the injured were taken to a 

hospital for toxicology tests," the ministry said in 

a statement. 

 

In Paris, an investigation was launched after three people 

- including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy - 

reported receiving injections, prosecutors said. 

All three reported feeling unwell.

 

12 suspects have been arrested across France, the interior 

ministry said. Among them were four people in the south-

western city of Angoulême, suspected of attacking 

about 50 victims, a police source said.

 

Two men were also arrested in the centre of the northeastern 

city of Metz, on suspicion of attacking people with syringes. 

The regional public broadcaster France 3 reported that 

one man was caught with a syringe, and a woman 

who complained of being stabbed --- identified 

another man. The local prosecutor's office

in Metz reported that the alleged victims

were under the age of 18.  One of the 

alleged suspects, a 20-year-old man, 

was previously known to the police.

 

Public radio station Ici France reported that several young 

women had complained of being injected with syringes in 

Evreux and Rouen in Normandy. One woman was taken 

to a hospital with pain in her left arm, where she 

believed a needle had been inserted. 

 

In the western city of Tours, 13 women complained to 

firefighters on duty at a music event that they had 

been injected with syringes. The Interior Ministry 

believes that this was a well-thought-out action 

that was carried out via social media. New 

concerns about syringe attacks arise 

- every time Paris prepares for the 

summer music festival season.

 

In 2022, there was a wave of reports of alleged syringe attacks 

on women and men, in clubs, bars, music events, and even 

theatres. The government warned people to be vigilant 

when going out at night and recommended that they 

immediately contact the police --- and get a 

toxicology test if they think they have 

been drugged with a syringe. 

 

Some of the complaints were filed by women during the
2022 Fête de la Musique, and several hundred
complaints were 
filed throughout the year
in cities such as Nantes,
 Grenoble,
and Toulouse. 

 

The AFP reported on a 2022 police memo stating that the syringe 

marks were typically found on the arms, buttocks, or back,
and the victims did not see the alleged attacker. 

 

More than 370 people were detained during a nationwide music 

festival this weekend on various charges, including nearly 90 

people in Paris. 14 festivalgoers were seriously injured, 

including a 17-year-old who was hospitalized after 

being found sitting on the street with stab 

wounds to his lower abdomen. 

 

13 law enforcement officers, were also injured.

 


























































































































Image: Dollar round-a-bout an illusion







 

 

The Doctor of Economics - named the
starting 
point of the collapse of the
 world's "Western-centric model" 

by Dmitry Voronin

June 24th, 3pm

(Lenta.ru)

 

The economic crisis of 2008 - became the starting point of the 

process of disintegration of the "West-centred model" of the 

world, and the corresponding processes accelerated after

 the coronavirus pandemic in the early 2020s. Professor 

of the Department of European Studies at the Faculty 

of International Relations of St. Petersburg State 

University, Doctor of Economics, Stanislav 

Tkachenko, told the radio station 

"Moscow Says".

 

"For many decades, the global majority was satisfied with the 

situation where Western countries provided financial or 

technological assistance, and in return, they were 

allowed to export their goods to the markets of 

developed countries. Yes, this was unfair, it 

was not assistance but corruption, and it 

did not contribute to the development 

of these countries, but this model 

persisted for decades," the 

economist explained.

 

Describing Russia's place in these processes, the expert 

noted that the country "was pushed out of this Western

-centric world of geoeconomics, and now that we have

realized our interests, we understand - that we don't 

necessarily need to integrate into the entire global 

economy," as there are regions where Russia's

interests, are particularly significant. 

 

Among these regions, Tkachenko mentioned the countries 

of BRICS, SCO, and the post-Soviet states, with which, a 

system will be established that "will not allow Western

-centric interests to prevail."

 

According to IMF data cited by RIA Novosti, the BRICS 

countries' share in the global economy was 36.8%,

while the G7 countries' share .....was 28.86%. 

 

Earlier, the President of Indonesia, which became a member of 

the community in 2025 --- which includes China, India, Russia, 

Brazil, and a number of other non-Western states, speaking

at the plenary session of SPIEF-2025 --- reported on the 

country's refusal to make a choice between utopian 

socialism and inequality-inducing capitalism. 

 

According to Prabowo Subianto, every country should have 

a sovereign economic policy, although many countries in 

Southeast Asia, make the mistake --- of following the

"lead of the largest and most powerful forces."




 

_______________________________________________




SVR: Russia Regrets that Serbia's

 "Thirst for Profit" Undermines 

Traditions of Friendship

June 23rd, 1:10pm

(RT.ru)

 

Moscow regrets that Serbia's "thirst for profit" 

has undermined its tradition of friendship 

with Russia.

 

This information is provided in a statement issued 

by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service's 

press bureau in connection with the supply

 of Serbian ammunition to Ukraine.

 

The article emphasizes - that their common faith has 

united the Serbian and Russian peoples, for many 

centuries ------ inspiring them to fight their 

common enemies.

 

"It is regrettable, that these traditions of friendship and 

mutual assistance, are now being undermined by the 

desire for profit ---- and cowardly multidirectional 

policies," the press release stated.

 

Earlier, the SVR said that Serbia's defense industry 

enterprises..... send shells to NATO countries 

for Ukraine.




 

____________________________________________

 

 

 


Hungary and Slovakia have blocked 

the adoption of the 18th package 

of anti-Russian sanctions

by George Parkhomenko

June 23rd, 11:57am

(Rossiyskaya Gazeta) 

 

Hungary and Slovakia, prevented the adoption of 

the 18th package of sanctions - against Russia, 

Hungary's Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto said. 

 

This was reported by the TASS news agency.

 

"Today, Slovakia and I prevented the adoption 

of the 18th package of sanctions,"
the 
diplomat told reporters.

 

He argued that if the proposal were adopted, Budapest and 

Bratislava would lose access to Russian natural gas and 

oil, which account for a significant portion of their 

energy imports. Replacing these sources, with 

more expensive alternatives, would have a 

negative impact on domestic prices.

 

On Monday, a meeting of EU permanent representatives is 

taking place in Brussels, where the adoption of another 

package of sanctions against Russia and Belarus..

 is being considered.

 

Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, after a meeting of 

the country's Defense Council, emphasized that Brussels should 

lift all restrictions on the supply of Russian energy resources -- 

as prices may significantly increase, in light of the escalating 

conflict in the Middle East. According to him, Europe already

 faces challenges in this area, due to the Iran-Israel conflict.

 

 

 

____________________________________________

 

 

 

 

Putin: The West is trying to prevent
the 
establishment of a fair world order

by Kira Latukhina

June 23rd, 11:28am

(Rossiyskaya Gazeta) 

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his greeting to

 the participants of the Primakov Readings forum, 

announced a serious destabilization in the world.

 

"Attempts by Western countries - to prevent the 

establishment of a just multipolar world order, 

and preserve the model of globalization that 

is beneficial only to them ------ have led to a 

significant destabilization, of the situation 

in the world," Russian President, Vladimir 

Putin said in his welcome to participants 

of the Primakov Readings forum.

 

One of the manifestations of this is the tragic escalation 

of the conflict in the Middle East, Putin emphasized. 


The theme of the readings, "Global Turbulence," 

accurately reflects the current situation in 

international relations, he noted.

 

The President is convinced - that an effective confrontation, 

with challenges, and a departure from the Western-centric
coordinated system ------ can only be achieved, through 

collective efforts. 

 

He made the same call ------ at the plenary session of the 

St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday.

 

 


___________________________________________








Medinsky spoke about the hatred

 of Russia in Ukrainian textbooks

by Marina Sovina (night editor)

June 21st, 7:12pm

(Lenta.ru)

 

Ukrainian textbooks instill hatred of Russia in children, 

said Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky on

 Solovyov Live TV channel.

 

According to him, Ukraine instills “hatred of the Russian 

people” from an early age. “Unfortunately, their 

textbooks and educational materials instill 

hatred,” the politician emphasized.

 

He clarified that sooner or later, this would stop, and

 the authors of these manuals would "fade........ 

into oblivion."

 

Earlier, the Federation Council told about the formation

 of a negative attitude towards Russia, among 

Ukrainians. As the senators specified, 

hatred towards Russia, has been 

instilled in Ukrainian citizens

 for many years.

 

 

 

_______________________________




Zakharova named the goal 

of the West's hybrid war: 

Zakharova -- The West's

hybrid war on Russia is 

designed to destroy 

the EU economy

June 21st, 1:05pm

(RT.ru)

 

One of the goals of the hybrid war waged by the West against 

Russia --- is to undermine the economic performance of the
European Union. This was stated by Maria Zakharova, the 

official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs, to media on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg
International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 21.

 

According to the diplomat, the EU has become a strong 

player on the global stage, in recent years, with its 

economy strengthening - and the euro currency 

proving to be..... secure and stable. In her
opinion, 
the dollar lacks such support.

 

"The euro currency is backed, but the dollar currency 

is not. They had to influence it ---- somehow," 

Zakharova said.

 

In her opinion, this could be a reason for the collective

West's desire... to weaken the EU through hybrid 

methods, such as sanctions and conflicts.

 

Earlier in the day... Zakharova spoke about protecting Russian 

youth --- from the liberal dictatorship of the West. In her
opinion, young people need not just to be informed or
rallied -- but to 
be explained the fundamental moral
and ethical norms ---- 
in order to counteract the
destructive Western ideology.

 




_____________________________________________________
 


 





Medvedev: There is nothing sacred


 left in Europe, and their fate


 is a freak show


June 21st, 12:25pm


(Vesti.ru)


 


Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian 


Federation Security Council, said that Europe has 


become a platform for freak shows.


 


Medvedev emphasized that the United States, Israel, 


and Iran need to pray that the Middle East conflict 


does not turn into a global one.


 


"I'm not even talking about Europe, where nothing - is 


sacred anymore. Their fate is to participate in freak 


shows like the Paris Olympics, where degenerate 


freaks like Macron, and other old men, like 


Ursula, participate," Medvedev wrote 


on Telegram.


 


Earlier, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security 


Council said that to the provocation with the "dirty" 


bomb Moscow will respond with a clean nuclear 


one - and also advised the leadership of the 


Kiev regime ....to walk in Chernobyl.


 


 


_____________________________________







Putin warned - about the consequences of 


attempts to strike Russia's shadow fleet


by Marina Sovina (night editor)


June 20th, 9:05pm


(Lenta.ru)


 


Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that attempts to 


strike at Russia's shadow fleet would lead to problems 


for those "who are trying to cause trouble." He made


this statement ---- during a plenary session at the 


St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, 


according to a Lenta.ru correspondent.


 


The Russian leader noted - that this would eventually affect 


global hydrocarbon prices and affect those countries that 


are trying to do this, because they ----- are the main 


consumers. "That's all it will lead to, and we 


will find markets," he emphasized.


 


Earlier, Vladimir Putin said ------ that the vision of the Russian 


economy as a raw materials-based economy dependent on 


hydrocarbon exports - is clearly outdated. 


 


According to him, the contribution of the raw materials 


sector to our country's economic dynamics - is no 


longer decisive.


 


 


______________________________________



 Putin: The share of BRICS countries

 in the global economy will

 inevitably grow

June 20th, 2:55pm

(RT.ru)

 

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the BRICS 

countries' share in the global economy has doubled 

since the beginning of the century... and will 

inevitably continue to grow.

 

He said this during a plenary session at the SPIEF.

 

RT conducted a live broadcast.

 

Putin recalled that at the beginning of the 21st century, 

the BRICS countries accounted for a fifth of the 

global economy.

 

"Today, this is already 40% of the global economy.

 It is clear that this share will only grow," he said.

 

 

___________________________________________________



Russia will continue --- to build
independent 
payment systems
with the BRICS countries

June 20th, 2:45pm

(RT.ru)

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will 

continue to build independent and effective payment

 systems with the BRICS countries.

 

"We will continue to work closely with our BRICS 

colleagues to build effective, reliable, and 

independent mechanisms and services,"

 he said on the sidelines of the SPIEF.

 

RT is broadcasting live.

 

Earlier, Putin said that Russia ---- takes the first place

among European countries in terms of the economy.

 

According to the head of state, we need independent 

solutions to strengthen foreign trade infrastructure.

 

 

___________________________________________________


 

Novak: Russia Did Not Lose

 from Stopping Gas Transit 

Through Ukraine

June 19th, 9:29pm

(RT.ru)

 

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that 

Russia has maintained its gas export volumes 

through LNG supplies, while European 

consumers bear the main burden 

of the transit halt.

 

This is reported by RIA Novosti.

 

"Russia has not lost, in this sense, because last year 

and early this year -- we increased our supplies of 

liquefied natural gas to Europe, and our balance

 has remained almost the same as last year," 

Novak said.

 

He noted.. that European consumers are forced to

 pay more for gas, which affects electricity prices.

 

Novak added that the main routes for exporting 

Russian gas today are through TurkStream, as 

well as to the countries of Central Asia and 

the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Earlier, Novak urged not to fantasize about the 

situation on the oil market, against the back

-drop of the escalating conflict in the 

Middle East.




 

__________________________________________



Brics economic growth 

doubles that of the G7

June 19th, 8:53am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The president of the Russian Chamber of Commerce 

and Industries, Sergei Katírin, highlighted today at 

the Saint Petersburg Forum ---- the high rate of 

economic growth of the Brics, compared 

to the G7.

 

According to Katírin, in a comment during this Thursday's 

sessions of the Saint Petersburg International Economic 

Forum (Spief 2025), the Brics today, represents over

 37 percent of the world's Gross Domestic Product 

(GDP) in nominal terms and its economic growth

 is close to 4.4 percent, more than double that 

of the G7.

 

Trade between members of the Brics, in the opinion

 of the Russian executive, is also developing 

with great dynamism.

 

''In 2024, trade between the Brics countries approached 

678 billion dollars. Global trade grew at a rate of 3% 

annually over the last decade; Brics commercial 

exchange with the rest of the world, at 2.9%; 

and intra-community trade, at 10.7%, 

he stressed.

 

For Russia, foreign trade with other Brics partners is key. 

In 2024, trade between the parties increased by 17.5%.

 

The Brics group, initially composed of Brazil, Russia, India, 

China and South Africa, expanded with the entry of Saudi 

Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and 

Iran, in January 2024, and Indonesia in January 

2025 --- as full members.

 

In turn, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, 

Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan, are 

partner states of the group.

 

 

____________________________________

 

 

 

Perseid rain show
..is approaching

June 19th, 11:28am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The Perseid meteor shower.... is a spectacle expected 

by thousands of people today, well, it will be active 

from July 17 to August 24, and will reach its 

maximum peak on August 12.

 

They will be visible anywhere in the sky --- with the naked 

eye, in the northern hemisphere, but experts warn that 

in 2025, the moon will be very bright at that stage, 

which may limit observation conditions.

 

They point out that the glow of this star can 

significantly reduce the visibility of the 

faintest meteors.

 

At its peak... the Perseids produce around 100 meteors 

per hour and are considered one of the most prolific 

meteor streams, according to the astronomical 

portal starwalk.

 

Its trajectory dates back to the constellation of Perseus, 

hence its name, and within it there is a point, called 

radiant, from which meteors seem to emanate. 

The higher the radiant rises....... the more 

meteors will be seen, the source notes.

 

Also, the best years to observe this phenomenon of 

shooting stars coincide with new moons or lunar 

phases --- that do not interfere in the second
half 
of the night.

 

The main body for the Perseids is the large periodic comet 

109P/Swift-Tuttle, which although approaches Earth only

 once every 133 years --- it is possible to observe this 

meteor shower because the planet where we live 

crosses the comet's wake annually.

 

They are also popularly known as the Tears of San Lorenzo, 

because they take place close to the celebration of this 

saint, on August 10.

 

It is also considered one of the best and most famous, along

 with the Geminids of the month of December, due to the 

large number of meteors (shooting stars) that emanate

 and are enjoyed by shower lovers in the sky.

 

 

_________________________________

 

 

 

Colombia entered the New 

Brics Development Bank

June 19th, 10:51am

 (Prensa Latina) 

 

The Foreign Minister of Colombia, Laura Sarabia, today - 
celebrated his nation's entry into the Brics group bank 

after the request made by President Gustavo Petro 

in Shanghai ...to join that entity.

 

“The news that transcends the financial, and broadens our 

horizon. Colombia --- officially joins the Brics bank led by 

Dilma Rousseff. We continue to pave the way towards 

new opportunities for the country”, he wrote on his 

social network account X.

 

The request to join the New Development Bank and an 

interview with Rousseff - constituted Petro's last 

activity on his tour of China last May.

 

Along with Colombia's request, a letter signed by the Minister 

of Finance and Public Credit, Germán Ávila, was also known, 

where Colombia's interest in integrating the entity as a 

borrowing member was revealed, which will allow

 it to receive loans at low rates ---- to finance 

development projects in infrastructure, 

renewable energy or health.

 

The minister also explained to Rousseff that Colombia “is 

willing to subscribe to 5,125 shares of the authorized 

capital of the New Development Bank, of which four 

100 correspond to required shares (as collateral) 

and 1,025 correspond to paid shares (in cash)”.

 

The above is equivalent to a subscribed capital (total amount 

committed to contribute) of 512 million 200 thousand dollars, 

which includes a demandable capital of 410 million dollars 

and a paid capital of 102 million 500 thousand dollars.

 

The first payment, also detailed the entry application letter, it 

would be carried out within six months following the date on 

which Colombia delivers the document of accession to the 

agreement to the Government of Brazil. The New 

Development Bank is a multilateral financial 

institution created by Brazil, Russia, India, 

China and South Africa.

 

Its main objective is to mobilize resources for infrastructure and 

sustainable development projects in emerging and developing 

countries, both inside and outside the group that already 

makes up the bloc.

 

 

____________________________




The Czech government
failed to resign

by Borislav Agadzhanov

June 18th, 9:35pm

(Gazeta.ru)

 

The Czech opposition did not have enough votes

 in parliament to force the government to resign.

 

The Czech opposition failed to win the necessary number 

of votes in the country's lower house of parliament to 

pass a motion of no confidence in the government. 

This was reported by the news agency CTK.

 

94 deputies from three opposition parties voted in favour 

of the government's resignation. At the same time, 98 

parliamentarians representing the ruling coalition 

voted against it. A vote of no confidence in the 

government requires 101 votes.

 

The vote was the opposition's fourth attempt to oust Prime 

Minister Petr Fiala's liberal government. The opposition 

demanded the government's resignation due to a 

scandal involving the Ministry of Justice 

receiving a large sum of Bitcoin from

 a convicted drug dealer.

 

On June 3, the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel 

stated that the scandal involving the donation of bitcoins

 to the country's Ministry of Justice by a convicted drug 

dealer ....has an extremely harmful potential.

 

Earlier in the Czech Republic, the head of the Ministry of 

Justice resigned because of bitcoins from a drug dealer.

 

 

________________________________________________________




Medvedchuk: Europe still has a chance 


to change its mind and stop 


helping Zelensky


June 18th, 7am


(Vesti.ru)


 


It was not difficult to assume that the United States would 


abandon Zelensky's Ukraine ----- at the most inopportune 


moment for the Kiev regime. An illegitimate regime can 


only win on television and only if the opposition media 


is destroyed. The Iran-Israel war ....has pushed the 


Ukrainian conflict into the background - and it is 


not the last hot spot on the map of the United 


States' most important interests, which 


does not include Ukraine.


 


Washington is officially ending military aid to Ukraine, according 


to The Telegraph. At a congressional hearing this week on the 


U.S. military budget for 2026, Secretary of Defense Pete 


Hegseth confirmed that the Trump administration has 


a "completely different perspective" on the war in 


Ukraine than Joe Biden, and insisted that --- "a 


peaceful resolution through negotiations, is 


in the best interests of both sides - and 


our country."


 


The situation is ---- that after showering Ukraine with
military hardware, the US can no longer afford to
give Zelensky 
weapons -- for free.

Elon Musk has warned about the 
risks of a US default
if the country does not 
change its financial policy,
i.e., earn money - 
instead of giving it away, as
the Biden 
administration has been doing. 


 


On the social network X, he commented on the country's public 


debt level and the costs associated with its servicing. Musk 


referred to a Wall Street Mav account post --- which noted 


that about 25% of the U.S. federal budget's tax revenue 


..goes towards paying interest on the national debt. 


According to recent data - the national debt has 


reached $37 trillion, while the annual budget


 revenue, is around $5 trillion.


 


"If this continues... America will become a de facto bankrupt, and 


all tax revenue will be used to pay interest on the national debt, 


leaving no funds for anything else," the businessman wrote.


 


Zelensky realized that the "auction of unprecedented generosity" 


had ended -- and during his visit to Austria, he stated at a press 


conference with President Van der Bellen: "Today, we are not 


talking about new aid... with America. Indeed, one of the 


issues that I will discuss with President Trump at this 


meeting - is the defense package that Ukraine is 


willing to purchase. This, is what we will talk 


about. I am confident that we will have this 


opportunity, at least - I am counting on it."


 


But the question arises, where does an illegitimate person 


get money from, when all he's done is destroy the 


country's economy, which he claims to be 


"counting on"?


 


Naturally, Zelensky wants to ask Europe for money. The Kiel 


Institute for the World Economy has published a new report 


that describes how Europe could replace U.S. support for 


Ukraine, both financially and militarily. The organization 


estimates that European governments as a whole will 


need to almost double their aid from the current 44 


billion euros per year to 82 billion euros per year. 


 


Thus, the largest economies and institutions will have to play 


the biggest role in increasing their financial assistance to 


Ukraine, led by the EU, from the current 16 billion euros 


to 36 billion euros per year, a 2.3-fold increase.


 


To compensate for the US's support for Ukraine, Germany will 


need to increase its support for Ukraine from 6 billion euros


 to 9 billion euros per year -- a 1.5-fold increase -- while the 


UK will need to increase its support from 5 billion euros


 to 6.5 billion euros per year, a 1.3-fold increase. 



France, on the other hand, will need to 


increase its funding for Ukraine from 


1.5 billion euros -- to 6 billion euros 


per year, a 4-fold increase, while 


Italy and Spain -- will need to 


increase their funding,
by 
a factor of 6. 


 


Replacing US military aid will be a much more difficult task, 


as it will be most difficult to replace US HIMARS and 


Patriot systems and their ammunition, as well as 


US intelligence and satellite imagery.


 


As we can see, Europe will have to shell out a lot of money.


 Will it do it? It is more profitable for cynical European 


politicians to make some nefarious provocation 


and drag the United States back into the 


Ukrainian conflict.


 


"Currently... the Ukrainians are preparing provocations in the 


Baltic Sea, with the British. One of the scenarios... involves 


staging a fake Russian torpedo attack on a U.S. Navy ship. 


The Soviet/Russian-made torpedoes have already been 


transferred to the British by the Ukrainian side. It is 


planned that some of them will explode at a "safe 


distance" from the American ship, while one will 


fail to detonate - and will be presented to the 


public - as evidence of Russia's "malicious 


activity," according to the Russian 


Foreign Intelligence Service.


 


If we are talking about billions of euros that simply cannot be 


obtained in Europe, it is logical to assume that this is not the 


only provocation being prepared by European intelligence 


agencies.


 


But they may be.. too late with provocations, as Israel is drawing 


the US into a war with Iran, much more successfully. Netanyahu 


clearly believes that the brakes were invented by cowards, and 


he's going all-in, putting Washington - on its back foot. Joining 


the war on Israel's side carries unpredictable consequences 


for Trump.


 


"There is... a question about how prepared the U.S. Armed Forces 


are for a real conflict. The answer is that they are not prepared 


at all. They are not prepared to the point of being afraid. 


I don't think people understand this," the journalist 


Tucker Carlson commented on the situation.


 


Nevertheless, it is clearly more interesting, for Trump to play with


 Iran, since his hands are not tied by European globalists. It is 


one thing to play by the rules of the British in Ukraine, and 


another to play a risky game in the Persian Gulf. So far, 


Trump has chosen the latter. He does not want to 


declare Russia an "evil empire" in order to 


receive its mediation services.... in 


resolving the Iranian issue.


 


Therefore, Europeans will either have to fork out ------- or 


independently, seek ways to peace in Ukraine, which is 


the cheapest option for the stingy European politicians. 



And the war expenses will be saved, and there is no 


need to wait for a military response. And Russia is 


already starting to work on a roadmap.. for this 


process. So, Deputy Foreign Minister of the 


Russian Federation Alexander Grushko 


said that Russia will demand that


Ukraine destroys the weapons


supplied by the West ---


 to end the war.


 


"Of course --- all these surpluses must be destroyed. All 


international algorithms are known. They (weapons.
Editor's note) should be reduced, disposed of,

and guaranteed," Grushko said.


 


Here's a reasonable solution: European leaders should 


consider - not supplying weapons to Ukraine. As we 


can see, it's not effective, it's too expensive, and 


Russia's patience is not indestructible. Playing 


provocations, and engaging in anti-Russian 


hysteria is costly for European countries, 


but it could be.. even more expensive.


 


Chairman of the Council of the 


Other Ukraine Movement, 


 


Viktor Medvedchuk


 


 


___________________________






India urges to prioritize the Global South


 to achieve a sustainable future


June 18th, 5:53am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, stressed 


the importance of understanding the priorities and 


concerns of the Global South if the international 


community is serious about moving towards a 


sustainable future today.


 


In the session on ''Energy Security: diversification, 


technology and infrastructure to ensure access 


and affordability in a changing world'' from the 


Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in Kananaskis, 


Canada, the Indian head of government 


expressed that conflicts in various 


parts of the world --- have a 


debilitating impact.. on 


the countries of the 


Global South.


 


He also pointed out that a world driven by technology 


requires closer cooperation between nations and to 


achieve this, people and the planet must be the 


focus and nucleus of progress.


 


He highlighted that energy security is one of the


 main challenges facing future generations.


 


On the other hand..... Modi demanded forceful measures 


against countries that support and promote terrorism, 


he noted - that there should be no double standards 


in addressing it and urged countries to strengthen


 the global fight against this scourge.


 


The prime minister also spoke about the connection


 between technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) 


and energy.


 


“While AI has become a fundamental tool for promoting


 efficiency and innovation, the technology itself 


--- consumes a lot of energy, therefore, it is 


important to design sustainable energy


 consumption strategies through clean


 and ecological initiatives”, he noted.


 


He stressed that, in the age of AI, it is essential 


to have secure and resilient supply chains of 


critical minerals.


 


In addition, he noted that the quality and 


diversity of data ------- are crucial for 


responsible AI.


 


Modi also referred to the importance of India's 


commitment to inclusive growth, in which, he 


added, “accessibility, affordability and 


acceptability, are the principles 


underpinning the national 


approach to energy 


security”.


 


He mentioned initiatives undertaken by India, such 


as the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition 


for Disaster Resilient Infrastructures, the 


Global Biofuels Alliance, and Mission 


LiFE, among others, and he urged 


the international community: to 


strengthen them even further.


 


 


_______________________________






Musk: The US is at risk of 


going bankrupt with the 


current financial policy


June 16th, 6:30pm


(RT.ru)


 


Businessman Elon Musk has warned about the risks 


of default in the United States if current financial 


policies continue.


 


This was his comment on the publication about the 


size of the US national debt ----- and its servicing.


 


"If this continues, America will become a de facto


bankrupt," he wrote on the social network X.


 


Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned 


about the risks of default on the national debt
in the 
second half of the summer.


 


 


_____________________________________________________



 Russia's international reserves

 increased by $8.6 billion

 over the week

June 16th, 2:10pm

(RT.ru)

 

Russia's international reserves increased by 

$8.6 billion over the week, reaching

 $687.3 billion.

 

This was reported by TASS, citing

 data from the Bank of Russia.

 

Earlier it was reported that Russian President 

Vladimir Putin will speak at the plenary 

session of SPIEF on June 20.

 

 

_____________________________



 


Vladimir Putin wished Donald


Trump .......a happy birthday


by Arina Serova


June 14th, 3:22pm


(Komsomolskaya Pravda)


 


TO SHARE


 


Today, on June 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin 


congratulated his US counterpart, Donald Trump, 


on his birthday, in a telephone conversation. 


 


This information was provided to journalists, by 


Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president.


 


It is known that the two presidents spoke
for 50''.


 


 


____________________________________________





Cubans honour Che in province 


that holds his remains


June 14th, 12:25pm


(Prensa Latina) 


 


A representation of the people of the central Cuban 


province of Villa Clara paid tribute on Saturday to


 Ernesto Che Guevara, on his 97th birthday, 


at the memorial that holds his remains.


 


The day started with a parade of hundreds of workers and 


students through several points of the city, protagonist


 in 1958 of the Battle of Santa Clara, a key event for


 the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, and left 


Che ....forever linked to this city.


 


Later, the Sculpture Complex, which houses the remains of 


the Argentine-Cuban guerrilla fighter since 1997, was the 


venue where 130 fourth-grade pioneers changed their 


scarves, representing all those in the province who 


are now members of the “Jose Marti” Pioneers 


Organization (OPJM).


 


The leading political and government authorities in the 


central province awarded the “June 14” distinction 


and the Young Communist Youth Union (UJC)’s


 card to outstanding students and workers.


 


This June 14, Cubans also remember the 180th birthday
of 
Antonio Maceo -- one of the leading leaders of the
Mambi 
struggles for the country’s independence,
and an
tagonist of the invasion of the West,
one 
of the most important military
campaigns
 in America in the
19th century.


 


 


 


______________________________


 


 


 


The United States --- between 


protests and military parade


June 14th, 11:58am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Today will be a day of contrasts in the United States: 


more than 2,000 protests against Donald Trump's 


policies and a military parade in honour of the 


250th anniversary of the Army, which 


coincides with the president's


 79th birthday.


 


The demonstrations, including in the country’s capital,


 are expected to spread throughout the country under 


the name “No Kings” with the aim of “honouring civil


 liberties ------ for all,” according to the organizers.


 


In addition, they will express their open rejection of 


deportations - the United States’ complicity with 


Israel in the genocide in Gaza, the drastic cuts 


that resulted in federal employee layoffs and 


the dismantling of federal agencies.


 


The protests were called by the 50501 Movement (“50 


States, 50 Protests, One Movement”), formed ---- as
they 
suggest, by people interested in defending 


democracy ---- against Trump’s
authoritarianism.


 


“No King’s Day is a day of national rebellion. From cities 


to small towns, from stairwells... to courthouses to 


community parks, we are taking action to reject 


authoritarianism and show the world what 


democracy truly looks like,” they state 


on their official website.


 


What began as widespread raids in Los Angeles and 


its surroundings last week has become a flashpoint 


that has sparked a hotbed of protests.


 


Trump deployed thousands of California National Guard 


members to the city, and 700 Marines were mobilized. 


About 400 immigrants have been detained since 


June the 6th, by the federal authorities in 


Southern California.


 


“Everyone is in shock,” said a reverend, who recorded a 


video of an arrest in his church parking lot. “We never 


imagined that this would - literally - come to our 


doorstep,” according to press reports.


 


Meanwhile, on his Truth Social network, the Republican 


president announced the parade that will take place in 


Washington, DC, this Saturday. It will be spectacular 


and will go down in history as the biggest and best 


parade ever seen here, he said. The approximate 


cost of this event could reach up to $45 million.


 


An estimated 200,000 humans are expected 


to attend the parade, which will be open


 to these sheeple, with free admission.


 


 


___________________________________


 


 


 


World Blood Donor Day: 


save lives & give hope


June 14th, 11:09am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


On Saturday, Humans celebrate World Blood Donor Day 


(WBDD), a global tribute to the millions of voluntary, 


unpaid blood donors who, in doing so, give others 


another chance at life.


 


Officially designated as an annual event by the World 


Health Assembly (WHA) in 2005, this year’s theme is 


“Give Blood, Give Hope: Together We Save Lives.”


 


Among the campaign’s objectives are to raise public 


awareness of the need to save blood and blood 


products to ensure people’s health, and 


convince regular and new donors to 


do so regularly, to help ensure 


stable, sufficient reserves.


 


It also aims to highlight the positive effect of blood donation 


on the health, well-being of others, and promote solidarity, 


compassion, and community spirit - through this action.


 


Blood transfusion is a medical procedure in which blood is


 transferred from one person to another to replace blood 


components lost due to surgery, injury, bleeding 


disorder, or disease, including cancer,


 hemophilia, diabetes, etc.


 


 


_____________________________





 LGBT supporters have set up a "corner"

 in a children's library in Australia

June 12th, 5:03pm

(RT.ru)

 

The Perth Children's Library - in Australia, 

organized a corner with LGBT literature 

to celebrate Pride Month.

 

An RT subscriber who lives there - sent a video 

from the library. Among the books on display 

are a memoir by a “drag star” who dressed 

in women’s clothing and, “made a name 

for himself in gay bars,” a collection 

of travelogues -- with a focus on 

LGBT topics ----- and a novel 

about the same-sex love 

.....of a US' ''maid''.

 

Earlier, Anatoly Norovyatkin, the distribution director of

 the Eksmo publishing house, was detained due to the

 promotion of the LGBT movement in the books
of 
the Popcorn Books publishing house.

 

* The LGBT movement is recognized 

as extremist and banned in the 

Russian Federation.





______________________________________




Pushkov: The EU Failed to 

Replicate the Maidan 

Events in Tbilisi

June 12th, 4:27pm

(RT.ru)

 

The EU's attempts.. to create a second "Maidan" in Georgia

 have failed, according to Russian Senator Alexey Pushkov.

 

"The EU --- failed to repeat the 'Maidan' in Tbilisi... The Georgian 

authorities placed their bets on the interests of their country, 

not the Brussels liberal dictatorship — and won," he wrote 

on his Telegram channel.

 

According to him, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban 

has said that the EU is afraid of Georgia and envious 

of its economy.

 

The senator added that Tbilisi had refused to follow the 

EU's instructions in both its domestic and foreign 

policies. He concluded that the "proud levers" 

of European Commission President Ursula 

von der Leyen - to falsify elections in 

Georgia ---- had not worked.

 

 

___________________________



Orban called the Georgian authorities 

"an animal" that the EU is afraid of


June 12th, 1:08pm


(RT.ru)


 


According to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, 


EU countries are afraid of facing the "beast" in the


 form of the Georgian government.


 


"For them, the Georgian government is a beast that 


Brussels is afraid to face..... face to face," 


NewsGeorgia quotes him as saying.


 


Orban claims that Georgia is the envy of the world 


--- due to its economic growth and reduced 


national debt.


 


Earlier, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, 


said that the country has evidence of EU funding 


of extremism.


 


It was also reported that --- the NATO and EU 


information centre in Georgia, will be closed.






 


______________________________________________

 

 

 

 

ANI: Indian police have found 

two survivors at the site of
plane crash in Gujarat

by Elizaveta Bubnova

June 12th, 1:06pm

(Komsomolskaya Pravda)

 

TO SHARE

 

According to information as of 16:30 Moscow time, the 

Indian police have found two survivors after a plane 

crash in Gujarat on Thursday, June 12. This was 

reported by ANI, citing the Commissioner of 

the Ahmedabad department, Gyanendra 

Singh Malik.

 

"The police --- found one survivor on the scene (in the cabin 

of the plane) 11A. One survivor was found in the hospital

 and is currently undergoing treatment," he said.

 

An Air India plane crashed shortly after takeoff near 

Ahmedabad Airport in India. According to the

preliminary reports, there were 242 

passengers on board, and their 

fate is unknown. Witnesses, 

have posted videos of the

 fire at the crash site.

 

Malik added that the death toll from the plane crash may 

rise further, as the Boeing crashed in a residential area. 


The plane was en route to the UK, but
something went wrong at the 

take-off stage.

 

As KP.RU wrote earlier, footage of a medical dormitory in 

Ahmedabad, India, where an Air India Boeing 787-8 

Dreamliner crashed, has been posted online. 

 

According to local media reports, at 

least 30 students were injured.

 

 

__________________________________



Venezuela.. expresses 
condolences to India


 for plane crash


June 12th, 11:40am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Venezuela - extended its deepest condolences to the people 


and Government of India, for the tragic plane accident that 


occurred today in the Meghani Nagar area, that the entire 


nation mourns.


 


On behalf of President Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan Foreign 


Minister, Yván Gil, highlighted that the ties of brotherhood 


between Caracas and New Delhi -- “call us to unite in 


mourning, to pray for those who left and to wish 


for the speedy recovery of the wounded”.


 


This Thursday, an Air India plane crashed to the ground near 


the Ahmedabad airport, in the coastal state of Gujarat, in 


which 242 people were traveling, of them.... 230 


passengers and 12 crew members.


 


The first reports indicated that the airship was flying to London, 


United Kingdom, with 169 Indian travelers, 53 British, seven 


Portuguese and one Canadian, although the number of


 victims is unknown at this time.


 


Health relief teams and firefighters were immediately sent to the 


scene of the accident to provide first aid, while the competent 


authorities began investigations to determine the causes 


of the accident.


 


The plane was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 


considered an experienced pilot, and was accompanied 


in the cockpit by First Officer Clive Kundar, reported 


the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of the 


Asian country.


 


 


____________________________________________


 


 


 


South Africa expresses its 


condolences to India 


after plane crash


June 12th, 11:33am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The South African Government and people today expressed


 their sincere condolences to the Government and people 


of India following the crash of an India Airlines plane 


that occurred today shortly after taking off from 


Ahmedabad, India.


 


A statement from the South African Foreign Ministry recalls 


that flight AI171 was traveling from Ahmedabad to London 


when it crashed in a residential area shortly after takeoff.


 


The plane was carrying 242 people of various nationalities.


 


The crew was made up of two pilots and 10 cabin crew. 


The travellers are divided into 169 Indian nationals, 


53 British, one Canadian and seven Portuguese.


 


The cause of the accident is still unknown.


 


The South African people accompany the people of India, as 


well as those of all other countries affected by the accident,


in these difficult times, and it extends its solidarity to 


families who have lost their loved ones, the 


brief text concludes.


 


 


_____________________________________________



The Polish Sejm expressed 

a vote -- of no confidence
in
 the Tusk government

June 11th, 3:44pm

(RT.ru)

 

The Polish Sejm... expressed a vote of no 

confidence in Donald Tusk's government.

 

According to TASS, citing TVP Info, 243 

deputies expressed their support for

the n--confidence motion ----- while 

210 parliamentarians opposed it.

 




_____________________________________





A Fifth Day of Protests in
California’s 
Los Angeles 

June 11th, 2:09pm

(al Manar)

 

Protests over federal immigration policy - continued for 

a fifth consecutive day in California’s Los Angeles, as 

demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of National 

Guard troops and condemned what they described 

as overreach by President Donald Trump.

 

The unrest has sparked a widening political and constitutional 

clash between the White House and California’s Democrat 

leadership, which accuses Trump of inflaming tensions

---------- by violating the state’s jurisdiction over 

internal security.

 

Hundreds of protesters once again blocked traffic on a major Los 

Angeles freeway in a renewed wave of demonstrations across 

California. In response, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass 

declared a local state of emergency and imposed 

a nightly curfew in the downtown area, citing 

concerns over looting and vandalism.

 

“I’ve declared a local emergency and imposed a curfew 

downtown to stop the escalating destruction and 

looting,” Bass told reporters.

 

She confirmed that at least 29 stores had been looted in 

what she called the most serious escalation since 

federal forces arrived. The curfew is expected 

to remain in place for several days, pending 

a review of the evolving situation.

 

Crisis Erupts Over Immigration Raids

 

The protests were initially triggered by federal raids targeting 

immigrant communities but quickly morphed into a broader 

political crisis between California and the Trump 

administration. President Trump defended 

his decision to deploy federal troops to 

Los Angeles --- calling it a necessary 

response to what he described as 

a national security emergency.

 

Addressing US troops at a military base in North Carolina, 

Trump declared that “generations of American heroes 

didn’t shed their blood on distant shores only to see 

our country destroyed from within by lawlessness 

and third-world invasions.”

 

“What we’re witnessing in California, is a full-scale assault 

on public order and national sovereignty, led by agitators 

waving foreign flags. We will liberate Los Angeles,” 

he continued.

 

Trump’s remarks followed his order to deploy 700 US Marines 

and 4,000 National Guard personnel to Los Angeles - a move 

critics have condemned as a politically 

motivated overreaction.

 

Legal and Political Battle Intensifies

 

California Governor Gavin Newsom sought an emergency court 

order - to block the deployment of federal troops, arguing that 

Trump had unlawfully bypassed state authority. However, US 

District Judge Charles Breyer denied the immediate request

---- though he granted additional time for the administration 

to formally respond.

 

In a sharply worded statement, Newsom accused Trump of 

“undermining American democracy” and “commandeering 

state forces ------- to enforce immigration policies 

....without consent.”

 

California has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, 

alleging that Trump is using military force to carry 

out immigration enforcement in defiance of 

the state’s objections.

 

Unrest Spreads Beyond Los Angeles

 

As tensions grow, protests have expanded to other major cities, 

including San Francisco, Dallas, and parts of Kentucky. With 

no sign of de-escalation, both political and legal battles 

continue to deepen — highlighting the fractured state 

of US federalism in an election year defined by

 immigration, national identity, and 

executive power.

 

 

 

Source: Al-Ahed News Website (Edited and 

translated by Al-Manar English Website)

 

 

____________________________________________





President Sheinbaum --- Expresses 

Solidarity With Cristina Fernandez

June 11th, 12:31pm

(teleSUR)

 

‘It is a political matter, and she has our

 full support,’ the Mexican leader said.

 

On Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum 

expressed her solidarity with former Argentine 

President Cristina Fernandez (2007–2015) 

after Argentina’s Supreme Court upheld 

a six-year prison sentence ------ and 

disqualified her from holding 

public office.

 

“Yes ---- all our solidarity goes to Cristina. From our point of 

view it is a political matter, and she has our full support,”

 Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference.

 

Sheinbaum’s gesture came one day after the Argentine 

Supreme Court rejected the appeal filed by Fernandez 

against the 2022 ruling ------ which cited alleged 

irregularities in the awarding of public 

road contracts.

 

The unanimous decision by the three Supreme Court justices 

will now move forward with Fernandez’s arrest in the coming 

days so she can begin serving her sentence. Fernandez has 

denounced the ruling as a case of “Lawfare,” referring to 

the use of legal systems ---- for political persecution.

 

A text reads, “Now, in the middle of the night, thousands 

of people in Argentina continue to take to the streets
to
 support Cristina Fernandez - against lawfare.”

 

In a speech outside the Justicialist Party (PJ) headquarters, 

Fernandez said the judges who upheld her sentence “are 

puppets who answer to higher powers” and described 

them as a “triumvirate of disgrace.”

 

The 72-year-old politician had announced last week her 

intention to run as a provincial legislator in elections 

scheduled for September in Buenos Aires Province, 

the largest electoral district in Argentina.

 

Sheinbaum and Fernandez, have had a close relationship 

marked by mutual admiration. After winning the Mexican 

election, Sheinbaum invited the Argentine leftist leader 

to her transition house ----- where they discussed the

importance ----- of supporting alternatives to 

neoliberal governments.

 

Cristina Fernandez’s Prison Sentence 

Is a Political Maneuver: Lula Institute.

 

 

_______________________________________






The EU has opposed the rejection 

of Russian energy resources

by Andrey Prokopyev 

(night line editor)

June 10th, 8:25pm

(Lenta.ru)

 

Hungary - strongly rejects the EU Commission's plan to 

phase out Russian energy resources, as this proposal 

will have a negative impact on the country's energy 

ecurity and may lead to increased utility costs. 

 

This was stated by Hungary's Foreign Minister 

Peter Szijjarto, as reported by RIA Novosti.

 

The official emphasized that at the upcoming meeting of 

the energy ministers of the EU countries, he intends to 

ensure that the Brussels plan does not cut Hungary 

off from its current energy sources. According to 

him, Budapest considers this issue to be an 

important part of its sovereignty, and 

therefore it will not allow Brussels 

to dictate to Hungary which 

energy sources it can 

purchase from.

 

Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto noted that 

the country wants to continue cooperation with Russia in 

the energy sector. In a telephone conversation with his 

Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, he called the EC's

 plan to abandon the supply of Russian energy 

resources by the end of 2027 extremely 

harmful for its economy.

 

He pointed out the importance of such cooperation, as 

without it, the costs of citizens and companies will 

increase several times. Szijjarto described this 

development as unacceptable for Hungary.

 

 

______________________________________________

 




Arestovich: I despise Ukrainians, they 

don't want to change their minds

by Artem Vereykin

(Night Line Editor)

June 10th, 8:11pm

(Lenta.ru)

 

Former adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine, 

Alexey Arestovich (included in the list of terrorists and 

extremists by Rosfinmonitoring) spoke extremely 

sharply about Ukrainians. He stated this -- on 

one of his last live broadcasts on YouTube.

 

"I despise the Ukrainians. You're bullshit. Utter bullshit,******, 

about which it is a shame to wipe your boots. No self-

respecting person, Austrian, Australian or alpha 

Centauri, on the same hectare with you ***** 

should not sit down," he said.

 

The reason for the emotional reaction -- was the news about the

release of a new school textbook, which praises some political 

and cultural figures of modern Ukraine. "What are you fighting 

for, for the system that turned you into cattle? You swear at 

the Soviet Union, so it was 150 times freer. You can still 

think about it, but you don't want to think about it," 

he concluded.

 

Earlier, Arestovich predicted the collapse of Ukraine. "The 

familiar Ukraine within the borders of '91 - is no longer 

there. There will be some other Ukraine. Maybe 

there will be several of them," he said.

 

 

_________________________________________



Musk's father: Dostoevsky's books 

taught me to see through the veil 

of propaganda about Russia 

June 10th, 6:51pm

(RT.ru)

 

The father of SpaceX founder Elon Musk, entrepreneur Errol 

Musk, said that he was told from a very young age in the 

West that things were bad in Russia, but this turned

 out to be untrue.

 

"But I've learned to see through this veil. The books of

 Dostoevsky that I've read... How can such beautiful 

literature come from this 'barbaric nation'? And 

then you realize where the truth lies, and you 

can see --- that something is wrong with 

Western theory," Musk shared in 

an interview with RG.RU.

 

He also pointed out that many of the world's 

leading inventors, including those in the 

United States, have Russian names.

 

He cited Sergey Brin -- who became a 

co-founder of Google, as an example.

 

 

__________________________________



Armies of Cuba and Nicaragua 

will work to strengthen ties 

Havana - June 10th, 12:17pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

Colonel General Bayardo Ramón Rodríguez Ruiz, chief 

of the General Staff of the Nicaraguan Army, declared 

today in this capital that he will work to strengthen 

ties with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of 

Cuba (FAR).

 

With the FAR and the people of Cuba there are unbreakable 

ties of brotherhood, and we hope that they continue to be 

strengthened and we can continue learning from our 

Cuban brothers, he assured ---- in a brief exchange 

with journalists at the El Cacahual Mausoleum.

 

We are highly honoured to be here. Coming to Cacahual is a

 source of pride for us. We are going to remember this and 

we will transmit its importance to the new generations

 of officers, he said.

 

Likewise, Rodríguez Ruiz thanked “our brothers from the FAR

 for the invitation to return to what is our second homeland, 

where, practically, many of us trained”.

 

He also declared that the importance of his visit demonstrates 

to the world that we maintain ties of brotherhood and 

friendship, permanently, as our people of Cuba 

and Nicaragua deserve.

 

The FAR and the Nicaraguan Army are twinned, working to 

better prepare ourselves, day by day, to fulfill the sacred 

purposes of defending the homeland, the peace and 

freedom of our people, he asserted.

 

At the monument, Rodríguez Ruiz, along with the delegation 

accompanying him, was received by Army Corps General 

Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, first vice minister, chief of the

 General Staff of the FAR, and other senior officers.

 

In addition to placing a wreath where the remains of Lieutenant 

General Antonio Maceo and his assistant Pachito Gómez rest, 

Legrá Sotolongo explained to the visitor the events that led 

to the inauguration of El Cacahual and its symbolism.

 

After his arrival in Cuba the day before, the Colonel General will 

complete a work agenda until June 18 that includes visits to 

military units and entities, in addition to centres of 

cultural and historical interest.

 

 

____________________________________

 

 

 

Venezuela and Cuba for new levels 

of cooperation and exchange

June 10th, 12:08pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The Governments of Venezuela and Cuba are working for new 

levels of economic cooperation and increasing bilateral 

exchange, official sources reported here today.

 

The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Trade, revealed the 

information on its Instagram account - after a meeting 

between the head of the sector Coromoto Godoy and

the island's ambassador in Caracas ------- Dagoberto 

Rodríguez, with a group of national businessmen.

 

This meeting served to promote the presence of the 

Bolivarian Republic at the XX ExpoCaribe 2025 

International Fair, which will be held from 

June 23 to 27 in the eastern province 

of Santiago de Cuba, the 

source indicated.

 

He highlighted that ''this fair, is a strategic opportunity to 

consolidate alliances, show the productive potential 

of Venezuela and deepen economic integration 

between our peoples.''

 

He highlighted that, united by an unbreakable brotherhood, 

with formidable social achievements: ''we work for new 

levels of economic cooperation, to increase bilateral 

trade exchange and add value to our exportable 

goods'' in addition to sharing knowledge and

experience for export diversification --- 

he highlighted in the message.

 

 

______________________________________

 

 

 

Mexico registers a 25.8% drop

 in intentional homicides

June 10th, 11:50am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

Mexico's authorities reported today a 25.8% decrease 

in the incidence of intentional homicide during the 

first 8 months of President Claudia Sheinbaum's 

administration.

 

The executive secretary.. of the National Public Security 

System, Marcela Figueroa, stated that in September, a 

month before the start of the current government,
the 
average amounted to 86.9 homicides per
day, which 
dropped to 64.5 in May.

 

“In eight months there was a 25.8 percent decrease in 

this crime”, said the official during the dignitary's 

usual meeting with the media, adding that the 

data also represents a reduction of 22 

homicides per day.

 

Furthermore, May of this year is the lowest average since 

2016, said Figueroa, who also highlighted a reduction of 

29.1% between 2018, with 100.5 homicides per day, 

and the first five months of 2025, with 71.3.

 

According to him, from January to May --- seven states 

are responsible for 51.6% of the total of these crimes 

in the country: Guanajuato, which represents 13.3%

at the national level, Baja California (6.8), State of 

Mexico (6.8), Chihuahua (6.7), Sinaloa (6.4), 

Guerrero (5.8) and Jalisco (5.7).

 

“From the beginning of the administration, in September 2024, 

to February 2025, Guanajuato maintained an upward trend, 

with a 34.8% increase in intentional homicide crimes; 

However, since March a downward trend began to 

be registered”, the secretary highlighted.

 

Figueroa attributed the decline to operations and arrests 

carried out by federal forces against generators of 

violence, which influenced a 55.6% reduction in 

the average daily intentional homicide 

between February and May 2025.

 

Regarding high-impact crimes, authorities report a decrease 

of 18.7% from October 2024 to May 2025, and a drop of 

43.6% - between 2018 and this year.

 

“Regarding the daily average of high-impact crimes between 

January-May 2019 and January-May 2025, in all cases, 

except extortion, it is observed that there was a 

significant decrease,” the official noted.

 

For example, he detailed, feminicide decreased by 24.4%; 

gunshot injuries, at 27.1; kidnapping, at 72.8, and the 

total number of robberies with violence, at 48.

 

The administration implements a national security strategy 

based on four axes of action: attention to the causes, 

consolidation of the National Guard, strengthening 

intelligence and investigation, and coordination 

with the federal entities.

 

 

________________________________________

 

 

 

Brazil: Ibero-American youth demands in 

Brics - an end to the blockade of Cuba

June 10th, 11:48am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The general secretary of Ibero-American Youth, Alexandre 

Puppo, broadcast here today, from the eleventh Brics 

youth summit ---- a strong call to the international 

community to denounce the prolonged United

 States blockade against Cuba.

 

In his speech --- Puppo asked to make visible the devastating 

effects of the criminal siege that directly affects the entire 

Cuban society, and more crudely, its youth population. 

 

He pointed out that this siege, in force for more than six 

decades, represents a systematic violation of the 

human rights of the Caribbean people, by 

preventing full access to technologies,

 financing, etc, --- medicines and 

development opportunities.

 

''Cuban youth ------ are direct victims of an inhumane policy 

that restricts their life projects and hopes,'' he stressed.

 

During his speech, he also firmly rejected the inclusion of 

Cuba on the unilateral list of States sponsoring terrorism, 

prepared by the White House.

 

According to Puppo, this qualification without legal basis 

reinforces the financial isolation of the island --- and 

criminalizes its sovereignty, further deepening 

the daily difficulties of its youth.

 

''It is urgent to break the international silence and act 

collectively: to make visible the havoc that this 

blockade causes ----- in the new Cuban 

generations,'' he expressed.

 

He added, that concrete actions of solidarity, 

denunciation and support will be promoted 

from the Ibero-American network.

 

The youth representative highlighted that, at a time when 

Cuba is beginning to integrate as a nation associated 

with the Brics, initially composed of Brazil, Russia, 

India, China and South Africa --- and recently 

expanded, it is essential that the alliance

 strengthen its support for the island.

 

Not only from economic cooperation, he said, but also from

 an ethical position, regarding hegemonic policies that 

seek to strangle a nation for ideological reasons.

 

Puppo's statements resonated with the delegations 

present, many of whom expressed their support 

for ending the blockade.

 

In a global context in which youth emerge as key actors 

of transformation --- the demand for respect for the 

development of young Cubans, is installed with 

renewed force on the international agenda.

 

The illegal and widespread economic and financial 

measure imposed by Washington against Cuba 

has a profound and negative impact on key 

sectors such as education and health, 

especially on its youth.

 

 

________________________________________




CTV: About 700 US Marines will 

arrive in Los Angeles in the 

coming hours

June 9th, 11:25pm

(RT.ru)

 

About 700 US Marines will arrive in Los Angeles 

in the coming hours.... to respond to ''the riots''.

 

This is reported by CTV News, referring to 

the message of the Northern Command 

of the US Armed Forces.

 

"On Monday, the Marines are moving out of their base 

in Twentynine Palms in the California desert. The 

soldiers have been trained in de-escalating 

tensions, crowd control and current rules 

of engagement - and they will be armed 

with the weapons they normally carry.

 

In addition, it is specified that, in addition to the 

Marines, more than 2 thousand National 

guardsmen were sent to the city.

 

US President Donald Trump said earlier that Los 

Angeles would have been destroyed by 

protesters if he had not decided to 

bring in the National Guard.

 

The head of the Federation Council Commission on

 Information Policy, Alexey Pushkov, at the same 

time, commenting on the riots in California, 

said that, in the 21st century, the United 

States.. can become "disconnected".

 












































 California sues Trump administration 

over National Guard deployment

 in Los Angeles

June 9th, 9:10pm

 (PressTV)

 

California has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration 

for deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid 

protests over immigration raids, Attorney General 

Rob Bonta, announced.

 

The deployment, ordered by President Donald Trump, 

followed clashes in downtown Los Angeles, where 

police urged protesters to disperse.. after police

reported incidents of vandalism and looting.

 

On Sunday, protests in a small section of downtown Los 

Angeles, turned violent, with demonstrators setting
cars 
ablaze, including five Waymo self-driving
vehicles, 
and looting stores.

 

Law enforcement responded with tear gas and rubber 

bullets. Trump, accusing protesters of "insurrection," 

deployed National Guard troops to quell what he 

described as "violent, instigated riots."

 

He claimed the city would have been "obliterated" 

without federal intervention - and warned that 

protesters disrespecting security forces... 

will be "hit ---- harder than ever before."

 

California Governor, Gavin Newsom, condemned the 

deployment, accusing Trump of inflaming tensions. 

 

"This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted. He fanned 

the flames," Newsom said --- confirming the state’s 

lawsuit against the federal government. Trump 

dismissed Newsom’s criticism ------ even 

suggesting the governor... should 

be arrested.

 

The protests --- sparked by Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement (ICE) arrests targeting alleged illegal 

migrants and gang members, have drawn 

mixed reactions.

 

Tom Homan -- Trump’s border czar, defended the raids, 

stating they focused on cartel members from Mexico 

and Colombia. However.. many locals, including 64-

year-old Deborah McCurdy, described the arrested 

individuals as "people earnestly trying to improve

 their lives" ---- who don’t deserve to be treated 

as criminals.

 

By Monday morning, downtown Los Angeles was calm, 

though a heavy police presence remained. Despite 

isolated acts of vandalism... including obscene 

graffiti and smashed windows, Mayor Karen 

Bass emphasized that the unrest was 

confined to a few streets, and not

 indicative of citywide chaos.

 

She criticized the immigration arrests and troop 

deployment as deliberate provocations, calling 

them "a recipe ---- for pandemonium."

 

The United Nations cautioned against further 

militarization, a statement likely to irk the 

White House. Local law enforcement - 

taking the lead.. after initial federal 

confrontations, used "less lethal" 

measures to disperse crowds.

 

Viral footage captured a rubber bullet striking an 

Australian TV reporter in the leg - during a live 

broadcast. Over two days - 56 arrests were 

reported in Los Angeles, with five officers 

sustaining minor injuries. An additional 

60 arrests occurred during protests 

in San Francisco.

 

LA’s anger against Trump’s immigration raids 

spreading..... as more cities join protests

 

As Trump - escalates his crackdown on Anti-ICE 

demonstrations in LA, protests erupt in New 

York and San Francisco as well.

 

The National Guard’s deployment, the first override 

of a state governor’s authority since 1965, drew 

sharp criticism from Democrats ---- including 

Kamala Harris, who called it a "dangerous 

escalation ---- meant to provoke chaos."

 

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned 

the violence ---- and urged Mexicans in the US to 

remain peaceful and avoid provocations.

 

Despite the unrest, Los Angeles schools and 

daily life ....continued largely unaffected 

on Monday.

 

 

___________________________________




CNN: ----- The situation in Los Angeles

 is stabilizing after night-time ''riots''

June 9th, 6:21pm

(RT.ru)

 

Hilda Solis, chairwoman of the Los Angeles County 

Board of Supervisors, told CNN that the situation

 in the city is gradually stabilizing.... after the 

night of ''riots''.

 

"There was an emergency when people had to be 

evacuated - or asked to leave Los Angeles - 

because there was a lot of destruction 

and chaos. Since then, restrictions 

have been lifted," Solis said.

 

Solis added that some exits and entrances to major 

highways are still blocked in Los Angeles, but 

residents start to return.. to daily routines.

 

The Chairwoman also urged the protesters to 

remain calm and not give in to provocations.

 

Earlier, in Los Angeles, cases of looting were 

recorded.. amid peaceful protests against
raids to ''identify'' illegal immigrants,
said the LA police.



President of the US Donald Trump claims 


Los Angeles would have been destroyed 


by protesters if he had not decided to 


bring in the (armed) National Guard.






"We made the right decision -- by sending the 


National Guard: to quell the violent riots in 


California. If we.. had not done this, Los


 Angeles - would have been completely 


destroyed," Trump wrote on his page 


in his social network ''Truth Social''.






He also accused the state governor and mayor 


of "lying to the American people" by calling 


the riots "peaceful protests."








_________________________________________



Lavrov: Eurovision song Contest 

causes a desire to return to 

normal songs

June 9th, 3pm

(RT.ru)

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that 

the Eurovision Song Contest makes us want to

 return to normal songs.

 

"Eurovision (with all the exotic ornaments and vignettes 

inherent in it) also causes a desire to return to normal 

songs... about normal human interest," RIA Novosti 

quotes Lavrov as saying.

 

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special 

representative for international Cultural 

Cooperation, Mikhail Shvydkoi -- said 

the issue of Russia's participation
in the 
Eurovision Song Contest
-  is not 
relevant.

 

At the same time, producer, Iosif Prigozhin, 

stressed that Eurovision was turned into 

a platform for political statements.

 

 

__________________________________________

 

 

 

Roscongress: Representatives from 137 

countries & territories will participate

 in SPIEF 2025

June 9th, 2:57pm

(RT.ru)

 

Representatives from 137 countries and territories, 

including the heads of major international 

organizations, have confirmed their 

participation in SPIEF 2025.

 

This is reported by Roscongress.

 

"At the moment ---- representatives from 137 countries and 

territories have confirmed their participation in the forum, 

including the heads of major international organizations, 

companies, government agencies, and the expert 

community," according to the message on 

the foundation's website.

 

SPIEF 2025 will be held from June 18

------- to the 21st, in Saint Petersburg.

 

Its extended business program 

was published ...previously.

 

 

________________________________





Prensa Latina, a truthful


communication referent


June 9th, 9:32am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The Latin American news agency, Prensa Latina, is.. today, 


a referent of participative, integrating communication,


the Coordinating Committee for Peace, Sovereignty, 


Integration and Non-interference of Ecuador 


assured, this morning.


 


Nearing the 65th anniversary of the agency, the president of 


CPAZ, Yumac Ortiz, highlighted the communicational work 


of Prensa Latina (PL), its broad and open vision, and how


 it represents events in their true dimension.


 


He stressed that Prensa Latina -- opens its news services for 


those who have no voice, “to the various organizations and 


social movements, to the multicultural and multiethnic 


diversity of the peoples ---- rescuing our historical 


memory, culture, identity and development, 


as well as the defense of rights”. 


 


According to Ortiz, the agency plays a fundamental role in 


the defense of human rights, libertarian, progressive 


struggles for de-colonization, and in denouncing 


social injustices.


 


From Ecuador, the news agency also received congratulations 


and admiration from journalist Luis Onofa, who recalled that 


Prensa Latina was created to speak the truth about the 


Cuban Revolution, the peoples of the world, and 


Latin America.


 


Likewise, Edwin Castro, the head of the Sandinista Party in the


 Nicaraguan Parliament, highlighted the work of the agency 


and its search for the truth in the midst of this troubled 


world, where the big news networks are at the 


service of imperial economic interests, 


he said.


 


In Castro’s opinion, Prensa Latina has successfully maintained 


65 years of alternative news, bringing the reality of Cuba and


 the region .....to the world.


 


The Latin American News Agency emerged in the context of 


the so-called Operation Truth, activated by the triumphant 


revolutionary government of the island (January 1, 1959)


in order to expose the defamatory campaigns against it.


 


 


___________________________________________


 


 


 


Cuba-China relations are at 


their best, says Cuban FM


June 9th, 9:25am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Relations between Cuba and China are nowadays at 


their best moment, and a glorious future has just 


begun to continue these bilateral ties, Cuban 


Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said.






In an interview... with the China Global Television Network 


(CGTN), Bruno Rodriguez stressed how a close friendship 


was forged between the peoples, which relies on their 


respective experiences --- in building socialism with 


national characteristics.


 


The Cuban diplomat also heaped praise on the 


enormous coincidences...... in their bilateral 


agendas of international development.


 


Rodríguez commented that Cuba is presently working so 


hard to roll out President Xi Jinping’s proposal to build


 a China-Cuba community --- with a shared future.


 


Such an idea, he pointed out, shows the excellent state 


of bilateral relations, the broad development potential 


and a long history in common.


 


He stated his country closely follows and actively participates 


in major Chinese initiatives, such as the Belt and Road and 


others associated with development, security, civilization 


and data protection.


 


Likewise, he specified that Cuba gives great priority to 


bilateral projects in the fields of renewable energies, 


agri-food... development of the biopharmaceutical 


industry, genetic engineering & biotechnology.


 


“In relation to openings that the Cuban economy offers to 


Chinese investment, I am sure that we will find fields to 


continue developing in a dynamic and accelerated 


manner -- our ties, that are already excellent 


today,” he said.


 


Rodríguez indicated that it is of interest for Cuba 


to strengthen academic, cultural, scientific and 


tourist links with China.


 


“We expect the increase in Chinese tourism and by tradition, 


due to our special, historical and current ties, the Chinese 


will always receive a warm and friendly welcome in 


Cuba,” said Rodríguez.


 


 


_________________________________________




 MEP: The European public 

would like a dialogue 

with Russia

June 8th, 10:02pm

(RT.ru)

 

The general European public would like to have 

a dialogue with Russia, unlike EU officials.

 

This was stated by RT MEP, Fernand Kartheiser. 

In May, he visited Moscow, after which he was 

expelled from the faction.

 

"I went to Russia, and the media presented this 

event ---- in a very negative way. At the same
time, 
people on the street came up to me, 

congratulated me  shook my hand, 

patted me on the shoulder — just 

incredible! " quotes Kartheiser 

Telegram channel RT.

 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said earlier 

that anti-Russian sanctions --- are destroying 

Hungary ...and the whole of Europe.




_________________________________________




In Egypt, they expressed doubts in Zelensky 

after his refusal ------- to take the bodies of 

soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

by Artem Vereykin (Night Line Editor)

June 7th, 11:12pm

(Lenta.ru)

 

Vladimir Zelensky's refusal to take the bodies of soldiers of

 the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) raises doubts that 

Kiev really wants peace. This was stated by the 

deputy of the Egyptian Parliament, Mustafa 

Bakri, in an interview with RIA Novosti.

 

"Russia's decision to hand over the bodies to the Ukrainian 

side is a humanitarian issue. Zelensky's refusal causes 

confusion .....and doubt - in his calls to Russia and 

statements about his desire for peace and 

a meeting with Russian President 

Vladimir Putin," he said.

 

In his opinion, Zelensky obeys the orders of Western countries 

and is not concerned about the onset of peace in Ukraine. 

His actions underscore --- that the peace process is

 "no longer what it was" just a few days ago, 

Bakri added.

 

Earlier, journalist Thomas Fazi criticized Zelensky for deliberately

 sabotaging negotiations with Russia. In his opinion, Zelensky, 

by his actions on the eve of the meeting with the Russian 

delegation in Turkey, sought to continue the war.

 

 

 

_________________________________________________




Polish President-elect opposes 

Ukraine's admission to the EU

by Fyodor Korneev

June 7th, 9:12pm

(Rossiyskaya Gazeta) 

 

Polish President-elect Karol Nawrocki said that he 

currently opposes Ukraine's accession to the EU. 

 

He made the corresponding statement in an 

interview with the Hungarian magazine 

Mandiner.

 

According to him, Ukraine's entry into the 

association will harm the economy of 

EU members.

 

He stressed that as President of Poland, he would 

not agree to "unfair competition" from Ukraine
in 
the field of agriculture... or logistics.

 

Earlier, Navrotsky responded to congratulations on 

his election from Volodymyr Zelensky........ with a 

reminder of the unresolved historical problems 

between Poland and Ukraine.

 

A politician from the opposition Law and Justice party 

won the second round of the presidential election 

held last Sunday. Navrotsky won 50.89% of the 

vote, defeating the representative of the 

ruling coalition, Rafal Trzaskowski, 

who received 49.11% of support.

 

 

______________________________________

 


Indian Prime Minister Modi unveils 

world's tallest railway bridge

by Alexander Gasyuk 

June 7th, 8:10am

(Rossiyskaya Gazeta) 

 

On Friday, June 6, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi 

inaugurated the world's tallest railway bridge in the 

north of the country. 

 

Impressive in its size and characteristics, the infrastructure
facility.... connected the union territory of Jammu and 

Kashmir with the rest of the South Asian republic, 

and also provided uninterrupted and weather-

independent traffic between major 

population centres.... in the 

Kashmir Valley itself.

 

The length of the Chinab Bridge is 1,315 metres. Opening the 

structure, Narendra Modi personally walked along the 

central span of the bridge with the national flag of 

India in his hands. And then he tested the giant 

railway structure, driving along it in the cab 

of an electric train decorated with flowers.

 

"The Chinab Railway Bridge is not only an exceptional piece of 

architecture, it will improve connectivity between Jammu and 

Srinagar," Modi wrote on social media, referring to the largest 

cities in Indian Kashmir. The project will also boost tourism 

and create new opportunities for the region, the Indian 

Prime Minister added.

 

The construction of the bridge, which is located at an altitude 

of 359 meters above sea level, and is named after the Chinab 

River flowing under it, has been ongoing  for the past decade 

and cost $160 million.

 

However, the result of long-term railway construction was 

a landmark achievement for India not only from an 

engineering point of view (the earthquake-resistant 

structure with a central span of 467 meters takes

 into account the possibility of frequent earth-

quakes in the Himalayas and wind gusts up 

to 74 meters per second), but is also filled 

with vivid symbolism. 

 

After all, the world's tallest bridge - it is 29 meters higher 

than the Eiffel Tower - was put into operation just a few 

weeks after the Indian-Pakistani military escalation in 

Kashmir, which marks India's steady and progressive 

development of the infrastructure of this region, 

despite all the difficulties.

 

"A dream come true" - this is the only way the Indian media 

comment on the opening of the bridge. This event was 

postponed several times - for various reasons.

 

The Chief Minister (Governor) of the Indian Union Territory 

of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, said that the 

possibility of implementing such a project was 

considered even during the period when India 

was under British colonial occupation. 

 

"Today, what the British could not do is done by your own 

hands. The Kashmir Valley is connected to other parts 

of the country, " the official said.

 

According to The Indian Express, the Chinab Bridge is a 

prime example of the Indian government's successful 

implementation of a strategy to modernize the 

national transportation network in order to 

achieve its stated development goals by 

2047, when the country will celebrate 

its centenary of independence.

 

The structure is also part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-

Baramulla railway line in mountainous and hilly 

Indian Kashmir, which is 272 kilometers long - 

and runs through 36 tunnels and 934 bridges.

 

 It is expected that special Indian Vande Bharat trains 

will run on this route, which are adapted to the 

Himalayan winters and low temperatures.

 

 

____________________________________________



 

Russia ---- is going to 

launch drones from 

the space station

by Andrey Stavitsky (Editor of the 

Science and Technology Dept)

June 6th, 3:49pm 

(Lenta.ru)

 

Russia has patented the technology for launching

 spacecraft from an orbital station. This is 

reported by TASS with reference to 

First Deputy Prime Minister,

 Denis Manturov.

 

According to Manturov, Russia is going to ensure 

a planned transition to its own orbital station
by 
2030 — module by module. 

 

"It will be.. the world's first drone platform, equipped

 with robots for its maintenance. This is a patented 

solution of the Russian Federation," he stressed,

 at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

 

"Testing of the technology will allow us to apply
this format for our lunar program," Denis 

Manturov said. According to him, the 

technology will first be tested at the 

Russian Orbital Station (ROS), and 

then applied in the development 

of the Moon.

 

By 2030 -- it is planned to send the scientific and 

energy module (SEM), universal-node, gateway 

and base modules into orbit. In the second 

stage, the ROS will be expanded by 

docking two target modules. 

 

According to the general schedule, the station's 

deployment in the near-polar orbit is expected 

by 2033.

 

In mid-May, it became known that the Russian 

Orbital Station (ROS), will receive power 

sources more powerful than those on

 the current International Space 

Station (ISS). 

 

According to the president of the Russian Academy

of Sciences (RAS), Gennady Krasnikov --- we are 

talking about batteries, with a high efficiency.

 

 

________________________________________________

 

 

 

11 million Mexicans --- escaped

 poverty, highlights Sheinbaum

June 6th, 11:10am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

A total of 11 million Mexicans were lifted out 

of poverty during the government period of 

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador 

(2018-2024), according to World Bank 

data released today.

 

In her usual meeting with the media at the National 

Palace, President Claudia Sheinbaum alluded to a 

revaluation carried out by the said institution, 

which, in principle, had stated that there 

were 9.5 million citizens.

 

“They reevaluated their methodology and recognize

 that in Mexico ---- 11 million Mexicans escaped 

poverty during the period of President López 

Obrador” --- emphasized the head of the 

Executive, who also highlighted the

 country's economic indicators.

 

Regarding the evolution of the exchange rate 

against the dollar, she highlighted --- that it 

stands at 19.14 this Friday, and regarding 

the ''behaviour'' of the 10-year interest 

rate --- as an indicator of economic 

expectations and risk --- it shows 

a graph in which it is decreasing.

 

“The third: the cost of insuring sovereign debt: 

international perception of the probability of 

default, is also decreasing. That is, trust in

 our country”, said the dignitary.

 

''As we have said'', she added, ''between public and 

private investment, this year ---- even with all the 

international economic difficulties, there is a 

very good perception, of what they call the 

markets of our country and investments

.....to continue thriving''.

 

On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced 

tariffs against the rest of the world, but it kept 

rates at zero for products from Mexico and 

Canada covered by the North American 

treaty, through which... most of the 

exchange in this region, flows.

 

With a balance favourable to her country,

Sheinbaum -- chose to negotiate better 

conditions against the tariffs on steel, 

aluminum and cars.. imposed by 

Washington, and promote the 

Mexico Plan - that seeks to 

improve the quality of life 

through.. sustainable, 

inclusive, equitable 

economic growth.

 

 

___________________

 

 

IDB will support 

investments in

 Panama

June 6th, 10:53am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The president of the IDB, Ian Goldfajn, asserted 

that he will support Panama as an investment 

center and its entry into the Organization for 

Economic Cooperation and Development 

(OECD), it emerged today.

 

In a statement from the Palacio de las Garzas (seat 

of the Executive), it is stated that the head of the 

Inter-American Development Bank....  who was
received by the Panamanian president, José 

Raúl Mulino, highlighted the strategic value 

of the isthmus on the global stage ---- 

strengthening, in recent years.

 

In that sense, he specified that the multilateral 

entity will make public its support for the 

Central American country's entry into 

the OECD on June 30, during the IV 

United Nations International 

Conference on Financing 

for Development, which 

will be held then, in 

Seville, Spain.

 

In addition, the IDB will organize a forum to promote

 the canal nation, entitled “Strategic Panama”, next 

September, in New York City, United States, 

when the annual UN regular session 

begins, adds the official note.

 

That day, companies and banks will be invited

 to show -- how Panama can be a ''hub'' of 

investments -- in water, infrastructure, 

airports, ports and tourism projects.

 

For his part, Mulino thanked the IDB for the trust 

it has in Panama ---- and its potential to grow 

and develop.

 

The head of state highlighted, that, in the logistics

and maritime sector there is enormous potential

that can attract even more investment --- and 

that these sectors can generate a large 

number of jobs.

 

In this regard, he mentioned projects such as

 the Panama-David-Frontera Train --- and the 

construction of a freshwater reservoir 

in Río Indio.... to improve the 

Canal's capabilities.

 

 

__________________________________

 

 

 

Colombian government: prepares 

regulations to assist vulnerable

 elderly people

June 6th, 9:40am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The Government of Colombia is, today, preparing 

measures to guarantee a basic monthly income 

---- to the more than three million older adults 

without a pension who live in conditions 

of poverty or vulnerability.

 

As announced by President Gustavo Petro, starting 

in the second half of this year, the Solidarity Pillar 

will be launched - one of the central axes of the 

Pension Reform that is expected to come

 into force - next month.

 

The monthly subsidy will be 230 thousand pesos 

(about 57 dollars at the current exchange rate), 

an amount equivalent to the extreme poverty 

line and it will be financed with resources 

from the General Budget of the Nation 

and the Pension Solidarity Fund.

 

Women will be able to access it from the age of 60 

and men from the age of 65, thus covering one 

of the historical gender gaps in access to

 social rights.

 

Likewise, according to data from the Great 

Integrated Household Survey of 2023, 

nearly 156,000 older people could 

escape extreme poverty by the 

end of 2025 --- thanks to the 

Solidarity Pillar.

 

By 2026, this figure is projected to reach 400,000 

people, which will imply a cumulative reduction 

of more than six percentage points in extreme 

poverty, in the country's elderly population.

 

The so-called Solidarity Pillar is designed 

to help historically marginalized sectors.

 

63 percent are women; 35 percent live in rural 

areas; 50 percent recognize themselves as 

farmers; 22 percent are people with 

disabilities; and 8.8 percent...

do not have housing.

 

Many have been victims of violence or 

have lived in a prolonged marginality.

 

 

_________________________________________

 

 

 

India strengthens cooperation 

mechanisms with
Central Asia

June 6th, 8:40am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, 

stated today, that India remains a trusted 

partner for the development of Central 

Asian countries.

 

In his speech to the fourth meeting of the India-

Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi, Jaishankar 

stressed that trade ties, economics and 

investments... between India and 

countries in the region -- have 

strengthened significantly

 in the last decade.

 

He also emphasized - that the parties remain 

committed to promoting mutually beneficial 

cooperation --- in a wide range of sectors.

 

The Chancellor further highlighted that India 

is currently connected to its Central Asian 

partners through multiple direct flights 

and improved connectivity --- which 

facilitates.... a greater bilateral 

tourist and commercial flow.

 

Jaishankar also expressed his gratitude to the 

nations of Central Asia - for their continued 

support for India and their condemnation 

of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

 

The India-Central Asia Dialogue is attended by the 

foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, 

Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

 

 

___________________________________________

 


 

India's Prime Minister inaugurates 

infrastructure megaprojects

 in India

June 6th, 8:40am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, stated 

that today's inauguration of infrastructure mega-

 projects --- marks a turning point in the 

development of the Jammu and 

Kashmir regions.

 

In inaugurating the Chenab and Anji Khad bridges in

 the Katra area - Modi highlighted that the state-of-

the-art Chenab Bridge will improve connectivity 

between Jammu and Srinagar; he also 

expressed his satisfaction with the

 rail connection between the 

country, from Kashmir - 

to Kanyakumari.

 

Furthermore, the Prime Minister stated that the

 Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway project 

is a symbol of a renewed and empowered 

Jammu and Kashmir, and a clear

 proclamation of India's 

growing power.

 

He also assured - that the Chenab and 

Anji bridges.... will serve as gateways 

to prosperity for Jammu and Kashmir.

 

 

_______________________________________




The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has 

condemned the establishment of the Day of 

Remembrance of the Victims of the Volyn 

massacre..... in Poland

June 5th, 2:41pm

(RT.ru)

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has condemned 

the establishment... of the Day of Remembrance of the 

Victims of the Volyn massacre in Poland, on July 11, 

calling such a decision - inconsistent with good-

neighbourly relations between the 

two countries.

 

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine regards the 

decision of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland as 

going against the spirit of good-neighbourly

 relations between Ukraine and Poland,"

 the ministry's Telegram channel says.

 

They also called on Warsaw - to "refrain from steps that 

- may lead to increased tension in bilateral relations."

 

In April, Karol Nawrotsky, a candidate for president of Poland 

from the largest opposition Law and Justice party, said that 

he was "deeply disappointed" -- with Vladimir Zelensky, in
particular --
because the issue of exhumation of victims

 of the Volyn massacre on the territory of Ukraine, 

has not yet been resolved.

 

At the end of last year, Katarzyna Sokolowska, head of the
Volhynia Remember Foundation, said that Poland should 

break off contacts with Ukraine until the bodies of the

victims of the Volhynian massacre.... are exhumed.

 




___________________________________________________





Politico: The EU will send €335 billion 


from the COVID-19 fund


for rearmament


June 4th, 10:06pm


(RT.ru)


 


EU countries have been ''allowed'' to use €335 billion 


from the COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery Fund


for rearmament and ''defense'' spending.


 


According to Politico, for the implementation of this program, 


the EC has set a deadline of August 2026. It is specified that 


access to money from the fund will be granted only to those


 countries ...that meet a number of ''requirements''.


 


The publication stressed that the preference for defense 


projects ----- reflects "a radical change in EU priorities."


 


Earlier in Poland, containers with weapons 


were found...... on the border with Ukraine.


 


Also, the NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, 


spoke about ''the priorities'' in new military 


purchases of the alliance.


 


 


____________________________




Multipolar world without
dollar
 predominance,
predicted
 in Seville

by Fausto Triana

June 4th, 12:22pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

A multipolar world - without the predominance of the
dollar is on the horizon, although much will depend
on international political ups and downs, experts
in Seville said today.

 

During the final day of the VIII Congress of the Alliance 

for Ibero-America Business Council (CEAPI), a panel 

took place --- focused on expectations about 

economic and commercial dynamics, 

and the role of coins.

 

Under the name “Financial keys for a volatile environment in 

Latin America” Juan Carlos Escotet, president of Abanca, 

one of the most important banking entities in Spain, he 

analyzed the context of uncertainty due to the tariff 

increase imposed in markets by the United States 

and its impact on the region.

 

“Any loss of multilateralism is going to be the main problem 

of the new international order. A loss that increases 

uncertainty and volatility -- which drives away

 investments”, Escotet stressed.

 

By elaborating on the topic, he said that this is a change in the

 rules of the game that deteriorates commercial relations and

 threatens the US exceptionality that opted to convert the 

dollar into a reserve currency, something that is 

now questioned.

 

“The diversification of payment methods has also undergone 

a change that hits the dollar predominance and increases 

the presence of other currencies. We are going to a 

multipolar monetary world”, Escotet predicted.

 

The president of Abanca - praised the attitude of “keeping a 

cool head” of the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, 

towards the policies of Donald Trump, “because the US, 

Canada and Mexico - are condemned to understand 

each other”.

 

Likewise, he believed that there are alternatives such as 

the EU-Mercosur agreement --- that diversifies options 

and opportunities.

 

However, Escotet, generally, warned about.. “the

 hyper-regulation”, in the sense that it “causes

 a serious loss of competitiveness ---- by 

accounting for 20% of our interests 

and commissions. Also it's hard

- to reverse”.

 

Another topic addressed on that date referred to the energy 

structure in Spain, with the explanations of the president 

of Red Eléctrica (REDEIA), Beatriz Corredor.

 

The transformation of the global scenario and the opening of 

unprecedented cooperation spaces for Ibero-America, with

 a focus on “New world, new businesses, new 

opportunities”, was the essence of 

the colloquium.

 

In addition, the issue of the US call for Europe to assume a 

more decisive role in its own defense, was addressed, 

with an intense debate among businessmen about 

its convenience ...or not.

 

 

___________________________________





President of Mexico defends 


the work of the Cuban 


medical brigades


June 4th, 11:43am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, affirmed today 


that there is a legal contract for doctors from Cuba to help 


the population of this nation --- and rejected that it is


 “forced labour” as stated by the United States.


 


“First, it's not forced labour. It would have to be proven. 


In the case of Mexico -- there is a contract with Cuba 


and other countries, due to the problem that Mexico 


had in the neoliberal period - when doctor training


stopped ”, the Chief Executive clarified, in her 


usual press conference.


 


“So, there is a contract for Cuban doctors to help the 


population in Mexico. We don't see any problem 


with that. It is legal, it is open - and it has
no 
problems”, she emphasized.


 


The president thus responded to a question about the 


announcement by the US Secretary of State, Marco 


Rubio, about the imposition of visa restrictions on 


Central American officials.... for the alleged 


“exploitation” of doctors on the island.


 


On May 23, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno 


Rodríguez --- highlighted the scope of his country's 


international medical cooperation and assured 


that the United States Government, is now


carrying out a fake news campaign 


to discredit it.


 


“Cuba's medical cooperation --- celebrates 62 years of 


solidarity work”, said the head of diplomacy of the 


Antillean nation - in a message published in X.


 


As highlighted on the platform itself - “more than 


605 thousand Cuban Health professionals have 


provided their support --- in 165 countries”.


 


Rodríguez also declared that - the “ignominious 


campaign of the United States government -- 


will never stop this altruistic collaboration”.


 


“We have a sovereign right and a 


moral duty towards humanity”,


 he asserted.


 


 


_______________________________





Pachakutik Rejects: the Establishment 

of Foreign Military Bases in Ecuador

June 4th, 10:34am

(teleSUR)

 

The constitutional ''reform'' --- will directly benefit the 

United States and its geopolitical ambitions
to use 
the Galapagos Islands.

 

On Tuesday, Ecuadorian lawmakers approved a measure 

that will allow the installation of foreign military bases

 in the Andean country — a possibility that would 

directly benefit the United States, and its 

geopolitical ambitions to use the 

Galapagos Islands.

 

With 82 votes in favour, 60 against and 6 abstentions, the 

right-leaning National Assembly, amended Article 5 of 

Ecuador’s Constitution, which previously declared 

the country a territory of peace, and explicitly 

prohibited foreign military bases.

 

Minutes later, the Indigenous political party Pachakutik’s 

national coordination rejected the constitutional reform,

 which passed ----- with the support of some of its own 

legislators. The party’s full statement is below:

 

The text reads, “So now we’re going to have well-being and 

peace? Why are we getting a U.S. base? This time we’re 

really going to fulfill our dream? People are truly naive. 

They’ve been deceived so many times by right-wing 

neolibertarian lies, and yet we’re still in misery. 

 

Colombia --- with seven joint military bases with the U.S., 

remains the Latin American largest drug producer and 

one of the most insecure countries. When are they 

going to understand: that this has nothing to do 

with laws or bases, but rather with the use of 

public investment resources?”

 

“The National Assembly has finally approved a constitutional 

reform -- that authorizes the installation of foreign military 

bases. This not only undermines our national sovereignty 

as a country, it also allows the Noboa administration to 

deceive Ecuadorians with empty promises about 

fighting drug trafficking groups.

 

There is ample experience in neighbouring countries that 

have also fallen victim to drug cartels, facing similar or 

even worse levels of violence - where more than one 

foreign military base was installed — with almost 

no results. Even when some of the most visible 

cartel leaders were captured or killed --- the 

cartels continued to grow. In many cases, 

foreign military personnel ended up 

joining the cartels or profiting 

from the war.

 

Additionally, these foreign military forces were used to

suppress social and political sectors opposed to the 

ruling governments ---- and to monitor territories 

granted to foreign mining and oil companies.

 

The government has -- so far -- only mentioned possible 

cooperation agreements with two countries - the US 

and Israel. In the current international context, the 

former - is pushing a military conflict with Russia 

and an economic one with China ----- while the 

latter is carrying out a war of extermination 

against the Palestinian people in Gaza. 

It is not speculation to state that, 

given Noboa’s subservience, he 

may ultimately drag Ecuador

 into an international war.

 

By definition, Pachakutik and the Indigenous movement have 

defended national sovereignty, not as an abstract right, but 

as an effective way -- to protect our territories, national
and 
local economies, the human and political rights
of 
Ecuadorians, and peace and neutrality in 

international conflicts.

 

These are our principles and ethics of struggle, which is why 

we openly reject the vote of Pachakutik assembly members 

who, guided by blindness or political opportunism, are 

voting alongside the neoliberal government.

 

That --- is not why grassroots organizations or voters supported 

their candidacies. If that was their vision from the beginning, 

it would have been more honest for them to run under the 

ruling party, the National Democratic Alliance, rather 

than tarnishing the historic struggle of the people.”

 

 

_____________________________________________________




 

 

Italian Parliament Approves 

Meloni’s Controversial 

Security Law

June 4th, 9:57am

(teleSUR)

 

Previously -- over 10,000 people protested in Rome,

 holding signs that read ‘Raise Your Head against

 the State of Fear.’

 

On Wednesday, the Italian Parliament approved a 

controversial security law promoted by Prime 

Minister Giorgia Meloni. The legislation, 

which has faced strong criticism in 

recent months from opposition 

parties, labour unions - and 

numerous organizations, 

passed with 109 votes

in favour - 69 against 

and one abstention.

 

The bill reached the Senate after it was passed in the 

Chamber of Deputies through a confidence vote — 

a common tactic in Italy’s legislative process to 

speed up approval --- by bypassing the debate 

on amendments proposed by the opposition.

 

Before the Senate vote, lawmakers from the Democratic Party 

(PD), the Five Star Movement (M5S), and the Green and Left 

Alliance (AVS) protested ----- by sitting in front of the 

government benches shouting, “Shame, shame,” 

while demanding a meeting of the 

parliamentary group leaders.

 

Senate President Ignazio La Russa temporarily suspended 

the session, and met with some party representatives 

before resuming the proceedings with a confidence 

vote - that led to the approval of the decree. The 

party of former Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, 

Italia Viva, did not take part in the protest.

 

The text reads: “The Security Decree doesn’t stop the 

protests. Today, actions will be held in 12 cities to 

demand the elimination of VAT on essential 

products. If the government continues to 

ignore the crisis we are experiencing, 

we will respond with a massive 

boycott. Join us too!”

 

Among other provisions, the law introduces new categories 

of terrorism offenses, and stiffens penalties for prison riots, 

illegal occupation of property, & acts of civil disobedience 

such as road blockages. It also establishes a new crime 

of unlawful property occupation, and allows judicial 

police to order the immediate evacuation of the 

property --- even without a court order — in 

cases of illegal squatting.

 

One of the most controversial elements of the law is the 

removal of the requirement to postpone sentences for 

pregnant women and mothers with young children.

 

“Strengthening police tools is a decisive step toward 

protecting citizens… Legality is the foundation of 

freedom, and we will continue to defend it,” 

Meloni said following the law’s approval.

 

The law - also increases criminal protections for law 

enforcement officers, raising penalties for assault, 

resistance, and violence against public officials.

 It introduces an aggravating circumstance 

when such acts are committed against 

members of the judicial or public 

security police.

 

The text reads, “The Meloni administration legalizes state 

terrorism. Article 31 of the security decree --- or rather,
the 
repression decree, is perhaps - the worst of all. It 

regulates the secret services and, in fact -- legalizes 

state terrorism. We are talking about the possibility

 that, with the Prime Minister’s signature, a secret 

service agent could create and direct terrorist 

organizations ---- for the purposes of both 

international terrorism and subversion 

of the democratic order, and could 

manufacture and possess 

explosive material. 

 

“This is absolutely serious in the country of the massacres of 

Ustica, Bologna, Piazza Fontana, and Piazza della Loggia, the 

anniversary of which was celebrated yesterday. The families

 of the victims of the massacres --- were precisely the first to 

denounce the provisions of a measure -- that represents the 

most significant authoritarian turn of Meloni administration. 

Such a serious article could not even be debated because 

the government placed its trust in the decree --- and 

prevented parliamentary debate and amendments. 

So I presented a motion, but the government 

also opposed it. A real indecency.”

 

The legislation authorizes the use of body cameras by police 

during operations and provides financial assistance of up to 

10,000 euros for legal expenses incurred by officers facing 

criminal proceedings related to their duties.

 

The new law toughens penalties for those who exploit minors 

& for begging or commit fraud. It also strengthens measures

 against scams targeting the elderly, introducing a specific 

offense of aggravated fraud with penalties ranging from 

two to six years in prison and fines between 700 and

 3,000 euros.

 

On Saturday, more than 10,000 people protested in Rome 

against the decree, holding signs that read: “Raise your 

head against the State of Fear” and “Meloni, go away,” 

while chanting, “Faced with a fascist government, 

until victory.”

 

“This decree is pure propaganda… It’s not about more 

security, but more repression,” said Elly Schlein, the

secretary of the PD, the largest opposition party.

 

 

___________________________________________________




China congratulates new 


South Korean president; 


advocates for more ties


June 4th, 8:55am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


China today.... advocated working together with South Korea 


to improve bilateral relations, after learning of the election 


of Lee Jae-myung ---- as the new president of the 


neighbouring nation.


 


In a congratulatory message, Chinese leader Xi Jinping 


noted... that Beijing attaches great importance to 


relations with the Republic of Korea.


 


Likewise, he called for further progress in good 


neighbourliness, friendship, and mutual 


cooperation, a message that Foreign 


Ministry spokesman, Lin Jian,


 also highlighted.


 


The spokesperson indicated that both sides should 


adhere to the shared benefit goal and jointly 


promote the continued development... of 


the strategic cooperative partnership.


 


Lin Jian noted that the fundamental driving force 


for the development of bilateral relations 


comes from the common interests
of 
both nations.


 


In this sense, he stressed that these relationships 


should not be directed against any third party
or 
influenced by external factors.


 


''China.... has always opposed taking sides -- and 


confronting in blocks'', the spokesperson said.


 


Regarding this issue, the spokesperson urged


 Washington not to interfere in its relations 


with South Korea.


 


''China advises the United States to change its old 


stance of perceiving China based on its own 


actions --- and stop creating discord in 


China-South Korea relations'', 


he stressed.


 


Lee Jae-myung, candidate of the liberal Democratic 


Party --- won the early presidential election with 


49.42 percent of the vote, after the political 


crisis ----- that the neighbouring nation 


experienced - after the dismissal 


of Yoon Suk-yeol.


 


 


__________________________________


 


 


India wins presidency 


of IIAS international 


administration entity


June 4th, 7:36am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


India won the presidency of the International Institute 


of Administrative Sciences (IIAS)... in the elections 


held between New Delhi and Austria, it was 


announced today, in the above capital.


 


In a statement, the Ministry of Personnel, Public 


Complaints and Pensions reported -- that the 


Indian candidacy received broad support 


from all members, with 87 of the 


141 votes.


 


The ministry explained that India is a member of the IIAS 


through its Department of Administrative Reforms; and 


highlighted ----- that the international institution 


maintains a close working relationship 


with the United Nations.


 


The International Institute of Administrative Sciences 


is a federation of 31 member countries, 20 national 


sections and 15 academic research centres
that 
collaborate in scientific research
on 
public administration.


 


The entity participates in the Committee of Experts 


on Public Administration and the United Nations 


Public Administration Network, among other 


multilateral platforms.


 


 


___________________________________________


 


 


 


Cuba highlights priorities as


 a partner country of Brics


June 4th, 5:26am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The Minister of Communications of Cuba, Mayra Arevich, 


referred today in Russia in an interview with the multi-


national network TVBrics ---- about his country's 


priorities as a partner country of the Brics.


 


The owner, who participates at the head of the Cuban


 delegation in the Innovations and Services Fair, and


in the Digital Forum that has been taking place in 


the aforementioned Russian city since June 2, 


he explained.. that the association with the 


Brics, opens new opportunities for Cuba


 in terms of science, technology and 


international cooperation.


 


''The possibility... of being in the artificial intelligence


alliance with the Brics -- will open a path for us, to 


integrate and work for association professionals


and Cubans, in projects that are not only done 


for our people, but also, for the world of the 


bloc's countries. I think it has potential'',


 Arevich noted.


 


He also recalled that Cuba acquired the status of partner 


country of the Brics in 2024 and, since then, has been 


actively implementing joint initiatives. According to 


the minister, the association has raised the status 


of the Havana science and technology park.


 


At the same time, he stressed, Cuba is committed not only 


to the technological field, but also to the social field.


 


In his opinion, the president of the country, Miguel Díaz-


Canel, has highlighted three key areas: work in the 


online environment, support for social initiatives 


and improvement of the level of education 


---- especially with regard to modern 


information technologies.


 


He added that the digital forum has become 


an important opportunity for Cuba..... to 


expand its potential in these areas.


 


 


___________________________________





Accused Zelensky and the United States:

 the South Korean presidential election 

is won by the "unfinished opposition 

leader" Lee Jae-myung

by Irina Rinaeva

June 3rd, 7:18pm

(Komsomolskaya Pravda)

 

Zelensky critic Lee Jae-myung wins 

South Korean presidential election

 

TO SHARE

 

South Korea's presidential election, was won by 

opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung, who said 

about the Ukrainian conflict that Russia was 

provoked by Zelensky ---- who..... "has no 

knowledge in politics and diplomacy. 

Ukraine's President, is responsible 

for unleashing war."

 

The politician --- supports dialogue with North Korea. 

And what he has in common with Donald Trump is 

that they both survived assassination attempts: 

in January last year -- Lee was attacked by a 

man during a political event, and seriously 

wounded with an 18-centimetre knife in 

the neck.

 

Lee Jae Myung, received about 49% of the vote. The 

second candidate, Kim Moon-soo (representative of 

the ex-president's party "People's Power") - 41%.

 

Kim Moon-soo.. lost the election with 

the support of 41% of the electorate.

 

The 61-year-old politician, heads the Democratic Party
of Korea (Toburo). His biography - is impressive: he 

was born in such a poor family that he could not

 even go to high school - he had to work after 

the "elementary school".

 

Lee Jae-myung went to the factory - and there....... at the 

age of 13, he suffered an injury to his left hand --- since 

then it has been crippled. But at the cost of incredible 

efforts, the young man managed to pass the exams 

for the middle and high school course ---- as an 

external student, and then go to university 

and become a lawyer.

 

He started his career as a human rights lawyer. He 

became mayor of Seongnam City ---- where he 

introduced free school meals and benefits 

for young people - and then governor of 

the major Gyeonggi province.

 

Lee participated in the last presidential election, 

but lost by less than 1% to Yoon Sung-yeol, 

a candidate from the conservative 

People's Power Party.

 

For Yoon, we recall, everything ended in impeachment 

after his attempt to impose martial law in the country,

 last December. Thus, he wanted to crack down on 

the Democratic Party, which had a majority in 

parliament. But it didn't work out. 

 

Li was not afraid to show himself in front of the military 

that the president had sent to block parliament. He 

climbed over the fence --- and appealed to his 

supporters for support. All this time, he 

was broadcasting live on YouTube 

from his mobile phone.

 

And before that, Lee Jae-myung was almost killed: at a 

public press conference, under the pretext of taking 

an autograph, a certain citizen Kim approached him

and stabbed the politician with a knife - it got into 

the jugular vein. Lee was operated on for an hour 

and a half. There's been a scar on his neck ever 

since, which he hides... under the collar of his 

shirt. Kim was jailed for 15 years. His motive 

was to disagree with the actions of the 

Democratic Party.

 

Lee supports dialogue with Pyongyang and a gradual 

easing of sanctions against North Korea. He has 

repeatedly promised to restore inter-Korean 

communication channels ---- that were 

severed under Yoon Seok-yeol.

 

He also sees the need for a diplomatic dialogue with 

Russia. The winner of this election ------- supports 

humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but he is against 

the supply of lethal weapons to Kiev - 

believing that this could increase 

tensions in relations with the 

Russian Federation and 

the DPRK. 

 

His country - says Lee Jae-myung, 

should focus on peace initiatives.

 

Interestingly, the politician used to refer to American 

troops in South Korea as "occupation forces" --- that 

"allowed colonial collaborators to hold on to power." 

 

But since Trump came to power, the Democratic 

leader's rhetoric has changed - he says that 

the alliance with the United States 

should be strengthened.




 

_________________________________







WSJ: IMF...... doubts 


Ukraine's financing


 amid credit default


June 3rd, 8:39pm


(RT.ru)


 


The International Monetary Fund (IMF) doubts about 


the financing of Kiev due to its credit default. This 


opinion was expressed by the author of an


 article in The Wall Street Journal.


 


"Ukraine is facing a sovereign default on the loan, after 


it decided not to make payments due to holders of its 


debt securities in the amount of $2.6 billion," the 


journalist said.


 


According to him, the IMF called the situation risky 


for the further conclusion of agreements on 


financing Ukraine.


 


Earlier it became known that the International
Monetary Fund had - previously - agreed to 


provide Kiev a tranche of $500 million.


 


 


 


_____________________________________




 Fidan: Erdogan is ready to organize talks 
between Putin, Trump and Zelensky

June 3rd, 8:08pm

(RT.ru)

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed 

his readiness: to organize talks between Russian 

President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump with

 the participation of Vladimir Zelensky, Turkish

 Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.

 

"We are ready..... for the leaders' summit. It is very 

important that Putin, Trump and Zelensky meet," 

TRT Haber TV channel quotes the Turkish 

politician as saying.

 

Fidan stressed that today there is no other leader who

 would be so trusted by Putin, Trump and Zelensky.

 

Earlier, Fidan said that Russia and Ukraine 

agreed on the next round of negotiations.

 

 

______________________________________________

 

 

 

Professor Lankov: Lee Jae-myung will

 oppose arms supplies to Ukraine

June 3rd, 7:57pm

(RT.ru)

 

Lee Jae-myung ----- who is leading in the South Korean 

elections -- is likely to oppose the supply of weapons 

to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said Andrey Lankov, 

an orientalist and professor at Kunmin University 

in Seoul.

 

"Lee Jae-myung has repeatedly said - that South Korea 

should ''not interfere'' in any possible conflict between 

China and Taiwan - or in the ongoing conflict between 

Russia and Ukraine. Most likely, he will do everything 

not to provide direct military support to Kiev,"

the professor said - in an interview.

 

Lankov noted that ---- in the event of an urgent request 

from the United States to supply weapons to Ukraine, 

South Korea may agree, despite initial resistance.

 

The expert also added that one should not expect 

Seoul to participate in actions against Moscow, 

since the South Korean population as a whole 

still has positive views on Russia.

 

Earlier, Lee Jae-myung allowed 

cooperation ----- with the DPRK.

 

 

________________________________________________

 




Caldwell: Ukraine's attack on Russian
airfields 
carries big risks -------
for the United States

June 3rd, 7:48pm

(RT.ru)

 

The United States --- must stop supplying weapons to
Ukraine that it can use to attack Russian strategic 

nuclear forces. This opinion -- was expressed by 

former adviser to the Pentagon, Dan Caldwell.

 

According to him, this is fraught with escalation and 

increases the risk of direct confrontation between 

Russia and NATO.

 

"The United States.... should not only distance itself from 

this attack, but also stop any support that may directly 

or indirectly contribute to attacks on Russian strategic

 nuclear forces," he wrote on his X social 

network account.

 

Earlier, a former high-ranking officer of the French 

army, Guillaume Ansel, said that an attack on 

Russian airfields by Ukraine is impossible 

- without US satellite communications.

 

The White House said that Kiev did not notify US 

President Donald Trump in advance about the 

attack on Russian airfields.

 

 

_________________________________

 


 


Lula da Silva: Biden believed that 


Russia should be .....destroyed


June 3rd, 4:50pm


(RT.ru)


 


Former US leader Joe Biden considered it necessary to 


completely destroy Russia, said Brazilian President 


Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.


 


"Biden, with whom I had a long conversation about this, 


believed that Russia should be destroyed," Le Monde 


newspaper quoted the Brazilian leader as saying.


 


Lula da Silva also stressed -- that Europe has supported


 Washington's position and is now spending significant 


funds on re-armament.


 


At the same time -- the Brazilian president 


also confirmed his readiness to facilitate 


negotiations between Russia & Ukraine.


 


Earlier, Lula da Silva said that he intends 


to contribute to the success of the 


negotiations in Istanbul.


 


 


 


___________________________






Bose: accused Rutte of changing 


his position on Ukraine's NATO 


membership - again


June 3rd, 4:42pm


(RT.ru)


 


Irish journalist Chay Bowes --- accused NATO 


Secretary General, Mark Rutte, of changing


his position on Ukraine's entry to the bloc.


 


He responded to the words of the Secretary General 


of the North Atlantic Alliance that "Ukraine's path 


to NATO is irreversible."


 


"This blockhead (Rutte. - RT) has changed his mind again. 


The rejected Dutch political loser and unelected head


 of NATO now says that Ukraine will join (the bloc. - 


(RT - someday). An awkward change of opinion 


from the "boss" of NATO," he wrote on his 


social network account.


 


Earlier, Vladimir Zelensky said that Ukraine was 


allegedly, invited to the NATO summit in June.


 


Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said 


that the United States is ready to stop the expansion 


of the bloc... to the borders of Russia.


 






________________________________





 Voting on Burbok's candidacy for the post 

of UN General Assembly President was 

requested by the Russian Federation

June 3rd, 1:09am

(Izvestia.ru)

 

The vote on the candidacy of former German Foreign 

Minister Annalena Burbock for the post of President 

of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly 

(GA) was requested by Russia. This was 

reported by TASS on June 2, citing 

sources in the UN.

 

"The vote was requested... by 

the Russian Federation," the

agency's interlocutors said.

 

Burbok was the only candidate for the position 

and received 167 votes out of a possible 193.

 

Burbok was elected to the post of President of the UN 

General Assembly on June 2. Dmitry Polyansky, First 

Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian 

Federation to the organization ---- noted that 

Berbok's candidacy received 167 votes, 

which is an "indecently small" 

indicator for a candidate

for such a high post. 

 

He stressed that traditionally, all regional groups 

make a decision to support a candidate 

unanimously, and....... it is not 

disputed afterwards.




 

_________________________________





Care for older adults 


in the US ---- at risk


June 2nd, 4:55pm


 (Prensa Latina) 


 


Long-term care services for older adults in the United States 


are at risk if the Senate approves President Donald Trump's 


priority bill that he has alreadyadvanced ----- in the House 


of Representatives.


 


The voices of experts warn that within the (fiscal megaproject 


that passed the test in the Lower House by one vote), cuts to 


Medicaid are expected, the largest funder of long-term care 


facilities ----- covering approximately two in three nursing 


home residents.


 


Reducing the funds allocated to this massive program, 


although already limited in resources - they point out


 - could have disastrous effects on health, and the 


safety and quality of life of older adults.


 


The Republicans, who also control the Senate, began the


 legislative week with the top topic: to try to reconcile in 


the next four weeks the criteria of the entire bench to 


try to endorse the bill that covers a large part of 


Trump's domestic agenda, and one of the key 


points.... is its possible cuts to Medicaid.


 


The current budget initiative would extend overdue tax 


cuts, adding about $3.8 trillion over the next decade to


 the federal deficit, according to the Congressional 


Budget Office.


 


In exchange, the House committee that administers 


Medicaid proposed cutting nearly $700 billion in 


spending for the program on the “big and 


beautiful” project as Trump called it, 


which is currently in conciliation.


 


Both houses of Congress must finally approve a 


single plan based on their respective proposals.


 


Skilled nursing facilities, or nursing homes, are 


the centres that require the most attention, in


 the long-term care continuum.


 


Medicaid covers more than 60% of nursing home 


residents, about 20% of people in assisted living 


facilities and more than half - of all those living 


in long-term care facilities.


 


But --- if states find deficits in federal funding, they 


must generate revenue or make cuts on their own.


 


While the current proposal does not appear to make 


direct cuts to long-term care, experts say reducing 


federal funding for Medicaid overall will likely have 


indirect effects ------ on states' ability to pay for 


such care.


 


This could involve eliminating assisted living coverage 


or reducing or eliminating reimbursement offered to 


some home and community caregivers, experts 


said, according to the Public Broadcasting 


Service (PBS).


 


States could also reduce the reimbursement rate for 


Medicaid residents in nursing homes or change 


eligibility requirements, they pointed out that


insisting on any of these options ---- will 


have profound repercussions.






 


_______________________________________




 Venezuela Dismantles Network 
Manipulating Parallel Dollar: 

Government ----- Defends 

Economic Sovereignty

June 2nd, 4:43pm

(teleSUR)

 

The Venezuelan government has arrested 25 individuals 

for operating unauthorized websites that manipulated 

the parallel dollar, intensifying efforts to protect the 

bolívar and combat economic sabotage.

 

This operation, led by the state security agencies, marks a 

new chapter in the government’s ongoing campaign to 

defend the national economy from destabilizing 

forces and reaffirm the authority of the Central

 Bank of Venezuela (BCV) over currency policy.

 

The Venezuelan government’s action comes after a thorough 

investigation into 18 websites accused of daily publishing 

unauthorized dollar rates, which authorities say fueled 

inflation and economic instability.

 

The arrested individuals -10 women and 15 men - were 

apprehended across nine states, including Caracas, 

Aragua, Mérida, Lara, Yaracuy, Miranda, Zulia, La 

Guaira, and Barinas. According to the technical 

analysis, these platforms set exchange rates 

lacking any official basis --- contributing to 

artificial price hikes & public discontent.

 

Minister Cabello emphasized that the operation was 

conducted “silently, without abuse of any kind,” 

and highlighted the diverse roles within the 

dismantled network, from operators and 

managers to programmers and 

payment recipients. 

 

During the raids, the authorities seized cheques issued 

by Google, revealing that the websites profited from 

advertising revenue generated by manipulating 

economic information.

 

A text reads: In a major operation led by the Ministry of Interior 

and Justice and personally overseen by President Nicolás 

Maduro, which involved nearly a year of investigation, 

25 people have been arrested for manipulating the

 parallel dollar rate through social media.

 

Some individuals managed at least 18 social media accounts 

that illegally set the currency’s price and were capable of 

raising it by up to 40 points within hours or days 

without any economic logic.

 

This network operated in nine states, mainly in 

Guatire – Miranda, Caracas, Barinas, and Zulia.

 

Protecting the Bolívar and Combating Speculation

 

The Venezuelan government has long maintained currency 

controls to shield the bolívar from speculative attacks and 

ensure that foreign reserves are used for essential 

imports, such as food and medicine.

 

The proliferation of parallel dollar indicators -- especially on 

social media and digital platforms, has been identified as 

a central driver of inflation and price speculation. By 

artificially inflating the dollar, these networks 

undermine the government’s efforts to 

stabilize the economy and protect 

the purchasing power of 

ordinary Venezuelans.

 

Officials have repeatedly framed the battle against the parallel 

dollar as a defense of economic sovereignty in the face of 

external aggression and internal sabotage. Cabello 

pointed out that some website administrators 

received politically motivated instructions, 

particularly in the lead-up to the May 25 

elections, when the parallel dollar rate 

spiked by 20%. This --- the authorities 

argue, is part of a broader economic 

war waged by powerful groups who 

seek to destabilize the country.

 

The crackdown on parallel dollar networks is not an isolated 

measure but part of a comprehensive strategy to restore 

order to Venezuela’s currency market. Regulatory and 

security agencies have intensified inspections of 

businesses and digital platforms, imposing stiff 

penalties on those found using unofficial rates.

 

The state’s actions reflect a determination to reclaim control 

over monetary policy, even as international sanctions and 

limited access to foreign reserves, complicate the 

economic landscape.

 

Despite these challenges ---- the government remains resolute. 

As President Nicolás Maduro and his cabinet have repeatedly 

stated, Venezuela will not allow economic mafias and 

external actors to dictate the fate of the nation.

 

The recent arrests send a clear message: the defense of the 

bolívar and the well-being of the Venezuelan people remain 

at the forefront of state policy. “We can’t be afraid of the 

mafias. We want to see the currency speculators put 

in prison”, President Nicolás Maduro has said.

 

The Venezuelan government’s decisive action against parallel 

dollar manipulation underscores its commitment to economic 

justice and sovereignty, even as it faces persistent external 

and internal pressures.

 




__________________________________________




Burbok becomes new President 


of the UN General Assembly


by Victoria Kondratieva 


(Editor of the Mir dept)


June 2nd, 4:18pm


(Lenta.ru)


 


Former German Foreign secretary, Annalena Burbock, 


has been elected President of the 80th session of 


the UN General Assembly. This is reported by 


RIA Novosti.


 


"Annalena Burbock from Germany, has been elected Chair 


of.... the 80th session of the General Assembly," said 


Philemon Young, Chair of the current 79th session.


 


In turn, the first deputy Permanent Representative of the 


Russian Federation to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, said


that the nomination of Berbok for this post was


 a spit at the World Organization.


 


Earlier, the former head of the Munich Security Conference, 


Christoph Heusgen, called the idea of nominating Burbok 


for the post ---- absolute shamelessness.






 


__________________________________________




The president of Poland will be.... a 

Eurosceptic, supported by Trump.

 What do the media write?

June 2nd, 10:31am

(Izvestia.ru)

 

The victory in the Polish presidential election was won 

by the conservative Karol Nawrocki. This was a blow 

to the EU, which expected Warsaw to return to the 

pro-European track, and the current government 

of Donald Tusk. 

 

Navrotsky is a Eurosceptic and an opponent of Ukraine's 

entry into Western alliances, for which he is supported 

by US President Trump. 

 

CNN: Nawrocki won the Polish presidential election

 

Karol Nawrocki, a candidate from Poland's right-wing 

populist Law and Justice Party (PiS), won 50.89% of 

the vote, defeating the liberal mayor of Warsaw, 

Rafal Trzaskowski ----- who had long been 

considered the favourite. Navrotsky's 

victory...... extends PiS's 10-year 

presence in the presidential 

palace.... and could spell 

disaster ------ for Prime 

Minister Donald Tusk.

 

During the election campaign, he emphasized his Catholic faith, 

promised to reduce migration, and relentlessly criticized 

Brussels and Tusk. He received late support from the

participants at the Conservative Political Action 

Conference, which held its first meeting in 

Poland earlier this week, cementing a 

decades-long rapprochement... 

between populist right-wing 

movements in Poland & 

the United States.

 

Navrotsky's victory seemed unlikely... until the first round of 

voting two weeks ago. But the first round showed that he 

was slightly behind Trzaskowski - and revealed a higher 

level of support than expected among a small number 

of far-right supporters, some of whom later... voted 

for Navrotsky.

 

Bloomberg: Trump-backed candidate wins in Poland

 

US President Donald Trump supported the victorious Navrotsky. 

His election was the first success for the MAGA movement, 

which tried but failed to tilt the election in favour of 

nationalist or far-right candidates in countries 

such as Germany, Romania, Canada 

and Australia.

 

Navrotsky's campaign - received support from the White House, 

where he met briefly with Trump in the Oval office, last month. 

During a visit to Poland last week, the US Homeland Security 

Secretary Christy Noem presented the prospect of close 

ties with Trump as an incentive to vote for Navrotsky 

and called Trzaskowski ------- "an absolute loser 

among leaders."

 

Poland is one of the EU's fastest-growing economies and the

 country with the largest defense spending, so the failure of 

the Tusk government is likely to reverberate throughout the 

bloc, which is under growing pressure from Trump's tariffs. 

 

Navrotsky told his supporters that his victory would mean 

curbing Tusk's "monopoly on power," which "takes away 

our big dreams and takes away our aspirations."

 

Financial Times: Nawrocki's victory -- 

strikes a blow to Poland's EU agenda

 

Poland's President-elect Nawrocki will give new impetus to 

right-wing populists across the continent. His victory will 

increase tensions between the president and the 

government by derailing judicial reform that 

Tusk promised in 2023, in exchange for 

Brussels unblocking billions of euros 

in EU funds - frozen during a rule of 

law dispute with the previous 

government.

 

"For Tusk, he will be much worse than [previous President 

Andrzej] Duda," said Adam Leszczynski, director of the 

Gabriel Narutowicz Institute for Political Thought, a 

state-run think tank. "He - is much more radical in 

his views and enters the office of president with 

great indignation, after being dealt a very 

personal blow by Tusk and his allies 

during the election campaign."

 

Tusk's one-and-a-half-year premiership has failed to smooth 

over divisions in a highly polarized Polish society. 

Navrotsky's success comes ahead of other key 

votes in Central Europe --- where Eurosceptic 

billionaire, Andrej Babis, is hoping to return 

as Czech prime minister and Viktor Orban 

is hoping to extend his term as head of 

the government in Hungary.

 

Reuters: who is Navrotsky and what 

does he think about Ukraine

 

Navrotsky, a conservative historian, created the image of a 

tough guy during his campaign, posting videos of him on 

shooting ranges and boxing rings. His past has been 

the subject of intense public debate following a 

series of negative media reports. There were 

questions about his purchase of an 

apartment from a pensioner and 

admitting that he took part

 in organized fights.

 

Unlike other Eurosceptics in Central Europe, such as Slovak 

Prime Minister Robert Fico or Hungarian Prime Minister 

Viktor Orban, Navrotsky supports providing military 

assistance to Ukraine. However, he said that if 

elected --- he would oppose Ukraine's 

membership in Western alliances. 


This position - echoes the decline 

in support for Ukrainians among 

Poles, who have taken in more

 than a million refugees 

from abroad.

 

His supporters from the Law and Justice Party supported 

Kiev's accelerated membership in the EU and NATO 

while it was in power until the end of 2023. 

Navrotsky also expresses a critical tone 

towards Ukraine, supporting Poland's 

far-right politicians on this issue.

 

Politico: Poland faces conflict at the highest level

 

Nawrocki seeks to push Poland further away from the 

European mainstream in a more populist direction. 

His victory deals a significant blow to the Tusk 

government, whose legislative efforts were 

blocked by the incumbent Duda. The 

same thing is likely to continue...

 under Navrotsky.

 

"The Nawrocki presidency means a high-level conflict between 

the president and Tusk," said Joanna Sawicka, a political 

analyst at Polityka Insight, a Warsaw-based think tank. 

"But it is clear -------- that it will be difficult for the 

government to implement key reforms, since 

the president can veto most of them."

 

The Polish presidency is mostly a ceremonial function, but the 

president can veto a bill or send it to the courts for judicial 

review. The Tusk-led coalition does not have the votes in 

parliament to override a veto, so President Nawrocki 

will make it very difficult for the Prime Minister to 

govern. The election result -- highlights deep 

political divisions in Poland between more 

liberal cities and conservative small 

towns and villages.

 

 

 

________________________________

 



In Bulgaria, protests began
against 
the transition
to the euro

May 31st, 9:26pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

Residents of Bulgaria came out to protest

-------- against the transition to the euro.

 

"Thousands of people came out.... to protest in defense of 

the Bulgarian lev in the centre of Sofia. Similar protests 

against the introduction of the euro are taking place
in 
other cities of the country," the Bulgarian
National 
Radio (BNR) reports.

 

In the city centre, traffic had to be blocked
due to the action.

 

The head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andriy Pyshny, 

said earlier... that Kiev could switch to the euro,
as the 
base currency for the hryvnia.

 




____________________________________









Cristina Fernández leads surveys


 in the province of Buenos Aires,


 but... 


by Martin Hacthoun, 


chief correspondent


May 31st, 1:05pm


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Former president Cristina Fernández, who can run for national 


representative, today leads the polls in the province of 


Buenos Aires (PBA) above the proposals of 


La Libertad Avanza (LLA) and 


the PRO.


 


After the noisy elections for the Legislature of the City of 


Buenos Aires (CABA), eyes are now on the upcoming 


contest in the province of the same name, the 


largest electoral district in Argentina with 


almost 40% of the political weight in
the country, which will hold its


 legislative elections on 


September 7.


 


The most recent survey carried out by the consulting firm 


CB, places the current president of Justicialista Party


 (PJ) ...above the head of the list of LLA - party of 


President Javier Milei - the legislator, José 


Luis Espert, and Diego Santilli, leader of 


the PRO in the important region.


 


CB indicates that Cristina Fernández leads the list of 


candidates, with 44.4 percent, above Espert (41.6) 


and Santilli (36.7). Measuring Karina Milei, sister 


of the president and chief of staff, and whom 


some see as a future candidate for a 


political position, the poll gives 


her 32.8 points.


 


The CB study included defined and undecided people, 


and in this section -- the PJ leader is also at the 


forefront with 27 percent among those who


 are sure they will vote for her, ahead
of
 Espert (21).


 


After having made a splash in the Buenos Aires parliamentary


 elections, in which the right-wing electorate usurped the 


PRO of former president Mauricio Macri in his bastion, 


now the cannons of the ruling party are aimed at


 the PBA for the provincial legislative elections


 in September and the national ones on 


October 26.


 


In these elections, half of the Chamber of Deputies of 


the Nation and a third of the Senate, will be elected.


 


In their desire to defeat Peronism, Milei's political owners 


managed to get the PRO.... to agree to go together in 


alliance to dispute the territory with Governor 


Axel Kicillof.


 


They even call on other forces such as the Radical Civic 


Union headed there... by deputy Facundo Manes, to 


whom the CB survey gives 32.4 points, placing 


it in sixth place among the applicants.


 


Milei's side is going to bet everything - and the president in 


particular will spend large capital to support Espert, and 


expectations are growing among analysts --- if he will 


also steal the PRO's electorate as he did in CABA, 


where Macri's party was dismantled.... in the 


struggle between right-wing leaders.


 






______________________________________



Attack on home of Chilean

 communist leader Daniel 

Jadue condemned

May 31st, 11:25am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

In an event in front of the La Moneda Palace, protesters 

condemned the attack on the home of the Chilean 

communist leader of Palestinian origin, Daniel 

Jadue, who is under house arrest today.

 

During the demonstration, Brazilian human rights lawyer 

and Jadue's wife - Anjuli Tostes -- thanked the peoples'

expressions of solidarity after unidentified individuals 

threw a bucket of red paint on the door of his house.

 

“We live in a dual world, where there is light and shadow. 

In the morning, we woke up with this aggression, but 

later we received very powerful messages of unity 

that fill us with joy”, Tostes told Prensa Latina.

 

It is not the first time that the home has been vandalized since 

the former mayor is also under house arrest for alleged 

crimes in the negotiations of the Chilean Association 

of Municipalities with Popular Pharmacies, a case 

reported here - as legal persecution.

 

Presidential candidate for the Communist Party of Chile

(PCCh), Jeannette Jara ---- called on the authorities to 

investigate this action and reach those responsible 

- both materially and intellectually - because
these 
violent events ------ cannot be
allowed to 
be normalized.

 

“Enough of hate attacks in Chile”, 

he wrote on his X account.

 

For his part, the president of the CCP, Lautaro Carmona, 

he denounced that Jadue faces the fascist hatred of 

those who do not accept different ideas and 

recalled his position: condemning the 

genocide committed by Israel - 

to try to exterminate the 

Palestinian people.

 

 

 




Photo: José Tito Meriño (PhotosPL)

 

Exhibition against US blockade 

Lets Cubans laugh at nasty US 

May 31st, 10:26am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

“Humour cannot be blockaded” ---- is the title of the open
exhibition at the International Press Centre, in Cuba's 

capitol, Havana, against the policy of the economic, 

financial and commercial blockade the US insists 

on ---- towards Cuba.

 

The artists Arístides Hernández, Ismael Lema, Adán Iglesias,

 Enrique Lacoste, José Luis López, Osvaldo Gutiérrez, 

Alfredo Martirena and José Alberto Rodríguez,

 participate in the exhibition.

 

At the inauguration, Cuba's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs 

Carlos Fernández de Cossío, highlighted --- that it is an
artistic expression and humour --- which constitutes
a manifestation 
of the expression of the Cuban
people ---- in rejection of the aggression of
the United States for over six decades.

 

''It is not something new.. in our history, it has been a tradition in 

our country, in the revolutionary process, to express in multiple

ways, including with graphic humour, the population's 

rejection - of such a persistent and ruthless war 

against the people of Cuba.''

 

He stressed that the United States aggression towards Cuba 

is ruthless; It is not military aggression, but it is destructive, 

which has been - for more than 60 years - against all the 

people of Cuba.

 

He expanded... that if there was doubt --- it would be enough to 

see the recent statements, from the last week, by Secretary 

of State (Marcos Rubio), which leave no room for doubt, 

that in the problems between Cuba and the United 

States there is a country that is an aggressor, 

which is the United States, and... there is a 

country that is a victim of US aggression.

 

''Our people have been able, by their nature, their culture,
their 
idiosyncrasy, to use humour - to express even the

strongest repudiations, the strongest rejections,
against imperialism,
 and these caricatures
are an expression of that.''

 

Cossío stated that the Cuban people --- ''as stoic as they are,
as optimistic as they are, have been able to show humour 

even in the most dramatic moments, and in the 

moments - when the most heroic acts are 

carried out, therefore it should not be 

surprising that, even in the face of 

the economic war against Cuba, 

it is expressed in that way, in 

graphic manifestations -
by 
our artists.''

 

 

__________________________






Hungarian Minister Boca: 


EU risks disappearing


 like Atlantis


May 30th, 10:17pm


(RT.ru)



The EU has retreated from its values and risks
disappearing...
 like Atlantis, the Hungarian
Minister for EU Affairs, 
Janos Boca said.


 


According to him, Brussels "deviates from freedom of speech 


and has forgotten the true meaning of the word tolerance."


 


"Our grandchildren... will listen to stories about Europe that once 


existed, just as we listen to stories about the sunken Atlantis,"


 RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.


 


Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador -at-Large Rodion 


Miroshnik expressed the opinion that for many Europeans, 


the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine......
is a 
political death.


 


 


_____________________________________________


 


 


Reuters reported on the first 


default on Ukraine's debt


May 30th, 9:34pm


(Izvestia.ru)


 


The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine will not pay holders of


 its GDP warrants (a state security, where payments are 


related to GDP growth. Ed.) about $665 million, which


 will be the first default on payments ------ since the 


creation of these tools. This was announced 


on Friday, May 30, according to the 


Reuters news agency.


 


"Last year, the Ukrainian parliament approved a moratorium


 on payments on securities linked to GDP," the agency said.


 


The country's total debt to holders
of securities is about 


$3.2 billion.


 


Scheduled default: what does the deterioration


 of Ukraine's credit rating mean?


 


The West, despite this, continues to lend to Kiev.


 


Earlier, on April 24, the FT learned about the possible default


 of Ukraine. The country failed to reach an agreement with 


investors on the restructuring of $2.6 billion of debt, in 


connection with which Kiev may default. 


 


It is noted that this situation has undermined the hope of 


the Ukrainian side to carry out a restructuring before
the 
payment deadline expires — in May, the state
must pay 
$600 million on securities
linked to GDP.


 


 


________________________________________




One of the opposition leaders 


Nika Melia - was detained


 in Georgia


May 29th, 10:17pm


(RT.ru)


 


Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the opposition coalition 


For Change, was detained in Georgia for insulting police


officers. This was reported in the Ministry of Internal 


Affairs of Georgia.


 


"Law enforcement officers detained Nika Melia --- on the basis 


of Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which


implies.. verbal abuse of a law enforcement officer and/or 


other offensive actions carried out in the performance 


of official duties, or related to the performance of 


official duties," TASS quotes the 


ministry's statement.


 


The Interior Ministry added that Melia 


will appear in court, in due course.


 


Earlier, the former head of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili,


spoke about the critical moment for the opposition of 


the republic... without funding from USAID.


 






_________________________________________






Vucic promised: to block contracts 


for ammunition - in the case of 


suspected supplies... to the 


Armed Forces of Ukraine


May 29th, 9:22pm


(Izvestia.ru)


 


Serbia will not fulfill contracts if there is a suspicion that 


weapons of its production will end up in Ukraine. This


 was announced on Thursday, May 29, by Serbian 


President, Aleksandar Vucic - on the RTS


 TV channel.


 


"I will certainly issue an order and a warning: where there 


is a suspicion of abuse on the part of the end user, that 


is, sending them to the front line, such contracts will 


not be executed," the head of state said.


 


Vucic denied reports that Serbia supplied weapons to 


Ukraine via Africa. He noted that the country


 currently produces only for itself.


 


In addition.. according to the Serbian leader, he has already
discussed the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Vucic did not disclose the details of the conversation but
clarified that a working group was created "to establish 


the facts."


 


Earlier, on May 21st, Vucic said that he would not run away
from the question of the head of EU Diplomacy Kai Kallas,
about a 
trip to Moscow to celebrate the 80th anniversary
of Victory
 in the Great Patriotic War (WWII).

According to him, Kallas -
 was the only one at the EU
Political Community summit 
in Tirana who publicly
condemned his trip to the 
Russian capital.






 


________________________________________________________






SVR: Serbian military industry supplies Kiev 


------ trying to shoot Russia in the back


May 29th, 1:22pm


(RT.ru)


 


The Serbian military industry continues to supply
ammunition to the Kiev regime, despite
Belgrade's official neutrality.

This was reported by the press bureau of Russia's
Foreign Intelligence Service, calling Serbia's
actions an attempt to "shoot 
Russia
in the back."


 


According to Russian intelligence, Serbia's defense industry
enterprises supply weapons to Ukraine, where ammunition 


is subsequently used by the Kiev regime's militants 


against the Russian military.


 


"The Serbian military industry is trying to shoot Russia in the 


back," the report says. "According to information received 


by the SVR, Serbian defense enterprises, contrary to the 


neutrality declared by official Belgrade ----  continue to 


supply ammunition to Kiev."


 


The Foreign Intelligence Service stressed that such actions 


contradict Serbia's public position and may negatively 


affect bilateral relations.


 


 


__________________________________________________________



 


Government of Cuba gives top 


priority --- to energy recovery


May 29th, 1:07pm


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel ------- stated that the 


government gives top priority to solving problems related to 


electricity generation, in the most recent podcast From 


the Presidency, published today on digital platforms.


 


“The government works today --- with a priority above all the 


infinite priorities that the socialist State committed to the 


people has”, the head of state assured at the beginning 


of the broadcast, in which he addressed questions


 from the population --- about the challenges of 


this sector.


 


Díaz-Canel stressed the importance of talking about this issue 


''because the functioning of our economy depends, weighed 


down, and diminished, as it is on the functioning of the 


National Electroenergy System, almost paralyzed in 


many activities due to not being able to have the 


necessary service to serve the economy and 


also serve citizens''.


 


Accompanied by the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la 


O Levy and the general director of the Electrical Union of Cuba, 


Alfredo López Valdés, the president explained that demand for 


May compared to March grew considerably, both in the 


afternoon and in the mornings.


 


In this sense, De la O Levy added: that the difficult situation with 


liquefied gas has a particular impact on the recorded values, as 


well as non-compliance with the electricity consumption plans 


of several entities - and high temperatures.


 


“The provinces are adjusting.... to their already reduced 


consumption plan, but Havana does have a significant 


non-compliance in the residential sector; and within 


the residential sector, the sector of non-state forms 


of management, which fail to comply ---- and affect 


these growths in consumption” the minister noted.


 


During the podcast, the head of state denied false news --- that 


circulated on social networks, after the broadcast of the news 


program Round Table on the electro-energy situation, referring 


to the deactivation of 2 thermoelectric plants for 18 months, 


which would imply 72 consecutive hours of blackout and 


only four hours, subsequently, of electricity supply.


 


In this regard --- the general director of the Electrical Union 


reiterated that the country is working to reduce blackouts 


starting next July - and they will be under more control, 


as well as having a greater availability of fuel.


 


The Cuban president stressed that -- when the country is in a 


better situation - it will have to systematically maintain the 


thermoelectric plants and carry out the necessary capital 


repairs.... to avoid falling into this situation again.


 


“We - the president stressed - ''are surrounded, persecuted, and 


also accused by those who surround us and pursue every 


Cuban financial action, but we are not going to stop 


working to solve the problems that affect the 


people; and we will always be ready to 


answer any questions that arise 


because that is our duty”.


 


 


 


__________________________________________


 


 


 


They release a sugarcane union leader 


detained in the Dominican Republic


May 29th, 12:31pm


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Dominican union leader Jesus Nunez, general secretary of 


the Union of Gun Workers (UTC), was released today, after 


being behind bars for almost 24 hours, his daughter 


Jeily Ashley confirmed.


 


Ashley told Prensa Latina that Núñez is now free, after 


being arrested the day before in Boca Chica, without


 the real reason for his arrest being known.


 


Hours before, he told this medium that his arrest lacks a


legal basis because the authorities are seeking to 


resume a complaint that led to a debt in 1994 


«apparently to divert attention», when -- in 


reality it could be related to a sugarcane


 protest, announced for next Tuesday.


 


As soon as the incident became known, Hector Turbi, 


spokesperson for the National Popular Coordinator 


(CPN), demanded the immediate release of the 


union member - and held the government 


responsible for any situation that may


 affect his physical integrity during 


the process.


 


In that sense, he specified that the sugarcane grower had 


already faced judicial proceedings several years ago for 


an alleged debt, therefore, his new arrest --- raises


 concerns about a possible violation of his 


fundamental rights.


 


Meanwhile, Manuel María Mercedes, president of the Dominican 


Human Rights Commission, also told the newspaper Hoy -- that 


what happened this Wednesday is illegal, and he denounced 


that ''it is a persecution, due to Nunez's work in favour of 


the rights of sugarcane growers''.


 


Along the same lines, the president of the Rebel Movement, 


Juan Hubieres, demanded the release of the union leader, 


who was allegedly arbitrarily arrested in Boca Chica, 


despite his delicate state of health.


 


Hubieres reported that Núñez was taken by agents of the 


Central Directorate of Criminal Investigations (Dicrim) 


to five detachments, a situation that aggravated 


his medical condition.


 


He described the arrest as an inhumane act and stated that 


his partner has dedicated his life to defending the rights of 


workers in the sector, who for decades have demanded 


pensions, fair wages and humane living conditions, 


without being heard.


 


“His arrest is not only a personal injustice, but an 


aggression against the most humble in this


 country”, Hubieres said.


 


Last March, Núñez declared that sugarcane growers are 


among the most exploited groups in the Dominican 


Republic, during the inauguration of the group's 


second national conference held at the 


Autonomous University of 


Santo Domingo.


 


According to information -- published by the newspaper 


El Militante, on that occasion the national coordinator


 of the Union of Sugarcane Workers - denounced that 


thousands of them demand pensions and medical 


care, without their claims being addressed.


 


It turned out that in most of the bateyes where they live 


there is little or no electricity, they lack running water 


and are in areas that are difficult to access.


 


Núñez pointed out that the majority of cane cutters, 


agricultural, construction and domestic service 


employees in the country are born in Haiti or 


of Haitian descent, and their rights are 


not respected.


 


 


____________________________________________


 


 


 


Historical Pact --- Labour
reform ignores 
struggles
of the Colombian people
May 29th, 11:56am
(Prensa Latina) 



 


The political coalition Historical Pact of Colombia, assured 


today -- that the version of labour reform approved by the 


Fourth Commission of the Senate ignores the historical 


struggles of working people and he stressed his 


intention to reverse that “atropello”.


 


In a statement issued on social networks, the group stated that 


after a collective effort that allowed the debate to be revived 


after the initial file ---- thanks to the social mobilization and 


the call for the popular consultation - what was approved 


represents a clear defeat for those who dream of a fair 


and dignified work model.


 


He then listed ---- that the content that received approval in the 


aforementioned committee eliminates fundamental advances 


achieved in the House of Representatives ---- in October of 


last year.


 


“The labour nature of the apprenticeship contract -- was 


abolished, the increase in paternity leave was denied, 


leave for disabling menstruation - was eliminated, it 


was allowed to continue using the union contract 


to outsource and weaken the union organization 


...and the working day of up to 10 hours for 


internal domestic workers..... was


 maintained”, he denounced.


 


This community warned that, however, the worst of all 


is that measures were approved --- that open the door 


to new forms of exploitation.


 


“Hourly hiring was legalized, a practice that reduces the real 


income of workers and deepens inequality. In addition, the 


possibility of concentrating the weekly working day in 


four days without paying surcharges for overtime 


was introduced ---- which is equivalent to 


legalizing the daily theft of time and 


work effort”,  he warned.


 


The community then concluded that what was approved


ignores the country's jurisprudence, international 


commitments, and the mandate to move.... 


towards decent work.


 


That bench affirmed -- that it will seek to reverse what it 


described as an outrage in the Senate plenary session, 


where the fourth and final debate on the reform must 


begin in the coming days.


 


“We call on the Colombian people not to allow their rights to be 


taken away from them. Mobilization in the streets and popular 


consultation continue to be legitimate and necessary tools 


to achieve a true labour reform: one that dignifies work,


repairs historical injustices & guarantees fair working 


conditions for all”, he urged in his communication.


 


Last Tuesday, the Fourth Commission of the Senate 


approved a version of the labour reform that


 received strong objections from members 


of the Historical Pact and the leaders
of
 the labour confederations.


 


These same actors assure, that they will seek to modify the 


aspects that seem negative to them in the proposal in the


Senate plenary session -------- that must analyze the 


initiative - soon.


 


 


 


__________________________________________


 


 


 


Russia expresses interest in nuclear 


energy projects ---- in Ecuador


May 29th, 11:55am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The Russian ambassador to Ecuador, Vladimir Sprinchan, 


today expressed his country's interest in participating 


in nuclear energy development plans in the South 


American nation.


 


“We know Ecuador's interest in developing areas of electricity 


and Russia is open. We are going to start some contacts to 


see possibilities of cooperation in this sphere”, said the 


diplomat in an interview with the state channel 


EcuadorTV.


 


Sprinchan referred to the Russian experience in 


nuclear energy, an area where they have 


projects in other territories.


 


According to the ambassador, the Russian company 


Rosatom builds this type of facility --- and is an 


example of successful experience.


 


Likewise, he highlighted that this type of energy 


does not affect the environment, unlike coal or 


oil, but warned --- of the need for tougher 


safety measures«.


 


He pointed out - that it “is not allowed to start all these 


projects without a legislative basis from the country”


---  in reference to the plans of the Ecuadorian 


Government, that this month  - signed a 


memorandum of understanding with 


the International Atomic Energy 


Agency (OIEA) for it to advise 


on the construction of a 


nuclear complex.


 


Sprinchan mentioned the Toachi-Pilatón hydroelectric


 project, built with Russian support to generate 254.4


 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the provinces of 


Pichincha, Cotopaxi ----- and Santo Domingo de 


los Tsachilas.


 


On the other hand, this Wednesday, the government of 


Ecuador.. reported on the incorporation of 979 MW 


into the national electrical system as part of the 


plan to prevent blackouts ---- and other 


consequences of the dry season.


 


The manager of the Electric Corporation of Ecuador, 


Gustavo Sánchez, assured that this would allow


 the dry period to pass without problems, that


 is, minimum flows in hydrological reserves.


 


Between September and December 2024 --- Ecuador suffered 


blackouts of up to 14 hours a day that caused million-dollar 


economic losses ---- despite warnings from experts to the 


Executive ---- to adopt timely measures regarding the


 looming crisis, due to the drought.


 


In this South American nation, most of the generation comes 


from hydroelectric plants, although there is a thermal park 


that was abandoned and did not cover demand in times 


of a lack of rain.


 


 


__________________________________________


 


 


 


Russia proposes equitable and indivisible 


security ---- in the global South and East


May 29th, 11:39am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The XIII International Meeting of Senior Representatives 


for Security Affairs came to an end here today under the 


premise of achieving equitable and indivisible security 


for the South and it's global partners.


 


At the event organized by the Russian Security Council, 


between May 27 and 29, the head of state of the 


Eurasian giant, Vladimir Putin, stated that 


Moscow's approaches to ''security --- 


remain principled and unchanged''.


 


''We are convinced that a new security architecture must be 


equal and indivisible, that is --- all States must receive firm 


guarantees of their own security, but not at the expense 


of the security and interests of other countries'', 


stated the Russian president.


 


At the same time, he stressed - that the countries of the Global 


South and East are those that ''make up the world majority, 


those that aspire to more actively influence regional 


and international processes, those who defend 


the principle of sovereign equality and the 


right to their own development model''.


 


In this context, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov


 highlighted the emergence of a truly tectonic change 


in international politics.


 


''This is the acceleration of the process of forming a multipolar 


world order, a process of redistribution of the balance of 


power -- in favour of new development centres on the 


Eurasian continent, in Africa and Latin America'', 


the Foreign Minister said.


 


And, regarding the strategic ties between Russia and Latin


 America, the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, 


Sergei Shoigu, commented, that his country is 


committed to resuming five-way security 


consultations ----- between Russia, 


Nicaragua, Bolivia, Venezuela 


and Cuba.


 


As part of the bilateral meetings with the representatives of 


the Latin nations within the Security meeting, the leader of


 the Slavic nation assured, that the practice of holding 


these exchanges between the quintet will allow for


strengthening strategic alliances in the defense 


of national sovereignty.


 


During the meeting, a multilateral meeting of senior 


representatives of the Brics group of countries 


was also held.


 


''Today, it is precisely the Brics that plays the role of leader of 


the Global South and the East'', Shoigu noted, while adding, 


that the growing interest of an increasing number of States 


in deepening their cooperation with this association is a 


clear example of the consonance of approaches --- in 


supporting the multipolarity of the world order.


 


In this direction, the need to reform the global governance 


system and the inadmissibility of imposing a ‘order based 


on rules’ in the world are also reinforced, the secretary 


of the Russian organization assessed.


 


Another of the actions deployed at the meeting, was 


the meeting between Russia, and members of the 


Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean),


 currently made up of 10 countries in the region.


 


A round table on international cooperation on information 


security and a briefing for African nations also took place.


 


The secretary of the Russian Security Council also completed 


a series of meetings with senior representatives of the United


 Arab Emirates, Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of 


Korea --- as well as conversations with the President of the 


Republic Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Milorad Dodik, 


among more than 80 other bilateral meetings.


 


More than 100 countries and 20 international organizations 


participated in the XIII International Meeting of High 


Representatives for Security Affairs, a forum 


organized annually since 2010 by the 


Russian Security Council.


 


The event constitutes an important international platform to 


debate issues related to security and mechanisms to 


strengthen cooperation between countries, in the 


fight against international terrorism, extremism, 


cross-border crime, drug trafficking, as well
as
 new challenges and threats.


 


 


 


________________________________________







 Syria opens International 

Construction Fair

May 28th, 3:01pm

 (Prensa Latina) 

 

The 22nd edition ------- of the Buildex-2025 International 

Construction Fair opened at the capital's fairgrounds

in a ceremony attended by senior officials ----- and

representatives of dozens of foreign companies.

 

Some 490 Syrian companies and 250 from other nations, – 

112 of them from Türkiye,  - are taking part in this event

sponsored by the Ministries of Economy and Industry 

and Public Works and Housing.

 

The companies exhibit their products and services related 

to construction materials, alternative energy, hydraulic 

technology, furniture, real estate development, 

engineering offices, maritime transport, 

banking, and security systems.

 

China, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan also participated

 in the fair, which will run ...............until June 2nd.

 

Speaking to the press, Deputy Minister of Economy and

 Industry Basil Abdul Hanan stressed the importance 

of holding Buildex at the same time as the lifting of 

US and EU sanctions .............and the next phase 

of reconstruction.

 

For his part, Muhammad Hamza, CEO of the International Fairs 

Company, considered the fair to be an important platform for 

boosting participation in reconstruction - and the entry of 

investment into the Syrian ''market''.

 

More than 200 new companies are present for the first time, 

and the exhibition is one of the most prominent in the 

region, he noted.

 




________________________________________






Russia ------- reacts to Trump’s 

statements on Putin’s stance

May 28th, 11:22am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

Russian presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov responded 

to US President Donald Trump's remarks, stating 

that his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, 

"is playing with fire."

 

The official said Moscow understands that the White House

 leader... is not fully informed about all the facts of the 

hostilities between Moscow and Kiev, including 

the increasing number of massive terrorist 

attacks by Ukrainian forces - against 

peaceful cities in Russia.

 

In comments to journalist Pavel Zarubin, the adviser noted 

that the US president: “has already said many things; we, 

of course, read everything and monitor it, so to speak,” 

he said.

 

Similarly, Russian Security Council Vice Chairman Dmitry

 Medvedev -- also replied to the US head of state, who 

recently claimed that if it weren’t for him (Trump), 

“many really bad things would have happened 

to Russia by now.”

 

“Regarding Trump’s words about Putin ‘playing with fire’ 

and that ‘if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things 

would have already happened to Russia,’ I only 

know one really bad thing: World War III. 

I hope Trump understands this,” 

Medvedev wrote - on his 

Telegram channel.

 

Following the White House resident’s remarks, US State 

Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce sought to 

clarify the situation --- by stating that the US 

president’s words about Russia should

 not be interpreted as frustration.

 

While Washington tries to discredit Moscow’s position, 

Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian 

civilian facilities in recent days.

 

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that over the 

past week, the Russian air defense system, “destroyed 

and intercepted more than 2,330 drone attacks, 1,465 

of them outside the special military operation zone.”

 




____________________________________________________



Hungary and Slovakia block 

Declaration on Democracy 

in EU

May 28th, 10:28am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

On Wednesday, Hungary and Slovakia blocked  the 

adoption by the EU countries of a declaration on 

strengthening democracy in Europe, the

Euroactiv website reported.

 

Hungarian Minister of European Union Affairs, Janos Boka, 

noted that after a meeting of the EU General Affairs 

Council, Hungary and Slovakia did not support

 the proposal to strengthen democracy in 

Europe, as presented by Poland, who

currently chairs the EU Council.

 

Boka explained that the European institutions 

and some EU member states, misinterpret 

the sustainability of democracy.

 

In particular, the Hungarian minister pointed out that 

the document lacks a requirement for transparency 

in the funding of non-governmental organizations 

(NGOs), which often receive money from abroad 

and are used by several political forces....... 

for their purposes.

 

Hungary believes that the EU misinterprets the role 

of NGOs in a democratic society, Boka summed up.

 

Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, explained 

that in the last few years, the International Criminal 

Court (ICC) has become highly politicized and has 

been used by diverse states ----- to achieve their 

objectives in international conflicts.

 

 

 

______________________________________






The political scientist ---- predicted  

the immediate collapse of the EU 

as soon as Ukraine accedes

May 27th, 9:22pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

Ukraine's accession to the EU, would entail the immediate 

disintegration of the association. This was announced on 

Tuesday, May 27, by Zdenek Kedroutek, a Slovak political 

analyst, on the geopolitical situation in Europe, in an 

interview with Izvestia.

 

According to the expert, Ukraine was one of the most corrupt 

countries in the world, even before the start of the special 

military operation (SVO), and since 2022, the number of
millionaires in it ------- has increased by 40%.

 

"This conflict is a profitable business for Ukraine: it receives 

huge funds from Western countries. If this big black hole 

joins the EU, it could lead to its collapse.... within a 

few weeks," Kedroutek said.

 

In addition, the political scientist called the support of Kiev by 

Western countries, an ideology. According to him, in the West, 

they hang Ukrainian flags on government and other buildings
- and use the country's symbolic colours. All the assistance 

provided to Ukraine, in this way, is irrational, 

Kedroutek explained.

 

Earlier, on May 20, US blogger and political commentator
Jackson Hinkle, told Izvestia - that the EU intends to 

prolong the conflict in Ukraine and continue its 

financing ---- in order to make money ---- on 

international investment companies.

 

 

 

_______________________________________




 

ExPro: gas prices in Ukraine 

have reached a record level

by Anna Petrova

May 27th, 7:18pm

(Komsomolskaya Pravda)

 

Gas prices in Ukraine have risen to a record level in 

two years and are now higher than in Europe. 

Such data was published by ExPro 

TV company,

 

So, yesterday's gas prices in Ukraine amounted to 22.8 - 23.2 

thousand UAH per thousand cubic metres (including VAT). 

Without tax, the cost reached 19-19. 3 thousand UAH,

 which corresponds to $458 - 466 or

 €38.15 - 38.83 per MWh.

 

Gas prices in Ukraine continue to outstrip European ones. 

These experts do not rule out that --- with a further 

increase in the difference, private companies 

may resume importing.

 

Recall that from January 1, 2025, Ukraine introduced a four-fold 

increase in tariffs for gas transmission system services (up to 

305%). Such a sharp increase ---- is due to the suspension of 

Russian gas transit to the EU via Ukraine. 

 

Later, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned the head of the 

Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, that such a measure would 

only worsen the situation of Ukraine itself, as well as 

the EU countries.

 

 

 

__________________________________________________








Dodik: Russia recognized the 


danger from the West in time


May 27th, 3:05pm


(RT.ru)


 


Russia has timely assessed the risks and recognized the 


danger from the West, President of Republika Srpska 


Milorad Dodik said.


 


"The Russian Federation recognized this danger in time and 


- justifiably - launched a special military operation, in order 


to prevent the West's plans to destroy Russia itself," 


TASS quoted him as saying.


 


Earlier, Military Watch Magazine wrote: that military-industrial 


production continues to grow in Russia, despite the negative 


forecasts of Western analysts.


 






__________________________________




Lavrov: Europe has once again found 

the Nazi flag ------- for a dead-end 

adventure against Russia

May 27th, 11:59am

(RT.ru)

 

Europe has, once again, "found the Nazi flag" for a dead-end 

adventure to inflict a "strategic defeat" on Russia, Russian 

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

 

He said this, at a joint press conference with his Turkish 

counterpart Hakan Fidan following the talks in Moscow.

 

"Europe has found the Nazi flag again... on a completely 

dead-end street... an adventure to inflict a "strategic 

defeat" on Russia," Lavrov stressed.

 

Earlier, Viktor Medvedchuk, chairman of the Council of the 

Other Ukraine movement, said that Europe itself nurtured 

Nazism in Ukraine, preparing it for their confrontation 

with Russia.

 

Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Alexey Yerkhov,
expressed 
concern ------ that Nazism is rearing
its head... in Europe.

 




____________________________________



Russia describes as.. ''difficult'' 
normalizing relations with US


May 27th, 10:27am


 (Prensa Latina) 


 


Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov on Tuesday,


 described as ''difficult'' the process of restoring 


Russian-US relations, "nevetheless... Moscow 


is open to finding a balance of interests."


 


 


“Time will tell, to what extent the actual steps of the new


US administration.. will be in line with its statements,” 


Ryabkov said in an interview with Komsomolskaya 


Pravda newspaper.


 


The deputy minister stressed that the normalization process 


is complex, however..... the Russian authorities are open to 


an honest conversation and finding a balance of interests.


 


Ryabkov stressed, “At the same time, I want to underscore that 


the development of dialogue with the United States cannot 


and will not be to the detriment of our strategic relations 


......with our BRICS partners and other friendly states.”


 


On May 19, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, and his US 


counterpart, Donald Trump, held a more-than-two-hour 


phone call in which they mainly discussed ways to 


resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.


 


Putin praised the dialogue with Trump 


and described it as ''constructive''.


 


 


 


______________________________________


 


 


 


 


Nicaraguan production 


and consumption plan 


objectives highlighted


May 27th, 9:59am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The president of the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN), 


Ovidio Reyes, stated that the 2025-2026 production 


and consumption plan consolidates a creative and


entrepreneurial model ---- focused on families, 


it was revealed in this capital.


 


According to Informe Pastrán bulletin, which quotes 


statements by the BCN head in Channel 4’s Revista 


En Vivo, the plan, prepared annually, guarantees 


food security and boosts exports in a context 


of (climate and economic) stability.


 


In addition, it guides producers and entrepreneurs 


to optimize their investment and work decisions, 


promoting greater production, employment, 


and stability in the countryside.


 


The project is based on six main policies: food security, 


animal and plant health, promotion of entrepreneurship 


and local trade and exports, as well as science and 


technology, technical education, and protection 


against climate change.


 


According to the source, the policies seek to guarantee 


healthy food, strengthen family farming, foster 


innovation, and preserve natural resources


via soil conservation and reforestation.






 


__________________________________________








Peskov: decision on long-range missiles


 runs counter to peaceful settlement


May 26th, 3:33pm


(RT.ru)


 


The decision to lift restrictions on the supply of long-range 


weapons to Kiev, if adopted, runs counter to Russia's 


aspirations for a peaceful settlement.


 


This was stated by the press secretary of the President 


of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, writes RIA Novosti.


 


Earlier, the chairman of the International Centre for Combating 


Crime and Terrorism, the international political scientist, Enes


Karakhanov -- in an interview with RT -- called the decision of 


Britain France Germany and the US, to lift restrictions on the 


range of weapons supplied to Ukraine ------- a demonstrative


 rejection of the course for a political settlement.






 


__________________________________________________
 




Ortega Murillo’s Visit to Moscow ------ 

Strengthens Russia-Nicaragua Ties

May 26th, 12:42pm

(teleSUR)

 

Before the end of this year ------- these countries are 

expected to sign a military cooperation agreement.

 

On Monday, Laureano Ortega Murillo, Nicaragua’s envoy for 

relations with Russia, met in Moscow with Vyacheslav 

Volodin, speaker of the Russian Parliament’s Lower 

House, to discuss economic, legal, and cultural 

cooperation between the two countries.

 

“Despite global challenges, our cooperation is growing stronger. 

We have come to understand each other better, united in the 

face of shared challenges, and have done everything 

possible to overcome them,” Volodin said.

 

Ortega Murillo — son of Nicaragua’s co-presidents, Daniel 

Ortega and Rosario Murillo — focused his remarks on his 

recent participation in Victory Day commemorations on 

May 9. “Through this, we wanted to emphasize that we 

are very grateful to the Russian people, for liberating 

us from fascism and Nazism,” he said.

 

Volodin and Ortega Murillo also discussed the upcoming 

meeting of the bilateral cooperation commission. 

Currently, Moscow and Managua are working 

to establish a legal framework -------- for 

interparliamentary cooperation.

 

Before the end of this year, Russia and Nicaragua are expected 

to sign a military cooperation agreement, which received

 Kremlin approval in 2024. Earlier this year, the two 

countries signed a cybersecurity training 

cooperation agreement.

 

 

teleSUR English

@telesurenglish

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Nicaragua: Thousands
of people 
mobilized to support peace and the
government. 
Rosario Murillo explained that
peace is defended as the supreme and
absolute truth.




 

_____________________________________






Venezuela’s Revolutionary Coalition


 Wins 23 Governorships


May 26th, 7:48am


(teleSUR)


 


The Simon Bolivar Great Patriotic Pole 


secured most of the country’s 


key governorships.


 


At the end of Sunday’s election day, Venezuela’s National 


Electoral Council (CNE) announced that the Simon 


Bolivar Great Patriotic Pole (GPPSB) coalition 


had won 23 of the country’s governorships,


 including that of the disputed Guayana


 Esequiba region.


 


After 93% of the ballots had been counted, the CNE said 


the GPPSB coalition secured most of the country’s key 


governorships, demonstrating what officials described 


as popular support for President Nicolas Maduro and


 the Bolivarian Revolution.


 


According to results announced by CNE Vice President Carlos 


Quintero, GPPSB candidate Luis Marcano Salazar, won the 


governorship of Anzoategui state, with 87% of the vote. 


In Apure state, candidate Wilmer Rodriguez won with 


96% of the vote, and Joana Norelys Sanchez, 


claimed victory in Aragua state.


 


Other victorious candidates from the ruling coalition included 


Yulisbeth Garcia in Bolivar state with 88%, Donald Rafael 


Donaire in Guarico with more than 93%, and Luis 


Ramon Reyes in Lara, with 90%.


 


Incumbent governors who were reelected included Victor Clark 


in Falcon with over 80%, Rafael Lacava in Carabobo with 88%, 


and Freddy Bernal in Tachira with 80%. Opposition politician 


Alberto Galindez, will govern Cojedes state - once again.


 


In this election, the Bolivarian Revolution forces also prevailed 


with Adan Chavez Frias securing 72% of the vote in Barinas, 


Luis Caldera winning in Zulia with 64%, and Marisel 


Velazquez winning in Nueva Esparta with 55%. 


 


The GPPSB candidates --- also won governorships in Merida, 


Miranda, and Monagas: Arnaldo Sanchez Perez, Elio Jose 


Serrano, and Ernesto Luna Gonzalez, respectively.


 


The regions of Amazonas, Delta Amacuro, and Yaracuy will be 


governed by Miguel Tadeo Rodriguez, Loa Tamaronis, and 


Leonardo Cipullo. In Portuguesa state, GPPSB candidate 


Antonio Cedeño won with 94% of the vote. In Sucre 


state, Jhoanna Carrillo Malave won with 94%. 


 


The governorships of Trujillo and La Guaira went to 


socialist candidates Gerardo Marquez with 92% 


and Jose Teran with 91%.


 


In the Guayana Esequiba region, Admiral Neil Villamizar 


won - with 97% of the vote. Celebrating the electoral 


victory, President Maduro offered “full budgetary 


support” to Villamizar, so that “the people of 


Esequibo have all the rights - as people


 of Venezuela.”






 


__________________________________________





Orban announced Hungary's refusal 

to finance an increase in the 

Ukrainian army

May 24th, 8:50pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban rejected the EU's 

plan to finance the Ukrainian army. On May 24, he 

announced this on the social network

 X (ex. Twitter).

 

"We need to invest in our own armies, but they [the EU]

 expect us to fund Ukrainian [troops] in billions over 

the years. We have made it clear - that Hungary 

will not pay," he said.

 

Orban stressed: that it is the duty 

of his administration to protect

 its own people. 

 

On May 24, Orban held an urgent meeting of the 

government, the agenda of which was the 

energy threat coming to Hungary

from Ukraine. 

 

According to the Prime Minister, the suspension 

of gas transit by Kiev -- and the plans of the EU

Commission  to abandon Russian resources 

pose risks for Hungary's energy security.

 

 

__________________________________________





 


Cuba reiterates commitment 


to medical brigades and 


considers solidarity


May 24th, 8am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Cuba today --- reiterated its commitment to the altruistic 


work of its medical brigades in numerous countries &
- at the same time, praised the value of solidarity 


in the face of the United States blockade.


 


In a meeting held at the headquarters of the Cuban Embassy 


in Spain, the Minister of Public Health, José Angel Portal, 


and the president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship 


with the Peoples (ICAP), Fernando González, spoke 


extensively with representatives of Spanish 


solidarity groups.


 


Portal highlighted the collaboration of Cuban health 


professionals for 65 years, in complex situations 


and remote places to save lives, with a spirit 


of help and effort ........highly valued in 


many countries.


 


He recalled that, over the years, Cuba has offered medical 


cooperation with more than 600 thousand professionals 


in the sector, who provided services in 165 countries, 


facing diseases as dangerous as Ebola, Covid-19 


itself ----- or in places hit by earthquakes, 


hurricanes, or pests.


 


Shortly before, the Minister, who arrived in Madrid in transit 


after participating in the (OMS) World Health Organization 


Assembly in Geneva, had a dialogue with Cuban doctors
residing in Spain --- who spent part of 
their careers
on the Caribbean island.


 


Together with Ambassador Marcelino Medina, who was also at 


the meeting with the friendship associations, Minister Portal 


spoke about the current situation in the sector, the effects 


of the tightening of the blockade, and the limitations 


derived, from the inclusion of Cuba on the list of 


countries sponsoring terrorism.


 


He also delved into the impact of this panorama on


medical care for the population, and the need to 


look for innovative and creative alternatives 


--- to guarantee the continuity of this 


fundamental achievement of 


the Revolution.


 


In this regard, he valued, as a priority, mobilizing Cuban 


doctors residing abroad who maintain a commitment 


and willingness ---- to collaborate with the 


development of the country.


 


Portal made a working visit to the Spanish Ministry 


of Health, to promote exchange and collaboration.


 


For his part, Fernando González, who is also a deputy, 


was received in the Parliament of Catalonia, by the 


parliamentary groups of the Junts, ERC, Comuns 


and CUP parties, as well as by the second 


secretary of the Chamber Board,
Juli 
Fernández Olivares.


 


In his talk in Madrid with solidarity groups - he referred to 


the historical moment in 1962 when the historical leader


of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, who announced 


the sending of the first internationalist medical 


brigade... to Algeria.


 


The Hero of the Republic of Cuba took the opportunity 


to emphasize that the unfair inclusion of Cuba in the 


aforementioned ''list of countries sponsoring 


terrorism'' prevents - among other things - 


any access to international credit -- or
functioning normally in 
commercial
transactions.


 


He placed special emphasis on the International Tribunal 


on the blockade, held in Brussels in November 2023, 


and what its ruling entails, which reflects the 


violation of rights, also, of citizens and 


companies in European countries.


 


In that sense, he announced that work is being done on the 


consolidation of an advisory or reference entity due to the 


content of the legal conclusions reached by the Court 


in Brussels.


 


The relevance of solidarity ---- and other issues related 


to cooperation were also addressed by the president


 of ICAP.


 


He invited people to participate in the international brigade's 


''65 years of love for Cuba'' that is held in commemoration 


of the 65 years of existence of this entity.


 


Furthermore, he spoke commendably of the sustained work 


of solidarity groups with the Antillean island in Spain, and 


he pointed out that the 2026 national event in Asturias 


of the State Solidarity Movement with Cuba - will be 


especially relevant.


 


 


____________________________________


 


 


Diplomacy, regional cooperation 


------ marked this week in China


May 24th, 7:17am


 (Prensa Latina) 


 


Diplomacy, trilateral dialogue with Pakistan and Afghanistan, 


the trade agreement with Asean, and the dispute with the 


US, marked the news week that ends today in China.


 


Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and senior representatives 


from sixty other countries ------ will attend the signing of the 


agreement to establish an International Mediation Court 


based in Hong Kong, the Foreign Ministry reported.


 


According to spokesperson Mao Ning, the new institution 


will be the first intergovernmental body specialized in 


resolving international disputes through mediation.


 


This week --- the Chinese Foreign Minister, his Pakistani 


counterpart, Ishaq Dar, and the Acting Foreign Minister 


of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, evaluated the 


progress of the trilateral dialogue here.


 


During the meeting, the three ministers highlighted the 


achievements made by this mechanism and explored


ways to strengthen cooperation... in various areas.


 


About the situation between India and Pakistan, Wang Yi 


noted, during talks with his Pakistani counterpart, that 


Beijing welcomes and supports both nations ------ in 


properly handling differences through negotiation.


 


Regarding the trilateral dialogue, the Asian diplomatic 


chief said that this meeting reinforces political trust 


between the three countries.


 


In economic matters, the importance of expanding 


cooperation within the framework of the Belt and 


Road Initiative was highlighted, which includes


 the possible extension.. of the China-Pakistan 


Economic Corridor to Afghanistan ----- with a 


view to strengthening regional connectivity.


 


Beijing and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 


(Asean) announced this week, the successful closing 


of all negotiations for version 3.0 of the Free Trade


 Area between both parties.


 


This includes.. new chapters on digital economy, clean energy, 


connectivity in supply chains, technical regulations, customs 


facilitation, sanitary & phytosanitary measures, competition 


& consumer protection, micro support, small and medium-


sized companies, and technological cooperation.


 


In another order, the Chinese government this week expressed


 its firm rejection of the new restrictive measures announced 


by the United States regarding technological exports 


that directly affect advanced chips --- such as the 


Huawei Ascend.


 


Also these days, Beijing expressed its deep concern about 


the US policy focused on unilateral security, regarding 


President Donald Trump's statements about 


the creation of a ''Golden Dome''.


 


According to spokesperson Mao Ning, this position contradicts 


the universally accepted principle that no country's security 


should compromise that of others ------ and threatens the 


global strategic balance.


 


 


______________________________________


 


 


 


Deputy demands: that energy control 


returns to the people of Puerto Rico


May 24th, 5:27am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Faced with the crisis in which Puerto Rico's energy system, 


controlled by foreign companies, is mired today ---- the pro-


independence deputy Adriana Gutiérrez demanded: “the 


return of electrical service to the hands of the people”.


 


“From the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) --- we strongly 


demand the return of electrical service to the people of Puerto 


Rico because we firmly believe - that access to electricity is a 


human right fundamental and an essential service in the lives 


of Puerto Ricans”, said the legislator when reacting to 


statements by the Energy Tsar, Josué Colón, about 


the cancellation of the LUMA Energy contract 


during the course of this year. 


 


He maintained that repeating the same LUMA Energy 


contracting process, which, as you may remember,


was approved in less than an hour, in dark rooms 


and through a pusillanimous and extremely 


deficient legislative process, it can't be 


an option.


 


“The country is watching over them”, Gutiérrez warned, 


maintaining that the people are clear, that they were 


deceived when the two-party system, in reference 


to the New Progressive (PNP) and Popular 


Democratic (PPD) parties ------ projected 


privatization and LUMA Energy, as the 


almighty magic wand that would fix 


the shortcomings of the state 


Electric Power Authority.


 


It is already statistically documented that, with LUMA, 


blackouts are more frequent and prolonged than 


under PREPA, not to mention the string of 


increases in the electricity rate that 


hurts those who have the least, 


and those who have already 


suffered austerity cuts.


 


“Our vocation ---- cannot be other than rescuing the electrical 


system and managing it without the evils that the two-party 


system deliberately permeated in it --- for decades: poor
administration, politicization, substantial budget cuts, 


a lack of systematic maintenance, deprivation of 


materials --- the criminalization of unions and 


workers, and the total absence of actions 


to guarantee occupational health 


and safety”, he summarized.


 


Representative Gutiérrez assured, that the PIP proposal to the 


country --- is based on the inclusion of people knowledgeable 


about energy, public administration and law issues, to launch


the design of a new public corporation that operates without
those evils that the PNP and the PPD introduced --- and in 


response to the need to transition to renewable energy 


sources; that also responds to the principle of merit 


in public employment; and is subjected to


 rigorous accountability.


 


“We propose that teachers from the UPR system (University 


of Puerto Rico) specialized in energy, collaborate with the 


representatives of public interest in PREPA, community
organizations dedicated to energy and climate crisis 


issues, economists, administrators ------ and the


representatives of workers, with knowledge 


of the country's electrical infrastructure”, 


Gutiérrez explained.


 


The pro-independence representative announced that 


they will soon announce to the country “the details 


of our proposal ------------ to rescue Puerto Rico's 


electrical service”.


 


 


 


_______________________________________




 
State Duma deputies: called for 

checking the Yeltsin Centre:

 for anti-Russian activities

 May 23rd, 8:25pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

Deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation on May 

23 appealed to law enforcement agencies with a demand to 

conduct an audit of the anti-Russian activities of the 

Yeltsin Centre in Yekaterinburg.

 

According to them, the organization distorts history, glorifies 

the personality of the first president of Russia Boris Yeltsin, 

presents the '90s as a period of "democratization" ignoring 

the disastrous consequences of reforms: impoverishment

 of the population, collapse of industry, criminalization of

 the state; and also promotes Western values and holds 

events with the participation of opposition and pro-

Western figures ----- who criticize the current 

leadership of the Russian Federation.

 

It is noted that, in the programs of the Yeltsin Centre, the USSR 

is often positioned as a "totalitarian state", and its social and 

economic successes are hushed up or distorted and -- such 

achievements and successes as industrialization, victory 

in the Great Patriotic War, major scientific advances,

and space achievements --- are all ignored.

 

In addition, the public centre indirectly justifies the collapse 

of the Soviet Union, presenting it as "inevitable", which 

contradicts the official position of Russia on the need 

to preserve historical continuity - the State Duma 

clarified. They added, that some events show 

''sympathy'' for the separatist movements
of 
the 1990s.

 

As Viktor Tsarikhin, first secretary of the Moscow city 

Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian 

Federation, pointed out: communists consider

 it unacceptable to finance the organization 

by the state --- since it - in their opinion - 

propagates "unpatriotic" views among 

young people, serves the interests of

those oligarchic groups associated 

with Yeltsin's regime -- is a tool for 

rewriting history --- and opposes 

the course --- of strengthening 

sovereignty, and traditional 

values in modern Russia.

 

"The contents of their expositions - require separate 

consideration for their presentation of history and 

in principle - the falsification of history - because 

there are deep suspicions --- about a number of 

the expositions presented in Yekaterinburg -- 

which do not correspond with reality," 

Tsarikhin stressed.

 

In July 2024, a rally was held in Moscow, against the 

opening of the Yeltsin Centre branch in the capital, 

organized by the Communist Party of the Russian 

Federation. Dozens of people took part in the 

protest action. 

 

According to representatives of the party - the intention 

to perpetuate the memory of Yeltsin - a soviet traitor - 

is deeply immoral - and close to blasphemous.

 

 

 

_______________________________





Eurovision winner JJ speaks out for 

Israel's exclusion from the contest

by Alexander Alekseev

May 23rd, 4:13pm

(Rossiyskaya Gazeta) 

 

"They excluded Russia, but not Israel," the Austrian singer 

Johannes Peach.... who won the Eurovision Song Contest 

2025 under the pseudonym JJ complained to journalists. 

 

Now he is a singer at the Vienna Opera, in great demand 

among journalists. That's why.... he took a chance -
to 
speak out about politics.

 

"It is very disappointing that Israel is still participating 

in the competition. I would like the competition to be 

held next year, in Vienna, without Israel," JJ said.

 

He also recalled that he "criticizes the Israeli government" 

and "condemns violence anywhere in the world - be it 

Israelis, or Palestinians."

 

The current Eurovision Song Contest, by the way, was held 

against the background of a series of scandals: the flags 

of Palestine on the streets of Basel, where the contest 

was held, fluttered more often than the flags of other 

countries. And fans, wrapped in the banners of the 

unrecognized Arab state, lay down on the streets 

in front of the transport that took contestants 

and leaders of the European Broadcasting 

Union to the Euro Village for celebrations.

 

Yes, and during the performance of the Israeli singer 

Yuval Raphael in the semifinals and finals, many 

spectators whistled.......... to prevent her.

 

However, a representative of the Austrian broadcaster ORF 

soon reported that JJ's statements reflect only the artist's 

personal opinion.

 

But Martin Green, Eurovision's director, still promised 

to - "have extensive discussions with participating 

broadcasters, discuss all aspects of this year's 

contest and gather feedback."

 

By the way

 

The Ukrainian band Ziferblat took advantage of the contest 

to, once again, speak out against the Russian Federation. 

However, her soloist, who did not find support from the

other Eurovision contestants, eventually began to 

complain about... them.

 

 


_______________________________________________





Harvard University plans battle: 


sues Trump administration


May 23rd, 12:47pm


(Prensa Latina) 


 


Harvard University today filed a lawsuit against Donald 


Trump's administration ---- on a new front in its legal 


battle against the decision of the US Government


 to prevent registration for foreign students.


 


The petition from the oldest and richest higher education 


institution in the country... argues that the measure 


issued this Thursday to exclude the school from 


the Student and Exchange Visitor Program 


Department of Homeland Security --- 


violates the law.


 


“It is the last act of the Government in clear retaliation for 


Harvard's exercise of its right - protected by the First 


Amendment, to reject the Government's demands


 to control the governance of Harvard, its 


curriculum and the ‘ideology’ of its 


professors and students”, 


the lawsuit stated.


 


The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a 


statement yesterday that “Harvard can no longer 


enroll foreign students and existing foreign 


students must transfer -- or lose their 


legal status”.


 


DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem, ordered her Department to end 


certification of the Harvard Student and Exchange Visitor 


Program, citing the institution's refusal to agree to hand 


over conduct records for students from other countries


 that the federal agency requested last month.


 


The Trump Administration noted yesterday that enrolling 


foreign students is a privilege, not a right” and accused 


Harvard management ---- of turning “its once great 


institution ---- into a hotbed of anti-American, 


anti-Semitic and pro-terrorist agitators”.


 


A federal judge in California issued a nationwide order that 


halted the Trump administration's attempt to revoke the 


legal status of foreign students to study and work in 


the United States.


 


The ruling of Judge Jeffrey White, in Oakland, it prohibits 


the administration from canceling the legal status of 


international students ---- without conducting a 


detailed case-by-case review, and without 


following the criteria established in 


federal regulations.


 


In April, the Trump administration began its
campaign - 
to cancel the registrations of
thousands of
 international students.


 


 


 


_______________________________________

 

 

 

Chinese company invests 

in free zones ---- in Syria

May 23rd, 12:16pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The Syrian Land Crossings and Seaports Authority, today,

announced the signing of a strategic agreement with 

the Chinese company, Fidi Contracting, to invest 

in free zones in Syria - with an area of more 

than 1 million square metres.

 

According to a statement issued by the Authority, and released 

by the press here --- the document gives the Chinese company 

the right to fully invest in the Hassieh free zone, in the
central province of Homs, with an estimated area of
approximately 
850,000 square metres ---- with the
aim of establishing a 
comprehensive industrial
zone, containing specialized 
factories and
production facilities.

 

Under the agreement, the Chinese company was also granted 

the right to invest 300,000 sq. metres in the Adra free zone, 

near Damascus, to establish commercial and service 

projects that meet the demands of local and 

regional markets.

 

The contract... has a duration of 20 years - and the Chinese 

company will commit to implementing the project phases 

according to a specific schedule, ensuring its economic 

viability & enhancing the role of free zones as drivers 

of development ----- and the attraction of foreign 

direct investment.

 

The Syrian Port Authority indicated in its statement that 

this type of investment contributes to improving the 

infrastructure of free zones and expanding their 

industrial and commercial activities..... thus,

improving Syria's position --- as a regional 

centre for transport & logistics services.




___________________________________________





New batch of Saudi aid 

arrives in Syria 

May 23rd, 11:47am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre

 (KSRelief) today announced the arrival in Syria of 

the 17th batch of humanitarian aid from the 

Saudi land bridge intended to support 

the Syrian people.

 

The centre's deputy supervisor for financial and 

administrative affairs, Salah Al-Mazrou, 

explained.... that the new shipment 

includes a wide range of medical 

equipment, supplies & logistical 

materials, including 10 modern 

fully equipped ambulances... 

30 electric generators and

heavy machinery, and 

advanced medical 

devices.

 

He revealed that, since the beginning of 2025, the Centre 

has sent 16 planes as part of the Saudi aid airlift, in 

addition to 625 trucks across the land bridge 

--- loaded with food, medical and shelter 

supplies, with a total weight greater

 than 10,000 tons.

 

Likewise, he performed 1,261 surgical operations as 

part of the Saudi volunteer program «Amal», 

which aims to implement 104 medical 

and surgical campaigns,.

 

Also, training and education programs and economic 

empowerment initiatives were carried out, with the 

participation of approximately 3,000 male and 

female volunteers.

 

Since 2011, Riyadh has stepped up its humanitarian aid 

to the Syrian people, and the total value of projects 

provided by the King Salman Centre through 

April 2025 amounted to approximately 

$488 million --- distributed in 370 

projects.. in the fields of relief, 

health, education and water.

 

 

_______________________________








Correa and Assange together in 


Cannes - resonates in Ecuador


May 22nd, 1:03pm


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The echoes of the 78th edition of the Cannes Festival arrive 


in Ecuador, where users on social networks comment on 


the presence of former Ecuadorian president Rafael 


Correa along with the founder of Wikileaks, 


Julian Assange.


 


Both participated in the presentation of the documentary


The Six Billion Dollar Man (directed by the American, 


Eugene Jarecki, and --- although he is out of the 


competition, it allowed key testimonies to 


be shown about Assange's case.


 


Australian journalist and activist Julian Assange was granted 


diplomatic asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 


2012 and was there for seven years --- until British police 


arrested and imprisoned him.


 


Assange arrived in Cannes wearing a white T-shirt that printed 


the names of 4,986 Palestinian children under the age of five 


murdered in the Gaza Strip, as a result of Israeli attacks


- since 2023.


 


To this nation in the middle of the world came the impact of the 


joint appearance of Assange and Correa on an international 


stage, which has revived the debate on press freedom, 


sovereignty and international justice.


 


''While sold microphones...  kneel for a cheque, they step
onto cinema's most prestigious stage with dignity -----
and a cause.
The servile ones....... do not get there.
There are those who 
fight for the truth ---- and do
not sell themselves,'' highlighted Assemblyman
Franklin Samaniego, about the fact. 



Lawyer Alberto Montenegro highlighted....
how 
Correa was applauded in Cannes.



 ''There they understand it, they invite it, they respect it.
Here 
they condemn him with sentences whose logic
does not 
even pass the first examination of
constitutional law. 
If Julian Assange
was silenced for his words, 


Correa is persecuted --
for his legacy”, 


he said.


 


Ecuadorian media, mostly aligned with the right,
released 
news about Correa's presence on the
red carpet of the 
French film event.


 


In addition to his political appearance, the former president 


stood out for his clothing, which included a shirt with 


traditional Ecuadorian embroidery on the neck, 


representative garment of his style, with 


which, he exhibited cultural identity 


at an international event.


 


At the meeting, the former ruler supported another documentary 


linked to his figure: Psychic Influence, a production directed by 


Colombian Alejandra Cardona, which focuses on the political 


and judicial persecution against the founder of the Citizen 


Revolution movement.


 


 


________________________________________________________


 


 


Debate grows in Colombia ----- over 


salary increases for congressmen


May 22nd, 1:01pm


 (Prensa Latina) 


 


Questions about the upcoming increase in the salary of 


congressmen in Colombia increase today while a 


project that calls for the reduction of these 


remains undiscussed in the Senate.


 


Even though the salary of legislators is high, a labour 


agreement between the National Government and 


the union centres stipulated --- a 7% salary rise 


for public servants -- extended to senators & 


representatives, who will see their monthly 


salary rise to more than 52 million pesos 


(about 13,000 dollars at the current 


exchange rate).


 


The pact, announced on April 30th, establishes that the 


salaries of public sector workers will increase by 7%


this year alone, while in 2026 the increase will be 


equivalent to the (IPC) Consumer Price Index 


plus 1.9 percent.


 


According to an article in RTVC Noticias, the increase in 


congressmen's pay, is not part of the agreement as a 


properly negotiated point, but a consequence that


derives from the state salary structure, in which 


any agreed improvement for the majority of 


workers also benefits, as a rule, the 


highest salaries.


 


This issue - is the subject of debates, especially because 


the revived labour reform in Congress, is currently being 


looked at -- as there are strong bids between business
associations & union representatives... on daytime 


hours - and additional surcharges for overtime 


for the working class.


 


RTVC also highlighted in its report, that, in a country where the 


legal minimum wage is 1,300,000 pesos (about 325 dollars), 


“the more than 52,000,000 pesos that senators and 


representatives will receive starting this year are


equivalent to almost 37 times that amount - not 


counting bonuses, travel expenses, air tickets 


and other special benefits”.


 


The former director of the Department of Social Prosperity 


Gustavo Bolívar expressed his rejection of the issue, who


 thought that with an increase for congressmen of more 


than 3,360,000 pesos (close to 840 dollars) the wage 


gap with the ordinary worker widens and becomes 


one of the highest in the world.


 


On the other hand, Senator Iván Cepeda recently denounced 


that his bill to reduce the salary of legislators was placed in 


108th place to be discussed in the Senate, which limits its 


options to be analyzed because the current legislature 


ends on June 20.


 


The initiative, which was filed again last January with the 


support of 57 signatures for its processing, seeks to 


lower the remuneration of congressmen to the


current legal minimum wage.


 


A proposal similar to the current one already collapsed 


last year in Congress --- because it did not have the 


necessary majority... to continue its process.


 


 


































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
to post on our Resources page.

And, as before, all of our past newsletters
are posted in the Newsletter Archives.

We invite you to comment on our newsletter,
our articles, anything at all!


Please Use Us!

Send your submissions to

info@healthworkersinternational.org.

Please limit the length of each submission to
1 page or less, and include links and photos
when possible. All submissions are moderated
and may be edited for length and clarity.


==================================


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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